Richard Hobson

Yep that was a good days training and yep I am knackered now!

Up at 5am – 25km run at race pace or faster, to be honest it was all way faster than my race pace but a great session, I would like to tell you all about it but it was some of Julies secrete training so if I told you I would have to kill you! Did take us down into the pits of the energy lab – the most feared part of the run course and often the end to an athletes dreams!! We came out today unscathed, lets hope it’s the same on race day! It was then straight to the pool where i thought I was just going to sit on the side and contemplate life until Rasmus Henning shouts over – ” hey I hear you are racing” to which I answer “yep better watch out” to which he said “well don’t you think you should do some training then” So I got in a did 1km.  Couple of hours latter and it was an easy 1hr 30 bike followed by another run at race pace or faster on the treadmill – not me I  sat and drank a diet coke watching out for dolphins! 3pm and we were all done for the day. Did bump into somebody called Crowie just after Julie had finished running on the treadmill, she knows him quite well and i think he maybe quite good!! he said that people should not be doing any panic training at this stage as it was to late – that really does mean that I am screwed as panic training was what I am relying on, What does he know!

Oh and to top it all of we still never got to eat pancakes! Roll on tomorrow and we get a lie in to 7am!!

Just realized that as I sit here and write this fairly random dribble that there is a much more important race going on and I am missing it! which actually hurts quite a lot – La Rochelle triathlon with both Oliver and Oscar flying the Hobson flag. Good luck boys, go kick some butt.

They are human after all! Was suppose to be a big day today and I was up ready at 5am, “luckily I am still on french time so getting up early is working well for me” but both Julie and Fraser were feeling a little tired, so the call was made to postpone today’s training and do it tomorrow, which at the time was quite a relief but now as I right this it just means that we have it all to come tomorrow. The other bad things was as there was no big session it also meant there was no big stack of pancakes! But  it did mean that I got to do an easy run, a very easy swim and then a easy 90 mins relaxed bike ride with Fraser. Really was nice to be back on my own bike.

So the photo of the day is really what Hawaii is all about – no not girls, surf!

Oh is that the time, nearly 8pm – time for bed!!!

See you

Sorry no photo today!Should really have put a photo of my Ceepo bike up as it back to full health and awaiting to hit the Hawaii tarmac.

Nothing to much to report as it was an easy day (which for me still means quite a solid day), but it started with a 4.5 km swim in the pool which for me equated to 3.7km – so you can work out how many times I got lapped!! And then in the mid day sun it was a steady 45 min run – what can I say except HHH!

HOT Humid Horrible.

Tomorrow is going to be a bit more interesting – starting at 6am with a 25km run with intervals on the course and down to the Natural Energy lab, followed by easy swim in the ocean  – followed by a massive stack of pancakes (I hope!). Then it is an easy 2 hr bike in the afternoon followed by another run (think I will have to pass on the run).   It is amazing to think that this training is just part of daily life for Pro IM athletes, for me it is fun to do it for a few days, to try to keep up but could I do it day in day out? No. I guess that’s what makes the difference the drive and commitment of these athletes is inspiring and amazing.

Best get to bed as one thing I am better at then the otheres is staying up late – Its  8.30pm and all gone to bed.

36 hours after contact the guys at Ceepo Uk and I already have my new forks – that is just amazing and thanks so much to Mike who sorted that.

And after the ride today I am so looking forward to getting back on my Ceepo.

The Plan today was to ride the course (plus a bit) easy!!! We did 200 km and averaged 35kph! and I was in a total bucket  by the end. I blame the fact that I was not on my own bike, but I guess it did not help that Chris Lieto join us for some of it. But it was an awesome ride.

Julie then went on to run a hour off the bike and I mean run, not the slow shuffle you would see me doing! I opted to sit in the air conditioned car and hand here drinks every mile.

So tomorrow is suppose to be an easy day – lets wait and see!

Great days training today – 1 hr run 1st thing, 3000 yards in the pool and then 60km bike with intervals – I almost feel like a like a pro again! Except that was a really hard day for me, I rarely do 2 sessions a day let alone 3, but for Frazer and Julie that was a relatively  easy day. It really is incredible how hard people are training. The volume of work they can maintain and the motivation to keep doing it is truly inspiring. But for me the most painful part of the day was trying the recovery Ice bath. Julie was in for 10 mins, Frazer in for 10 ins and then my go I could not even stand in it for 30 seconds let alone sit down in it for 10 – I had to add loads of hot water before I could in for just 3 mins! Pathetic.

Photo from pool today. Funny thing that the guy in the middle “Dirk Bockel” spent 4 weeks last summer training 20 mins away from where I live in France and swimming at the local pool there.

So tomorrow is a bit of an epic as we are riding the course, plus wee are staying about 10km away from the courses so its going to be 200Km  – really not sure how I am going to cope with that especially as that will be my longest ride in 15 years and I am riding on Julies bike which I really am not to comfy on!! Really do hope I can get my bike sorted soon as I really do love riding my Ceepo,

Oh well lets see how it goes.

