Friday, October 21, 2011

SWIM, BIKE, RUN ..... IN PARADISE

Challenge Cairns is the latest international event added to the Challenge Family of global iron distance events. Set in Cairns, Australia's gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, Challenge Cairns will take place on Sunday, 3rd June 2012.

The course features a memorable 3.8km swim in the warm waters off Cairns, a 180km bike leg that travels up arguably the most scenic coastal roads in Australia towards Port Douglas and a 42.3km run that finishes in the heart of Cairns.

Register for the full distance event by 31st December 2011 and you will be in the running to win the "Challenge Cairns Great Reward" for you & 3 of your friends worth RM 60,000 !

Tourism Queensland has tied-up with Qantas Holidays to offer a package to Cairns from S$1,399 per person, ex-Singapore. For more information, visit www.queensland.com.sg.

"Challenge Cairns was one of the highlights for me and my family this year. It's just such a spectacular place and race. One of the lasting memories was the Reef trip I got to experience with my daughter - breathtaking. " Chris McCormack, World Ironman Champion, Challenge Cairns 2011 winner.

Simon says: - A group of Malaysians made the journey to Cairns for the race last year and spoke very highly of it as a race and as a holiday destination not to mention the organisers being very athlete focused (rather than Ironman being very dollar focused).

The organisers have suggested that any Malaysians going might consider using their package via Singapore if it makes financial sense, so I have attached their flyer.

This is certainly a race I will do one year soon but I've already signed up for Challenge Roth and Melbourne Ironman for 2012 so maybe 2013?


So long Mad Dog - I'd like to say it was fun (but I can't)

One of the last "Mad Dogs" of the world of dictators left us today. I can't say that I'm "happy" that he was killed but I have to be honest and say I'm not sad either.

The list of Mad Men dictating their whims and fancies to their suppressed, indoctrinated or simply ignorant people has diminished in recent times but sadly at the cost of tens if not hundreds of thousands of people.

Remove the dictators of North Korea, Syria and the collective Mad Men of Iran next please.

On a lighter note: In looking at the YouTube updates I came across this amusing snippet - the thing that made me chuckle the most is that Mad Dog Gaddafi came across as being saner than Charlie Sheen - Enjoy.

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Armstrong on XTERRA

(Courtesy of www.slowtwitch.com)

The 7-time Tour de France champion is back where he started. Triathlon. Well, almost back where he started. Now it's off-road triathlon for him. After debuting in this iteration of triathlon with a 5th place finish at XTERRA Nationals in Ogden, Utah last month, he's expected to queue up to the start in Maui this weekend for XTERRA Worlds.

Because Lance is not coming to swimming and running late in life—as was the case with Udo Bolts, Laurent Jalabert and other retired cycling standouts who moved to triathlon—he's not thinking age-group or survival. He's been in a tear in the pool, swimming sets with the likes of former pro triathlete and standout swimmer Rip Esselstyn, as he reengages with his root sport.

Lance has been working behind the scenes on a project of particular import to Slowtwitch: bicycle safety legislation. He took a few moments to talk to us about the upcoming race in Maui, and about bicycle safety.

SLOWTWITCH: When was the last time you had this much enthusiasm for training and racing? Were you this eager in your Tour de France comeback? Or, is this better?

LANCE ARMSTRONG: They are very different. Coming back to the Tour was a lot of pressure. Even if I tried to ignore it, it was there in spades. That inevitably leads to having less fun. And I came back to a sport that had become bitter and toxic in a sense. Everyone pointing fingers and trying to cover their rears all at the same time. It was a total free-for-all, and the cycling media—if we can call them media—just fed on the fuel. I'm glad it's behind me.

Coming back to tri, even sporadically, has been fun. It's what I feel like doing for now, so we'll see how it goes. And honestly, the best part for me is the training and the sense of satisfaction I get from that. I'm 40, I'm busy, I have 5 kids, and a foundation to lead, as well as business ventures, travel and so forth. But I still love getting out there and breaking a sweat. It's cheap therapy, if you know what I mean. Wait, yes you do know what I mean. We all know what I mean.

