Start Lists.

To look or not to look?

So you are training your backside off for IM NZ, you enter a 70.3 race as your season opener. The start list is put up. This will be your first pro race. Do you look? Does it matter? The only thing you are hoping for on race day is a PB. A podium for you is so NOT your reality as yet. It shouldn't matter who is on it. You will be racing yourself and the clock.

Curiosity killed this cat....well nearly. I looked, of course and now it is fair to say that I really shouldn't have.
I am now aware that this race is the most stacked race outside of Kona/Clearwater for the 08 season.
No I am serious at the end of the year I will look back at this field and this statement will be correct. Nothing like jumping into the fire. Head first.

CRAP!

No negative thoughts will enter my mind over the next two weeks.
Anything can happen. I may get super charged NOS injected shoes and be suddenly capable of a 1.25 half marathon. Ok so that's unlikely.

All I can do is repeat the following over and over :

I am at the beginning of my journey.
I am strong.
I train with belief and conviction every day.
I train without excuses.
I put all that I have into all that I wish to be.

Now this may not have me winning on the 10th but it will have me racing with the winners. I will be racing as hard as I can and I will know that I have trained so hard. Harder than I have ever before. I will know that even if I finish at the very end of the pro women's field I deserve to be there. I have earned my right to try. I am going to make myself proud no matter what.

Everyone has to start somewhere.

Stay tuned for more ramblings of this slightly mental and now very nervious triathlete.

Love Memphis xo

Swimming.... there is something in the water up here!

Hi all,

I am on a mission to write on my blog with consistency.
It's all part of the big plan to be much more consistent in every aspect of triathlon.

One of the areas I have always been a little lazy in has been swimming. As an age grouper I was always in the top 1 or 2 swimmers. I figured this meant I could be a little lax in the pool. As a pro this just won't cut it. For one thing the best girls swim much faster than I could at the end of 07. I am being very pro-active in trying to make the grade and joined the local swim squad up here at Benora Pool.

What a reality check that was. Heck I thought I would be in about the middle of the pack... nuh ha. I am in the 13-17 year old chick lane and am getting PUMPED!!!!!
These girls are super fish. They make swimming look easy and I struggle just to hang on the back... actually thanks not true either. I get lapped on the long stuff. I cant even hang on. My only saving grace is that as the session comes to an end they do finally start to slow down and this old lady...that's what they call me... catches up and can cruse past a few of them.

I am sure that this daily humiliation will only lead to improved times in IM. I hate that these little ankle biters are laughing at me. No they really are. I am not being paranoid. I have only been tumble turning for 4 weeks and have not quite got the hang of it yet. It's all a bit messy. Never fear I will catch up.

I have just seen the Pucon race results and am super pumped for Triple L.... nice one cupcake.... she placed second in the 70.3. After an injury that ruined her Kona hopes this year it's nice to see her get a great result on the board this early in the season. 2008YOL!!!!!!

Stay tuned...
Memphis xo

A new year. Big challenges.

2008 is off to an amazing start with the very exciting news of signing with the American triathlon team, TEAM TIMEX.

As of January 1st 2008 I am now racing for Team Timex. I am one of the few International Pro Athletes on this team. I feel very privileged to have been offered this position in just my first year as a pro. I will have an incredible crew of support and sponsors. This is a huge opportunity and I am now training even harder to prove that their decision was a good one.

My first race will be the Geelong 70.3 Half Ironman race on the 10Th of Febuary. I am a bit nervous as I am really in training for Ironman New Zealand the field will be stacked full of amazing women. With the likes of World 70.3 Champ Mirinda Carfrae, Bek Keat, Mel Ashton and so on and so on I will be a long way off the pace but you have to start somewhere and I really need to get in one race before NZ.

You can watch the race on www.ironmanlive.com and also check out my new team on www.teamtimex.com

Also for those of you who have yet to read it there is a great article on the adventures of Jimmy and Memphis at www.xtri.com

Stay tuned
Memphis.

End of year wrap up!

Wow what a year 2007 has been. I have made so many of my dreams come true. I have spent the last few weeks making some massive decisions about 2008. After Luke had a stella year and my racing got better and better so many different sponsor offers came in. It has been a huge decision but after my win in Cancun and my steadily improving times I have taken up my professional licence and as of 2008 will be racing in the Women's Pro category. This means that I will be racing directly against the best girls in the world. This is an honour and also a very daunting thought. I realise that in the beginning I will be the worst of the best bunch but I hate being last and I know that this will push me so much harder in my training. I know how much work I have to do to be "up to standard."

Part of the decision to become pro has meant that I have left my friends, family and business in Sydney behind and moved up to the Gold Coast.
Luke and I have rented a little apartment in Tweed Heads and are training our hearts out for Ironman New Zealand and the 08 season.

