Gold Baby Gold

Hi,

As you may have seen or heard back home I won the first ever guys Youth Olympics Games triathlon. Was awesome. Feels unbeliveable, and hasnt really sunk in yet, but it will when I get home mid next month and get to see friends and family. I had a good race, raced smart and hard and gave it everything I had in the tank. I took a risk on the bike, which I dont normally do, but I only had one chance so I thought why not. It worked out alright, got a small lead at the start of the run but it didnt really relive the pressure. The USA athlete put lots of pressure on me throughout the run and we were neck n neck the whole way. I had a bit more in the tank at the end and wanted it that tiny bit more, and dam was it sweet. I won by 13sec, so had time to enjoy the last couple hundred metres. Was a very proud moment and een better when I had the haka done for me by the NZ team, which was unbeliveable. That was just as cool as having gold dangling around my neck, was so proud to be a kiwi. I've been resting up today and just cruising, and same tomorrow with a it of recovery training. On Thursday I will team up with the Australians and Maddie and do a 4 person relay for Oceania which will be awesome, and cant wait. Been a cool experience and a huge learning curve, experiencing the highs and lows of sport at the elite level. All I could think about during the run was 'dont give up, dont give in' and thinking about everyone thats helped me along the way, espicially someone special starting with J (with the lucky pink ribbon tied to the stem of my bike), who never ever left the back of my mind!!!. Without the support of everyone i wouldve struggled t get here, let alone get on the podium, so for all the help Ive bee given I am extremely grateful. When i return home on the 18th September I will be keen to catch up with everyone and show my medal and have a yarn. In Friday I head to Germany for training camp, so Im not done yet. So I need to focus on Worlds now and try and back up the gold with a solid performance in Budapest. Thanks again, and keep following my blog. I'll try my best to update it everyday in Germany and Hungary. Check out link below on you tube for highlights of race.

PS. Gore High School is awesome-especially the year 13's, luv u guys!!!



Thanks

Aaron

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wu2f_y2mLFI

Getting Close!!

Hi peoples

Got training over and done with quite early this morning. Went to the pool for light swim then a run before, feeling alright but the shins are giving me bit of grief today.

Slept like a baby last night, but had bit of a sleepwalking disaster and ended up 5min away in the food hall before I relised that it was actually 3.30 in the morning and food wasnt being served yet. looked like a fool when I asked one of the cleaners what the time was!!!

Going to go have a feed now, and have a look around. In the main village square, there are about 100 booths set up representing different countries and activities around their culture, so might go check some of them out. Also we get given about 20 or 30 NZ koru badges, and each nation has one, so might go do a bit of swaping. Some awesome ones out there. Leave for opening ceremony later in the afternoon, which will be pretty cool. Meant to be huge and quite amazing so Ive heard.

Cya Aaron

Hi

Had course familarisation today which was cool. Early start and about a 50min bus trip to race venue. Kinda annoying being so far away as we have to leave our bikes and gear there. Bikes all set up and rearing to go. The swim is good, very warm 28 degrees which is warmer than most indoor heated pools. Water isnt the nicest, typical city beach with bit of rubbish and bit dirty.The current in the water is extremly strong, pushing you to the right; which is less than ideal when im number 7 and must start on the far right. So there will have to a lot of tactics to sort out how ill get around that, cos it could easily stuff things up. Bike course is cool, tight course mostly but flat. just a wide footpath inside a park beside the beach, similar to queens park..kinda..um yea kinda not haha!!! The run is pretty gud, going to be very fast bike and run. Also had athlete briefing so most things all srted and rady to go. Still coming to grips with the heat factor, its very hot and constantly sweating. Olympic village is pretty cool but a lot of hype. Opening ceremony is tomorrow, like a haf hour bus trip away, so its going to be chaos transporting about 10000 people fromn the village to there!!!! Rules are so strick for the race, especially with uniform and sponsors logos. On our bike, we are only allowed the brand and model displayed once, and my bike says 'specialized' about 6 times, so everything must be taped up and covered. Same  with drinkbottles, race suits etc, everything is plain or given to us. at the course is cool, we get our own athlete lounge (but its really just a tent) and got a big fridge full of free drinks...so dont worry im getting my fair share of stuff thats for sure. Its been really cool talking with athletes from other countries and meeting them. Had a yarn with few guys that ill race which is cool. Opening ceremony tomorrow which should be pretty cool.

Will post something tomorrow.

Cheers Aaron

in singapore!

Hi, I am writing from the Olympic Village in Singapore. Landed here a few hours ago and got a bus to village, which is HUGE!! but really cool. It's quite hot here which is a shock coming from the southland winter, but its good. The whole experience is huge already and it hasnt even really begun. Got free flash touch phones over here to keep, so they will come in handy while in here. At the airport, there were camera crews all over the show filming, and I had a short interview with a channel called World i think which was pretty cool. Heard I'm getting one with sky sport tomorrow arvo which is choice, nervous but an exciting opportunity. I race on Monday, so have got a few full days to climatise and get familiar with the whole environement. Getting quite nervous being amongst it all, just a small fish in a huge pond here with 5000 other athletes. I'm rooming with dallas Seymour, havent met him yet but heard he's bit of a legend so that will be choice. Seeing some famous people around hopefully which will be cool.

Will keep this updated daily as I have wireless in my room here at the village, so thats all from me. I'm hitting the sack after a lllooooonnnggg day.

Chow
Aaron

getting ready

Everything is all sorted to go- getting all packed tonight. I fly to Auckland tomorrow and stay a night there, then fly to Singapore early Wed morning. Very excited and cant wait to see the big wide world. I race on the 16th, which is one week today. 32 athletes in my race at the Youth Olympics, the start list has just come out and numbers have been drawn randomly by previous Olympic champions/medalists which is cool.

I'd like to thank all the people from the community that have helped me out, especially the Riversdale/Waikia/Gore community- without your support I really would've struggled to get to this point. I'll try and keep this updated everyday from now so keep an eye out!!

Aaron

Training is ticking over just nicely. I leave next Tuesday. Can't wait to get some sunshine.

Hi!!

Hi everyone,

I have created this blog so family, friends, the community and people who support me can follow me and my progress when I'm overseas training and racing. So keep an eye out and I'll try to publish as much stuff as I can and leave some comments if you want!!

Cheers Aaron