When Stuart asked if I was riding with the group in the Cyclo Sportif Peletons de Pinjarra, I apprehensively said yes. I felt quite bad for dragging the average speed of our group down to 28km in the Cycli a Swan Valley. This was partly because two weeks prior to Swan Valley I crashed my old blue bike into the concrete wall near the scout hall heading north along the freeway while the bike path was under repair, and I didn’t realised I’d buckled my back wheel in the process. I’d also pretty much trashed myself the week before with too much running, and a few other long rides, so I didn’t have enough “get up and go” for the Swan Valley ride. I didn’t want to let the group down again, but Stuart convinced me it would be ok, so I said yes.

It is no secret that I love to travel! Other loves in my life include food, beer, wine, exercising, socialising and the West Coast Eagles (granted, the last one is not giving me too much joy at the moment!). Taking all these things into consideration, the Quelle Challenge Roth in Germany seemed a natural choice when I decided I wanted to compete in a European Ironman. I had seen numerous reports and heard many stories billing it as the “best triathlon in the world”….and after experiencing first-hand the beautiful Bavarian countryside and local hospitality I can honestly say that this classic race well and truly deserves its reputation! So what makes it so unique?

Well this was it!!! I had been training for months – My first Half Ironman Triathlon. I had done some small ones, yet every time I thought about the Half it was like “my god that’s more than double the distance than I have done so far”

Race morning was here and after the usual breaky etc I arrived at the transition and went through my routine and making sure I had everything with me from the swim to bike and the run, except this time I think I went through it about 10times!

Finally it was time to head for the start line – a final good luck kiss and hug from my wife off I went. (I didn’t want to stick around as everyone’s emotions started to surface, I may very well have ended up a sobbing mess).

Most Eclipse triathletes, like minded in their goal to race and then kick back for some fun in the great South West, made a weekend of the Meelup race, arriving in Dunsborough Friday night. The meander back to Perth began on Sunday afternoon after a light run, leisurely breakfast, and Yallingup coffees all round (a ‘must do’ when visiting Dunsborough). This is a race report, so on to matters triathlon related…

Meelup Enticer 250/6/2
I have never done a triathlon before & this was to be my first.
Arriving at the race on Saturday I had in my head register & then set up. I had just got my name crossed off the list & Stuart walked up & mentioned that it would be OK as I have swam in worst conditions before. I looked at the water for the first time… I have only been swimming for 8 weeks, most of that being at Aqua Life or at Champion Lakes (cant see them as very choppy)& two ocean swims. The last ocean swim being the Saturday before & that was the worst ever but nothing to rival what I now see before me. It’s only a 250 metre swim but it looks so much further, the zodiac had trouble getting to swim buoys & came back in & he swapped over for the ski & paddle.

As a youngster I was watching TV one day (which I was good at) and I saw this race with these two guys (Scott and Allen) racing head to head through the lava field in Hawaii, wow!! It took me another 15 years before I found myself in this wonderful, challenging, mind bending and punishing sport of triathlon. From my first Tri three years ago I dreamt of going to Hawaii to race amongst the best in the world and fortunately here I was, stepping off the plane at Kona airport in 2007. Oh boy, what have I got myself into now! What an amazing place Hawaii is, from the panoramic views, the amazing history to the beautiful people that make up these islands.