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Post by andrewearlwood on Dec 29, 2022 10:13:58 GMT 8
Happy festivus y’all!
I’m enjoying some down time at Currarong (at the far north eastern end of Jervis Bay national park on NSW’s south coast, FYI) this week and my thoughts have turned to what next year has on offer in terms of triathlon. I’ve divided my thoughts into various topics, FYI:
Personal Goals
I’m currently cycling 3 hours a week - mainly on the ergo trainer using Zwift and trainer road and swimming 2-3 hours a week. My fitness & strength has improved to the extent that I did the Aquabike event at the recent Callala Bay Triathlon Festival with a view to my campaign to qualify for the 2024 Australian team for the Aquabike WC in Townsville. Good news: my race time was basically the same as the last time I did that race 4 years ago, and I now have a real benchmark of where I’m at going forward. In January, I’m getting a bike fit on all my bikes (road, triathlon bike 1 [my Shiv race bike], and triathlon bike 2 [my spare Shiv frame that I have set up on my wahoo kickr]). I’m also finally going to get a power metre (very likely the wahoo speed play single sided metre) so I can work with power outdoors and not just when using my indoor trainer. I also plan on sitting down with my old coaches (Mark Newton and perhaps Chris Hanrahan) to nut out a plan to train with power leading into husky next February, with a view to getting on a 100% coached plan for the 12 months leading into Townsville WC. In further good news, my otherwise very busy court schedule for 2023 doesn’t actually kick off until the day after Husky, giving me a full 10 weeks between Callala Bay and Husky (already in the last two weeks I’ve stepped up the training a good notch, so there is that).
Curiously, most of the qualifying races fall in the first half of 2024 (when logic would suggest that they should all fall in the second half of next year and the first 3/4 months of 2024, but I digress). I’ve entered the Huski Tri Aquabike race in Feb 23 - which doubles as both a qualifying race and I’m toying with doing the Tweed coast enduro the weekend (8 days before Husky). I’m definitely going to do the Aquabike at Challenge Canberra at the end of November, so that gives me three qualifying races to maximise my points haul, with the possibility of the Aquabike at Ironman 70.3 Tasmania in February 2024 as a ‘backstop’ in case I need a better result than the points haul I got from my first three qualifying races.
In addition to the Aquabike campaign I plan on doing so triathlons - the first since covid - next year. Kicking off with the super sprint / enticer at the Hills Triathlon Series on 29 January (the day before my 54th birthday), progressing through to the sprint race at Wollongong in April and rounding out with the standard distance race at Port Stephens to end the season in May. I was toying with the idea of doing Cairns 70.3 in June, but frankly I’ve got a lot of weight to loose (I’m over 100kg as I type this), and an injury has seen me not running since September (which has been a blessing in disguise, because I’ve been able to focus on building up my cycling and swimming without having to juggle another discipline into the mix). My Physio gave me the all clear to resume running a few days before Xmas, and I’m going to attempt my first run back this afternoon. All going well, I’m going to then enter those triathlons I’ve listed above overnight. I’m also going to start a structured diet next week (this is not a whim, but a structured plan I’ve developed with my endocrinologist), so I should be down to around 95kg by the end of January, and hopefully down to around 92kg by Huski.
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Post by andrewearlwood on Dec 29, 2022 11:44:02 GMT 8
Australian Olympic Triathlon Team
So, we are presently in the middle of the Olympic qualification period. A few things occur to me.
1. TA doesn’t seem to have learnt a thing in 20 years. The high performance program seems to be as beurocratic and nepotistic as ever: more likely to prematurely end careers than nurture and develop talent into world class performances. IMO it is no coincidence that both Adam Royal as Ash Gentle had their best year … in years … the year after they left the HP program. It is no coincidence that ever year that Jake Birtwhistle spends with the HP program his form slips.
2. That being said, there ARE green shoots. The development of Matt Hauser into a genuine world class athlete continues apace. The emergence of Sophie Linn is encouraging, as is the perseverance of other athletes in the HP program. We could - yet - salvage the current generation.
3. To that end, could Ash Gentle be encouraged to give the Olympics another crack? I’m not talking about he re-entering the high performance cult compound and submitting herself to the ministrations of those deadheads. Rather, looking at what she did this year: she raced 9 times, for 5 wins. He measured herself against the likes of Taylor Knibb and Flora Duffy over the 100km distance and she must be thinking to herself that she’d be a real chance in Paris if selected. Would TA have the wit to offer her the opportunity to swap out have of her middle distance race program next year for some walk up starts to an equivalent number of World Series and World Cup races of her choosing? You know this makes sense (which is probably why TA won’t do it … the HP ‘experts’ would be jealous of any success she could acahive from outside their bubble).
