The Shiv

So we have been here in Kona for almost a week. Our pad that we are staying in is off the hook, it is right on the water off Ali'i drive. We have Ozo, the guy who is in charge of taking care of the house, who is also a Chef, cooking for us and Chris’s buddy Michael Gillian taking care of our massage needs and hydration while out training.

Our new Specialized S-Works Shiv (TT bikes for the World Champs) were here waiting for us and a team from Specialized, Mark Cote - Engineer and Aaron Vogel – videographer where here to assemble the bikes and film our crossover from the Transition to the Shiv. We had a great time, got some good footage and learnt a heap about the new bikes. The data is incredible, especially in a cross wind which will play huge advantages to us here in Kona where the wind is one of the biggest elements on the bike course.

Recovery after the Philippines 70.3 has been slow. I think the heat of the race up there did damage a bit deeper than expected.

Will keep in touch and fill you in on how the preparation is going.

Cobra Ironman 70.3 Philippines

Feel it HOT HOT HOT!!!

That basically sums up my trip here to the Philippines. The Weather was hot, the people were great and had warm personalities and this place is amazing. Plus I hate it in cold weather when I can’t feel my toes after the bike, so bring on the heat.

My experience here has been wonderful, we have been treated like rock stars, the venue for the race was beautiful and the event was put on at a world class level which is an amazing achievement for an inaugural race.

Onto a quick summary of the race. The Pro field, although small was definitely high quality with Cameron Brown, Chris Macca McCormack, Pete Jacobs and Tim Mar summing up the male Pros, but with prize money only going 3 deep it was going to be a fight until the end. The swim kicked off at 7am, the pace was controlled as we all knew how hard the day ahead of us was going to be. Jacob’s lead most of the way on the 2 loop course around the wake board park (which we will come to later)! All 5 of us where out together and it was onto the 90km bike. I had a shocker of a transition losing both my shoes getting on the bike. I quickly fixed this and caught back up. Most of the ride was steady except for when Brownie made a break for it at about 30km. He managed to keep away for a good 20km but we soon reeled him back in. The crowds out on the bike and run course where huge. Thousands of locals were out there supporting and cheering. It reminded me of IM Frankfurt where there were half a million spectators.

Then it was off for the 21km run. The course was pretty flat but the temperatures were well over 30’C. Macca left transition at a crazy pace that I didn’t match. He gained a 30sec lead, but was always in my sights. At about 7km I caught back up. We ran together for 5km, Brownie was not too far behind and we were dying. Running through aid stations trying to collect as much fluid and gels as we could to hydrate and cool ourselves down. I got a bit of a gap on Macca and didn’t want to slow as I knew Brownie was close and he looked like he was running fast. I made the last turn around at 15km and was home bound but I really started to struggle now. I managed to hang on for the win, but my insides were cooking. Macca stuck it out for 2^nd and Brownie came in 3^rd. I guess if you count Macca’s Maori heritage you can say kiwi’s 1/2/3. On the girls side we had Lisa Bentley 1^st, Gina Kehr 2^nd and Charlotte Paul 3^rd. www.ironman703phil.com

Once the race was over we all had a go at the wake board park. What fun! I Will get a picture of my insane move that I managed to pull next time (but when shown how to do it by the pros… and governor LRay of Camsur my trick looks almost invisible).

All in all a great trip. The community really got behind the event and put on a awesome show. Can’t wait to get back here next year.

Off to Kona tomorrow, will be in touch once I have settled in

Cheers

T

Australia to the Philippines

I Have just arrived in Camsur, Philippines today. The weather is super hot and humid which is great because the fat is just dripping off my body… or at least the fluid is. The Cobra energy drink 70.3 is on Sunday and although the pro field is not that large the quality is definitely here with Chris McCormack, Cameron Brown, Timothy Mar and Pete Jacobs competing. Check out the attachment and have a look at the race website http://www.ironman703phil.com/tri-tans where you can vote on the Clash of the Tri-Tans (Macca, Brownie and Myself). At the moment I am in second behind Macca, but Brownie could be the man to watch on the day with his great results over the half ironman distance races this year, but you should still vote for me!

