ITU - great expectations in 2012

The world of ITU racing is building to climax with this year’s Olympic Games in London where new Gold medallists will be crowned. For anyone who wins this race nothing else across the year matters, with lead-up events serving as selection events for many countries, and post Olympic races merely there for academic records. It’s all about the Olympics...so with that as an introduction let’s look at the 7 big questions to be answered this year:

1. Will the Brownlees go 1-2 in the Olympics?
They are an unbeatable combination and can dominate a race anyway they please, with the older Alistair having an edge over Jonathon. These guys are fearless and represent a new breed of athletes racing triathlons in a new way – leading and driving breaks at any stage of the race. They are forcing the field to raise their game to be true all-round athletes, an evolution on from swimmers who run well. Will the field be able to find a way to break the Brownlees in 2012? Will they dominate in London?

2. Who is most likely to step up to challenge the Brownlees, and what tactics will they use?
The Brownlees did not win every race in 2011, so those races perhaps serve as a case study for how to overcome them. They were also put under pressure at times, where perhaps they were close to cracking...who knows. In looking at the profile of the athlete most likely to beat the Brownlees, they must be front pack swimmer, have exceptional bike capability – and tactics – and able to run close to 30 min off the bike (on an accurate 10km course). Then they must have the courage and conviction to risk their race for a famous victory. Only Javier Gomez seems to have the firepower to achieve this, although several Europeans are rapidly improving and seem likely to feature more in 2012. How will races be run and won with the Brownlees in them?

3. Will Paula Finlay get it together for the whole season?
The 2011 women’s season was in two parts – the first dominated by Paula Finlay who won races in the “classic” style of outrunning – out-kicking – the field. In the second half, while Finlay succumbed to injuries, Helen Jenkins took over the mantle with a style of racing synonymous of her countrymen – racing from the front – only to be challenged late in the season by the all-round performance of Andrea Hewitt. Who knows what would have happened if Finlay held it together for the whole season...and what if she does in 2012? Jenkins seems to be the person to beat in her home Olympics – how will her front-running tactics impact on Finlay, especially if there is a gap out of the swim?

4. Can Emma Snowsill recapture her best form?
Snowsill is a formula 1 athlete – her results speak for themselves. However apart from a few fleeting glimpses since Beijing – eg, Budapest in 2010 – she has been out of sorts for various reasons for some time. However she is still a formula 1 athlete and has shown she has the all-round ability to tear a race apart. So will she get her mojo back in the Olympic year when it counts most? – one would think she is a better than even chance if she gets to the start line as fit and healthy as she knows she is able to...you would be foolish to bet against her.

5. Will team tactics play a role in the Olympics?
The potential for team tactics have been an increasingly hot topic in triathlons over recent years, based mainly around the nature of bunch riding and how well it lends itself to the coordinated protection of selected athletes to deliver them to the run leg in the best shape possible. Usually athletes deny the existence of such tactics, but race circumstances seem too obvious for it not to happen...especially where the national stakes are highest at the Olympics. So will 2012 see the emergence of team tactics amongst nations, perhaps motivated as tactics to beat the Brownlees, or will the individual glory available overcome such tactics?

6. Will team triathlon gain popular support to be successful?
The introduction of teams triathlon (distinct from team tactics) has been a strategic step by the ITU to hopefully have more Olympic medals on offer in 2016 – currently just two (men & women) – as well as a new way to package the sport to the public. Despite offering a World Championship title, the public uptake has been slow as witnessed via media coverage. And while the athletes directly involved have enjoyed the experience, others seem to have been indifferent to the existence of the format. Perhaps there needs to be a greater number of team triathlon events so the public see it more often and embrace it. Regardless, one suspects the ITU will push ahead with teams triathlon and that it will be a success.

7. Who will get in the Australian Olympic team?
The big question for 2012 is who will fill the remaining spots after the early nominations of Emma Moffatt and Brad Kahlefeldt. Assuming we’ll have 2 further men’s and women’s slots, it would seem that only the women’s team selection is obvious with Emma Snowsill and Emma Jackson putting themselves forwards to make up the Australian team. However the men’s team selection is wide open with names like Courtney Atkinson, Brendan Sexton and Chris McCormack being most likely, but with a host of others in with a chance of forcing themselves into selection in the way Peter Robertson did for the 2000 Olympics. The upcoming selection races in March and April will be intriguing, and will no doubt prompt endless debate as to the final team selection. However it turns out, you can be sure we’ll all be giving them full support in London.

