4th on ITU World Duathlon Rankings

The newest ITU World Rankings have seen me move up to 4th after the Oceania Champs http://www.triathlon.org/docs/rankings-duathlon-men.pdf?ts=1219886878
The last remaining race of the series is the ITU World Duathlon Championships in Rimini, Italy.

Thanks to Graham Dawes

A big thanks to Graham Dawes from Leonora for his generous support of my participation at the 2008 World Duathlon Championships in Rimini, Italy. I love the town of Leonora and help organise the annual "Golden Gift" in June. My grandfather worked in the town early last century and I have been out there at least once a year for the past 9 years.

As a fully self funded sport, the financial assistance is greatly appreciated and ensures I can focus on my racing for the two weeks in France and Italy coming up.

On a final note, we are looking to bring back the famous Leonora Biathlon (20k bike draft legal/5k run) at the 2009 Golden Gift so keep an ear out.

Thanks again Graham

Regards
Radar

3rd at ITU Oceania Duathlon Champs in Newcastle

The 2008 ITU Oceania Duathlon Champs in Newcastle featured the same course as the 2005 ITU World Championships. A flat and fast 10k run leg was combined with a tough non drafting 6 lap bike (consisting of 90m of vertical climb on each lap with corresponding descent) and then a final 5k run.

Thankfully, I have started to feel better the past week after getting some iron tablets into the system and implementing a change in diet. The race itself was a great chance to get fitter and with only 5 weeks until the World Champs I was in much need of a specific hit out.

On the first run, I alternated 2nd and 3rd place with James Attard after Mathew McDonough from Victoria tore off from the gun. At the end of the run McDonough had 90 seconds on us....not good but thought we would bring him back on the bike....I got away from James but made little inroads into the leader until Paul Attard surged through on the 3rd lap of the bike. He was riding strongly but I maintained contact on the downhills and did my share of work on the ascents.....we squeezed the gap down to 1.10 at the end of the bike so it was really a race for minor medals. To his credit, Paul outmuscled me for second and I had to be content with the bronze medal 15 seconds back. The winner McDonough again extended his lead on the final run and showed genuine class on the day.

In summary, I felt steady but very one paced. I will now start some speedwork to get the tempo and change of pace required to try and better my 14th place from 2007 World Championships.

PS Well done to FRONT RUNNER SQUAD member Genessa McDonald-Meade who won her 25-29 age group and her boyfriend Nat who was also super competitive

Running Regards
Radar

Bad Blood

Some blood tests taken with metabolic, biomechanical and physiological assessment last week have given some excellent insight into my current condition. Half way through our trip to Europe in April and May I literally "ran out of steam" and haven't really ever felt too flash since. I think the body has been under the pump for the past year since crashing in Belgium and all the resultant surgery and subsequent bacterial infection have taken their toll. The tests showed some obvious causes for these symptoms of fatigue and we are now rectifying those with the team at "The Metabolic Clinic". I can highly recommend the quality and professionalism I have recieved from Steve and his team and everything should start to improve with the correct treatment.

Cheers

30 Years Old!

Well yesterday was my 30th birthday and had a great day with Lianne and Sebastian and then the Front Runner Training Squad. Brick Training in the morning, Pancakes for Breakfast, Fremantle and a prison tour over lunch (while my little sister Libby looked after Sebastian), a big birthday cake from Kathy and the running squad and then a beautiful seafood risotto washed down with a nice bottle of vino! Great day all round and thanks to everyone who sent through well wishes.

Cheers
Radar

VO2 Max Testing and good news for 2009

Well it has been good news week!

Have confirmation that next year I will be racing in the Basque region of Spain for Urdaitri team. Lianne, Sebastian and I loved the people and culture of Gernika in our visit last year and we are excited to have a firm base their where Seb can keep a good routine and I can travel to races easily and efficiently over weekends. Fellow Aussie James Attard, who I have trained and raced with alot in the past will also be with the team which should be fantastic.

The region has a robust culture, super friendly people and is home to the Euskatel cycling team, Orbea bikes and very close to the Pyrenees mountains. It is also easy commuting to France for the big GP races and I will continue to race their also in 2009.

After a few months of struggle I have just had a full battery of blood and physiological testing. My VO2 max was much higher than I expected at 79.4 ml/kg etc and with my weight still quiet high at 75kg I think I will be in supreme shape for the world championships if I can get sufficient rest and recovery. It was certainly a good surprise to see such a good number

Running Regards
Radar

Victory in support race at Pinjarra Classic

The support race at the Pinjarra was the first race for a good 6 weeks and was held in conjunction with the 130km Main race and the cyclo-sportif phenomenon. I was climbing ok so broke away from the bunch at 20k and just managed to hold off the bunch to win at the finish- the 15 min run off the bike was very slow as te bike took a fair bit of effort

Regards

Bike race instead of Run race this weekend

A slight recurrence of an annoying calf niggle means I will race the support event at the Pinjarra Classic tomorrow (65km) instead of running the WA 12km X Country. I am still running but will just jog until the tightness subsides. In other news, my little man Sebstian has had his first hair cut, is crawling, has 6 teeth and is saying "Dada"- what a champion!