IRONMAN Certified Coach 13x Ironman Champ 37x Ironmans 4x Kona Top10 Custom Triathlon Training Plans
Based on how I felt racing and training from the end of 2015 I was convinced this was what was happening, but was too scared to go for a proper check and receive bad news. I really struggled to compete to the same level after that recording several DNF not being able to contain my fear in the races, until I took time out to have Benny in 2011. Over 2011-2015 I was so busy with Benny that I pushed it aside and completely forgot about it and competed very well, but towards the end of 2015 people kept bringing it up, and it really effected me mentally during, after the race, continuously questioning what I was doing, the worst times were when I was questioning what I was doing during the race. No surprise with me racing the number of full distance races I was a year, and it was very similar to what I went through in 2010 before falling pregnant with Benny. I had zero motivation for training and racing, disliked everything about being at a race when I have always had such excitement combined with nerves at going to a race and loved every minute. Now that I know I don’t have a heart condition and I have had a huge rest from the grinds of continuous endurance racing with back to back seasons, I now have a lot of motivation and excitement about the prospect of racing and training. Of course now I am pregnant so I’m just enjoying short easy, enjoyable training sessions just to keep the body moving, maintain my fitness and do what I love doing, but I now do have a goal of returning to racing. The good thing though is unlike last time when I really only knew of a couple of Ironman athletes that had returned to competitive sport at the elite level, this time there is no shortage of inspiration. I also really wanted to try and get to another finish line, as I think without that, in future years I may lose connection with how my athletes really feel at different stages of their training and racing. So hopefully you will see me back finishing an Ironman/Challenge race at some point down the track, but for now I have another finish line that I have to cross first!
Strawberry blonde retired triathlete
2013 has shaped up quite well so far, despite turning 30 which was a shock to the system for 2 reasons; it meant I was a grown up AND it meant I have moved into a new age-group for racing: 30-34. My aim for the season was to run faster and without injury, and to qualify for the world champs which were based at home – Hyde Park, a hell of a lot more convenient than NZ last year! I started doing club track sessions which basically trains you to run fast, in pain, whilst being on the verge of vomitting. Burning legs TT’s and braving the 10 degree lakes after the never-ending cold temperatures, got me well prepped once racing season was under way and I felt super confident about my second year going for age-group qualification. The swim was mostly upstream and I was so far from the lead group disappearing into the blinding sunlight and I came out way down. Roll down doesn’t roll down THAT much…. Trying to ignore my dented confidence, I looked ahead to Dambuster, where I had qualified the previous year so knew the course. More cross winds and with the sun raging down, a club mate Fiona overtook me half way in and I thought if I can keep within a couple of minutes of her, I might scrape into the top 4…. I came in at 2:24, a massive PB by 7 mins but knowing the quality of the field, was unsure if it was enough. The most local race at just 0.5 miles from my house, it’s a series of 4 aquathons and the best ranked person gets a mug, that’s right, you heard it right, a mug. The first 2 races went well, helped by some cold and wet weather which scared off the fair weather athletes, I bagged gold and then silver. By the 3rd race, the sun had come out welcoming more competitors and I slipped down to bronze, dammit. The friendly race director pointed out it was funny I was moving down every week…. The last race came after a week celebrating turning 30 in Ibiza which involved lazing around, drinking and dancing till the sun came up so it’s fair to say I felt slightly unprepared.
The Monday Round-Up: Bozzone Breaks Drought
After 10 years of trying and four times runner-up, Terenzo Bozzone won Kelloggs Nutri-Grain IRONMAN New Zealand, taking full advantage of perfect conditions to record the first-ever sub-eight hour victory in Taupo. While the 33-year-old has accomplished 20 career wins including a world title at IRONMAN 70.3, he has struggled to come to grips over the full IRONMAN distance. The breakthrough came at IRONMAN Western Australia in 2016 and his three wins have all come in sub eight hours. In the women’s race, Britain’s Laura Siddall went one better than last year to win the women’s title, backing up her IRONMAN Australia victory last year. Follow your age group athlete’s progress throughout the race on the IRONMAN Athlete Tracker. Women For Tri welcomes three Brand Ambassadors to the 2018 team: Minda Dentler, the first-ever female hand-cyclist to finish the IRONMAN World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawai`i in 2013; Julie Moss, a trailblazer for women in long course triathlon who brought significant exposure to the sport with her 1982 finish at the IRONMAN World Championship; and Samantha Warriner, a standout triathlete and competitor for New Zealand in triathlon at the 2004 Olympic Games. Last weekend’s racing news was dominated by the long-sought IRONMAN New Zealand wins of Laura Siddall and Terenzo Bozzone. Celebrating its seventh year, the IRONMAN Legacy Program has this year granted 100 IRONMAN athletes the opportunity to compete in the prestigious IRONMAN World Championship. To be eligible for selection through the program, athletes must have a) completed a minimum of 12 full-distance, IRONMAN branded races, b) have never started the iconic IRONMAN World Championship, c) have completed at least one IRONMAN event in each of the two previous seasons, and d) be registered for an IRONMAN event in the qualifying year. Gear Up. Get your IRONMAN mystery box now for an over $75 dollar value in IRONMAN gear! This popular annual offer sells out clean every year, so jump now to gear up with jerseys, jackets, visors, and more!
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