1. Climbing Solar Berg at Challenge Roth
2. Visiting and walking tour of Arles
3. View overlooking Innsbruck and the trip up the cable car
4. Our ride from Florence through the Tuscan wineries
5. 3 hours at Ironman pace around the Lourve (followed closely by the Arc d Truimphe)
Now, this may change a little as we reflect, but sitting here overlooking a cloudy and ugly Brisbane, with a fair portion of jetlag, these were the highlights of the last 3 weeks.
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Friday, July 15, 2011
Home again
So after a wonderful time abroad we have touched down back in Australia and feeling very jetlagged......
Great to be back in Australia as we really do have a great country. Simple things like toilets being the same make life more comfortable.
In saying that, it was damn cold and wet here in Brisbane today, but was great to catch up with some friendly faces after so many different places in the last 3 weeks.
So the big question: where is the next holiday and more importantly, what is the next challenge for this pair????
Yeppoon Half Ironman?
Airlie Beach Tri?
Hammo Tri?
Melbourne marathon?
Great to be back in Australia as we really do have a great country. Simple things like toilets being the same make life more comfortable.
In saying that, it was damn cold and wet here in Brisbane today, but was great to catch up with some friendly faces after so many different places in the last 3 weeks.
So the big question: where is the next holiday and more importantly, what is the next challenge for this pair????
Yeppoon Half Ironman?
Airlie Beach Tri?
Hammo Tri?
Melbourne marathon?
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Dubai
Interesting place and so very, very hot. Little warmer than a hot day at home but when your out trying to site see and holiday, it gets a little uncomfortable.
In saying that, we took advantage of the facilities and visited the worlds' tallest building, which sites above the world's biggest mall, which has an aquarium in it which is has the world's largest fish tank wall.....
Was great to see a new place that we would ordinarily see, but with some travel friends and really good guide we saw some cool things.
In saying that, we took advantage of the facilities and visited the worlds' tallest building, which sites above the world's biggest mall, which has an aquarium in it which is has the world's largest fish tank wall.....
Was great to see a new place that we would ordinarily see, but with some travel friends and really good guide we saw some cool things.
Dubai baby
Back into cattle class and from Frankfort to Dubai we fly.
Really good flight and have to say very impressed with Emirates and would recommend them highlighly. Lisa would like to say a special thanks to the Steward with the nice smile and the very 'pretty face'.
Arrived in Dubai at 11pm, so a late night ride through Dubai didn't really show us much of the place, but was good to see some of the area highlights 'lit up' at night.
At some point we may choose to add more verbage to this area if we find pictures to verify the dreams we were having during the shuttle ride.
Really good flight and have to say very impressed with Emirates and would recommend them highlighly. Lisa would like to say a special thanks to the Steward with the nice smile and the very 'pretty face'.
Arrived in Dubai at 11pm, so a late night ride through Dubai didn't really show us much of the place, but was good to see some of the area highlights 'lit up' at night.
At some point we may choose to add more verbage to this area if we find pictures to verify the dreams we were having during the shuttle ride.
Goodbye Roth
So much effort goes into these races with preparation, planning and of course the training. The race happens so quickly and then your sitting having a casual drink after the event talking about 'what was and what could have been'. Typically, the book of excuses is handed around pretty extensively.....
These distances are so self confronting, self reflecting and is more about looking into yourself than your actual physical ability. How many times do you sit and look at those doing the race and think, 'with a body like that, how on earth are you going to go fast'.'
You can sit and watch these races from afar and make comment and think they seem easy and geez those times seem fast, but the reality of it is, the times on the board are real and to achieve them never occurs by chance.
My personal reflection is mixed as I remember the day and especially the pain the run brought me, but those feeling pass quickly and you honestly think 'why didn't I go quicker'. The truth of the matter is that you gave the best your body was willing to give on the day and whether your time was quick or slow, it was an honest assesssment of YOU. I wish and still think back to 6 weeks ago when I was feeling at the top of my game and really in the sweet spot of training, that I could have continued that feeling, but the reality of life and the challenges of being healthy, I had to deal with Bronchitis and also a taper through France, I gave the best I had on the day. Physically it may have been in the vicinity of 80% of my best, but in hindsight, understanding and being 100% ready mentally was my undoing. I still remember the feeling when I was running at 5:00min pace during the first part of the run and saying to myself that this was the pace I wanted to keep for 42k!!! Little did I know that I wasn't motivated and strong enough to endure the pain to keep this pace for more than the next couple of k's and have a walk to justify the fact that this was meant to be fun and that I was simply on a holiday away from my real job. To put it simply, the people doing sub 10's and lower really are superb athelete's, but further are simply stronger than most mentally, as I am convinced this is the difference between the 9's and the 10's....
ohh, so you would like a race report, i will get to that soon ok.....
These distances are so self confronting, self reflecting and is more about looking into yourself than your actual physical ability. How many times do you sit and look at those doing the race and think, 'with a body like that, how on earth are you going to go fast'.'
You can sit and watch these races from afar and make comment and think they seem easy and geez those times seem fast, but the reality of it is, the times on the board are real and to achieve them never occurs by chance.