6am start – they are all raving mad

So I am now in Kona after what was a pretty good trip over, got picked up at the airport by Julie and Fraser. Great to see them both and has been great catching up with news from the last couple of years. This morning all started great with a 3km swim out on the course. A beautiful morning and I really had forgotten how warm the sea is here and how clear and full of life it is

It is amazing how many people are already here training as it is still just under 3 weeks to race day.

So that was the good start to the day! Got back to the condo to build my bike ready for a easy 1 hr spin to find it had been seriously smashed on the trip over! And yes I had packed it well and I had put something between the forks to stop them been crushed. So have spent a big part of the day trying to get some things sorted! It is amazing that an airline can charge you $200 to get your bike on the plane and they must use it as a door stop! So not good. Luckily Julie has a spare bike here so hopefully I will be able to ride tomorrow while I Keep working o a plan to get mine fixed and the airline to pay for it! Lets hope tomorrow goes a bit better.

So things already have not quite gone to plan! Sitting at Bordeaux Airport waiting for my flight to Luton UK so I can start the trip to Kona for real – Announcement that they do not know when the flight is going to arrive – or even if it is going to arrive!! Not good and slightly sh**ting myself as if I do not get to UK I do not get my flight to Kona and not sure Easy jet are going to sort out my onward travel should I not make it!! Fingers crossed.

Anyway it sort of gives me a bit of time to think about the adventure ahead of me and write a bit for the daily blog that I plan to write.

Guess I need to set the scene a bit too why I am going out to Kona some 3 weeks before the race, and really it is not because I am just a lucky old EX Pro athlete who still get to fly around the world just when I feel like it for races or training camps. I only wish this was true and after reading the last issue of 220 mag I know there are people who believe it –but let them believe as it more fun that way!!  . The reality is that I have been asked to go out by Julie Dibens (athlete I use to coach) and help her prepare for the race. Not really sure what I would call my role but I think general dogs body would be the best description, so it will be a bit as a coach a bit as a training partner “that’s if I can keep up” and then probably a lot of just as I said general dogs body stuff. But I am not complaining as it is a great opportunity and I am really looking forward to the whole experience.

My training has not really been quite as good as I hoped over the last few months (but then to be honest if never does) but I am just really looking forward to the whole Kona experience, I plan to enjoy it as a age grouper, with no expectations just a chance to be part of something truly great – this is not how I experienced it as a Pro!

Good news they think the flight is coming – need to go to gate – hope it’s not just the normal plan of keeping us moving in an attempt to make people believe something is going to happen!

Day 2

All good, they found our plane and actually got to the Uk only a little behind schedule, also during that time of uncertainty it got me talking to some guys who were just on there way back from some wine tasting. Turns out one of the was going to be driving very close to Heathrow (where I needed to get to from Luton) and he gave me a lift. Saved me loads of time and hassle and restored my faith in the fact there really are a lot of very nice people out there. So thanks Mike that was really kind.

So I now am on a very new looking United airlines flight to LA and then Kona with my bike in tow, hopefully as it would have nearly have been cheaper to buy a new one than what the airline charges to bring it.

Now I am just thinking of that sudden rush of warm air as the plane door gets opened in Kona followed instantly by the sweat “how charming” – this is what stands out most from when I last arrived in Kona 15 years ago. Let’s hope the bike sessions I have done with the hair dryer strapped to the front of my tri bars blowing hot air have really paid off. Not quite sure it is ready to patent but Dynamo powered hair dryer – fast you ride the hotter the air.

Richard Hobson – Jenny Gowans – Stuart Andersen

A unique opportunity to sponsor three top amateur athletes on their journey to compete in the most highly-prized triathlon event in the world – The Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii. Every year, tens of thousands of triathletes try to earn the right to race at the World Championships – only 1,800 succeed. These three athletes will not just take part but will be racing for the podium at one of the biggest challenges the sports world has to offer – 2.4 miles of swimming, 112 miles of biking, and a 26.2-mile marathon run – in tough ocean waves, oppressive heat and challenging lava-covered terrain

For more information and ways to get invloved see below:

Team Kona Proposal

Team Kona Athelete CV

Good luck to all my athletes who have got there big races coming up over the next few weeks:

18th July – Challenge Roth – Logan Poyurs

25th July – IM Switzerland – Iain Ogilvie, Trent Lydon

25th July – 70.3 Antwerp – Lee Holdaway, Paul Holdaway

1st August – IM UK – James Peet

15th August – Challenge Copenhagen – Mark Haymen, Jo Haymen

Triliving athletes have been out in force at a number of IM races so far this year.  A huge congratulations to everyone with some great results all round.

IM Lanzarote: (full results)

James Pete, Lee Holdaway, Gordon Bush, Richard Hobson

I did write a number of blogs / articles prior to the IM – if you would like to read these go to: Tri247 or Tri247

IM Nice: (results)

Mathew Wilson, Marco Paonessa, Clive England

IM Austria: (results)

John Young