Before The first race

So Training has been going really well. Mick and I have been in Reno for 5 weeks now smashing out some solid weeks to prepare us for Auburn Half Ironman- The Worlds Toughest. I have been getting steadily fitter, with times for running, swimming and riding up the ‘bergs dropping considerably. Generally its just Mick and I training by ourselves, although we have been swimming with masters and riding occasionally some big weekends with another local, Nenad, and his friends from Yugoslavia.

The USA 2009

Well. I've returned to the USA.

Last year was so awesome i just couldn't pass on the opportunity to go again.

So Micko and i set off to LA. Where we visited Mel and Ryan (Micko's sis and boyfirend). We stayed in Westwood- a very expensive part of town but unfortunately wasn't the best for training. We got some good sun though.

We stayed for a week before we decided it was time to stop holidaing and start training. We were getting restless. So we hired a car and headed off for the mountains. Reno, Nevada.

Once we arrived we wasted no time and got straight into training. The first race on the calender was Wildflower. I never really planned on doing it. And after only a week of training after practically 5mths of only consistant swimming i wasn't prepared to run 13miles. So i did the swim/bike and ended it there.

The race calender looks like this:

Auburn Half Ironman May 31Ironman

70.3 Kansas June 14Ironman 70.3

Buffalo Springs (Texas) June 28

Boulder Peak Triathlon July 12

Boulder 5430 August 9

Ironman 70.3 Lake Stevens (Washington) August 16

Ironman Canada August 30

Pacific Grove (Tri-Cal) September 12

Ironman 70.3 Cancun September 20

Scott Tinley's October 4

So I will update as appropriate. For now my hip is ok. it has its good and bad days. I have found an awesome therapist here and it seems to be helping. But training is going awesome.

All i need now are some sponsors and it will be all good. The doller isn't good this year and i haven't come over with much. Work hard and you will be rewarded. Life is a great big challenge.

Back in Aus. Ironman + the Hip

Back in Aus i felt good. The Altitude in Boulder and Rneo definately helps.

1st Overall Sri Chinmoy long course Triathlon, 26 Oct
1st Pro Shepparton Half Ironman, 16 Nov

My first 2 half ironman races in Aus were a wipeout for me. I was in good shape preparing for my first Ironman. Ironman WA.

3rd Pro Busselton Ironman, 7th Dec

It was amazing. I wasn't expecting anything especially concidering that a couple of weeks out my hips were giving out. I had one that was bothering me for several months, and a few weeks out from Ironman my other hip gave out. I was a mess. But i had trained so hard and too long for this i was doing it. I was proud of my 4.58 bike split and my 3.37 run. It was unbelievable for me.

After wards i went to get treatment from more people for more opinions. The verdict: i had a dead glute Min. It was dead. The glute med had been so overworked it had taken over any work of the min. 5 mths of not much running or riding- just swimming- and extensive accupuncture. It seemed to be improving. Finally. 5 mths!

THE USA!! April-September 2008

My first experience training and racing over seas.

I went to Reno, Nevada and i personally think it is one of the best places to train. I love the mountains to ride in, a nice flat trail run and masters to swim with. The weather is always perfect- with a bit of wind which can be annoying but makes you even stronger.

my races were

10th Pro Wildflower Half Ironman, 4 May
3rd Pro Memphis in May Triathlon, 18 May
12th Pro Escape From Alcatraz, 8 June
2nd Pro Oregon Pacific Crest Half Ironman, 29 June
4th Pro Boulder Half Ironman, 10 Aug
11th Pro Chicago International Triathlon, 24 Aug

This was an awesome first season as a pro for me. We also went to Boulder, Colorado. It was awesome. I was injured a few times with various things. All to do with one leg- originating from the hip. agh. we'll get to that later.

Mooloolaba 2008

My first race back was Mooloolaba March 2008. However i cramped again! I decided something needed to be done about this cramping situation and i brought it down to an overactive TFL. That seemed to help.

My New Start - January 2008

After Breaking my arm that night- after i wrote the Japanese Blog i gave up triathlon for a bit.

I just rode. I was selected for a national talent identification team for cycling with the ACT academy of Sport and the Australian Institute of Sport. Long story short- i wasn't keen on Track Cycling and the most that i achieved was a 3rd Place U23 in the Time Trial at the Australian National Road Cycling Chapionships- off training on the Velodrome. From there I decided Triathlon really was my sport and i began running again after 6mths from the sport.

Japan!

So i got selected to go to Japan on a tour called the 'young Guns'.

There are two races, Gamagori and Shitchigohama.

I raced in gamagori and although posting an ok time i wasn' happy with the race. I started off with a bad swim, getting dropped and missing the bike pack. It was all over from there where i lacked motivation to chase down the leaders and i was lacking race fitness after not racing properly for quite a while because of my shingles.

The next race is tomorrow and after 2 weeks of more intense training and the previous race i'm ready to give it another crack. There are 20 girls in the race, mainly from japan but 1 other auzzie, a girl from gret britan and another from Korea.

the course should suit me alot better with a few strength climbs in it and an ocean swim.

Lets see if i can let her rip and kick some japanese ass.