5 marathons in 5 weeks ending it in style at the Rustic Run!

Firstly a huge thank you to Terry Davis, Ed Stevens and all their team for putting together this amazing event.  They had so many different runs taking place at the same time giving plenty of options for everyone.  Everyone I know is always asking for great local events that are affordable to attend, have a good social aspect and great scenery.  The Wild Earth Ascent and Rustic Run answered this.  I really hope to see this event supported by a lot more local people next year.  I know it sure beats heading out for a lonely long run.

A big goal of mine this year is to work on my running for my Ironman racing.  Hence running 42k+ each weekend for the past few weeks.   When I heard about this race I wanted to be on that start line.  While it may seem crazy to go out and run this distance every weekend (although im guessing not to the people that took part in one of these events) having finally beaten my injury ive had for over 12months I couldn’t think of anything better.

On to the race…  Packing up the car and heading to central for the weekend is always a great change.  The weather in Dunedin had been so cold and damp and I couldn’t wait to get out of there!  Well I forgot that I mostly head to central in the summer and it was actually pretty freezing up there but was so still, with not a breath of wind.  Race morning came like any other and I was excited about the fact I was only running a marathon and didn’t have a whole ironman nor the 3.30am wake up call.

Out to the location at the Gold Miners Trails in the pitch black with the head torch on and it was time to go.  I was suddenly thinking what have I got myself in to? As I am far from a mountain goat with my running ability and was sure I was going to fall over a million times.  Luckily I had only signed up for the Rustic Run and not the Wild Earth Ascent J (maybe next year).  My marathon race consisted of 8x 5 and a bit km loops.  They were a great change from the roads I am use to.  Made up of wider trails, rocky parts, single tracks, grass and some good wee hills up and down, all making the time go by.  There was also the option of a half marathon around the loops or straight up the mountain!

As I got around each lap the hills got bigger and the legs were turning to jelly but there was always a group of friendly spectators to send you on your next lap and Glen there to hand me my goodies.  The great thing about this event is you can set up your own aid station and drink and eat what you like J Proud to say I didn’t fall over once, only a few close calls and actually really enjoyed all those laps, coming away with the win.  Definitely a must do race to put on your calendar for next June.  Hope to see you all there.  Big ups to my sponsors Kinetic Health, Shoe Clinic Dunedin, Nathan Performance Gear, Aloe Up and Cycle World Dunedin who all keep me in this sport.

Happy running

Tams

2weeks post Ironman Australia AND welcome to my new sponsor KINETIC HEALTH

Since my last post i realised i have done 3 triathlons so thought it was time for a look back at what i have done!
First up was Challenge Batemans Bay in the middle of March.  It was a whirlwind few days.  First Glen and i set off on a few flights to Sydney then jumped in a car and drove the 3+hours to Batemans Bay.  Arriving in the dark after a long day of travel we set off for a wee jog.  Nice and warm, super :)  I enjoyed this race.  It had a good tough bike course with lots of climbs.  I fell backwards on the run though loosing 3 or 4 places and finished with 8th place.  Not a great result but a good training day.  Back in the car straight after the race to Sydney then flew home first thing the next morning.  Very tiring

Next up the following weekend was the Otago Triathlon Standard Distance Championships.  I was looking forward to this race.  Although not a huge amount of competitors it is a good short hard hit out. I came away with the win and 3rd across the line.

The next weekend it was off to Wanaka for the Southern Lakes Half Marathon.  I knew this was going to be a challenge as my run training was limited going in with a niggly calf but i hadnt ran a half marathon in a long time so wanted to see where i was at.  Finished 2nd with a 1.25.  6minutes off my PB but good to have a solid run.

