Me and our gear after one our many ‘on the road’ sessions this past week. All good fun

We did stop to stay suitably re-fuled along the way aswell … gotta get the calories in – Abu Dhabi in 2 weeks time. Did i say eeeeek? Yeah …  sure did.

More to come later over the w/e …. i’ll get my camera out I promise.

A few days in already. Time flies. After a late arrival in Los Angeles I stayed in the airport (well, a hotel room, not a terminal bench) on Monday evening and then drove myself the couple of hours south to the San Diego area I now know so well. There has been a coldy type thing hanging around since the flight – the bonuses of travel I suppose – and I am doing my best to shrug it off. The warmth of the sun is helping

I am not doing the best with my swim training of late. It turns out the pool is shut for ‘construction’, so I am having to drive a fair bit to get to the next one. Luckily I can borrow the truck to get there…hHopefully it won’t be too big an issue, as I swam pretty consistenly right through September back in the Shire.

The biking is going ok – I just got 2, 3, 4 hour rides in to remind the legs over the last 3 days. The riding is pretty hilly in these here parts, and I had forgotten just how hilly.  Nice views though, and once I get off the beaten track, no traffic either. Just how I like it.

I’m only here another 5 days and then it’s onwards to Texas for the Longhorn 70.3 in Austin. It will be a new State for me to visit, and a new race to experience. I’ll keep you posted

I’m gearing up for my major goal race

of the first half of the racing season this w/e.

It’s been an up and down first few months of 2009 racing for me, but I am finally feeling confident about my prospects of being able to race to my potential on Sunday morning. I’m very motivated and generally excited about heading back to Wimbleball Lake in Exmoor to try and defend my title and win for the third successive year. – It’s a big task but one I am keen to try and make happen!

It couldn't have been much closer last year - Stephen pushed me hard to the line

It is a small field, as has been the case each of the previous years I have raced the event. However, it is a small but strong field, and I am expecting a tough race without question. The race has been described as one of the toughest, if not the toughest race on the 70.3 circuit. I can certainly confirm it is up there as one of the toughest I have raced and I think that is what I like the most about it. – A normal swim (don’t be fooled!) A very tough bike. Maybe even a tougher run. – Hills, off road trails and yet more grassy hills all add up to make it a great test.

It is just a tremendously good effort in simply getting round, and I think that is one of the main reasons such a considerable numbers of folk don’t even end up racking their bikes on the Saturday – the reality suddenly dawns that the entry they submitted (and paid for!) way back in the winter time hasn’t been backed up with sufficient training volume. – Hopefully the majority of people who entered will be bursting with confidence come Sunday this year!

I am looking forward to catching up with Julie (Dibs) for the first time this year … we usually spend a week hanging out in April for the St Anthony’s Triathlon in Florida, however she went a cracked a rib around then… and also to see how my occasional San Diegan/Scottish training partner from my Californian trip is going to do. – It is Lesley Paterson’s first attempt at the 70.s distance after making a great start to the US Xterra series so far this year.

I have to make a note about the men’s race too. The big name that stands out on the men’s list is Björn Andersson. I have said it before – and after regular racing against him over the past 2 years can difinatively confirm – he is a monster on the bike. I raced him twice earlier this year in the States, and his riding didn’t seen to have quite the same impact as it has in the past, but I am not going to let that fool me. I believe he will be on the start line ready to create bike havoc, and being a very competent swimmer, he will be creating it very early on. My aim is to go with whatever he throws down! He has won a major Half Ironman distance event each of the past two season through crushing bike splits and hanging on during the run, so I can see where his intentions lie! – The lighter wheels have been added and the cassette has been changed.

There are a number of other guys on the start list ready to give it a good shot as well, and I am more than aware of all of them… I always do my research!

It’s going to be a busy w/e of racing all over the place to – what with there being not just one but three other Ironman 70.3 events being held all over the US, plus the world famous Alcatraz triathlon in addition to the racing that other online team members are up to in France and the US.

Someone was having a lazy day. Probably did a hard run or something?

The Bear and I had some words

"I know there has to be some ice SOMEWHERE"

Will, on the other hand, was happiest when foraging for food

The list of world class athletes working with Profile reads like a ‘who’s who’ of multisport and so it is very exciting to be linked with such a prestigious company within our sport.

