Thanks for checking in…unfortunately not great news!

The world’s on Sunday was a major disappointment…I had difficulty maintaining contact with the front group on the run, particularly the 1k downhill section (at 5%) on each 2,5k lap….steep downhill has always been a relative weakness with my height and after 2 laps the gap that I was losing downhill couldn’t be bridged on the uphill and I was gone from the lead pack at around 4.5k

There was then an uncomfortable realisation that, with 18 runners in the lead group, including all the best cyclists, my chances of improving on last year’s finish, or securing  a top 10 result, were gone. That was tough and a horrible feeling realising that ambition and capacity were not lined up on this day. In the end, I simply resolved to continue on and respect the support and encouragement of family, friends and sponsors and finish the race.

Anyway, the world rolls on and back home now and belated Father’s day presents and work awaits!

Regards

Radar

 Have been in Edinburgh three days and have to say when the sun is shining it is one of the most beautiful and enchanting places I have been! We caught the tail end of the “fringe” and “comedy” festival, including a great show and plenty of street entertainment. Jimmy and I are staying with the super hospitable Arnott and Heather Kidd and they have been really generous and helpful. Arnott is racing the 75-79 category Sunday and is in great shape weight for age!

It is really going to be a game of patience and endurance Sunday. I have never seen a course as hard as this and it is going to be a great challenge to see how my legs go…really the course is so brutal that I think it will be last man standing and a true champion will emerge Sunday! Thankfully today Jimmy was able to put out a spot fire as I complained of creaking in my bike climbing…….. turned out 2 of my chain ring bolts had fallen off and I was about to lose more….thankfully just in time or else it would be hard to race without a chain ring to push!

Anyway folks, thank for checking in and should be live streaming at www.triathlon.org Sunday from 10pm Australian Western time

Running Regards

Radar

The lure of course is the pancakes post race but the route itself is challenging with plenty of rolling hills to negotiate and a little tester at the end of each lap. The legs are getting strong and now just need more sleep and some rest and then excited to see what I can do at Edinburgh on September 5th

Finally, well done to WA boy Courtney Carter for an exceptional 7th place at the National Senior Cross Country Champs. It makes me proud to see the young guy take the risk of moving his life to Sydney to further his career as an athlete. In WA, I think we need encourage our top athletes to see the local scene as a stepping stone and once they become the clear #1 locally, it is best they move to more competitive environments where they can progress further in there chosen sport. No doubt this is another step towards his first green and gold singlet

Firstly, we went to participate (with Old Digger, Ciaran O”Kane, Steve Bishop, Andy Peterson, Dale and Bruce Layman) in the Sons of Gwalia Biathlon which used to carry $2000 and a gold nugget first prize. The road trips where full of stories that are best left “on the tour” and all the boys still remember the 10 hour bus trips fondly!

After that, I helped to set up Australia’s richest mile event, “The Leonora Golden Gift” on the Foundation Day long weekend. The event carries massive profile and prestige in the Australian Athletics circles and has really put the town on the map

I love getting out in the fresh air and wide open spaces as often as I can and thoroughly recommend a visit to anyone with an interest in meeting great people and an interest in history www.leonora.wa.gov.au

The Shire has got behind my participation at the World Duathlon Champs in a few weeks in Edinburgh and with the trip being self funded, the support is greatly appreciated

Running Regards

Radar

No doubt, we can all relate to the pressures to conform and meet the demands and expectations of family, work and social groups. What I impressed on the group was the importance of identifying and nurturing their individual dreams and being open minded to the opportunities that can be found through commitment to personal ideals and ongoing self development

For any interested parties Sam can be contacted at sam@SamMaxwellSports.com

The organisers did a great job securing a beautiful venue and despite some very inclement weather with 30+ k/hr winds and rain the course was still very enjoyable and challenging for all participants. Two other West Aussies Cody Angell (2nd 25-29) and Rachel Smith (1st 35-39) had great races in there age groups.

Thanks very much to Peter and Marilyn Smith for being so hospitable, David Wells for a ripper course and everyone on the Barossa Council for their support and efforts with the event, which is set to become an annual fixture which can only grow and prosper

Three weeks till worlds so recovering for first half of this week and then some final tuning up before heading to Edinburgh

Thanks for checking in

Radar

It was my birthday yesterday so Lianne and I booked the babysitters (Mum and Dad) and spent some time together with a great meal and some wine…good times and always enjoyable to get some time alone which seems harder and harder to find!

At 32, I am certainly not recovering like I used too! This past week I have been very flat on the bike so really took it easy and was on the road just 4 times and a total of 8 hours…thankfully the running legs felt better and got some good work done on that side of things. The last few weeks I have started some speed work and the results have been encouraging. Thursday with the Front Runner group was 2*3k with 2.5 min rest and then 5*200m with 40 sec rest. The 3km were 9.18 and then 9.08 and feeling comfortable and the 200m reps around 32 seconds, crisp and sharp.

This week, I hope the bike legs return and I can get some quality on the bike before the Australian Championships in the Barossa Valley next weekend. It should be a great chance to get a look at how my prep is coming along for the World Champs with some high quality opposition, including last year’s Australian Champion, Daniel Green and my training partner in Europe, Jimmy Attard.

A pre race story on the event can be found here

Look forward to reporting back on the outcome post race

Running Regards

Radar

Great to report that I managed to have a win here in Queensland at the first road round of the new Australian Duathlon Series. The organisers did a fantastic job and thanks to the team at Tri QLD, in particular Jo and Peter for their hard work getting everything done. The Lockyer Valley put on some perfect weather and the run course was a ripper around the Lake complete with hills, cross country sections and great spectator access. As you would expect in the Sunshine State there was some strong guys and it was a good contest, especially on the bike section where I almost got caught in the last few km’s.

It is always a tough trip over on the midnight horror and I didn’t do myself any favours by forgetting my drivers licence and hence not being able to get a hire car……the 2.5 hour bus trip I ended up getting at least saved some coin! Just heading to the gate now for flight home….Fingers crossed I don’t wake up Sebastian when I get back to Perth at midnight and I can catch up on some zzzzzzzzzz’s tonight

Special thanks must go to Luke from Voice photography for his great images of the day and allowing me to use them on the site. His site www.voicephotography.com shows the calibre of his work …..

Thanks for checking in,

Radar

One thing is for sure, it didn’t “feel” any easier 12 years later.  The overwhelming “truth” however, is that I never before managed quicker.  It proves that if the pursuit of self improvement is humble enough to combine patience and righteousness, it will be rewarded. All of us chasing our goals can pay testament to the personal satisfaction in that 5 or 10 second gain that comes from so many kilometres and years of hard work.

Today, it was decided that we should carve (in limestone rock) on the rear of an aluminium sign on top of the final climb the fastest time for the course. In the future, athletes can chase PB’s and improve the time on the loop…it will be interesting to see what the record is in another 12 years……..for the moment it stands at 23.08

Running Regards

Radar