4. Similarly with Jake Birtwhistle. Whilst he developed strongly between 2016-19 it is clear that he is going backwards. He is of an age - and with the talent - to se him regularly contending with his peers like Blu and the French athletes who are in the mid-late 20s, not to forget youngsters like Wilde and co. Yet … he is drifting. He should be encouraged to go outside the HP program bubble to refresh in time for Paris, because there is no doubt, Jake Birtwhistle at his best would be feared on the start line. Again, TA HP wouldn’t have the wit or courage to facilitate that. Alas.
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Post by andrewearlwood on Dec 29, 2022 12:30:04 GMT 8
Ironman
I’m going to assume there is a split championship and the pro men race in Nice, either 2-3 weeks before Kona, or 2-3 weeks afterwards. My early predictions/picks:
1. Women. I’m picking Ryf to win. St George and the Collins cup this year still prove that on her day she is still light years ahead of the competition. She has won 4 times in a row in Kona - so it can’t be said she has a Kona problem like say Lionel Sanders for example, or even Mark Allen (pre 1989). But having had two bad races in a row (separated by a two year covid hiatus) I reckon she will be both hungry and angry and will put all her eggs into the Kona basket next year. No stone will be left unturned … and that means she about a 80% chance of winning. It will be Lucy Vs Chelsea for the minor places (or the win if Ryf misfires again).
2. Men. If the men’s race is held before Kona the Norwegians won’t race. The ITU World Series Final is scheduled for the weekend before Kona. However, if the men’s championship is held at the end of October, they might race. I’m going to assume that they don’t race.
3. Apart from the Norwegians, we should expect that the top 10 will be filed by all of the athletes that finished in the top 15 in Kona this year. I don’t expect much change, except that the likes of Baekkergard, Long, Sanders* and Brownlee may also figure. Will Jan - aged 42 - even bother? Who knows. I’m going to assume that the Norwegians don’t race, and neither does Jan, Sanders or Wurf*. I’m also going to assume that Brownlee turns up uninjured and in peak fitness. My pick for the win is therefore Brownlee. I don’t think the Nice course suits Neumann or Lange. I think Skipper will podium but not win. Ditto for Deitlev. I think Alistair puts in a massively agreesive descent off the Maritime Alps and ito T2 with a sizeable lead (maybe with Laidlow for company) and then puts down a 2.35 marathon to win.
4. Wurf. Cam turns 40 in August next year. In his own words he was shocked how far behind he was in Kona - and that after doing his first full ironman preparation in three years. He was all in, yet 20 minutes outside the win. In my view cam is a world champion exerciser, but he needs to PEAK to be able to compete. In his last blog entry - on the flight to LA to do his last phase of preparation he was complaining about the suffering he’d gone through over summer. Little wonder, having spread himself super thin from a week adventure trekking/running in Namibia, to competing in ultra gravel racing in Kansas, two pro tour stage races, ironman Vitoria, fronting Ineous’s andorra based Vuelta training camp - all BEFORE his 10 week Kona build. I thought he was struggling with his training (never swimming more than 14 km per week in Andorra or 18km in LA) and it showed. Stuck with the sag wagon bunch in the swim, with skipper/Kienle/Chavalier stuck to his wheel on the bike - and not able to bridge up to the Norwegians, let alone go with Laidlow before gritting out a 2.54 marathon). A good effort, but he was gassed months before. Now he’s racing again for Ineous, and I don’t think the motivation to win in Nice is there. I suspect his big goals will be to be the road captain for Gerraint at the Giro and maybe be selected for the Tour or back up for the giro and THEN put down a late season ironman to obtain an early qualification slot for Kona in 2024. Longer term prediction is that he’ll race pro ironman full time between 2024-6 and the go back to rowing to try to qualify for the Australian lightweight pairs team for LA in 2028 (when he’ll be 44).
5. Sanders. All over the place, as his season in review You Tube video demonstrates. But he does at least know he needs to be able to swim with Detlev - at least - to contend at a championship level. He may focus on PTO racing and 70.3 next year. Otherwise he needs to find a qualifying race somewhere. Who knows with Lionel.
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Post by comfortablynumb on Jan 1, 2023 4:54:16 GMT 8
I'm an Aquabiker too these days, though find it hard to get motivated if not doing all 3 legs.
