Greetings,


Well they say the second edition of anything is always better than the first, all the kinks and problems have all been worked out and things running more smoothly. This seems to be the case with the Ironman Asia Pacific Championships being held this weekend here in my home city of Melbourne Australia. As a P4000- event on the Ironman circuit and some dollars up for grabs it has brought on an even more impressive field that the cracker that was assembled in 2012.

The 2013 event lines up not only some of the most talented Ironman athlete's in the world with most of last years top 10 returning to rumble again but also the European and North American Champions to add to the mix. I think it will be the first time where each regions champions are gathered together to try and punish each other in one event outside of the Ironman World Championships. In short all it means is that it is going to be a hard and fast race and one worth tuning into!

Being in my home city it is always nice to stay at home and get involved in the event and help grow and promote not only Ironman but Melbourne and Australia as a place that should be on everyone bucket list. In that it has been fun to be able to help out with some of the media leading in from major radio (ABC) to the Herald Sun live blogs (Melbourne's paper of choice) along with the online and print triathlon sites and magazines.

Leading into the event post Geelong 70.3 Australian Long course titles (2nd Position) I headed down to my home in the country as a kid to participate in a first time event and allowing for one last hard hit out before Ironman Melbourne. Over the long course distance of 2k/80k/20k I decided to take off all speedos and watches and just use it as that a good old fashioned hard hit out by feel. Things could not have gone better off the back of a solid training block to cross the line in 3hrs 39mins some ..... mins ahead of 2nd place.

One what is the eve of Ironman Melbourne I am excited and looking forward to what lies ahead on Sunday. I can not control what happens throughout or at the end of the day, but I do know I am in great shape and I will do everything and give everything I can throughout the day to not only put myself in but also cross the line in the best position possible knowing that everything I did during the race was to the maximum of my ability at the time... what more can you do.

(Please down the bottom some of the media and results from the Long course Sufferfest)

Game on, bring it on and lets go and have some fun, this is why we love and want to be an Ironman!

Best
Luke

Along with the main stream media of the ABC Radio interview and Herald Sun Newspaper live blog here are some nice Ironman Asia Pacific related Triathlon media articles. Enjoy.
www.firstoffthebike.com


Men's Preview
http://firstoffthebike.com/races/urban-hotel-group-ironman-asia-pacific-championship-mens-preview/
Women's Preview
http://firstoffthebike.com/races/urban-hotel-group-ironman-asia-pacific-championship-womens-preview/

Australian Triathletemag
http://www.oztri.com.au/AT_TV/Urban_Hotel_IRONMAN_Asia_Pacific_Champs_Preview_-_with_Luke_Bell.htm

Sufferfest Long Course Triathlon 2k/80k/20k
1.Luke Bell
3:39:59
:24:47
2:00:25
1:12:50

2. Gregory Farrell
3:57:04
:26:46
2:09:14
1:18:47
3.Stephane Vander Bruggen
3:58:27
26:41
2:09:49
1:20:03
4.Kristian Mccartney
4:01:03
26:31
2:11:50
1:20:50
5.Levi Maxwell
4:01:12
28:20
2:10:18
1:20:30