Lake Stevens 70.3

Lake Stevens is one of those races that is a MUST do. It is one of the very few events that I have now gone back to now 3 times. I always like to experience new places and events so we tend to do a variety of races each year, however the Seattle area and Lake Steven at this time of year is hard to beat.

The day it self was one of those magic days, calm conditions, sun was out and a stellar field to boot. With the likes of defending champ and my sprint finish competitor from previous years ago Joe Gambles, Luke McKenzie, Matt Lieto, James Cotter and Brian Fleischmenn to name a few the race as always going to be a cracker. The females field was just as hot and challenging.

The swim was a pleasant jaunt around an out and back course (pleasant as there was a cable underwater to follow so sighting was not needed) with temps high it was a non-wetsuit swim for the elite field. Fleischmenn used his ITU speed to establish a 30 second gap over a quite large chase pack. Knowing this was where the race was going to be it was nice to settle in and make sure everything was as smooth as butter through T1.

Out onto the bike and the rolling hills, well lets call it ROLLING hills. The first lap was to say the least quite frustrating with the majority of the work being done by McKenzie and Lieto trying to make brakes and split things up. This was to no avail with the 'gap fillers' that kept the group a 'tight nitched' bunch.

Frustrated at the completion of the first lap and deciding to take a risk and make my own luck. (I am always a believer of making your own luck, or taking a risk as that is how the big races are won and lost rather than waiting for luck to come). It was time to slip away and try and be 'out of sight out of mind', keeping a solid pace going till T2. Dismounting the bike with the fastest bike split of the day and heading out onto the run I was informed that my lead was a little over 1 minute to Gambles and around 2 minutes to the group.

Realising that I would have to settle into a steady pace due to the effort on the 2nd bike lap and knowing that the lads behind may have fresher legs it was time to stay focused and concentrate on being smooth and steady. Gambles was having a great day and was able to use the run to cross the line first in 3hr 57min, with Ambrose 2nd and myself in 3rd each 1 and 2 minutes back respectively both under 4hrs.

I have now settled into Lyons CO, for the rest of my training block pre Hawaii, with 70.3 Cancun in September as the final last hard hot hit out.

Thanks for all the cheers and support it makes it all the more fun.
Also a special note of Congratulations to Brian Enge (former Zoot CEO) who won his 40-45 age group. Vinu @fuelbelt watch out he is after you come October!

Best
Luke Bell
www.luke-bell.com

US Pro Surfing - Huntington Beach

(Expression session - via Jet ski's)

(Slater getting ride)

(Day at the Beach - Huntington style)

(Huntington Beach turned festival)

(Skate - 'Pool Party')

(Daniel Dhers)

(Forward Flip on the BMX)

( BMX Park course )

With the US Pro Surfing, Skate and BMX just up the road Lucy and I decided to cruise on up and check out all the action. If you think Ironman is a big event the show that these guys put on thanks to Hurley and Nike 6.0 makes Ironman look like a weekend fun run.

With the sun out and the like of Slater, Fanning, Machado and the boys surfing, and the smooth riding of Daniel Dhers on the BMX park it was hard not to cheer for the Aussie lads of Fanning and Buckworth (BMX) to bring the US title down under. The show was HUGE.

It is all about the Hype

It is funny how the year rolls on by. It is now that time of the year where all eyes and talk are based around October. With in the next few weeks all the athlete's programs will be based around October, all the talk and media is based around October and all the trash talk and predictions are based around October.

It is amazing to think that people seem to have forgotten about Marino's 7.52, and even now only a few weeks post Roth Rasmus similar time. The hype around the one event is quite breath taking and blows you away. Once it is done the talk starts for the following year. Races come and go all year and it is hard to remember who won what but one thing is for sure everyone remembers that day in October...... for years to come.

That is why Kona is Kona, lets get busy and enjoy the ride as I know that 2010 is going to be a RED hot year on the island.

Luke

Hello all,

Well we are now rolling along and we getting into full swing. I thought it would be a great time to give everyone the updated version of the back half of the season. With the turmoil of the start of the year with broken arms then the cancellation of the "A" race IM Japan things were then re focused 3 weeks later to IM CDA and the main bulk of the season.

Due to the late start, I have chatting to Purplepatch Ftness and coach Matt Dixon. We have decided to make the most of the late season events thus adding in Ironman Western Australia in December and maybe a sharpen up event back home post Kona and pre WA.

With the new WTC rules and points allocation for Hawaii (2011), it also provides an opportunity to get a nice little jump on the 2011 points. Please see below an updated list of key races for the remainder of the 2010 season through to December. (There maybe small sharpen races/events slotted in between events eg. swimming, running also not listed- just good hard hit outs!).

