I am currently back home in beautiful New Zealand. It is great to be home, even if it is for a short time after a busy year on the road, training and racing. I have just finished racing the Ironman World Championships 3 weeks ago in Kona, Hawaii. It is the pinnacle event on the triathlon calendar and was my debut on the island. The conditions out there are like nowhere you would have every experienced. The winds can blow you off your bike and the temperatures hit the mid 40’s with 80% humidity, let’s not forget the sharks!
I had spent the 7 weeks leading up to the event training on the island with the 2007 World Champion Chris “Macca” McCormack. His knowledge was invaluable and we had a great time drilling each other into the ground. I was ready for the race and as prepared as I was going to be. Race day soon rolled around and everything was unfolding great. I came out of the 3.8km swim in a good position, road the 180km bike well and came off with the main group of guys and then it was off onto the 42km run. I ran the first half in 7th place and was on the verge of cracking into the top 5 when my body started to shut down and I started to run backwards. The hydration and nutrition was not going through my body instead it was just sitting in my gut. When I eventually crossed the finish line in 11th position my whole body had swollen terribly. All in all I had a great time in the race and learnt a lot that will help me in future years to achieve my goal of being the World Ironman Champion.
2009 has been an interesting year. I started off the season with the New Zealand Ironman down in Taupo. This was my first time racing over this distance. I had a great day and came in Second behind 8 time winner Cameron Brown. From there I went up to America to get out of our Winter to train and compete. Between April and July I competed in 5 events in the USA (3 firsts, a second and a something else) and another Ironman in Germany which also doubled up as the European Ironman Championships. The competition in this event was great, probably the second toughest Ironman outside of the World Championships, but the spectators where even more amazing. Hundreds of thousands of people lined the streets and there was seldom a quiet moment out on the course. I ended up having a tough day but still finished 9th.
A good rest after Germany and I was ready to prepare for the big race in Kona. So after 4 weeks at home I was back on the road and off to the Philippines. This was one of the highlights of my year. We were treated like rock stars and the whole event, which was an inaugural event, was put on to a world class standard. The temperatures were a little hotter than the Ironman in Hawaii so it was good preparation. Among the top competitors racing where Cameron Brown and Chris McCormack. I managed to have a great race and come away with the victory.
I have been home for 3 weeks and leave for my final race of the season, the World Half Ironman Championships in Florida. I am returning to the event as defending champion but with the Ironman World Champs being only 5 weeks prior I am a little unsure of my expectations. I will be sure to fill you in on my return.
Regards
