Summer's End BBQ

Well all good things must come to an end. Summer is finishing up and our people are scattering all over the globe. Noosa misses Hillary and all the others that have come to the train in the  haven of Noosa. The weather is now amazing but we know it will change quickly. Kristian and Lady Charlotta are having the "end of summer bbq" tonight. 

Belinda, Juz, Luke and I have bought out Dan Murphy's. We are feasting on Mahi Mahi! I will be taking photo's and posting them later. 

Our long National Park runs are nearly over. As sad as we are to leave our beautiful little house we will be back in November. In the mean time the Kiwi's will be visiting and making good use of it for their build up for Kona. I have yet to tell Gina about Albert our community carpet python. I am sure she will be fine ha ha ha . 

One more quick trip to West OZ next weekend for a half IM. I am getting ready to feel the PAIN dealt out by Bek Keat. It will be nice to see Sissy before I head OS. 

Stay Tuned 

Memphis x 

Ironman 70.3 China!

Ironman 70.3 China Champion!

Lukey and I on the podium! So much fun!

  At the finish line!

Running through the center of the city!

Before the swim start...cheering on the Ironman race.

Holy Cow ! I raced Ironman 70.3 yesterday and won!  After last year I was not doing the full as I just knew it would be the "death march no 2" .... and I was right. Temperatures reached 45 degrees(115). People melted and there was a huge drop out rate. 

It all started with large amounts of rain over the few days before the event. This caused the river to swell and the current to increase way beyond expected flow and strength. Poor Murphy (race director) could not control this. He had to make the hard choice of changing the swim. It now included a 200 mt shore run so that people did not have to swim against the current. Most of the pro's did not care and were more than capable however there was to be carnage in the age group events.  Pro's were without wetsuits and it was a mass start. In the 70.3 I was out in 10th overall and 1st woman. Not bad considering the boys decided to beat the sh%t out of me at every buoy. Out on the bike it was quite a lonely ride as the 3 guys who went past me were way too fast to go with so I pretty much paced myself out there the whole time. I was not sure how far back any of the other girls were. All I knew was the sun was up (we had a 9 o'clock start) and my skin was starting to BURN!!!!!! 

I tried to pace myself on the bike as I have done so much running lately I was pretty confidant of a good run. As I go to 60 kms I realised that no matter how much work I had done on my run I was about to SUFFER!!!! I put the hammer down on the last 30 kms and started to pass loads of guys. Most of them had started to blow up after going out WAY too hard. Into T2 I was sure I had a pretty good gap on the rest of the girls. Heading out to the 5 km turn around was horrible. The sun was scorching and the aid stations were few and far between. I was "Parched as Bro" I was so thirsty and hot I thought I was never going to make it. I got back to T2 which was the half way point and found some ice cold coke. I jolted back to life and found my run legs all at the same time. With just 11 kms to go I took off. 

Running into town was so much fun. Because of the timing of the half and the full Ironman these unsuspecting Chinese supporters were cheering me on extra loud as they thought I was leading the big race. I was not about to try to explain this situation. Instead I lapped it up and race with no pain to the finish line for my first win. 

Now I know I was the only pro girl but you can only race who turns up. A win is a win and a 70.3 is a 70.3. I am taking it as I won the hottest 70.3 EVER! Clearly the time was nowhere near spectacular but I worked my ass off for it. I beat the other girls by over 20 mins and was 14th placed over the whole event. 

I huge day in all as Lukey came in 2nd to Macca just a few weeks after being so sick. We got to be on the podium together which is quite dorky but loads of fun !!!!! It might be a while till that happens again so I enjoyed it. 

