Once Inspired

Posts Tagged ‘Ironman’

Sort of newlywed, Brendan Lowen is leaving this weekend for the ITU World Long Distance Champs in Henderson, Nevada in the United States of America. The event is hosted by Lowery’s Multisport. You can also keep an eye on them on Facebook.

Involving a 4km swim, 120km bike and a 30km run; Brendan talks to me about his preparation, equipment, motivation and the people involved in making all this possible.

Hey Bren, let’s start off with “How are you?”

I am in a good space, recently married as you mentioned, to a lovely girl! Looking forward to the new season as well…

Okay now this sounds like something AWESOME. Perhaps I should do it, not to race but just because it is a once-in-a-lifetime!

Challenge Cape Town is an iron-distance triathlon based in the heart of one of the most beautiful cities in the world, Cape Town! The swim starts a stone’s throw from the city centre at Granger Bay and follows a 3.8km course in the heart of Table Bay. The unique cycle leg is a single-lap 180km ride from the breath-taking views from De Waal Drive on the slopes of Table Mountain, to the Constantia wine lands onto the culturally-rich township of Khayelitsha along the Indian Ocean coastline and up the famed Chapman’s Peak back to the transition.

Video courtesy of Jack and Adam’s Bicycles

Saucony ProGrid Kinvara coming to South Africa in December 2010. I will be doing a review on these shoes very soon. Super amped.

Over the past years I have experienced lower leg trouble to the extent of full blown compartment syndrome which required an operation in May 2009. A bilateral subcutaneous fasciotimy was what the procedure was called. Simply put, the thin facia (sheath) which encloses the muscles were too tight. This resulted in the muscle filling up with blood faster than it could drain. The rock hard muscles restricted blood flow to my feet and also affected motor-neuron function which more often than not made my feet go completely dead. Not ideal whilst running. I needn’t mention the pain either.

Now days you have countless choices of frames, wheels, handle bars, saddles, pedals, helmets, nutritional products and even clothing. In fact there are so many mass-produced choices that it’s just plain confusing at the best of times.

Having had a sneak preview of some of the 2011 bike ranges from the recent Eurobike show, I can’t help but wonder how many products are actually made in a factory both owned and based in the same country, let alone the same town, as the actual brand.

It’s common knowledge that a number of large brand companies have a large portion of their range made in the Far East. I think that the Chinese and Taiwanese factory owners must be laughing all the way to the bank. Good on them.

If you ever wanted to see exactly how the pros set their bikes up this is the video to do that. Perfect

In one of the greatest races of all time (in my opinion) Chris Lieto gave everything he could, but could not hold off one of the most perfectly run Ironman marathons ever. Craig Alexander ran the perfect race. Here’s an interview with Chris Lieto, 2009 runner up.

“Chris Lieto’s Score to Settle” – TriEurope

“Craig Alexander’s pass on Chris Lieto at the 2009 Ironman World Championships produced one of the great triathlon photos. It said it all. While Alexander was picking people off on the run, Lieto was wearing his heart on his sleeve giving it everything he had. In 2009, he only just came up short. Can he do it in 2010? Susan Grant chatted to one of the most popular triathletes in the world about Kona, running and that score to settle.

A new line of Ironman-branded premium sports drinks developed by the sports nutrition experts at PowerBar® is being launched today. Ironman® PERFORM™ sports drink features PowerBar’s state-of-the-art C2MAX carbohydrate blend, found to deliver 20 to 50 percent more energy to muscles and improve endurance performance by eight percent.

Designed for athletes who take part in intense workouts, or who exercise in the heat or humidity and experience significant fluid and electrolyte loss, the new Ironman PERFORM sports drink also enhances performance by delivering essential electrolytes, including 190 mg of sodium per serving, to replenish what athletes lose in sweat and to help avoid skeletal muscle cramps and dehydration. The convenient ready-to-drink beverage is also made with natural flavors and without the use of high fructose corn syrup.