Well ticked the IM box. 226km is a long way in the course of one day, also didn’t help when my calf played up at the start of the run. Back in 2013 Ollie and I had a chat which I said never will do an Ironman. Ollie said one day which I said no to. Ollie your a judge of good character one day has happened.
My Ironman journey started some 2 years ago with the build of Busso for Pam while I complete my 3rd half Ironman in 1 year. I had never cycled 200km in one day, I had a great year of racing in 2017. While at Busso I got accepted to race offshore; I loved seeing on TV - Escape from Alcatraz and wanted to do it years. The plain was to race an Ironman in 2018 but the call to San Francisco was too great so I went there and punched that ticket which was an amazing experience and one I wish to do again soon. I raced Sunny Coast half Ironman then started build with Pam for her second Busso Ironman I started to think about what’s next. Pam and I had a amazing time at Noosa and continued the build Busso and Western Sydney half Ironman for me. Western Sydney was one week earlier than Busso so it worked out perfect. Western Sydney is an amazing race but it was a hard day for me. That’s where I officially said I was done with this distance and retired from half Ironmans.
At Xmas time I had a chat with Pam and Ollie to discuss the idea of racing Cairns Ironman. With the nod from the coach and my main training buddy onboard we slowly started the 6 month build. Unknowns to me could I run more than 24km in one hit could I do the distance slow and steady was the approach. Pam, Fik and I started looking at endurance events but as training. We did what seemed like crazy things to others but little tests for us. Swimming at Half Moon with the crew all 3 of us qualified for the Rottnest 20km swim. We swam at Mount Martha Mad swim on Australia Day. Lots of long swims with and without paddles to build strength which paid off. Bike rides 100km plus Dandenong hill work. We rode to Emerald lake we saw Puffing Billy before moving back to beach rd rode and our TT’s. Fik upgrade her bike and joined us, sometimes joined by Jane, Jemma and Greg K to keep us all honest. Pam and I remarked when we made it back to Point Nepean which we had been there before we are at the edge of the world a quote given by Brett to Point Nepean.
Sunday’s gave away to endless loops from Brighton Baths to St Kilda to emulate the course. Some people must have think I was nuts running up and down the same old beat path but it’s race simulation. I recall doing my final 34km run thinking I feel some what good and this will be done.
Where there road blocks yes weather was one we swapped our Saturday Sundays programs a few times. Finding time is another basically giving up your weekend for months. We lost a friend Michelle in a tragic accident which was hard on those knew her well. These tests make you mental strong. Ironman is not easy it’s meant to be hard.
Over the course of the last few days people have said to me it’s your first full. They all are surprised I haven’t done one yet. Well I have now and sorry to all those who I kept in the dark wanted to make sure I could do this. For record I hadn’t registered when you asked.
Thanks must go to the follow people
All my TA buddies and my friends for support and comments on the way and other the last few days. To the cairns crew thank for your support today . 🏊♂️🚴♂️🏃♀️
Peter and Half Moon crew thanks for the swims 🏊♂️
Greg Kaan and Stephen for you on going support and comments on rides and at work. 🙏
Kirrily for our chats and strength during our hard time. She may be gone but never forgotten. 😥
Sam thanks for letting Pammy doing these crazy adventures spending countless hours away from you plus getting me home today.
Ollie and Michelle thank so much the program the build was perfect. It works people! ✅
Andrew for all those Wednesday afternoon swims🏊♂️
Jo and Andy wasn’t expecting to see you here but thank you 🙏😊
Fikriye thanks for our rides, swims, laughs and breakfasts. 🚴♂️😂
Pam thank you buddy for 3 plus years we have been teaming up and doing crazy weird fun stuff together. The countless hours of training chatting supporting each other. 🙏👊
Will I do another one..... right now it’s beer and rest time. Race report tomorrow. 🍺
Tuesday, September 10, 2019
Sunday, April 28, 2019
Western Sydney Half Ironman Race Report
Western Sydney Half Ironman Race Report
Another race year done and dusted. I know the Australia Race season has only just started but I have been working on the North Hemisphere race season this year. It started all back last year in December when I got my ballot place for Escape from Alcatraz. My first off-shore race, it’s an iconic race for North America very much like Noosa is for us. Due to Bruce (aka a Fish issue) in Busso last year I got given a discount code to use.
I had already signed up for Sunny Coast Half Ironman and Noosa. I had a discount code and I needed to find a race, Busso entries weren’t open so I picked Western Sydney. Weekend trip up to Sydney for a little race and back on Monday, easy right? No. I trained with the Busso 2018 crew but cut the program short by 1 week for taper. Worse was I had a little dismount accident 10 days out of from Noosa so I missed this last bit of training.
