Full Disclaimer- I had not prepared for this event.
Big Shout out to MUM and Chris for providing me support all day and Chris for being my handler on the run.
When people name off Australia’s “best” Triathlon events, NOOSA, Mooloolaba, Cairns Ironman. The Elite Energy Alpine Ascent does not normally come to mind.
Capped at 100 Participants the Extreme event is a 3km Swim, 115km Ride with 3000m of elevation, and a 22km trail run to the top of Australia. For the brave hearted or stupid the race starts at Lake Jindabyne, the 3km Fresh water swim is very fresh at 15degrees taking in 3x1km loops. Transition is set up on water’s edge, an extremely casual affair where some were taking a lot of time to prepare for the 115km cycle. The bike leg differs mainly in elevation compared to most triathlons but also the change of weather in alpine conditions means you need to be prepared for any situation. With rolling support along the way, I chose a simple approach of 1 bottle on the bike, a medium weight jacket, shoes and socks. I found this a very simple approach and one that I could get done quickly and change along the route if needed. I lead out of transition with a minute lead and started the 115km Bike.
With a solo ride on the horizon, I sat off at a good pace trying to capitalise on the lead I had built up. Not really thinking of the 7hour day ahead. I reached the top of the first climb (dead horse gap) after 90min of racing with 1 other and a couple minutes lead on 3rd. We turned and headed back down to Jindy before starting our second ascent to Charlottes Pass.
The wheels started to come off as we approached the toll gates and was not able to hold the pace of the lead rider and 3rd and 4th (eventual winner) who came pass like he was on a motorbike. I proceed to eat and drink and hope that I could consolidate my position up the 2hr climb and get to the top without too much damage. But the cramps started to attack and with 20-30min to go on the bike I was just pedalling for fun.
The run awaited me, with a 11km journey up to the top of Australia. The run was beautiful, and I wish I had the legs to do it justice, but it just wasn’t to be. The first 11km uphill was tough above 1800m of elevation and the 11km back down still hurt but in the end, I crossed the line after 7hours of racing.
This event could be one of the most prestige’s events in Australia if run with a little less of a relaxed approach. Elite Energy do hold some fantastic events and I hope the work that gets put into events like Husky can filter across to the Alpine Ascent. This event could draw competitors from all over the world such of the likes of those who search for the world’s most Extreme events like the Norseman or Patagonman.
Will I go back…… Perhaps I would like to see the rules tightened a bit about what is allowed and what’s not. As over that distance it makes a big difference. But for those preparing for Port Mac or Cairns Ironman it’s a great day out.
Since 2015 I have been purchasing Kogel products and selling them to customers in various stores I have worked at. A brand that I have always been happy to support and back, for 2022 they have backed me and will be providing me with their products .
Kogel make some of the best quality bearings and drive train efficiency products on the market.
I will be using their BB in all my bikes along with the Kolossos oversized cages.
I will be racing and training for 2022 with Fizik Shoes, Saddles.
Contact points are the most important part of your bike for comfort. Shoes and Saddle make up the majority of comfort related issues for most cyclist. I was lucky enough to be able to test out some Fizik saddles and shoes late in 2021 and was blown away with amount of choices that Fizik provides to the customer.
Their shoes and saddles are made with best quality materials and craftsmenship.
I will be using the Fizik Antares Versus Evo R1 Adaptive Saddles and Vento Infinto Carbon 2 Shoes.
My bike for 2022 will be running Pirelli Tyres. I purchased and tested some of their MTB tyres late last year in preparation for Maui. We took over their Scorpion Soft Ground for the wet and XC RC for the Dry. I was super happy with how they performed and reached out to Pirelli to discuss options for 2022. Being here in Brisbane I am able to test tyres and talk to the tech team on ideas on a regular basis. All bikes across MTB and Road will used Pirelli for 2022 and beyond.
The Scorpion XC RC is my go to XC mtb tyre of most events especially in Australia in 29x2.4
I race road on the Pirelli P Zero Race TLR in 26mm with a Pirelli Smart tube.
I train on the Pirelli P Zero Race 4s in a 28mm with a standard tube.
Super excited to announce that I will be riding BMC bikes into the future, Located here in Brisbane it was a great fit. To be able to visit the offices and deal directly with the staff is a massive positive.