I got so many message from everyone which was awesome. I want to send out a huge big thank you to all the K-Swiss Team... I love you guys. You are the best and make me shoes that make the worst days faster and the best days even better. The K-ona got one hell of a work out yesterday with no less that 20 litres of water dumped over them. They have allowed all of my toenails to survive yet another brutal day. To Bernard .... you made the best looking kits out there and your record of winning kits continues. thank you so much for helping Team K-Swiss look so good when we all felt so bad :)

 

To Lady Charlotta and Kristian.... I knew it and  you knew it... no one else could believe it! Well done to you both on win number 2. Oh yeah and happy birthday chicken! Massive cheers for my friend Daniel Mac.... how easy it would have been for you to take a kona slot the other way. This slot and Ironman win you have is worth more than words can describe. I am so proud of you buddy. No one out there deserved it more. A big thank you to Belinda for picking a girl up when she was so down. My new out look and attitude is paying off already and we have only just got started. Saving the best till last...Lukey. How much fun is our life! It just keeps on getting better. I could never have done it without you :) 

Stay tuned 

Memphis xoxoxoxo

Races, Birthdays,Cancer All Clears and more Rain!!!

Since I wrote last we went and watched the Ironman Australia! Awesome day all in all. Chrissy smashed em and Patrick sported the budgie smugglers and taught the young pups a lesson in marathon running. Not that PJ and Berkel didn't have a red hot crack. They did have a good go at taking the old dog down but to no avail. 

Our dear friend Matthias did not have the day he wished for but he sucked it up and put it in the bank for Ironman Frankfurt. 

The Monday after the race I went to Sydney. I felt very adult about my life. A visit to the accountant confirmed that I have a rubbish tax system but am not beyond redemption.... for a price. 3 hours of being sensible and bonofied led a girl to the nearest cocktail lounge for real birthday celebrations with the nearest and dearest. Myself, Luke, Ado, Mena, Alice and Jimmy went to Longrain for beautiful Thai food and red wine. It was super awesome to catch up with a few of my old clients John and Issy.

With the party pants packed back in the carry on luggage we came home on Tuesday. We had just 1 more week of training before we head off to China. Shockingly it is still raining cats and dogs here. I also feel as thought the massive carpet python that has moved into our apartment building is worth a mention. "6 foot" is the reported size of this slippery bugger. I can not lie I have yet to see it myself but my very trust worthy next door neighbour informs me that it has been lurking around. I do suspect that he maybe self medicating with the hippy herbs so the six foot may be slightly exaggerated. I will keep you all posted. 

Lastly a HUGE shout out to my beautiful friend David Clarke! Today we got word that he is in the clear of his cancer..... now that's a good reason to crack a bottle of red with dinner tonight. 

I will check in from China! 

Stay tuned 

Memphis

Raining Cats and Dogs.

I don't understand this crazy country and its mental weather patterns at all. Since returning home I have experienced some of the strangest weather of all time. I have been in the following :

46 degree dry heat in Western Australia.... it was so hot my eye balls were burning!

36 degree heat with 100 per cent humidity in Noosa ..... a great way to loose the christmas pudding. Steaming your ass off. 

Bush fires in Victoria that killed 210 people.... one of the saddest things I have ever seen in Australia in my lifetime. 

Massive surf swells here in Noosa.... the boys are going nuts. 

Torrential rain.... todays ride had me returning home drenched and soaked like never before. 

Flooding up and down the QLD NSW coast that means that IM Port Macquarie looks like it will be a 3.8km swim followed by a 180km swim on your bike and finally a 42 km swimming marathon. 

Towns have been cut off and the roads are closed going up and down the coast. 

I keep thinking that Lilly should have signed up for this race as the Danish love the cold and rain right? Poor Matthias will not be happy. 

I think I may have to bust out some actual clothes.... up here in Noosa the standard attire is K-Swiss singlets and hawaiian short shorts and a bikini. 

Speaking of short shorts and bikini's Hillary will be flying to Sydney with us and then embarking on a road trip to see the race. Adrian is driving the Merc and it should be fun and games. I will be packing the K-Ona's to do some epic running over the weekend however in the top of the luggage I will be packing my party pants as it is my birthday and I have some red wine drinking to do with Miss Alice. 

I will keep you all posted of the weekends dramas :) 

Memphis x 

I am sorry Matt Lieto... You were right, I was wrong!

The old legs got a bit of a smashing yesterday. Out on the highway I was busy sucking Luke's wheel for 5 hours. I have been unable to go for a real ride since before taper IM Malaysia. God that was a million moons ago. Anyways the 9km 11 per cent grade climb gave them the pinch they were wanting. However I was aware of the pain that was to be bestowed upon me this morning in my long run tready session. 