This weekend had it all, it started with a delayed flight follow by flights having to Circle work into Sydney due to high winds. With that being said it was one of the smoothest lands I have ever had. Western Sydney is some hour and bit away from the airport. The Hotel I stayed at was only 10mins away from the race course. Saturday morning I did a little roll over the run course and little run. The body is feeling tied from big builds, lots of racing. Sydney in the leadup to this weekend has been super windy, dust storms, etc. but this morning there was next to no wind. I setup my bike, dropped my gear off at the gear tent and made my way to the swim start, it’s held in the Sydney Olympic Rowing venue. A fresh water swim no bay swim, yesterday the officials made the call that it’s a wetsuit swim for the Age groups. Normally this event is non-wetsuit, thank god I brought my wetsuit. Also no warm up swim, my wave start was right after the Pros, the hardest part was seeing up the rowing course due to the sun, also no currents either to work with. Lucky for me my bike was rack right at the end of row, nice and easy to find my position. Off with the wetsuit and on with the helmet and grab the bike and head out. Yesterday I drove the bike course and noticed the roads where not in great shape, lots of potholes, and poor road surfaces. My choice of not running at 120PSI was the right call. They say this course is flat, it’s not, few hills and technical with a few tight turns. Two laps of this course kept us all honest. After coming back into T2 and swap the bike shoes for runners. Just a little Half Marathon to go. The temp was on the raise, again the first half of the run course had a steady climb but once back around the rowing venue the course is flat the clouds cleared the sun was out in force and the wind increased. My feet where killing me felt like my shoes where 2 sizes smaller, but they weren’t. I recently have been advised by my Physio that I was am suffering from Morton’s neuroma (google it). It time to see a podiatrist. The run hurt, it hurt bad worse than I have experienced before, but I am glad to complete this event and if you are looking for something different in the 70.3 distance I can recommend Western Sydney. Huge thanks to all the messages of support over the last few days, to the Busso team and to Pam Fikriye for getting me there.
Another race year done and dusted. I know the Australia Race season has only just started but I have been working on the North Hemisphere race season this year. It started all back last year in December when I got my ballot place for Escape from Alcatraz. My first off-shore race, it’s an iconic race for North America very much like Noosa is for us. Due to Bruce (aka a Fish issue) in Busso last year I got given a discount code to use.
I had already signed up for Sunny Coast Half Ironman and Noosa. I had a discount code and I needed to find a race, Busso entries weren’t open so I picked Western Sydney. Weekend trip up to Sydney for a little race and back on Monday, easy right? No. I trained with the Busso 2018 crew but cut the program short by 1 week for taper. Worse was I had a little dismount accident 10 days out of from Noosa so I missed this last bit of training.
This weekend had it all, it started with a delayed flight follow by flights having to Circle work into Sydney due to high winds. With that being said it was one of the smoothest lands I have ever had. Western Sydney is some hour and bit away from the airport. The Hotel I stayed at was only 10mins away from the race course. Saturday morning I did a little roll over the run course and little run. The body is feeling tied from big builds, lots of racing. Sydney in the leadup to this weekend has been super windy, dust storms, etc. but this morning there was next to no wind. I setup my bike, dropped my gear off at the gear tent and made my way to the swim start, it’s held in the Sydney Olympic Rowing venue. A fresh water swim no bay swim, yesterday the officials made the call that it’s a wetsuit swim for the Age groups. Normally this event is non-wetsuit, thank god I brought my wetsuit. Also no warm up swim, my wave start was right after the Pros, the hardest part was seeing up the rowing course due to the sun, also no currents either to work with. Lucky for me my bike was rack right at the end of row, nice and easy to find my position. Off with the wetsuit and on with the helmet and grab the bike and head out. Yesterday I drove the bike course and noticed the roads where not in great shape, lots of potholes, and poor road surfaces. My choice of not running at 120PSI was the right call. They say this course is flat, it’s not, few hills and technical with a few tight turns. Two laps of this course kept us all honest. After coming back into T2 and swap the bike shoes for runners. Just a little Half Marathon to go. The temp was on the raise, again the first half of the run course had a steady climb but once back around the rowing venue the course is flat the clouds cleared the sun was out in force and the wind increased. My feet where killing me felt like my shoes where 2 sizes smaller, but they weren’t. I recently have been advised by my Physio that I was am suffering from Morton’s neuroma (google it). It time to see a podiatrist. The run hurt, it hurt bad worse than I have experienced before, but I am glad to complete this event and if you are looking for something different in the 70.3 distance I can recommend Western Sydney. Huge thanks to all the messages of support over the last few days, to the Busso team and to Pam Fikriye for getting me there.
This is number 8 of the 70.3 Distance and my last for me (for a while) – So whats next? Off season, sleep-ins, smell the roses and think about what is next. Stay tuned.
Time 7:07:42
Swim 46:41
T1 2:11
Bike 3:08:10
T2 2:32
Run 3:08:07
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