Eclipse Fitness

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).