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Sydney WTS - Out of mind? Out of my mind.

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Saturday was the morning I'd been aiming for all summer. 12 months ago it was the scene for my best international performance and this time around it was to be the marquee race in my final dig at Olympic team selection. Everything was going great in the lead up. Solid training, solid race results and a healthy confidence I would perform as my plan predicted. 
Unfortunately something I could not feel was present and come time to turn it on I was not ready. From the first stroke in the swim I was not right and was quickly at the rear of the pack. The feeling did not change as I lost contact with the main group and by the end of the 1.5km swim I was well off my usual mid pack positioning.
The sensation on the cycle was an exact facsimile of that in the water. When the two athletes I was desperately chasing the leaders with crashed on a tight corner my chances of remaining at all competitive were dashed and I made the decision to retired from the race.
It was very difficult to make the call as pulling out of any race always hurts the ego. This particular day was much more painful as I had so many people, both on course and elsewhere, in great support of me in my home country's big race. I want to thank everyone for their well wishes, words of encouragement and general support. I will have many chances to make up for this disappointing day and I have every intention of making the most of every opportunity. I will continue to dig into the unknown potential within me.

London Calling

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After an extensive lag in blogging due to either little recent life activity or happenings that I found unblogworthy I've recently experienced an event that I believe is deserving enough to break my self-scribing drought. That event is my inclusion in the Australian Olympic Team for the 2012 London Games.

I was informed of my nomination to the AOC last Friday and then had the lengthy wait (of 3 days) for the AOC to accept the nomination and announce the inclusion before all was official and I could feel the wave of relief I am now swimming in that the work I've put in and stress I've endured was not in vain and I am now in a position to realise an achievement that I've thrown my entire life at for more than two years. The other inclusions to join me were Brad Kahlefeldt (nominated 2011) and Courtney Atkinson who were our Aussie reps at the Beijing Games and are two athletes I personally have endeavoured to chase both physically and metaphorically since I was a flailing junior 10 years ago.

I would love to use this medium to thank every solitary person who has done an intentional act to aid me, directly or indirectly, in my journey to this present point. Without each of your help, motivation, instruction, wisdom, kindness, honesty, patience, aggression and brutality I wouldn't be the athlete, or person, I am today. Of course this list would be ridiculously long and fabulously impractical so I will leave it at this: If you have helped me, you know who you are and I hope you can share in my current joy. I will endeavour to thank you all personally at some stage.

So now the shortest and most difficult two months lie ahead. After a long campaign to get to London I now feel like the time before I get there is the equivalent to walking out the front door of my hotel room. Its with great encouragement that I now see my preparation for the event as one of the most simple, carefree times of my career as I know exactly what I have to do and have a clear and extremely motivating reason to follow it through every minute of everyday for the next 62 days.

London Olympic Race Report

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Along with my two teammates, Courtney and Brad, I arrived in London 4 days before the race from camp in France. It was a long 4 days. The women’s triathlon was 3 days before ours so we were able to get an idea of the atmosphere we would be amongst on race day and excitement levels were peaking only to have to damper the anticipation to save it up for 48 hours later.

Fast forward to race day and I was greeted to dry roads and relatively blue sky. Trying to stick to usual pre race routine was interesting when crowd reaction during bike warm up (over 2 hours before race start) rivaled that of many WTS race finish lines. Nonetheless routine was followed and sensation was good even if nerves were off the charts.

I managed to use the nervous energy to get a good start in the swim around the Serpentine avoiding being pummeled around the first swim buoys and finding rhythm into the long back straight. My rhythm wasn’t quite as good as others’ and with the leaders setting a cracking pace over the 1500m lap I lost contact and finished the swim well back what became the 4th group heading out onto the 42km bike.

On what must be one of the most iconic bike course around I can honestly say I took in not a skerrick of the scenery throughout the 7 laps. From the mount line the chase began and did not let up until we hit transition having caught one large group ahead but still in arrears of the pointy end. A motivated chase by the majority of my group saw us gain some time on the front but not enough.

