I bet you’re like me and you love visiting new areas to compete in a race. You arrive in the town, settle into your accommodation, go for a ride, trot out on the course for a run, have a swim and wander around town a bit. A few days out from the race, it seems everyone else is doing the same thing. We’re all having a great time! That is, except for the locals.

Sure, we fill up the accommodation, keep the restaurants busy and the baristas don’t know what has hit them! But how about locals who don’t feel an immediate positive effect from having 1,500 athletes plus their family and friends plonk themselves down in “their” town?

The recent announcement of the Ironman Australia course changes at Port Macquarie brought about what is a regular issue with big races held in regional towns. The effective “shutting down” of the roads and town centre for a weekend stir a response that is part frustration, part anger. Understandably, we as athletes are part to blame. I reckon the event organisers shoulder a good part of it too. Check out this article from the Port Macquarie News and read some of the comments – you’ll get the idea.

Continue Reading “6 Ways To Help Save Triathlon” »

The art of Ironman swim preparation came up in conversation yesterday. For those of us who have raced an Ironman before, we know what it is like to be among the 1400+ bodies thrashing it out for position. I somewhat doubt however, that any of us have forgotten how we felt just prior to our first Ironman start. Nervous. Scared. Niggling self doubt. All pretty normal really.

So this post is aimed at those yet to start their first Ironman, and also those who wish to move up the pack with some more specific training tricks. Although I say “tricks”, really, swimming well in an Ironman is little more than consistent swim training that is specific to the task at hand. Continue Reading “5 Tips For A Faster Ironman Swim” »

Everything in life has a cost. How we pay each cost varies. You might pay for new shoes with money, pay for a mistake by spending more time getting it right, or you might pay for an accident by enduring physical injuries.

There is one particular method of payment that athletes, particularly Ironman athletes, need to be acutely aware of. Turning a blind eye to this little beast can end in tears – either on the training track or on race day. Fatigue. It’s the sneaky beast. It’s the elephant in the room, sitting behind the worn out training gear, the nutrition boxes and your array of high tech gadgetry. Fatigue.

Fatigue can be your friend. It is an essential element of a training program but it needs to be managed. Unfortunately for many, once taper time rolls around, their body is in such a fatigued state that there is just not enough time to dig back out of the hole in time for race day. Essentially, these athletes arrive at the start line with their bodies already partially worn out. Clearly not an ideal way to start a race, let alone an Ironman. Continue Reading “Fatigue – The Silent Injury” »

Millie Aiyla Kenington

It’s been a while between posts – largely because of more important things going on – like the arrival of Millie Aiyla Kenington!

My wife Simone gave birth to Millie on the 29th July, about seven weeks earlier than expected! Since then Millie has spent time at the Monash Medical Centre Newborn Intensive Care Unit and Sandringham Hospital – and finally arrived home over the weekend – about six weeks old. It’s been a long period of ups and downs but every moment has been worth it!

Having a daughter really puts everything in perspective through means which are difficult to describe. All I know is that as a family we’ve been through a marathon already and have come through as a stronger unit. Speaking of units, the people and specialists who have helped us through this have been absolutely amazing – we hope to give back to them one day.

For now, we’re exploring the world and the many exciting times it holds for us as a family. So many thanks from the three of us for all of your wishes along the way.

Tim, Sim & Millie xo

It’s funny how once upon a time, riding your bike inside was something you wanted to do but your mum wouldn’t let you. These days, time on the trainer, ergo or rollers is something many of us dread! Having said that, if you set yourself up correctly and regularly pump out quality sessions, you’ll love the benefits once summer rolls around. Not all of us are lucky enough to have a CompuTrainer or Wattbike, but that’s no excuse for not training well inside. Wade at CyclingTips gives a good run down of some indoor training specifics but I thought some more general advice would also come in handy. Apply the following tips and you’ll find you’ll get more out of pedaling indoors…

Continue Reading “Executing Quality Indoor Cycling” »