Abu Dhabi International Triathlon 2012

The Abu Dhabi International Triathlon has grown the reputation of bringing the best athletes in the world together to battle it out over a unique alternative distance of 3km swim, 200km cycle and a 20km run all within the desert of the United Arab Emirates. 2012 was no different with too many top end athletes to list.

Race day was just perfection with temperatures in the mid 20’s degree Celsius, the water like a pond and light winds. Due to early morning mist however things were delayed a short while so athletes got to relax around in transition and chat, catch up on what everyone else did over the off season. This is the first real race where we all catch up again after the Ironman World Champs.

With introductions made and everyone toeing the line the gun was fired and the mayhem started. It is funny how you forget the roughness of a start but nothing like a few knocks to jog the memory! Australian super fish Clayton Fettell set about building a lead from the moment he hit the water. Unfortunately for myself I found myself dangling for some unknown reason off the back of the main group and after the completion of the first lap as a good 10-15m off the back. With a short run along the beach I was able to see exactly where things were at and knew that I needed to tack back onto the group with all the “hitter” in it. With a swift 500-600m effort I latched back on and tried to recover for the remainder of the swim while forgetting about what went wrong during the first lap (1500m) of the swim.

Returning to shore and the split to Fettell was at 1minute, better than we all actually expected. Rushing through transition and before I think I was sitting in about 5th position onto the cycle portion – a different contrast to the swim that was for sure.

As expected a large group formed, however Paul Ambrose was not sitting around and shot off the front like a cat on hot coals. With 200km ahead of us no one else was in a rush to push to hard that early in the day (although we later passed through 180km in 4hrs 16min). In saying that the speeds hovered around the 40-45km/hr mark. Coasting! Yeah right.

The exciting thing about the Abu Dhabi Triathlon is the chance to ‘let rip’ around a Formula1 race track. With the excitement of the F1 track done and dusted and eyes set on completing the first of 2.5laps. Faris Al Sultan made a move and set about brining in the leaders of Fettell and Ambrose now with a steady gap of 3minutes over about 10 of us chasing.

Throughout the ride it was a war of fatigue and nutrition with one by one athletes drifting off the back and into the haze of the desert. Faris had a stomping ride and bridge the 3minute gap then set about building a buffer onto the run. Ambrose (also a member of Team Abu Dhabi with Faris) also showed his bike power to be among the first to reach T2. The chases where now whilttled down to the few that I figured would contend for the win. Lieto, Henning, Llanos, Van Lierde, Bockel, Boecherer and Cartmell. Rolling into T2 we also picked up the strong early pace setter and leader of Fettell.

This is an event where due to the distances it is all layed out on the bike and you run has hard as you can on 200km fried legs. Llanos and Henning were on a mission busting out of T2 at just over 5.10/mile pace or equivalent to a sub 1.10 half marathon, again off 200km! The hustle was due to the fact that Faris was holding a 4minute lead and who wants to give an Hawaii Ironman World Champion a 4minute lead…no one. The run went as expected fast and painful. Henning reelled in Faris with about 3km to the finish, which made for an amazing finish to an amazing race. Faris held on for 2nd (with the race of the day doing it ‘his way’, showing his strength this time of year) and Llanos rounding out the top 3. Llanos also displaying that he is good to go with both strength and speed for Ironman Melbourne later in March. As for myself 2012 finished exactly the same as 2011 in 7th and a solid top 10 performance in a stellar field. It must be noted also that Henning had to run a run course record to pull in Faris and the top 10 also ALL went under the old course record held by Llanos.

Nikki Butterfield also had an amazing day to take the win in the females section and putting the Australian flag on the top step of what is truly an International event.

Abu Dhabi Triathlon is a must do race, there is just something about smacking yourself on the bike over 200km. It is not about the bike… but the bike sure helps!

Be safe, happy recovery and see you in a few weeks at Ironman Melbourne Asia Pacific Championships.

Luke Bell

2012 off and rolling.

