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Ironman NZ was the last race of my season and it rolled around quickly. The weeks fly by during our summer season when there are so many great events going on.
Meredith Kessler was back from the USA to defend her title and I knew New Zealands top seeded ironwoman Gina Crawford would be giving this race a good shot as well as several other strong women, who would be very competitive over the distance.
The end result ended up as a three-peat of 2013. Meredith broke Joanna Lawn's course record storming home in 9:08hr, Gina Crawford 2nd 9:15hr and I rounded it off 3rd, 9:30hr.
I spent the entire day playing catch up after giving away a generous chunk of time away in the 3.8km swim, just to challenge myself a bit!! But realistically I usually expect to lose time in the swim, training is always the best indicator for where I'm at, and unfortunately the clock doesn't lie. It is something I am working on all the time, but handing over 13min to Meredith Kessler in the first hour of the day was a little exuberant.
There is absolutely no denying that Meredith is a phenomenal swimmer. She has some superior marine qualities that are simply on another level. The men's and women's field started 1min apart, yet Meredith managed to swim only a few seconds slower than the lead men's pack and did it on her own, just over 46min for 3.8km. That is 1:11per 100m. Times that by 38 100m efforts...
I can't even hit 1:11 for 1x100m.......even with flippers on.
Emerging from the swim a group of us charged through T1. Without discussion Michelle Bremmer and I instinctively started working together on the bike. A few years ago, before either of us competed in ironman, Michelle and I took part in a mutual friends (Patrick Foley) idea of 'scenic fun over the weekend'.
A 'scenic'/quickly-became-semi-competitive-bike-tour which involved riding 500km in 3 days from New Plymouth -Taumaruni -Stratford-then the long way around Mt Taranaki back to New Plymouth. The hills were steep, the air temperature cold .....and then it happened to rain everyday. You don't forget times like that and you certainly don't forget the people who were beside you during it. I haven't spent any time with Michelle since then as she has been based in Australia, so I was grateful that we happened to reunite during the cycle leg, each taking turns and working our way through the girls with swim ability much greater than our own.
While it was great to have Michelle to pace with for a good 100km on the bike, I was disappointed with my overall time, which I think slipped back in the later stages. In 2011 at IMNZ I rode 5:15, 2013 -5:15 and 2014 -5:15. By now, I probably should be able to crack 5:15. It is likely that I struggled to physically back up Challenge Wanaka Iron-distance race which was 6 weeks ago as well as the Wells New Plymouth Half Ironman 3 weeks ago, either that or I am cursed with 5:15 on my head. While it probably isn't the greatest idea to race two ironmans that close together, particularly when aiming for improvements, we only have 2 races over the distance in NZ and I love being able to attend them both. Wanaka is a special place for Elliot and I to visit, we love travelling around the South Island and always make a trip out of it while the Taupo Ironman is only a 2 hour drive from home and it is alot easier to have friends or family also come to the event as it is so central. Every other ironman race means a trip overseas and there is nothing quite like racing in your home country as there is more support on the course which helps and it is more financially viable as travel costs are kept at a minimum. However, next year Challenge Wanaka Iron-distance race has moved it's date forward to February 22 and Ironman NZ will be on March 7th, leaving only 2 weeks between these races. As much as I would like to support both, I think two weeks between these races is simply too close for me and I may alternate them each year so I can continue to compete and experience both events, as they both have personal significance.
The marathon is 3 x 14km laps. It is a great course for supporters as they can sit in the cafes or pubs which line the water front, or get a bit closer to the action if they choose to. In the forefront are the ironman athletes doing their death march with the spectacular view of Lake Taupo and Tongariro National Park as the back drop. It can be a great atmosphere, .....especially so if you have a beer in your hand and good company by your side.
Both Meredith and Gina had extended the gap and I continued to bring it up the rear in 3rd.
My goal was to hit out a good run. Meredith and Gina were too much of a class act to let me catch them with the lead they established off the swim & bike, but I wanted to give a good effort and get as close as I could. Desperate to make up time, it was an incredibly tough mental battle. I was giving it everything and kept getting splits that the distance apart was exactly the same, right down to the second. Nutrition, breathing, holding form, pushing the pace, staying relaxed, I was trying everything but I couldn't bring them closer. In the end both Meredith and Gina ran 3:08, while I slipped back to 3:10hr.
As always still alot of work to do. Although off the pace for 1st & 2nd I'm happy to have improved 5min off last years time. Personally that is want I want to see from year to year.
I have now had a break and I am back into the grind. The initial plan was to compete at Cairns Ironman in June, but I will have a busy schedule later in the year, so we have decided to put in a big block of training until August where we will return to Bintan Meta Man Iron distance race and kick off the races that will follow.
In the meantime I am looking forward to attending some local events which break up the training and allow me to test the body ...just a little bit.
Let the good times roll.
Thank you to friends and family who were there supporting, especially Elliot.
