Belinda's winning strategy?

Belinda Granger won Ironman Malaysia on Saturday, crediting the victory to her decision to accelerate her pace during the run and demoralise her nearest rival.

Team TBB


**As a post-script: Yvonne van Vlerken, who was second, said in her race report that her main objective on the day was to get a Kona spot and so when that was secure at about the 30km mark on the run, she was given the signal to ease back and not hammer her legs.

Both of these athletes will face each other in Roth and then in Kona. Perhaps an interesting rivalry is developing.

M-dot NZ

http://www.ironman.co.nz/

Ma-lay-sia!!!

Leading the way on the men's side is former Ford Ironman World Champion Faris Al-Sultan, while the women's race includes Ironman champions Rebecca Preston and Belinda Granger.

Number crunching

http://triathleterankings.blogspot.com/

A new project. If you have any thoughts, please don't hesitate to email me. If you spot any errors, small or large, please please let me know.

Respect is earned

... and it's easily lost

Enjoy the FINE weather

Unfortunately, the forecast isn't getting much better.

SMH

As at 9am on Saturday, Sydney had received a whopping 172.4 millimetres since the start of February, compared with 4.4 millimetres for the same period last year.

February's rainfall is already way above the month's average of 116.9 millimetres - and there's no end in sight.

Geelong Performances

Jacqui - 4th

JC - 9th

JH - 1st

*****
Women's Top 5

1. Mirinda CARFRAE 4:24:27
2. Rebekah KEAT 4:27:14
3. Kate MAJOR 4:29:21
4. Amelia PEARSON 4:35:10
5. Tara NORTON 4:38:59

Men's Top 5

1. Leon GRIFFIN 3:56:49
2. Mitchell ANDERSON 3:58:13
3. David DELLOW 4:01:01
4. Joe GAMBLES 4:02:11
5. Boyd CONRICK 4:02:45

And for more swim tips

there is

http://www.goswim.tv/

BBC tri news

For BBC related triathlon news and videos

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympics/triathlon/default.stm

Dave Scott's tips

There's a series of 20 training tip videos by Dave Scott on YouTube.

Just go to YouTube and in the search field enter: accelerade dave scott

Or tri this link

The subjects cover a bit of everything.

Lisa - 34th ranked Aussie marathoner

Well the Marathon is ranked 34th on a list of the 100 top marathon performances in 2007.

!!!!!

Confront - Sacrifice - Persist

"Testing the capacity for survival doesn't necessarily require being placed in harsh surroundings. All of us, whether living at an extreme or protected by an advanced society, are surrounded by emotional and mental, if not physical, obstacles. We spend most of our lives on the near side of these barriers, even as we long to surmount them. We take the easy way out, arguing, often with much validity, that to do so is safer or more practical. If, however, we gather the will to cross over the obstacle, to confront the emotion or solve the problem, we gain strength from it. Telling the truth, making the sacrifice, doing the job though there won't be any recognition for it - these are mental exercises that strengthen will as much as physical exercise strengthens muscle. Such efforts actually form nerve connections in the brain that make it easier to overcome an obstacle the next time. Moreover, if we persist in the face of adversity, we often get a 'second wind', much as an endurance runner when he refuses to quit. The unexpected energy can carry us much farther than we ever thought possible and allow us to triumph over seemingly unsurmountable odds."

Kamler, Kenneth, 2004, Surviving the Extremes, St Martins Press, New York , p 279

Belinda on xtri

There's a Q&A with Belinda on xtri.

Kurnell Three Closing!!!

A quick hello and a reminder that late entry to the third round of the Sydney Triathlon Series, Kurnell will close at 5:00pm, Wednesday 6th February 2008 or sooner if the maximum field is reached (and it's filling VERY fast).

A reminder too that no entries are accepted after that time and NO entries will be accepted on race day... As above Entries can close earlier if 500 entries are reached.

All event details and secure online entry can be found at www.trinswrace.org> TriNSW Races > Sydney Triathlon Series...

