Racing around the world is lots of fun, but now on my 14th year as a professional and now a family guy with two wonderful children, the preparation for a trip away is much more daunting than 10 years ago. I am currently packing up everything for my first race of the season in Singapore this weekend.
It will be nice to blow the legs out and see where I am at. All the guys i am racing are a few events into their season so I am expecting it to be a tough challenge for me, but it is the beginning of my 2009 racing campaign and that is exciting from a racing and competitive perspective. I am in solid form but intend to really race myself into peak condition over the next few weeks for a really focused European campaign this year that will begin in St Pollen Austria for the Ironman 70.3 race and culminate in Ironman Germany and the European Championships on July 4th. Our focus has been about a very heavy European presence this year and some very tough European racing to lay down the foundation for my Kona block in August and September.
As my girls get older they start to understand what I do more and are now realizing that daddy will be gone for a few weeks. This is tough on them and on me as well. It really makes the time away tough and gives me the drive to ensure that anytime away is productive and solid time.
Even after 14 seasons I still hate packing my bike. I thought I would get a small blog done before I started the process. I really wish their was a simpler way to do this. You have such a nice bike and no matter how well you pack it, after a good season of racing, they always end up a little beaten up and scratched. I better get to it.
Will write from Singapore.
Hi Macca
we wish you a solid race in singapore. we ar looking forward to st pölten, where we are racing together. it is nice to see you in our home country, perhaps we can take a photo for our blog.
it would be nice, if you could write a few words to our guestbook.
www.moema-tri.at
your fans and age-grouper from austria
michi, mario, peter and alex (team möma-tri)
Posted by: team MÖMA-Tri | March 17, 2009 at 03:04 PM
Dear Macca,
As far as you are able to imagine I am writing you, but as near as I'm able to feel,...I feel you near,... your words are sincere and I'm proud of being your supporter.Thank you very much for making me smile.
I write you from Spain, I'm 33 years old, 7 times IM finisher (betweeen 11 and 13 hours) and I'm dad since 1 year and 3 months ago.
I have to work everyday from 9 to 19:00 and
I also have to be dad, and husband, and I want to still being triathlete,...
but I'm affraid that this is my "see you later" season, because I'll be father again next september and our days only have 24 hours.
Anyway, as far as you'll still being as you are, clear, pure and triathlete, I'll still believing in this, in sport, in everything I wanted and I still wanting to be.
I'll come back, maybe in a few years...
thank you very much...you are the best inside and outside the wetsuit :).
Best luck in those 2009 targets, we'll be pushing you from here!
Please,...never give up!
Best regards!
JM
Posted by: Jose Manuel Domenech | March 18, 2009 at 03:02 PM
Hello Macca!
Good luck from Brazil.
Have a great and solid performance in Singapore 70.3.
Keep chasing your dreams.
Cheers,
Leo
Posted by: Leonardo Avelar | March 19, 2009 at 01:49 PM