It’s been a quite eventful weekend this time.

On top of the normal training [coach] Darren had managed to add a 3k track event for us on Saturday night. Track race.

Jeeze.

As the normal philosophy in our training sounds: offroad, trails and lots of hills…the smooth red surface of a track felt very foreign for me. Also the fact that I due to a cranky knee haven’t done too much speed work yet this year, the 3k started to look pretty scary as Saturday night drew closer.

But, I should know by now pain is not a reason good enough to be scared.

Once into the run I realized I was quite enjoying myslef. Even with the lactate building  up pouring out of my ears it wasn’t bad.

Note to self: Don’t be scared of pain. Pain is quite enjoyable!

And it’s comforting to know that the fitter I get the more I do enjoy the hurtfactor… Guess that is the superpower to have ready for the next World Cup race…

So, how did I go..? Well I did get smashed by Vinnie [Vendula Frintova] is my squad who ran a 9:30something(she was flying!). But I’m proud to say that I did go well under 10mins off my somewhat limited run program (No,I wont give you any times.. ) And I keep [trying to] remind myself that Vinnie is the current World Duathlon Champ… and she is race fit.

As the track race started at 7:40 it was late when I got back, even later after having spoken to my dad on the phone, showered and had dinner… Only hours until it was time to get on the bike and head out for the weekly long ride…

Even if I haven’t been out yet racing myself it is good to know we are on to a good thing down here.

My fellow squad members and training partners went up to Raby Bay this weekend for a little hit out prior the Mooloolaba ITU World Cup.

They came back home with pretty much all the top results. Way to go!

The girls smashed the field and took all the prizemoney positions except the 5th place.

#1 Vendula Frintova, shared #2 was Vicky Holland and Barbara Rivieros, #4 was Kate Roberts and a little but further down in #8 was Sarah Groff.

In the mens we only had two participants but they also proved they are to count with among the “big boys”. Dave Matthews took home a sold #2 place and Andreas Giglmayr #8.

Think the squad champs are going to be a tough one… if we had one.

The lot of us together after a tuesday night run session.

I guess swimming is a lonely sport.

There is no chatting about during the swimsets.

They are rarely followed by coffee unlike the longer bike sessions.

And there is never anyone breathing down your neck like during some runs.

But swimming? No. Swimming you do by yourself -for yourself.

But the swim session I had yesterday afternoon was one of loneliest I have experienced for a while. But I guess that is what happens when you are the only one in the group turning up to a open water lake swim.

The set we normally do on a Friday afternoon is all about rhythm and strength endurance – along a rowing course. It’s about 500m to get there, then 1800m one way. Along bouy, after bouy, after bouy… It starts with yellow boyus, then they turn into red ones, then orange. It’s very stimulating….

But in one way it summarizes all what triathlon is about.

Ultimately it comes down to yourself – and your rhythm. It’s nothing fancy about it really.

I kind of enjoyed the solitude.

I had a kayaker withing reach for safety.

And I swam.  In my own pace and rhythm.

It was great.

(This picture is of course not from yesterdays swim. As you see I have company (Vicky) and the backdrop is the old town of Mombasa, Mombasa Triathlon 2009)

It wasn’t the first time, – but that doesn’t make it less impressive!

Triathlon team member Dan Hugo took home the win without any major drama.

Rumours say he was almost 5mins ahead of runner up.

=I like!!!

If you win –  you might as well win big!

Others that have been out racing this weekend is fellow squad members:

Dave Matthews and Barbara Rivieros = both #1 in the Huskinsson sprint race (domestic aussie race)

Vicky Holland (flatmate), Vendula Frintova, Kate Roberts and Zita Szabo have all  been racing in Takapuna (the NZ national series). Vicky and Kate had a sprint finish  for #1 and 2!!! Wicked

Young Michael Gosman placed 6th in a worlds qualifier in Melbourne.

And Lisa and Sarah…?

Well we stayed at home and ticked off some more sessions. Had the honor of riding with the two time Olympian (roadcycling) Tracey Gaudry which did cause me some serious pain [at stages].

Ready for another week!

Valentines day here in Canberra wasn’t very exciting. The main theme of the day was the 4 hour long ride with Jenna and Nicolas (boyfriend of Catarina Axelsson). It rained from start to finish.

Australian rain = 22mm in 10mins.

That is A LOT OF RAIN!

Meant once we came back it was all about a hot shower and getting some fuel in the body. Then later the highlight of the afternoon was a coffee in Kingston. The life of a pro athlete…

So is this the norm for all pro athletes?

Who knows..?

But I did find an interesting post on fellow ITU racer and triathlon team member Will Clarke’s homepage www.will-clarke.com/. It’s about how a bunch of British pro athletes celebrated Valentines day down on a trainingcamp in Spain.

“Breakfast interview”

I would say we are all pretty much all the same sad people. But seriously, what cold be better than a 2hr run or a 4hr bike ride..?