Interclubs

Well a couple more weeks down, and with out jinxing my self i think it's safe to say i am finally back on track. I have had a real good couple of weeks of training under my belt and am really feeling good again. It also seems that i have not lost as much fitness as first feared which is always a relief.

My two weeks since my last post have consisted of solid sets, swims, bikes and runs. The major highlight being watching the WA Ironman last Sunday. Ironman's are simply amazing events, whether you are there to watch the pro's, a mate or anyone, it is simply awe-inspiring. I had the honour of watching a few of my close friends compete, which made for an incredible day. Everyone did an amazing job and i can honestly say it was one of the greatest days i have had, out there cheering with Paige, Grace, Johno and Mikey Mike for Seano, Ben(s), Clarky(s), Marky Mark, Brucey, Dan and others. Incredible job guys and thanks for further inspiring me.

This past weekend i managed to fit two races in. On Saturday i competed in a 1600 meter open water swim at Freo. I was certain i was going to get smashed but managed to not embarrase myself too badly with a fifth in my age group and a respectable time. I was actually pretty happy considering 95% of these competitors were all swimmers and not the usual triathlete crowd.

The swim was followed by a trip up too one of my favourite places, "the shack" in Jarrahdale for a nice hills ride with Paige. We hit up Jarrahdale road - Mundijong road and back, which was a solid ride. From there paige smartly headed back to the shack as i hit up some further k's down some incredibly huge dam climbs - not the best prep for Sundays race but a look at the bigger picture was required.

Up early Sunday morning and we left the shack and were off to Interclubs in Mandurah for the Sprint distance race. I had no idea how i was going to go, but was keen to have a good hit out. We were off at 7.40am and i was pleasently surprised to find my self comfortably swimming in the lead pack for 70% of the swim, it was only when i copped an almighty kick to the face i just lost touch, loosing about 20 seconds. But i was in a good position.

Onto the bike and i was feeling not to shabby, i was riding well and was only being taken by a few stronger riders. It was a tight and windy course and good fun. It was also great to hear so many people cheering out there :D

I came off the bike still in touch with the leaders and was feeling good. Immediately out of transition i passed about 6 -7 people in the first 300 meters and continued to build my pace.

I felt really strong the whole run and really ran through the field. The run was a little long but i ended up running the 5k below 3.39 pace - not bad for a half marathon runner :P I managed to sneak into the top 10 overall which was a real pleasant surprise and there was only 40 seconds between me and 5th. Thanks for the cheering, Family, Paige, Elyse, Benno and Marky Mark. Afterwards we had a great brekky with the family at Dome (who's tagline "world's greatest coffee" i still have an issue with...) before heading home.

In the afternoon i had another 12k run to complete which on slightly tired race legs was a little challenging, but i managed to make it through. This week has also been consistent and I am looking forward to some more solid sets.

Also well done to my best mate Andy for a great performance in the Canberra Half Ironman on the weekend. After a great first run (it was turned into a duathlon) he had one of the fastest rides of the day, unfortunately he had a pretty major Achilles problem to deal with on the run, but gutted it through with a solid result. Respect. Also well done to Johan with a 5th overall!! Awesome performance mate. And to Scotty who it's good to see him finally getting a good race together (nutrition and all) for a solid result. Well done chief.

Train hard, and recover well Ironmen/women

Cheers

Training again!

Well it's about time, i am writing a blog regarding training :D

The week just been has been a good one for me, with some solid sets finally in the bank. Surprisingly enough the best were swimming ones. I also had some great rides and runs as well, all topped off with a small race on Sunday, the Left Bank triathlon.

Haha what a laugh. I have not raced sprint distance short course in a long time and boy did it show. The swim was the roughest i have actually ever had, with it a constant slug fest for the entire 400 meters, it was tough but a solid swim and i was glad to be one of the first few out.

I had a great transition and was onto the bike in no time. One word to describe the bike course hrmmm. WINDY. My god it was blowing a gale. It was a real struggle into it but we were pushing close to 60kph on the flats on the way back. I rode ok, but was really on the rivet the whole time. It was great riding with no speedo or watch - only by feel.

It was nice to see afterwards that my position is getting pretty aero as well as comfortable. As i said I'm not use to the pace of short course but it was nice to feel that pain and taste the lactic acid on the bike. The drafting however....well lets not go there...grrr

After a tough 20k, it was onto the run for a 4k hilly death run. Boy that hurt. I pushed hard and managed to maintain a reasonable pace to come in 7th overall. Not bad for a pretty poor few weeks of training and no short course racing since April.