I will be riding the Team Machine SLR01, TimeMachine 01 TT and Fourstroke 01 MTB.
I am proud to announce that I will be supported by All Sports Physiotherapy at Jindalee for 2018
Thank you to Cameron and his great team for supporting me through 2018 and beyond.
The support from All Sports will endeavour to keep me injury free for as long as possible with great injury prevention plan in place along with regular screenings and treatment.
All Sports have many clinics across Brisbane, with a easy to use online booking system.
If you have a niggle that need to be looked at don't forget your local All Sports.
Subic Bay is a bay on the west coast of the island of Luzon in the Philippines, about 100 kilometres northwest of Manila. An extension of the South China Sea, its shores were formerly the site of a major United States Navy facility
Sunrise events host the Ironman Brand 5150 Olympic Distance Triathlon out of the Acea Resort in Subic. Typically known for its extreme humidity and hot weather Subic bay turner it around for this years race with massive down pours resulting in flash flooding on the run course.
After as stressful 48hrs prior to the race, I was very happy to get the race underway with the 1500m swim leg in the bay. The start of the race was not the ideal start with my goggles coming off in the first drive into the surf. This ruffled me a bit and also put me behind the everyone in the swim resulting in being caught behind some slow swimmers.
On to the bike leg to where we were treated to an immense amount of rain so much that I was struggling to see at one point. I tried to ride as hard as I could in the rain but with a trip to the USA coming up I started to ride a bit more conservative on the second and third bike lap. I cam into transition in 5th place.
The run leg was a bit uneventful with no threats from behind and the podium out of reach I settled in after running the first 5km hard. The day for me didn't go as planned but I was happy to go through the paces and get another race under my belt in Asia.
I would like to announce Powerbar as my nutrition sponsor for 2017 and beyond.
Powerbar has the most diverse product range on the sports nutrition market and has a rich history in endurance sport and triathlon, being the official sponsor of Ironman Europe and The Tour of France.
Group Sportif is the offical distributor here in Australia of PowerBar products. Please get in contact with me regarding locations for your closest dealer or any PowerBar questions you have,
Powerbar is made by athletes for athletes.
The current PowerBar product that I am using are:
- Beta Alanine Tablet
- Energise Wafer (delicious)
- Fruit Gel
- Gel Shots
- Protein Plus bar (after every hard session)
- IsoActive Drink
A race in paradise but the closest I have been to hell,
Xterra Phillipines hosted by Sunrise Events was one of my most looked forward to race of the 2017 calendar. Sunrise events always put on a very well organised and professional run event and anyone thinking of racing in Asia should look out for there events across the year, From Xterra to Ironman and everything in between they should have an event for you.
The 2017 Event had moved from Albay where last year I placed 5th in the professional field. With a much higher quality of field this year, the race was going to be super hard. The event was hosted in Danao on footsteps of a large mountain range, where both the bike and run course headed up and down and back up and back down again.
I spent the week with eventual winner Brad Weiss from South Africa, and was awesome to be able to learn so much off him in the week leading into the race. You can ready about his race HERE.
The race started super fast with Ben Allen (aus) and Sam Osbourn (nz) laying down the hammer early on in the swim to brake away from the rest of the group. The swim was a clock-wise direction rectangular course with the longest straight being into a current. It was along here that the group stretched out and I lost touch of the top 5. I exited the water in 6th place, in transition I lost a lot of time trying to get a top on and was passed in transition by 3 athletes putting me into 9th out of transition.
We were told from the start that the bike course was going to be not only physically tough but technically it had some challenging descents and some hike a bike sections. I was very angry on the start of the bike after loosing a number of places and I rode really aggressive over the first 10km. At the top of the major climb on the first lap the heat was starting to take its toll sitting around 41 degree and the time gaps between everyone were increasing. I came off the bike in 8th place with a taxing 10km trail run ahead,
The damage had been done by the time I got to the run, All I wanted to do was get to the finish, I started of running quiet strong over the first 2km. The run was across a lot of coral rocks and on a technically decent around the 2.5km mark I sliced my shoe open. This made it really difficult to run let alone run off road. I had to submit to a slow jog and walk to make sure I didn't slice my foot open.
