Its been a while, nearly 4 months to be exact since my last race, Ironman NZ. So I thught it was time to put the body and mind into race gear again by competing at Montys Duathlon in Whakatane this past weekend.
On a very cold, but beautiful Bay of Plenty day I headed down to Whakatane with Paul from Jamis Bicycles. The 12km run - 27km Mountain Bike - 8km Run course from Whaktane to Ohope had gorgeuos scenary but some big challenges in terms of steep, rocky coastal terrain and a steep, technical Mountain Bike course. Oh did I mention I had only been on a Mountain bike for a month.
In summary the day went well. I was amongest the leaders on the first run before we went down hill, having had a calf injury early in the year this was time to be a little conservative and think about the big picture. I was on to the mountain bike after a good run in 2nd and was riding well untill the course got technical. At this point I learnt a few things about Mountain Biking.
1. It is hard work
2. You have to have an element of crazy about you.
3. Bushes make good crash pads, trees don't
4. You can't really draft
5. did i mention it was hard work.
6. Its great fun.
After spending the last hour getting up close and personal with our native flora, it was on to the final 8km run. I finished very strong with a 27 min split (fastest split) finishing 6th Overall and 4th Open Male in a time of 2hr 32 mins. So the first race is out of the way for the season and I am happy with the progress so far, it looks like the run work I have been putting in is paying off as I have seemed to turn a real corner with my running. Onward and upwards I say.
Thanks to Paul who crewed for me on the day, the team from Jamis Bikes, that new Dakota was great, Merv and Roz from Bay Canvas for your support and major sponsors ENZA Kiwifruit.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Thursday, June 18, 2009
New Sponsors
Well as I said a couple of blogs ago there was some big news coming.
This is it.
I am very please to announce that I have obtained title sponsorship from ENZA International Kiwifruit brands.
It is a very exciting time for me having a organisation as Kiwi as ENZA supporting me in my journey to the Ironman World Champs in Kona and beyond. ENZA is Group of Turners and Growers who also are responsible for brands such as Jazz Applesand Bonita Bananas, the later is a name that is very previlant in the sport of Ironman.
I am going to be represtning the ENZA Kiwifruit brands of ENZA RED, ENZA GREEN AND ENZA GOLD. As i said before this is pretty cool, cause how much more kiwi can you get than ENZA and Kiwifruit. The later of course has great significance to my home Region of the Western Bay of Plenty, which is known as the Kiwifruit caital of the world.
I am really looking forward to represnting ENZA Kiwifurit and Turners and Growers in my racing both in New Zealand and around the world over this next year.
This is it.
I am very please to announce that I have obtained title sponsorship from ENZA International Kiwifruit brands.
It is a very exciting time for me having a organisation as Kiwi as ENZA supporting me in my journey to the Ironman World Champs in Kona and beyond. ENZA is Group of Turners and Growers who also are responsible for brands such as Jazz Applesand Bonita Bananas, the later is a name that is very previlant in the sport of Ironman.
I am going to be represtning the ENZA Kiwifruit brands of ENZA RED, ENZA GREEN AND ENZA GOLD. As i said before this is pretty cool, cause how much more kiwi can you get than ENZA and Kiwifruit. The later of course has great significance to my home Region of the Western Bay of Plenty, which is known as the Kiwifruit caital of the world.
I am really looking forward to represnting ENZA Kiwifurit and Turners and Growers in my racing both in New Zealand and around the world over this next year.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Spotting Chicks
How does someone training for ironman kill a Saturday? The answer is spending 8hours in the saddle riding 220km Tauranga to Auckland. Thats exactly what myself and training buddie Craig Kirkwood did on Saturday. We thought it would be a good way of kicking off the ironman base phase of training.
On the Jamis T1 At 7am rugged up in as much winter cycling kit as we could, we set off from Tauranga, expecting variable weather but more importantly a tail wind (well thats what we thought). The first 3 hours of the ride took us from Tauranga thru Katikati to Paeroa, where much needed nutrition in the form of a couple pies were taken on. At this stage we were looking forward to getting to Ngatea so we could turn north and get out of the stiff head wind we had been riding into since Katikati. Boy were we mistaken, by the time we got to Miranda and was heading up the so called Seabird coast towards Kawakawa Bay the head wind was still there.
