Train and Travel

One more week at home and then it is back on the road. Training is going well. The past couple of weeks have been very tough, but I know come this time next week I will have a good couple of days to recover. Once again I will travel to Columbus overnight next Tuesday and then do the annual over night road trip from Ohio to Panama City Beach on Wednesday. Doesn't sound like great race prep, but it has worked in the past.

Here in Victoria we have put together a great swim group with the help of Clint Lien. We are in the water together Tuesday and Thursday mornings and it is 90 minutes of solid work. We get 4.5 - 5km in and (so far) they have been tough sets. There are a number of talented long course athletes coming up through the ranks here in Victoria and it is fun to see them improving. These guys (and women) are talented and they have the right attitude. They will definitely leave their mark this year.

Tomorrow night; Vancouver Vs. Chicago. Should be a great series. Go Hawks!

Pre Swim Coffee

Ironman NZ 2009 25th Anniversary

Big Week

This has been a tough week!
After the 370km on the bike last weekend everyone on the team is feeling it so I am not alone. The hardest part when you are this fatigued is just getting out the door to start the workout. I am always surprised at how things actually start to feel better once I have warmed up. I think I know why the guys in the tour ride on the rest days. It is when you stop for a day that things get tougher the next day. Having said that, I am very grateful for this rest day and I know that I will have 30 team mates waiting to ride tomorrow so there will be no choice but to get back on the bike.

Parksville (in pictures)

Another epic weekend of training with HPR.
The weather co-operated and everyone did fantastic.
Thanks gang!

Parksville 360

This weekend will mark the 4th annual Parksville 360km ride.
What started out as a credit card ride with 4 of us riding 180km up to Parksville, staying over night and returning the next day has turned into one of the big HPR weekend events. This time around we will have 4 support vehicles, about 20 riders and a number of rooms at the Paradise Sea Shell Motel. The past couple of years we have had great weather (one year we had a tail wind both ways). I hope I didn't just jinx us, but at least Saturday looks pretty good.

HPR Fishing Trip

Actual footage from the HPR fishing trip in February. Mr. Rob Dibden was the one reeling this guy in. Kevin was swimming beside the pi$$ed off shark with a camera (ok, the camera was on a stick). And yes, he was released and is still swimming somewhere off the Kona coast. Good Fish!

10KM & 12 PAWS

Not a lot to report these days. Training is rolling along with Gulf Coast being the next race on the radar. I may jump in the TC 10km to see if I can get the Ironman legs ticking over for 10km but Randy and I will make that call closer to the day. The last time I signed up for a 10km I proceeded to get injured in the week leading up to it. Yes, I am a bit superstitious about such things. Other than that, all is good. Rach is in Port Alberni for the weekend so I am getting a taste of what she went through for 3 weeks while I was away. 3 Dogs = 12 paws that have to be wiped off every time they come in the door. Chaos!

Trapped - Vancouver March 31, 2008

Just had to follow up the last post with a "musician" I admire and does seem to keep the old ego in check. Rach and I also had the good fortune of being about 10 rows back at this show.

How to talk to a child!

EGO taking over.

Back to Routine

It is great to be back home and sleeping in my own bed again.
It is always an adjustment coming back home after a long trip, but you definitely get better at it over time. After a week of feeling totally exhausted I am trying to get back into the old routine this week. It tends to go something like this;

5:45 - Dogs get me up
6:00 - Breakfast
6:30 - Check email/schedules
7:00 - Head out to the pool
7:45 - In the water
9:30 - Out of the water
10:00 - Breakfast #2
10:30 - Check email/ work
11:00 - Short nap
12:00 - Snack
12:30 - Bike, Run or both
4:00 - Finish 2nd Workout
5:00 - Dinner
6:00 - Coach HPR
7:00 - Drive to Commonwealth Pool
7:30 - Coach ITRI
9:00 - Home for 30 minutes of TV/Check email
9:30 - BED

That is a pretty typical day in the life. Obviously there are a number of things that get thrown into the mix; athlete meetings, massage, chiro, weights, dog walking etc. etc. But that is pretty much the way things go on a day to day basis, and I truly enjoy it, everyday.