Now on to Ironman Australia.  I had competed in this event last year but pulled out half way through the run with a knee injury so i really wanted to go back and have a better crack.  Glen and i headed over a good few days before the event to get ourselves ready.  I knew i was a little underdone training wise with injuries having bothered me off and on over the past year, but thanks to working with Casey from Kinetic Health for the past couple of weeks my body was feeling injury free.  This made me very excited to race.  There hadnt been many days in the past year that i would set out training and not feel strain coming from my calf or knee.

My swim felt pretty good.  Coming out in 55mins was great considering my lack of consistent swim training.  On to the bike i was feeling pretty good and by 45km had worked my way up in to 3rd position.  I was able to hold this until around 135km when Mel Burke from NZ came flying past me.  I was starting to tire in the wind.  Everyone said they felt the bike course was really windy and hard but i definitely think it was still easier than winds we have seen at Challenge Wanaka.  That race prepares you for anything!  The last 20k of the bike i found my energy again and was actually enjoying the climbs.  Its the first time i havent been dying to get off my bike and would of minded another 50k.  Coming in to T2 i was surprised to find out that i was only 30secs behind Mel.  I was excited about the marathon ahead, the legs were feeling great and i knew all i had to do was have a solid run and i could finish in the top 5.  That was until around 5km in to the run when i started to feel pain in my feet like i have never felt before!  The soles of my feet felt like knives were going through them and no matter what i tried to do the pain wouldnt go away.  I tipped water on them, loosened the laces, stopped and stretched and tried to run on different parts of my feet.  Nothing was working and it was just getting worse.  As i started to walk and watch people pass me there wasnt a lot i could do.  Then and there i made the decision that i was going to finish somehow so i spent the second half of the marathon walk/jogging.  Everyone out on the course was great.  There was no way i could just walk off the course when all these other people were racing and getting to the finish.  I saw Glen was also having a bad marathon and was also on the walk/jog stage.  We both got to the finish line and it was the best feeling.  There was going to be no regrets the next day.  I did what i could.  In the back of my mind i was still excited about these non injured new legs i had and knew one day they were going to run like they should.

A couple of days of R&R and then back to NZ.  Big thanks to the Hurlston family for putting Glen and i up in Port Macquarie.  Also my sponsors Cycle World, Shoe Clinic Dunedin,  Aloe Up Sun and Skin Care, Nathan Performance Gear and coach Keegan Williams.
AND
A huge welcome aboard to Kinetic Health, who are going to be taking care of my injury prevention and treatment.  Casey and her team really know what they are talking about with sporting injuries and keeping the body in tip top condition.  The results i have seen already with Active Release Therapy has been amazing.  If you want to check out more about what is on offer at Kinetic Health check out their website
http://kinetichealth.co.nz

Ambassador for Aloe Up Sun and Skin Care

I am really excited to be coming on board with Aloe Up Sun and Skin Care.

They have such a huge range of products ranging from Sunscreens and Skincare to Sanitizers and Lip Care.  A huge advantage with their products is that they are 35% aloe based and with the sunscreens being non greasy and water resistant so you are not going to have it running in to your eyes.  I also love that none of their products contain parabens or any other nasty chemicals!

If you want to try some of their products, click on the Aloe Up logo to have a look at their website aloeup.co.nz.  You can grab yourself a 10% discount by using the code tamsyn10

2014 - kicking it off with 4th at Challenge Wanaka and exciting new sponsors

Firstly i would like to announce my new sponsors on board for 2014.  I am really excited to be working with these brands.  For my running hydration i will be using Nathan Performance Gear.  They offer such a wide variety of vests and run belts for both training and racing.  I have already tested out some of their products and find them excellent. Comfort being a huge factor. There is nothing worse than running along with a bottle or bladder bouncing up and down on your back.  Nathan Performance Gear is nice and snug on the body and you barely feel it is even there.
My other new sponsor is Under Armour for running shoes and apparel in conjunction with Shoe Clinic Dunedin.  I already wear Under Armour clothing and find their causal and sporting range to be super comfortable and colorful.  There are so many options.  I will start running in their shoes next month and can not wait.  They have spent a lot of time perfecting their running shoe range and i will be in the Under Armour Speedform RC.
If you are interested in any of the products sold by these two brands feel free to contact me about them. Also pop in and have a chat to Sorrelle at Shoe Clinic Dunedin as she sells products from both of these fab brands.

