Matty White

1 week to go!

Well it is just over 1 week left and it is all systems go for Ironman Western Australia and I can’t wait. I am really excited about racing over in Busselton as I have not raced this course and it seems like a fast course with great atmosphere. My training has been going really great since Shepparton Half Ironman, as I have finally shaken the sinus/chest infection which I had for about 2 weeks leading into Shep, the only downside is that I gave it to my wife who is also in training! I have lifted the intensity of my training since returning from Kona and am loving the change in pace of my sessions and more importantly the increase in Heart Rates. I am banking on the fact that I have done enough kms in the last 6 months to get me through Busso and that the intensity should add that little bit of speed thats needed on this course. My bet is that its going to be fast especially with the likes of Berkel and Vernay in the mix! add to that Jimmy Johnson who is storming on the bike the race will be very interesting, but I hope to be in the mix and am confident of my running to be up there.

On another note the latest issue of Triathlon Sports magazine has a great review on my Merida Time Warp bike, Merida have really stepped up to the plate with their bikes this year and are proving really popular among the pelton here in SA, especially the new Roadie with Di2 componentry which looks great and is a sweet ride.

Stay tuned and I hope to update the site again from Busso with some good news.

Thanks

Matty

Shepparton Half Ironman

Shepparton Race Report 2009

Sorry about the delay with the race report but have had some computer problems. Finally my legs are starting to recover from the long drive home after the race, this is the 3rd time we have driven home straight after and each time I say NEVER AGAIN as my hamstrings and back muscles slowly contract into balls of aching muscle on the long 9 hr drive back… not the best recovery but work commitments prevailed this time and we had to hook it back.

The race for me went great, I was not entirely sure how things were going to pan out as I really have not had a hard hit out since Kona. The field was crackerjack as is the norm these days on the half ironman circuit but I felt I could mix it with the guys and stay at the pointy end of the field. The swim went well as I came out on the tail of the lead pack with Tim Bekel and Jim Johnson, Jimmy then exploded out of transition at a speed neither Tim or I could match quickly building a 5 minute lead heading into T2. I got caught by a group of athletes at the end of lap 1 on the bike who stayed together for the rest of the ride.

On the run I managed to stay in touch with Tim Berkel for the first lap and settled into a good pace with Rick Thompson, I thought there was no chance of catching Johnson so it was just a matter of trying to hang on to a podium. As Tim ran out of sight on lap 2 I was left in a tight tussle with Thompson who ended up out kicking me on the last lap to take 3rd.

Overall things went quite well and my confidence is high for Ironman Busso in 3 weeks. I usually dont race well straight after an Ironman so this result is encouraging.

I have another few hard weeks on the track then I will back it off and hopefully produce the goods at Busso in December.

Matty

Hitting the Run with Berkel

Black Hill Challenge

Well folks, hope everyone is keeping cool in this Adelaide heatwave…. we have been hitting temps of above 35 degrees for the last week which makes training interesting! Last weekend I competed in the Black Hill Challenge, this is a 12km running race just around the corner from my house in a national park and in my books it would have to be one of the harder fun runs around Australia. It is basically straight up and straight down, and believe me my legs are still screaming, this was my first real hard hit out since Kona so I was eager to see how my body is going plus I have won this race 3 times and finished 2nd twice so I wanted to stamp my ownership on it. I love running hills and it is one of my strengths but the main hill in this run is more like a wall, put it this way the Australian Marathon Champion Dale Engler was walking up there at one point. At the start of the race I was pretty confident of clearing away from the field so I took it out quite hard not knowing that Dale was running next to me, I did not recognise him as I have never run against him so I kept laying down the heat on the uphill and I wasnt losing him, eventually I started to really blow up at the top from this effort and that was where Dale kicked away. I only realised who he was after the race when someone mentioned his recent result of 3rd at Melbourne Marathon in 2.23! I just about caught up with Dale at the 8km mark but then he kicked away again and ended up winning by 2 minutes.

My HR for the race averaged at 182 for 52minutes so it was quite a work out. I have Shepparton this weekend which I am really looking forward to, the quality of competition looks really good as Berkel, Shorto and Jimmy Johnson are all racing so the pace will be on and so will the heat with temps predicted to hit 40 degrees race day.

I will keep you updated after Shep, there is a big SA contingent heading over which will be great to see everyone racing after a cold SA winter.

Matty

My First cover Shot

Hey Gang ,

Just got my first cover shot in the Messenger Newspaper! Reece Homphray did a great job in compiling my post Hawaii experience and Roy V took some great shots along the Torrens which scored a front page guernsey! as well as showcasing our beautiful city landscape….. If you didnt receive the Eastern and City editions I have scanned the articles.

Kona post Race Interview with my Tri Club ADELAIDE VALES

Hey Gang

I have attached an interview I did with Darren Pollock from the Adelaide Vales Tri Club, I hope it gives people a good perspective on my first pro experience on the big island. Enjoy

Matty
Part 1

Part 2