Doom Day

After almost 3months is the training abis i got an email from Max Adventure offer me a last minute spot due to a withdrawal. 16 day until race day. Given i can not turn down a challenge i took it with open arms and parted with my beloved $100.

This being last Tuesday i have since been out a about testing the body to see what state it is not, it is not where it should be but i still have not peaked, i now have 11 days to peak and taper my training. Thats right i need to train to have a peak or taper? While the body contemplates how to get fit the mind has been working on the body can gain mechanical advantage over the opposition. Race wheels, aero helmet, quicker boat, shave legs, loose weight, load with caffeine these are all things which may gain me seconds after loosing minutes due to fitness.

The plan is to enjoy race and push the body until it blows up.

Got the new ski on Sunday, very happy and will give me a little more speed. Mchanical tick number one.

Training is still light first five day

Run 28

Bike 62

Paddle 18

Anaconda Forster!

It took 17weeks of training and a supportive family to get last weekend, plus Dr Phil and Family as support crew which was greatly appreciated especially in the rain of Saturday.

We arrived to Forster Friday arvo 30 degrees no swell, stunning beach weather, settled in, starting checking gear, but one thing was wrong my gut! for the previous few days leading up to now i was off colour, cramps, the runs, head arches etc... so once race brief was Done at 7pm it was dinner then bed. but given the small apartment we have bubs in the same room with us and he was off colour also, therefore after restless night with around 3hrs sleep, i was up trying to eat in prep for the race, (which could not really do) as it was now 6am. i had had 3 toilet stops by now!

4am a storm front came through with rain and wind.

DAY 1
Completed gear drops cold and wet rain, the swell was coming up with the tide, so things were going to be interesting.
8am start with a 3km run in a wetsuit to the swim start, this saw me overheat and given my condition did not set me up for a rough swim (1.9k - 500m run - 500m). The run took us around the shore line cliff and down a massive sand dune into the rolling surf, then all we had to do was swim back. Given the cliffs there was alot of re-bounding surf, so about 1km in i was getting sea sick as you were pitching sideways the whole time, got to the 500m run (very slow) mid swim. This settled me a little to jump back in to last drag home.
Out of the water very light headed and green (see pics on web) and was about to through the towel in, i battled to stand no balance, while getting Pfd / skirt on, perfect for paddling, but dr phil pushed me out to sea in my boat. Tried to settle in (13ks) with eyes set on the horizon in an attempt to settle the stomach but again alot of side swell, chop, rain and fog. But i was going better than other so picking through the pack. Half way i got spot in my vision, which did not help reading waves for runners. At the last can as we turned into the beach a jet was running around trying to guide people in as i could see this was going to hurt (1.5m swell pitching straight on to the beach). I picked a runner and headed for shore, trying to pick the rip so i move up the beach, the guy in the jetski saying go now you have a lul. So in i went, first wave popped my skirt so i was out of the boat near the beach, i was up the beach as Dr Phil grabbed the boat from the surf, i was happy to survive, later to discover the boat got beaten up with a couple of large fractures.

Happy to be on dry land and onto the bike (19k) to try to claw a few back, we road over roots, mud, rocks grass, mud and it went well as i picked up 12 places, but the gut was still not good. In a couple of the descents i could not see a thing, mud and rain filled eyes! On the bike i tried to force food in but it would not go! 3hrs in i had not eaten any solid food or gels, not good just liquid.

Off the bike for the final run home (11k), i keep telling myself get to the paddle board, then see what is left, the run was around a shore line of a lake with was alot of shallow mud and drain crossings waist deep, so got a bit of a wash. But made the legs burn after pushing on the bike. Still getting stomach cramps!
The paddle board was tough even through it was only 100m or so, the arms had shut down after the swim and paddle, so the triceps hurt, but this distracted me from my gut.
From here i was on 5-6k away from finishing a tough day, so pushed on with a pace that which was well below where i should have been. when a guy yelled 300m to go and got excited, turned the corner and it was straight up and over a large hill, 150m each side. but got there 32nd overall 10th in Category at the end of day 1.

DAY 2
A better health day 6hrs sleep, got to enjoy breakfast, sunshine, light winds. The drive to Seal Rocks via a bike drop was relaxed as we were early and organised, surprising what sleep and food will do for the mind.

