Tinbum Triathlon

An annual event in Golden Bay where we have our cottage, I’ve never been around when the Tinbum triathlon race was held. This year the stars lined up for me this year so I was able to participate. It was also the first day of my taper towards Ironman Australia so what better way to start but with a small, local race.  Small and local yes, but like all other triathlons in the area very competitive … for some.

World Naked Bike Ride Day: The (semi) Naked Triathlete

My last day of major training for Ironman Australia was another race rehearsal. The 180 km bike ride ended up at our cottage in Golden Bay and I then had a run along the waterfront. My timing was impeccable for the following day was Naked Bike Ride Day, and it was starting just a few kilometres from our cottage. My wife Lis suggested that our German/Canadian friend Anke and I do the ride and we were game—Lis declined on the excuse that someone needed to take the photos. Neither of us were exhibitionist enough to go fully naked, but we did keep our clothes to the minimum … But don’t read any further if you don’t like naked bodies!

Race Rehearsal #2

Ironman Australia is just over two weeks away and my training plan called for a second race rehearsal. This was my final chance to test my nutrition plan and gear in a real race situation. We had decided to spend the weekend at our cottage in Golden Bay so on Friday I set out for a 180 km ride, over the Takaka hill, and then a 10 km run at the end of the ride.

Book Recommendation – Going Long

If you are going to inflict an Ironman triathlon on yourself there are two things I would recommend: (1) check out the free resources at www.endurancenation.us and  (2) buy this book. You will be set to go.  These two sources complement each other and the book is well worth the $15 at Amazon.com. It is singularly the most thorough guide for Ironman training through racing. 

Running the Abel Tasman Park Coastal Trail

My friend Liza was coming to New Zealand for a visit and to watch Ironman N.Z. A great athlete, who I met through the TriCats Triathlon Club, I suggested that as part of her tour she visit us near Nelson and either go sea kayaking or join me for a run of the Abel Tasman Park Coastal Trail. In the end she opted for the trail and my wife Lis organized a great day. Liza, Gary (who was travelling with Liza) and I would run the 32 km from Awaroa to Marahau, while Lis and our other friend Anke would hike part of the trail. So at 9:30 we boarded a water taxi at Kaiterteri on a perfect day for a visit to the park. Anke got the photo of us below before boarding.

Book Recommendation – Training and Racing With a Power Meter

This is one of those books which was seminal for cycle training. Hunter Allen and Andy Coggan explain the concepts of training with a power meter and how you can use it to maximize the benefits of your time in the saddle. If you have a power meter and don’t have this book you are wasting your time and money.  You should also join the ‘Wattage Group’ which is a very active online community devoted to power cycle training. Join at: http://groups.google.com/group/wattage/topics

Race Rehearsal

With just over four weeks to go until Ironman Australia, my Endurance Nation training plan had me do a number of fitness tests this week and then a race rehearsal. The race rehearsal is particularly important as the goal is not only to do a very long training session at your race pace, but also to test out things like your nutrition plan, bike position, etc. so you have time to make adjustments before the race.  My race rehearsal was to consist of a 180 km bike ride and a 10 km run. In the days before I did bike and running tests to confirm how hard I should ride/run.

Book Recommendation – The Runner’s Edge

This was the best $14.21 I’ve spent at Amazon.com in a long time.  In this book, Stephen McGregor and Matt Fitzgerald put forward an excellent strategy for maximizing your race performance. It definitely supersedes Daniel’s book on running. They give training strategies, explain how to monitor your fitness and performance, and best of all, it is all built around the WKO+ Performance Management system. I can’t recommend this book highly enough—except for the egregious error of calling the New Zealand coach Arthur Lydiard an Australian. After I pointed this out Matt did a mea cupla and copped the blame for that one—and promised to correct it in the next edition.

New Zealand – Perfect Place for Ironman Training

It is all my mother-in-law’s fault. She lives near Port Macquarie Australia, home of Ironman Australia and every year she sends me newspaper clippings of the race with the note ‘when are you going to race here?’.  Since I am starting a new job in Sydney Australia on 1 April, and the race is the Sunday before I start, I felt I no longer had any valid excuse (lack of training notwithstanding). So I plonked down my money and now have to do the blasted race—swim 3.8 km, bike 180 km and run 42 km. This is one of those good news, bad news races. The good news is that I will be doing my training for the race in New Zealand at the top end of the South Island which, as you will see from the photos that follow, is stunningly beautiful.

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