Profile are also based in California, which is nice, since this will once again be my main base for the year whilst racing in the US. Alongside Felt (Irvine) and TYR (Huntington Beach) I am going to be within driving distance of them which is great for keeping in contact, especially for something like wetsuits, where sizing can be so crucial.

I will meet the guys at the Miami International Triathlon next month, which has Profile as the main event sponsor. Miami will be my first race in the US for 2009, which I am really looking forward to. I raced there last year and it seems like the event has grown much bigger for this, it’s second year running.

Carolyn, myself, Toby and Julie in April

I’m all packed and I’m yet again on the move; to St Petersburg, Florida. There is just one week left till the Foster Grant Ironman World Championship 70.3 in Clearwater, and I am heading over to the same great homestay I enjoyed last time with Carolyn, and also Julie Dibens. We were there in Arpil this year too – on that occasion for the St Anthonys race held in St Pete itself, and my new T.R.I team mate Toby Jameson was there then also. Phew, it’s a big reunion! This time round Toby and his brother Joel have travelled, and the 3 of them have been training away over there for the last few days. I’m looking forward to joining in.

Although I am really looking forward to getting over there, I am also quite sad to be leaving Escondido and California. I have really come to enjoy my training (albiet all on my own) out here and I have found more than enough good rides and trails for running. The weather is also just ridiculously ideal for triathlon training. You just don’t get anything other than sunshine and clear, windless days. I have become really quite spoilt, given what the weather is doing at home just now. – Blair sent me a text message during the week which said ‘I can see me breath all the time now – bet you can’t see yours?!’ I think that sums it up perfectly for me at this time of year!

Anyway, I need to get to bed; another lengthly day of travel awaits tomorrow as I cross this huge country from West to East. Dad is coing over to watch the race and he happens to arrive in Tampa airport just before me, so that’ll be a good end to the journey for me.

Oh – and given it is such a huge deal over here – Happy Halloween! Here are some pictures I took whilst out on my bike last week; a sight I have never seen before, and one which led me to realise I had never considered where pumpkins actually come from. Well now I now – they ALL come from this big field in North County, San Diego. All of them.

This is going to be quick – I’ve got to get to bed for my flight to San Diego tomorrow morning . . . but

What about CHRISSIE Wellington?! Superb, although there was nothing unexpected about the domination she showed out there on the lava fields. Truly inspirational stuff I felt.

I was impressed with Craig Alexander too – I said before I thought he would push Macca further than last year; he couldn’t do that due to the mechanical of Chris McCormack, but you can only beat who is out there on the course. I thought he looked magic on the back half of the marathon whilst others faltered.

Really pleased to see Bella Comerford go inside the top 10 like she aimed for, Paul Amey didn’t quite have the fireworks I thought, but 17th is none too shabby, Steve Bayliss was 19th and unfortunately Scott Neyedli and Leanda Cave were other Brit Pro’s not to finish their race for some reason or another.

Also a big mention to Dejan Patrcevic who went 24th in his first visit to Kona – Dejan is another Nekada.com website athlete, like myself.

I’ll be in touch once I get settled over in California.

Laters, Frase

03.50 alarm, 04.30 get in the car for airport, 06.45 depart San Diego, arrive in JFK New York at 3.00. Then a delightful 8 HOURS!! spent wandering a terminal as boring as any i’ve been through.

We were delay-ed leaving for Edinburgh, but seemed to land at the gate spot on this morning, which was a blessing, since i was finding the flight hard work, depsite the pretty impressive onboard entertainment system! – Restless leg syndrome coupled with being stuck at the window and inside a couple NOT pleased at having hear me ask ‘can i get out please?’ for the 4th time, was not much fun after 7 hours. – Movies to watch however: Drillbit Taylor (“what’s this? – A wing, and you’re under it”) (imdb.com), Kungfu Panda (imdb.com) and Tropic Thunder (“i’m just a dude playing a dude disguised as another dude”) (imdb.com).

I wound down quite nicely in San Deigo the last few days, managing to catch up with a few folk out there which was useful, plus got some tweaks to the bike sorted and obviously slotted in some steady training.

I’m trying to stay awake till normal bedtime tonight so as to hopefully get the body adjusted back to the home time zone asap, and lessen the effects of the jet lag. I’ll write something about my thoughts going into the Ironman in Sherbourne in the next day or so.