Onto the run and again an Olympic motivation saw everyone giving everything they had. I had trouble finding pace in my legs straight off the bike and this cost me dearly dropping positions for the first 3km before beginning to claw some spots back through the middle laps. Finding motivation to push to the finish was not difficult with a constant (and at times deafening) roar of the unbelievable crowd in your ear every step.

I finished 35th which is far from what I had hoped and what I believe I am capable of. On that day I wasn’t good enough to achieve my absolute desired outcome but to become an Olympian is something I cannot be disappointed with. I hope to use this as another stepping-stone towards the bigger and better dreams that are already stirring, becoming more clear and vivid.

I have so many people to thank who supported me to the finish line. Everyone who sent messages before and after I am greatly appreciative, my sponsors who make it possible for me to do what I do at the highest level in the most professional way, my coach Danielle and my family. I do this because I love it and if it wasn’t for the support of everyone of you I would find no joy in the life I lead.

Turning Olympic fallout into forward momentum

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In my Olympic race report (see ‘London Olympic Race Report,’ 14/8/12) I alluded to the mix of emotions that flood through your mind after racing in the most exceptional competition of your life and not performing to your own expectations after many long months of preparation. And like any flood the waters do take some time to recede and there is always a permanent mark left to show for the psychological overflow that swelled up without a means of stopping it.

Due to this overflow I took a brief respite from the tri world and for the first time in many months let my brain wander to other aspects of my life that had begun to grow stagnant, being pushed aside by the one directional force that was my own personal Olympic movement. Looking at life as a whole again rather than the simple but tedious process of swim, ride, run, repeat gave me the perspective I needed to ask myself what was it I want to do. Up until Olympics all I wanted to do was make it to the race in the best shape possible and use that form to chase my own best possible outcome. Regardless of whether I achieved this or not once that opportunity had passed I realized I was completely lacking in a point in the future from which to anchor myself now and work towards. I still was still unable to determine where I wanted my point.

I went straight from my short but blissful hiatus to the WTS event in Stockholm, Sweden. Being over a sprint format I figured my Olympic form would get me through the half distance and, who knows, I might be able to dig deep and get a decent result. It occurred to me quite early into the bike leg as I was attempting to keep in contact with the group I was in up a 12% cobblestone road as my eyes darted repeatedly from them disappearing over the top of the hill down to my legs to check they were in fact responding to my brain’s signals commanding them to move that I was racing against THE BEST athletes in the world and it is not possible for a mere mortal like myself to go into a race underprepared and under motivated and expect to win/be competitive/survive… I pulled out before I halfway through the bike leg.

This non result saw no ‘flood of emotions.’ There were just two feelings: self-disappointment and an overwhelming urge to not disappoint myself in that way again. There is no such thing as ‘riding the Olympic wave.’ Anyone who appears to be doing this simply worked bloody hard for their Olympics and continued to do so afterwards.

Competing at the Olympics was a goal I didn’t think I could achieve but set it and chased it anyway. This is what I lacked immediately after the Games, a seemingly impossible goal and the processes to make it possible. I guess some people call this a dream. I now have a point to head towards and momentum is building.

I’m currently in Spain working with coach Jamie Turner and his crew of youngsters towards this point.  Back to Aus next week to prepare for the next test in Auckland WTS final on 20 October. 

Mark Webber Challenge

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The end of my 2012 season ended rather disappointingly. After aiming high for my final race the Auckland WTS final I was left low after crashing during the bike and feeling rather horrible. I deemed myself done for the year and proclaimed a good recovery was needed. After several weeks spending time with friends and family who I'd neglected terribly during the whole Olympic qualifying period I felt I needed a challenge but wasn't quite ready to head full pelt into triathlon again. I needed something different, something adventurous, in the name of fun and for a good cause.

