Hello Loyal Troops,

It’s finally some good news from the Western Front. Despite the enemy doing their best taking pot shots and knocking me down, I’ve been patched up and am readying for more battle!

I have been able to do an outstanding amount of training despite having a collarbone that is only 16 days post op. Since I got the green light to train last Wednesday, I’ve covered >600km on the bike, run 6 times and done more kicking in the pool than I’ve done for the whole of the year. Who knows, the injury may even lead to my swimming improving!? Surely there has to be a silver lining to some part of this pretty average year.

In other good news, I’m looking good for signing two new sponsors- one won’t be on the cards until early in the new year, but I should be able to make an announcement next week on a very exciting deal. Don’t you hate it when someone says, “I’ve got a secret but I’m not going to tell you what it is!” I know I do, so you’ll have to check back in next week for the announcement.

On the bad news front- the WTC have announced a new Pro licencing system ($750 USD), which is going to provide little benefit to the likes of me (mid range pro), and prove a serious disadvantage for both women in elite ironman triathlon, and some of the up-n-coming men. I’m going to write a full diatribe on this for the magazine, so I won’t vent my spleen now…well, not more than I’ve already done. Suffice to say, it’s another move by an American company controlling our sport, which shows scant regard or understanding of Australian (and many other) athletes. I am extremely surprised that an elite woman in our sport (known for her absolute backing of women in Ironman) has come out in support of a change that will leave many of her female Pro’s out of pocket…and without Kona slots.

OK, see you on the track…and mind my mending collarbone.

Mitch

PS A big shout out to the kid who ruined all the fun in the wave pool at MSAC today. The place for playing battleships is in your bath at home…the pool nazi did not like the brown trouts swimming around the wave pool! Flynn and I were disappointed to only smash out one session of waves when the exon valdeze sludge had cleared the filters!

PPS also a shout out to the Chef, who has already nailed meal of the week with his black eyed peas- with duck, pork belly and sausage all sauteed with seasonal vegetables. It was seriously delish, I don’t know how I’m ever going to get down to race weight again!