Friday the 13th today – not sure what that is meant to mean but so far it has been a great day. Started off with a short run and a good swim. Followed those with the daily trip to the coffee shop (free internet means I am spending quite a few hours here after swimming each day – trying also to resist the amazing treats on offer). Next up is a ride and then a hill repeat session to finish off the day. It has been a great couple of weeks here in the Swiss Alps – the running especially is beautiful and it has been a really nice refreshing change both mentally and physically to be in a new environment with different training stimuli, ideas, training partners, routes etc. No complaints at all – except perhaps the weather!!! We have had  a couple of stunning days and it really is such a beautiful spot here in the mountains but we have also had our fair share of cold, rain and yes even snow. Plus the weather seems to change so quickly. But I feel as though training is going well – it took me a while to adjust to the altitude but looking forward to seeing some improvements over the next couple of weeks. Off tomorrow to Kitzbuehel to watch the ITU WCS race – should be fun – I don’t get to watch too many races but hopefully the weather is better up there than it is here today!!!!

Just got a copy of KC Fitness Magazine this month! Was a fun shoot and thanks to the magazine for the coverage they give to Triathlon.

In Switzerland on a training camp at the moment…..more of an update on that coming….

KC Fitness Magazine August 2010

Quick update to follow on from my LIN High Performance Socks post from the other week. As promised, LIN is now shipping internationally – so if you are in Australia, NZ or the UK you can get 10% off and free shipping over $150 (team up with your friends or family) using the code PIPLIN. Check out www.linsocks.com

What a week of “racing”. A mechanical ended my day early in NYC this morning. After realising I totally over cooked myself into Minneapolis last week, I spent the week freshening up and focussing on a good race in NYC. After starting to feel good by the Friday I was feeling ready to race, but it was not to be. I have great mechanics and am fastidious about my equipment, but sometimes things just go wrong and my day ended with a brake locked on and was unable to fix it without tools out on the course…..surprisingly you can’t ride when your wheel does not turn. So I had a little extended stay in the Bronx before getting a support vehicle back to transition. I will be back to NYC Tri for sure – definitely one of the coolest races in the world. Where else can you experience the “sights” of Broadway at 4.30am in the morning while warming up.
So next – training camp, get faster and race again!

I am pleased to announce that I will be training and racing in LIN High Performance Socks and recovering in LIN Compression Socks! LIN is one of the biggest sock and hosiery manufacturers in the world, based out of Utah and with six manufacturing facilities in three countries.

LIN is now selling their huge range of High Performance Socks direct meaning great prices – $6 a pair for Coolmax socks and $10 a pair for compression socks….which can’t be beat really! We are working on a range of higher compression socks specifically for Triathlon and sports applications which will be some of the best quality on the market, yet price wise far better than their competitors so stay tuned!

LIN also manufacturers custom socks for all your club, team and corporate needs….or if you just like to stand out (there are some custom “Pip” socks coming….and if you see me at a race, I might just be able to give you a pair!)

So here is the even better news – use code PIPLIN for a further 10% off and there is also free shipping for orders over $20 in the USA. BUT keep an eye out as LIN plans to go global in a big way – so for my Australian friends check back and I will let you know what the code can do for you….

So check out www.linsocks.com and get your feet looking flash.

LIN High Performance Socks

Some photos from Red Dog’s Dog Days “World’s Biggest Workout” last night. Congratulations Lawrence – you are an awesome town!

Dog Days

Dog Days

Dog Days

The title pretty much sums up my race today. Not sure where my legs were cause they sure weren’t out on course with me. Disgusted. Embarrassed. Mad. Those might be some other words to describe the race. Time to use that anger and frustration and turn things around for New York next week. Today in no way reflects how things have been heading in training but maybe I just got this week wrong.
Positives from the race: can’t think of any right now
Negatives: too many to write down.
And no I don’t want any consoling or sympathy – a slap to the head will do me better. Aside from the one I got from the race today. And the many I have since given myself. I know athletes are their own harshest critics – but that’s reality. Congratulations though to the girls who did race well today and my self flagellation is not taking anything away from them.
Already looking forward to long hard ride tomorrow to kick the week off.

oops. Despite my best intentions to get a race report from Philly up on Sunday evening I realise it is now Saturday and still nothing. To be honest I found it hard to actually write something meaningful about my race last weekend. The tragic death during the sprint race on Saturday was really very sobering and put the importance of the race on Sunday in perspective – its hard to get upset or take too seriously a mediocre performance when there are much bigger things in life going on. Still, I am glad that the race went ahead, and although I know a triathlon format would definitely have suited me better at the moment, the duathlon call was the right one. Duathlons are always tough and the heat and humidity that faced us on race weekend was stifling. The race was actually cut short for a lot of the amateurs – too many people collapsing and the medical tent completely overwhelmed. Combine those conditions with a seriously crowded (and to be honest quite scary) bike course (I was just happy to get off with all my skin intact) and it was just one of those races that is what it is. Get through it, finish the job and move on.The rest of the trip to Philly however was brilliant. I had the opportunity to catch up with several of my great sponsors – Kestrel, Nathan and Accelerade – some really exciting things going on at all three companies.

Back to Kansas and full training this week. The last few days I have knocked out some quality sessions and bucket loads of sweat. I woke up this morning pretty sore and tired, knowing that my Saturday morning session is one of the hardest of the week – TT sets on the computrainer and a short hard run. Warming up I could feel it was not going to be a pretty morning. Physically I felt OK but my legs – hammies, quads, calves and glutes were screaming pain. All I could think about were those anatomy drawaings where the muscles have been peeled back. That is what I felt like – as though strips were been torn off my legs. Oh well. The solution was to turn up the music and try and drown out the screaming. Anyway all done now – but the legs still hurt. Time for an afternoon of icing, feet up and watching the Tour!!!

Next up: LTF Minneapolis in one week.

Monday: Busy. Swim (tough and satisfying). Radio interview. Breakfast. Ride. Gym. Lunch. Massage. Run – hill repeats – anyone know the hill from the stadium up to the bell tower on KU campus?? 13 of those. Dinner. Bed

Tuesday: Run (legs not feeling so stellar after the hills). Breakfast. Ride (CompuTrainer max VO2 repeats – love my computrainer!). Lunch. Swim. Get ready for the Worlds Biggest Workout but it is cancelled due to bad weather so collapse in vegetative state on couch instead.

Wednesday: Swim (another smash fest in the pool with the Kansas girls – all I can say is thank goodness underwater fly kick on your back is not part of a triathlon). Bolt breakfast and jump in the car to head to Kansas City. Cover photo shoot with KC Fitness Mag – that was really fun and a nice/different way to spend an afternoon off training. I had great hair and make-up artists and a fantastic photographer – I can’t wait to see the shots!! The cover will be out for the August issue so keep an eye out!

Thursday (today): Bike (strength trainer set). Breakfast. Run with drills and skills. Lunch. And now I have just finished my second run set for the day (and final session). Not so pretty…..run to failure? um yes, I got there.

Summary: So far a good week – Friday/Saturday/Sunday will be challenging training wise especially with the hot and humid weather coming through right now. I like a challenge though so should be fun!

Tomorrow is a big day. The World Record is on the line – for the world’s biggest community workout. Right here in Lawrence, Kansas. I will be there and if you are anywhere near (or not so near) then come and join us!!!! Red Dog will be putting us through our paces and I am sure it will be a lot of fun too. I first went along to one of Red Dog’s (twice) daily workouts on my first trip to Lawrence. I was blown away by not only his time and dedication but also the community spirit that was evident in the free workouts. Do make the time to come along – you won’t be disappointed!