Hi Everyone, I have read some of the thread with great interest and a little envy. The little envy comes from knowing how you will all feel when you finish your 1st IM. It will be a euphoric moment that will change you forever.

The interest comes from recounting going through every doubt, anxiety and search for the right advice. There's so much out there. About 9 years ago I couldn't swim (or even put my head underwater), hadn't got on a bike since a kid and smoked a pack a day. So, when I watched Hawaii one day and announced that one day I would race in Kona, you can imagine what a crazy pipe dream that would have been. I taught myself to swim and ride and only ever trained alone. This especially worked for me as you can't hide behind someone else on the day. 12 months later I raced Forster and finished - a long way from Hawaii. I never gave up on Hawaii, though.

Over many years I raced in different IM races and learned some things the hard way, which is sometimes the only way. If I can offer some humble advice maybe you can take a few bits out that might help.

Confidence - what got me there was to make sure that I could cycle 180klms in one session, run 42klms in another and swim the 3.8. Once I had done that I knew I could make it.

When you go to a race stay away from the hype and race talk with other atheletes. There will be hundreds of opinions, of which each may be right for each of them - but not for you a few days before. To this day I go to briefings, check the course and then make sure I have a holiday and chill out. It's easy to get obsessed with gear as well - I know I did. I learnt an important lession at IM Malaysia one year when a rather mature guy with a long beard came up to me the night before and asked if I knew what time the race started. I couldn't believe it and mused to myself that this guy was never going to make it. When I saw his bike it confirmed my doubts. I spotted him for the 1st time in the race on the run as he ate an ice cream he had purchased in a shop. I asked if this was his 1st race and he replied it was his 33rd.

Have a simple race plan that you stick to.

Always go out slower and make sure you can either pick up pace or just finish. If you think you can beat the IM, it will beat you.

Try not to get to obsesive with everything single morsel that passes your lips. I once stayed with a group of guys and their tubs of pills and mystery concoctions. They freaked out when I started snacking on tim tams with my coffee a few days before. I remember passing them all on the run and suggesting they consider tim tams next time. I have alwsy recovered on Sustagen within 10 mins of every session and, as long as you get all the right nutrition, if you fancy a cholate eclair, go for it.

Drinks - gatorade/powerade etc, are probably not the best drinks on the market. However, for many years that's what I trained on and then switched to the race drink a couple of months before.

For the 3 days before the race, only train for 2 of them and only 15 mins to drain the carbs. Then load up with about 300grams of a carbo load drink like PB.

The day before - NEVER EVER TRAIN. Walk as little as possible and chill out.

There are probably endless little tips I could throw in that might improve a performance, but there's plenty of time for that when you go back to do your 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 13th. For the 1st time try not to make the race too complex. It is actually very simple - pace yourslef and nevr stop.

Most important of all, smile all day, thank people who give up their time to help you through on eof the best days you will ever have.

When the going gets tough, imagine how you will feel that night when you crash on a sofa and nkow that you never gave up.

Hi Dunny

What a legend you are for adding this post. Thanks a lot.

It's great to have a wise head to turn to, and also good to hear from someone else's mouth, that you're on the right track.

Did you detect a note of panic in our posts lately? I think you're spot on with the advice about shutting out last minute advice. I almost literally had my fingers in my ears before my first marathon, after getting burned before my first half. People mean well, but as you say, it relates to them, and a couple of days beforehand is not when you want to hear it anyway.

My goal for my first IM is to finish in good shape, while at the same time respecting the event. So anything under the 'old' cutoff of 15hrs will do me.

Thanks again for your interest, and stay tuned - there's lots more panic to come!

Hi runitloveit and Muzman,

Hope the training is going well and that the weather and the dreaded lugies going around haven't impacted on you too much.

Cheers,

Danny

Hi Danny

My training is coming along really well thanks, and I have managed to stay virus and lurgy free for the past month.

I have been working on my swimming and cycling (my weaknesses) and am starting to see some improvement, plus I feel great and I am really starting to get into the groove of training.

The rides and runs are building and the body is coping well. The weather is starting to improve down here and it is noticably lighter in the mornings and evenings which makes training so much easier and enjoyable.

Soon I will be doing some races to test out how everything has been going - I have a 1/2 marathon this weekend and I will be cycling there and cycling home again, then the following weekend I am doing my first 150k training cycle, and then the duathlon champs next month.