This was good time to enjoy the lovelly veiws across the firth of Thames towards the Coromandel Penninsula and also spot some chicks, well i mean Sea birds from which the coast apparantly gets its name. I must say that the day was not a good one for spotting Sea birds, however Craig did seem to get some excitement out of seeing a couple of Seaguls in the carpark at Kaiaua. This theme of trying to spot seabirds carried right on up the coast untill we turned and started the climb up over to Kawakawa Bay, oh and we still had a head wind now stronger than before. Kawakawa marked the 165km mark and what would be the final part of our ride.
From here we had Clevedon, Whitford and two nasty climbs ahead of us before we hit Auckland streets. One of these climbs i was later inform as one apparently no one in the Auckland cycling community would do, just due to the share steepness of it. But after 180k of riding you still need a bit of a challenge even if that is the last time you will feel your legs for 24hours. Thanks for that one Kirky.
From sandstone hill the ride was pretty much flat all the way to Mangere bridge where we would finish up, with a hot shower, a cushion and a bowl of hot fresh Pumpkin soup kindly prepared by Craigs Mother in Law. So around 220km all up, 200 of that into a head wind (good prep for Kona) in excatly 8 hours.
Oh and i got up the next morning and went with my Uncle Ken and Aunty Judy to ride with the Counties Manukau Vets Cylcle club on a fairly quick 65km Ride which resulted in a fairly fast last 10km and a sprint finish which I managed to get up to take out. I celebrated with a couple of cream donuts.
Thanks to Craig Kirkwood, for not only the idea but the company and those great tips, they might come in handy soon. Ken and Judy for your accomodation, the Counties Manukau Vets Cycle Club for putting up a great ride and ausome company and Kylie Kirkwood and her Mum for the transport home (in a car, yahh) and the post ride hospitality.
On the Jamis T1 At 7am rugged up in as much winter cycling kit as we could, we set off from Tauranga, expecting variable weather but more importantly a tail wind (well thats what we thought). The first 3 hours of the ride took us from Tauranga thru Katikati to Paeroa, where much needed nutrition in the form of a couple pies were taken on. At this stage we were looking forward to getting to Ngatea so we could turn north and get out of the stiff head wind we had been riding into since Katikati. Boy were we mistaken, by the time we got to Miranda and was heading up the so called Seabird coast towards Kawakawa Bay the head wind was still there.
This was good time to enjoy the lovelly veiws across the firth of Thames towards the Coromandel Penninsula and also spot some chicks, well i mean Sea birds from which the coast apparantly gets its name. I must say that the day was not a good one for spotting Sea birds, however Craig did seem to get some excitement out of seeing a couple of Seaguls in the carpark at Kaiaua. This theme of trying to spot seabirds carried right on up the coast untill we turned and started the climb up over to Kawakawa Bay, oh and we still had a head wind now stronger than before. Kawakawa marked the 165km mark and what would be the final part of our ride.
From here we had Clevedon, Whitford and two nasty climbs ahead of us before we hit Auckland streets. One of these climbs i was later inform as one apparently no one in the Auckland cycling community would do, just due to the share steepness of it. But after 180k of riding you still need a bit of a challenge even if that is the last time you will feel your legs for 24hours. Thanks for that one Kirky.
From sandstone hill the ride was pretty much flat all the way to Mangere bridge where we would finish up, with a hot shower, a cushion and a bowl of hot fresh Pumpkin soup kindly prepared by Craigs Mother in Law. So around 220km all up, 200 of that into a head wind (good prep for Kona) in excatly 8 hours.
Oh and i got up the next morning and went with my Uncle Ken and Aunty Judy to ride with the Counties Manukau Vets Cylcle club on a fairly quick 65km Ride which resulted in a fairly fast last 10km and a sprint finish which I managed to get up to take out. I celebrated with a couple of cream donuts.
Thanks to Craig Kirkwood, for not only the idea but the company and those great tips, they might come in handy soon. Ken and Judy for your accomodation, the Counties Manukau Vets Cycle Club for putting up a great ride and ausome company and Kylie Kirkwood and her Mum for the transport home (in a car, yahh) and the post ride hospitality.
Friday, June 5, 2009
Big things coming
It has been a long time since my last blog but there have been some big things happening. Stay tuned for some big news very soon.
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