A Taste Of Adventure Racing And It Was Delicious!!!!

Greg and I don’t get many chances to race together so when an adventure race in Otaki was advertised, we jumped at the opportunity.  The first thing we discovered about adventure racing is that you need a lot of things, equipment and a fantastic support crew.  We enlisted Danielle and her parents who did a fantastic job!

Map given to competitors

Race briefing and registration, which involved a very thorough equipment check was held Friday evening. The organisation was superb to get over 60 teams checked so quickly.  At the briefing we were told where the race would start and that’s all we knew.

Lemans start

Saturday morning, we arrived just in time to receive our map and supporters pack.  We quickly assembled our bikes and headed off down to the river for a Lemans start.  I really like these types of races, lots of people in board shorts, sneakers and borrowed gear, all there just to give it a go.

At the back again

We thought we got off to a good start but judging by the number of people we passed in the early stages of the MTB we obliviously didn’t.  The mountain bike course was on a private farm, one big loop to the top of the ridge, along then down.  We soon discovered unless you are absolutely sure where you are going, which we weren’t, it doesn’t pay to be near the front.  As we reached the highest point a few teams were standing there trying to figure out which way to go.  After a few minutes of discussion, people headed off in all directions; luckily we went the right way.  It only took a quick glance back to realise all the effort we put in to pass people on the way up was lost with a solid line of riders following.  The ride finished with a neat down hill and time trial up the gorge road to T1.

Running along the river

The second stage was the run.  We started off running along the river to two different check points, then headed straight up the face of a hill/mountain to the top of the ridge. 

We happened to be at the right place at the right time as we were able to take advantage of following some other groups as they bush bashed their way up. Once at the top, it was a leisurely run along the ridge on a DOC track then down to T2.

Perfect shot Greg!

Danielle and her parents had all our gear laid out so it was a quick transition and off to the second challenge - gumboot throwing into our tubes before we started our tubing adventure.  Greg was spot on, I missed.  For every person that missed, the team had to sit in the penalty box for three minutes.  Bad luck if you were a 4 person team and all missed.



In the penalty box





The tubing was the highlight for me, we were neck and neck with three other teams as we 

This is the way to race!!!

entered the river.  Most people were happy to straight line it across the river bed but I chose to stay on my tube and enjoy the ride.  At the end of each set of major rapids were life guards in case anything went wrong.  They were surprised so many people were walking.  It soon became apparent, big tube = fast in the water but hard to carry across the rocks and a smallish tube = slower in the water but easier to carry across the rocks.

Possible short cut

Greg was able to dig deep and we came off the river in front of the other teams we started the tubing with to finish in 5:13hrs.  Overall it was a fantastic event and a great way to spend a Saturday.

High Miles Week - it doesn't get any better than this!!!

Before my operation, Andy and I talked about doing a high miles week in the first week of the school holidays.  We made a "Bucket List" of some long rides and runs we would like to try.  This list certainly gave me the motivation to recover quickly and get my endurance back in time to take this challenge on.

Sunday - KONA HEAT VS AKATARAWA FROST

Today is the holy grail of Ironman, KONA.  I woke up extra early to follow it on the internet, it looked amazing.  I met Andy, Mike and his friend at 6:40am outside the Brown Owl Fish n Chip shop (the best in Upper Hutt). We biked over the Akas in the frost to participate in a 100km fun ride in Waikanae.  The race went well with another fast start. This time I was able to hang in the second bunch and chat with Luke (when  he wasn't at the front).  We regrouped at the finish and biked back over the Akas. I started to blow just as we got back to Upper Hutt.  170km, 6 hours BANKED!!!

Monday and Tuesday were recovery days, easy swims and light road rides

Wednesday - Andy (I ran a 1.23hr in the last Taupo Half Ironman) Brown and I did our swim workout then I took Andy on my favourite run in the hills behind Cannon Point. Running with Andy was never going to be easy and it WASN'T, but my calves seemed to handle everything I threw at them, so I was very pleased with that.

Thursday - THE BIG COAST - A WHALE OF A TIME

We had both wanted to do this ride for a long time and the weather gods certainly looked after us.  We set off from Upper Hutt, over the Rimutaka Incline, down to Ocean Beach and back around to Eastbourne.  The ride went exceptionally well, the ocean was still, very little wind and it wasn't too warm.  As we were making our way to Pencarrow Lighthouse, I noticed something odd on the beach.  Upon closer investigation, we discovered a beached whale and I happened to be the first person to report it to DOC (Department Of Conservation).  Once past the light house, we took turns 'lapping it out' and time trialled on the road back to Upper Hutt.  135km, 8hr day BANKED!!!

