Erox / Aeromax Elite Development Team

These pages are here for the purpose of giving exposure to our Athletes and our major sponsor Erox which is an online triathlon shop based in Zurich Switzerland and soon to be distributed in Australia. Our Erox / Aeromax Development Team consists of athletes - Alison Kean, Cameron Good, Matt Clark, Tim Prowse and Tim Berkel.

These athletes will be racing in the European season 07' as a team and will be based in Switzerland. The race programme will incude Olympic distance racing right up to the 70.3 series and Ironman. Alison Kean will focusing on 70.3 and Ironman, Cameron Good will be focusing on short course elite racing and Olympic distance elite U-23, Matt, and the two Tims will be focusing on mainly 70.3 and Ironman and some Olympic distance racing.

Our long term view is to create a team of young triathletes who can follow their dreams by racing locally and overseas. We would like to have a situation whereby our young elite athletes who are on the cusp of being full time triathletes can concentrate a little more on developing their talents and a little less time worrying about the financial constraints of training and racing at the higher level while also gaining valuable experience racing overseas. This team idea provides a pathway within our coaching programme in which our athletes can push to reach this development team and then hopefully go on to bigger and better things.

ELITE TEAM NEWS:

Ironman Malaysia Sat 23rd Feb/ Alison Fitch 2nd Overall

Alison stamped herself well and truly as one of Australia's best current crop of Ironwomen. Alison was 2nd out of the water behind Nina Craft (Germany) but about 4mins adrift of the German. Bella Comberford (Scotland) surged on the bike early and closed the gap to Nina Craft leaving Ali in 3rd about 5 mins back on her own as the leading 2 rode together. At about the 110km mark Ali began to get stronger and she rode up to catch Nina and Bella just before the transition and the 3 went out on the run together as co leaders. Nina put the hammer down straight away putting 5mins into Bella and Ali who were running within seconds of each other until about the 13km mark. Bella surged leaving Ali running in 3rd but a solid 8mins in front of 4th. What happened next turned the race on it's ear as Nina Craft melted down and pulled out of the race leaving Ali a scant 3 mins out of the lead of Bella. Comberford then stated to slow and again Ali caught up taking the lead.  Bella then melted down as Nina did and also pulled out of the race. Ali then lead the race for quite some time until about 30km's when a flying Nicole Leader caught Ali and went on to win the race - Ali finishing in 2nd place 7 mins later in a time of 9:50. Ali posted the fastest bike time of the day and because of Nina's DNF also posted the fastest swim. You can check all the results of the day on www.ironmanlive.com. Well done to Ali.

7/3/07

ALISON FITCH RACE REPORT / 2ND PLACE IRONMAN MALAYSIA

24th February 2007.

My story: For my sister Krissi (25 July 1968 – 24 January 2007)

It’s been a week now since my extremely satisfying 2nd place finish at IM Langkawi. Unfortunately I have been bed/couch bound for 3 days with viral gastro, most unpleasant, but today feeling a bit more “with it” to tell you all about my, quickest to date, Ironman race in the sun.

Even getting to the start line was a hard decision, emotionally more than ever. Thanks to the support and encouragement of my family and friends (special thank you to my brother Tony and my great mate Maria) I made it.

After arriving in Langkawi both Stuey and I suffered the sore throat/ear thingo that seems to come with tapering, travelling and new places. So on the morning of the big race we both decided to just have a hard training day........it turned out a little better.

SWIM
Usually I feel quite confident and ready to rip into things in the swim leg of an IM but with an altered preparation for this IM, I decided to build into it to avoid an early horrible burst of lactate. The plan worked to great effect with a very comfy, enjoyable swim indeed (head and body clashes still a given). I exited a couple minutes down on my normal time but felt positive I’d made the right decision. There was along day ahead of me.

TRANSITION 1
Had a shocker (even Stuey was faster),
My helper was inexperienced and did not speak English, and I was their first athlete. Bella Comerford seemed to be instructing her helper with more success and was first onto the bike. Bugger, I was off to catch her.

BIKE
It’s an interesting bike course alright with hills straight away that made me very nervous. The Wednesday prior to the race both Stuey and I got severe death wobbles going down one of the hills. It scared the crap out of us, and I made the decision to take it easy in the race (Stuey still content with his 80km/hr!).

So task accomplished, I made the first big descent, went to stand for the following hill seeing Bella in my sights and my chain came off (swear word!). Next was a very embarrassing push of my bike up the “massive” steep hill as I couldn’t get back on without falling off (Yes, some bike skills still yet to learn). To no surprise, I was left behind, but still early days and my race mantra “maximise your own performance” (thankyou Grants psych notes) had started in my head.