*From Tri NSW

Dorel buys Cannondale, Sugoi

MONTREAL, February 4 - Dorel Industries has acquired Cannondale Bicycle Corporation and Sugoi Performance Apparel for as much as $US200 milllion in cash as part of a plan to expand its cycling business.

Dorel, which already owns Schwinn, Mongoose and GT through its Pacific Cycles unit, said Cannondale would be the crown jewel in a plan to become the world’s top indepedent bicycle dealer.

Montreal-based Dorel said it would seek other acquisitions to bolster its position in the bicycle market.

Cannondale and Sugoi are being purchased from an affiliate of Pegasus Capital
Advisors, which acquired the company in 2003.

7:34.50 - Not bad for 3km

Craig Mottram broke his own Australian record and clocked the fastest time over 3000 metres in the United States when he won the event over that distance at the Boston Indoor Games on Saturday night.

Mottram, aiming to make up for the disappointment of finishing 13th in the 5000m at last year's world championships, cruised to victory in an impressive time of seven minutes, 34.50 seconds in the men's 3000m.

His time bettered Ethiopian Haile Gebrselassie's 2004 indoor US all-comers record of 7:35.24 and topped the outdoor best of 7:35.44 run in 2005 by Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge. He also eclipsed his national record of 7:39.24 set at the same meet last year.

For the smh story.

Geelong entry deadline approaching

SNAP IRONMAN 70.3 GEELONG

INDIVIDUAL ENTRIES – ONLY DAYS LEFT!

Don’t miss out - Enter now at www.ironmanoz703.com

ENTRIES CLOSE – THURSDAY 31 JANUARY

Enter WA 2008 NOW!!!

2008 IRONMAN WA WEBSITE AND ENTRIES NOW OPEN!

The 2007 Ironman Western Australia Triathlon was a great success with almost 1000 individual competitors and 50 teams battling it out on the fast and scenic Busselton course

We are already looking forward to another fantastic event this year to be held on Sunday 7 December

Entries have opened for 2008 so enter now as we celebrate our 5th year in Busso!

Visit www.ironmanwa.com to enter or for more information

Validate and then ENTER!

2008 PANTHERS IRONMAN AUSTRALIA – SUNDAY 6 APRIL

HAVE YOU VALIDATED AND HAVE YOU ENTERED?

Just a reminder that even if you have completed your validation race, you still need to enter Ironman Australia online via www.ironmanoz.com and pay your entry fee

If you have already entered, please check that your name appears on the confirmed entrants list

If you have any queries please email Glenda – glendabaggs@ironmanoz.com

ENTRIES CLOSE – TUESDAY 12 FEBRUARY – DON’T MISS OUT!

Newsletter News

News

Newsletter Nutrition Tips

Nutrition Tips

The Petr Challenge

Petr Vabrousek provides a review of everything that went wrong ahead of and during his recent race at Challenge Wanaka on xtri.

A good reminder that DNF should never be an option. You always have time to regroup and finish in style.

His race sked for 2008 includes: Wanaka (iron distance), M-dots in Malaysia, Port Mac, China Lanzarote or Brazil, Prague iron distance, Switzerland, Lake Placid and Almere (iron distance). Plus a few halfs here and there.

His site.

Jacqui Benoit - NSW State Champ

It's been an amazing 12 months for Jacqui, the new NSW State Champ!

In March, Jacqui ran the Six Foot Track marathon in 5:30, which put her 8th in the competitive 20-29 age group and gave her a top 50 finish among all women. She was 46th overall.

In April, she ran another marathon – this one in Canberra in 3:47 - second in the 20-24 age group.

In May she ran the Sydney half marathon in 1:39 and then the Gold Coast half marathon on July 1st in 1:40.

The breakthrough came just two weeks after the Gold Coast. At the 25km Woodford to Glenbrook in August, Jacqui ran 2:01 – securing 4th place in the 20-29 age group.