The perfect opportunity fell into my lap when the guys at 2XU asked in passing if I'd be interested in racing in the Mark Webber Tasmania Challenge. I'd heard of it before, knew it had some mountain biking, running and kayak paddling and went for a few days. Beautiful: a 5 day holiday around Tassie just as summer was really getting going. It wasn't until I'd arrived in Launceston the day before race start I realised this was not going to be a holiday.

In brief the race lasted 5 days and each day had 1-3 legs each of rogaine/orienteering, mountain biking and kayaking around varied terrain across Tasmania with some extra activities thrown in. In each team the two members had to race together, never parting further than 50m. In each leg checkpoints had to be reached and in some legs there were optional points which, if checked would reward the team with time bonuses. The length of our days averaged around 7 hours (up to 10+) and it was non-stop racing from the gun each day.

Niether myself or my team mate Aaron Royle had any experience in orienteering/map reading or in kayak paddling so as a team we were disadvantaged on paper to begin with. But we found out quickly that even our so called strengths didn't cross directly over to the adventure style racing. The running legs were more often a rock hop, bush bash or mountain hike than what we're used to. The mountain biking was technical, at times treacherous and always involved some element of navigation which forced us to stop riding frequently to establish our bearings and locate checkpoints.

All in all the five days were an adventure and definitely a challenge. There were times when I thought the whole concept was ridiculous and not at all fun but being the competitor I am these were always times when I knew for whatever reason we were not as competitive as I'd prefer. Now, a week after the race has finished I can say in all honesty I enjoyed the whole experience from the new physical challenges to the amazing people involved in the event and the spectacular locations we raced through.

I would love to thank 2XU for supporting not only Myself and Aaron but also the event which itself is in cause of Webber's own charitable foundation. Also Echelon Sports for their generous supply of an amazing BMC TE01 mountain bike which reduced my skill handicap dramatically.

A day by day blog is featured here: 2xu/ThePulse
And some photos on my Facebook page Brendan Sexton

Changes

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Welcome to 2013! We're already 12 days in and things are off to a flyer. I'm now well into the first training camp of the year up in Falls Creek in the Victorian mountains and fitness is slowly creeping back with help from all my training group as well as a fresh enthusiasm and burning passion for the year ahead.
This enthusiasm is brought on by all the exciting and challenging times ahead but the passion is a product mixed with the adventures to come as well as the reflections of the past. Through my extended break I was able to collate the experiences of the past few years and through this time away from the triathlon world my emotions have continued to positively gain momentum. The memory of the high's as well as the disappointments I faced have combined to create a state of mind determined to continue to improve as an all round athlete. This determination is created by me but kept alive by my supporters, sponsors and inner circle who are able to push me when my own mind and body are struggling alone and whom I wouldn't have a passion to share without.
I understand to improve changes have to be made and probably made constantly to adapt to a sport in which the elite standard continues to rise at a rapid rate. My own willingness to embrace the challenge of change excites me and the potential that could result. 
For now small changes have be implemented as the small steps back to form are repeatedly taken. Check back soon to witness the result of change! 



Relocating: To the Gong I go

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I publish this post as I travel to my first race of 2013 in Devonport, Tasmania. And as I step into another season I take another, bigger step: Ive made up my mind and made the jump north. I am happy to officially announce I have now relocated my training base to Wollongong.

Since the new Olympic cycle has begun I have done a great deal of deliberating on what I want to do next. After a lot of conversation both internally and with others I am now 100% certain I want to race the triathlon at the 2016 Olympics. Regardless of what that decision was I knew there had to be some change made and now with the decision made I know Wollongong is the place I should be.

I will now be working with Jamie Turner, a coach who I worked with in Wollongong for 3 years as a junior and Under23 athlete. He was the person who first enlightened me as to what I was capable of as an athlete long before I began exploiting the abilities within me. I believe Jamie has the capacity and determination to improve my weaknesses as well as contribute to my strengths. The training group and location here is top class and I know I will be as happy here as much I will be able to grow as an athlete.

