Archive for October, 2009

October 28th, 2009 Xterra Amateur World Champion 2009!!

WOW.

I did it. I am officially World Champ. I am after two days, can’t believe it.  Taking 25 minutes off last years time and beating an Austrian by only 9 seconds!  The closest amateur race they have seen to date!

I must admit I could not have had any better prep for this race…I had done everything I could to set it up for it, including getting here (Maui) 2 weeks before the race, train and acclimatize.  Getting good rest, nutrition and having my coach Julie Dibens here too to motivate and train with all added to a winning combo!!

I had a great swim and was happy with the postioning in the water with some jostling but very respectful by my fellow Xterra athletes.  It made for a good time out of the water but only to be faced with my bike not where I thought I’d left it and standing looking at an empty space….I was in the wrong part of the pen! OOOPS so I wasted a couple of minutes there!  Ah well time to settle my heart rate down tho. 

The bike leg was pretty hot but not as hot as last year and there was some cloud cover -YES!!

I had a long prep talk with my coach a few nights before and I followed her advice to the letter.  Hydration, keeping my intensity down at the first climb (we climb 3000 feet in total on the bike) I was just concentrating on keeping from red lining and plodding thro.  Then suddenly I was at the plunge (a very rocky down hill section that usually takes many prisoners) I flew down with no fear….all the mtb’ing with the guys paid off technically.  I was passing people by half way and some girls came past who were pros but I thought there were  a few age groupers there too.  So I thundered into T2,  I had no idea which position I was in.  Got my running gear on fast and wet off WITH JULIE’S  PLAN IN MIND (high leg cadence on the hills) I then passed around 10 athletes.  I assumed the girls were out in front so I set out to catch them as I felt quite strong still and this was the plan.  No stopping and walking this year!  All those hill reps also paid off), Mile 5 I suddenly felt someone breathing behind me - a girl on the long beach section had caught up with me. I then felt her clip my heal I HAD to hold her off.  So I lightly stepped my way thro the soft sand and then BBBBRRRRR yep again that damn camera on a quad bike struck up as I passed it  and was on me all the way along the sand, I ignored it this time. 

The girl was still on my heels when we got to spooky forest with its natural obstacles and single track.  There was a guy in front whom I had to pass and as I overtook him - BANG I tripped over  a root and went down head first with CRAMPING in my hamstring.  I got up right away and carried on.  I got back into my rythym and onto the black sand beach - I had to get some air between her and me so I switched on the turbo and left her behind.  The rocks I skipped over and just a little way to go I could tell from the spectators I was ahead of her.  I came down the finish shoot with high fives.  I had no idea what time I did or my position.  I simply had given everthing I had.

I sat down with the coldest towels on my head fending the medics off who wanted to cart me away….eh?

Then Ms Dibens came over to inform me that not only  had I won my age group but she thought I came overall top 3  WHAT??  I looked up at the time and it said  3.37 Hey??? But that is impossble I came in on 4.00 hours last year . 

The night before I made a  deal with Carina (The Austrain Pro) that she was to get a top 5 and I was to get a 3.30.  She got 4th and I got a 3,34.

Crikey I am Xterra World Champ  YEEHAA!  It is my dream come true.

If you can’t dream it it can never happen…

Thank you to my lovely sponsors:

Bike and Run, Suunto, Craft and shock absorber.

October 21st, 2009 FOOD SHOPPING in MAUI is FUN

Here we are shopping at the 24 hour Safeways store cos there was nothing else open at 9 pm!! Not even a coffee shop ..strange?

Mind you good job we had eaten.. the gigantic sandwiches looked , well see for yourself!!

October 21st, 2009 SHARK ATTACK!!

So the boys thought they’d play with me when they showed JAWS at work a few days before I left to fly to Maui.

As fate would have it yetserday a surfer was bit on the leg a beach down from me and needed 100 stitches…look out Swimmers. Well have to sign off now and go for my..sea… swim….GULP. 

Hey it’s ok I  know what to do- a  bop on his nose til he lets go. 

Anyway the sea is ssoooo nice

October 18th, 2009 Bee stings (?) Time on my hands for once…

Walking along the beach after a nice long sea swim with fellow athletes and ziiiing I felt something sting/bite my toe ouch!! It bloody was nasty.

Then the next day it swelled up and still growing 2 days later…mmmmmm  Went to see the lifeguard on duty this am. I started telling me my trauma and he interrupted me ”Heeeeey  man lovely accent where u from?? Oh we should be talking like that it’s great!’Ok Ok back to the pain in my foot ..thanks!

Anyway it turns out in aint life threatening but a sting from a bee or centipede?? or the black widow spider…WOT??? ‘Don’t worry its rare” GREAT. He did point out if I stopped breathing just shout and he’ll right on over and rescue me…well that makes me feel a whole lot better .I can still run  so no damage done.

It is now nearly a week and what a week The story so FAR:

Stomach bug, bee sting, leaky bladder (not mine the Camelback’s) bike building trauma (had to walk to the bike shop with bike on my back as wheel wouldnt go on, stopped by a big man in a bigger truck to take me there and insisting he did so cos I was so good looking…??? mmmmmmm crikey. Just finished a box set of DVD’s today gulp now wot I gonna do? Lots of time to spare between training  sessions. It is so weird but nice a the same time. No where to rush to or from…

ENJOY IT DAZ it will  not last.

October 17th, 2009 Maui Maui Maui- How I love you. Prep for the Xterra World Champs

I left London on a high note after a long, hard and strenuous day auditioning for ‘Total Wipeout’, I had already packed the night before so was set to go thank god as I was Knackered!

The journey was great; 3 flights and 23 hours later I arrived the same day -Monday in lovely warm tropical heat of the night in Maui, Hawai

First all all I have to say the people are sooo friendly and chilled here. I settled into my condo by the beach quickly, had a quick beer and bed. 

Woke up refreshed for the next day early, watched the sun come up on the beautiful turquoise sea and had a swim clear water warm and turtles swimming underneath you. Paradise in a nutshell.

I was so happy to be here feeling  great despite the long journey but  got carried away with building my bike up and riding it for 1 1/2 hours. MISTAKE no 1!

That night I had a bite to eat with Donnie a guy  I met last year who owns the local health food store that I frequent. Half way though the meal I felt hot then cold and started sweating and feeling nauseous -uh I told him to take me home quick. I went straight to bed and fro 24 hours threw up and felt really unwell.

Donnie was very kind and the next day he came round with a bag full of remedies . I took them all went to bed and woke up much better.

Now two days on I am back to normal,slight blip in the schedule but all good again.

I cant tell you how lucky I feel being g here doing the thing I love doing which is training with like minded m,people and an environment that suits sports men and women. Ever one smiles here.

I  found a great masseuse yesterday too who seemed to be very impressed by my calf muscles ..it seems they are bigger than Lance Armstrong’s whom she massages too….Eh??

 OK I know they have developed over the last few months when I look down I think are those `MY calfs??? BUT really??

Anyway all is going well and training will continue its good to have Coach Dibens close by to keep me in check .

One thing that is strange and great at the same time it’s I have loads of time to myself…wow.