VIDEO STILL WITH PETE JACKSON - COMING SOON

Friday - Rest day for the big weekend ahead.

Saturday - 5HR RECOVERY RIDE

The weather forecast was for a calm day, so to make the most of it, we rode into Wellington, around the bays and out Makara.  We had always planned on doing a 5hr ride, but after Thursday it seemed like a recovery ride and we got home feeling fresh, this week must be paying off!

Sunday - THE HARDEST RUN I HAVE EVER DONE (AGAIN)

Peter Stevens very kindly took me on a run a few years back when HE was training for the Sounthern Crossing Running Race (something that is on my bucket list).  I had just finished training for Karapoti so thought, how hard could a run in the Tararuas be?  Turns out BLOODY HARD!!!! I blew big time and as Peter had an international flight to catch that afternoon, I let him go and walked out for the last hour.  As crazy as it may seem, I have always wanted to do that run again and be able to run the whole way, but I needed someone silly, I mean fit enough to do it with me.  Andy was up for the challenge.

The run starts at Kiwi Ranch, goes up Marchant Ridge, along to Block XVI, straight down to the river which you cross, down to Smiths Creek and back out to Kiwi Ranch. Sounds simple.  Add rain, hail, wet roots and stretches of bog knee deep and hills that go STRAIGHT UP and  DOWN (took us 40min from the ridge to the river) it starts to take a toll on your energy, but WE LOVED IT!!!!  28km, 6 hrs BANKED!!!

If you are into off road/adventure running then this is the run for you!!!

Best Run In Wellington

12 weeks since my operation,  8 weeks of training, 22 weeks until the New Zealand Ironman and another good week of base training.

This week was an easy week for running. The opertation seems to have been a huge success but for some unknown reason, I'm getting a burning sensation in my right achilles tendon+.  The physio thinks it's due to weak muscles and will come right, I'm certainly hoping so.

Key training for this week:
Saturday
Run from YMCA (Kiwi Ranch) at the bottom of the Rimutakas into the Tararuas to the first hutt (Smiths Creek).  It is my all time favourite run, beautiful forest, nice terrain and in the summer the river is great to take a dip in.

Sunday - Vets Wairarapa Cycle Challenge
Despite waking up to heavy rain and coming close to turning off my alarm and going back to sleep, I got up and got ready.  The weather improved and I stuck to my plan to bike over the Rimutakas.  As I cruised into Featherston I was amazed to see so many cyclists warming up.  I'm not sure how many people entered but it certainly looked like a fantastic turnout.

Once again, I started near the back thinking I would be able to work my way to the front.  WRONG!!!!!
The pace was insane from the start, too many cyclists going backwards causing too many gaps to bridge. The only silver lining was that there were some great riders in my bunch.  We worked well together and managed to limit the amount of time lost to the front bunch.  The ride home was a little tough due to a strong head wind going UP the Rimutakas.

A big thank you to the Vets (Wellington Veterans Cycling Club) for putting on another great event.

Run on Saturday

Ride on Sunday

ToraTora Mountain Bike Park

I know I am meant to be recording my training for the Taupo Ironman in March but this week I had the opportunity to get some cross training in. Greg decided he would show me around the new(ish) ToraTora mountain bike park just out of Martinborough. 
The weather was looking dubious as we headed over the hill, we arrived just before 10am, about the same time as the rain.  We had a quick chat with the owner and were off.  The ride started with a quick warm up along a gravel road, turned left onto some farm land (Greg's group missed this turn off last time resulting in them biking a few extra kms down the road - you DON'T want to miss it!).  After a few hundred metres the track headed into the bush and onto a nicely prepared track.  I took my cross country  bike, some other riders we met took both their XC and single speeds.  I think the track would be suitable for cyclocross bikes as well.  We did the main loop, which is about 14km including the road section to and from the start.  The ride itself was enjoyable, pretty much all rideable with some neat little down hills and I'm sure there would be some stunning views on a good day. On the way out the weather packed in.  Back at the start, the owner showed us some true Wairarapa hospitality and let me use the shower attached to the cottage.