After a year of highs and lows training and racing i really wanted to just enjoy the sport again heading into 2014.  Two weeks before Challenge Wanaka i was seriously doubting whether i would be racing or not.  I had been struggling off and on the past year with calf and knee problems and knew that even if the body felt injury free in time, the fitness would be miles behind with injuries getting in the way of training.  However that being said I'm not the worlds best spectator and if i wasn't up there racing i would have to still be there supporting my friends.  Something i would much rather do racing alongside them racing.  So with a good kick up the backside from coach Keegan believing i would get through it and some last minute work on my leg from Geoff Williamson while on holiday the decision was made.  I would race and give it my all!  Challenge Wanaka is my favorite race and missing it was not an option!

I knew my build up wasn't my best but having done the race 3 times before i knew the course and the great crowd support was going to get me through the day.

Waking up on race morning it was music to the ears not to hear the usual wind bashing things around outside.  Yay finally a beautiful still Wanaka race day.  Then walking outside i realised yes there was no wind but it was freezing! I mean FREEZING. 3degrees!  By swim start i think it had warmed up to about 6degrees air temp.  But with the water only being 14.1degrees it was going to be a pretty nippy day.

The swim was lonely, swimming by myself the whole way around stuck in no ones land.  On the second lap i feel like i mucked around a bit not being able to see through the sun in the last stretch to land.  I knew my swim time would not of been too flash.  I felt slow.  Must not push snooze on my alarm for swim training :)

(firstoffthebike.com)

On to the bike i definitely should of put more clothes on but was thinking the sun is bound to come out like it usually does, but I'm pretty sure i didn't warm up until the second half of the run.  On the bike i was alone until around 40km where Candice caught up.  Yay some company i thought, well that was only short lived as that girl was on fire and left me in her dust. Very inspiring watching her plough through the field that day to take the win.  Alone again until around 80km where i passed Carrie who looked to be having a tough day in chilly New Zealand.  Alone again for the rest of the bike.  Great ride mentally but think the mind wandered a bit and should of had the hammer down harder.

 (zimbio.com)

(firstoffthebike.com)

On to the run i wasn't wearing a watch.  Coaches orders but i can see the logic.  I was injured, not run fit and had previously had my best run without one anyway.  It would just be a distraction and i knew all it would be telling me is i was going slower than i wanted.  I was feeling ok running and knew that my buffer to super strong runner Simone was not big enough coming off the bike so i was just trying to enjoy the marathon as best i could.  Each time i got to a km marker i smiled and knew i was another step closer to the finish and away from the dreaded DNF memories of last year.  Simone passed me around 11km in to the marathon, we said a few words and then it was back to business.  With the others having pulled out i knew i just had to get to the finish line.  The last 10km was a struggle even at my slower pace due to not a lot of running but i made it.  My run was much slower than the pace i thought i was running but on this day it was irrelevant and didn't matter.  Yay another Challenge Wanaka done and dusted.

Have to say a huge congrats to the podium place getters Dylan, Richard, Dougal, Candice, Gina and Simone.   Looked to be an exciting race for them all.  Also well done to my partner Glen for getting another ironman finished after years of back pain injuries, Jase for sticking it out there even with frozen spew on his face and Sara for having the performance of her life and getting a well deserved entry to Challenge Roth.  You will absolutely love it.

Thank you to my coach Keegan for getting me to the start line of another Ironman.  Im sure im not his easiest athlete to deal with :)  Victoria and your crew, thanks again for always making me feel welcome in Wanaka.  I will definitely be back again next year.