Will probably line up for the Huski Aquabike in Feb too. Wife had booked us in as she was doing a run down there, but it seems she's torn her medial meniscus again running over Xmas, so that's probably out for her. We'll go anyway, try a bit of fishing as well.
Did not know AB was offered in a World Champs though?
Would love to get back to running, even if only 5kms to do sprints but adductor tendinitis at the pelvic attachments seems to be with me for life, though I've been seeing a Sports Doc in Sydney for almost a year now.
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Cape_Horn
Full Member
Some idiot who thinks Triathlon seemed like a good idea at the time.
Posts: 128
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Post by Cape_Horn on Jan 4, 2023 11:35:41 GMT 8
Did not know AB was offered in a World Champs though? Long distance is, (And it looks like in another year or two something around the standard distance too) As it stands, I still suck at running (no injuries, just slow) - So I am going to try and qual for the AB at Huski as well. |
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Post by flanman on Jan 16, 2023 12:48:45 GMT 8
At present doing the Classic in Huski (Feb); Classic in Batemans Bay (March) and HIM in Port.
Hopefully Mr Fatty will finally trim a bit for Port and not have too many injuries. The only concerning issue is that my left knee swells a bit on the top when I cycle longer than 2 hours. It blew up for a week after WS HIM in Sept.
Apart from this, I might throw in a run or two and maybe another race somewhere.
FM - in my 34th.35th year.
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Post by prince on Jan 17, 2023 9:48:45 GMT 8
Transferred IM Cairns to Busso (just need a second mortgage for the airfare now) so just doing 70.3 in Cairns which will be nice. Tweed Enduro and Mooloolaba for the warmup. Then Sunny Coast 70.3 for an attempt to qualify for Taupo. After Busso have booked a cruise which i intend to put on 10kg's.
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Post by FatPom on Jan 31, 2023 3:35:34 GMT 8
My biggest disappointment of the year has just happened. I had to defer the Arc of Attrition 100 until 2024 but this year's race was great and they had the lowest ever DNF rate at just 39%, which is unheard of. It will probably be snowing next bloody year! I have the South Down Way 100 mile in June and the Race to the Stones 100km in July. Then it's back to my old stomping ground of Tenby for IM Wales. I last did this race in 2018 and that was my last tri. On the plus side, I've joined a pool, just need to remember how to swim!  |
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Post by comfortablynumb on Jan 31, 2023 5:14:22 GMT 8
Did not know AB was offered in a World Champs though? Long distance is, (And it looks like in another year or two something around the standard distance too) As it stands, I still suck at running (no injuries, just slow) - So I am going to try and qual for the AB at Huski as well. We've pulled the pin on Huski due to injuries. Think I've finally made peace with the fact that my racing days are over. I want to be able to walk long distances over rough terrain for fly-fishing for a few more decades and I can't see competing in any form being compatible with that. Will still ride/swim/gym for health & strength though. We started riding with a group of 'old but fast(ish)' locals who used to be good competitive cyclists back in the day. On average, they'd be 5-15yrs older than us, but still motor. On a more positive note, our youngest is getting back into tris, is looking to join the Helix Club in Brissy and start with a short Pinkies Tri next month. |
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Post by andrewearlwood on Feb 11, 2023 10:29:41 GMT 8
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Post by greyman on Feb 24, 2023 11:28:36 GMT 8
I’m officially a short course athlete again. Sprint and Olympic distance training is all I can seem to fit into my week at present. Trying to get ready for a 70.3 just ain’t happening due to outside commitments. Didn’t think semi retirement would go this way but I’m not complaining. Wife and I are doing some running events together for the first time in like forever, I’m travelling on my motorbike more than expected and this could become a new business venture (no not a country postie) and life balance is way better than it used to be.
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Post by FatPom on Mar 2, 2023 15:42:20 GMT 8
I have pulled out of SDW100 and instead will be doing the 44 mile Classic Quarter in Cornwall on May20.
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zed
Full Member
Posts: 124
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Post by zed on Mar 3, 2023 9:00:38 GMT 8
I'm thinking of swimming 100% for the 23/24 season and try and do most of the open water races. Quite hard trying to train for tri and swim high volume. Maybe do some sprints, but nothing more than Olympic?
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Post by comfortablynumb on Mar 3, 2023 14:07:34 GMT 8
On a more positive note, our youngest is getting back into tris, is looking to join the Helix Club in Brissy and start with a short Pinkies Tri next month. She came 2nd out of 116 women in the shorter race! Fastest swim & bike, but got passed by a 15yo who could run like the wind.  |
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