Races 07 and 08 http://halfim07.fotopic.net/ 12 rows en-gb 60 Ironman UK, Dorset (7th Sept 08) http://halfim07.fotopic.net/c1576317.html Ironman UK, Dorset (7th Sept 08) Sunday 7 September 2008: Ironman UK, Dorset (7th Sept 08)

Birthday Party People Time for some cake :-) Apparently you never find this in an Indian??? We almost traded chocolate cake for fruit. Happy IM Camping people IM Campsite (mud bath!) Mike preparing for IMUK Getting tagged for the day Just before 6am and this is all you can see of the swim start ... They just need to aim for the tiny flickering lights IM walking to start 06h00 Here they come Brett, Nina (IM Debut Day) & Howard Swimming to swim start Its brightening up ... finally Watching swim start IMUK has begun - half an hour late, but at least its light There goes Mike - another fantastic swim (he is the one in the front - obviously) Hands up after swim for Howard Howard Brett IMUK Saturday 7th September (Mike's birthday) What everyone is aiming for - the finish line Dressed for the English weather ... Being silly in the countryside (please pick a warm race next time!) The Abbey in Sherborne The Abbey Kerry & I taking shelter from the rain Howard finishes lap 1 All smiles Off towards lap turning point IM Road signs ... almost a collectors item as they were few and far between Mike starting lap 1 Brett starting lap 1 Howard on lap 1 Mike starts lap 2 Birthday Mike still smiling Howard - lap 2 Last and final lap for Mike See you at the finish Dorset Dollies Jo waiting & watching - determined to get the photo this time Mike almost at the finish There he goes ... and it is all done!! This pic is for Duncan :-) Kerry, Jo & Mike waiting for Brett, Howard, Nina & Dave Kemp

Published in Races 07 and 08

]]> Sun Sep 7 2008 Germany Half Ironman 2008 http://halfim07.fotopic.net/c1561774.html Germany Half Ironman 2008 Sunday 10 August 2008: Germany Half Ironman 2008

70.3 Germany 2008. A weekend of great racing and unexpected results :-) An almost built bike ... Race Directions for Athletes Village Friday afternoon beers (in the last of the sunshine) Tagged and ready Taking shelter from the afternoon showers A rainbow over Wiesbaden for luck! Pasta Party People --- with alcohol 'light' beer??? Civilised pre-race drinks listening to piano music in a 5star hotel lobby Captain Kirk! Our very non-discreet hotel bathroom!! All my gear ready for packing 70.3 Wiesbaden Race Kit Testing the Giant on the cobbled streets of Wiesbaden The ceiling of the hall where we had our race briefing Aaargh! The bike course. Race briefing scared the daylights out of me ... they definitely were 'worst case scenario' speaches! Concentrating on making sure race number is straight Dress Rehearsal!! Writing down my In Case of Emergency & Accident Insurance details. Eeeck! Race day prep before packing all the bags The swim finish line with all the flags of all the countries competing. Taking in the swim sights with Kerry - in the sunshine (YAY!!) IM Branded Race Vehicles Church in Wiesbaden town square The Wine Festival (!!!!) A rather large bunch of grapes The last Super. Spag Bol all round (x2 for some!) All smiles at 6am on race morning One last s-t-r-e-t-c-h before we go! Still smiling on the shuttle bus ... still smiling on the walk to T1 Unwrapping the Giant Checking out my T1 The swim exit T-10min and A beautiful morning for a race F18 to 70 start pen 08h10 Sunrise over swim start My swim exit 37.49m - a bit slow, but an incident free swim so no complaints Changing tyre tube for 2nd time :-( Brian starts bike course after his longest swim in years! Well done Brian! Faris - check out the long stride. Another pre-race meal (crepe with vegetables & turkey for me) Storming down the hill to bike finish line ... it was over so quickly! 3h39 - STOKED with that. Kerry meets a fellow Saffa on the roadside Wiesbaden sights Yes! I am still smiling - just starting lap 2 of the run Brian on lap 2 after his 3h37 bike. Ollie racing past in high spirits after a 3h12 bike Charging off to the finish post to make it for a 6h30 finish.