My personal reflection is mixed as I remember the day and especially the pain the run brought me, but those feeling pass quickly and you honestly think 'why didn't I go quicker'. The truth of the matter is that you gave the best your body was willing to give on the day and whether your time was quick or slow, it was an honest assesssment of YOU. I wish and still think back to 6 weeks ago when I was feeling at the top of my game and really in the sweet spot of training, that I could have continued that feeling, but the reality of life and the challenges of being healthy, I had to deal with Bronchitis and also a taper through France, I gave the best I had on the day. Physically it may have been in the vicinity of 80% of my best, but in hindsight, understanding and being 100% ready mentally was my undoing. I still remember the feeling when I was running at 5:00min pace during the first part of the run and saying to myself that this was the pace I wanted to keep for 42k!!! Little did I know that I wasn't motivated and strong enough to endure the pain to keep this pace for more than the next couple of k's and have a walk to justify the fact that this was meant to be fun and that I was simply on a holiday away from my real job. To put it simply, the people doing sub 10's and lower really are superb athelete's, but further are simply stronger than most mentally, as I am convinced this is the difference between the 9's and the 10's....
ohh, so you would like a race report, i will get to that soon ok.....
Race Day
Some pics getting biked checked in and ready for the race.....
Race morning
Wow, what a day and so much to write about. Will have to come back later and put some words on paper
Race morning Wow, what a day and so much to write about. Will have to come back later and put some words on paperGetting Nervous Now
View from our place
We live across the road from a big pig, lol.
Out on the course with the Tri Travel team
The expo....
Lisa's new bike, it is blue...
The finish line
We live across the road from a big pig, lol. Out on the course with the Tri Travel teamThe expo.... My new bike, it is a Cervelo...
Lisa's new bike, it is blue... Getting registered
The finish lineHaving been so long between races for both of us, the period leading up to the race is really tough. The usual feelings of confidence are replaced with feelings of self doubt, dreams that end in disaster, illusions of a poor day and cold sweats when your at the supermarket getting supplies.
It is interesting to take a step back in these situations but the time between ironman's mustn't allow you to perform this self reflection as we both struggled to act cool and calm before the race. Both registration and also packing of our gear bags was tough to stay focussed and we were really showing the stress of the upcoming event.
Roth- Here we are
Arrived in Roth after a monster trip from Munich. The speedo said we only went 200 odd k's but it took forever. In saying that we made a stop at the Concentration Camp at Dachau, which was a real eye opener.
Really brings home the sacrifices made on our behalf during World War II and what we have that we should be thankful for.
You could easily spend a whole day going through the museum and the information available at the site it has that much to offer.
Where they slept. Camp designed for 6,000 people, when liberated had 32,000 occupants...
Gas Chamber......
Ended the say settled into our B&B in Spalt, which is just outside of Roth. We booked this Tri Travel and met up with the group that night, which was good to see some familiar faces. This place is a little over 20 minutes from Roth, but due to the number of people doing the race and the facilities available, this is the best option for our week leading up to the race.
Really brings home the sacrifices made on our behalf during World War II and what we have that we should be thankful for.
You could easily spend a whole day going through the museum and the information available at the site it has that much to offer.
Where they slept. Camp designed for 6,000 people, when liberated had 32,000 occupants...Gas Chamber......Ended the say settled into our B&B in Spalt, which is just outside of Roth. We booked this Tri Travel and met up with the group that night, which was good to see some familiar faces. This place is a little over 20 minutes from Roth, but due to the number of people doing the race and the facilities available, this is the best option for our week leading up to the race. A quick view from the top of the world before heading to Germany
Been slow with updates sorry, as haven't had access to the internet till now.....
Before heading off to Munich we took the opportunity to take the cable car out of downtown Innsbruk and head straight up to 2200m where they ski in the winter. Made for some awesome photo's.
Before heading off to Munich we took the opportunity to take the cable car out of downtown Innsbruk and head straight up to 2200m where they ski in the winter. Made for some awesome photo's.
Monday, July 4, 2011
Quick Update from Innsbruck
Our last day in Florence and spent it walking around town and seeing the major sights. Way to many tourists in this part of the world and have to be ready to combat major crowds if you plan on making a visit here. We decided against going into the major museums, as they generally looked like 1 - 2 hour lines for each of them.
Got on the road yesterday and travelled from Florence to Innsbruck, via Verona. Would highly recommend Verona to anyone travelling in these parts as it was like a postcard wherever you looked.
Likewise the drive from Verona through the mountains to Innsbruck was amazing countryside. Unfortunately hard to capture on the camera.
Had a quick ride around Innsbruck this morning and about to venture out for a look, and to walk breakfast off.....
Inside one of the Palace's
Street performer in front of the Uffizi Museum
Pont Vecchio - where all the Goldsmiths sit
Verona
Juliets Wall in Verona
Got on the road yesterday and travelled from Florence to Innsbruck, via Verona. Would highly recommend Verona to anyone travelling in these parts as it was like a postcard wherever you looked.
Likewise the drive from Verona through the mountains to Innsbruck was amazing countryside. Unfortunately hard to capture on the camera.
Had a quick ride around Innsbruck this morning and about to venture out for a look, and to walk breakfast off.....
Inside one of the Palace's
Street performer in front of the Uffizi Museum
Pont Vecchio - where all the Goldsmiths sit
VeronaJuliets Wall in Verona
Verona to Innsbruck - the mountains just spring out of the valley
One of the many castles sitting atop the mountains and cliffs on the drive from Verona into Austria
One of the many castles sitting atop the mountains and cliffs on the drive from Verona into Austria
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