Hope things are going well with you in the triathlon pre-season - won't be long before we are out there racing heaps and having lots of fun!

Keep well

Hi Guys

Glad to hear you're well on track Runitloveit, so am I, now.

My swimming is getting longer without cramping, which was a problem for me, but I started taking Calcium + Magnesium supplements and they seem to have abated. I am comfortably doing half Ironman distances which is good because my first race of the season is Gold Coast HIM on 30th Sept.

Likewise my bike rides have ramped up to 90/100km and I am quite happy with the way things are going there, I am concentrating on hilly long rides at the moment for GC, but will switch to flat after that for Busso. Dunno if anyone knows the big hill on Coomba Road from Forster Ironman days but I am getting quite good at scooting up that one. waste of talent for Busso, I know.

I also have a half marathon soon (Sydney Runnig Fest) and I am enjoying my running again now.

Apart from just getting back from a conference in Sydney today (which disrupted my schedule and routine for a few days) I have not succumbed to any illness or injury (touch wood) and can get out on the bike much earlier before work now (still a bit cool though).

Hey Danny, also planning to do Maitland and Nepean as warmups, so may catch you there.

Train Safe

Howdy guys,

Well it looks like the Busselton Ironman is taking every one by storm. Including myself, I am looking at doing the Ironman as a indvidual competitor not a team as last mentioned when on here.

Since I was last on, I planned to do the BSN Ironman part of a team and then I started training for the Anaconda in Dunsborough (4th Nov) and was planning on doing that solo, after training lightly for the Anaconda for about 6 weeks I found out that it was on the same day as the First Triathlon WA State Race in Bunbury for the season, which i need to be at, so now i am back looking at doing a 8 week program (Yes thats right 8 Week) from start of October through to the December, with basically no taper, just lighten off abit towards end of November.

So all things going equal I will be on the line on December 2nd and looking forward to the finish shute!!

Cheers

Hi Neavesy

Welcome to the asylum.

It'll be great to have another CR on board for Busso (I gather BSN is the locals' abbreviation, although it means something different for tech-heads).

Sounds like you have a full program planned - I will also miss our local Forster Anaconda as it is on same day as Sydney Marathon Festival and the week before Gold Coast Half Ironman. Still, can't do evrything, as much as we want to!

Good luck with your preparation, I wish I was fit enough to come off an 8- or 10-week prep - it may be the lousy weather but I am over all this training already! I just wanna race something!!

Train safe

Hey Neavsey

Great to hear you are back on board again, and looking forward to meeting all these CRunners that I chat to when we all descend on Busso.

The race is only 86 days away - holy crap!

I am also a bit over all this training - particularly the loooonnng bike rides, and having to do runs off the bike while all my cycling friends go to the cafe!

Hey Guys, thanks for the welcome back.

Muzman, yes BSN is the locals abbreviation for Busselton, Busso is way to long as a abbreviation,

See one positive to hopefully coming of a 8 week program is you dont get a chance to get sick of training. Just have nightmares about the pain in up and coming brick sessions and runs.

As for me, I've just ordered a CoolRunning tri-top to hopefully wear at BSN ( ) and see who cheers for me.

Seeing as how I will be near the back, hopefully I will get some sympathy cheers anyway

M

Here's a stickybeak non-IM-participant question. How fit were you before you said, hey, I WILL do an Ironman? I.e. did you start from a low level and take three years with IM as your goal, or were you superstar marathoners who thought, give it a year and I bet I can learn to swim and ride a bike?
thanks, and best wishes to you all in Busso!

Hi alisonjc

Great question!

Personally, I have been a runner for 5 years, a triathlete for 3 years, and a marathoner since last year (when I did 3 in 9 months!).

I started from couch potato 5 years ago, but have ALWAYS wanted to do an IM since I saw my first one in 1985.

After my marathon exploits, I knew I had the discipline to train for an IM - there was no consideration given to my level of fitness (or otherwise). Having said that, I wouldn't consider doing one until I knew I could train myself to the level of fitness required to run (say) a marathon or ride at least 100kms without stopping for a rest.

It is a long hard road, training for such an event. Training for a marathon takes only a percentage of the time and effort required compared to this, but I am enjoying the journey so far.

Hope this helps, but remember it is my personal view - others may have a totally different take.

Alisonjc, like muzman already mentioned it is a very personal answer to this question and every Ironman/Triathlete will have there own answer.

