Lara’s new Toy

Lara has decided that she wants to have a good crack at the triathlon series this year as she enjoyed the few she did at the end of last season. As is the Smith way, new sport = new toys, and shiny carbon ones at that!!!! Lara has bought herself a TT bike. This morning was her first chance to test it at a local 20km Time trial.

It was 4 laps of champion Lake which is a purpose build rowing lake, closed circuit and a great place to race. Ellis and I were there to cheer her on, Tom was doing it s well so Amara and Ellis ran playing around whilst Evie giggled

Lara Got faster as the laps went by but she looked like she was starting to find the ‘Hurt Locker’

She finished 8th which was a great effort in a time of 33m:03s with an average speed of just over 36kph. I was suppose to be doing it but I conveniently forgot my helmet and shoes (probably a blessing as otherwise I good of got a good pasting from the wife!)

Post match analysis showed that Lara’s handlebars were not quite tight enough and they had slipped and dropped down a little, and her front brake was slightly rubbing, so I need to pay more attention to my spanner monkey duties!!!

Tom was also in a world of pain, I would love to have some pictures of him looking fast on his bike but he was going through to fast for me to focus! well done tome on a 2nd and a 45kph average! His spanner monkey needs a slap as well.

To the Park

We went to meet the Fords at the park. The girls ran around like lunatics to burn off their fish and Chips. I took my camera.

This is Amara, she is Ellis’s mate who she loves to play with, she has the most cheeky smile and will never forgive me for pretending to put her in the bin at her birthday Party, my bad.

This is Evie, she is Amara’s little sister, she is also known as “Angel baby”, as all she does is eat, sleep, smile repeat…….

This is the Wife, she is giving me the eye……………….

Dunsborough for the X adventure

The bug has well and truly bitten. I had entered the Dunsborough X adventure race a few months ago. With Lara’s new found love of this multisport stupidity – she entered the mid length course as well. So the weekend turned into a family affair. The Prudens where our weekends camping companions with Amanda racing with Lara on the Saturday.

We spent a lovely weekend down in Dunsborough which is a stunning place. The beaches, coastline and national forest are all stunning and a place I want to explore more of!

Once again Lara shone, she finished fourth! This is after overcoming a pretty chopping open water swim, then a coastal run and a mtb ride. A stunning effort and she now wants to concentrate on getting her swimming better over the winter to start causing some real damage next season!

I am happy with my result, I came 23rd out of 160 odd and beat my target time by 20 minutes so happy there. Other than racing there was a lot of time with the children running around the campsite on their balance bikes and playing on beaches. a lovely weekend. See pictures below.

How can you do a triathlon when you can’t swim….?!?!?!?!

Up until about two weeks ago – Lara couldn’t swim, let alone put her head under water. Not sure what happened, but she suddenly decided that she wanted to do a triathlon and somehow magically found the powers to swim and even put her head under the water. Honestly extremely impressed and proud of her, to go and do a 750m open water swim in the ocean is such an achievement for her it is amazing. She finished the Sprint Length triathlon (750m swim, 20km bike and 5km run) in 1hr 22minutes coming 13th out of her field of 80 odd. She came out of the water 5th last….. I think she would be dangerous when she practises her swim a little more. She said she loved it and was keen for more – i think we have created a monster!