The Fix - Pre-Race Routine

Whether you're new or experienced with racing, the pre-race routine is important to ensure you're ready to go once the gun / hooter sounds. It can be the thing of nightmares to think of all the things that might go wrong before the race, from car break-downs to sleeping in, eating the wrong food or not having the necessary equipment. Having your pre-race routine down pat can give you comfort and put you at ease, each of which helps you really focus on the task ahead of racing.

Here are some things to consider and prepare for pre-race:

1. Race week training
You won't get fitter in race week. In fact trying to "cram" in training is more likely to be detrimental than positive on race day, likely leaving you tired, flat and demotivated. But that doesn't mean a "couch taper" (sitting on the couch all week) is the way to go, either!! During race week you want to keep training as usual but at a reduced workload, in particular, less volume. Maintain the intensity in sessions, just less of it, until 2-3 days pre-race when you should reduce the volume AND intensity to give your body a chance to rest. Get some quality sleep, too. At any time during the week, think about the effect of whatever you're doing at that time will have on your race day performance.

2. Equipment check
Not having equipment that is ready to go on race day for want of pre-race maintenance and servicing is preventable...by having some pre-race maintenance and servicing performed!! But before that you will need to be sure you have all the necessary bits and pieces of equipment, ranging from goggles to bike, helmet, shoes (bike & run) and more. There's a number of equipment check-lists around you can refer to. So assuming you have all the gear you need to be sure that it is in good working order and not likely to fail during the race. The main item to check is your bike, at a reputable bike shop, but also includes checking your goggle straps, shoe laces and similar things. Time spent making sure they are ready for the race removes one more potential concern.

3. Pre-race eating
Your pre-race eating routine can make quite a difference to your comfort during the race, which then carries across to your enjoyment. Basically, you don't want to eat things that will upset or be sitting in your stomach like lead weights during the race. For sprint and Olympic distance events your routine really begins about 2 days before where you shift the balance of foods towards lower fat foods, with good amounts of carbs. Stick to familiar and simple foods that won't feel like they're weighing you down. For these shorter races the need to carbo-load is less. The day before the race is the time to reduce the amount of fibre you're eating, and is not the time to stuff yourself full with food...which would inevitably still be in your guts during the race...yuk!! On race morning just have something light to take away your hunger - you'll have enough energy already stored to get you through the race.

4. Race day logistics
Knowing what to do on race day helps you to be prepared when the start time comes around. The first thing to plan for is how to get to the race, allowing for traffic, parking, etc...this can take some time. When you get to the race site knowing the layout and in particular registration, will then allow you to complete tasks like registering, getting numbered, knowing where you leave gear bags, and getting in/out of transition. Think ahead to what you need to do and the logical sequence of steps to do that, which includes setting up your bike and transition area as you (hopefully) planned it during transition practice in training. The process of setting up need not be confusing...and don't hesitate to ask questions of event marshals.

5. Warming-up and starting
Since you don't do harder training sessions without warming up, so you should also warm-up before races. Here's a suggested sequence of activities to help get ready for the race start: set-up transition, go for a 5-10min run, put your wetsuit on, get to start line about 20min before your wave start, swim for 5-10min, wait for your start while remaining loose and relaxed. Doing a short run and swim helps to warm you up, get your blood pumping and eases your nerves and anxiety about what is ahead by doing activities that are familiar to you.

Return to the Dandenongs

It's been a while since I was last out running in the Dandenongs - back in March or April, I think - so it was great to get out there again today to put down the first few steps towards the 6ft Track marathon next March. I was after the hills, big hills, and these are some of the better ones in reasonable proximity to home. I have rule of training that you should never travel for more time to training than you are actually going to spend training...today ticked that box!!

I headed around a familiar old loop, plus a few extra bits, that takes in some of the best tracks in the area...just beautiful and spectacular forests and vegetation. The only problem today is that while it started very humid, the rain soon started and hung around although it didn't really make too much difference since the trees, ferns, tracks and more were already soaked - and muddy - with recent rains. So I got wet from the rain and general water and mud along the way. But I loved it.