Ironman Racine 70.3

Ironman Lake Stevens 70.3

Ironman Cancun 70.3

Hawaii Ironman World Championships

Ironman Western Australia

Take care,

See you all soon.

Luke

With a couple of very light weeks and some relaxing down time before the next event at Racine 70.3 and the all important start to the Kona prep. It was the perfect time visit some friends in Lyons and Aspen CO, for and week, 2 very amazing places. It is always nice to visit new places and surroundings. The drive from Lyons through Leadville (where the Leadville 100 is held later in year) over Independents Pass and dropping down into Aspen was worth the trip.

With our time in Aspen we packed in as much as possible, Hot springs, hiking Aspen Mtn, swimming in the creek (snow melt is VERY cold) and ending with fire works on July 4th. Now back in San Diego it's back into the 'groove' of things for the remainder of the year. With a slow start to the year with 2 broken elbows, myself and Matt Dixon at Purplepatch Fitness are looking at extending the season and doing a few post Kona events.

Luke

IRONMAN CDA - recap.

It was nice to arrive in Coeur d’Alene and be back into the swing of things after Ironman Japan was cancelled for 2010. With the new goal set and working with to the crew at Purplepatch Fitness we went in with a race plan to ensure the ‘A’ goal was achieved. Being on the start line come October after taking the year off in 2009 was the number one priority.

With an early start at 6.25 and a 2 lap swim I knew Flanagan and Potts would clear out early to get some extra time. Leading the chase pack around the first lap and not feeling too bad, I exited the water with a small good and a VERY large gap to the front runners. I was feeling ok, however not swimming as per normal. The second lap the group stayed the same and we exited the water some 7mins behind Potts and Flanagan. This was a new experience, as not even in Kona with a non-wetsuit swim have I had a deficit that large.

Through T1 and onto the bike a small pack formed with likes of Lovato, Evans, McDonald and Lieto. With the race plan to conserve energy through at least the 1st lap I made sure I was chowing down on Powerbars and gels to ensure when the time came the tank was full. Back through town and out into the rolling hills on lap 2 the time had come. We all rolled through the 75 mile mark and Potts was now just over 10 minutes up the road and looking strong. I think we all thought he would come back on the 2nd lap to his credit he proved us all wrong.

Putting in a solid 10 minute surge and settling into a steady strong effort it was nice to let the Argon18 fly over the last 35miles. With a solid pace for the remaining 90 minutes it was possible to cut Potts lead in half from just over 10mins back to just under 5 by T2. Along with the nice added bonus of finishing off the bike strong, riding the second lap faster than the first, resulted in the fastest cycle time since way back in 2005. We are back on track!

Onto the marathon the goal was to not head out ballistic at 70.3 speed and maintain a steady pace that would get me to the finish to lock in the Kona spot. The first of 2 laps went quite well and although Potts was pulling time back out, I was more focused on my plan. Lovato was moving fast over the first 13 miles and ran into 2nd at around the 14-15 miles mark. In the past this is where I would lose all energy, so it was nice to be able to keep moving forward and onto the finish. With Lovato and myself starting to hit the “Hurt locker” Ogden took advantage and pounced by both of us to run into a finish place of 2nd for a fantastic race, while Lovato and myself 2 min behind tangled together, him cramping, me trying to run him down then cramping and so on…. Fun times of suffering over the last 6 miles.

Crossing the line although in 4th was total happiness. It is always nice to remember the small things that make you realize how lucky you are. After the turmoil of Ironman Japan being cancelled and re-setting everything it was nice to have a solid race and enjoy locking away the Hawaii slot but more importantly knowing that I still know how to suffer and punish the body. There were stages in the past where you wonder if you can still hurt or if it was just that I was “cooked” from doing massive miles early season. Now I know I can still suffer and to some peoples surprise that makes me ever so happy! From here it is all positive and after a good recovery I am sure Purplepatch Fitness will have me building nicely to October.

Next up it is back to some fast 70.3 racing, love the half distance, so fast and furious.

See you at the races,

Luke
www.luke-bell.com

Ironman CDA

Photo: Eric Wynn 2010

Things are packed and we are off for IM CDA next weekend. This is the new game plan after the cancellation of Japan. It was a quick re shuffle and onto the next thing. With a strong field including Potts, Lavato and Tom Evens to name a few it should be a great fast event. I have always raced best against strong opposition (Brown, Golindez, Lessing, Macca) so I am very much looking forward to next Sunday. Everything is good to go................. grip it and rip it.........

Luke.