Hillary Biscay

12 March 10: Almost Go Time!

We finally got a look at the race venue today when we went to check our stuff in. WOW. It is going to be awesome. The setup looks to me like the most first-class triathlon event I have ever experienced. We are running up and down the Corniche, or the main promenade through town along the beach, and the finish area is full-on. I hope to get some pics of it after the race tomorrow for you, but for now I know www.slowtwitch.com has some galleries up, and there are sure to be some good pics of tomorrow’s action there.

My photos aren’t doing the swim venue justice, but this is all I’ve got for now. We swim here, in front of the Emirates Palace, which is… Read More

11 March 10: The fun has begun!

We are now in Abu Dhabi and the crazy pre-race time has begun! However, before traveling here yesterday afternoon, I got in a couple of days of solid training. This proved to be very fortuitous as here in Abu Dhabi, the race organizers are saying that cycling is “highly discouraged.” From what I hear, there simply isn’t much room on the roads here for bikes.

Trying to manage two big races two weeks apart is sort of an experiment for coach and I, as the timing is a bit more awkward than, say, racing two ironmans one week apart. There is a reason I’ve never raced ironmans with a two-week gap in between–and that is because I think it is quite difficult to strike a perfect balance between not… Read More

9 March 10: Dubai in a Day

Yesterday Maiki and I had an easy training day, with just a couple little runs, so we decided it was time for a Dubai field trip. We decided that we must see this place since we were just a couple of hours away by car. Here is what we found . . .

Camels, camels everywhere!

Traffic! Lots of it! Bumper-to-bumper craziness–my driving skills were definitely tested.

We stayed in the old section of town, by the port and the Gold Souk (seemingly a million and one little jewelery shops all packed in next to each other in narrow little alleys) . . . It was all quite a sight to behold.

Looking back at our photos, I see that Happy Snapper was… Read More

7 March 10: Two GCMs, One Hotel!

What’s a girl to do?!

Record the occasion to share here with all the ladies, of course! Actually, I mean, to share with the ladies and guys, some of whom I know will appreciate the GCM scenery just as much!

For my non-triathlon friends, this is Faris Al-Sultan, who won the Hawaii Ironman in 2005 by cycling away from the field. Hence, he was a German Cycling Machine long before mine was . . . He will also be one of the top contenders next weekend in the Abu Dhabi race.

Debating the merits of fur vs. no fur . . .

I know you probably didn’t notice, but that is our hotel pool in the background! It has quickly become one of my favorite training… Read More