Please follow my new blog...

Hi All,

Please help make my life a little easier - from now one I will be blogging on my TeamTBB blog at

http://www.teamtbb.com/jamescunnama/

There is a post up today about our epic ride we did. More posts soon. The TBB site is also very interesting where you can chat to all the TBB pros on the forum and follow our interesting lives...

See you there soon...

Philippines - Day 25

So after some really hectic training in the last few days, we finally are getting a chance to catch our breath. The pic is me in the standard position between training sessions - in the LazyBoy, feet-up, chocolate milk in hand and something random on TV. Much time has been spent in that chair... I wonder where I can get one in SA?

Yesterday afternoon we went to the beach and just played around in the water. We swam out to where the reef drops off and dived down to see the colourful fishes and coral. The area is not exactly teeming with life, but there were enough interesting creatures to make it worthwhile. We tried out free-diving skills, but I suck. I get to about where my upright feet are just below the surface and it feels like my ears may implode! Manny, however, dives about 10metres straight down on one breath. Visibility was good, but we couldn't even see him at that depth!

Other than that, life goes on much the same here. We train, eat and sleep. My training is ging particularly well and I am really looking forward to IMSA in a few weeks. Doc continues to lecture us regularly in the ways of the triathlon world, which is always interesting, but often comes at the worst time - right after a tough session, and once he gets talking...
As I write this 6 of the team are racing in Ironman Malaysia. Currently our girls are 2nd, 3rd and 4th and our three boys are all in the top 10... Go team!

Tomorrow we are right back into the full training again, with a triple-run day, including two consecutive sessions on the track! Awesome! I look forward to those days...

Philippines - Day 23

So the hard work in Subic continues. The last few days have certainly been the toughest thus far. Doc is infamous for his 'birthday sessions', which are usually ridiculous long sessions to celebrate someones birthday. In the last week we had two birthdays and, rather than the 10km swim sets we expected, Doc saved the party for last night on the running track. We started at 6pm and didn't finish until after 8pm. That's a lot of laps! It went okay, but afterwards I was more broken than I have been since I got here. Tough day in the office.
Afterwards, Zach, Manny and myself stumbled off to McDonalds because we certanily weren't cooking! My stomach cramped for the last few km's so I couldn't even eat much. Zach says that leaving a track session is like leaving the bar - you stumble out weaving all over the place, you'll eat anything in sight and you're not sure how you're gonna make it home!
Needless to say, this morning everyone is feeling rather tender - also like the morning after a night at the bar! ;)

The training continues today though and we have already done a 2hr ride and are off to the pool shortly. No rest for the weary...

Philippines day 17 (I think?) - Very tired!

The training continues to pick up and the fatigue levels follow suit. Doc is really pushing us and even the old hands have said that they are finding the going a bit tougher this time. That is a relief - I thought it was just me! My own training is going well though and I have had no problems. I can already feel the improvements, which is great.
It is amazing how it can fill your day though. The time spent in doing nothing decreases dramatically as the training time and subsequent sleep/rest time increases. Now we pretty much are eating, sleeping or training around the clock. We haven't even got the energy to play poker at the moment as we all just want to collapse between sessions. Guess this is what it takes...

Other than the training, Alex (team manager) arrived here yesterday and once again ran through the business plan and team structure, etc. It is good to get a look at what is actually going on behind the scenes and very exciting to be part of all of it. This team is going to change the world of triathlon in many ways and it is great to be one of the cogs in the engine. Watch this space - big things!
This evening was a dinner for the local municipality to meet the team. There was not much in the way of formalities, but we had some interesting local dishes and a chance to sit aroud and chat socially, which was good.

We had another visit from the monkeys today too. Manny came into the apartment to the sound of screaming and freaked out a bit. He thought the monkeys must be in the kitchen as two were on the balcony hissing and showing teeth at him. He peered around the corner but there was nothing in the kitchen. The screeching continued though... He then plucked up the courage to look on the balcony and behind the curtain, stuck with its head and one arm through the sliding door, there was a screeching monkey that was, well... going ape!
Just another day in the Philippines...

Philippines Day 12 - Life's a beach...

Today we have the day off. Yay! I have developed a minor cold the last few days, so a day off is exactly what I need. We are all being loaded into a bus and taken to Frank's, a restuarant on the beach just outside of Subic. Frank is a 'real' triathlete from back in the day. He used to race against Mark Allen and the boys. Interesting guy...

Things have been going well here lately, other than the illness. My new bike is great! I don't have the Oval Concepts handlebars yet, but the ones I have will do for now. It is a dream to ride and I just want to ride it all the time. But I am sure that Doc will be able to cure me of that soon... My running and swimming feel great too, which is not surprising as that is all I did for almost two weeks!