Although my legs didn't feel great...which is perhaps more to do with being very out of shape for these hills / trails...I loved being up there. While wet, it wasn't cold, and hardly anyone else there. I'll be making routine tracks up there over summer...I want to achieve the goal of 40km+ and 2000m+ ascent in a single run. Today was 33km and 973m.

Here's a couple of pics of my muddy legs at the end.

Top 5 quick fixes

The summer season is all but here and amongst the seasoned athletes are a whole lot of people who will be lining up for their first triathlon(s), with all the experiences that go along with...not to mention the newby mistakes!! So here are the top-5 quick fixes to correct the most common mistakes - and questions - new athletes make in their early races.

1. What to eat beforehand
In doing a sprint distance you don't need to carbo-load. However, your choice of food can make things more comfortable, beginning with the day's leading up the race. Avoid heavy, fatty foods and go for fresh and natural things - the less processed the better. The day before will usually coincide with a rest or very easy day of training, so there's no need to pig out. But instead choose familiar, plain, low-fat and low-fibre foods that will digest and pass through your system easily before the race starts. On race morning, having something which is also familiar and easy to digest about 2.5 hrs pre-race...liquid form is best, and only enough to take away your morning hunger. Basically, you want to avoid having foods that will feel like they are weighing your stomach down.

2. What attire to wear
Triathlon fields are full of fashion crimes, but that doesn't need to be the case!! Ideally, anything you wear on race day you will have tried beforehand in the different sports to see how they perform. Not surprisingly, lycra and similar materials are the most functional because they are comfortable whether wet or dry, with little sagging - they just work. Spending a few dollars on a functional and comfy outfit is money well spent. As for colour, each to their own, but keep in mind that on hot days black is the hottest of all colours. Also, remember to sunscreen up.

3. Getting beaten up in the swim
Every triathlete can tell a story about rough swims, with some even bearing scars from various encounters!! The thing about getting beaten up is that it is rarely deliberate, and that physical contact is equally annoying for each person. So if you get hit - and usually it there will be a couple of hits in a row - don't hit back, but instead move to clear water and away from the crowd. You can also pre-empt getting hit by starting to the side or back of the field. If you're getting beaten up by rough conditions - chop and waves - don't stop each time a wave hits you, but keep your rhythm going and roll with the conditions.

4. Finding your bike in transition
Imagine running into transition – either T1 or T2 – and not being able to find your bike. Everyone has done it...and it’s embarrassing and damn frustrating. So before the race, check and remember the bike rack number/letter which will be on the end of your bike rack, and which side your bike is on. Then find a little tell-tale marking for where your bike is along the rack...it could be lined up with light pole outside transition, or next to big weed on the ground, or something like. Also look at the bikes, towels, shoes, etc, around you. Use these markings to find your way...and also walk through transition pre-race so you know which way to go to get in/out.

5. Jelly legs when you start running
When you get off the bike to run, especially for the first few times, it will feel like someone else's legs you're running on because they sure won't feel like the ones you are used to!!! Your legs will feel like jelly, or tree trunks, or stilts or blocks of concrete...or all those things at the same time!! But rest assured, they are still your legs and they will get better once you get going for a little while. They key thing when you experience this is to keep going, and to shorten your steps a little and maintain your leg turnover rate (cadence). Doing this will force your muscles to start engaging in the way you've trained them to, albeit with a bit of fatigue in them, so that the feel and rhythm of running replaces the clunky feeling that the bike leg left you with.

QLD holiday photos

Although it was almost 2 weeks ago, here's some photos from our trip to QLD including Noosa, the hinterland, Fraser Island and Brisbane...it was a great trip!!

Evolution of 2011

It seems too early to be writing retrospective pieces about 2011, however I think this year has (already) seen an evolution in endurance sports in terms of how races have played out, the role that specific athletes have had in this, and the trend I believe they are setting for the future. The intriguiging thing is that this has been apparent across at least three sports - cycling, running and triathlons - which are the ones I'm going to particularly focus on.

