Ride for Home Event Report

This is the second time I have done this event and this year saw me try and beat the time I set last year. This year I changed a few things, swapped from my road bike to the my TT bike, used my race wheels, got myself a Chronosuit and Aero Helmet. Yeap I was going to give this a serious hit out this year.

The weather was the only bit that was of some concern a storm was due, checking the weather when I got up rain had come through and second band would miss the course, great should be fine.

I arrived at the start line and we watched the rest of the teams take off, then it was our turn. I rolled up with some 60 other riders given then off we went, lots hit the gas earlier for a quick start, me I started off slow and built and built up speed. I started to pass people I was almost at the front, some 10-15 rides.

Me at the start line

The TT was quick, I felt good and I pushed, the Garmin data showed so the first half of the event was an average of 44.5km per hour with a top speed of 54km. You know you’re having a good day that when you’re in top gear and you’re out of gears and still have more in me to give.

Low level flying

At the half way point I checked the Garmin and I was 52mins in, yeap at this speed sub 2 hours was possible, but then the weather changed rain and cross winds. Nothing worse than riding a TT with an aero helmet with cross windows. Knowing what plans laid ahead for my summer season I backed the pace off. No need to have a big crash and kill off a race season. As wind let up and I would push, but the whole ride back was with cross winds but that’s life.

I finished the event I controlled what I could control and didn’t let what I couldn’t control (the weather) stress me out. I didn’t go sub 2 hours, but I finished without a trashed bike or a broken me.

Ride almost over

Noosa Race Report

 After returning from paradise with to Melbourne today it was time to reflect on the week that was.

Last Wednesday morning saw heap of us ahead up to Sunshine Coast from Melbourne. After making my way to the Airport and checking in my bags I headed down through security to the gate. There were some 9 other TA team members on the same flight. The trip up while a little bumpy leaving Melbourne was fairly normal no major issues. When we arrived at the Sunshine Airport we waited for our bags to come off the flight. Steve and I had our bags but not our bikes the Airport staff soon opened a door and off load heaps of bike boxes. We learnt that the Virgin flight had 18 bikes on it. The sister flight (Jetset) which had the coaches and heap more of TA crew onboard had 45 bikes according to our bus driver.

Bags Packed and Heading to the Airport

It was around 30mins up from the Airport to Noosa. Both Steve and I were staying at the Outrigger which is set right in the middle of the National Park and some 18 months old, my apartment was 5 star. Full kitchen, double shower, laundry, and it’s own private balcony looking out some bush land. In addition lap pool, gym, normal pool. The down side is it’s a little walk (5-10mins) to Hastings St with a big hill but after a few trips I don’t notice it.

View from my Room

The complex

The views of Noosa during the walk down to Hastings St.

My first thought was to unpack the bike and ensure there were no surprises. Got the bike up and running then Steve called and asked what my plans were which he too had his bike running so we thought best to get some CO2 air cartridges and some food.

Bike unpacked Ready to Roll

We walked down to the main street found information centre who pointed us at towards the closest bike shop. So some 20 mins later of walking we have the shop got some CO2 and then found a little place called Gaston for a late lunch.

The program that we were given by the coaches called for an afternoon swim in the cannel where we would be racing on Sunday. The water was warm, salty as and not very clear.

Around 30 of us did the swim for the first time and the water felt great. That night we needed up at the Life Saving Club for a feed.

The next morning was ride the bike course for the first time. We meet as a group near the star finish and headed out of town to Garmin hill. Which we grouped and then headed up the hill then regrouped a second time before heading out to the turn around. The ride at this point was fairly ok, but along the highway while riding down on the tri bars a bus came past and blow me around a little nothing bad but enough to sit up while on this section of the highway. After regrouping we headed back into town and down the back side of Garmin hill which we were told to sit up and keep the speed down. Once we made it back into town we all meet up at the start / finish before going for coffee and breakie.

Getting Ready to ride the bike course

Heading up Garmin Hill

I took the down time to make my way to the local supermarket for some supplies this involved a little bit of a walk again but it was nice to be out in the warmth of the sun. Once back at the hotel a little down time before the after noon’s run session nice and easy.  45 min run down along the river it felt ok.

Friday our programmed call for the morning off but a few of us rode bike course for a second time just for fun. It was nice to try the course again before race day and that after called for another swim of the course followed by a race briefing. During the day a call went out to help setup the team tents. I also took the time to visit the expo and collect my race kit. I got a free Giant Bike T-Shirt but managed not to spend other cent.

