Hi Crew,

 It’s been a while between hanging out and just recovering from the travel and racing. So early July is scheduled to be a cruisy time for me to catch up on sleep and pull the body back to 100% before hitting the rigours of preparation for IM Hawaii and IM WA. I think I’ll hit a long course race in September to sharpen up, and try to do some running races as part of the old boys cross country here in Melbourne plus visit Buddy for squads for a three month stint to bring my swimming up a level.

I have learnt from what was a solid, yet ultimately sub-par race for me in Japan. I need to tighten up my transitions where I wasted some valuable time. I think the gains I made in my swimming suffered from being away from squads for the three weeks leading into the race. I have decided at this stage (pending some seriously crap Melbourne weather!) to prepare for Kona in Melbourne, so I can persist with Buddy’s squads and make up some ground for keeps. My bike was no problems, but I would like to put some speed work in if I get the energy. As for my run, I need to rid myself of these seriously pesky little tib post niggles, which have been annoying me since April. I get a good month done, then they rear their ugly little heads again. In order to do the speed work on the run, which I need to run to potential, I have to have a block of good training Aug-Oct. I’m also getting in the gym for the next month to HTFU.

I’ve pulled up easily the best from any ironman after Japan, and that could be easily explained by not really running out the last ten kilometres…not the way I’d like to race again. I ran a couple of times around the lake in Daylesford with Brett (my older brother) on the weekend, and froze half to death! We had a terrific weekend celebrating Mum’s 60th though. 

See you on the road

Mitch 

Thanks again to Hajime and Tomoko for showing us a great time in Tokyo (Dinner in Tokyo)