After a stroll along a magical beach to the start line, we were off with a swim, straight through out into breaking waves, which i enjoyed and others did not. Got into a rhythm and got away clean, the water was clear and i caught myself taking in the scenery rather than swimming. we hit the beach around a can then back out around a head land, 2 can and back to the beach (8th quickest individual swim time 33:23). This transition was a mess crews and supporters all in the way gear spread everywhere. but Dr phil had me organised, wetty off and shoes on but no fuel belt and i started to swear! as i thought some one had pinched it! so i was not looking for to a 16k run without liquid. luckily someone had just moved and Dr Phil found in time before i ran away. I did not realise i had that good of swim until a few of the leaders started to run me down about 3k into the run, the legs were heavy as i did not recovery them after Saturdays effort. But settled in the best i could and start to run a few down. Just over half away we had 2 very large and vertical sand dunes to climb to take more sting out of the legs. Again just before the finish another climb but alot of the guiding tapes had been removed so it was hard to navigate, and time was wasted finding the right tracks (this was very common over the course, staff replaced some signs 3 times).
Off the run on to the bike (30k), and the body was firing. As i jumped into the saddle i just want everything to work as it had been filled with mud yesterday. Quickly i started to pick through the teams, this was a great ride, plenty of challenges, especially big deep puddle, with one he stopped us riding and we had to walk through as it was knee deep and rocky. 20k in the legs started to slow and then a group of us got lost and the signage stopped again? or was removed. a few guys in front of me went 2-3k up the wrong track, and we were only a 100m up when they came back. But this cost me 3-4mins. Disappointing when every minute counted to get me back into the mix.

Into the taped up boat for a 13k paddle home, the water was mirror flat, blue sky and sunshine, therefore tough on the body after running and riding now sitting the legs still for just over and hour, 10mins in the cramps start, and start to drink plenty to try to off set them, it did help. Against the tide and negotiating the oyster farm and dodging sand bars made for an interesting paddle. I rode others wakes and rested for a few k's, then when they slowed i went past, very happy with the paddle.

Out to and excited Dr Phil yelling i had a great paddle, shoes on for the last 15mins of fun, 3k run home, the toughest part was 50m up main beach in soft sand, but was greeted with a smiling OJ which took the pain away for the final 30m. The end to a enjoyable day.

23 overall, 7th in Category for day 2, 5:27:55

Results
Total Time 10:27:34 14th individual 7th in Category

First protest for kayak

The day following the kayak for kids, there was a offical protest about the new baby due to its pace, the protest was based around my boat not being a Sea Kayak but being a multisport kayak. The organiser told the person to bugger off, check the regulations and that I would out paddle him anyway!

Love it

Week 11 & 12

Week 12 - Again a low key week as i felt very drained early on, Ran BMMC Tuesday and Thursday and Ride/swim/run block Saturday, Kayak 4 Kids Sunday.

Kayak For Kids - 16km Kayak Race

Conditions that met us on the morning were more friendly than a couple of weeks earlier and with half as many boats the event had a very different atmosphere, this one was for the life start foundation for the kids. The 3 person sit on tops set off first around 8.30 with us to depart 925am. I entered the water with a few wobbles as there was no beach due to high tide and ferry wash bouncing off the stone wall next door. With a hand of a follow paddler the new skirt sealed me, which later proved to be water tight! yippee.

They yelled out once the ferry passes we will start, and before the ferry got to us the honked and we were underway, this was a shock to most as we were all rafted up in the harbour chop. So by the time we let go and got away the skis were heading for the horizon. Luckily i had a gap and pushed through to get away clean, as usual around the base of the bridge it was a mess, back wash, forward wash, side wash and the token idiot who can not paddle.

By the time is settled into a rhythm, i got away clean and set about catching a double mirage which i could use to ride, rest and drink, about 3km in i picked them up and had a good rest for about a 1km as they brought me up to 2 other skis, they started to drop off so i pushed past as another ski came up on me. Around middle head (about 11km in) was fun as we hit manly ferry wash right on the point so we had about a 3/4m swell from front and side of the rocks, the race photographer as there so should be so good pic's. As i turned into middle harbour a ski shot past on a runner which i also got but i was in deeper water so lacked distance therefore giving him around 3-4 boat lengths. Into balmoral beech and along the beach and i was catching the ski as he was not going well into the wind, 1.5k to go i had him the water flatten out and i pushed on home. On the beach where we had to drag boats up 50m and run 75m to finish. I think top 10? 1st Sea Kayak 1hr 29min. Very Happy.

