Ironman UK- I finished!

Well no-one is really reading but thought I would let the world know that I finished Ironman UK a few weeks back and had a great day.

12hours47 was the time and it wasn't my fastest and it wasn't my slowest although next time (I think there will be one) I might be able to move a little quicker!

Had a slowish swim after a twinge in my groin slowed me down...then for the first time in 8 IM's was able to ride continuously for the 180k without stomach issues or mechanicals! I was beside myself with happiness!

The run felt great and by taking more salt and racing in the cool I was able to feel quite good for most of the day.

Only one blip just before the aid station at about half way were I felt tired and walked to the aid station then got it together ...but ran the rest of the way.

All in all very happy with the day and am actually keen to do another one maybe next year!

Alpine Running

Cool running again at Lake Annecy..Pretty special running at altitude amongst the Alps! Annecy is a beautiful lake where Paragliders use the sheer cliffs to get their thrills! (check the photos very carefully)

Makes for beautiful running as well! We stayed in Dourset at the south end of the lake and I used the bike path to good advantage for some great runs!

Ash came along on a mountain bike and took some cool pics...My shuffling technique has been duly noted and I am now pulled into line whenever I am overly harsh on my 'critique' of random joggers!

Cool runnings

One advantage of prioritising travel is that you get to run in different places. Couple weeks back I was visiting family in Brighton and needed to run for 2 hours...I had already run west to Hove a few months back so decided to run east and see where that led.

It led along the sea front and to the 'Cliff walk' just past the Brighton Marina. A 4 1/2 mile sunday morning feast of blue sea white cliff walls and Brightonians out for their Sunday morning constitutional!

Just a magic kind of run! I almost ended up in Eastbourne and thought I might eventually find the white cliffs of Dover!

Maybe next time....

Nike Naked running

I've alwasy liked Nike running ads...Using John lennon's 'Instant Karma' with images of runners from around the world always got me motivated (love the images of Japanese runing in snow with white gloves!).

The latest ad is really pretty funny.

Click here for 'free' running

Recovery, Recovery, Recovery!

So I have hit 40 (ouch ) and my program has intensified some what! double Ouch ...which had me googling for recovery suggestions.

Found quite a technical article with a few gems in there for the 'mature gentlemen' athlete! The list of 'recovery' techniques require about 4 hours a day!!! Although it does realise most of us can only do this after our biggest session once a week! Aaaahhh to be a pro...sigh.

Take a read though it does makes sense...now I just have to find enough hours in the day!

Another possible Kona contender?

Rasmus Henning blasted the field at Ironman China winning by a mile even with some reported walking during the run. He seems to like the heat and along with Tjoborn Sindballe gives Denmark a big chance of 2 in the top 5 for Kona this year.

The mens field is looking very strong this year...with lots of new contenders...a bit like the ladies field last year. Should be interesting to see if any new ladies step up this year...although Mirinda Carfrae springs very much to mind!

Ironman OZ preview

Should be interesting to see who comes out on top this weekend at IM OZ.

1. Patrick Vernay starts favourite but a couple of dark horses could make things interesting.

2. Mathias Hect - Placed 3rd last year & 8th in Hawaii can he win?

3. Mitch Anderson - Has won IM WA and placed 3rd at OZ but a serious bike accident last month resulting in emergency facial surgery might have set him back too much?

4. Simon Thompson - Athens olympian could spring a suprise?

5. Tim Berkel - A Port Mac local and recent IM WA champ at 24. Sky's the limit here and the local's would go crazy! (Now that's a finishing shot!)

6. Pete Jacobs...has raced well at Roth - Can he put it together?

7.Jason Shortis lucky 14th? Can he finally win?

Future Hawaii Iron Man Champions?

So one (Raelert) has won an Ironman and the other is set to deubt at IM in South Africa this weekend as well as IM France in June. Both are being spoken of as potential standouts at Hawaii IM in the future and both have olympic triathlon credentials.

Both are quite easy on the eye as well.

