Alana Holben: 3rd 35-39 age group. 2:26:24 (P.B)

Lauren Jones: 4th 25-29 age group. 2:21:22 (P.B)

Mike Wedderburn: 30-34 age group. 2:23:18 (P.B)

Dannielle Cousins: 4th open women. 2:17:06

Great results from the Elitesportz athletes in very hot and windy conditions

Caitlin Bridgland November 2011 Report

As we begin 2012 it will be my 35^th year of coaching.

I have experienced the entire spectrum of results from athletes being last or having a bad result when going into an event thinking that winning was the only option for them,  to coming first when a good result on that particular day was last thing that was expected.

Every time these things have happened it has added another chapter to my ‘experience book’.

It wasn’t until 12 years ago when I became a ‘full time’ coach that the consistency of good results really started to play out.

What did I do differently 12 years ago?

I stopped being an athlete myself. I thought I was doing a good job as a part time athlete and a part time coach but I was missing things because my attention to detail just wasn’t there. I thought it was but it wasn’t.

The more and more that I coach at the level that is expected of a coach like myself I know now that I would find it absolutely impossible to be a competitive athlete of any kind and be a professional coach at the same time.

It is akin to having 2 full time jobs because to be competitive as an athlete requires absolute attention to your own training and recovery to ensure good results for themselves.

This attention to your own process leaves no time for any external coaching pressures of the type, especially the many changes in personalities that athletes are prone to as their important events that they are preparing for get closer and closer.

I look back with embarrassment on those years now when I trained 25-35 hours per week and called myself a coach as well. Who was I kidding that I was being a good coach? Myself, and the athletes that I coached.

AI

In both of their 1st full Ironman race attempts Ben Mooney finished in 11:16:30 and Mike Wedderburn in 12:47:06

Both Ben and Mike should be extremely proud of themselves for IM no 1. Great job both of you.

Then we had Caitlin Bridgland come in 8th overall female with the 2nd fastest swim of the day and 7th fastest run of the day in a PB(by nearly an hour) time of 9:57:25 and winning the 25-29 age group.

Lauren Jones also in the 25-29 age group finished 3rd in a time of 10:08:46 (her best time in over 7 years)

Janine Willis won the 35-39 age group in 10:12:14. Janines’ win was set up by a very fast bike split of 5:10:11

I am so very proud of all of your efforts out there yesterday!

Ben Mooney #286, Mike wedderburn #355, Cailtin Bridgland #1159, Lauren Jones #1177, Janine Willis # 1290.

You can follow their progress from 5.30am on www.ironmanlive.com

Good luck all.