Ironman WA 2009 - 2 weeks to go

I think I’ve trained harder for this team run in Ironman WA than in any of my previous sporting endeavours. I’ve been disciplined with my morning 12km runs and I can feel a good taper just around the corner. My 12kms are around the 52 to 53min mark so not that close to 4min/km pace yet but still very tidy.

One of my Gravity Zero wheels is out of action due to my Tufo tyre proving not be so tufo after all. After wasting most of my Pitstop trying to pump it up, I am resigned to getting a new tubular tyre. My son has a new red XR6 ute so he has kindly agreed to let me use it to get down to Busselton for the Ironman.

Our team is progressing well. Ash, our swimmer, had a tough 5km swim race last week in very rough conditions at Mullaloo/ Innaloo. Waves were crashing in on her affecting her ability to simply take in a breath. She restricted her race to just 3.8kms and did this in 80mins. I would reckon she has a 70min swim in her for Busso around the jetty.

Liz has her P3C Cervelo and new Zipp Zedtech wheels and has now put in lots of long solo efforts on the bike. Still, its a hard gig to ride 180kms. I think we may have placed her other half as a team cyclist for a team in need. Its not many people you can approach to help with a 180km cycle effort. Still, Brendan McSweeney is just an animal and can sustain a very high heart rate for a very long time. Much like Troy Coulthard - time trialling animals!

I don’t think we’ll go to the Carbo loading night, as highly as I recommend it to first time Ironman competitors. Pretty much have the whole week off leading up to IMWA but we dont’ arrive to our Beachlands digs till Thursday.

I had my brother visit from Melbourne. He has some sort of sporting pedigree, at one stage making the Richmond Footy team in Reserves. Of course, back in 1982,  the AFL/ VFL was a different caper. My brothers and I used to make lots of money selling papers to the huge banks of footy traffic leaving Waverley Park along Springvale Rd (cnr Ferntree Gully). Lots of papers sold, lots of tips! My brother shouted us dinner at the CBD restaurant in the city last Thursday then,on Friday night, I met up with my uncle (Rev Frank Sheehan, chaplain at Christchurch Grammar), his wife Camha and my son for a great meal at the Viet Nosh in Nedlands.

Dee is still maintaining her fitness and her distant aim is still to do the Perth Marathon next year. If her hip flexor and scoliosis settle down, this should be achievable.

Won’t be too long till I can pick up my Giant Bowery from Runner’s World. I enjoy my daily bike commute. Pretty trying, wet windy conditions of late. Cycling home is interesting as not many serious insects like being passed by a 45yo bloke on an all-steel Colnago.

The Great Perth Bike Ride is on this Sunday but it doesn’t fit neatly into my training plans. I have a 20km run to do around Deepwater Pt on Sunday morning so I’ll aim for a 6am start from the rowing shed for 3 laps.

The week after, I will again be running around Deepwater Pt circuit except that at Mt Henry I will go out to Regent St to make the lap 7.5kms. This will be a 2 lap effort as part of WA Marathon Club. It says I should do this as an easy effort but in a race I can see me trying my best on 29 Nov.

Some mates of mine have successfully nominated a Rottnest Channel Swim team. I was originally in this team but I’ll help with logistics instead , trying to get a support boat and crew organised for them.

With only 2 weeks to go till IMWA, diet becomes important, sleep, tapering down in training efforts and checking all your gear. Remember your bike stays checked in overnight so don’t max out your tyre inflation overnight. Leave them a little underinflated and top them up on the morning.

I’ve been following Jessica Watson’s sailing blog, the 16yo attempting to circumnavigate the globe. She’s crossed the equator and now heading to Cape Horn and the Roaring Forties (I thought it was scary hitting the ‘roaring forties’ myself!!!)

Koops (Dave Koopu) , my workmate, will do his last 100km bike effort tomorrow with a mate. I would reckon he would be getting a little nervy at this stage. I read a race report from a friend of his, Mike Henry, who knocked off IMWA in 2007 in under 12hrs.

Good luck to all of  you in final preparation for IMWA. Soak in the atmosphere, the build up, the parade, the merchandise. Ok, so you’re actually going to have to do the race as well!!!

I will give all of you individual competitors maximum respect on the day. I’m aware that even though I’m doing a marathon, I won’t be going through the huge effort of tackling all 3 disciplines.

Weather warming up briefly, a bit windy so hopefully this settles down a bit on the day.  Don’t leave your checking of equipment till the last minute. Get those new goggles, tyres, bento boxes, carboshotz, etc

I want to give kudos to Dr Stephen Stick (yes I’m naming him) for only realising around 2kms into his paddle leg at Anaconda Augusta recently that he’d left the bung out. A sinking feeling!! Well done also to WA legend Sean O’Neill who’s definitely found an extra niche in adventure racing.

Well done to Cameron Meyer. How much cycling talent is in Western Australia???

In the words of all my sub-continent call centre friends, you all have an excellent day!!

CHRISTO