Published in Races 07 and 08

]]> Sun Aug 10 2008 Ironman European Championships 08 http://halfim07.fotopic.net/c1543421.html Ironman European Championships 08 Sunday 6 July 2008: Ironman European Championships 08

Oh la la ... European Championships 08 Its race weekend & here is something to think about Fixing new red stickers on new wheels IM08 Freebies Transition bags and race number 1818 Designer Fiets Photo Red Hed Wheels for IMEC 08 Testing the Fiets Transportation awaits IM3 tagged and ready to go. IMEC 08 Pasta Party Waiting for bike mechanic in the sunshine Checking out other bikes Mechanic Take I Hibiscus Bike Hibiscus up close Chris McCormack (winner 08) Mechanic Take II Mechanic Take III ... final decision was a new casette Faris' bike Race Referee Checking in to transition Final Checks T1 a sea of red bike covers Talking race strategy . . . Final tips perhaps? Bike check done & its all smiles for the race ahead Frankfurt skyline @ night Friday night in Frankfurt Riverside Chilling Very Happy Dog in the Sunshine Frankfurt 5:30am walk to the Ironman Bus Swim Start Checking out the calm waters New (and improved) swim start for 08 Ironmen getting ready Ironman Helper Final prep and we're good to go Sunrise over T1 Swim start Warming up before the start And they are off Swim start with fireworks (apparently to scare the sharks) Race Referees at swim exit Pink Bike!! Here comes Dav after 1h06 swim And he's off on180k My 5km forest run to Walldorf Station

Published in Races 07 and 08

]]> Sun Jul 6 2008 Lanzarote 2008 http://halfim07.fotopic.net/c1525617.html Lanzarote 2008 Saturday 24 May 2008: Lanzarote 2008

T-24 hours: Swim start on Friday morning 7am. Lanza swim course Lanza bike course Lanza run route Early morning flight landing (this near the turn point on the run course) Champion Breakfasts Building Mike's bike The tempting pool at Playa Mar Fixing Dav's Fiets SA boys off on pre-race swim prep on Friday afternoon Travis (left) and David K join us for race registration Felt Fiets and HED wheels!!! Duncan preparing to chase 13h19 (2006) Dav prepares to chase 13h34 (2007) Bike racking late Friday afternoon Mike ready to chase 11h42 (2007) Oh la la -- forget the bikes look behind you Al (hee hee) Competitor 498 & his Fiets Mike, Dav & Duncan big smiles just 13hours from starting :-) Forget Ironman here comes our STRONGMAN Bike Gossiping Discussing bikes and tactics Watching the world (of bikes) go by. Girls checking out wheels (but Jo only has eyes for 1 man) Under the finishers post View back onto Playa Mar Playa Mar roof top instructions Bike prep 6am Saturday morning Tuning in for Lanza Bbeeeg stretch ... Can't believe I am really going to do this swim ... Mike ready for swim (which he finished in 53:29 = 37th position!!!) And they are off ... on a race that has the motto: Waiting for the start of Lanza 08 Thumbs Up from Duncan after lap 1 Playa Grande - swim venue for IM Lanza Dav racing through T1 And he is off on the bike course after 1h08 swim Duncan back & looking pleased after his 1h18 swim 180km here we come ... Duncan departing T1 Mornings work is done --- time for coffee Al & Alex tucking in Girls enjoying leisurely breakfast A smile for the first aiders Uh Oh. Race day injury to Al (walked into a brick & slice my toe open) Da gals IM Bootie for Ally (no sand on the wound please) Ready Al - we're off to swim in that sharkless sea (with your bloody toe!) Alex (blue) and me - checking for big-toothed creepy crawlies

Published in Races 07 and 08

]]> Sat May 24 2008 New Forest Half Ironman http://halfim07.fotopic.net/c1376350.html New Forest Half Ironman Sunday 23 September 2007: New Forest Half Ironman

