28.02.07

Danielle reports from Huski

Posted in Triathlon, Sport at 12:14 pm by AB

Danielle has provided broughton.id.au with an exclusive race report from the Australian Long Course Champs in Huskisson, NSW. Read on Below.

The 2nd last stop: Australian Long Course Champs
Huskisson 25 February 5 weeks to the big dance.
The last chance for Team Danni #226 supporters to get in their supporter practice.

Huskisson looked like the perfect location for a weekend of triathlon, and the town was ready for us. Friday night’s Dinner at the RSL, watching the Brumbies lose on the big screen was not made any better as we all lost in the meat raffles.

Saturday: 8am Katherine, fellow housemate & triathlete romped it home in the Australian Sprint Distance Champs to finish a clear 1st. The weather was perfect and water calm. It was going to be a warm day out tomorrow if the weather stayed the same.

3pm: race rego / bike check in, thunder, lightning, rain, cold. Plastic bags over seats, tri bars

4pm: thunder, lightning, and rain.
5pm rain,
9pm rain,
2am rain,
6am rain.

I woke mum up at 5:45am to drive me the 10min walk to transition as it continued to rain. By 6:30am the rain had stopped and it was looking hopeful although still cloudy.

Now the swim - what I classed as my first proper open water swim.

The whale watching boat was position at the first turning boy – 750m off shore providing some lucky passengers with a great view of the swim. I wasn’t looking forward to the swim. Newspaper reports from Christmas had reported having closed the beaches in Jervis Bay on a number of occasions due to large numbers of sharks being spotted within metres of swimmers. Using the same tactics of the Gold Coast swim “They only go for the weaker swimmers and the ones with more meat”, I was ready to prove Andrew Terra wrong once again and survive the swim.

Wearing my Director’s brand new (yes, I cut the price tag off myself) 2XU wetsuit (yes, I have an awesome boss, who’s the same size as me) I was off. The water was that clear it made the Girls Grammar pool seem cloudy. For once I could see my full arm stroke and the persons 3 metres to the left. For the first 750m I debated whether this was a good thing. Did I want to see Jaws before he got me or not & I also questioned how hard it would be to evacuate the swimmers using only the whale watching boat.

I decided to as much as possible not look down in the water, rather ahead in the white wash of swimmers in front. Turning the first bouy I saw something on the bottom, to scared to take a second look I smashed it out for 15m before telling myself not to be stupid and convincing myself sharks preferred surfers instead, and there were plenty of them marking the swim course. I did however spot a stingray on my way back in some 3m below. I could bore you with more things that I thought about in my 36min swim, but coach might have something to say about what the bloody hell am I doing out there!

The Ride – 83km – 3 laps – passing the holiday house 3 times.

Ride was good, no wildlife to report on. The support team, had made full use of the prime location and AB was cooking up a storm on the BBQ. Any closer to the road and it would have been a hazard to cyclists. However the smell of bacon & egg muffins proved to be upsetting to some jealous triathletes.

Highlights: being overtaken by the lead vehicle – convertible VW and the pro males.
Great undulating course. Hats off to the road marshals who did a great job, including the one that pointed out I didn’t have time to be eating.

The Run – 20km – 2 laps.

On to the run leg I had Paul Smith pacing off me for a whole 10m before Rads had a go at him and he decided to let me be. It took a few kms to find my feet before I relaxed. Thanks to the cheer squad along the course. Turning the final turn around on 4h35mins I was hoping to go under the 5hr barrier. 4h57:56 final finishing time.

Extremely happy with the time and the race. Highly recommended race venue and race organisation. Receiving the finishes towel as I crossed the line made up for receiving a race t’shirt that said Sprint distance not Long course, not receiving the box of rice crackers because they were for males only and receiving the XL race shirt as they had given the Larges ones to the males. What they are trying to say is that all triathletes are fat, particularly the ladies – who don’t need the rice crackers.

As for doubling that distance only April 1 will know. If I don’t think about it too much – anything is possible.

Thanks to the support crew, and well done to the other Tridents on and off the course.

What’s next:Week 1: Recovery week
Week 2: Build week – including race distance ride 180km
Week 3: Bike Camp – Last Stop
Week 4 – 5: Taper / Race
Week 6: Recovery & get my Ironman tattoo.