With the new year brings new plans. Over the next few weeks things will be finalized for the 2012 racing season and travel plans. One thing is for sure that it is nice to be at home sweet home in Melbourne Australia and feeling the ever growing excitement that is filling the streets with the inaugural Ironman Melbourne to kick off in March.

As one of WTC marque events it is sure to bring a 'cracker' of an international field to the city to truly make it a world class event. Melbourne is renowned for being a 'major sporting city' with the Australian Open of Tennis, Grand Prix Motorcar racing, World Track cycling championships to name a few events that are on in during 2012.

Training has been ticking along nicely, it brings a smile to the face and a bounce in your step to get back with the family, friends and familiar routes. It is always nice to be home...........

With a fantastic 2011 in the rear mirrors, things are all go for an even greater, more fun filled and exciting 2012.

Home sweet home.

I must say it is always nice to be home. The past few weeks have been just hanging out and catching up with family and friends that we have not seen in over 6 months. While home, and being in Melbourne it is quite exciting to see the buzz around Ironman Melbourne next March.

Looking towards the end of the year or remainder of 2011 I am happy to be heading over to Ironman Western Australia in the lovely town of Busselton....... no not to race but lend my hand or voice over the microphone commentating and popping up on IronmanLive.

I hope everyone is enjoying this part of the season and also looking forward to the fun times ahead... that being Christmas - which is family, friends, eating, drinking and presents.... and training to make sure all of the above does not get the best of us come new years!

take care and happy trails,
Luke

What next in 2011

After a few weeks of down time and a good friends wedding up at the breath taking Byron Bay, it is nice to get the body back into the swing of things and normal routine. That being said I have decided to conclude the 2011 season with one last race.

With Hawaii ending on 2 flat tires and a stained calf, it was not the positive note I wanted to end the year on so I am off to Port Macquarie 70.3 this weekend. This allows me to race at home, gain some KPR points (P750 event) for 2012 and finish the year on a positive.

Looking forward to the end of the year I am also excited to be helping on the commentary side of things at Ironman Western Australia in December. Along with that it also allows me to slip into a bit of Ironmanlive and assisting athlete's on Tritravel getting to know the the amazing course over there in Busselton.

In all the reminding few months of 2011 are quite busy and exciting to round out a fun filled year and provide drive to improve and raise the bar again in 2012.

Luke

Hawaii Ironman 2011

> > Well I must say Hawaii is not a bad place to be if things do not go
> > your way. You get to wake up and look out and realise that this is
> > one amazing place and the excitement and enthusiasm around the town
> > picks you up.
> >
> > The Hawaii Ironman this year dealt not only myself but quite a few
> > other athletes some flat tires out there with debris out there on
> > the road. After obtaining my 2nd flat tire on the return trip from
> > Hawi in a matter of 10-15 miles and straining my calf riding on the
> > second flat, things were all but completed for me on what was an
> > amazing day for racing with super fast times and athlete's pushing
> > themselves to the limit.
> >
> > The day for myself started out exceptionally well, lining up next to
> > Henning and not getting one single bump or tap in the first few
> > hundred yards of the swim (first time ever not getting a "left hook"
> > or "dunked"!) Settling into the first half dozen for the entire swim
> > leg. Transition 1 is always a bit of hustle and bustle and once out
> > onto the bike leg it was Luke McKenzie and myself leading the chase
> > bunch through the first few miles. The "pack" soon followed and the
> > town portion of the cycle leg is more about staying out of trouble
> > than anything else and once out onto the "Queen K" it was time to
> > let loose.
> >
> > With fantastic conditions for racing and light winds the group
> > rolled along at a swift pace and I think we all knew the times were
> > going to be fast (Lieto just mising the bike course record by
> > seconds). I had in the back of my mind that the down hill section
> > from Hawi and the return leg on the "Queen K" was were it was all
> > gong to happen and it did. However on the descent from Hawi I
> > watched the guys slip away into the distance and by the time I
> > realised that I was riding on a leaking tire and not just feeling
> > crap it was too late. With a pretty quick rear wheel change from
> > Tech support I was back on the way only down a few minutes at this
> > stage, but that did not last long as about another 10-15 miles down
> > the road the front soon followed the rear tire and leaked flat.
> > Pushing a tad too hard on the leaking front tire to make it to the
> > next aid station, I strained my calf again (same spot as beginning
> > of year) and this disappointingly put an end to my day.
> >
> > Having to hitch a ride back to town, it was truly amazing to see the
> > fast times unfold on both male and female sides. With Craig showing
> > true class and proving to the "doubter" that he CAN ride and back it
> > up with the stellar run to cement a new course record and Chrissy
> > battling all the way to the finish with Rinny chasing her down. The
> > Australians faired very will also with Pete Jacobs showing is run
> > form from last year was not fluke and taking the fastest run again
> > and pulling himself into 2nd position and Luke Mckenzie cracking the
> > top ten. People used to say it was tough to be the first German here
> > in Kona, now it is tough to be the first Australian!
> >
> > From here it is back to San Diego for the week to pack up before
> > heading home to Australia to see the family, friends and to rest and
> > recover from a fantastic long season. Lets hope things have not
> > changed to much back home after 6 months away!
> >
> > I look forward to catching you all very soon.
> > Best
> > Luke Bell