Then the triathlon season opened. She's hit the podium SEVEN times including three wins and second at the Port Mac half ironman.

October 14 - Maitland 1k, 30k, 8k
1st in age in 1:53:09

November 6 - Port Mac Half Ironman
2nd in age in 5:11:01

November 18 - Nepean 1k, 30k, 10k
3rd in age in 1:53:02

November 25 - Newcastle 1.5k, 40k, 10k
2nd in age in 2:27:10

December 16 - Canberra Half Ironman
3rd in age in 5:11:30

January 13 - Kurnell Two 750m, 20k, 5k
1st in age in 1:10:38

January 20 - Cronulla 1.5k, 40k, 10k
Jacqui was 1st woman overall - and NSW Champion - in 2:19:28

Cronulla Results

Cronulla Olympic Triathlon 1.5 x 40 x 10 - 20th January 2008
Pos	First Name	Last Name	Gun Time	Category	Cat Pos	Swim	C.Pos	Cycle	C.Pos	Run	C.Pos
1st(M)	Arron	Farlow	1:53:36	Open	1	0:19:30	6	0:57:36	2	0:36:30	1
1st(F)	Jacqui	Benoit	2:19:28	20-24F	1	0:23:51	2	1:07:54	2	0:47:43	1
6	Adam	Conquest	2:01:22	M30-34	1	0:24:33	9	0:56:04	1	0:40:45	1
8	Chris	Waterhouse	2:03:59	Open	5	0:19:29	5	1:00:54	7	0:43:36	6
13	John	Hill	2:06:56	M50-54	1	0:23:59	1	1:01:21	1	0:41:36	1
44	Jacqui	Benoit	2:19:28	20-24F	1	0:23:51	2	1:07:54	2	0:47:43	1
51	Spot	Anderson	2:21:03	M40-44	5	0:20:33	3	1:10:38	8	0:49:52	8
59	Tess	Waterhouse	2:23:14	F35-39	1	0:23:37	1	1:11:00	1	0:48:37	2
91	James	Box	2:29:00	M60-64	1	0:25:52	1	1:14:55	1	0:48:13	1
108	Elisha	Smith	2:32:50	F30-34	3	0:22:11	1	1:13:34	3	0:57:05	5
116	Kimberley	Purcell	2:34:00	F25-29	1	0:28:34	7	1:13:26	3	0:52:00	2
129	Angie	Bainbridge	2:36:57	F25-29	4	0:26:42	3	1:13:24	2	0:56:51	5
223	Stephen	Brown	3:34:46	M50-54	7	0:29:53	4	1:28:38	6	1:36:15	7

Thanks Tony!

Port Mac

2008 Panthers Ironman Australia – Have you validated and have you entered?

Just a reminder that even if you have completed your validation race, you still need to enter Ironman Australia online via www.ironmanoz.com and pay your entry fee.
Entries close 12 February and there is a Field Limit of 1800 entries.

If you have already entered, please check that your name appears on the confirmed entrants list - Please click here

If you have any queries please email Glenda – glendabaggs@ironmanoz.com

Geelong

Snap Ironman 70.3 Geelong – Sunday 10 February

The Snap Ironman 70.3 Geelong Triathlon is rapidly approaching and is about to take place at Eastern Beach on Sunday 10 February.

Everyone is welcome to participate in the Snap Ironman 70.3 Geelong which involves a 1.9km Swim, 90.1km Bike and 21.1km Run.

There is a field limit of 1,200 entries and with Individual and Team entries closing online on Thursday 31 January make sure you enter now to avoid missing out. 75 slots for the 2008 Ironman 70.3 World Championship in Florida will be up for grabs and with an fantastic elite field attending it is building up to be an exciting race.

The Ironman 70.3 in Geelong is also your last chance to validate for the 2008 Ironman Australia triathlon in Port Macquarie in April.