For me, I have been around Triathlons for about 10 years (family involvement) but I only competed in my first triathlon (750/30/5) in February 07, I trained in limited amounts and competed a Half Ironman in May 07 and basically have done some training over past 6 months but I am going to do a 8 week program and compete in the Ironman this December, Now I haven't finshed one yet, so my advice might not be worth taking until I have.

I think you train as much as you need and can get in and then have realistic goals of finishing to suit your training.

Cheers

Hey Muzman, Danny - did you guys say that you are doing Nepean triathlon? I have just been planning the rest of my training and I think I can fit this one in. Thought you might have said that you are doing this one as well. If so see you there!

Alisonjc - not sure if you are ever ready for ironman, for me, the decision came from having a good solid year of triathlon training behind me, but more importantly having a time in my life where I could make the commitment to doing the training so I just thought now or never! I only started 'training' for triathlons 3 years ago, so it has been a very steep learning curve. I only have one marathon and one half ironman under my belt, but I just feel like this is the time to do it.

Training - after last week when I was thinking what the hell am I doing as I was out riding my bike alone at 5.30am because none of my training buddies could be bothered getting out of bed to join me (slackers!!) and I got absolutely attacked by a very aggressive magpie, I was ready to toss this ironman idea away, but this week I am actually feeling kind of good! Must be because I am on a recovery week!

I think the next six weeks will require alot of commitment - at least the weather is picking up and the mornings are light and bright. Really improves the mood.

That's right, Runitloveit, I am definitely doing Nepean this year - in fact, I am already entered in case I forget in the rush to IMWA. It's a race I have been wanting to do for a while but have had scheduling conflicts every time, so - great opportunity to have one last hitout before flying West on the 26th.

BTW, check out the CR thread on Swooping Birds for my magpie attack horror story. Damn thing still owes me a new jersey ...

Training for me is going pretty well, with a 'mini taper' for GCHIM this weekend. That is, I sacrifice one swim and one bike session to drive up on Wednesday, and instead of a 4 hour ride on Sunday, I do the actual race. Fair exchange, I reckon!

Hi Guys,

With the Sydney Marathon behind me now, it is time to settle back down to IMWA training.

So far, all is going well for me & everytime I think about Busso, I get very excited.

I thought i'd start a list of CR starters:

IMWA CR Starters:

AuntyK
DazzaK
Muzman
runitloveit
Neavesy
Plazbot

Who have I missed??

Cheers,
K

Hi runitloveit,

Don't give up! I am doing the Gold Coast Half Ironman this weekend and then my next one is Maitland on 14 October.

I won't be doing Nepean this year so good luck and keep training it will be all worth it in the end!

Cheers,

Danny

Well done Aunty K on your marathon run - fantastic result.

Good luck Muzman and Danny for the GC Half this weekend - lucky me on a recovery week so I can lounge around and read your race reports instead of putting in the hard effort myself!! Just joking, I actually had a very tough day yesterday at the Duathlon champs - that was one tough course!

9 weeks til Busselton!

ME

oops sorry!!! and welcome aboard!

K

Hey all, sounds like the training is really starting to kick up for most people.

Well I have no finished my Hockey for the year, with us winning the grand final, so I guess the sacrifice was a good choice, no to get on with Ironman WA training and sorting out the new gear.

2XU V1 Wetsuit is first cab of the rank, this is going to be one flash wetsuit, hopefully will have it to use for one of my first long swims around the Busselton Jetty (Race Coarse) in 2 weeks.

Will keep you posted on how it goes.

Cheers

Hi everyone, I haven't been on here for a while but thought I would check in since I am now doing Busso IM too. This wasn't planned but I won my entry a couple of days ago and thought "why not?". So I now have 8 weeks to train. Luckily I have been doing plenty of multi sport training for Anaconda Geographe Bay which is in 4 weeks. So I guess I'll just ramp up the long rides and runs and hopefully it will be enough to get me through.

Neavesy, did you say you were doing an 8 week program also? Do you mind my having a look to get some ideas? I did a 3hr20 spinervals session this morning (another coach Troy fan), and am planning a 1hr45 run tomorrow. These will be my longest sessions so far in this buildup.

I am also looking for accommodation in Busso if anyone has a spare bed?
Happy training Coolrunners!

Welcome aboard Suzy!

I shall update our list and add your name.