A couple of things to note at this point in what I'm writing about is that, firstly, it only relates to the very top level performances, and secondly, is mostly apparent in mens competition. In time I can see the evolution of 2011 filtering down to lower levels of performance, and into female performances as their competition gets increasingly closer and more competitive, scenarios where the motivation for evolution is higher.

Think for a moment about the amazing successes this year of Cadel Evans, the Brownlee brothers, Craig Alexander and any of several Kenyan marathon runners, but particularly Abel Kirui, Patrick Makau and Geoffrey Mutai. Think further about the events they were successful in - the Tour de France, triathlon World Championship Series, Hawaii IM and the marathon - and how these events have typically played out in the past. I'll go through them one by one and make some observations about the evolution that I feel has been building, and which really shone through this year.

Cadel Evans has been a phenomenal cyclist for years across a number of disciplines, but twice fallen short at the TdF. You could say he's had somewhat of a chink in his armour - acceleration in the mountains - to really be able to dominate other riders and make a tour winning break. Jan Ulrich was perhaps similar. All of Australia agonised in Cadel's pain and frustration until 2011 when he achieved a famous tour victory. But it is how he did it that I feel represents an evolution in the sport, not so much that he addressed his weaknesses, but more so that he built on his strengths, because after all your strength is your strength, whether it is Rafael Nadal repeatedly running around his backhand to slam a forehand winner or Cadel showing his is a true strong man's cyclist. His performance has shown that being a mountain goat is not necessarily a pre-requisite to succeed in the TdF, which I think will evolve the view and approach of many cyclists in seeking success in the TdF (or other events).

Then we have the Brownlee brothers, Alistair and Jonathan, who are dominating the triathlon WCS races at will and seem to have the 2012 Olympic goal medal to lose. They can win from wire-to-wire, by making breaks on the bike leg, or running away from the field. No longer is triathlon a "wet run", it is a race where in order to win you need to be a complete athlete across three disciplines, and then to have the courage and tactical ability to break a race up. Sure, the Brownlees are very talented, but they have also trained themselves to be all rounders with a capability to dictate races, and demanded that other athletes lift their game if they are going to be able to match - or exceed - their strategies. They are evolving triathlons and making it interesting to watch the whole event to see what happens, and not just wait until the (deciding) run leg.

Craig Alexander has been World Champion several times before 2011, but this year took two more titles in dominating, and some would say, uncharacteristic fashion by using his bike leg as a strength rather than (just) his run. In achieving success in 2011 his approach was to meet the challenge of the event and his competitors head on and build the strength and ability to dominate proceedings, and reduce the effect of tactics on the race...which by contrast had been the key to Chris McCormack's success in Kona in 2010. In doing so, Crowie turned the race into his own event rather than playing off, and responding to others...which is masterful play of tactics in itself.

Look now to men's international marathoning. 2011 has been an incredible year with the world record broken (arguably "twice"), a near miss, and not to mention other sublime performances filling the top 10 rankings in the world, all of which as been led by the Kenyans. It used to be the marathon was a race of attrition, where the strongest at the end won. Now marathons resemble cycling races, with surges mid-race to break up the field, a gradual wind-up of pace towards the end to filter out the remnants of the field and if necessary, a sprint finish. To see Kirui drop in successive 14:20 min 5km splits mid-race in the World Championships, Makau break the legend Haile Gebrselassie in a similar way at Berlin (and break the WR), and Mutai sprint to win Boston (also a **WR**) was to witness an evolution in how athletes approach the marathon event. There is an aggression that hasn't previously been seen, and an associated level of confidence and risk taking that is lifting mens marathoning to a new level - 2:04 is the new 2:08 marathon.

Each of these examples have occurred at the very top level of performance, where the difference between winning and top-10 is more about race approach and strategy than it is about the physical abilities of the athletes. But in order to perform in this way, the athletes are preparing in a similarly evolutionary way that focuses specifically on the skills and capabilities they need to succeed. A generalist approach won't cut it any more - you need to have a point of difference in the things you do to have breakthroughs, and this is the lesson for mere mortals like us from the elites. Never has the adage "do the same thing, get the same results" been more true. You need to think outside the square and look to what and how you can change things to improve - and evolve - your performance.

Noosa triathlon photos

Here are a selection of photos from the weekend.