Golden Tulip Tri and only two weeks to go.......

There is only two weeks until we race in Ironman China and only a week Tuesday till we fly out to China. Man, we are sooooo excited, not only to be racing an Ironman again, but to travel the see China, well some of it, not long now!

Yesterday, I race out near Abu Dhabi, Ghantoot in the Golden Tulip Sprint Triathlon. There were quite a few guys racing, including a couple of ones from the area who have been here for a while. The distances were a 600m swim, 26km bike and then a 6km run.

The race went well and it was a mass deep water start. I pretty much missed my draft in the swim, so I was on my own for most of it and I came out of the swim in 7th place overall, about a minute down, co I knew my work was set out. My T1 was fast, even through I was wearing a wetsuit.

Out on to the road on the bike and I was quickly hitting over 50kmph and I hit out at 58km! I quickly saw the guys in front and I knew what I had to do to hit the front. However I also knew that the guys coming up from behind were quick, so I really had to push the pace. As I was flying out on the bike I knew that the way back was going to be hard as! Er it was! 35kmph on the way back, ouch, but if it was bad for me it was going to be bad for everyone else!

I hit the turn around in first place and really put the hammer down to get a good lead off the bike, as I knew the guys coming through were strong runners. After the second lap I flew into T2, threw the trainers on and I was quickly out on the run course. After a loads of encouragement from all the team and the guys watching (esp coach and Sarah) I hit the pace hard for the first 2km, but I struggle a little at the turn around aid station. Seeing the other guys chasing me after the turn around I knew I had push the pace so I really kicked it hard and made my way towards the finish.

I crossed the line in first place. The team also scored first female, 2nd female, third female, 4th male and first vet male. It was pretty awesome to be honest, a great day at the office!

Right thats it from me, the next time I blog we'll almost be really to travel to China!

Train safe and well done to the team Tri2aspire!

Ed

3 weeks till China and the unofficial UAE Championships

Not long now and I have to report it's been a great 3 weeks of training since I last reported. Some the sessions I've been hitting have just been building my confidence further and further. Last week I hit 95kms on the bike in 2hours 30mins and then kicked out 20kms on 4.30mins per km. I was loving in the heat of the day. From next Sunday I will be on official tamper mode, which I'm not too sure how I feel about it. Another journey will be coming to an end, but then another door will open for me.

The foot is still sore, but I got some new trainers last weeks and that has made a world of difference. However, I must report that I didn't that part in RAK Half marathon last weekend. I just really didn't want to risk the foot for China, so I hit a big bike session instead.

This coming weekend is the unofficial UAE Sprint Triathlon Championship at the Golden Tulip Hotel near Ghantoot, Abu Dhabi. It's a 600m swim, 26km bike and to finish a 6km run - I'm looking for about 1 hour 7mins(ish). This should be good fun, but some reason I don't now if it's because I want to do well for the team, my coach, for Sarah, for myself, but I am feeling nervous and I know if I swim well and I'm looked after by the team during it, then ride strong (as I know I can) and then run well (which I have been), I should do well and I'll be happy if I'm top 5 age grouper. I'm told Faris Al Sultan is racing with his team Abu Dhabi, so it'll be interesting to see how strong those guys are.

As for China, Sarah and I are in the process of getting our Visas sorted this week, as we are on half term this week. I've also order some kit back in the UK to my mates house who I work and he's gone home of the hol, so hopefully he should get the new lens (I scratched my jawbone lens!), new tubs and other bits and bobs for China.

Right, thats it for now. I'll report in after the weekend to let you know how the race goes on Friday. Fingers crossed, it'll be odd going to race without Jack mind to keep Sarah company :-(

Train safe,

Ed

6 weeks and counting!

It's only 6 weeks till we make our war to China to race. I am really looking forward to traveling, but we've got bits and bobs to do before we leave, visas, a couple of 180km rides etc! It will fly by and soon the race will be upon us and I'll be stood on the start line - pooing my pants (again). I scored sponsorship with Blue Seventy again this year, once again I am soooo happy to work with this company they simply are the best and I'm so saying that as they are flowing me kit, they really do make the best product on the market for wetsuits etc.

Thanks to Blue Seventy, Guy and Naomi.

Up date on the foot injury - still quite poor but I am just trying to run through the pain to be honest. My plan for this month is not as hard or should I say intense as I thought it would be honest, but the sessions are more about quality. My coach is hoping to keep me fresh and ready for battle in China. An interesting note was that last week I eat a load of crap to you the truth - pizza hut. If I'm honest my training was crap too and I really struggled with motivation. To give you an example of this I struggled to put a ride together pushing an average of 34kmph, where I can normally hit 36/7kpmh! It just showed my how important the fuel that I put into my body is. Equally, things have been full on at work, what with inspections (which was ok) and sports days coming up, its all a little serious and while I'm not afraid of hard work (I do Ironman for goodness shake!), I equally like to work with a smile on my face and for the past couple weeks this hasn't been the case. It's just not me, I don't like it.

This weekend I've got a time trail of 100km bike and then a 10km run. Coach wants me to hit 40kmph (2hr 30mins) on the bike and then a 43min run*. I think I'll be more happy with a 2hr 45min bike and a sub 40min run.

We'll see, I'll keep you posted.

Right, I'm going to slope off to bed to catch soon shut eye. I promise I'll put some new photos up soon too

Train safe, as always.

Ed

*Update, yea I killed the session, 80kms in 1hour 57mins and 12km in 44mins - sweet!