This past weekend I was awarded the "Volunteer of the Year - Technical Official" by Triathlon Queensland. Of course, I was extremely flattered that the Technical Committee would nominate me, let alone endorse me as the most outstanding.
When I was introduced as the Technical Official of the year, I found it interesting that most of the achievements the MC talked about related to my competing - finishing Ironman, and also that I was shortly to jet off for my next conquest in France. Maybe it just sounded that way to me, because I was surprised that they would mention my life as a competitor at all.
Perhaps its acknowledgment that you don't have to be one or the other, that being both is more valued by the organisation. If so, I couldn't agree more. Triathlon needs more unity...
Interestingly, TQ took a brave step that night in not only acknowledging an athlete as a TO, but also acknowledging Ironman and 70.3 competitors as world representatives.
To me, the stand TQ took in doing this is more deserving of an award, than my modest contribution to the sport.
A different perspective
This last weekend I drove out to support KKB at Insomnia.
It was out at Kurwongbah, off Petrie-Dayboro Road. I regularly ride this road - I even have a pet name for it... referring to it affectionately as the "nine hills of death".
Somehow, it all looked different on Saturday. I don't know whether it was the fact I was a motorist rather than a cyclist; or whether it was that it was a different time of day. I looked around at the countryside almost wistfully, sometimes smugly thinking to myself,
"It's taken me almost an hour to drive here, and I usually ride!".
It was kind of weird, but satisfying, to get a different perspective on an old favourite.
Going for Gold
I had a disappointing weekend off the bike, I felt unwell and not up to three hours on the wind trainer with my training buddies. But today I was back into it with my usual Tuesday session of a strength mag trainer session and short run off the bike.
After an hour and a half or so on the mag trainer, I don't quite know what comes over me. It might only be a kilometre run out and back, but it's a brutal kilometre uphill and I attack it like a madman.
These last couple of weeks as I've bolted up the street gasping for breath I've had flashbacks from the The Coolangatta Gold... the scene where Joss McWilliam's character does his secret squirrel training in a banana plantation. He sprints up this massive hill, ducking and weaving through banana trees like a prize fighter...
...which kind of begs the question - why this scene and not the famous scene from Rocky, where he runs up the stairs triumphantly? Surely it would make better reading on The Triathlete Chronicles... does anyone who's reading this even remember The Coolangatta Gold?
Off the top of my head I can think of a three good reasons...
After an hour and a half or so on the mag trainer, I don't quite know what comes over me. It might only be a kilometre run out and back, but it's a brutal kilometre uphill and I attack it like a madman.
These last couple of weeks as I've bolted up the street gasping for breath I've had flashbacks from the The Coolangatta Gold... the scene where Joss McWilliam's character does his secret squirrel training in a banana plantation. He sprints up this massive hill, ducking and weaving through banana trees like a prize fighter...
...which kind of begs the question - why this scene and not the famous scene from Rocky, where he runs up the stairs triumphantly? Surely it would make better reading on The Triathlete Chronicles... does anyone who's reading this even remember The Coolangatta Gold?
Off the top of my head I can think of a three good reasons...
- I've never actually seen Rocky
- Joss McWilliam is hotter than Sly
- Most people think Ironman means surf life saving anyway, so why the hell not!
When nature calls
Nature called me yesterday but I didn't listen.
Showers had been forecast all weekend and when I woke up to a relatively clear sky I knew I should get my long run in yesterday rather than putting it off until Saturday as I have been. I just couldn't though. I made every excuse in the book - it will rain, I'm tired, I should go to work early... but really, I was just being lazy.
So this morning when I woke up again to no rain, even though the sky was ominous, I knew I there were no excuses that would cut it.
I got ready quickly, maybe too quickly, and set off towards the city along the bike path.
Nature called again today about 4ks into my run. This isn't the first time the Athletic Powerhouse has been in this dilemma, and to this day KKB still asks me which is "the poo house" every time we're in the vicinity of where I relied on the kindness of strangers for a comfort stop a couple of years back.
There weren't many options for relief today though so I kept going as best I could, racking my brain for a solution. Closer to the CBD I remembered a gym just up from the river so took the appropriate exit.
I'll admit it, part of me was hoping they would refuse me entry, not being a member and all, just so I could have a bit of a rant about Fitness First right here on the Triathlete Chronicles. But most of me was ecstatic when they signed me in and directed me up the stairs to the Ladies.
Even with this major win, mother nature had the last laugh. I was still a good few ks from home when a downpour saw me drenched from head to toe, punishing me for scorning her the previous day.
You really can't beat mother nature.
Showers had been forecast all weekend and when I woke up to a relatively clear sky I knew I should get my long run in yesterday rather than putting it off until Saturday as I have been. I just couldn't though. I made every excuse in the book - it will rain, I'm tired, I should go to work early... but really, I was just being lazy.
So this morning when I woke up again to no rain, even though the sky was ominous, I knew I there were no excuses that would cut it.
I got ready quickly, maybe too quickly, and set off towards the city along the bike path.
Nature called again today about 4ks into my run. This isn't the first time the Athletic Powerhouse has been in this dilemma, and to this day KKB still asks me which is "the poo house" every time we're in the vicinity of where I relied on the kindness of strangers for a comfort stop a couple of years back.
There weren't many options for relief today though so I kept going as best I could, racking my brain for a solution. Closer to the CBD I remembered a gym just up from the river so took the appropriate exit.
I'll admit it, part of me was hoping they would refuse me entry, not being a member and all, just so I could have a bit of a rant about Fitness First right here on the Triathlete Chronicles. But most of me was ecstatic when they signed me in and directed me up the stairs to the Ladies.
Even with this major win, mother nature had the last laugh. I was still a good few ks from home when a downpour saw me drenched from head to toe, punishing me for scorning her the previous day.
You really can't beat mother nature.
Not another one!
Yes, another picture of the Glasshouse Mountains... (yawn...)I couldn't resist stopping to take this on Sunday's long ride. Mt Coonowrin is one of the most remarkable and distinctive of the Glasshouse Mountains and I was surprised at how close it was when I rounded a corner somewhere on Old Gympie Road.
The ride itself - 144ks from Petrie through Dayboro, Mt Mee, D'Aguilar, Woodford, Peachester, Beerwah and back through Caboolture and Narangba to Petrie. A couple of nice climbs and, at the bottom of Mt Mee, a pinchy climb that, I was told "is more like a punch really...".
It was a bit full on but with a warning like that I was expecting something killer...
Although it was a long day, it was a good guide as to how the big day in France is going to feel, though I suspect France's ride will be a little more vertical...
Only one month to go...
I know, the Tour and Alpe D'Huez Triathlon aren't till July. What I'm talking about is the Winter Solstice.
Every year at this time I eagerly await it, the shortest day of the year. It means that, even though it doesn't get warmer yet, at least it starts getting lighter.
This year, according to Wikipedia, it falls on the 20th June, so there's literally only a month to go...
Every year at this time I eagerly await it, the shortest day of the year. It means that, even though it doesn't get warmer yet, at least it starts getting lighter.
This year, according to Wikipedia, it falls on the 20th June, so there's literally only a month to go...
Cadel Cheer Squad
In preparation for our pilgramage to the slopes of the French Alpes to cheer on Cadel Evans in the Tour de France, I've designed a couple of shirts with the Design'O'Matic at Remo General Store.
Check out Cadel 08 and Evans 08 designs.
You can even buy one if you want...
Check out Cadel 08 and Evans 08 designs.
You can even buy one if you want...
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