Big welcome aboard to my new sponsors Nathan Performance Gear and Under Armour and thank you  to R and R Sport, PhysioPlus and Shoe Clinic Dunedin for their continued support in helping me achieve my goals.  Really looking forward to the year ahead and spending the winter in New Zealand getting tougher again.

Bye for now
Cheers Tams

Ironman Copenhagen

One week has gone by since racing Ironman Copenhagen and the body is feeling normal again :) Back in Germany now and the rain is pouring down!  I think my hot hot German summer might be coming to an end!

Two weeks out from racing in Copenhagen i raced the Erlanger Olympic Triathlon close to where i am staying. Here i managed to take first place with no real dramas on race day (other than my helmet being broken and given an xxs one to wear which sat like a bucket on top my head), leaving me feeling confident about my upcoming race.

Last year when i raced in Copenhagen i had a terrible time, being very ill 2 weeks before the race unable to train and not too flash on the day the race really went pear shaped during the marathon.  So this time round i was determined to get out there and give it my all.  Arriving on the Tuesday injury free and no illness i was ready to enjoy  taper week however little did i know it was going to be a busy time.  Wednesday morning heading out for a training ride it started to pour down, this causing little "flint stones" to flip over and basically become drawing pins ready to pop unsuspecting tyres as their victims!  Boom! There i was in the rain with a dead flat back tyre, great, as i had just replaced it the week before.  Joys of tubulars, for those unaware they are not a simple tube change rather a one hit wonder and when they flat time to buy another. Good racing ones are approx $180-200NZ.  So on the side of the road soaking wet ready to attempt my first tubular change, Keegan laughing at me because the first thing i do is take my helmet off but couldnt see through all the road rain crap covering the visor.  Out with the pitt stop (funny glue foam stuff to try find and repair hole temporarily before attempting complete tyre change) hmm half ends up on my jacket which still wont come out but wahoo tyre up enough and off i go :) Not so bad i was thinking...a little sting to the wallet but good practice.  O no 20mins later and boom im down again. Off i hop and start to rip off tyre, Keegan heads off down the road and my goal is to be ready to go by time he gets back.  Still soaking wet and looking funny on side of ride yanking at this glued on tyre, and off it comes wahoo, dunno what everyone crys about this seems easy :)  spare tyre out and chuck on wheel, oh shit valve too short...double oh shit valve extender from other tyre doesnt fit.  Now i pack a sad, novelty has worn off and wait like a fool for Keegan who has an idea luckily, pump it up a bit and then chuck on. Off i go...10mins later...oh great definately getting use to this sound! Valve popped itself out and half ripped out....hmm ok chop it out and ride on flattie. Only 4km from home freezing and had enough...

Thinking it couldnt get any worse riding super slow in the pouring rain then it does.  With 2km to go and i totally positive i know the way home Keegan and i split and long story short i end up totally totally lost for over an hour and end up riding around at 10km/hr with no phone or money and forgetting the address! Then finally finding a taxi man with an ipad to get in to emails to find address and take me home. 90min ride ends up being over 3hrs but YIPPEE im home.  A week spent buying more things to replace on bike and learning other uses for your toothbrush like gluing tyres on then an emergency trip to the bike shop afternoon before race, for yet another flat tyre and i was feeling a tad exhausted. Four tubulars in 2weeks is a big shopping bill let alone everything else!  But many things learnt and the bike was looking brand new.

Where i spent most of my week

Right guess i should actually give you an insight in to the race!

Race morning wandering in with my wheel and final repair job done i was ready to get this race started.
Heading out on the swim i thought i had put myself in a good position but by 1.5km i was dropped and was swimming alone until the finish. Very lonely swim. So when i got to the ramp to exit and the official said i wasn't finished i was confused and thought this must be some kind of joke!  Him pointing out to sea at the buoy that i was stupidly meant to have on my right before coming to shore i realised i had been swimming too close to shore and didnt even notice it. Oh great off i went and swam maybe 200-400m extra to include this last buoy.  Man was i pleased to get back to the ramp!!!