I had hoped to take some great photos and record some action footage but the weather and constant chain suck didn't allow it.  It just means that I will have to go there again, bummer!  Greg and I are thinking about taking our cross country bikes to ride the main course followed by another lap on the downhill bikes to explore the other down hill tracks. Overall it's a track that can be as challenging or as easy as you want to make it.


To visit their web page, click here


The loop.

ToraTora in relation to Wellington.

North Island Cyclocross Champs

All week I had planned on NOT racing the North Island Cyclocross Champs as I didn't see how it would benefit my Ironman training, surely a long run would be more useful, wouldn't it?

After another quiet week of training, I was feeling fresh for the weekend (nice change).  On Saturday, Andy and I popped over the hill, around the lake and back over the hill, hopefully a practise for the Vets race in two weeks time.

Sunday morning rolled round and the thought of missing out on a race just across the bridge was too great.  Upon arrival, I was impressed with the atmosphere, C grade had just finished and the kids were lining up to start.   I raced B Grade on my cross bike and as a little reward those on cross bikes got to start at the front.
Below is a video of my first lap of 12.





The great thing about living so close is that I was able to watch the start of A Grade, pop home have lunch then return to take some great action shots.  Below is Stuart Stent, clear jump, nice height, level pedals, I score him 8.9

To see all the other photos, chick here

A Grade start.

A Whole New Playground!

I got into mountain biking as a way of exploring the hills around Upper Hutt and thought I knew most of the tracks.  The weather on Monday didn't inspire me to ride on the road so I thought I would try a track I had heard about even though it is just around the corner.  It's the section of the river trail from Twin Bridges to Te Marua bridge that goes through a nice section of bush, some farm land (sheep grazing if you are lucky), through some more beautiful bush, then it pops out next to SH 2.  It must be one of Upper Hutt's best kept secrets.  What makes this piece of track really exciting is that I can now ride from Upper Hutt to the top of the Rimatakas mostly off road, perfect for the cyclocross bike!

Oh, as luck would have it, it is perfect terrain for me to run on which will see me doing some great adventure runs, maybe to the top of the incline, Mt Climie or even over to Kaitoke Regional Park via the Ridge track.

Pretty average week for training, Saturday saw me get smashed again in Break two. It was a real eye opener, I couldn't keep up with my bunch on the flat which obviously means I don't have any speed and rightly so because I have been concentrating on Long Slow Distance.  The silver lining was I banked a 150km/5hour ride and I felt fine when I got home.  The large bottle of coke Luke bought and shared may have influenced my state of mind though.

Below is my Sunday run along the track I mentioned earlier, the two dark shapes are the Twin Lakes.

Someone forgot to read the script!!!

Someone forgot to read the script and when I say someone, I mean EVERYONE else!!!!-:)

I have parcipated in this race for the last couple of years with the same script. We cruised to the bottom of Wainui Hill, the odd Pantani attcked the bunch going up while the rest of us groveled to the summit.  As it is  a slight downhill to the coast,  those that got dropped would work together, catch the riders out in front and then we all worked together back up the valley into the head wind.  Once we got to the rubbish tip enterance the odd attack would start but the real contenders wouldn't start sprinting until leaving the dip with 100-200 metres to the finish line.  Sounds like quite a pleasent race, doesn't it?

(In the Balfour Pennington Series, the bunches are handicapped with Scratch being the fastest and Break four being the slowest.  The powers to be put me in Break two).

This year 'that script' was thrown out the window on the start line! All it took was for one person to jump on the "Go" and the bunch was all fired up, dropping people before the start of the hill.  For me, I was able to hang on along the flat and limit the damage going up Wainui Hill. A gap of 50m opened up quickly which slowly became 100m.  Any hope I had of rejoining the front bunch before the top was dashed about 3/4 of the way up on one of the steeper corners.  I tried to bridge the gap but my legs had nothing in them, leaving me to look around and join forces with three others.  We worked well together down Coast Rd closing in on a few riders just ahead of us.  WOOOSH, about half way down, Break 1 caught us, we worked  with them, caught Break 3 just before the turn around.  A few kiometers later we caught Break 4.  I never saw what happened at the front as I was tucked in neatly near the back of about 40-60 riders.  The pace suggested that we were riding into a very strong head wind.

It was a good day out, my first raod race in about 8 weeks, didn't crack or crash and I was able to bank a 4 hour ride.