Week 11 -This week was every low key with plenty of rest as wifey was diagnosed with glandular fever, so if i felt tried i rested to ensure i did not get it a few weeks out, luckily she is now on the improve and has colour back in the skin.

Fitted in 11hrs with a lift in intensity rather than distance/time with a good mtb/run block session on Saturday.

Run 28.6 Swim 3.5 MTB 84 plus 2 morning run/walks pushing the pram as bubs would not sleep

Week 10

10 down and 6 to come, thus some nervous must do big days are coming, i am planning full race simulation block session at Easter.
This week was good as life has settled back down after travelling the country. Especially after a good result on Saturday.

Aroc Adventure Race - Nelson Bay
It started Friday night with a 3hr drive to Nelson via Maitland to drop off my kayak for a repair, this does not seem bad but i opted to leave late as wifey had been crock so i want to get a boys sorted for her. I arrived 11ish scrubbed the teeth and jumped on to the fold out which was a substitute for a bed for the next 7hrs. This bed was very hard, like sleeping on a table and i found out next day the carpet offered greater comfort, gutted!. So after getting around 3hrs sleep it was time to eat and prep (6am). To rego, got the maps and modified them due to strong easterlies they removed 3 x 8+metre cliff jumps into the ocean.
The weather was crazy with great sun shine then a heavy down poor and blistering heat again? everything was a little delayed as the buses did not arrive on time, due to this some teams started 15mins behind everyone else.
We started on the large stockton sand dunes 40min bus ride south of nelson bay with a aerial photo rogaine then a sand dune run to the waters edge, total run was around 6km but felt more like 8-9k we were lucky the last shower made the surface quite hard. The first rogaine (took 3mins) we made a hash of it and left that area in the bottom 25% of team, so we had to run ourselves back into it. Onto the bikes for a 11km blat through sandy 4x4 tracks, so we were regularly pushing bikes up sandy tracks. We made one nav error to put us back into the lead bunch. This bike finished with 2km riding along the beach, with a short hike-a-bike. We were all riding well and pulling away from the lead bunch. Onto a short run where i swam to an island to hit one CP, this was great to drop the body temp, but did weigh down the shoes.
By this stage it was down to 2 team, and we were one of them as we had cleared out from the bunch. A short ride to the start of the kayaks where we paddled across from Fingal Bay to the spit which we lead off the boat as we headed from the coasteer around the head land, by the tip of the headland after some crazy rock jumps we were both together. They were running better than us as cramps started to set in so they pulled away as were headed back to the boats. Given that we left the boats so far down the beach we opted to run ours along the shore as it was only about a 500m paddle where they went out through the surf. We came off the kayaks beside each and they were off on foot the a 1.5km beach run. Leg cramps set in so we backed off and cruised in as we were well clear of 3rd. Finish the run and a 500m ride brought us in to finish 2nd 1min 30 in 2:56:08. This was one of the most intense races i would have done, the pressure was on teh whole race. In the end the body felt good and i was running well thanks BMMC! i even went for a ride yesterday.

Swim 2.1k, Mtb 28k, Run 11k, Ride 20k,Paddle 8k (new PB) Race 3hr

Week 9

This week was 4 days is Adelaide, a good run mid week with the body feeling good (15km) followed by up tempo 5k the next day. Finished on a high with Harbour Bridge to Manly paddle, 1st Sea Kayak home 1:09, slower than i would have like but testing conditions when it was only my second time is the boat.
The race started before the gun with 300 boats entering the water and staging started (thus moving 100m every 2 mins) but everyone was edging forward so they just started the race. What a mess 25 boats wide and paddles touching and bumping boats in a pea soap of chop and wash from the rocks. We rounded the first point into 15knot head wind, chop and swell, so i quickly worked out my spray skirt was leaking, leaking bad! especially when the bow went completely under. so as the race went on the boat got deeper into the water and slower it became even when i tried to push on. Ended with around 30litres in my cockpit and the boat very heavy in the water. My time reflected it, but still happy

Swim 2k
Run 20
Paddle 11km Race

Week 8

Crazy week Return from NZ monday morning, straight to work, then Over night in melbourne and day trip to adelide for work but one highlight i got the new boat!! so got in 16k paddle and that was it. 3 starts this week before 4am.