27 January 09: Australia Day!

Posted on 27. Jan, 2009 by hillarybiscay in Blog | 2 Comments

Yesterday was Australia Day, which is the big national holiday here. From what I could see, it involves lots of Australian flags and rowdy beer-drinking from morning til night. These flags seemed to be most prevalent in the form of temporary tattoos on shirtless guys in boardies, or real ones attached to cars (often carrying people who were shouting out of the windows).

Thankfully Lisbeth (Kristensen) and I got our ride done early enough that the effects of the booze hadn’t yet hit most of the motorists. The triathletes here on the Sunshine Coast started our Australia Day celebration at 7AM at the Noosa Aquatic Center. Because it was a national holiday, the usual swim squads weren’t happening, so we organized our own swim workout for yesterday morning. What was… Read More

22 January 09: Wanaka Photo Album

Posted on 22. Jan, 2009 by hillarybiscay in Blog | 2 Comments

Now that I’m back “home” in Noosa, I thought I’d post a few more pics from our beautiful trip to Wanaka. I got some good ones in and around town on Monday when Doug, Petr V., and I did an awesome hike to check out the Rob Roy Glacier. The trails were stunning; I was craving a long trail run, but Coachie wouldn’t have been too happy about  that 2 days after the race. So I’m already scheming about an epic trail running adventure in New Zealand before next year’s Challenge….

Above is a view from near the first bike turnaround.

 

Luckily for me, the boys concern themselves with things like . . . maps.

I can’t wait to RUN on trails like this . .… Read More

Sufferfest 2009: Challenge Wanaka Race Report

Posted on 22. Jan, 2009 by hillarybiscay in Blog | 2 Comments

Last weekend I had the pleasure of visiting the town of Wanaka on New Zealand’s South Island to participate in Challenge Wanaka for the third year in a row. Wanaka is the most scenic locale that I have encountered for an iron-distance race; this combined with the unique family-feel that defines the Challenge events make Wanaka one of my very favorite races. So although it is January and I am just building back into things after my first real off-season in three years, I couldn’t miss this year’s event. I knew I was nowhere near proper race-fitness, but one of the things that I have learned over the past couple years is that doing a race in this state will result in a great hard workout,… Read More

18 January 09: I'm alive!

Posted on 17. Jan, 2009 by hillarybiscay in Blog | 3 Comments

This is just a quick note to let everyone know that my knee and I are none the worse for wear after yesterday’s adventures. I appreciate everyone’s concern. My body is in a world of pain, but it is the pain and soreness that results from doing an ironman while unfit (Yes, this is a relative term.)–not a bad, injury pain. Yesterday was not pretty, but that is the price I pay for having my first real off-season in three years. Hopefully having taken one will benefit me later on. Nevertheless, yesterday was a great training and mental/ physical toughening-up exercise, and the trails were beautiful. I will write up a full report and post more pics later, but it’s time for the awards brunch, etc. now….

15 January 08: Wanaka Training Camp!

Posted on 15. Jan, 2009 by hillarybiscay in Blog | 3 Comments

Today was another great day in paradise: quality time with Petr V. in speedos, two lakeside trail runs with Dougie, and more time catching up with mates. Because of my little knee issue, I didn’t get into the training groove coach and I planned for me to be well into by the time I left Australia for Wanaka. So rather than delay the process yet another week for this race, I am not even having my usual whopping three-day pre-race rest for this weekend. I am already seeing the brilliance in Coachie’s plan, though, as I am starting to feel like a real athlete again and training is getting rolling; plus, it would be a shame not to maximize my training time in this beautiful countryside. Yesterday afternoon’s ride was a… Read More