I crossed the line in 8th place, not completely satisfied with the day considering the errors I made were my own fault. Things that I know better not to do but for some reason decided to still attempt. The old saying don't do anything you haven't done in training definitely came into play.
First big dance of the year, racing in paradise couldn't get much better then this.
Hosted by AMA Events, Xterra Thailand was located at Layan Beach, Phuket Thailand about a 30min drive from Phuket International Airport.
www.asiatri.com
The official hotel was the Dream Hotel Phuket which was pretty snazzy. With the rooms situated around a pool and poolside bar which I would reccomened to anyone looking for a modern quiet hotel located a bit closer to the airport then heading another 30min south towards Patong. The hotel was only a short ride from the start line too, which made it super easy come race morning.
The race for me was my first race under my new coach Drew Box, and with some serious work being put in over the past 6weeks we were both excited to see what I could do over the race.
The swim was a 1500m distance split in 2x750m loops, with 100m beach run to start. The pace was on early with a mad dash into the water. After the first 250m out to the first bouy the swim was already being broken up. Aussie Ben Allen was setting some serious pace up front with Kieran, Brodie and Myself in a group of 3 in pursuit then another gap back to the rest of the field.
I exited the swim in 4th position and was quick to shut down some small time gaps being Brodie and I. Kieran had put a good surge in a the end of the swim to gap Brodie and I out of the water and headed off 15sec in front of us. Brodie and I headed out on the bike together with Kieran in sight up the first climb. We settled in to a good rhythm but were not putting any time into Kieran and Ben in front. On the major climb of the day Brodie and a little mishap and I was able to get a good gap on him about half way through the 30km ride.
On the fast decent after the major climb I missed a turn arrow and over shot a corner, by the time I was able to get back on course Brodie had closed down the gap and we rode together again for another 5km. Peter Pouly a former multiple French MTB Champion had also ridden across the gap to Brodie and I and was on a flyer.
With another couple of errors on the bike I lost the wheel of Brodie with about 8km to go and was ridding by my self for a little bit before I was caught by a couple of other riders in the final couple of km's coming into transition.
The run was ugly I ran the first 4km with Marcus from Austria and we weren't holding back over the flat sections early on in the run. I struggled in the back end with 2 big climbs taking there toll on my legs. I ended up 7th on the day but was happy with the result for my first big race of the year. The swim was good I put my self into a position where I was active in the race and was in the hunt for podium result. The ride was good for about 22km, with maybe some fatigue playing part in some errors in the last few km's. I think without the extra efforts on the bike to close gaps the run would of been a bit sharper but thats racing and I was pretty stoked with the first half of the race.
I want thank the guys at AMA events for a great event. Zoe at Flight Centre for helping me with my flights, Giant Brisbane (work) for getting my bike dialled in and also for letting me go. My Girlfriend and Family for supporting me and helping fund this crazy passion of mine.
Next race with be Xterra Philippines and Xterra Malaysia.
2017 Is set to be the biggest racing year of my life with already 3 overseas trips before June.
The end of 2016 and January 2017 was all about preparation and getting in the consistent training that many athletes search for over the Christmas, New Year break.
The best thing about the QLD summer is the QLD Gatorade Triathlon series, where some of the best Australia has to offer test their training progress. Along with first timers, kids, and age-group athletes enjoy the best that local triathlon has to offer.
My racing season has started off with podium finishes QTS races at Robina and Caloundra along with a 5th place in the elite field at the 2017 Australian Cross Championships.
In the coming months I will travel across to Asia to race Xterra events in Thailand, Philippines and Langkawi. Looking to cement a position on the Asia Pacific Xterra Tour.
The most Iconic race in Australia was just one week to early for me.
After the disappointment of Xterra, it was off to Noosa to end the season on a high. I was interested to see how my body would bounce back after Maui, which was very stiff and sore after a number of falls on my right side during the bike leg. I hadn't done much all week, but after riding on Saturday I knew NOOSA had came a week to early.
The NOOSA Triathlon is the largest triathlon in the World and the 3 day festival is a must for any Triathlete in Australia if not the Southern Hemisphere. only the London Triathlon rival's it. Great weather and sunny beaches, what else could you ask for as a backdrop to this race.