Visit www.ironmanoz703.com to enter or for more information

Geelong 70.3

The women’s race is shaping up to be a star-studded field with current Ironman Australia champion Rebekah Keat confirming she will use Ironman 70.3 as part of her lead up to her title defense at Ironman Australia on April 6, 2008.

“ Geelong looks like being a real challenge and it will be ideal for the lead in to Port Macquarie,” said Keat from her Gold Coast home.

Joining Keat will be this year’s Hawaii Ironman third place finisher Kate Major, who has returned home to Australia early to also prepare for the Panthers Ironman Australia. Former Olympian and recent Gold Coast Half Ironman winner, Queenslander Rina Hill has also confirmed her entry in Geelong.

Add in Snap Half Ironman series leader Lisa Marangon, Geelong’s own Belinda Harrison who along with Chris Legh is the ambassador for the race and Charlotte Paul who recently won her first Ironman in Western Australia and the race looks set to be a tight affair.

The Geelong Ironman 70.3 is part of the world wide series that qualifies athletes for the Ironman 70.3 World Championship in Florida. Geelong has 75 qualifying spots to the event.

Success in the New Year!

All the best in 2008!

The Store

Fastgear

Shop 2, 2-8 Campbell Parade
Bondi 2026
Tel: 9365 0409

Triathlon gear: Desoto, Lock laces, TNI
Sports nutrition: High5
Active swimwear: Rival
Wetsuits: Orca
Tyres: Tufo
Compression socks: CEP

Be inspired to run a bit more

From The New York Times

Ted Corbitt, who began running as a child on his father’s cotton farm in South Carolina and virtually never stopped, becoming a pioneer of ultramarathon running in the United States, died Wednesday in Houston.

***

By his own count, Corbitt ran 199 marathons and ultramarathons, which are typically races of 50 or 100 miles or 24 hours. (Marathons are 26 miles 385 yards.) He won 30 of those races and never dropped out of one until he was 75, he said. He trained by running as many as 200 miles a week. In his heyday, Corbitt — shy and slight at 5 feet 7 inches and 130 pounds — was a United States marathon champion and a member of the United States team at the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki, Finland, where he finished a disappointing 44th in the marathon.

At various times, Corbitt held American records in the marathon, the 100-mile run and the 25-, 40- and 50-kilometer events. He also won national American Athletic Union championships in several distance running events. His fastest time in a marathon was 2 hours 26 minutes 44 seconds.

**

His training regimens were legendary. For a time, he ran 200 miles or more a week, often in Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx and Prospect Park in Brooklyn. He once ran the marathon distance every day for a month. He often ran a 31-mile loop around Manhattan in about 3:45. Sometimes he did two loops. He also trained with weights.

Canberra Half Results

Some solid performances on a wet and cold day.

CHALLENGE YOURSELF!

http://thechallengecorp.com/

Canberra Half

http://www.canberrahalf.com/

Brat membership

Membership 2008

Brat membership for 2007 runs out at the end of December. Brat Membership is for the CALENDAR year. Renew on-line at www.bratclub.com.au. New members can pick their cards up at the Icebergs 2-3 weeks later. Call first though to make sure it is ready.

Brat sprint - Dec 16th

BRAT ‘SPRINT’ TRIATHLON SUN DEC 16th 10.30AM

VENUE: Heffron Park Maroubra.

DISTANCE: 750m/20k/5k- 300m/10k/5k Junior and Beginners
TIME : 10.30 PM Start

REGISTRATION: From 9.45-10.15am. All racers at Brat events need to be a member of either BRAT CLUB OR any other affiliated triNSW club

Please bring evidence of your membership to races. If you are not a member or can not produce evidence, you will not be able to race.

COST: $15 for members/ $30 for non-members. Join/renew on-line @ www.bratclub.com.au or on the day. Cheque and cash only!

Pins and Needles

Meridian Healing Centre

Meridian Healing Centre is offering members of Triathlon NSW acupuncture treatments for only $45.00. This price includes massage, moxibustion and cupping where appropriate.

