Bella Comerford’s Blog

For 1 week now, I have been hanging out in Clearwater, Florida!
Stephen and I drove down here after Ironman Florida. It had been the plan since the beginning of 2008 that I would race Ironman Florida and Stephen would race 70.3 World Champs. It worked well as we could both be a support to each other in our final races of the year.
We booked a hotel from the recomeded list off the 70.3 website. When we arrived it was dark and we were just happy to arrive. Next day when we drove to the race site, it was another 10 miles away! Great recommendation 70.3!!!! Thanks!!! Its not like there is not enough hotels on the beach, it is jam packed with hotels down there!
Maybe 70.3 thought we might like to live amoungst the industrial sized shops for a while, we have on our doorstep, Super sized Target, Super sized Best Buy, Super sized Mattress shops, McDonalds, Burger King, Starbucks, Fatburgers and much more!
We would have made more use of the beach, but we have giving some of these shops some good custom to help the poor American economy!

It was a new experience for me to be watching a race but I really enjoyed it, although I would have enjoyed it more if Stephen had had a great day. It was great to see Reinaldo and Erika out there and hanging tough.

Now we are on “holiday”. Our season is done! We dont “have” to train every minute of the day. But, …we dont know what to do with our selves! And I’m not happy unless I have swum, biked and run! So, we are swimming, biking and running!!
We found a great swimming pool, although yesterday they surprised us by closing for the day
I had to swim in the hotels paddling pool instead
Its not a great place to ride your bike here on Super sized shopping Highway. But we have found a frontage road on the side of a highway which has no cars. Its about 5km long each side so we ride up and down that! It is safe, but actually its good as it is right beside the water and we have seen dolphins 2 times now!
For running we have found a nice park now, but before we knew about the park I was running beside Super sized shopping Highway and the people here have never seen a girl run, especially one with long socks and a pink top on! Oh dear!!!?!

Today we drive back to Panama City Beach to drop our rental car off and get our flight back to Scotland! It is just over 2 weeks till we get married now! Its exciting! I think everything is ready but I am sure there is going to be some final things to do!
It is Stephen’s stag “do” this weekend. I am disapearing to Scotland to keep out the way! I hope his brother does’nt go too crazy on him.

I am a happy girl today!!
Winning these races is beyond words. It is so special.

For the past 6 years I have loved my time at Panama City Beach, and this year there was not one bit of me that wanted to miss out on some Ironman Florida! So back I came, and I hung tough for another win!

I was a bit nervous before the start. But once under way it was ok. I missed the pack that I wanted to be in. I was on Park Hoons feet, (I knew it was him as he had a purple cap on like me!) and he was not strong enough. But after 800m I was able, on my own to make the back of that pack.

I felt ok on the bike. A bit better than in Hawaii. First thing was cold on the bike. Some of the other athletes that saw me must have been jeoulous of my big thick winter gloves and all my clothes! Ha haaaaa!!!
I rode 4.59, my own effort. No sitting in a big pack. The age group men never really caught me.

On the run from beginning to end I never had my running legs, my legs felt more like wood. But from 1 hour before the race, right to the very end I turn into a determined little bitch that no one should mess with. I stuck right in there, on my wooded legs, and held off the others.
For my 5th Ironman this year! Met at the finish line by Stephen, my number 1 support. He was the best out there.
Now it is my turn to be a number 1 support to him for his race next Saturday.

7 days to go till my final race of the season! Ironaman Florida. It is the 7th year in a row that I will have raced this one! ..you could say, I like it here!! ..I really do, everytime I arrive here in Panama City Beach I enjoy my time.
This year I have got to spend a bit more time here as Stephen and I came straight from Hawaii to here. Not that we are doing anything extraudinary! ..but we are enjoying doing what we are doing! ..swimming at our favourite pool in the world (an outdoor 50m pool, brand new and hardly anyone uses it!)
riding about! ..the only thing we miss is hills. It is dead flat here!
Oh, we enjoy going to Walmart too! It is the closest shop to us and it has EVERYTHING, so we dont need to go anywhere else! Its great!

Our room has a magnificent view over the sea and white sandy beach. Could’nt really get better!

