If you see these people out on the course... give 'em a cheer.
Celia is a wonderful person and is also a great friend. Watching Celia race is an amazing experience; she is a great swimmer, has such power on the bike and her perfect running technique really shows you why she now races as a Pro. She is originally from Germany and is studying Sport Biomechanics, her major project is the study of diabetic feet.
We've shared some great times racing and hanging out here in NZ, especially travelling to Rotorua in our camper vans and camping out at the Rotorua Half Ironman. Bring it on Celia... you're awesome!
Belinda Harper
B is simply the best! An awesome athlete and a brilliant friend. She is a fantastic swimmer and was previously the NZ Breaststroke Champion.
With her strong swimming background and a natural talent for Triathlon, she has had a fantastic first year in the sport. We've shared some great first experiences over the past few years and have had such a laugh and giggle when we've been racing, training and supporting each other. We always like to party after our races too! Belinda rocks!
Belinda prefers to race the Standard (Olympic) and Half Ironman Distances but this year she is going for the big kahuna - Ironman New Zealand. Can't wait to see you out there Bee!
TriDork (Marcus Perry) and Grubby (Dale Crompton)
Well these two/too Crazy Guys, I owe a lot to. When I first came to NZ I cyled to catch the ferry everyday at Devonport and met Marcus on a cycle back to Takapuna. I asked him if he knew any good places to train and races to take part in, not knowing at that stage that his nickname is TriDork, and he was Awesome in giving me loads of info to get me started.
I got invited out on the regular Tuesday and Thursday morning bike rides and at that stage could barely keep up with them but just hung on their back wheels, desperately trying to keep up. They were very kind and let me keep going out with them, even on some big 5 hr bike rides on the weekends! I had to endure lots of grubby jokes and mickey taking but it was all worth it!
We've had great fun over the past few years going to the Half Ironman competitions, and paryting like mad at the after parties. In fact, Beer and Macdonalds were for the most part the pre-race carbo loading sessions that these two took part in. I can remember feeling quite poorly afterwards on the way home but the parties always made up for it.
Now I keep getting stick from them for cycling too fast and being boring as I don't drink so much or eat Maccy D's like I used to....... Its always great to hang out with them though, looking forward to the next coffee cruise. I miss these guys heaps but will definatley give them a shout when I'm up in Auckland next.
Jose really is a great guy and he's achieved some great things in his journey to Ironman which you can read about on his website. I had no idea that Jose was "Lardman" until he told me when we were sharing the trip down to Taupo for Walter's Training Camp! I'd been trying to suss out who it was for months after seeing the photo of him on the website. Such a difference that I hadn't been able to spot him! Jose has been really lucky as he entered the Ironman Lottery for a chance to win a Kona slot and his number came up! Can you believe that Jose has now been to the Ironman World Championship - TWICE - on lottery wins alone!! The lucky thing.... we'll have to see if he makes it 3rd time lucky for 2009.
Andrew Davidson
Andrew and I have been racing together, quite literally in all the races this season! We shared a lot of the time on the run course at Ironman together and are always competing against each other to see who can get the best times! A great friend to have, Andrew and his family have been great supporters. Andrew's daughter Sarah did the photo's for the website, if you click on the link on the front page you can contact her for more info on the photo's she can do for you.
Debbie Keymer-Dixon
Debbie Keymer-Dixon - Debs 'The Hairy Godmother' (I hope she doesn't go mad at me for putting that on the website!!) is a great mate to have. We have been swim training together over the NZ summer season and Debs has been supporting all of us at almost all of our races. Debbie did her first Ironman at Taupo in 2008 and it was so cool to see her out there.. We've had some great laughs over the past year, and I reckon that Deb's sense of humour and crazy ways are what makes for the best race mate ever! Watch out for her and her the Swifty Sisters (Belinda,Amanda and me), come along and join the party.
