It has been nearly 4 months of cold, wind and rain but the signs of spring coming to New Zealand have been very prominent this week. Lots of sun, warm weather into the 20's in some areas and little lambies in the pasture is very promising.
I have decided to make the most of this lovelly weather and headed up to Auckland for the week for a big training week. What was to follow was 5 days of some big miles in the hills South of Auckland and the Sea Bird Coast a favourite area of mine and yes Kirky I actually did see some this time.
I am 3 days in now and have just got back from 18Okm ride through the Hunua ranges. Tommorrow I am off into the country side again for 2.5 to 3hours run, so I am busy packing in the Calories and Leppin Endurance products to get me ready to hit it all guns balzing in the morning.
The weather has been fantastic so far I have even managed to get myself bit of a cyclists tan, lets hope it stays this way for a while.
Friday, August 28, 2009
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Watt the!!!
Now alot of us will identify Triathletes out on the road, they will be the ones with the latest blinged out time trial bike generally from Cervelo, Scott, Giant or one of other the big bike manufacturers. This is all is the quest for more speed come the next big race. .However this quest for speed does not stop at bikes. It goes on to expensive deep dish carbon race wheels, fancy carbon aero bars, special aero dynamic shaped helmets and even specially designed aero drink bottles and holders. This is known as a training buddies wife says "Tri Bling".
Now I am not going to say that these things do not make a difference, because they do and when you are racing for the top these are very important things to have. They are all investments into speed, In that way I am very fortunate to have the support a fantastic bike sponsor in Jamis Bikes who kit me out with the latest Xenith T1 tri bike.
However I have just recently acquired the ultimate so called "tri bling", or as I see weapon to unlocking my potential on the bike, A SRAM SRM Power meter. This is built into the cranks and chain ring (as pictured) and mounted on the bike. What it does is measures the force going through the crank on every pedal stroke I take and sends the power in Watts to a Powercontrol computer (pictured above) I have mounted on my bars. It allows me to see the effort that I am putting in during a training ride or race and then control this power within a certain zone depending on the type/intensity of training I am doing that day. When I get home I then upload this data to my computer and can analyze my training in a way that helps me understand what my strengths are and what I need to improve on. Its like having your coach with you on the bike all the time.
I have been using it for 3 weeks and I would have to say outside a good bike, this is the greatest investment that one can make into going faster.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
KONA PREVEIW
Check out this cool video. This is what the World Ironman Championships and the ironman itself are all about.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
90 more.
Its 90 days to Kona and the Ironman World Championships, that means its time for some big work to go into training.
This last week has been a chance for me to have a break from training, relax and re charge the batteries before the big work starts. The break has really been the trick as I am now itching to get out there again and build on a good base i have built up over the last few months. Come monday morning I will be firing to go again.
Then its a case of let the countdown to Kona begin!!!
This last week has been a chance for me to have a break from training, relax and re charge the batteries before the big work starts. The break has really been the trick as I am now itching to get out there again and build on a good base i have built up over the last few months. Come monday morning I will be firing to go again.
Then its a case of let the countdown to Kona begin!!!
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Lets go Racing.
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.
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.
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.
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