Manny, Keegan and I have started playing poker at home to pass the time between sessions - you can only watch so much cable TV! None of us are any good at it, but we will hone our skills on eachother before inviting the rest of the group around for a Texas Hold 'em tournament where we can take their money from them! ;)

The weather continues to be hot and humid, and actually seems to get hotter and more humid by the day! Maybe just my perception, but they did warn us that it would. My tan is already something extraordinary. I have never been this dark before!
Good beach weather though - so I'm heading there now!

My New Bike!

I got my new bike today from Cervelo. It is the P3 2009 Silver/Black version (as pictured without that wheelset). It is really good to have some wheels again and I am looking forward to getting into some proper training again, rather than just running and swimming. I went for a short ride this afternoon after getting it just to play with the setup and get comfortable, and the bike feels awesome. I think this is the start of a great relationship with Cervelo!

The last few days have been great. We continue to train hard and now even more team members are here. I am not sure when the group will stop growing, but it better be soon - there is no more room in the pool! Already there are 5 to a lane, but it is good for my swimming, ad that is what I need so no complaints.

In the last few days I have seen some of the local wildlife. We had monkeys raid our kitchen the other day. All they got was a naartjie before I caught them red-handed, but the cheek! Not too much of a big deal for me, but the Canadians and Americans can't stop talking about it! Strange what you get accustomed to...

I also had a run in with a very large monitor lizard. It must have been well over a metre long and was stuck in a concrete ditch. I watched it struggling to get out for a while as it ran up the concrete walls and fell back in, until it got one of its substantial claws into a small crack and hoisted itself out. It then ran (very fast!) out and past the guard hut. The guard inside ran after it but it escaped. I asked what he would have done with it and he just said, 'Delicious.' :)

Philippines - Day 6

Today we officially started "Training Camp' according to Brett (coach). Not that we have not been training already, so it is more of attitude change than anything else, but now we are into it properly. Almost everyone his here now, with 2 or 3 more arriving today.
My Cervelo should be ariving today, so I will be able to start riding again after a week without a bike. No big deal though - Doc has found plenty to keep me tired!

Yesterday we all did a local 21km road race which was a lot of fun. It was the 33rd National Milo Marathon and was quite well organised. I had a great run - perhaps my best ever 21km! - to finish 3rd overall and claim a nice trophy and 4000pesos (~R800) which was a nice bonus. The entire team did well filling many of the top 10 spots in the mens and ladies races.

The last few days we have been keeping ourselves busy with training and setting up our little houses. There have been many trips to the shops as everyone tries to find food they like in the various outlets in town. Last night we went out for dinner at Teriyaki Boy (japanese fast food) which was really good. It was a 500m walk from the hotel last time I was here so it was good to go back.

The weather is hot and humid, as expected. It gets to about 30C most days with 80-90% humidity. Both of those figures are expected to rise substantially in the next 2 months though... We swim outdoors in a decent pool which is the perfect temperature at the moment, but apparently we can expect it to become like a bath soon. It is great for tanning though when you spend 1-2hours in your speedo in the pool. My back is already a deep reddish-brown.

Manny and I went into town last night a got a haircut. We both look like US Marines now. It doesn't matter what you ask for, you get the standard cut - short back and sides, and not much longer on top. You can't expect too much for P50(R10), I guess. It is practical for training though, and will always grow back...

Philippines - Day 2

So I have been here for almost 48hrs now and am settling in to the routine. Things are a little different this time, with new accomodation (no hotel this time) with kitchen, etc. This is good for cooking, but we are outside the town so there are no take-aways around - which means only cooking! The houses are really nice though so I think I will be comfrotable here for the next 7 weeks.

The trip here was painful enough for my liking. I still can't sleep on planes and that made for a long flight. When I got to Singapore for my 4 hour lay-over I was already exhausted. I wondered around a bit, then went to my gate and just lay on the floor reading. Soon my eye-lids got heavy, and I thought 'I am at the gate already so the crowds around when they open the gate will wkae me up...' I woke up about 30mins later and looked at my watch - boarding had started 25mins earlier and there was no-one around!! Crap! I walked to the screens and checked the gate number. I was at the right gate... for the flight to Manila 2hrs later!! I found my flight further up - and it said next to it 'Gate Closed'! Oh F#@*!!!!!
I first walked quickly cos I didn't want to look panicked... but I was, so soon I was running (running on travelators is a lot of fun actually... wil have to try again when I can actually enjoy it!). I got to the gate and they were still open. Shew! ... Stupid info-screens!

