It’s the Final Countdown…..

Today, Thurs 11th Oct is our last rest day before the body needs to start responding. Two days out from the race is all about resting the legs and building up the calorie stores, as if we have needed an excuse to eat or sleep!! The day will also be spent sorting our kit into the correct bags and some mandatory tinkering with our bikes prior to bike and kit check-in on Friday. Decisions on what flavor gels and in what order one wants for breakfast, lunch and dinner on race day cannot be overlooked. Calories / nutrition for the entire day will be in the form of liquids, predominantly gels no so solids. Bearing in mind we can burn anything between 8 to 10 thousand calories on race day we need a whole lot of gu-eeeee stuff!

Marc “Fozzy” Foster our support crew arrived safe, sound, in 1 piece although a little red eyed from 3 flights, a night in Honolulu airport and copious amounts of caffeine! Teambenben greeted him with both his fav’s and the local must hav’s, 85% dark choc, macadamia nuts and a floral necklace known as a lei. His bags had hardly hit the apt floor when he was consumed by the schedule of Ben’s boot camp, coffee and catch up at the famous lava Java café followed by a swim and run.

The last few days have passed without too much drama (phew), unexpected expense to both our bikes did catch us unaware, another phew, for the plastic this time! As race day looms the circus feel in Kona is in full swing, the show ponies are out on parade and we have an endless supply of caffeinated and double shot caffeinated energy gels!! The “expo” here where all the brands set up their tents to drain you of cash is as the Americans would say “awesome”. I think we have all made some purchases, of course being the true retail chick I have dug deeper. A new kit on race day for me has ensured a fashion disaster averted!!

Training has been kept up over the past few days, a bit of everything swim, bike and run has been on the agenda. Fozzy has joined us for the swim and run sessions, he is taking support crew to a whole new level and exceeded expectations this morning….he participated in the “undie run”!! Yes you did read right and just as it says on the tin you strip to your undies and run. Sunnies, visors, shoes and socks are allowed.

Social / catch up time has also been found which has been fun and a momentary rest bite from the training. We know a number of fellow lovers of the lycra who too have made similar sacrifices to get here. A mix of friends from home and friends we have met on our travels through Thailand and Aus.

Our safe haven or “condo” as they call it over here suits the 3 of us just fine. A well equipped kitchen, a marble-esque bathroom, 2 pools, your own piece of private beach and a veranda to chill out on to enjoy “el-fresco” style eating.

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A lot has happened since I finished the last paragraph with a full stop, the ironman, 3 flights which meant numerous zones and “f-ankles” (fat ankles) in Ben’s case, arriving back in the UK and returning to my flat in London.

Going back to and just to touch on the ironman in brief, wow what an experience and yes for the record, I want to do it again! The most awe inspiring part of the day was not coming down the finish chute and at last crossing the line to the sound of “you are an ironman” but being at the finish line for the last few hours before the midnight cut off. 82 year olds were crossing the line and one lady made it with less than 30sec to go, now that’s efficient planning and strategic pacing!!!

Ben had a blinder of a race, he is just too quick and gave many of the pro’s a run for their money. The brutal winds which are being reported to have whipped up to 60 kmph did not appear to slow him! They certainly slowed me and nearly blew me off course and off my bike! A slower than anticipated and expected bike time meant I had to run like the wind! It was a break through run for me and my little legs which is encouraging as I know they can still go faster. We both finished 21st in our age groups and I managed to get top placed Brit too which was one of my goals. Big shout out again to Fozzy our support crew who did sterling job on the day with endless encouragement, you never quite knew where you would see him next which was exciting. As I am typing this Ben is compiling his race report which is always from the heart and a blow by blow account of the blood, sweat and tears (if there were any)!! Hence no war and peace paragraph on the race in this blog. All the action from Ben’s race report can be found at www.bwebeck.blogspot.com

I am not sure the reality of being back has quite hit us, although it being cold, grey and raining is a constant reminder! We have started the exciting tour of catching up with friends and family so not all doom and gloom, plenty to look forward to. The subject of work can no longer be avoided, trousers have been in the dry cleaners and shirts ironed for Ben, updating the CV is top of my agenda.

