Otago Peninsula Challenge 1st February 2009 - MTB Race

A great race, i was hoping to place around the same as last year (8th) but this year found myself down a bit (30th) but wiht a time only 1min slower than last year - there was a huge depth of fast riders there and having the SI cup riders start in a bunch 2min ahead of us made it difficult to chase them and stick with them when they are out of sight. Anyway a good race,now just going to work on maintinaing good health and fitness as i have my big surgery on 18th Feb so will be lying low and recovering for a few weeks and maybe a few weeks more? www.otagopeninsulachallenge.co.nz

Lake Dunstan Triathlon 2nd January 2009

Link to results http://www.cromwell.org.nz/raceresults.asp

Well I drove up to Cromwell for the Lake Dunstan Triathlon to be held on Friday 2nd January. As we drove into central the wind seemed to get stronger and stronger, by the time we got to Cromwell there was a really strong Westerly wind blowing – the race had a Kayak Cycle Run, Swim Bike Run or Duathlon option. I was all geared up for a fun time in the Kayak Cycle Run race only to be told tat there was to be no Kayak Cycle Run race as the lake was too rough – I always enjoy the rough as it sorts out the paddlers from the highway paddlers. Anyway the option was to do the duathlon or the swim triathlon. I had thrown my wetsuit and goggles in the car for some reason so decided to do the swim tri (about 100m into the swim I remembered why I prefer multisport races and Kayaking!) Anyway the swim was pretty short 300m or so, I took off at a good pace only to get a good gulp of water in the mouth about 100m into it which had me having a small coughing/gulping/spluttering fit! Anyway got the swim out of the way – not at great speed really, but onto the bike and time to hammer it a bit. The cycle stage was an out and back 22km so I gave it heaps here and was passing cyclists all the way – one advantage of the slow swim – playing chase all the way and then onto the run which was about 5km around the lake side – gave it heaps here and continued to reel in lots of people, Finished the raced in 1hr10min – a pretty short quick race compared to the usual races I am used to., Quite enjoyable having a crack at trhe swim tri as it has been a while since I have been foe a swim let alone done a swim tri! Finished 9th Open Man.