Without my sponsors I simply could not compete in this sport. Thank you for the time, investment and products that I use and trust.
candicehammond.tumblr.com
Ironman NZ was the last race of my season and it rolled around quickly. The weeks fly by during our summer season when there are so many great events going on.
Meredith Kessler was back from the USA to defend her title and I knew New Zealands top seeded ironwoman Gina Crawford would be giving this race a good shot as well as several other strong women, who would be very competitive over the distance.
The end result ended up as a three-peat of 2013. Meredith broke Joanna Lawn's course record storming home in 9:08hr, Gina Crawford 2nd 9:15hr and I rounded it off 3rd, 9:30hr.
I spent the entire day playing catch up after giving away a generous chunk of time away in the 3.8km swim, just to challenge myself a bit!! But realistically I usually expect to lose time in the swim, training is always the best indicator for where I'm at, and unfortunately the clock doesn't lie. It is something I am working on all the time, but handing over 13min to Meredith Kessler in the first hour of the day was a little exuberant.
There is absolutely no denying that Meredith is a phenomenal swimmer. She has some superior marine qualities that are simply on another level. The men's and women's field started 1min apart, yet Meredith managed to swim only a few seconds slower than the lead men's pack and did it on her own, just over 46min for 3.8km. That is 1:11per 100m. Times that by 38 100m efforts...
I can't even hit 1:11 for 1x100m.......even with flippers on.
Emerging from the swim a group of us charged through T1. Without discussion Michelle Bremmer and I instinctively started working together on the bike. A few years ago, before either of us competed in ironman, Michelle and I took part in a mutual friends (Patrick Foley) idea of 'scenic fun over the weekend'.
A 'scenic'/quickly-became-semi-competitive-bike-tour which involved riding 500km in 3 days from New Plymouth -Taumaruni -Stratford-then the long way around Mt Taranaki back to New Plymouth. The hills were steep, the air temperature cold .....and then it happened to rain everyday. You don't forget times like that and you certainly don't forget the people who were beside you during it. I haven't spent any time with Michelle since then as she has been based in Australia, so I was grateful that we happened to reunite during the cycle leg, each taking turns and working our way through the girls with swim ability much greater than our own.
While it was great to have Michelle to pace with for a good 100km on the bike, I was disappointed with my overall time, which I think slipped back in the later stages. In 2011 at IMNZ I rode 5:15, 2013 -5:15 and 2014 -5:15. By now, I probably should be able to crack 5:15. It is likely that I struggled to physically back up Challenge Wanaka Iron-distance race which was 6 weeks ago as well as the Wells New Plymouth Half Ironman 3 weeks ago, either that or I am cursed with 5:15 on my head. While it probably isn't the greatest idea to race two ironmans that close together, particularly when aiming for improvements, we only have 2 races over the distance in NZ and I love being able to attend them both. Wanaka is a special place for Elliot and I to visit, we love travelling around the South Island and always make a trip out of it while the Taupo Ironman is only a 2 hour drive from home and it is alot easier to have friends or family also come to the event as it is so central. Every other ironman race means a trip overseas and there is nothing quite like racing in your home country as there is more support on the course which helps and it is more financially viable as travel costs are kept at a minimum. However, next year Challenge Wanaka Iron-distance race has moved it's date forward to February 22 and Ironman NZ will be on March 7th, leaving only 2 weeks between these races. As much as I would like to support both, I think two weeks between these races is simply too close for me and I may alternate them each year so I can continue to compete and experience both events, as they both have personal significance.
The marathon is 3 x 14km laps. It is a great course for supporters as they can sit in the cafes or pubs which line the water front, or get a bit closer to the action if they choose to. In the forefront are the ironman athletes doing their death march with the spectacular view of Lake Taupo and Tongariro National Park as the back drop. It can be a great atmosphere, .....especially so if you have a beer in your hand and good company by your side.
Both Meredith and Gina had extended the gap and I continued to bring it up the rear in 3rd.
My goal was to hit out a good run. Meredith and Gina were too much of a class act to let me catch them with the lead they established off the swim & bike, but I wanted to give a good effort and get as close as I could. Desperate to make up time, it was an incredibly tough mental battle. I was giving it everything and kept getting splits that the distance apart was exactly the same, right down to the second. Nutrition, breathing, holding form, pushing the pace, staying relaxed, I was trying everything but I couldn't bring them closer. In the end both Meredith and Gina ran 3:08, while I slipped back to 3:10hr.
As always still alot of work to do. Although off the pace for 1st & 2nd I'm happy to have improved 5min off last years time. Personally that is want I want to see from year to year.
I have now had a break and I am back into the grind. The initial plan was to compete at Cairns Ironman in June, but I will have a busy schedule later in the year, so we have decided to put in a big block of training until August where we will return to Bintan Meta Man Iron distance race and kick off the races that will follow.
In the meantime I am looking forward to attending some local events which break up the training and allow me to test the body ...just a little bit.
Let the good times roll.
Thank you to friends and family who were there supporting, especially Elliot.
Without my sponsors I simply could not compete in this sport. Thank you for the time, investment and products that I use and trust.
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