Meridian is conveniently located in the centre of Sydney ’s CBD and offers services in the ancient healing arts of acupuncture and herbal medicine. The centre is decorated in a chic modern Asian style with the intension of creating an ambience of comfort and relaxation to compliment the healing process.

Acupuncture is well recognised as being able to treat a range of sports related injuries such as sprains, cartilage and ligament damage, as well as corking and tearing of the muscles. However, to make best usage of this offer, we encourage all triathlon NSW members to look beyond how acupuncture can assist them with their training and injuries. Consider how Meridian may be of assistance in other areas of your health. Do you need to fine tune your health? Would you like to de-stress?

To find out what conditions acupuncture can treat, or if would like some general information about acupuncture, look at our web site at www.meridianhealing.com.au. To make an appointment, call us on 9231 3377.

NSW Club Champs

Club Championships

The TriNSW Club Champs continue in 2008 at One Mile Beach in picturesque Port Stephens. After consultation with the affiliated clubs, the Board has resolved “That one day licences be accepted at 2008 TriNSW Club Championships on 3rd May, however points will not count for that individual towards their Club.” What this means is that Club Members who are not full TA/ TriNSW Members may compete, however it will be solely for fun because their points won’t count towards the Club tally. So Clubs – if you want more points, encourage your members to become TriNSW Members now and reap the advantages for the full season.

Macca nomination

Macca nominated as NSW Athlete of the Year

TriNSW has proudly submitted a nomination for Chris McCormack as 2007 NSW Athlete of the Year. Additionally Panthers Australian Ironman Triathlon – Port Macquarie has been submitted as 2007 Event of the Year. Stay tuned for announcement of the winners at the NSW Sports Awards being held on 12th February.

Penrith Women's Tri

2008 Trishave All Women’s Festival

TriNSW is delighted to announce the signing of Trishave as the title sponsor for the 2008 Trishave All Women’s Festival, to be staged on 3^rd February at Sydney International Regatta Centre, Penrith.

Kurnell TWO

Kurnell #2 - Don’t forget that entries to the second round of the Sydney Triathlon Series at Kurnell on January 13^th will also close early January – early entries the Friday week before racing, late entries the Wednesday before racing – at 5:00PM. Entry and event details at www.trinswrace.org > TriNSW races > Sydney Triathlon Series…

Cronulla Tri

2008 Cronulla Triathlon

Early bird entries for the 2008 Cronulla Triathlon will close on 21 December. All early bird entries will go into the draw to win a night's accommodation at the official Cronulla Triathlon hotel, Rydges Cronulla. Also once you have registered you then qualify to receive discounts from the events sponsors including a free ocean swim session with icon coach Spot Anderson, a complimentary 3 month triathlon program from Hi Performance Triathlon Coaching services and 15% off Saucony runners at Runulla in Cronulla Mall.

Juan is a sub10 Ironman

Mea culpa .. an oversight on my part ..

A super Ironman debut for Juan .. he hammered the bike!!!

Charlotte captures 1st Ironman!

Charlotte Paul won her first ironman today and she did it by smashing the course record in WA by about 10 minutes!

She finished in 9:00:55!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WOW!!!!

Kristian posts a sub9 finish

He's more determined than ever. Kristian pulling off a 8:57 finish for JUST 5th in his age group!

Lisa's sub5 bike split

Wow .. a sub 5 bike ride .. Lisa fought all day .. another very very solid Ironman performance!!

Hill Eases to Victory

Mr Hill took first in his age group at WA! And he did it in style with a half an hour to spare!

Mr Fuel Belt's Lesson of the Day

Mr Fuel Belt wants all athletes to know about the importance of nutrition, including hydration. He says weather conditions must be taken into condition too or there will be a price to pay. He recently (a few hours ago) dropped into Vancouver to offer this simple advice in person.


As part of his presentation, he demonstrated what happens if you fail to refuel as you race.


Don't attempt this on your next brick or race day. Keep fueling! Visit John's new store for all your nutrition needs!!