Cheers,
K

Yes, welcome Suzy!

Good to have another on the CR train!

Train safe.

M

Suzy, sorry but I cant help with the program side of things. My 8 week ""Program"" is more like a " I feel like running, so I run" type of program. I figure fun was the reason I got into triathlons and every time I look and try and stick to a program I end up being to serious so I give them a miss.

With the fitness I asume you have from Anaconda training I think you will be right with some longer run sessions and long bike sessions.

I am aiming at doing at least two 3 hour runs and two 4 hour rides plus twice around the Busselton Jetty (completed one in appualing conditions) before the Busselton Ironman but nothing over those distances even though I will be racing alot longer. Other then that I just go on how I feel at the time and keep ticking over.

Hope all training is going well.

Suzy, I say at this late stage you will be better served riding often as opposed to long. It will allow you to use more days training not having to recover. Split runs, 15km am then 15km pm and 2 a week 3 hr bikes plus a couple of 2 hour bikes weekly and try and run 40 mins 3 times a week on top of the split stuff. I would bother riding over 120kms or so as long as you get 3 or more bikes a week in. I got nothing on the swim .

Is it really just over 7 weeks to go???

The latest list for you all!

IMWA CR Starters:

AuntyK
DazzaK
Muzman
runitloveit
Neavesy
Plazbot
Suzy

I hope we are planning a drinkie together once we all get to Busso.

Cheers,
K

Yes, it says 7 weeks on my calendar...

I hope we all get to catch up. I fly in on Thursday and will be in Busso for a week. I decided to fly over a bit closer to the race this time. For the half ironman I was there a week before, and spent the whole time sitting around feeling nervous - well that, and checking out the wineries, even though I couldn't drink any of the samples! So this time I am arriving a bit closer to the race and having more time off afterwards.

There are some great pubs/coffee shops etc in Busso where we could meet up. What are everyone else's travel plans?

We are arriving in Busso on the Monday afternoon (26th Nov) and will be there until the following Wednesday, when we take off for a poke around Perth.

I am involved in a training group over there, so we will have rides, runs and swims organised while my spouse and supporters have trips to vineyards, chocolate factories, etc. My best friend and her husband are coming all the way to Busso by campervan to watch me race

So, I have a pretty full book of training and social activities but I suggest we CRs get together at the Meltdown Party after the presentation - assuming we are all going to the presentation.

My wife has also signed on as a volunteer on raceday to bring herself closer to the action (as long as she is on the finish line to see me stgger over). Therefore we are also going to the Volunteers' party on Tuesday evening. having seen 20 of these Vollies' nights in Forster as a volunteer, I'd like to urge all athletes to make the ffort to front up as well and thank these wonderful people in person. The kids get a real charge out of seeing the racers, and I will never forget the look on their faces when Jurgen Zack and Pauli Kiuri came to the party back in the 90s. Two real gentlemen of triathlon!

I digress - Yes I would love to get together with fellow CRs post race.

Train safe.

Yep, we are arriving on Wed 28 November to Busso. We are leaving the following Wed 5th December to spend some time travelling around WA & beyond.

Sounds like a good plan to meet up post race at the party. Then we can sit around and chat about our day that was.

Cheers,
K

Thanks for your suggestions Neavesy and Plazbot. I've put together a program which I've run by Budgie (supercoach) and it should be enough to get me over the line. I have a very busy schedule ahead with Moore River Adventure race on 21/10, Anaconda Geographe Bay on 4/11, then IMWA 4 weeks later. I'll be getting in a few long rides up to 5.5hrs, and building the long runs up to 2.5hrs. I've upped my swimming to 2 sessions a week(!) and am feeling great in the water. The adventure races will take about 5hrs or so and they will serve as long bricks and great practice for my nutrition plan.

We're arriving in Busso on Fri, but can only afford 2 days off work and school so will be heading home on Monday. Maybe we can all catch up at the carbo dinner on Friday. I will wear my CR hat around so if you see me say g'day.

What is everyone's nutrition plan? I'm trying High 5 Energy Source Plus (with caffeine) in training and may go with that for the race. I steer away from solid foods in the race to avoid extra pit stops. This is another reason to wear 2 piece outfit as well - so much easier to go to the loo!