Once back at the start finish Ollie our head coach gave his briefing broken down into sections. Swim, Bike, Run and transition. I asked a question re dropping tyre pressure over night, I had heard about after checking the bike in that tyres explode, he confirmed this is the case.

Saturday called for the typical TA training morning, Ride, Run and Swim. The ride was over the run course so we could see it for the first time, run was around 2km and I managed to keep it at a 5:02 pace I knew that would not be the case on race day.

The swim was small but gave me a chance to try out my new speed suit after the swim I made a call not to use it on race day.  After the session I headed back to the hotel to prep the bike for the race.  Two old Queensland friends were up for the race so I meet them for lunch we had a good old chat about the race, triathlons and life in general.

Team Photo both Vic & Qld teams

Listening to the morning's program

Little Run

Swim and testing the new Speedsuit.

After lunch I headed back to the hotel grabbed my bike and headed down to transition. I racked my bike next to another TA person and just looked and transition and how large it was. Some 6000 people competing there was just a sea of bikes.

Transition Area - Some 8500 Bikes



Transition Area - Bikes, bikes and more bikes.




Thats one big transition area

 I spent the night at the hotel and pasta dinner and an early night I slept fairly well but when I woke at 4:30am I checked the radar and you could see a rain band moving over our way, Looked like it was going to be wet race. I held off long as possible going down to transition but with a close of 6am and my race not starting until 8:43am I didn’t want my gear getting too wet. I got down to transition around 5:30 checked the bike pumped up the tyres run checks over the bike, etc. That’s when I saw my team mate who had his bike racked next time mine. So we run through a checklist of things to do and once we were happy and asked by the officials we felt transition. With the wave start so late I came back to the Hotel had breakie chilled out before heading down to the team tent waiting for my race start. As the time came closer I head over to race start caught up with other TA people about to start we chatted a little. Before too long race time! 

All other races I have down have always been from the beach never a deep water start. This was ok so off we went the swim was good no issues at all I got back to transition in around 33min run out with my bike and off we went. I got around about 1km from the bike mount when I finally got my feet in the shoes and down on the tri bars, I found my pace and started to build. I got to Garmin hill up the hill and out on the highway to the turn around. Back to town it felt good as I came back into town I heard the cheers this race was going off. I dismounted before the around about then run into transition with my bike. I racked my bike drank some water then put on my race belt, shoes and visor and headed out on the run. The run was not the greatest for the first 2km or so, the sun had come out and it was starting to heat up. This saw me looking for water from every aid station for garden hose for the whole 10kms. My right foot started to blister in a place it never has before, at the first of the aid stations I stop and got some vasalne for my foot but the damage was done, nothing I could do but push on. At the final turn as I ahead towards the finish line I passed the team tent with cheers and another 300m or so over the finish line. I could feel tears build up the emotion of the event was unreal. I walked though the showers into the post race area grabbed some drinks and some food. I saw a few TA guys in the cannel cooling off so I joined them and we chatted about the race. I had just completed my first OD and Noosa with-in 3 hours.  I picked up my bike then headed back to the team tent for my bag then back to the Hotel. I placed my bike on the balcony grabbed a beer from the fridge walked into the shower with the beer, with my T-shirt, Tri suit still on had a long shower and drunk the beer. After my shower I put on my recovery tights and spent the afternoon napping, drinking beers sending a few txt messages and watching V8 Supercars on TV.



Swim over and done with



Bike leg almost over



At the finishing line

Feet up, beer in hand (ok close by)



That evening saw our teams after race party, what an event pace to swap stories have a laugh a few more drinks. One of the things I thought was great was for the first time Noosa people to come forward. To have some 160 people clapping for you was great.

Sunday night in Noosa after the race - Town was going off

TA After Race Party - Noosa First Timers

 

I managed to thank for coaches in Noosa for their support.

The next morning when I woke up nothing sore except for the site of the blister.  After a laze sleep in and some food, I took the bike out to the top of garmin hill just to roll the legs over for a lazy 30km ride. Followed by a lazy lunch and afternoon open water swim.

What an experience and I've already signed up for my next OD in Geelong next Feb and Noosa next year.

The Official Race time 2:58:59 happy with that for my first OD and Noosa event.

