Goanna Watch .......

Goanna watch

Happy belated xmas to our bloggers! As hard as I have been trying I still cannot get used to Chrimbo in the sun! But the big stuffed bird was not missed! I was a given plenty of reasons to celebrate a lovely Chrissy, some fab pressies, a yummy feed and a day off training!!!

Christmas was spent in a stunning National Park - Platypus Flats which was about 90 mins from home, with the last 30 mins being off road, 4 x 4 country! As you would imagine we were in the middle of nowhere, bliss, with the river and rapids to keep us company, well that’s what we thought! The smell of our bbq, skewered prawns, chicken kebabs and pork made not only our mouth’s water but clearly those of the locals too! Staking us out and then stalking us was a trio of Goanna’s! Persistent, cheeky or just hungry it took us various attempts of diversion tactics to keep the 3 at bay. The winning strategy, in case you are faced with a similar dilemma is chasing them with a whip style stick!

Fed, watered and still on Goanna Watch it was time for the games to commence!!! Time to limber up for a battle of Botchie. For those not in the Botchie know, which included me, it’s a Boules type of game where you have to get your ball as close to the jack. Botchie could also be described as Curling on grass not on ice and minus the hoovering motion! Without wanting to rub it in Team benben emerged as the victors! Although we nearly had to abort the game as a big black bird swooped down and stole the jack in its beak!

Boxing Day training was a struggle, I felt as though I could not emerge from my Christmas comma! The 27th I was still feeling as though I could not get into the next gear, but I had too, the teeth got gritted! The morning’s teeth gritting session was a pool swim not far off the 4km marker. A run session was in store for the afternoon, 10 x 500m repeats, with fast feet / a quick leg turnover the orders from the boss. We were running on my fav beach Boambee, which at low tide is great to run on, hard sand not the stuff you sink in, phew! Well, maybe it was my fav place to run! I realize it’s not the technical term but the wind was whipping up and it felt as though we were running into a “full frontal” when into the wind. Just to give you an idea how crippling the wind was, it took me nearly 30 secs slower to run the same distance in comparison to when we had the wind assisting us!

We had a lovely day on Wed with Kimmy, Ben’s sister in a cool spot Bellingen. Team ben ben rode, Kimmy took the car which meant we had a taxi home!! As usual the road was lumpy and bumpy to our destination but it was worth it for the afternoon chatting, chilling and coffee drinking.
I felt as though I had my mojo back a little today, (29th) and thank goodness, just nailed a tough session! (Ben never seems to misplace his mojo!) Hill repeats on the bike followed by a rolling 8km race pace run. When I say hill repeats, it meant going up and down Bruxner which is a 3.5km climb, 6% gradient, 4 times and not at a leisurely pace! Pushing a panting pace!!! Swim session in the afternoon to ensure I was whacked!!!

Within 12 hours we were back in the water, a 4km session of 10 x 400meters, call the session what you like!! The afternoon was a struggle to get back on my feet let alone pull off a run technique session! I of course did it somehow, panting featured again! To the untrained eye the run technique session would have looked like at times we were practicing skipping to any on-lookers!!!!
Today NYE, no time for buying a new dress or getting the hair / nails done, instead on the agenda was a brick session bike and run which went something like this……rain would not stop, got wet, rode 100k on the bikes up and down up and down, rain started again, got even wetter, ran 30 mins off bike up and down more rollers, saturated and starving!!!!

I have suggested we bring NY celebrations forward by about 4 hours to 8pm so we can go to bed at tri-athletes bed time! In not out tonight, 5.5k fun run tomorrow! Not sure how much fun my legs will find it!?!

Happy New Year bloggers, I won’t wish you a fit and fast one which at 8pm team benben will probably be toasting too with h20! Here’s to a happy and healthy one for you!

Be back next year xx

Our Cards are Marked......

As mentioned in a previous update, we have joined the local tri club, Sunday 18th was the last club race of the season. It’s a very active club holding sprint races in the beautiful harbour area every fortnight. For those not up with the tri jargon a sprint race is a 750m swim, 20km bike and 5km run. As we are training for an Iron man which will take about 10 hours longer the race and races will be treated as hard training sessions on tired legs, more of the mental than physical workout!