Here is where my apology must be made "Matt Lieto you were right and I Memphis Coletrane was WRONG" 

I knew that my poor old calves needed all the help they could get. I caved in after a year of poo pooing compression sox while training, I put the dam things on and ran. Yes I pulled those completely UNSEXY long socks on and looked like a dork. 

I was struggling with lactic for about 15 mins but slowly those babies came good and I was smashing my long run. God dam those bloody socks work for more than recovery. 

After a great run we headed down to the ITU race in Mooloolaba and watched everyone race around like crazy people for 2 hours. Now we are kicking back and looking forward to another great week in Noosa

Stay tuned 

Memphis x 

How funny.

So last week I "trained" a little. A build up to this weeks first week of proper training.  Every day a little of everything. With an increase day by day. By Sunday I was pumped to be heading out in the Noosa sunshine to do my first long run in 3 weeks. I had mapped out a route and set off on my merry way. Feeling like an actual pro athlete again I even cracked out a brand new pair of K-Swiss Keahou's. I was all colour coordinated (these things are important when you know you are going to be running like a slug by the end of the session) carrying 3 gels and prancing along beautifully for the first hour. By the last half of the session I was desperately trying to hold pace with spit flying everywhere and a bright red face. Not pretty. I made it back home and was very pleased with myself that I had achieved my goal times. I went for a MASSIVE 1.6 km swim in the afternoon. 

Now this morning I woke up and feel like I have done an Ironman. My legs are screaming and every muscle in my body hurts. WTF!!!!!

Let this be a lesson... don't get the flu in Malaysia it kicks your ass for weeks. I seriously can not walk up and down the stairs in my flat with out crying. I am in serious pain. To be honest I am just so happy to be able to run again that I don't care. 

Perhaps this is a good reason to go get a massage. I am however scared from the knowledge that just 2 short weeks ago a massage cost just 6 USD per hour. I wonder if Helen the wonder massage lady will take a pay cut. Probably not. I really should not be so cheap.

Stay tuned 

Memphis. 

Getting better Getting ready!

Unfortunately I have not had much to write about over the last 2 weeks. Plenty to whinge and piss and moan about but I won't bore you with all the snotty details. 

Post Malaysia / Cambodia it as been a long road back. Both Luke and I have been ill like never before. At one stage of delirium I think I slept in a beanbag for a few nights. Upright. House locked for weeks nearly drove us mad. 

Luckily this has finished and thankfully I am back training. Just to make it a little tricky however there has been some cyclones around the area. I was sent a brand new pair of Scott cycling shoes that I cant try out because I don't want to get them muddy on their first outing. That's just silly I know but many of you secretly do the same. Don't deny it ha ha. 

Luke and I will still be going to China for the 70.3. Luke wanted to do the full IM but his cough meant that the doctor has put the Kibosh on it. I am looking forward to re starting my season there. 

I am super excited to go to Port Mac in 2 weeks to watch the IM Australia. It should be an awesome race with Chrissy and MJ headlining the show. I will be cheering on K- Swiss team mate Kate Bevilaqua (also from my home town of Perth) and I know that she will have her hands full with Bek Keat going as well. The mens race is shaping up to be a cracker also and I hope to be cheering on Mathias for his first IM win. Go PIKEY! 

The season is really starting now and I am pumped! 

Stay tuned 

Memphis x 

Ironman Lessons and Cambodian Pix.

Well the season and has started but not without some ups and downs. 

The down part I will keep short. Race morning I woke and was feeling ok just the usual pre race nerves. Got in the water and before the gun even went off I started to throw up. My breaky floated around me as I took off. The swim felt like a million miles long but I finished it and was very glad to get on solid ground. I saw Kim and Sue Sarah Vic and Pete and thought as long as I get some food in straight away all should be ok. 

Out on the bike things went from bad to worse. The food and drink just would not stay in and I just got weaker and weaker. By the time I got off the bike in transition I was seeing stars and knew I was in EPIC trouble. I made it t the 1 km mark of the run and made the hard decision to pull out. 