I felt quite rotten on the bike till about the 50km mark, my back was extremely painful (big history here) and I didn’t know if I could push through it. I drew strength and staying power from Krissi at this stage (I had her photo taped to the top tube of my bike). She was so strong and determined till the end, and I would continue as best I could for her.

I pretty much rode on my own the whole way but not without entertainment……
3 cows crossing the road at the 80km mark, monkeys continually darting onto the bike course, and a bus doing a 3point turn at the 100km mark?? (Very scary indeed, thank you brakes). Oh and not to mention all the little kids trying to steal your drink bottle whilst going 40km/hr! (cash incentives for them).

With 60km to go I started feeling stronger and stronger. I kept repositioning myself to manage my back pain, but seeing that I was closing the gap to Bella and Nina gave me confidence I was still riding well( not to mention always having the girls behind me in check).

I caught up to one of the age group guys who had blown up - he had gone past much earlier in a pack. He sat on my wheel the whole last lap which normally would frustrate me to no end but I reserved my energy to maximise my race and gave no energy to abusing him (quite happy I managed that- thankyou again Grant psych notes, ps, I dropped him by the end, yippee).

There were moments I felt intense flushes of heat out there on the bike course but I think my training in Darwin definitely helped me cope with it.

With 10km to go I noticed motor bikes and cars up ahead. I wondered what all the kerfuffle was then I realised that it was Bella and Nina leading the pro girls. I could not believe I had caught them. With a few negative thoughts of “I can’t ride past them”, I decided “why not” and off I went to enjoy the experience to the fullest, riding on past and leaving them behind. Nice feeling.

With a missed transition chute dismount…oops….reverse, reverse, I still managed to come in first off the bike. This created much confusion with the race commentators who could only keep repeating my name and saying that I had passed the race leaders. This brought more of a smile to my face than actually coming in first………ok……..maybe not 

TRANSITION 2
A more experienced helper this time, but still not my flashiest transition, race belt went on with goo’s and cool gel assorted and with my frangipanni ornaments attached (that Krissi had previously made me-she would be with me again) I was off into the real heat now.

RUN
I felt, hmmm, ok, to start. A strange goose bump feeling encompassed me and my back hurt, but I knew that it would settle with the support of my race belt once I got moving. My biggest fear on the run leg is achilles pain and foot numbness and to my great relief, there was none…whoopee…finally I could concentrate on running.

Nina took off right from the start- “see ya”, Bella a little more conservative. I felt Bella’s pace was quite comfy but I knew I couldn’t maintain it for 42km so I let her go. The run was bloody hot, 1km drink stations were still too far apart. At the 5km mark I caught Bella, she was walking through the aid stations, and from then on it was cat and mouse for the next 6km. At this point we heard that Nina had dropped out, wow wee, we were first and second - bit exciting 

Bella then surged and moved ahead of me, I concentrated hard on maintaining good form, relaxing and running my own race. Bella couldn’t cope with the heat just after I went past her at 21km and dropped out, I was in first place. It was a very special feeling leading the race, with many emotions running through my head. I maintained a fairly good pace till 27km when my quads started to give in.

I knew Nicole Leder was catching fast but my focus was now more about surviving and not breaking down. The aid stations were now out of water, so Coke and Enervit were my new substitutes for cooling, bit sticky but who cares hey.

The last 10km were extremely painful. I walked through every aid station to cool the thighs, and drank whatever was available. It was certainly mind ruling a reluctant and failing body. Nicole passed me with 12km to go 

Then it arrived; the last 1km but it felt like forever to get to that finish line. Motorbikes and cars surrounding me, it was all so special and painful at the same time. And so, my first 2nd place IM finish with a new PB. Yippee. Me, very happy. 

To Grant: A massive thank you for helping me achieve this result. For knowing what works best for me and always being so positive. I look forward to getting stronger and faster yet again.

To Flo: Thankyou for all your hard work in organising team Erox/Aeromax. Here’s to many more podium finishes in the future.

To Stuey: Well done Ironman. A 10.43 in your first IM, and a trip to Kona! You must have a great training partner. Thank you for your timely encouragement and support.

To my Dear sister Krissi: You were with me the whole day out there and I dedicate this race to you. I miss you and am always thinking of you. ♥

See you all at Im OZ- Go team Aeromax!

Ali ☼