Through transition i saw Julia Grant in the change tent so quickly got myself organised and on to the bike thinking we could pace each other but once out of transition found myself alone. The bike was very lonely and i had no idea of my position.  This didn't really change through out the entire 180km apart from passing Lisbeth Kristensen around the 50km mark.  I was expecting large amounts of age group men to come through but it didnt really happen.  Not a lot else to say about the bike other than i maybe held back a little too much at times as was worried about slowing down too much in the later stage of the bike.

On to the run it had started to rain so i was glad to be off the bike.  I was interested to see how this would pan out as i had decided (well sort of told :) ) but we will call it a joint decision not to run with my watch. It was the best decision as was one less thing to worry about when usually you have that constant reminder of your pace going up and down.  The run was four laps and after the first lap i noticed the lead women seemed to be almost a lap ahead it seemed crazy as i didn't think i had biked that slow.  Anyway now knowing i was in 4th place i was just trying to have a good steady run with no melt downs!  Ticking the km's off i was feeling good, possibly again holding back a little as after 2 DNFs earlier in the year during the marathon i wanted to get to that finish line and so i did. 9.29 a new PB, 5th overall and my fastest marathon split to date. Still LOTS of room to improve but heading in the right direction. 

Huge thank you to Uffe, Elizabeth and family for hosting me and my bike dramas rather than illness dramas this year.  Keegan for helping me out all week even though he had his own race to think about and well done to also coming 5th overall.  

ACTIVE ELECTRO - www.activeelectro.co.nz

Physio Plus - www.physioplusdunedin.co.nz

Shoe Clinic Dunedin - www.shoeclinic.co.nz/dunedin-running-shoe-store

R and R Sport - www.rrsport.co.nz

You guys are all amazing and your continued support is greatly appreciated. These businesses all help me out in a big way so please take a look at their websites and support them.  I look forward to catching up with you when i return to New Zealand next month.

This time in 3weeks i will have completed Challenge Amsterdam and nearly be on my way home to New Zealand. 3months is certainly flying by.

Happy training
Cheers Tams

Update from HOT HOT Germany!!!

Hello everybody...

I have competed in two more events since the Challenge Aarhus Half Ironman.  Was really glad i got the opportunity to do it as next year it is changing hands and will be a 70.3branded race.

First up when i got back to Germany was the annual Rothsee Triathlon - a very old special race here in the area.  Only a week after Challenge Aarhus i was feeling optimistic as to how i would go as it was an Olympic distance race with a couple of extra km's on the bike. The shorter triathlons have never suited me as i just don't seem to be able to find the necessary speed! Anyway it a hoot, really fun, loved the bike course and managed to come away with the win and a PB for the swim and run....and no the course wasn't short, the Garmin doesn't lie before you ask :) 

Was cool to see my host family there out in force as well with Thomas doing the individual, his daughters Julia and Carola mixing it up in a team event and Carola's boyfriend Miguel doing the individual.

Insert break from racing and become a spectator - CHALLENGE ROTH. Coolest race around. Thomas took charge of the 180km bike with Julia running the marathon. Great day had by all. Bloody hard job being a spectator!

Next up was the Allgau Classic Triathlon in Immenstadt.  So i dragged Thomas and Glen along for support and off we went. (luckily Thomas had his car back...after a deer clean smacked in to it a week earlier on the way to pick Glen up from the airport!! But thats another story).  

This race is made up of a 2km swim, 80km bike and 21km run and what a bike ride it was. 2 loops and each time climbing to over 1000m. Definitely should of put a climbing cassette on but boy o boy did my legs get a work out!  

This race also has an interesting twist to it where the men must chase the women down if they want to win. So the females get a head start and then the top 10 individuals to the finish regardless whether male or female get prize money.  I had moved up in to 1st position by half way through the run but then was chased down by men and the race favorite female. So ended up 7th overall and 2nd female. The men were very strong on those hills.

