Well after several attempts to win the ACT Duathlon Champs (10km run, 40km ride, 5km run) I finally cracked it this year :) ....and more Importantly I made in two from two wins in the ACT/NSW Duathlon Series and a string of bike primes. As Borat would say....Verrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrry Niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiice.
I had a few things really click well at the state champs this year which saw me not only win, but also take a few minutes off my comparative time last year. It really started the weekend before the race when myself & a few mates headed to Noosa for whats been about a 7 year institution called "Smashfest"....which is essentially a group guys smashing each other on the bike, run and swim for four days.....combined with a few (too many)beers and great stories. It paid dividends on the day around the base on Mt Stromlo........on the first 10km run I felt really comfortable & while ~2:30min down on 1st place heading out onto the 40km ride Id already found the lead after 20km into the bike......and from there I opened up a 3min lead off the bike & maintained this on the final undulating 5km cross country run to take the win.

One of the key ingredients in the win was what the TOJ's (Thighs Of Justice) have been driving, the new Argon18 Element 114....a real rocket ship....its no wonder these things are rocketing out the door of bike shops.....strap on arguably the fastest bike components available in a set of Zipp's, Uvex TT lid & sunnies and Champion Systems kit and you have baked the ultimate weapon....and given yourself no excuses :)

Time to start swimming in preparation for the Maitland Triathlon.......

Stay safe
Cheers TOJ

Triathlon Victoria Duathlon Series - Race 3 Docklands, Melbourne - Aug 08
2nd Outright, 1st Age-Group & Bike Prime.
- A fairly solid race all in all.....after claiming the lead early in the run Ryan Mannix was just to quick for me over the final km or so & crossed the line for 2nd. Unfortunately I suffered a rear puncture just before race start so didnt have the go fast Sub9 Zipp disc on the back so could have been the difference between 1st & 2nd :( .... but on the flip side Kevin Hancett was terrific enough to loan me a wheel so I could race......& its also better than getting a flat during the race :) The Melbourne Tri Club did a terrific job in hosting this event in a terrific race location on the Melbourne Waterfront @ Docklands. The bike course was technical but fair & the new Argon18 Element114 was again super speedy to claim the bike prime.

Australian Duathlon Champs - Newcastle Aug 08
7th Outright, 1st Age-Group & Bike Prime
- I'd call this a fair result given where my fitness was and also given I was hit by a car on my bike only a week before. I knew I was undercooked running wise & being sub 10min down on the leader, albeit with a sub 30min 10km, is still far from ideal. However I was stoked to claim the bike prime on a course that suited the lightweight climbers. A six lap very hilly (Id say the hilliest tri/du course on the Australian circuit) and technical circuit really didnt suit my riding style, but riding 2+min into the field was a nice feeling....not to mention a good form indicator for my riding. My last run wasnt quite as strong as Id like but the form overall is heading in the right direction with the Melbourne Duathlon next weekend & Maitland Triathlon several weeks away.

Well after a solid win at Canberra on my new Argon18 Element 114 a few weeks ago the cards havnt really fallen into place in my prep for the Australian Duathlon Champs this weekend.
After having an easy week post Canberra to get rid of a bit of knee tendanitius I then got a nasty chest infection & spend the best part of a week doing nothing...not gold...but at least my knee was feeling 100% after the additional enforced rest. Last week was my first week back into it & by Fri my bike legs were starting to return......but on sat, as i finished the last of my 3 *15min @ 400watt set a car decided to turn in front of me....faaaaaaark it.....fortunetly no major damage to me just a lot of bruising and some skin off.....front wheel of bike was RIP though!
Hopefully I should be right for Aussie Champs this weekend.....even if severly under-trained :(

Up-coming schedule:
24/8 - Australian Duathlon Champs - Newcastle
31/8 - Docklands Duathlon - Melbourne
12-14/9 - Noosa lattee training camp with Leydenator, Sparky & KRock
21/9 - ACT Duathlon Champs - Canberra
12/10 - Maitland Triathlon - Regional NSW
19/10 - Australian SPrint Champs - Forster NSW
2/10 - Noosa Triathlon

Good start to Duathlon Season
- 1st Race 1,2 & 3 of BRAT Duathlon Series at Heffron Park. May/June 2008
- 1st & Bike Prime - Race 2 of NSW/ACT Duathlon Series. July 2008

Was stoked to make it back to Canberra to defend my title from last year. I found myself in 3rd position after the first 6km run, around 40 seconds off the pace....which I felt was a more than manageable gap. However, after mounting my new Argon18 Element114 for the first time, I belted out a bike split which was over 3minutes quicker than any rival. Off the bike and onto the final 3km run around lake Burley Griffen & I had a comfortable 4min lead & brested the tape in 1st place for the second year running. Special thanks to the guys at Bike Bug in North Sydney & the boys at FRF Sports for dialling in my new bike in time for the race.

Next on the radar is the Australian Duathlon Champs @ Newcastle at the end of August then its down to Melbourne for the MTC Duathlon @ Docklands.

Its getting close to duathlon time so thought I'd reflect on results Ive had over 2007/8.....

April 2008
6th NSW Club Champs & Bike Prime - Port Stephens

March 2008
3rd Ouright and Bike Prime – Newcastle Sparke Helmore Triathlon

February 2008
2nd Outright, 1st 30-34 Australian AG Sprint Championships – Jervis Bay
1st Outright and Bike Prime - BRAT Triathlon

January 2008
5th Outright, 1st 30-34 & Bike Prime – NSW Olympic Dist Champs – Cronulla
1st BondiFit Collangatta Gold – Bondi NSW

December 2007
1st Outright and Bike Prime - BRAT Triathlon