Once in Manila I had to wait for about 1h30 for Brett to arrive on a later flight and we shared a taxi to Subic. It was good to spend some one-on-one time with the coach and ask some questions. He said he didn't want to talk triathlon all the way, but once he gets talking...

Yesterday I slept in (after skipping Monday night altogether I was exhausted!) and then we swam and I went for a run. I have no bike here yet, as my Cervelo has not arived. It is being shipped here now, so will probably have it Monday. Lots of swimming and running until then. One problem with that, is that bikes are for more than training here - they are also transport! So I am fairly immobile at the moment... We caught a taxi to the supermarket earlier. Not fun! If anyone thinks marketing doesn't work - try shopping in a shop where you recognise no brands!!! You can't find anything you need!

Most of the team is here already and it is good to meet them all. Most of us will run a local 21km this weekend, just for training, and then I think next week the real work will start. (Hopefully that will include cycling for me...)

Ironman 70.3 Report

Ironman 70.3 South Africa has come and gone and I can say that I am happy with the race. I finished 6th in a time of 4h15:54. I was a little frustrated as I improved my time from last year by almost 10mins, but finished in the same position! But you can only control your own performance, not those of your competition (which was a lot stronger this year!).

The Pro's started in our own wave, which meant only about 35 of us starting together. The conditions were good for the swim with flat seas, although the wind seemed to pick up by the minute as we stood on the beach before the start. I started well and found some feet to the first bouy. The feet were a littler too quick for me though and so I lost contact sooner than I had hoped. One or two more pro's passed me before the second bouy (about halfway) but I couldn't stay on their feet for very long and by halfway there was just clear water in front of me and behind me... A lonely swim...

I exited the water about 2min30 down on the leaders and started working on the bike. Pretty soon (for everyone I think) we found that we were not racing eachother as much as we were fighting the course and conditions. The wind had picked up more and up the hills it was directly into your face making for slow progress.

I pulled back a number of places early on the bike and got off the bike in 8th or 9th I think.
In transition I met up with Tim Don, and exited shortly before him. Sure he would catch me I had a decision to make - run with him, or run my own race and let him go. Sure enough, he caught me within 1km (!) and I decided that I would try to run with him for as long as possible. His pace was fast, but I felt good and the advantage of running shoulder-to-shoulder was certainly worth it. We ran together and passed a few competitors until about halfway through the run when he started to open a bit of a gap on me. He tried to get me to come with him, saying something like, 'Come on, James. Find your rhythm and come with me!' I had my rhthym Tim... it just wasn't as fast as yours! I kept him in my sights for as long as possible, but soon the string was broken...

I ran myself up to 6th position with a 1h18:03 run split, which I am happy with, although there is room for improvement.

All in all a good first race in the teamTBB colours. A big thanks to Alex, Mischelle, Wayne and all the other supporters on the course for your enthusiastic cheering!

Two weeks and I'll be in Subic... bring it on!

Life as a Pro begins... properly!

After a great Xmas break in the Drakensberg with the whole family, I am back into training and getting into the swing of life as a Pro.

The Christmas break was not great for training (it never is), but I have come back refreshed and motivated for the year ahead, and maybe that has more value than 10 days of hard training... Either way, I can't change the past and am looking forward what promises to be a fantastic year for me.

I booked my tickets yesterday for the first (well, first as a team member) training camp with teamTBB. I fly out the the Philippines on 2 Feb for 7 weeks of intense training with the team before returning for Ironman SA just before the race on 5 April. I am really looking forward to training in the focused and intense environment again and can only imagine the effect 7 weeks will have on me after the changes I saw after only 3 weeks in November!

Before I go there though I have the small matter of Ironman 70.3 South Africa to deal with. I head up to East London for 24hrs tomorrow for the press launch (they needed a star there... but couldn't find one so they got me instead! ;) ) and some scouting of the route. I remember it quite well from last year, but it has changed slightly and it is always good to get a reminder.
The race itself is next weekend (18th) and promises to be a cracker! The field is stacked with previous World Champs lining up - one from short-course racing and one an Ironman World Champ in 2007. Add to these the top three from last year all returning and a few other strong international competitors and you have a race on your hands before you even consider the South Africans! Should be interesting!

Other than that I am training well and allowing nothing to get in the way of training - which is a lot easier now that I can make training my priority and put training and sleeping ahead of pesky things like work. Now all I need is one or two sponsors to really allow me to focus! I'm working on it... Hold thumbs!

I got my Avia running shoes the other day too. They all look good but haven't given them a good tryout yet. Hopefully their performance is equal to their looks! Not sure when I will be getting my Cervelo bike, but hopefully soon...