Trying out my new arm warmers Packing race bags on Sat evening Noelle, Alex & Al (SAUK) Noelle & Ally all co-ordinated for race day (check out the red nails) Last minute swim prep Yellow & white waves are off ... red & blue waiting Noelle finishes swim Very happy with my swim time (32min watch time) Exiting T1 Final smile before 94k of beautiful New Forest scenery The Jeep in SA colours Steve admiring the Jeep NF ponies Noelle end lap 1 Refreshment time Ryan helping Noelle Alex 3m into the run Noelle after first 3m of NF hills (off-road) Tarmac at last! Little did I know there was still 7miles of trail running to go. Alex finishes in a little over 6hrs The end is in sight Finally - we've made it. By some small miracle still on our feet. Toughest run EVER! NF Done & Dusted! Yay! Bubbles in the car after lunch. Cheers! Champagne Finishers :-) The only flat for the day - GRR!! Brolly-Dolly Noelle Bike course lap 1 Along the run course - still smiling at this stage. Not for long!! :-)

Published in Races 07 and 08

]]> Sun Sep 23 2007 New Forest Reccie 2007 http://halfim07.fotopic.net/c1356141.html New Forest Reccie 2007 Saturday 25 August 2007: New Forest Reccie 2007

Bikes all ready to go Leigh's nice, light bike Getting bikes ready for a day of riding Self Portaits More Self Portraits Sunshine riding Undulating route in the forest Watch out for local spectators along the route (this at Nomansland) Kewl bike racks!! Happy pic post-riding Off road run --- a downhill approaches (finally) GRR. Had to run UP that. New Forest Princess Run course includes beach sand ... GRR Flying down that first up hill This hill 1km from run start Can't wait to get these shoes off Chilling in the stream New Forest Another self portrait Happy Feet Spectators at our Ice Bath New Forest Style Yum! Tasty toes Ally NF horses like recovery juice too Lets be friends ... Hungry Horses Bikes in the sunshine Fast bikes are beating the Clio

Published in Races 07 and 08

]]> Sat Aug 25 2007 London Triathlon 2007 http://halfim07.fotopic.net/c1344068.html London Triathlon 2007 Sunday 5 August 2007: London Triathlon 2007

Bryan, Kez & I at the early morning swim start Satisfied sub 2:20 finisher! Hannah on Saturday at the Sprint Sunny Sunday at the Race Dav lap 2 Dav Lombard on the run Noelle & I waiting for our race start --- LONG wait! Zita finishing 1.5k swim Dav & Kerry sunshine supporters Litchi & Hannah in new shiny suits Mette Noelle storms to a sub 2:30 finish! Bayly Lisa in SAUK colours Dav & Kez Hannah & Howard - thirsty work this supporting! Ha Ha ... First lap of the run Lap 2

Published in Races 07 and 08

]]> Sun Aug 5 2007 Tour de France - Prologue & Le Grand Depart http://halfim07.fotopic.net/c1322946.html Tour de France - Prologue & Le Grand Depart Saturday 7 July 2007: Tour de France - Prologue & Le Grand Depart

Barbs and Kerry (our camp champions) All the SAUK girls Caravan starts 7th July Champion Cars SAUK Girls Tour down under - good omen for IMWA Riders warming up Serious Met Police Give us a smile! Road to Australia Eileen & Al Sunshine Natal Blondies SAUK Gang at TdF Prologue Tour de France 2007 London Branding London Eye Big Ben - 07h10 (Yawn) Pragtig!!! Le Grand Depart Staff for the day Thumbs up for Stage 1 Early morning in London Police escort Yolande looking great in high viz orange. Sunday 8th July - Stage 1 The 'water devil' returns View of start of Stage 1 SOuth Africa House Warm up riders TdF 2007 has started (the mass of blue in middle) Sunflowers for TdF London all decked out Big Ben a little later Volunteering for TdF

Published in Races 07 and 08

]]> Sat Jul 7 2007 Ironman European Championships - Frankfurt http://halfim07.fotopic.net/c1317148.html Ironman European Championships - Frankfurt Sunday 1 July 2007: Ironman European Championships - Frankfurt

