First Race Over

Hi guys, will try to make this short. Just completed my first race of the year, the Murray Man long course 2/80/20 (21km run by my gps). This was a great event so relaxed and well organised just as I expected from the Adelaide tri club that ran the event as every race they have put on has been like that.

The day started out well we had our accommodation only 150m from the start of the race so I could be completely focused and ready to have a crack. I think the water was about .6 of a degree from being a non wetsuit swim so things got pretty warm in the wetty by the end but I got out to a good start and found a good rhythm about 600m into the swim. I've been doing a higher workload than usually would in the pool and this started to pay off into the second lap when I started to make my way past plenty of swimmers and get some good water to swim in. It was a good result to me to be in the first 20 out of the water.

The bike was where things got interesting, with all directions of wind covered in the bike (cross, tail, head) it was going to get tough as there was not much shelter and I knew I had to make the most of it. I must of passed a fair few people in the first lap, as the support crew got a shock to see me back so soon to the turn around point and by the second lap I had got myself into 3rd overall. I had a crack at trying to get closer to the lead two but the wind picked up and I wasn't making anymore ground so I just settled into a steady cadence for the tough section and made the most of the tailwind sections.

Out onto the run I had about a 30 second buffer on 4th but I knew the guy behind me had always had my measure in the run and being in 3rd I knew I had to have a crack and sort of disregard my race plan. So I went out pretty hard for the first 4km hoping the tough ride had took a bit of toll on him and the small chase might just be enough to tip it over the edge. But that wasn't the case and I got caught within the first 3k and then it was a matter of trying to go back to the original plan. Well that was what I was trying to do I slowly self destructed and the 30 second buffer went to a 8 minute deficite but after all that I still had one of my best 21km(yes that's what my gps said) times off the bike for me.

Overall the day was a great success for me getting the highest result I've ever had and getting a good hitout to start the season off, and giving the new race suit a good try with great results. Once again I have to thank the support crew of Bianca firstly closely followed by Mum and Nancy for making the trip and providing the pre race hydration for Bianca and themselves. Also thanks to the Reeses for the cat feeding and the Gillins for the dog sitting. Quite a mundane race report but I'm sure I'll have some more captivating stories in the future escpecially when I hit NZ and the support crew consists of Dad and my sister Kate (I already feel sorry for Kate, after having dinner with the folks last night).

Cheers Toby

Swim start at Lake Bonney

Bike turn-around point

Coming into the finishing chute

Race debrief with my number one groupie.

Back for Another Crack

Well it has been a while but I'm finally back on the blog train, keeping everyone up to date with what I'll be up to in this up coming Tri season. With it all culminating with Ironman New Zealand. But before I get too far ahead of my self I should get everyone up to date with what has happened in the past after my first attempt at this distance.

I last left you all with a post race wrap up of Ironman Aus back in 2010. So as you can see that was a fair while ago now and for all concerned I haven't just been sitting on the couch since then waiting to have a second crack at an Ironman.

Since my last post (deep breath, this is going to be a long sentence...)
I have competed in 2010 MGC&TC 100 mile classic bike race, other local club cycling events, Portland Half Marathon 2010, Beachport Tri (I won it again), Kingston Tri, Victor Harbor Tri, Triman Torquay Half IM Distance Tri, more local cycle events, Gold Coast Marathon (Bianca did her first marathon here too), more local and inter club cycle events and 2011 MGC&TC 100 Mile Classic Bike race.

These are the events that I can remember off of the top of my head. To complement these sporting pursuits I have also managed to fit in asking Bianca to marry me (she said yes, much to Wilson's disappointment), spend 6 weeks travelling Europe, buying a new 4wd (black JK Jeep with heaps of extra goodies, sweet as) and multiple other life scenarios that seem to pop up from time to time (small house renos etc). So in a couple of paragraphs, that is the blank space between the present and my last post back in 2010.

Now all that's out of the way, it's time to talk about the future. The most immediate goal at the moment is Murray Man. Murray Man is a race that I missed last time it was run but have always made it to every other event. I've always enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere of this event and it always seems to be fantastically organised as well. This year it's being held at Bamera over a distance of 2k swim 80k bike then 20k run, almost a half IM distance.

How am I going? Currently I'm hitting numbers and feeling as strong and as fast as I have since last competing at IM Aus. The marathon followed by the 100mile has given me a massive base to start from, I'm actually a bit shocked to feel how quickly I've come along in my specific tri training. All I can hope for now is a continued injury-free season even though that has never affected me in the past. Once this race is over it will be back to the planning stage with Rob and I to sort out the main 12 week lead up to NZ. I'm hopeful that I can fit in a few smaller races.

Already one disappointment for the season is that IMNZ and Beachport are on the same day so I'll be unable to get my hat trick of wins. There is also another race that I’ll be unable to race but I also have a much more important job to do on that day.

So once again I hope to keep you all enthralled in my endeavors, I'll try to keep things as fresh as possible and as many relevant pics as I can (hopefully plenty with a background of sunshine and blue skies). Also I have a new race suit this season which I'll have a pic of with a few sponsors on (and room for more). I look forward to the comments and all the waves and honks I get out on the road (it does sort of help after running for over 2hrs). Thanks for reading and stay tuned for next time.