Hope everyone's training is going well. Stay safe.
Suzy

Opti. 3 bottles with 8 scoops in each. 1 per bike lap plus 2 of water/lap. 10 Endura Gels for the run in 4 flasks diluted (2 on belt, 2 at spec needs). Water and Endura every station. Salt from minute 1 on the bike. Spec needs, 1 can red bull bike and run. This will be the 3rd time I have used this exact strategy and it is spot on for me. It is good as I can go anywhere as apart from water and the run course electrolyte(which is just extra insurance that i can miss), I am self catered.

My nutrition plan is shaping up like this:

2 bottles Endura 2 bottles of water on the bike, replace one of each at every station, plus fill my gob with food or gel every 15 min on the bike (set my alarm). On the run, fuel belt with 2 Endura 2 water and also something from every aid station, plus whatever food I can handle at every second one.

Lucky for me, my cast-iron stomach will handle almost all nutrition except for that stuff they served up at Gold Coast HIM.

A cast-iron stomach is definitely a plus for this kind of thing.
So what did they serve at Gold Coast HIM??

Did 4hrs on the trainer this morning, doing Spinervals Hardcore 100. I alternated bottles of High 5 and Hammer Perpetuem. Still felt like a zombie at the end. Managed to drink 750ml per hour which is an improvement on my usual drink rate in training. Will see how I go with 2hr run tomorrow.
Have ordered High 5 caffeineated drinks and gels so it will be interesting to see how the long sessions feel with them. Do I need more carbs or am I just undertrained? - probably both.

I've now officially entered so its starting to feel real. I'm getting excited!

Hey Suzy

They served up HammerGel and H.E.E.D. at GC.

HammerGel is OK but I didn't like the 'vanilla' taste of the H.E.E.D.

M

I am still fiddling a bit with my nutrition plan, but aiming for 250-300 calories/60 to 65 grams carbs per hour using Gu, Clif Bars, vegemite sandwich, maybe a banana or two, plus Endura and some gatorade.

Does anyone else have a caffeine addiction and how do you manage that during such a long race day?

Gu gels have caffeine in them, but I normally have two cafe strength coffees a day (hey, I have some good cafes near work and training).

I can normally last until around lunchtime without coffee, but then the headache kicks in.

And I can't stomach coffee first thing in the morning or before races!

What to do! Would it be poor form to leave the course and have an hour or two at a cafe sipping lattes and reading the Sunday papers?? JOKING!

Will manage it somehow.

My caffeine gels arrived today so I will try them out this weekend. My plan (which I haven't fully tested yet) is to drink 1 bottle Energy Source 4:1 (contains carbs + protein) and 1 caffeinated gel per hr on the bike. On the run take 3 gels per hr and drink 1 cup of coke. Plus as much water as I can handle. There are some good sample nutrition plans from High 5 on www.fastgear.com.au
Runitloveit you might find the solution to your caffeine fix here as they really advocate racing with caffeine. I'm not a big coffee drinker myself but I know how much I enjoy a cold coke after a hard race or training session - it really picks me up. So imagine having that "pick me up" feeling for the whole race!

I'm feeling inspired after Hawaii (shame I couldn't get the video to work). Only 6.5 wks to go everyone, train safe, stay healthy, and enjoy these last few hard weeks before the well earned taper.

Hey guys, good to hear everyone is extra pumped after a great Hawaii Ironman.

As far as nutrition goes, im still not sure, I dont think I will have a minute by minute plan, I mostly just use the general rule of 1 gram of Carbs per Kilo of Body Wieght per hour, which I read some where (well I think thats right) and then just get in as much water and Endura on Bike, as far as run goes I will use the water stations etc like that is going to be my last drink for a long time (similar to Macca at ironman). I will proberley take either some Subway cookies (choc chip of coarse) or some mueslie bars with me on bike and run for the solid food content.

Cheers

Neavesy, check the race handbook closer to the day but in my experience as an Ironman volunteer there were ALWAYS cookies on the run stations, and always plenty left at the end of the day (we all took a bagful home!). They are usually choc chip as well!

The 1g per kg sounds right to me (it's what I am working on) but I intend to try it out this month on each of my long rides/runs/bricks to see if it needs fine tuning.

I am trying to get my weight down to 85kg (yes, I'm big for a triathlete!) for raceday so I don't have to lug tons of carbs around the course

Just for interest, those Weight Watchers Cereal Bars in apple, berry and apricot pack 48g of carbs each and are really lightweight and light to eat. I love 'em.