'n Fiets, a bag and a few stickers! Arrival at T1 Checking out competitions fiets Helmet Check Walking to bike rack (on left in black) Ironman European Championships - Frankfurt 2007 T1 at Langener Waldsee Run in from the swim Pro Bike area (restricted!) All set Frankfurt prepares for IMEC Setting up the finish line Frankfurt finish area These guys probably don't do IM! Ground Crew's T3 Red Carpet for the finish German Ironman Early morning walk to the bus M-Dot Signs at swim start Morning Mayhem Preparing for the 3.8km swim And they are off - all 2500 of them! Carnage at the start IM Helper 2007 Exiting T1 180km begins The swim exit This is where the swim took place (I kid you not!) Bike Course Signs Heartbreak Hill (85 & 170k) First group riders come up the hill Ally & Zayne en route Dav ride lap 1 “Heartbreak Hill” in Bad Vilbel Till 2008 ... Its getting busy at Heartbreak Hill We were quite 'attached' to our flag! Hard Days Work :-) Dav just past 170k Run Lap 1 Lap 1 came right past the hotel Cruising the River Main Frankfurt - view of first 2k on run Run lap 3 Giving it Horns for run lap 4 View up to the finish The final dash to the finish line! IMEC Finish Dav, Jaco & Zayne

Published in Races 07 and 08

]]> Sun Jul 1 2007 Windsor Tri June2007 http://halfim07.fotopic.net/c1313591.html Windsor Tri June2007 Sunday 17 June 2007: Windsor Tri June2007

Setting up for the day Al, Bayly & Mette Thumbs up for a good race! T1 - Happy with my swim Bayly (on the right) Mette Lap 2 Bayly last lap Mette last lap Al in the sunshine Bayly pushes through Dean K Mark the Shark Clint Its all over! Mark, Al, Gary & Clint

Published in Races 07 and 08

]]> Sun Jun 17 2007 70.3 Zurich http://halfim07.fotopic.net/c1296652.html 70.3 Zurich Sunday 3 June 2007: 70.3 Zurich

Breakfast for champions Early morning travellers Arriving in Zurich A line up of bike bags! Where to next? A misty Lake Zurich on Friday 70.3 Switzerland In for a wet weekend. Lunchtime on Friday. Singing in the rain! This says it all Bike prep Last minute bike maintenance. Bikes all lined up. Take off. Pink Super Hero Girly This is how we fly ... Freaking Freezing Friday Swimming. This is what I think of the swim. View of Church from the Lake. View from our dormitory. Friday evening dinner Happy racing. Tim helps Ally Wheel checks ... Wet riding for route check. SAUK + one Thames Turbo playmate A much better way to see the route. The route goes this way ... Girls all ready for the race! Kissing Trio. Oh la la ... Work it Howard. 70.3 Tagged. All ready to race Me and my partner! Sitting ducks ... the Lake on Friday evening Off to rack our bikes (and the sun is out) Hannah covers her bike. 3 Happy Girls Transition 70.3 in the bag! IRONmen! Transition Entrance. The City of Roses Welcomes You Pasta Party People Demo of swim start at Pasta Party Witches Hill - our first climb (nothing like terrifying the competitors!) Goldingen - the 2nd climb for the day banter after the Pasta Party

Published in Races 07 and 08

]]> Sun Jun 3 2007 Ironman Lanzarote 19th May 2007 http://halfim07.fotopic.net/c1291034.html Ironman Lanzarote 19th May 2007 Saturday 19 May 2007: Ironman Lanzarote 19th May 2007

Puerto del Carmen Accommodation View at 8am Poolside at the apartments View down to the sea. Good Morning!! Breakfast on verandah My solo ride to El Golfo El Golfo coastline Rock Star Tyres! Mike looks ready .... ... is Nigel? :-) Ironmen Walking! Transition Race prep on Saturday Dav & Mike getting 'checked out' at transition All ready ... What did I forget? Race Kit Inside Transition Blue skies and some nice bikes :-) ... and some pretty bikes too. Flower Power? Dav chekcing in. Nigel - I *think* I have everything? Getting some last minute transition tips. Mike's final check. Or maybe not? This is the plan ... The Last Supper Dinner with the boys. Tagged for IM IM Branding ITS TIME ... for Lanza IM 2007 Early Morning Puerto Del Carmen Spectators waiting at the start Lifeboats preparing for start First swimmers in Mike exits first lap Swim exit & 2nd lap Fight for the finish! Dav's faithful fiets (430). Dav in T1 Ironman Lanzarote ... and a spot of sunshine recovery afterwards. Great day for sailing!! Lead Man Eneko Llanos Mike - run lap 1 Nigel finishes the bike - very happily! View of the run. Nigel starting his marathon Still smiling!

Published in Races 07 and 08

]]> Sat May 19 2007