The swim leg started on NOOSA's main beach and the 1500m (1700m) swim took us on a weird route across the water. The weird rectangle got the better of me, missing a swim buoy at the turn around point, causing me to swim and extra 300m, fun times. I came out of the swim 5min down on the leaders, which made for a lonely day on the bike.
I manage to ride pass about 4 athletes on the bike leg that had blown to the pace being set by the leaders and was pretty content that I had managed to catch anyone. Knowing that a really hot run leg was coming up I did calm down with about 5km to go, and rode in with another competitor. I still managed to run a couple people down but the run time was not fast and that the fatigue of Maui had settled in. Cross the line in 7th in Open but overall It was a slow and lonely day.
Time for a good rest now in preparation for next year with a new focus and a new coach.
A race when just finishing became an accomplishment regardless of the results.
When the rain came down across the Maui mountains, Xterra World Championships was about to become a mud bath and a Swim, Hike, Run.
The course was set to be fast dry race on the Wednesday before the race, the course was well suited to me and one that I prepared for. With many long sleep climbs, even the slightest down pour was going to make the climbs un rideable.
Maggie and I arrived on the Tuesday before the race on the Sunday, and after a long flight and taxi transfer to the hotel, we settled in for our time in Maui. The event was hosted by the Ritz-Carlton at Maui and it was very nice thanks to the gratitude of my Parents to be able to stay at the Ritz at the door step of the start line. If you ever get the chance to stay in Maui around the Kapalua resort, the restaurants outside of the Ritz, are the places to go to eat, Taverna was our favourite and was really well prices compared to the rest. Also the ABC shop had a good little cafe inside which was about half the price of the Ritz for just coffee alone $4usd instead of $8usd for a small flat white.
The 1500m swim leg was held at the beach of Ritz, and was a two lap 750m swim, which a long run up the hill to transition. The swim leg was hosted some good swell and was one of the choppiest swim's I have done to date. Coming out of the water in 6th I was well positioned into the bike leg.
The Maui mountains was the backdrop to the 35km bike leg, and consisted of 3 major climbs with a number of smaller sharp pinches, the course its self its not over technical and is what many would consider mostly double track instead of single track. Rain covered the course in the 3 days leading up to the race which made the bike leg times appox 30min longer then previous year and my practice lap on Wednesday (dry) was 30min faster then my race day(wet), due to the amount of walking that you needed to do, the descents were extremely slippery and made for a really dangerous bike leg. About 5km into the bike ride I had passed the leader out of the water, but after that countless amounts of stoppages and technical issues with the mud clogging up my bike, I lost a lot of time trying to just made the bike ridable. Wheels wouldn't turn due to the mud clogging up on the frame and fork. Chain wouldn't stay on the front chain ring because of the mud lifting it off, gears wouldn't shift because of the derailleur being covered in mud, just to name a few, excluding the number of falls I took.
After surviving the bike leg, it was onto the run, Transition took a bit longer then normal and I couldn't get my mud clogged shoes off because the mud and set inside the buckle. I thought at one stage I am going to have to run in my cycling shoes for 10km. The run was pretty un eventful I did pass a couple of people but the damage was done after the bike leg, and made the run really hard mentally, I face planted many times of the run, after slipping over countless times. But crossed the line 15th out of 40. Not the number I wanted, but when you can't race the bike leg,it makes for a hard day. I wasn't under prepared, I didn't under estimate the course, I just couldn't compete.
http://www.cycleepic.com
One of the first ever Mountain Bike races I ever did, years of cramping and blowing up as a kid. Finally I can say that I won the half epic overall.
It has been a long time between drinks one would say. My last Epic was 2010 when I won the u19 category beating Ben Forbes, who has turned out to be a not so bad bike rider. My first in 2007 when I stayed with my Mum and took 5hrs 40min. It has taken almost 10years to win.
The trails at hidden vale are some of the best in the country and I highly recommended they are worth the travel time if you are up here in QLD.
The race was delayed a couple of hrs start time due to the heavy rain the night before, also meaning that there would be a mass start as well so that the finishing times did not get delayed.
