Plenty of time has been spent alone it seems this past month

So here it is – race week; I’m both simultaneously excited and apprehensive … it just depends what I’m thinking of at a particular time as to which of those it happens to be.

The trend appears to be to get excited about it if I think about the race during training sessions and nervously apprehensive when I’m sitting around the house or doing something other than exercise.

I am trying to keep to a simple process type strategy; i.e deal with the swim (just keep swimming, just keep swimming in a Nemo-esque fashion), deal with the bike (eat, drink, pedal, eat, pedal some more and so on and on … and on) before getting to that little old issue of, what was it … wait a minute, yup, that’s it: a marathon!!!

Sarcasm aside, I am really starting to look forward to the race. Sure, I am nervous about the undertaking. Not because it is such an incredibly overwhelming concept that I can’t wrap my head around  (although I have hit a mental road bump or two now and then) - people are doing Ironman right, left and centre at the minute (waytogo Wattie by the way – he made it aound Lake Placid yesterday in a cracking 11.5hrs!) but more becuase for me it is a new stage in my racing career (the ‘Sherbourne ‘08  IMUK attempt’ doesn’t really count in my mind) and I find it a little harder to be as confident in my ability to attain my goals, simply becuase it is all that much newer to me than racing at the shorter distance. All that being said I still believe I can achieve those targets, it’s just more of a reflection of my respect for the distance and my more experineced competitors than anything else.

That being said, I take a lot of confidence from my result earlier in the year at the Abu Dhabi Tri and also from the block of training I have been doing since late June – all of which is after 2 race results that I am very proud of – Kent TriGrandPrix and UK Ironman 70.3. So I know that physically I am fit and ready, I just have to be  mentally on the ball too!

As much as it is at every other Triathlon distance ... it's all about the run in an Ironman!

Undoubtedely the star attraction of the eveing was the guest speaker – Kelly Holmes …. or that should be Dame Kelly Holmes. For someone who has been treading the boards as a motivational talker for nearly 5 years now, I was surprised and intrigued to hear some nerves in her voice as she began what turned out to be a very passionate and motivational speech which charted her career highs and lows.

Once again I must say a big old thankyou to the good folks at Stirling Triathlon club – for people outside of my family to have such strong belief in me is quite something and I appreciate it so much more than I can express here, or indeed managed to on Wednesday.

 - To be able to do what I do is fantastic, but to be recognised for that at home is equally gratifying.

Not as short as I thought she may have been

Thanks, as always go to ImacImages for the photies – cheers Iain.

Training since the Longhorn 70.3 here in Austin has been bang on. I was due to leave here for St Pete on Friday of last week in fact, but I quickly realised that staying here in Texas was going to be a much better training base for my pre Clearwater needs. The big tick in the box was the chance to train with Ritchie Cunningham and his training buddy Pat Evoe.  I knew Ritchie lived here in Austin now, having moved down to the warmer climes from Boston during the summer, but you never know whether folk are keen to welcome a newbie into the fold. Plus I didn’t want to get in the way of what is clearly a good routine (he won in easy-street fashion last w/e) at this late stage before the biggest race on our calendar.

It’s been a blast so far. – Austin is (much like much of urban America i guess) fairly spread out … and this is what I still struggle to get my head around when in the US. Nothing is generally that close and travel time can seem like a drag. But, I know we are just spoilt at home in Stirling, and hey, its not 25C with the clearest blue sky imaginable EVER in  November in ‘The Shire’ ! So i’m sucking the travel up. – Especially with the loan of Ritchies’ funy little (but pretty powerful i might add) scooter. – More on that tomorrow I think.

Ritchie is not only preparing for Clearwater, and defending his podium spot from last year, but he has bitten off an even bigger bite in the shape of Ironman Arizona the week later. Or 8 days later as Ritchie keeps reminding me! Rather him than me is all I’ll say. The upshot of that scenario is that he is in wicked shape and totally motivated to get great training sessions in each of these last few crucial days, plus Pat is gearing up for the new Ironman event in Cozumel, Mexico a week later. – Between the two of them it is ON in training! (Especially on the bike … I now realise I don’t ride hard enough when I train!) Many might subscribe to the train of thought that “if it’s not in the bag by now it never will” … but I don’t agree … I am coming good day by day by hanging onto their coat tails and it’s a great feeling to still have next week to freshen up and get over the last bit of travel into Florida.

I’ve learned a lot from being here these past 2 weeks, and I am sure I will come back to train again. The whole place is so friendly and triathlon orientated. I have also been utterly lucky (yet again) in having found such an incredible homestay family to stay with and that has made everything that bit easier to handle in the new environment. – Thanks Terra and Zane. (and the cats. and the dog).

The view at the pool after my swim this avo …. its a 33yd pool – this is a new distance for me!

and a slightly wonky view of ‘downtown’ on my ride home from the pool. (I didn’t take this on the scooter I promise!)

….which is exactly what Liz Blatchford and I were doing on Saturday morning with a bit of ‘throu and off’ TT work on my new favourite road – the Berninapass, which has absolutely stunning views of a glacier at the head of the valley.

Don't tell Liz I was taking pictures...

First up on Saturday was the ITU WCS in Kitzbuhel, Austria. The team bus left here on Thursday with the Brownlee boys and young Hollie Avil aboard – they were all last seen floating around the track early doors. Fantasitc results all up with Alistair taking the win (yet again) with a cracking front running 10k straight out of T2 to prove he is without doubt the hot property in draft legal racing at the minute. Not to be out done, Johnny gave it to himself mixing it in the top 5 for a good 8k before ‘fading’ to a superb 13th in only his 2nd World Cup event. Someone should remind him he is only a Junior!!

Most importantly however; David ‘Maccers’ McNamee took home a fantastic debut performance of 17th, within 2 minutes of Bullet-Brownlee and less than 60 secs behind veteran racer Will who himself was a very solid 7th.

Then today I was once more glued to the updates screen, watching Quelle Challenge Ironman Roth unfold. – This race sounds amazing, and I can’t help but wonder if it will be on the cards for me sooner or later??? Fast times and huge crowds?  -Sounds good to me.  Chrissie Wellington duly smashed the world leading time with an outstanding 8.31, but huge kudos goes to Catriona Morrison who continued her excellent season with the fastest female debut IM performance of all time in a cracking 8.48. – Not so long ago that would have challenged the Scottish mens record! However, we now have my T.R.I team mate Graeme Stewart looking after that crown, and he impressively lowered his own mark to 8.23 by finishing in 13th place in a truly world class field.

Finally, there was an Xterra US event in Vermont where fellow triathlonteam bloggers Conrad and Dan notched up 3rd and 5th spots. – I’ve lost count how many times these guys have raced during the past couple months.

Well if that wasn’t enough motivation for one w/e, I’m not sure what is. -  Aerobic 5k swim and a 90k bike for me tomorrow. Best get to bed.

Watch in awe, as they are truly motoring!