My training has gone well since Hawaii and I cant wait to get stuck in next Saturday. I will be strong and I will be concentrating on doing a very good job.

It will be good to have Stephen there at the side to support me, although I have given him strict instructions not to be out there all day as he has to be fresh for his race at 70.3 Champs a week later.

Next week we will pack up here and head to Clearwater for Stephen’s race, but I cant think about that yet, ..got a lot to do here first!

The World Championships are done! Its nice to relax for a mintue!
I am over the moon with my 7th place. My “acheivable goal” was to creep into the top 10. But at times out there racing, it felt like it may be difficult.
After having a very good swim, coming out with many top contenders I never felt strong on the bike. Girls and guys would fly by me and I could only watch them go into the distance. I kept calm and worked with what I had. Maybe top 10 would’nt happen today. However after 4 hours on the bike, I began to feel ok. Wow, 4 hours to warm up after a 1 hour swim!??!
Anyway, I began to finally catch some girls! Leanda Cave, Charlotte Kolters, Rebecca Keat, Gina Ferguson, the Spanish girl!!! :)
Suddenly I felt a little energy come back!

Onto the run and this is where my work had to begin. I went out sensibly as it would be stupid to look like the champion in the first 5km then come home the last 10km walking.
In the previous days coming into the race I experienced how hot in the head you can get very quickly if you run out hard.
I needed to stay cool.

Coming into the first turn around I saw Chrissie first, she was in the lead and looking strong. I knew all she needed to do was keep running like that to the finish line and the race would be hers.
The other girls were not out of reach for me. I just needed to look after myself, drink and stick in there. Sure enough, from mile 11 to 23 I had a fun time! I went from 14th place to 7th! Passing Sybelle Matter, Joanna Lawn, Dede Gresbouer, Belinda, Gina Ferguson and another!
It was never easy. I had to concentrate really hard on doing all the things that I need to do. I did’nt freak out when things were not going my way and I dug real deep all day. I am very very happy.
Congratulations to Chrissie, Erika, Belinda, Donna, Hillary and Stephen. !

Our TeamTBB pre Hawaii training camp in Jeju, South Korea has almost ended now. The 8 of us are all set to go to Hawaii! Boss has made sure he got the best out of us each and every day we have been here.

Its been my first time to South Korea and I have been impressed. Its a welcoming, safe and clean country. Training facilities, well they are better than most countries! Its a cyclists paradise as the roads are amazing and so much choice of places to ride.

Ironman UK is well into the history books now and its all focas on Hawaii. It will be my second time to race Ironman Hawaii. But this time I have alot more experience and I know what I have to do. Last time I went into the race I was naive and a nervous wreck!

I have had my best year ever but I will treat this race like I have the rest. I am calm but excited.

Its not over after Hawaii, Stephen and I are off to Florida, (for the 3rd instalment of our pre-wedding-honeymoon!!? ! I have Ironman Florida on my birthday and then Stephen has 70.3 Champs on the 8th!

Yesterday was IM UK 2008. I possibly felt a little nervous going into the race, for the first time this year I did’nt think of the race as “going on a little holiday”. Instead I thought of it as real war time. I wanted to win this one. Although I was nervous, I was confidant too.

I had had good training and recovery since EmbrunMan. I believed I was stronger that ever before and that the other girls should be worried!!!

I had a strong swim, once recovered from being pushed under in the freezing cold water of Sherbourne Castle lake. I came out the water and ran throo the slimy muddy field, then slipped in it and went face first into the mud! Great!?!!

I wrapped up warm on for the bike as in previous days in had been the storm from hell coming down.
I set off strong and gained the lead by about 30km. It felt fine to be in the lead, but once your in the lead, you have no idea what is going on behind. I just got on with my job and worked at all the hills they had included on the bike. It was windy and pot holes everywhere. One had to keep their heads switched on. It made for a really fair race though as no drafting was happening at all.

Once I got my run shoes on, I did’nt feel I had my normal speedy run legs, but what could I do except deal with the legs I had. I was going for the win. NO WAY was I going to give it away, so off I went. I put the sore legs to the back of my mind and got on with it. I had the company of Declan for most of the run! My run partner on the track last week! We were good company to each other for most of the marathon. The run is also challanging. It is hilly, windy, muddy and grassy wet fields! Fun!!!
My lead was gaining but I never really knew by how much. The last 10 miles hurt, but I never let anyone know. ..well, maybe it showed once I crossed the finish line!!