As this chapter comes to a close and a new one begins I cannot sign off without thanking you all family, friends, followers and fans for your love, support and encouragement over the past year whilst we have been running round in lycra, living the dream, our dream.

Who knows when we will next close our eyes to start dreaming again?
and where we will wake up?

Night xx

The Last Supper & onto the Big Island... Aloha!

This is our penultimate week in Coff’s, cue the Kleenex for the following week. It is also the week where the volume and intensity in our training is reigned in a little, do not be mistaken taper has not started yet that is still round the corner. One more big week of training in the post then bring on the taper where we should freshen up and start to feel alive again, I am just looking forward to being able to walk up the stairs without my legs hurting! A little less time in the saddle has allowed the packing to commence.

Was it going to be 2nd time lucky for our Whale Watching trip, yes it was. We were blessed with calmer seas on Friday which meant the Pacific Explorer would head out to sea in search of the humpbacks. Straight ahead, to your left / right would indicate sighting of tales, blows and diving whales. We homed in on a pair of whales that appeared to be going in circles, running rings round us, we had no idea where they would next surface. We learnt the humpbacks dive for between 4 to 14 mins and even up to an hour, let’s hope these whales were not looking to surface only every 60 mins!!! Fortunately they did not run and hide but instead showed us their grace and beauty.

Sunday 23rd was the Coff’s Harbour running festival where over 1,500 keen athletes were under starters orders for their chosen 3k, 5k, 10k or 21k run / fun-run! Of course the 21k or half marathon was what team benben signed up for. All the races were being run round the local Coff’s Creek, a loop I have made many references to over the blogs. I would hate to think how many times we have been round it since we arrived last Dec, it’s the only flat track to run round here!!!

Ben had a blinder of a race coming 3rd overall, Steve Moneghetti the Aus running legend who has medals of every colour to his name took the overall win but not that far in front of Webeck. I steam rollered in about 10 mins later just out of the top 3 females overall. As I did not take overall honors I was recognized as 1st in my age cat (30-39 years old). More medals to pack into the box and a great snap of Ben in the local paper.

I return to the computer and blog nearly a week later, it’s now Sat 29th not only are we in to our final week, but in to our last few days. It’s also 2 weeks today until we take on the best. The good-byes are in full swing, a damp eye or two on occasions has required that Kleenex I mentioned above.

Road bikes and belongings which are not required for Hawaii were packed and dropped off to Allied Pickford’s, the freight forwarders who will send our bits n bobs on to the water. I hope they arrive sooner than the given ETA which is up to 16 weeks!

Our last BIG week of training is nearly in the bag, 100k plus bike ride tomorrow still remains to be ticked off and banked, the objective will then switch from getting fitter and faster to freshening up. I am sure you can imagine some sessions over the past week have put us into the “hurt locker”, been there before can do it again is what it’s all about. This morning’s swim set was the perfect example of a key killer session that allowed us to dial into and get a feel for that desired race pace we want to hold during our 3,8k swim. Nailing a critical session is great for the confidence, it reminds you, you can do it, you did it in training so why don’t you think you can do it when it’s time to perform.

Hitting the big sessions was made a whole lot easier with the A-mazing dinners Marg was spoiling us with! As mentioned before we cook twice a week but this week we were not allowed, we were booted out of the kitchen. Salmon, roast dinner and salads that were worthy of a Master Chef appearance were laid out in front of us. Notes and pic’s were taken, watch and learn Catherine, watch and learn!!!

I must make mention and extend thanks again to Andrew, the local tri club coach who wrote a specific swim set just for us, the Kona Kids, it was our last swim squad! It is gestures and support like this from each and every member of the tri club that has really made our year. A friendly face is never far away, all those smiles and interest in what we are up to have made us feel so welcome, part of their family with support and encouragement by the bucket load. The people we have been so lucky to spend the last 10 months with, Ben’s family, our fellow tri club buddies are the biggest reason leaving Coff’s is a whole lot tougher than anticipated.

