Mick's an Ironman!

Interview with an athlete - Michael Elliott Ironman
Total time: 12.27.15
Category place: 50
Overall place: 568

Take us through your race:

Swim (3.8km 1.06.37): Went well. It was busy and on the way out and I was hemmed in to the pier. There was a lot of argy bargy around the cans but it was a nice swim.

Ride
180km 6.00.12 (including transition)
Was good, had trouble getting my heart rate down but I managed to get it down (under 130) on the third lap. Very flat course, held up well on he bike, I thought I would have more trouble with a stiff back but I was ok. Noticed it getting hotter so I drank a lot of fluids. The wind pick up towards the end of the last lap but it wasn't a problem, no worse that what we trained in.

Run
42.2 km 5.20.25 (including transition)
In one word "painful". The second lap hurt and the third lap was excruciating. The run was difficult because I couldn't take in any food, so I stuck to flat cola water. The first lap was hot but it did cool down a bit towards the finish. Across the whole course the spectator support was great, much appreciated.

Most challenging part of Ironman WA 2008?

The run. Because I couldn't eat I didn't have any energy. It was hot and I felt like vomiting.

What did you enjoy the most?
The swim.

What would you change for next time?
Not too much, I think my body had to experience the pain. I got through it in about the time I thought I would.

What are your next race goals?
Hussikson long course in February 2008 and Canberra marathon in April 2008. December is my month off!

Are you going to do another Ironman?!
Probably, one day...

View video on YouTube.


View photos on Picasa.

Ironman WA 2008

Lead up to Busselton WA Ironman 2008

It's the eve of Ironman WA and Mick describes himself as "calm and collected, confident in the work he's done"!

So far we've:
Arrived in WA safely with equipment in tact
Visited Cape Naturalist and Swings and Rounabouts wineries
Had a steak and chips at Albies - our old favourite!
Had a lovely lunch at The Goose to celebrate T's birthday and catch up with the other STG ironmen and supporters.
Enjoyed a Beachlands BBQ pre race dinner with Gill and Paul

Good luck to all competitors ;-)

Ironman WA 2008 lead up

Coogee Island swim 2008

View Coach Colin's photos of STG Stingers and friends from Can Too competing in the 1km and 2.4km Coogee Express Glass Island challenge.

Colin's photos on Picasa.


Note from Coach Colin.

What a great day we had today at Coogee. The weather was sensational, the ocean was calm with just enough wind chop out the back to make it a challenge and we were represented by over 20 STG Stingers and came away withy 2 podium finishes! Zoe Little in the 1km had a blistering start and must have continued that spped all the way coming home 2nd in the 40-44 ladies. And Lee Liston, also in the 1km and who seemed to escape the wet suit police, took out a 3rd in the men's 35-39. Awesome effort by both.

We were also joined by about 20 of our Can Too team as well and had a great representation at warm up time, 'Best on Beach' in my opinion.


To all of you that completed your first ocean swim, a big congratulations, I hope you have been well and truly bitten by the Ocean swim bug.

Ocean swimming at Newport SLSC

Fellow ocean swimmer and Manly Grouper, Dee, has posted a video of the Newport SLSC swim held on Saturday 29 Nov 2008.

Ocean swimming at Newport SLSC @ Yahoo!7 Video

Change of location for STG Stingers training Sat 29 Nov 2008

Note from Coach Colin regarding the Coogee Swim on Sunday 30 Nov 2008 and surf training on Sat 24 Nov 2008:



STG surf training Saturday 29 Nov 2008
As we will be racing in Coogee on Sunday I think it would be prudent for us to train there on Saturday.

Session Details:

When : Saturday 29th November
Time : 11 am
Where : Coogee Beach in the centre of the beach at the Circular stairs.

Coogee swim - Sunday 30 Nov 2008

Please also note the following time for meeting on Sunday pre Island classic race, the first of the points races towards this years Ocean swim champions.

Race Details:

When : Sunday 29th November
Time : 8.30 am
Where : Coogee Beach in the centre at the Circular stairs ( same place as Saturday )

We will wait until 8. 45 am and then I will take the team for a check of conditions, race brief, motivational speech :-) and a warm up. Please be registered and ready to warm up @ 8.45.


Happy Swimming and Go all Stingers on Sunday!

Coach Col

Ocean Swims 2008-09 - Dawny's Cockatoo Challenge, Sun 23 Nov 2008

View photos of STG Stingers and friends in action at Dawny's swim.

Ocean Swims 2008-09 - Dawny's Cockatoo Challenge, Sun 23 Nov 2008

View the Dawny's results from oceanswims.com.

Can Too East Swim training Sat 15 Nov 2008

Bondi dished out chilly conditions for Can Too East Swim's second Saturday surf training session. View photos of Can Too East team training hard on Picasa.


Team Captain Susan (Kingy) says of the team's effort...
"...it is just wonderful as some of these guys have never been in the surf and already after two weeks they are porpoising, they are running into the surf and out of the surf AND they have huge smiles in their faces !!!"

Well put Kingy, and great effort Can Too East!