Belated Melbourne Marathon Report and Noosa thoughts

As I sit here in Noosa getting ready for the Triathlon this weekend I thought I would type a race report for the Melbourne Marathon.

The Melbourne Marathon was always going to be a B race and a good lead in to Noosa.

The morning was chilly but would warm up quickly so T-Shirt, Shorts and light arm warmers where called for. With over 30,000 people racing my running buddy Ellie and I headed in early and found a park around the Tan on Anderson Street hill. Approx 15mins walk to the start line. So we headed off on the way a quick bath room break along the Yarra, I always hate queuing for the Portaloo’s  let along the smell.

We got to the start line did a warm up and stretch and waited to go.  I looked at the course map the night before but I must say it didn’t give a good layout of the course just the start and the finish any with this in mind I became a sheep, just follow everyone else.

As we started it was the typical walk for a bit before you could get really running once I held a pace that I felt good about and let the rest “run off” I’ve always had a problem of running out too quickly then paying for it. Over the last few runs I’ve been better that fixing that mainly due to Mr Garmin.

We headed up from Rod Laver Arena towards Flinders Street and down to St Kilda Rd and around the Arts Centre back under St Kilda road up around the Tan back to St Kilda up to Fed Square and out the walk way to the MGC. Down and loop around and up along Bunton Avenue to the  turn around then back to the MGC and then on to do an almost lap of the MGC to the finish.  As I came around towards the finish I heard from the grand stands someone yell out “Go Simon”, later on I found it was Narelle one of the TA team mates waiting for Hubby to finish the full Marathon.

The race was solid not super fast, I was happy with my time of 56:48.

8km heading toward the MCG

On the MCG near the finish line

The next week saw me come down with a head cold so I took the week off and the following week did a little ride with the group on the TT with a run off the bike which was the not the greatest as I was still a bit sick. So kept it simple and didn’t over do it for the week. Last weekend saw the last full hit out. A few of us headed sound to Safety Beach for a Ride/Run/Swim training session, Ride was to Portsea and back followed by a run off the bike then a Open Water Swim. The session felt great the water was cold but once going was good to get an open water swim in.

Safety Beach Training Camp

Bike Turn around at Portsea Race Bike ready to go to Noosa

"The Players" post open water swim

TT was  packed up the bike into it’s case ready for the trip up north. So I passed bike packing 101.

So yesterday we got to the Airport bags checked in, bike checked in and the plane with 9 other TA crew for up to the Sunshine coast.  When we arrived and while waiting for the bags to come off the JetStar flight came in with another bunch of the TA crew. Our bus driver said that in the Virgin flight there were some 18 bikes and we know another 45 on the Jetstar flight. So it’s going to be a big weekend.

Once I arrived my first thing was to check out the bike I didn’t want any surprises. The bike had arrived in one bit no damage, so the bike was re-assembled. I had officially now passed Bike flight 101 and Bike re-assembly 101. Thanks to Coach Emma for some tips.

Bike back together in one bit

Coach Sarah had sent out a training program for us. Yesterday was swam the swim course (non-wettie) and it felt great water was not cold, but you could not see too much, but I felt good in the water.

Today’s plan is for a ride over the course and this afternoon a run. The ride was great the course is interesting but the ride felt good. I feeling good about the weekend I have only two goals for this weekend. 1 to finish and 2, to have a good time. So far the trip is a blast the place I’m staying in, The Outrigger Noosa, has been built right in the middle of the National Park with great views.

 

Bags Packed and waiting to head to the Airport

View from my room

Knox Duathlon

Today I raced out at Knoxfield at the Knox Duathlon put on by KnoxTri Club.

As I said in my previous blog my Mojo had taken a little break, today was both a mentoring as well as getting my game face on for Noosa. Friend of mine is interested in Mutli-Sport events. Good spot to start is a Duathlon, so we both signed up in the mini. Well 5 months off mutli-sport events, so yesterday I unpack the Transition Bag, my Tri-suit and found my race belt.

So the alarm went off at 5am this morning out of bed, breakfast, shower, etc. then I started my normal race day program, stretching, foam rollering, etc. On with the Trisuit and a t-shirt in the Tri Alliance colors. As far as I knew I was the only TA person racing. Loaded the car up and headed off to pick up Ellie and then had out to Knox. We arrived early but there were a heap of people ready to race. Ellie and I were talking about how to jump on/off the bike Tri style. As we were earlier the car park was quite I show her how, but suggested this being her first race not to try the Tri style mount/dismount until she had did some practice. We grabbed our gear and headed off to registration, after picking up race number, timing belt, etc we headed for transition. As we are entering in transition I saw Sheridan, another TA member, who was doing her Technical Officer roll today. We headed into transition found a nice sport to setup our bikes and gear.