SLOWTWITCH: What's your strongest event now, relative to the other XTERRA racers you'll face? That might seem a joke question to our readers, but, I'm wondering whether your swim finish place in this race might be on a par with where you'll slot in during the MTB leg?

LANCE ARMSTRONG: Good question. I learned a lot in Ogden and have made some adjustments to my training. I secretly knew my bike leg would suffer in Utah. Too much travel, not enough time spent at altitude, and not enough intensity in my training. I have tried—and tried is the operative word—to correct this. I feel better—stronger—and I'll leave it at that.

Thursday, October 13, 2011

This is why you should wear a helmet

(Courtesy of Chris Wayman and many others and www.grindtv.com)


It does make you think that this wasn't an accident though. Maybe you should wear a helmet and stop eating antelope? Haha

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

The bump on BryBaby's Head - The real Story



There is a rumour going around that Bryan Payne passed out while having a pee and banged his head. Fortunately I can expose the truth and dispel the smoke screen being laid down (probably by Bryan himself), I have exclusive video footage of what actually happened. ENJOY!

Chrissie Wellington wins fourth Ironman world title

(Courtesy of the BBC)
Chrissie Wellington made a winning return to the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii.
The Colorado-based Briton lifted her fourth title in a time of eight hours, 55 minutes and eight seconds, to beat Mirinda Carfrae and GB's Leanda Cave.

The 34-year-old from Feltwell, Norfolk suffered heavy bruising in a training accident, preparing for the race.

"It's the hardest-fought victory of my career and definitely the one I'm most proud of," she told BBC Radio Norfolk.

"The grazes on my leg and elbow were the least of my worries, the internal bruising to my upper chest and hip caused the most pain.

"That's why I feel so proud. The mind is an amazing thing. The body may scream in agony but you can overcome that."

World record holder Wellington, unbeaten over the 140-mile distance - which comprise a 2.4 mile swim, 112-mile cycle and full marathon - finished just under three minutes ahead of Australia's reigning champion Carfrae in Kona.

"I'd have preferred a bigger cushion," she said. "But it was a true race. Normally, I lead from the front but I had to dig to the very depths of myself emotionally and physically.

"I came off the bike in sixth and had to run my way to victory, so it was a very different event this year, a phenomenal race."

Wellington, who missed the event in 2010 due to illness, was particularly pleased to claim back her title.

"To be crowned four-times world champion means everything," she said. "I'm so proud to hold that title and wear that crown.

"To be the figurehead and representative of our amazing sport is a dream come true," she added.

Fellow Britons Cave and Rachel Joyce finished third and fourth respectively, making it the nation's best-ever World Championships.

In the men's race, Australia's 2008 and 2009 champion Craig Alexander secured a third title with fellow Australian Pete Jacobs second and Germany's Andreas Raelert third.

In September, GB's Alistair Brownlee was crowned tritahlon world champion after pipping his brother Jonathan in the season-ending Grand Final in Beijing.

Friday, October 07, 2011

New Garmin 910XT - looks promising

Mmm, me thinks I have one of those.



Here's a really really great review of the new Garmin 910XT at DC Rainmaker

Thursday, October 06, 2011

Offended? - well deal with it!

(Courtesy of Allan Malcolm)

I wrote a sarcastic email recently rebuking a friend of a friend for sending me a generic mass email trying to drum up business. It purported to be a personal follow up but he doesn't know me from a bar of soap and it contained a couple of white lies. This is the second time I've asked him to take me off his mailing list. I was annoyed but had the foresight to run it past my business partner first in case I offended anyone. This isn't too rude is it?" I asked "Not for you!" he replied!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oops, that told me, I sent it anyway haha The I saw this clip today, ha!

Tuesday, October 04, 2011

LG Advertising - WOW, pretty amazing

(Courtesy of Ian Hay)