Malaysia was the only race I have ever had not finished so this was killing me. Once I had pulled out though I knew I had made the right choice. I kept dry reaching for hours.

The good part was that not all was lost as I was able to watch my SUPER DUPER boyfriend race the race of his life. Luke was amazing and won by over 5 mins. I was so excited and it made the day ok in the end. Your own ego is easily healed when the man that you love kicks some serious ass. 

24 hours later and Luke and I were at the awards waiting for him to do his winners speech when he got ill. The vomit come hard and fast and he went down quickly. Obviously whatever virus I had race morning he now had. Sadly he had to leave the presentation early and never got to make that speech. I spent the night looking after a very sick winner. 

Looking back I can see all the ways that I have grown this last year. Pulling out voluntarily was something I NEVER thought I would do but this is my job. There is 7 more races on my schedule this year and if I learnt nothing last year I learnt not to bury myself early in the season just to prove a point. My first idea post race was to switch from the half IM in China to the full but I have yet to shake this virus so the half  will stay. 

That race will still be there next year and Lukey will be back to defend his title and finally give that speech. 

Post race Sarah Luke and I went to the amazing Cambodia. This country is beautiful. The people are so soft and friendly. I loved every minute in spite of the first day being a wipe out from illness. I quickly recovered with the help of 8 dollar massages. The pictures below are just some of the amazing shots we took. We had a blast for 4 days and are now back on the Gold Coast heading home. 

Stay tuned 

Memphis x 

Pushing yourself.

I have never been one to write in diaries. I don't include this blog because this is for people to read and take whatever they want and dismiss whatever they please as rubbish ramblings of a mad woman. More of an online news page. News about my world. A diary, as I have always considered, is for secrets. I am crap at keeping secrets... especially my own. I have never been one to fill this blog with training sessions either. Now I think I am loosing the story line so lets get back to point. I have started a training diary. It has all the numbers. Some impressive , some just sad but my numbers and no one else's. I will keep them a secret so it is definitely a diary.

What I will report though is the effect of this diary has been quite profound. First of all you get to see the numbers slowly change in the right direction. Second it makes you set a bar or standard for each session. It helps to measure fatigue. It also helps you stay honest and not over/under train. 

While I can't reports a sub 3 hour marathon just yet (he he I wish) what I can report is that I now have a way to see how I am going to run 3.30 by the end of the year. This is one of my 20 goals of the year. I wrote these in the diary. I goal is something I write down, a dream is something I only think and talk about.  

I got a coach last year and that has made a huge difference but I think that this diary helps me stick to what the coach really wants me to do. I know that I used to fudge and excuse the details of sessions at times. 

As cheesey as this sounds "consistency is the key". 

Keep a diary write down your goals and keep the key!

Stay tuned 

Memphis x 

One week to go!

Well it has been an interesting 8 weeks since the start of the 09 season. After an long 8 week break I got back into training with IM Malaysia as my early season race. I think that I felt like crap until Friday just gone. I was a log in the water and was peddling squares for weeks. I really struggled to feel good. But fear non. Finally I have turned the corner and have found not only the feel for the water but "Big Sexy" fits like a glove and I am flying on the bike again. Nothing like leaving it till the last second to come good. 

A few weeks ago Lukey and I bought a treadmill. I think I wore a hole in Belinda's so we figured it was time to get our own. I love it. Yes that's right I love running. It really does make a difference when you don't have to go to the gym at the end of a long ride. Along with some good DVDs and 2 and a half hour runs fly by. 

As I mentioned before I don't think I will be breaking any records in Malaysia however I do think I will pull out a nice solid season starting IM after all. My running has really improved and I am looking forward to the marathon..... seriously!

Some very exciting news is that we will have a few people coming to watch. Luke's parents will be there as will my sister Sarah and her mum and dad, (my biological dad) Sue and Kimbo. I think it has been 30 years since they have been overseas so this trip should be really fun for them. Also there has been a strong rumor that Adrian is coming too. I know that business is keeping him VERY busy however I don't think he can stand the FOMO!!!!! 

Alice, Jane and Jimmy will be competing also so the after party may get a little rowdy. 

Stay tuned 

Memphis x x x x