Once everything was right we headed to race start, listened to the briefing, then a little light run. Time to turn on Mr Garmin to Mutli-Sport mode and race. The horn sounded and off we went for a little 2km race, now I was racing with 2 blisters on my heals from some new shoes. I did have bandaids on but still sore as, the run was good, not too much pain, the first run felt hard but the times showed it was sub 5kms. I was happy with that, enter into transition off with the shoes on with the helmet, graded the bike and headed out. Run over the mount line, did the Tri Style mount and off I went, nice fast pace. The Knox bike course has lots of turns but did manage a good speed, came back to the mount/dismount line off I got and run back into transition re-racked the bike off with the helmet on with the run shoes and off we went for the last run. 

The run was not quick as the first run but still good I finished the 1^st and only duathlon of the year in 36m 39s.

Over all happy with the race.

MoJo

Wikipedia states Mojo is magical charm bag used in hoodoo, which has transmuted into a slang word for self-confidence, self-esteem or sex appeal.

Well my Mojo has been on holidays for some time now, but it’s back and it’s feeling refreshed and relaxed.

Where did it go ? Well after doing the Half Marathon in July  I took it easy to allow the body to recover and I think it also took a longer rest than my body needed. Don’t get me wrong a Half Marathon is not easy it’s hard lots of training on the race does take it out of you too. This certain showed in the 10km Sandy Half event in August, while the time was ok four training runs certainly was not enough. I have been training, swimming, riding, gym and little running certainly feeling strong. On one recent training ride in Kew my back felt a little funny so I went for an alignment check with Dian Parry at Hampton St Osteo. Good news my alignment is 100% ok but my left QL is tight which is related to not enough movement in mid back. I was little concerned about Noosa and if I could complete the event, but Dian said that with some new exercises it shouldn’t be an issue. Well two weeks on my back feels good and my Mojo is back from holidays.

Noosa has been paid for, new bike is coming this week, I’ve signed up for a Duathlon this weekend and Noosa is back on track. Life is good.

Have you ever lost your Mojo?

Team Meeting

There is always something special about Team Meetings. To me it great to catch up with people and the coaches outside the normal training circles. They are also a dangerous place as they always seem to have special offers on new stuff.

  

Tuesday night was no exception Ollie and Sarah in the last few days before packing up and heading over to Vegas and then to Kona for World Championship and then the big one for Ollie Kona! Ollie works very hard behind the scenes to bring us the members some great stuff.

  

He had the new Giant 2013 bike range on display and some great deals. Needless to say some of us purchased new bikes.

  

Meet my new ride, the Giant 2013 Trinity Composite 1 TT bike.



Trinity 2013 TT Bike at Tri Alliance Meeting

Direction from Giant's Website

Anyone want a Fuji Aloha 2.0 ’09 – low Km’s one season of racing.

I want to thank Ollie, Tri Alliance, Giant Bikes and Bicycles Inc for putting this deal together.

In other news I’ve started my build for Noosa along with signing up for the Hazelwood Triathlon at the end of September as a lead up race to Noosa.

  

Sandy Half (10km) Race Report

This third time I’ve run this race. My lead up to this race was not the greatest to be honest I’ve only run 4 or 5 times since completing the Run Melbourne, Half Marathon in July, I have been working on bike and gym work instead.

This morning was not a cold morning but it was overcast and there was a wind blowing around 10km from North / West perfect conditions for running. After parking the car I saw an old friend Steph. I yelled out a big hi then I did my warm up run from the car to the start line followed by some stretching  then lined up ready to start. Once the race started I headed off down Beach road towards Sandringham my pace was fast an strong I felt good. At the turn around I noticed a bit of a head wind as we headed back towards Brighton.

On the way back I saw a few Tri Alliance gals & guys out on their Half Marathon, waves and thumbs up were the order of business.

As I came past the Start/Finish line we needed to head up towards Dendy street and turn around again to head towards the finish line. I crossed the line in 54m 08s

Not bad with next to no training.