Also for interest, Mrs Muzman has signed on as an aid station volunteer (she gets bored standing around at my races) so count on some extra pampering if you can ID yourself to her! We will need a pre-race 'meet and greet', eh?

M

Muzman; Yes in the booklet they are having cookies at Busselton but I am going to try and be totally self effcient on the bike at least as far as food and sports drink goes, so there fore I will only need to grab water. Hopefully I will also be able to do this on the run.

I have just heard stories of people working out there nutition plan then on race for some reason or another the cookies are not available or not at every aid station, there are so many varables when it comes to such a big race.

Plus I Love Subway cookies, so mch more then other's, proberly because they would have more Sugar in them.

Cheers

Hey guys, another quick question;

Has any heard much about this Gatorade Endurance formula? I heard alot about it on the Hawaii Ironmna footage.

Cheers

Oh crap - was just reading the race booklet and daylight savings starts in WA on 1 December, so does that mean the 6.15am start time really means we are actually starting at 5.15am??? With clocks going forward??

Guess I won't be sleeping much the night before anyway!

That may be worth checking out ...

It may be a hangover from last year's book because I was of the understanding that WA trialled daylight saving last year and decided not to proceed with it.

Anyway, if it started this year it would start on the 2nd (Sunday) not the 1st (Saturday), n'est pas?

Neavesy, can't help you with Gatorade because I don't use it. I have been using the Endura stuff which we will have on raceday. BTW Runitloveit, have you tried the Endura Pineapple? Much nicer than the Lemon/Lime, I think.

M

Nope, definitely daylight saving this summer. We're trialling it for 3 years before a referendum. This will be year 2.

Thanks gregorywannabe

But please tell me it doesn't start the weekend of the race!

From http://wa.gov.au/daylightsaving/

"Daylight saving was introduced in Western Australia for a three-year trial period starting December 2006."

"In 2007 and 2008, daylight saving will begin at 2am Western Standard Time on the last Sunday in October, and end at 2am Western Standard Time (3am summer time) on the last Sunday in March the following year."

So I guess that makes it Sunday October 28th for this year. The 1st December start was only for last year I think as the trial started late because the bill went through parliament late in the year.

EDIT: Had to laugh at this bit on the web site:

"The Community Access Line 9222 9449 can provide daylight saving information to people who do not have access to the Internet." (my bolding) !

Thanks, mate

Yeah, I did a Google and came to the same conclusion - I ended up at that very same site.

Ya gotta laugh, but I was on support once at work and a user rang me -

Me: Hello, tech support.

Them: Yeah. Am I on the Internet yet?

Me: Um - not sure. Have you logged in to your computer?

Them: Oh, I don't have a computer ...

Neavesy - I tried to buy Gatorade Endurance formula in Australia last year as they used it for New York Marathon (which I was running in), but I couldn't find any stockists in Australia. So we (in Aussie) may not have it yet, but you can definitely buy it in the USA.

Muzman - Pineapple? No - don't think I would like that one. I can barely stomach Lemon/Lime. My fav flavours for energy stuff is vanilla or citrius flavours. I just bought some gingerbread flavoured clif bars so will try them out this weekend! My fav drink is gatorade (any flavour) or the Rasberry Clifshotz that they used at the half - it wasn't too sugary and I ended up loving the flavour!

Thanks for clearing up the daylight savings issue - I stressed out a bit when I read that! You think they would have updated the race book a bit more carefully!!

Hey guys, you have all worked it out right, 28th of October for Day light saving, $10 bucks there is still some one a hour late but, there was last year, not sure if he made the swim cut off but. I would assume it will be annouced a few times during the week on the PA and especially at the breifing.

Runloveit, I have found a place on a Gatorade website were I can order it from in Aust dollars, but just not sure if its going to be that much better then Endura, and seeing we will have Lemon/Lime Endura on coarse I think I might go the safer opyion and get the taste for Endura.

I have just completed my registration for the ironman. better late then never.

Don't start me on daylight saving. I hated it last summer and now we're set to endure it again. All winter we have to train in the dark in the mornings and now we have to in summer as well. Plus we lose a couple of hours sleep each night - getting up an hour earlier, and going to bed later cos its still too light and hot to sleep.

How do you folk in the east cope with it?

Well thats my gripe over, I hope everyone's training is going well. I'm doing the Moore River Adventure Race on Sunday which should be a blast (if I can ever finish the paddle - I'm so slow).