Back to Rednitzhembach that evening for a delicious German BBQ :) YUMMY

The following day it was time to relax in Schwabach and Nuremberg to show Glen a few sites with Marion and Thomas before he headed off back to chilly New Zealand.

I really must say a HUGE thank you to the entire Baums family - Thomas, Marion, Oma, Julia, Carola and Apollo as well as all the people they introduce me to along the way.  This trip wouldn't be possible without their generosity and taking me in as if i was one of their own family members. This thanks extends out to all the home stays i have had around the world. It makes the sport so much easier with the help of these generous people.

Must go, time to train and get ready for the next big day at the office. See you on Sunday 18th August KMD Ironman Copenhagen.

Challenge Aarhus - Half Ironman

Well it has been a very busy first week here in Europe.  Arriving last week on Tuesday after two days of flying, to then drive 1000km to Aarhus, Denmark, leaving 3am Friday was taxing.  I did have an enjoyable few easy training days in between though in some record Germany heat for this time of year. Reaching 42degrees for two days!  When my host from Germany, Thomas and i arrived in Aarhus Friday afternoon it was cold and pouring down with rain. Although i am use to this weather in Dunedin i did not much feel like racing in it.  Saturday was not much better but when race day Sunday arrived things were looking up :)
Race morning Thomas dropped me at the swim start (he was also meant to be racing but had to unfortunately pull out due to a foot injury) then headed back to the city to park up.  The sea was looking rough and i was looking forward to getting the swim over and done with as well as the crazy long and interesting transition one!
After 400m or so of swimming by myself i found some feet to swim on. Yay i was not alone. I have to say it was the strongest i have ever felt in a swim so was a little shocked to find out how slow my time was. Hopefully the course was a little long as sure looked it. Thanks to a few weeks swimming under Gennadiy Labara with his squad before i left New Zealand i felt like my technique in the open water had improved and instead of thrashing my arms around like a windmill i was taking slower more quality strokes. Maybe the 4.30am wake ups were worth it :)

Out of the water i found myself right beside Bella Bayliss and Lisbeth Kristensen.  Up the million stairs we all went, through the grass, change tent, up another hill, to the bikes and ran with them finally to the road. I had a shocking transition with using my road shoes i couldnt get in to them on the bike, so a mixture of running with them in my hands and running through mud and stones with them on my feet i had finally got to the road, but lost the other girls.

Within 5km on the bike i had passed Lisbeth and another girl Kathrin Walther who had passed me in transition and caught back up to Bella. We soon dropped the other two and remained together for the rest of the 90km ride swapping positions along the way.  With the three lead girls Camilla Pedersen, Jodie Swallow and Michelle Vesterby up with the men and the time gap ranging from 6-10mins, it was somewhat a lonely ride with no one around Bella or myself.  A really good tough honest bike course. Lots of hills, corners and windy.

Off the bike and it was time to run. Bella took off straight away and i knew my running ability was far from near so i tried to just get in to a solid rhythm, while trying not to let the girls behind me close in.  Starting the run i had a lead of around 8-10mins over the 6th girl.  The run consisted of three 7km laps, combining flat and hills, road, off road and a 400m running track! After the first 7km my feet started playing up and every stride was burning through my arches.  By the end i felt like i was almost walking but yay the finish line came and i still had around 6-8mins on 6th place to finish 5th overall.

Was pretty gutted with my run but with a few months of battling injuries, DNFs, and a big traveling week all and all the race was a success and a good start to my time here in Europe.
Back at home base now in Germany and ready to get stuck in to some training before the next race.

Big thanks to my coach Keegan Williams and Gennadiy Labara for helping me with my swimming.
Also to my Primary Sponsor ACTIVE ELECTRO for making this trip possible, PHYSIOPLUS getting me ready to go, R and R SPORT and THE SHOE CLINIC DUNEDIN for keeping me geared up.