The gun went off and it was a race into the first single track, which was about 2km up the road. I tried to stay calm and relaxed and watch those around me burn their matches. I have learnt in this race that the last 5km can be your undoing and it is better to stay calm and relaxed at the start and to build into the race.
Fortunately enough I didn't find the pace being set by the early leaders to be very quick and I was able to sit comfortably in the front group for the first 10km. With the front group of guys being split between half and full marathon riders. You needed to concentrate on who had interest in what the others were doing so that you did not let people slip away.
Simon who was 2nd in the finish. Put the foot down on a technical up-hill section and put in a good size gap between the rest of us around 15km into the race. After cresting the first major uphill and downhill sections, the selection in the group had been made. Only my self in the half epic distance was left after loosing Robbie McEwen on the decent. I had to make the decision with 20km to go that I needed to go about chasing Simon down.
Through the grass paddocks of Hidden Vale I could see him in the distance and the gap coming back, cresting the major grass climb he was only 90sec in front of me, but Simon being so technically strong it was going to be hard to bring him back on the single track at the end. I pushed really hard over the undulating sections of fire road and open single track and was picking up the back of elite field in the full epic. This gave me confidence that I was moving forward in the right way, as I crested the second last single track section Simon had to stop with cramps making the pass coming on to a long DH fire road section.
Thanks James
All I had to do was to push on through the final climb and I was home. My first Win and probably the smartest race I have done. I want to thank James Downing for staying with me the last few KM's before he had to do a second lap.
Alot of people to thank for the win. My parents and grandparents for getting me into mountain bike riding, my Mum for taking to my first Epic all those years ago.
Maggie for coming out and supporting me for not only the day but everyday.
Giant Brisbane for decking me out with my new bike,
Gu Energy keeping me fuelled and hydrated.
Boss Money for the motivation the financial support.
Thanks to Hayden Brooks and the Flight Centre Event team for a great event, Full Epic next year.
Brisbane Premier Running event. http://bridgetobrisbaneday.com.au
The fastest 10km of my life was upon me at the Bridge to Brisbane day, a short stroll from home to the start at the Roma St Parklands, this was going to be fun.
Bridge to Brisbane is the must do event for the majority of people living in Brisbane with 30'000 participants over the 10km and 5km events, raising money for Courier Mail Children's fund along with many other charitable organisations.
The first 2km was primarily down hill including the onramp shoot onto hail st, trying to race down this is not advisable for you ankles, knees and hips. As we created the Go Between Bridge, I was stoked to still be running in the front group, with only 6km to go, as the pace increased through South Bank I was able to hold on until the slight rise over the Victoria Bridge. As I started to drift back and get picked up by a few runners and I really dug deep to keep on track to posting a good time.
Overall postion was not a major concern for me in the race, I just wanted to go fast then a few weeks ago in the Brisbane 10km event. The final dash into SouthBank, made me push my self to end coming in 90sec fast then my previous 10km and was this years PB for me over 10km. Even though I was stoked with the improvement I felt like to did not run smart and the 7km blow up was a sign that I need to work on my tactics a bit more and not just try and run as fast as I can for as long as I can.
Onwards and Upwards
http://brisbanemarathon.com
The Brisbane Marathon Festival is one of the largest running festivals in QLD running up against the Gold Cost Marathon Festival, Bridge to Brisbane and the City to South.
Hosting events ranging from 2.2km for kids up till 42.2km for the endurance minded the Brisbane Marathon has everything in between to cater for the newbies to the elite, becoming a destination event for many internationals and domestic runners.
Personally I laced up for the 10km event and after a good block of long low intensity training, I was keen to see what time I could post without any speed work added into training.
Maggie and I took the bikes down on the Sunday morning and was only a short ride from Paddington. The race was really easy to get to being held at QUT Gardens point with trains a short walk from southbank or the city and parking at the UNI its self, or a ride along the river to warm up.
Mizuno is a major partner of the Brisbane Marathon Festival and I was fortunate enough to be able to leave my gear with team in the Mizuno tent.