As the new kids on the block we were very much under the radar, but now after the race me thinks our cards are marked!! Ben came in 3rd male, but more incredible on his debut over the course he went under the hour in 59 mins only about 4 guys in club history have gone under the hour. I will now provide the bait for the girls as I managed to be the first lady over the line and show those Aussie girls this Brit means business!!! Game face aside it’s a very friendly set up, everyone is super nice and encouraging. And just to prove it was not all about the winning, I did not get recognized for the win another girl did but no “steward’s enquiry” was requested. Santa even made an appearance!!

I made reference about to an Iron Man, again those not down with the lingo we are training for a 3.8k swim, 180k bike ride and then a marathon which is 42km, and yes all in one day with no stopping not even for food, everything and I mean everything is done on the go! As we are going long the volume of our training has been stepped up a notch. Coach Webeck has us training over 20 hours per week with some of the following if you’re tempted and have a few hours to spare!! Maybe the sessions could be banked for post xmas if you have indulged in indulgence:
Swimming 6 out of the 7 days: Key session 30 x 100m repeats with 10 secs rest in between each 100m at the fastest pace you can hold for the duration, that means getting breathless.


In the saddle 5 days: Long bike ride clocking up 100k of ups and downs with the longest climb being 15km. That ride was done in the pouring rain and I never thought I would have to say this, but I was freezing on the way down!
Running is a complete mélange: 90 mins steady, 1k repeats faster than your race pace and running 2km not on the flat as fast as your little legs can go and that was straight off the bike after a ride. I think I was treated to just 1 day off my pegs!

Asides from puffing and panting we enjoyed a rest day, wahooooo, pic-nicing in a Dorrigo, a stunning spot in one of many National Parks. The occasion: Ben’s dad’s birthday, so he was the one puffing and panting trying to blow his sparklers out from his birthday cake! Credit to Ben’s mum she knows how to put on a picnic, homemade sushi, sandwiches are soooooooo last season!!!







I also met the boys! We caught up with Ben’s old school mates for a picnic (no sushi) on Sunday which was fun, they were all very well behaved and did not dish any dirt on ben.


This week…..Another big week of training, Ben’s sister is arriving home for xmas from Alice Springs and a few gifts still need to be purchased! Till the next update, take care with love Team BenBen x

Team BenBen Down Under

Although the race report has been a fairly recent addition the race and our departure from Thailand was nearly 2 weeks ago which also means we have been in our new home nearly a fortnight. I will not write “War and Peace” on the past 14 days, instead just bring you up to date with what Team BenBen has been up to…….no prizes for guessing, as yes, training, eating and sleeping still features!

In between our 3 favourite past times we left Phuket and arrived in Oz. Australia will be our new base for the next 10 months. We are staying Chez Mr and Mrs Webeck, (Ben’s parents). Lots of first’s for me Oz and meeting the parents!!!!

On arrival Down-Under we had 2 nights in Sydney with Auntie and Uncle who spoilt us. We also got to catch up with some of the ex London crew, Dee and Emma who live over here which of course was great. Quick look and photo taken at the Harbour Bridge and Opera House. Sydney to be done when we have more time and energy!



Within a few hours of arriving in Coff’s Harbour our new home, bikes had been built and within 12 hrs we were out riding them! The cycling is amazing around here, rainforests, open farmlands and lots and lots and lots and lots of hills, no they are mountains. Ben forgot to mention it was hilly here!!! Recovery runs are even uphill! I have to keep telling myself what goes up must come down, the hill might but my heart rate is not following suit at the moment, its staying high!! I am also prepping myself that I may never fit in skinny jeans again!!
As you would expect we have joined the local tri club, had a massage, found the bike shop…..







Ben’s mum and dad have been spoiling us, they must stop or they will be exhausted!! I can see where Ben gets his personality, forgetfullness and good looks from! Mrs W has cooked some lovely meals, another trait I am glad Ben has inherited. Ben and I have been doing our share of cooking, don’t worry girls and mum I have yet to treat them to my signature dish of carrot and celery sticks with "humerous"!!!