The past week I have spent training in Cronulla, Sydney with Macca. What a great place to train and hang out… and who said it was winter, the weather there has been mid to high 20’s every day. Training with the group up there which included Paul Ambrose (who is an up and coming Pro who you should watch out for) we had a great time and drank enough Coffee to last us a lifetime. Chris’s family – Emma, Tahlia, 5 and Sienna, 3 were good fun. Thanks for having me guys.

Unfortunately I finished off the week there training with a bit of a bike crash, actually a pretty bad crash. I was going about 50km/hr and hit a pot hole about 10minutes from home. I did a great superman impression flying over the handlebars. Luckily my head broke the fall and even luckier I had my specialized helmet on. I managed to get a lift back to the house in a kind persons car and got patched up. Then I packed my bags and got ready for the flight up to Manila on Philippines Airlines the next morning.

Things are starting to loosen up. One of Macca’s advisors who is also a muscle therapist is up here with us and he has been looking after me. Should be back in fine form come Sunday.

Will be in touch after the race

T

My Magic Box

Just finished packing and about to head on my way to the airport. I always over pack, but Kelly is not with me this time, so she can bring the kitchen sink in a couple months when she comes to meet me in Kona.

From the above picture I bet you are wondering where my bike is? Well my dad, the legend has just finished Mach 2 of the Carbon Magic Bike Box and my tiny Specialized Transition is hiding in there, along with 2 Specialized helmets, my Zipp race wheels, several pairs of K Swiss shoes and a few other bits and pieces of ARX, Profile-Design, Aqua Sphere and a few copies of the Pure Indulgence Chocolate cook book purchased from the Stellar Trust, www.thestellartrust.org.nz . The case, fully developed and padded weighs in at 5.5 Kg’s and altogether with my gear is an amazing 22kg’s. Bring it on check in ladies, there is no way you are going to charge me for my bike… I hope.

What else do I have – well a big Oakley luggage bag with my Tempurpedic mattress overlay for good night sleeps and recovery along with my clothes, weighing in at 24kg’s. A Zipp Wheel bag with my training wheels and some other small bits that I couldn’t fit anywhere else and my Oakley back pack.

Should be able to get around the airports without a trolley and without a sore back.

Off for a quick stop in Sydney before heading up to the Philippines 70.3 race on the 23^rd August then onto Kona to get fit for the IM World Champs.

Will keep you posted with how things are going, until then T out.

Philippines 70.3 on the road to Kona

After having a good rest after Ironman Germany it is back into the hard yards in preparation for the World Ironman championships in Kona. Surprisingly and thankfully my form did not drop away too much, I put that down to all the millage in the legs from this Ironman training the past few months.

I was a great off season relaxing and hanging out with friends and family. I made it down to the snow a few weeks ago with my girlfriends dad and sister Nikki, unfortunately the weather was not great but we did manage to get a couple half days boarding and besides a few aches and pains from using different muscles I escaped in good nick. I managed to keep relatively chilled out and not too busy, but I am paying the price for that now with a never ending list of things to do before I leave New Zealand next week that just keeps getting longer.

I have also just confirmed that the Cobra Energy Drink Ironman 70.3 Philippines will be a new addition to my race schedule leading in the World Championships. It takes place in Camsur, Philippines on the 23^rd August, so I have another two and half weeks to get on top of my form so I can give Cameron Brown and Chris McCormack a good run for the money. It will also be a good way for me to test the heat and see how my body handles it in preparation for Kona.

I leave NZ on the 12^th August to do a week’s training in Aussie on the way to the Philippines. From there I head to Kona, Hawaii to do a training camp with McCormack. I plan to base myself for the remainder of my build up leading into Kona so I can work on my tan… and learn the course.

Will fill you in after the Half Ironman in the Philippines

Terenzo