After racing all round the world last year and going to Kona I have realised how much I love this sport. I have taken my training to a whole new level over the last few weeks and am really excited about how I am going to improve.

I wanted to thank all the people who have supported me over the last few years in chasing this dream. So many of you had hardly heard of Triathlon, yet all of you were so keen to hear more about it and learn along with me. My clients and friends Issy, David, John, Pam, Waz, Wassim... you all thought I was mad but helped me in so many ways. Sometimes the fact that you didn't know how ambitious I was being was a blessing as you just encouraged me to try. Never doubting what I wanted to do.

Alice, Pants, Juzzy, Mary and Hana all knew that my ambition way out wayed my skill level but also knew that courage, determination and heart go a long, long way in this world. You guys are the best friends anyone could ask for.

The San Diego Crew,
Sum Sum, Brody, K2, The RP Boys, Sponge Rob, Lady P and Big Bad Billy. You guys are kick ass and I love you for making America my second home. With you lot around the fun never stops.

My family have been amazing and all of them are spread far and wide but always send me messages of love and encouragement where ever I am. I look forward to the day when I race in Busso and have the biggest fan club ever.

Adrian you fall into all the above categories. No box for you, just unconditional love. Forever you are my friend my family and my brother. Life has never been the same since we realised we were separated at birth. Ha ha. This year I will make you proud. But you already know that.

Last of all there is Luke.....

How do I describe the way Jimmy and Memphis roll...... With you by my side I know that ANYTHING is possible. With you I try harder..... I am braver..... I let go and I reach further. With you I know I will never be lonely in my quest to see who I can be. With you I hear encouragement.... never doubt. With you I drive across this wide world and laugh at the many many things we see. I never forget that this is a journey.... a journey that we choose to take. One day we will be greater than we ever imagined. 2008 YOL...... 2009 YOA.

Stay tuned for more news.

HAWAII VACATION

Anyone for scuba?

Silly Jimmy.

Chillin' on the boat on the way back to dry land.

Ready to dive.

Smile Jimmy!

Good look.... NOT!

Memphis the fisherwoman.

Casting off!

The BIG Catch!

This is easier than running.

A swim.

Looking at little fish.

Drinking Mai Tai's at a luai.

Maui Sunset!

Jimmy is out there surfing somewhere.

Red Rock Beach.

Waterfall at Hana Maui.

Careful Memphis!!!!

Dam that's a long way down.

Smile kids you are on holiday.

Road side ribs....yum!

I love a farmers roadside stall.

Last day Honolulu mission.

Red eyes after a fantastic last day long boarding in Hawaii.

HAWAII IRONMAN

Ready Steady ..... GO!

Crickey that's a lot of swimmers.

The crazy swim start.

I am in there somewhere.

The swim exit ..... now where is my transition bag.

Half way up the bloody big hill.

I love riding my bike.

Smiling on the run.... but for how long?

Not looking too bad...YET!

Heck this HURTS.

Happy Jac and I finishing.

Never give up! Other wise you never get there.

Many said it couldn't be done.

Dream come true.... goals are achieved.... I am a Hawaiian Ironman! No one will ever take that away.

A NIGHT OUT IN CRAZY CANCUN

Jimmy and Memphis hit Senor Frogs!

Swingers.

Oh no Coco Bongo !

Tequila is EVIL !!!!

Me and my home boy Big Matt Lieto.... yes ladies he is single.

I love blue drinks.

Dance floor shinanigans

The arial entertainment.

The club is packed.

ROCKIN IT WITH A WIN IN CANCUN!

On the podium.... gotta love a trophy!

Winners are grinners!

Cancun was the race that I should never have been racing but I couldn't pass up. Having only completed IM Canada just 3 weeks before and having Kona in another 3 some may say I had rocks in my head. Making the decision to race was actually easy. I wanted a win! I knew that if I was to have any chance of getting my pro licence back in OZ i had to take home a sub 5 hour half IM and a 1st place. TA are strict. They don't hand them out willy nilly. With out the win I would be struggling to get it.

Cancun was a bit of a nightmare. I had a killer swim. 1st out of the water was a good start. The bike was flat, fast and raining cats and dogs. The rain was horrible. The men drafting behind me was worse. Whatever! I was not going to get a penalty so I dragged 25 or so of them for about 70 kms. Seriously. Out on the run I run like never before. I just kept thinking that the win would not be enough.... I wanted a PB time as well. All went according to plan.

Finally I won one. A big smile for me. Lukey was killer to coming in 3rd in the Pro men's race.
Time to go out and let our hair down. With Kona in 3 weeks we must be pretty good however.