No spiders or snakes yet which I hope is the way it stays! Seen a few skippies, they are so cute! I can’t get my head round seeing xmas decorations when its sunny, I have heard Santa arrives in Coff’s on a jet ski too!!

It's nearly 8.30pm so triathletes bed time, good night x

Laguna Phuket Race Report

Finally we have managed to get a race report up from the race. IT problems and been busy settling into our new semi permament home in Coffs Harbour....... Enjoy and soon to be another update.

It is called the race of legends and is on every top ten Tri races to do before you die. As soon as we agreed to spend some time in Australia a MASSIVE penny dropped in London to go via Phuket to see what the fuss was all about. It was then Cat's idea to spend some more time here before and from what you have been reading............ It was one of her better ones!
The ferries take you across the lagoon to the start on the beach as the sun rises and every ones hearts start to race, including mine from a redbull and a caffeinated gel. There was still banter and chat so moods were high and knowing many people racing from Thanyapura added to the comfort.

Beach start, I was in the first wave and Cat in the 3rd (10mins behind). First wave included all the Pro's and young gun males up to 34yrs. Quick gallop from front row into the water.... Flat on my face into the white wash after 5 steps...Graceful!? From then the swim was ok in the ocean being crystal clear. Approaching the beach, the dread also approaches as you have to pick yourself up and run over the dune and continue back through the fresh water Lagoon for 600m more. The colour is a orangy brown and a few degrees warmer so it feels like you are swimming through honey rather than water after being in the pure salt water. I struggled and most people did. Couldn't be over quick enough as the heart rate was in overdrive.

We knew the bike course from training so no surprises and both put in some solid times. Unfortunately the famous steep hills come first and my heart rate was still in overdrive from the swim. Finally it settled after about 15mins but was a struggle up to then riding conservatively. Could tell it was going to be a hot one half way through the bike. For me it wasn't until I was on the main out and back road that I knew I was in 7th spot overall. At least I thought I was as I was trying to stay focused on turning the peddles at the same time. The course had it all in terms of hills, technical sections, rollers and flat AND a little extra of excitable school children out to cheer us on. They loved it and I manged to high five one. Hope I didn't break his hand as it nearly knocked me off my bike. Many words from out on the bike course were that Cat was tearing it up and managing to embarrass some of the boys!

Transition area back in Laguna Resort has a great atmosphere. Jumping off the bike onto the run I set in the rising heat of low 30deg's before 9am. The run winds you through parts of resort and golf course (the furnace). Checking the km splits I was clicking along ok for the start of the run. Aid stations (water/ice/coke etc) were approx 2km apart and this is where I raced myself to the next icy cold sponge. AGAIN the heart rate was in overdrive from the heat and sections I had to pull right back as it felt like I had ran into a wall instead of across the 4th tee.
Since coming out of the water no-one had passed me which was a pleasant surprise and the finishing chute couldn't have come quick enough. The atmosphere at the end was fantastic and when I was being called over whilst running up the finish chute it was amazing. The tape went up........ Hang on a second, why is the tape up!?!? I was out of it and JUST managed to get the arms up over it and was told I had won my amateur category! Wont go into the detail but I was and am very pleased. 2hrs 51min had passed for me and 3rd overall amateur. It was back out onto the course before too long as I caught a glimpse of Cat on the run course. Walking around out there is where you see the carnage from the sidelines of mother nature getting the better of people. Meanwhile Cat was steaming along unaware of her surroundings. She was on course for what she wanted and put together a fantastic result in the end at 3hrs 24mins and 3rd place on the Podium. (Just for the record, I won our little bet :)

Awards ceremony was bigger than the race! Word has spread that it is a good show and it didn't disappoint. Was pretty cool to except our awards on stage together.







Not only was the race an amazing experience but the entire time training in Phuket and in particular Thanyapura Academy was a dream for both of us. Can't thank everyone there enough for making it so special for both of us.

Team BenBen Pumped!!