It was also great to see my girlfriend Paige racing out there, picking up first in her category after a long lay off because of sickness.

Afterwards it was good to catch up with a few mates for coffee and a race re cap :) but i was ready for a nap in the arvo. The start of this week has been filled with a good few sets and i can feel the fitness coming back :D

In other exciting news, i am really pumped to be trying a new nutrition product. Hornet Juice is a powered sports drink that is loaded with Amino Acids with some pretty exciting research and results backing it up. I can't wait to take delivery of it and try it out. It looks really promising - have a look, and tell them mark sent you ;) http://www.hornet-juice.com/

Things are looking up and I'm looking forward to my next post! Good luck everyone racing Busso pace yourselves and you will have an amazing race, i'll be there cheering :)

Cheers guys

Markus.

More delays

Well once again, I've let my readers down, no blogging. But more unfortunately this lack of blogging is due to a more unfortunate factor, letting myself down.

Sometimes we have ups and downs, highs and lows and from a training/racing perspective i am going through a bit of a low.

This has come from a combination from a number of things. Lack of motivation (still unfounded), work commitments, university commitments and personal happenings. Since the Gold Coast i have struggled a little. Every time i seem to start to get back into it i am hit with something new, either from work, uni or elsewhere. I hit up some good sets with Seano, then exams (a priority) took their toll. I hit up an amazing training weekend with the training crew down at Busso and work took over immediately after.

But it's ok i am persistent, and i will be back. Exams are practically over AND NOW I AM SICK, urrgghhh. But you don't get anywhere through complaining so enough of that.

But it's ok i am persistent and i will be back.

In the past few weeks i have still been getting some good sets in though :) a few really solid runs with seano (including somehow a 5k pb?!) Some solid swims and some nice rides. Just not a lot of volume. This means unfortunately i am going to have to miss the first Olympic distance race of the season, scheduled to be my first open race :(

But it's ok i am persistent and i will be back.

Although this is disappointing it will only make me stronger and i will be back with a vegence :)

For now, well done to Big Andrew T for an awesome performance at Anaconda Augusta a couple of weeks ago. Well done to Todd and Elyse :) and Scotty for Port Mac. It's also awesome to see one of my best mates Seano ripping it up in his Busso prep, he is going to have a killer race, i honestly cannot wait. Also to my girlfriend Paige, who just today chicked me on the training front - ouch. But it's so good to see her out there again :)


I can't wait to be back my hunger is still there - watch out.

Lack of posting..

Well there has been a serious lack of posting on my behalf over the last few weeks after the Gold Coast and I apologise.

It seems as though i have lost my mojo after the GC and have been struggling to get it back! The week following the race i had to physically hold myself back from doing any training, and let myself recover properly. However after that week and for the past two weeks i have struggled to get any real consistency in my training, the odd swim ride and run but nothing really structured.

I've put this down to uni, work and my body telling me i need a little more of a break. HOWEVER that is all about to change with this weekends Endurance Fitness Systems Ironman training camp in Busso!! I cannot wait! There are a few real good athletes going down and it's going to be just what i need to get me raring to go again (i can feel it in my bones). The only negative being my best mate Andy T has had to pull out due to other training commitments :( BUMMER!

Through the last few weeks i have been quite moody and most probably annoying, so thank you to Mum, Dad, Lisa and Kate for putting up with me at home. Seano, Scotty, Benno, Todd and Andy for putting up with me whenever i train with you. Finally Paige for putting up with me during all the time i spend with you. Although it is impossible to get shitty when i am with you, if i have been i apologise.

However i have found time over this break to do a few things i never usually have time for which has been really good for me. Sleeping in, getting drunk (once - 'rebelll'), camping, bush trekking, rock climbing, swimming in dams, mini road tripping, going to a party or two and spending time with people i like/love. I think as obsessive compulsive athletes we don't take enough time out to appreciate and take stock of what we have. I have over the last 2 weeks and certainly feel better and refreshed for it :). My advice, do the same ;).

So back on the horse and into some training!! Woop woop cannot wait! Can't wait 'till i can write a solid training blog!

Cheers people

Markussssss

Race Schedule

I have thrown an extra page up on my blog with my race schedule attached...*look up, up, up, to the right, right, no to far back left, yep there it is.

It's just a tentative schedule and as it reads, if anyone thinks there are better races to be doing, let me know! As for training, i hit the run track yesterday and felt pretty heavy, but ok. I'll be hitting up a swim this arvo and will be chatting to my coach about my plans for the next few months. Can't wait!

Train hard

Markus