I am getting into training here in Wanaka and have my routes figured out and it is getting to be crunch time. Wednesday i had a decent swim in the morning, fueled up and headed for Haast.. a beautiful 145km ride. What I wasn’t expecting was the cold and headwinds.. it was like beauty and the beast.. breathtaking scenery but tough riding conditions. There are lots of good climbs and one Pass.. which isn’t too massive but a descent ramp for a couple km’s. I was shattered when I got in, ate and ate and fell asleep.
The next morning I did a beach run on the most isolated beach I have ever seen then drove back to wanaka and did a lake swim the next day. Ocean, mountains and Lake in two days.. Only in NZ!! check out the pics.
BeachRun
Mountains
Lake Swim

Ok.. so I don’t have my new race schedule up… so apologies.. will be up soon!
This race wouldn’t have been on there anyway as we only decided to do the race a week or two ago. A bunch of Wanakans were heading up 4 hrs north to a town called Ashburton to do the ‘South Island Half Ironman’. I ran it by my peers and thought it would be a good hit out to see how far I have come with the training. I haven’t done anything too heavy so I wasn’t expecting much and I would be racing on Powercranks and with 90% effort or so.
I felt great on the swim and just tucked in behind a big fella.. there was a guy away off the front but I didn’t worry much. I had a heck of a time getting going on the Powercranks because my left hip flexor was locked up and I lost 4 minutes to the leaders in the first 30km!! I loosened up some in the second lap and only lost another minute or two and in the 3rd lap I managed to gain some time back finding my Rhythm and able to ride in the aerobars finally.
I got out feeling great straightaway on the run and cut the lead in half. My lack of fitness showed and despite feeling easy was building up a lot of fatigue in the legs. The gains came less and less on the lead but finally at 17km I had him. But the big strong German-native wasn’t going to relent that easy and it took another km or mile to get away.. unbeknownst to him I was really hurting by this point despite that everyone said I looked so easy… and then cruise home for the last 2km.
Results can be found here:

South_Island_Half_Ironman/Results/2008

It felt good to get a win under my belt and it is a good indicator for how the training is going. We have worked a good athletic base and built some good efficiency, and now is time to get strong enough to maintain the speed for the long haul in Wanaka.. 8 weeks to go!!

Stay tuned for some web updates. We have some new sponsors and new announcements to be made for next season!

My old man is turning 60 today. You wouldn’t know it as Old Johnny can still school his sons in Tennis, is hitting 80’s on the golf course, is making incredible renovations on his house and even goes out for 70 to 100km bike rides here and there. A true jock.
I think I get some of my dilligence and restlessness from that side of the finally.
As you all know I was living with my parents for almost two months this fall. I was planning on only a few weeks but we got along so well (most of the time - a few minor spats) that I stayed until leaving for my new training base here in NZ. What a great set of parents.. they kept me busy once in a while with odd jobs and such but for the most part it was exactly what I needed, a relaxing time away from the racing and training scene.
Thanks to you both and Happy 60th POPS!!

Made it down to Wanaka and my freinds the Ormandy’s were waiting for me. Already been out on some epic sessions and have all my venues set. Have a great pool/gym combo in just north of town and have been out on the endless trails for a few runs already. There is such an active and positive community and the Ormandy’s have things set up so I can train absolutely optimally with the best food and the best conveniences. oh.. check out the pic from my bedroom.. who couldn’t get out training when you wake up to that??

One week in NZ.. beautiful.. warm weather, lots of sun, outdoor pools!!

Finished a week with freinds in Auckland and fly south to Wanaka today! Very excited! Got kiwi-ized this week with season one of Flight of the Concords and the Whale Riders. Both, awesome.

oh.. check out ‘Beached As’ on Youtube for intro to New Zealandish 101.

Training is well on the way.. some big weeks coming now.

more later.. gotta catch this flight.