After the inevitable sad good-byes could not be put off any longer we were bound for Sydney. Our last few days and “last supper” Down-Under were Chez Uncle Geoff and Auntie Lyn. I made mention above of Ben’s wonderful family above, The Sydney Crew, Aunts, Uncles and Cousins spoilt us rottten, dammm still more melancholy good-byes to endure. Training did not stop it was fitted around the catch ups with friends and family. Geoff and Lynne, our hosts in Sydney arranged for a big family “Webeck” bbq at theirs for the hi and bye. Lynne told me she had gone to no effort but my favorites were all there, roasted beetroot in a salad and then figs in a salad, I was in heaven. She then saved the best till last and spoilt us with salmon done on the bbq for our last supper. Was this a tact to try and get us to stay / return!?!

We of course have been asked by most will you be back, when will you be back or some have simply instructed you will be back won’t you! I have simply said it’s the end of this chapter, a new one starts when we arrive back in the UK. As the chapter on our Oz experience draws to a close we have just one final chapter to relish, “Aloha” Hawaii.

Time just ran away with us (posting blog remained on the to do list) despite gaining a few hours crossing the date line on route from Aus to Hawaii, yes we are here on Hawaii’s “Big Island” home and host to the 2012 Ironman World Champs. Not really sure where to start or what to write to give this place justice or summarize our feelings. Kailua-Kona where all the action happens is a sleepy town I suspect 51 weeks of the year the remaining week is PUMPING! Everywhere you look reminds you of what lays ahead, the reason you and 2,000 fellow triathletes have made the crusade to this island. Everyone is ripped!!! There is no shortage of lycra, carbon and caffeine. This place really is amazing, it feels as though the circus is coming to town, show time is just round the corner!

Our Hawaiian adventure started on Wed 3rd Oct, having been here a few days we have got our bearings and settled straight into the action. We have been swimming off the pier daily which is where the cannon fires on the 13th Oct to signify the start of the race. Fellow triathletes are not the only company you share in the water, turtles, dolphins and “nemo” fish can all be spotted, just as if you’re snorkeling.

The bike course is pretty much an out and back, 90k out, 90k back on the Queen K highway with the turnaround at Hawi, pronounced “Harvey”. 180k on a highway sounds fairly gentle, but do not be mistaken this “queen” can play games with you. She rolls up and down, up and down, with a longer grind uphill to reach the turnaround point. Sound a bit tougher now?! The toughest part of the course has still yet to be mentioned …..the elements. Stinking hot, humid and windy in a nutshell. It can feel like you are racing in a furnace. I have just picked up a brochure on the island to ensure I get my facts right, “The Big Island” is not only home to volcanoes and endless lava fields but the phanflit states it sites one of the most active volcanoes on earth, nothing like a bit of active lave flow to make one pedal a bit quicker!!!! In all seriousness it’s not the volcanoes we are worried about it’s the vicious wind that can nearly pick you up and spit you out. I felt like a wibbly, wobbly piece of jelly on a plate at times throughout our 120km ride on Thurs. As if being slammed by the wind is not enough for one day, the marathon still awaits.

On to the run, the elevation is spikey, all on tarmac with no shade. The majority of the run is again on the Queen K, more sapping heat slamming wind, lava fields and white lines. There is a section of the run which takes you through the “Energy Lab” do not be mistaken by the name it is not pumping and buzzing with energy instead the polar opposite. You are there alone, access denied for everyone except competitors. This is the part of the race where the mental strength must kick in and win to warn off any demons that are ready to bring you to a snail’s pace or at worse a stand still.

And yes despite all the above I still think this place is amazing!!! Emotions are mix of excitement and nerves. Fozzy our support crew arrives on Mon from the UK, cannot wait to see him and have another nutter to share this awesome experience with. As I type and bring this blog entry to a close if all goes to plan a week from now it will all be over, done, dusted, box ticked, got the finishers medal and t shirt!
Fingers crossed please bloggers as I love it when a plan comes together!