These photos also show that sportsmanship doesn't always get you over the line first!

nb. No word yet on the Frenchman behind them and his plans for IM ...yet!

Ice and Resistance Stretching

So my dodgy back and hips have been helped enormously by using Ice after training if I feel any pain in my dodgy areas for 20mins.

If the pain is acute try icing 3 times a day for 20mins each.

As well as this I uncovered 41 yr old olympic 50m freestyle silver medalist Dara Torres. Apart from being a freak and the oldest person ever to win a swimming medal....She helped popularise 'resistance stretching'.

I have to say it does give my tired old quads/hamstrings a much better stretch than 'static' holds.

To check out the stretches see her video guide here (I know all Americans either write a book or do a DVD!)

Give it a go...since I think a lot of my lower back is due to overtight quads/hammies..

My Boyfriends back and there's gonna be trouble...

Hey la, Hey la ...ok that's enough.

Basically my bike arrived today!!! Yippee

After living in a bike box for 2 years...Mum and Dad dusted it off...I found a super cheap way of getting it here and had it shipped in a week with Jetta (highly recommended for shipping!).

Now I just have to assemble it get some air in the tyres and 'get on my bike'.

Looks like most of my riding will happen on the outer loop of regents park....although for longer rides I might have to find a user friendly route to Richmond park where the 'real' cyclists hang out.

And just for the memories here is my mighty cervelo being duly ridden back in the day...

Ahh I love the smell of Cervelo in the morning!

Lower back and dodgy hips are just another obstacle

Well the dodgy hips and lower back have returned. The Sacro Iliac joint that locks up placing pressure on my lower back and basically hobbling me decided to play up after 2 hours of a spin class.

I guess I was asking for it since spin isn't really on my training plan but travelling sometimes means you need to be inventive - and a Parisian spin class just seemed too much fun to refuse... they yell they scream they go crazy - all in French! Who knows what they were saying but it was fun.

So a week of Anti Inflammtories/ Osteopathy/stretching and ice later I've managed a couple of bike rides and am generally on the mend.

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger!

Terenzo Bozzone not Richard Ussher almost wins IM NZ

Well Richard Ussher couldn't do it but did improve on last years postion by finsihing 5th.

Terenzo Bozzone almost did it though - finishing second - 7 minutes back off a course record setting Cameron Brown.

Look to Terenzo to one day reverese the positions since this was his first attempt at Ironman and a very impressive debut!

Ironman NZ - Can this guy win?

This guy has won quite a few 'coast to coast's' across NZ's south island. He skipped it this year to give Cameron Brown ( 7 time defending champion at IMNZ) a good crack.

Last year Richard finished 7th in his first IM 3 wks after the coast to coast!

Despite a car crash a month ago...Is this the new IM NZ champion?

Race starts 6.45am Saturday 7th March in Taupo.

How to write a book about triathlon in 10 easy steps

An idea after my own heart!

I especially like points 8 and 9...Was he reading my race reports or am I just not that special?

For a laugh click here

Goal Ironman UK - August 2nd 2009

They say a goal becomes real if you say it out loud. So in late 2008 almost three years after the last of my seven Ironman triathlon races I said it out loud! I want to do Iroman again!

Well actually I did more than that and entered Ironman UK ! The sport is now so popular you have to enter ASAP or the races sellout! Not long after the race did sell out.

The rationale was....

1. Unfinished business - I have the unique record of getting slower in each attempt at IM!!
2. A new race location in Bolton in the north of England = colder = better for heavy sweating large athlete (that's me)
3. Time to train in my new living arrangement in London. Also I live opposite a Gym!
4. A couple of years off has allowed me to recharge and get my hips and lower back under control

After that I played around with a bit of training before deciding to go with Kristian to coach me and write a program using the 'method'! Sounds cultish but basically looks to simplify training and encourages you to go on how you feel rather than times or heartrates.

This approach made total sense to me and as the Ironman UK logo says 'Anything is possible'!