Kona Hawaii 2011

The fun times have started and we have been lucky enough to be staying at the Mauna Lani Hotel and Bungalows relaxing and just plane old hanging out on the 'Big Island'

With the Ironman the madness rolls into town not far behind, and with the week getting started there has already been fun shoots and catching up with everyone.

Photo's to come.

Aloha
Luke

2011 Ironman 70.3 World Championships - Las Vegas

With the Ironman 70.3 World Championships raced and won in the ever buzzing Las Vegas, I must say that the Vegas course was a true test. Craig Alexander was the strongest athlete on the day showing his true class and ability over what was a challenging course with about 4000 ft climbing on the bike and the run continuing with the same theme of hills up and down.

The day was perfect for racing and I am sure that we will see temperatures in future events that will test athlete's to the extreme however for us things could not have been better. The swim was in the pond like Lake Las Vegas with water temps around the 81 degree mark. With a large group of athlete's ready to race it was no surprise that there was Potts off the front and the rest of us circling the course in close contention, filing out of the water one after the other.

The bike was where it was all expected to happen and it did not let us down. With the likes of in form Paul Mathews pushing the pace from the get go over the first few miles with a climb straight out of T1 things started to spread out fast and 2 main groups were developed. Craig came by myself and yelled out to go and get up to the front select few. I did everything possible to follow his lead however the legs did not want to follow suit. It was from the first few miles that I knew I was about 95% there (which is never good at a world champs where you need to be 100%). The gap to the front few was only a few hundred yards however it took myself a good 20-30 minutes to bridge the gap, and from that point on I would love to say I sat at the back of the group to relax and settle into the pace however the elastic band was on full stretch and I was hanging on for dear life. I took some positive from watching a few of the guys drift off over the relentless rolling hills while I looked at my hub and bit my handle bars trying to extract every ounce of energy to stay in contact with the front of the race.

Rolling into T2 and getting the runners on it was time to make sure I gave 100% of my 95% and focus on one lap at a time. With a slight down hill to begin with it allowed you to try and find your legs with out having to exert to much energy however once you make the turn it is time to go UP! about 2.5 miles of it, gradual up. Chris Lieto pushed the pace in the later half of the cycle and held a nice buffer into the run however, Alexander was on and quickly separated himself from the rest and set about his business of reeling in the margin to the front running Lieto. Alexander crossed the line to take his 2nd Ironman 70.3 World title and showed his class, strength and ability over the distance. Trying to stay focused and pushing myself hard throughout the entire run it was nice to cross the finish line in 9th position on what was not an "ok" day. Although not pretty and not the result I was after it was a positive to be able to push all the way to the finish, grit and bare it and walk away with a top 10 at the 70.3 World Championships.

The past week has been all about recovery and now thinking about the Ironman World Championships in Kona. From Vegas to Hawaii, things are not a bad!

See you all soon,