Team Danni #226 Announces more team members

Posted in Triathlon, Sport at 9:26 am by AB

Team Danni #226 - Presented by the Bank of Mum and Dad wishes to announce the following appointments to the Team Roster for Ironman Australia 2007.

Major Sponsor: Mr Roger and Ms Margaret Broughton - Joint owners of the Bank of Mum and Dad.

Team Danni #226 is proud to welcome a leader in the family banking business on board as the major sponsor for 2007. Team Danni #226 looks forward to working along side Mr and Mrs Broughton and the Bank of Mum and Dad in 2007 and the future.

Mr Broughton said, “we are pleased to continue out commitment to Team Danni #226 and sport in general. We have been associated with Danielle for just under 27 years, and while the relationship hasn’t always been easy; it has been beneficial for all involved.”

Ms Broughton noted that, “We sponsor several athletes but by far Danielle is our most successful.” Ms Broughton went on to deny rumours that they were considering cutting another athlete who has a history of underperformance, injuries and constant battles with racing weight. “The particular athlete you are talking about finished 2nd in the Canberra Cycling Club D grade Crits last week, we haven’t given up all hope just yet.”

Bike Mechanic: Mr Aaron Farlow joins the team as Bike Mechanic/Fluffer.

Aaron brings a background in Triathlon and machinery to Team Danni #226 His expert chain cleaning skills will ensure that Danielle’s Giant Carbon TCR Zero will be running as smooth as it can come April 1. Aaron was a shock selection for the position. It was rumoured that several of the selection committee were not happy that Mr Farlow resided outside the ACT and in particular Queanbeyan. Broughton.id.au understands that the Chairwoman used her powers to appoint Farlow.

Mr Farlow commented that being appointed to Team Danielle was a dream come true. “It’s been a long time since I can remember being awarded such a lucrative position, not much happens in Queanbeyan and any excuse I have to spend time in Canberra is a major plus.”

Danielle Broughton has informed broughton.id.au, “I would like to confirm Mr Farlow was appointed ‘Bike Mechanic’ after being fired as Team Dietician. I think history was on the verge of having the first person train for Ironman who actually gained weight.” She went on to add, “I like my meat & 3 vegetables, but 3 meats & 3 veg is too much! On a positive note he did have the icecream stocks on par.”

Rumours indicate that Mr Farlow will be prevented by Team Danni #226 from driving his Holden Ute to Ironman. This is to avoid a clash with sponsors the Bank of Mum and Dad who had problems with official Team Danni #226 cars having NSW number plates.

Team Danni #226 will be making further team member appointments in the coming week.

Aaron Broughton
Team Danni #226 - Public Relations

25.02.07

Australian Long Course Championships

Posted in Triathlon, Sport at 1:31 pm by AB

QUICK UPDATE:

Danielle has finished 11th in the 25-29 Age Group completing the 2k swim, 83k bike and 20k run course in a time of 4:57:58.

More on this soon, with a race report from Danielle herself.

Aaron Broughton
Team Danni #226 - Public Relations

23.02.07

Team Danni #226 - Presented by the Bank of Mum and Dad

Posted in Triathlon, Sport at 10:28 am by AB

For the next 6 weeks the Broughton.id.au website will be devoted to the Ironman Campaign of my sister Danielle Broughton.

After trying a multitude of other activities including proving unsuccessful at most Danielle has turned her hand to Triathlon and has proven successful.


Danielle was never going to make it as a surfer.

Inspired by witnessing first hand the heroics of her idol Chris McCormack in the 2006 Hawaiian Ironman, this April Danielle will tackle the “Grand Final” of Australian Triathlon the Ironman in Port Macquarie. Raced over 226 kilometres Danielle has set her self the goal of swimming 3.8k; cycling 180k and to finish it all off a full marathon of 42.2k all in under 17 hours.


Danielle shows her running strength, as she blows by some guy reading the Sunday Times

Stay tuned to broughton.id.au as we have all the lead up, highlights and stories from the assult on ironman. Also remember to check out the Tridents Triathlon Club website for more updates on Danielle and the rest of her club mates racing in Port Macquarie.