In saying that I will miss Melbourne dearly. It has been a wonderful town to live and train in and the people I've met will remain a part of my life and career well into the future.

I must thank all who have supported me during my time in Victoria especially the Victorian Institute of Sport, Jono Hall, Danielle Stefano, Peter Kyriakidis, Jaimi Chisholm, Pat & Nadelle Legge and Gav Stuart. Without these folk I would never have had the privilege to call myself a Melburnian.

I'm looking forward to the challenges ahead and preparing for those challenges with an amazing group of people in the 'Gong.

Below is a story by Ian Hanson about my move as well as the lead into Saturdays race.

http://www.hansonmediagroup.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1263&Itemid=36

A Fresh Start in the Apple Isle - Devonport Tri Report

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It was perfectly timed. After an extensive break from competition after a long, exhausting 2012 it wasn't until about a week ago I finally craved the nerves of battle again. The thought of adrenaline at the sound of the starting gun and the relief of running down the finish shoot were emotions I hadn't really missed until about 10 days ago. I was put to the sword by my training group and a few Wollongong cyclists at an off the cuff criterium out the back of an unnamed Illawarra suburb. It was a bit of fun and a chance to give each other a touch up on a tight, fast course but it gave me something else. The taste of competition. My year took shape instantly. Something I'd been missing was the challenge of pure racing. And it took until that 35 minutes of tasting lactic to realise how much I'd really missed it.

So where better to start some pure Aussie battling than where my 2012 season took such a dramatically sharp turn (some would agree both in a good way and also in a spectacularly negative direction) in Devonport, Tasmania.

I was never going to run away with the race a la 2012 but I'd been happy with my training since relocating to Wollongong a month ago and early season racing always presents a few surprises so I scrunched my toes on the beach start line with enthusiasm.

It's no secret my recent move to Wollongong has a lot to do with again working with Jamie Turner who, with a strong background in swimming, is helping address my weaker leg in the water. We've agreed improving to a world standard will take time so I was a little surprised to run up the beach after a choppy 750m right on the heels of the usual aquatic guns. After a brief period in a small front group with Pete Kerr, Marcel Walkington, Ryan Fisher and training partner Aaron Royle (an experience I'm not quite accustomed to) we were joined by another five lads. Lacking in solid riding and running k's I was in the position where my swim was the stand out performer (a first!) and in windy conditions against some classy fellas I began to fade through the 20km bike and 5km run. Happy to hang on for 6th overall but over the moon with nailing my target processes so early in the year. 

Two special mentions to my housemates Ryan Bailie and Char McShane. Ry putting on the line to just miss the win in a sprint with in form Kerr and Char for fighting back from a shocker swim to ride and run into 4th overall and the Oceania championship!

A big thanks to the organisers who make the most of a beautiful race location and continue to make a great race even better each year. Also a big thanks to the Lyon family who were kind enough to accommodate, feed and generally look after me like a third son.

Next up I’ll be leaping to Olympic distance World Cup circuit in my all time favorite race the Mooloolaba Tri in three weeks time.

Until then,

Kung Fu


Tue, 26 Feb 2013

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Preparing medals for TriKids in Devonport
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Greeting hundreds of kids as they cross the TriKids Devonport finishline
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Had the chance to have a chat to Tassie radio station Sea fm at the Devonport TriKids event
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An amazing local family in the Lyons have me in their home for the weekend in Devonport. Young Fraser did his town proud in the junior event.

New partnership - FINIS Swimming

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I'm very pleased to announce a new partnership I've recently entered into with swimming brand FINIS in association with Aqua Shop. FINIS are the worldwide leader in the innovation, development and distribution of technical swimming products.
As an athlete who is constantly endeavouring to improve swim performance I am always searching for the tools, instruction and innovation to get the most from my training. I've used FINIS in the past and have complete faith in FINIS assisting my swimming evolution.
I'm very excited about this relationship and about the opportunities utilising FINIS in my everyday training environment will afford my abilities on race day! 





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