Tauranga Half Ironman

I am not sure what to think about my race at the Tauranga Half Ironman.

I finished in 17th place overall, same as last year (average), but 2min slower (negative). I was 3rd age grouper, same as last year (average), but won my age group, was 2nd last year (positive).

picture quality (average)

I swam about the same time (average), despite this year’s awful currents and a mean out-going tide (positive); I rode about 8min slower despite riding a tri spoke front wheel and a disc on the back (negative), but I did manage to run 7min faster (positive), but probably cause I didn’t ride as fast (average)...

3 x positive

5 x average

2 x negative

I think that about sums it up....average, however I guess I shouldn’t be so blasé I am now the 2009 National Half Ironman Champion 35-39yr (positive)....the cheques should start rolling into my mail box any day now

4 x positive

5 x average

2 x negative

Slightly above average then...

Full results here

Probable DNS – Ironman NZ 2010

I am currently in a position where I won’t be doing Ironman New Zealand in March cause I literally can’t afford the $805 entry fee & the $1000 accommodation charges. I find it frustrating that a lack of money will exclude me from competing. I would have been able to compete if my car hadn’t broken down just prior to Christmas and is now going to cost me $3k plus to repair (fired turbo).

It’s an interesting position to be in as I really want to compete, and I still feel like I am going to be wading into Lake Taupo on race morning full of nervous anticipation, but the reality is I just can’t see how I am going to be able to do it...especially with the entries closing on the 17^th January. Right now I would say that there is about a 10% chance of me being on the start line.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas Everyone.

Racing in Vegas

Once again the Rotorua Half Ironman delivered on its promise of being one of the toughest half’s around. I woke up at 5am on race day to hear the wind howling outside, I looked out the window and could see white caps on the Blue Lake....gulp....it’s going to be a tough day at the office.

The swim was tough, but mainly because I am crap at open water navigation; and lost a fair amount of time as I zig-zagged all over the course. However, I was pretty pleased with myself when I exited the water in about 15th place, but to be fair I was already about 6min down the eventual winner – Guy Crawford of Blue Seventy. I swam in my new Blue Seventy Helix wetsuit, and man I could seriously tell the difference in flexibility over my old wetsuit. The shoulders in the Helix feel like that are completely free from the suit, and the thickness though the legs and arse make it very buoyant. If you are thinking that you need (or want) a new wetsuit, you should seriously look at the Helix.

The ride was always going to be tough, as I haven’t done much long riding over the last couple months, but I seemed to be going ok until about 70km. The ride is very a picturesque out & back course; I got to the turnaround in 10th place, but sadly, the way back was into the previously mentioned wind. I started to struggle with about 20km to go and was caught couple of riders. As you can see from the map and profile below it’s not an easy bike course.

The run actually went better than I expected, I have done so little training. I thought that I would be in the hurt box off the bike, but I ended up running a 1:22 half (somehow the results had me at 1:28). I managed to run myself into 5th place, only one place worse than last year....so not too bad.

Swim 32:02

Ride 2:41 (incls both transition times)

Run 1:22

Next up is the Tauranga Half Ironman on the 9th Jan 2010... I better start training J

World Wide Web and beyond

When I created this blog it was done on a bit of whim, and I really didn't know how I'd use it....and I am probably still a little unsure.

Anyway, at that point I loaded a stat counter that I saw on someone else's blog. I thought it would be pretty cool to see where people who read my dribble are from; well you are mostly from NZ, Australia, and the USA, but there have been visits from Thailand, Hungary, India, Netherlands, Italy and the moon!

I was only joking about the moon, but seriously who lives in the middle of Australia ?

Rotorua Half Ironman - 18 Dec 09

Should I be nervous? I'm not sure, but I am. Probably cause I am seriously not ready. I have struggled to get on the bike since Kona, and I picked up a shoulder injury at swimming last week.

This race is going to hurt.

Luckily for me the Rotorua Half Ironman is arguably one of the best courses for a tri in New Zealand. The swim is the in the pristine waters of the Blue Lake.

The bike is pretty tough but very picturesque as about 40km of it skirts the edge of the Lakes Roto Iti, and Lake Rotoma.

The run is as equally challenging as it start of with a trail loop around the Blue Lake, up the stairs to nowhere and then down a large hill towards Lake Tawarea. It does a couple short(ish) loops, and goes back up the large hill and finishes with another punishing lap around the Blue Lake.

It is a good thing Hooksie provides every finisher with a cold beer (or 3).

Rotorua Half Ironman - 18th December 2009

Carbon v metal

Well I think we all know what that the winner is Carbon....all day long right?

WRONG!!

When you phrase it Carbon bike v Metal car....it’s the car that wins, all day, every day. I am inspired to write this blog after watching TV3’s piece on 60 minutes last night when they talked at length about the ‘war’ that is taking place on the NZ roads.

Firstly, IMO this show was sensationalised, and poorly represented the majority of cyclists...the cycle courier that featured in about 85% of the piece is an absolute danger to everyone on the roads, and after watching some of the footage of him in action, he should be getting some traffic tickets for his behaviour on our roads, I only hope he lives long enough to pay them! Secondly, those who ride in bunches of 20 to 50 down Tamaki Dr are idiots....yes I know it’s a nice social occasion when you get to ride with your mates, but come on, that is one of the busiest roads in the country and you take up the whole lane..it’s no wonder people get frustrated. Thirdly, I don’t understand those riders who ride on the right hand side of the white line when there is room on the left of it...I know there is more glass and crap on the left of it, but I’d rather take my chances with a puncture, than being hit by a vehicle. That kind of behaviour is just being a dick, stay left and let motorists passed.

Now, before you think I am having a crack at cyclists, even though I am, cause let’s face it there are some idiot riders out there....I also think there are a lot of inattentive and deliberately dangerous driver on our roads. We (as riders) have all had near misses that were only near misses because we were paying attention to the clown who wasn’t watching the traffic....thankfully those a few and far between. Also, most riders will also know what I am talking about when I refer to the absolute wanker who will try and get as close to you as he can, and sometime they might add in a honk, a shout-out or even throw water bomb just for giggles...IMO these are the ones I think we need to address, they are so so dangerous. I wonder if they would do the same thing to their mother, father, daughter or son? The mind set of these individuals is truly puzzling.

Here are some sobbing facts for you to think about;

• The number of cyclists killed or injured has been trending upwards since 2004, at a time when the total distance spent cycling as a means of transport has fallen.
• On average, 11 cyclists are killed per year on New Zealand roads, 2.6 percent of all road fatalities.
• In 2007 approximately 330 cyclists were hospitalised or killed from crashes involving motor vehicles.
• Cyclists have the second highest level of risk per time unit travelled of all road users.
• Cyclists are found to have primary responsibility in only 27 percent of all cyclist-vehicle crashes in which they are injured or killed.

The final factoid tells a sad story, however that’s doesn’t make our (cyclists) position any stronger, because a metal car will always beat a carbon bike....stay left, ride smart and be alert.