The race its self was a 10km loop that started around the CBD then across the the Story Bridge into South Bank via the Kangaroo Point Cliffs, over the Victoria Bridge back into QUT. a very undulating course with plenty of steep pinches and technical sections. The 10km event started off very quick the alot of the damage being done in the first 3km before the climb up across the the bridge. Two groups of 5 runners grouped about 100m apart of each other over the bridge and insured that the last 5km was just going to be about who could hold on to the pace. By the time we got into South bank we all were all solo, running pass the crowds of Half and full marathon runners ahead of us. I was starting to bring back a couple of runners ahead of me but ran out of road and crossed the line in 8th.
A solid hit out with some room for improvement.
Thanks to Mizuno for the support during the event and the ongoing support this season.
Also to intraining for a great well organised event.
As a Triathlete, it is programmed into us that we need to have some form of device to record every step of our journey. Not only to track our training but then to post on social media afterwards.
So I have made a list of some of the better options out there and what you should think about when looking at new watch, swim monitor or bike computer.
#garmin is one of the most overused #tags in the social media world. With everyone taking photos of there training times. Did you know there is #polar #tomtom #suunto #magellan even apple have chimed in on the act.
Somethings to think about when your purchasing a new device:
1) what do you actually need to know. (speed, distance, time, cadence, HR, ASL, AVO, Power, AVR, AGCT, TSS,) If you don't know what some of these are safe to say you don't need to know or don't how they can help you.
2) Third party apps (Strava, garmin connect, training peaks. Polar Flow) Do you track your data? Does your coach track your data? or are you just a then and there type of athlete.
3) Do you train in a squad and all your sessions are in a group environment? With marked our rides or runs and lap pools its not hard to work out how have you have trained.
When It comes to training devices I think that unless you are going to use all the date provided basic is better, For alot of runners all they need/want to know is time/distance maybe speed. So why is it that triathlete prefer to carry a lap top around on their wrist all day instead of a nice little watch. #statementpiece.
hen it comes to bike computers, unless you travel lots, you should know where you are going so to have a navigation system on your bike is overkill unless your blind and need a bigger screen.
Swimming, unless your swim open water often the pool is either 50m long or 25m with a clock and each end. We all did maths in school so you should be able to work out that 10x100m is 1km. most coaches even write up the session with the total at the bottom. (most coaches can't count)
The best devices on the market currently are:
Bike: Garmin 520, Polar V650, Leyzne Super GPS
Run: Garmin Forerunner 25, TOM TOM Spark GPS,
Swim: Garmin Swim, Finis Tempo Trainer
DO IT ALL: Polar V800, Garmin 920XT
Activity Trackers: Polar A360, Garmin Vivo Active.
I dont belive Garmin as a brand has got a great complete range that is available almost anywhere, they do make a lot of devices which can be overwhelming. And I like Polar's sleek and precise range that doesn't add confusion. Any questions leave in the comments below.
(I am not supported by any of the brand listed above and this post is not #sponsored by anyone, just what I think. I personally used a Garmin 920 XT for running and swimming, a Garmin 520 for riding, and a Finis Tempo trainer)
I don't really have much to say about this race after the bitter disappointment of the result due to events outside of my control.
This race was a crack at qualifying fro 70.3 Worlds on the Sunshine Coast, and my fitness and preparation for this race had be great and un-interupted until 40km into the bike leg.
I received a drafting penalty about 40km into the race on a climb as I was dropping back past another athlete, now friend David. Who's race report can be found here: https://wildtriathlete.com/2016/06/21/always-on-the-road-to-honu/
I have no issue with serving a penalty if I was drafting, which wasn't the case. David and I were riding comfy and were maintain a more then reasonable gap. For someone to show up out of no where and give a penalty without witnessing or examining the situation is not only stupid but unprofessional. And I will happily blast ironman and its staff over the way they handled this matter.
When asked about the other athletes being penalised for drafting, the draft official said that I was the only one all day to receive a penalty all day. This was after I had watched the continuous line of athletes riding wheel to wheel on my return back to T2.
In the end the race was a disaster and a waste of time and money to race fairly and within the rules and to still get a penalty is a load of shit. If Ironman are going to enforce these rules that cost people race results and a lot of money there needs to be video evidence of the incident(drafting) recored then showed after the race to back up their calls. Everyone owns some form of recording device these days and I would expect a 30sec video of the incident to prove that someone is drafting. Same as in any other sport.
Peace.
