The weekend saw Gina Ferguson (Christchurch) and Terenzo Bozzone (Auckland) achieve podium results in Europe and America respectively as both build for Ironman races later in the season.
Bozzone raced over the Olympic distance in Buffalo, Minnesota in wintry like conditions while Ferguson raced a half Ironman at Challenge France in the warmth of the European summer.
Bozzone was pleased with his work out as he continues to build towards Ironman Germany, winning by over a minute in conditions that reminded him of a New Zealand winter.
"The race today was a good challenge. I really struggled to find my rhythm throughout the race as my body didn't like the icy weather, it was about 6°C - a typical winters day back home in NZ, but now I feel soft complaining because I heard that the Nordic skiing team here trains and races in -30°F in the winter...crazy!
"The pace was on from the start of the swim, but I managed to get away and keep a small lead for the rest of the race to hold on for the win but 2nd place was under 2 minutes back and 3rd close behind. The course was great as it had a bit of everything, the volunteers and race organizers were awesome and did a great job and to top off my experience here I got to race with a truly inspirational guy with a great team behind him.
"Paul is melanoma cancer patient and was receiving chemotherapy 2 weeks ago while the rest of the competitors were out there hitting their hard training and getting ready for the race. Not only did he, his wife and son along with a whole group of supporters turn up and finish the race but he carved it up big time. I saw him out there on the course and there is no way you could tell what he has been through. What an inspiration he was to everyone there watching!"
Bozzone this week heads to Cambridge, Maryland for the Eagleman 70.3 next weekend, then returns to the west coast, Portland, Oregon for a final 2 weeks of training before heading over to Germany for the Ironman.
Buffalo Triathlon
Olympic Distance
Elite Men
| 1. | Terenzo Bozzone | NZL | 1:59:50 |
| 2. | Matthew Payne | USA | 2:01:16 |
| 3. | Jonathan Balabuck | USA | 2:02:33 |
| 4. | Patrick Parish | USA | 2:04:05 |
| 5. | Steve Sander | USA | 2:05:16 |
FERGUSON THIRD AT CHALLENGE FRANCE HALF
Meanwhile Gina Ferguson continues her racing and training in France, this time making the podium in a half Ironman event, despite losing valuable time in transitions.
"Despite finishing third this was a race with quite a lot of problems for me that I will need to work on. I lost one place because of very, very bad transitions which were frustrating but also something that can easily be improved upon.
"I enjoyed a very good swim coming out with front group which included Macca (elite male Chris McCormack). It was then that I suffered a very poor transition, struggling to put on my arm warmers and this took about 30 seconds too long (it was very cold and rainy so I felt I needed them).
"My bike was knocked from the rack and I lost all nutrition (4 gels in a flask) leaving me with only water, although I did not realize this at the time or I would have searched for it."
Things got worse for Ferguson though, after struggling through the bike without her gels and other nutrition transition two was about to slow her down even more.
"I came into transition 2 in 2nd position, 1 minute behind. Again I had a very bad transition. This transition was in a different place than the first transition and our transition bags had been taken there and placed by the volunteers. Someone had tied a double knot around my bag (I never tie a knot it is not necessary as the bags stay closed), and I couldn't for the life of me open it, I struggled for a while then tore it open with my hands and then this meant it took a while to put my stuff back in the bag. I lost another 30-40 seconds at least.
"I was so hungry by this stage, but with no aid station in transition I ran 2k, but only water at this station, got passed by Rebekah Keat and I could not go with her as I had no energy. The next aid station was at the top of a hill at around 5k where I finally found some gels and put a whole heap in my pockets. I moved into 2nd by halfway, but got caught by the fleet footed French girl in the last km down the hill to the finish. I will have a rematch with her at Ironman France."
Next up for Ferguson is a surprise trip to Korea for the long distance Asian Championships next week. The race involves a 3km sea swim, an 80km bike ride all up hill and then a 20km run at altitude.
Challenge France
Half Ironman
Elite Women
| 1. | Rebekah Keat | AUS | 4:27:12 |
| 2. | Alexandra Louison | FRA | 4:34:37 |
| 3. | Gina Ferguson | NZL | 4:34:41 |
| 4. | Lucie Zelenkova | CZE | 4:36:49 |
| 5. | Nicole Best | GER | 4:46:22 |