What an acheivemnt to have won that race again. Once apon a time I dreampt of doing things like this! But right now, my dream is real. My hard work is showing. But it never really feels “hard work”. It is fun work.

I was overwhelmed with emotion because Stephen had also won. What a magical day. He was brave and really raced tough. Giving it to his competition all day and on the run, coming out of transition and running off fast for once instead of going out easy! He left them all behind never to be seen again!
It has been a fun weekend. So many people giving us support. ThankYou EVERYONE for encouraging us so much.

Now I have to go as I have alot of packing and sorting out to do. We have a flight to Korea at 9pm tonight!

On Friday I went to Embrun for the Ironman. It was my 3rd trip to Embrun. In 2002 Boss took me there to try my first Ironman. It was 1 week after the 2002 Commonwealth Games which had been to that date my “goal” in life! But that race at CG was my last Olympic distance race! Boss had thought that the longer distance might be good for me, and of course, he was right! I have never looked back!
I won that day, and in 2006 I went back again. I did’nt have such a good day as I made mistakes but still managed 2nd place.
This year I was physked up for the day. I remembered the challenges of EmbrunMan. if your not fit enough or organised enough, it shows. It is such a true test! Many mountains and the weather can also test you. I was physked up for the prize purse too!! The win would would help Stephen’s and my bank balance!

It was a little unsettling at 4.15am when we arrived to the race start in the biggest and scariest storm I have been in! To begin the day in storms was not the best! ..but what can you do! I had to laugh and then put my thinking cap on to how I should go about my day.
The swim started at 6.50am for the women, (unknown to Boss who thought I had swum on Stephen’s feet when I passed him at 1km on the bike!!! …he was WELL happy!)
Its a bit scary starting the swim in the pitch dark, but once we started I quite enjoyed it. I was the fastest girl there so I was right on the tail of the canoe with the light on! So navigating in the pitch dark was pretty easy! The men left 10 minutes after us so my little aim to myself was to get out the water before Stephen! Ha!! And I did! I was first into transition, ..but slow onto my bike as I had to put all the bike clothes I had in my wardrobe!!!

I began the 188km bike ride in first place, and after the steep first climb I settled into the day and tried to imagine I was just doing a nice long training ride, ..to prevent me from riding like a maniac! I enjoyed the ride and the challanges of the ride. Although when Audrey caught me on the climb of the Col D’izoard I felt a bit nervous, but I think I made her nervous by staying with her!
I dropped her at 2km before the top.
It starting hail stoning as I approched the top of the Col so I put my jacket on. After 10km of decending I was passing grown men who were shivvering like babies cos they wer’nt wearing enough!
Once I warmed up I took my jacket off and stuck it up my top, that was all fine until I was climbing the next mountain and the jacket fell out and got completly stuck in my back wheel. I really struggled to get it out, and whist picking it out, Audrey passed me. DAM! Once I got it out I left the stupid jacket on the side of the road as the weather had improved. I got going again and when I had decended and got round the corner I saw the biggest looking black cloud. Arghhhhh! I had no jacket now!! How stupid to leave it behind!
I re-caught Audrey and at 180km (where Boss had told me the race starts!) I rode up the final 6km climb feeling good. I dropped Audrey and came into the run with a few minute lead. Also feeling happy that that huge black cloud had’nt made me toooo cold.
I felt great running to begin with. I began to get tired legs about 13 miles. Boss told me I best eat a bit more. Once I started eating more, ..the more I ate the faster I went!
I put 18 miinutes into Audrey and won in a record time of 11 hours and 26minutes! ThankYou to the man who gave me the British flag!!
Met by my lovely boy on the finish line! It was so good to stop and have a rest! Stephen also had a great race coming 2nd. I nice pay day for us!
And also met by my Coach. The best coach in the World.

I am just home and into my routine again after a quick road trip to Klagenfurt, Austria. Stephen and I saw a sign while we were there, advertising some Ironman about to take place. It involved swimming biking and running. And since we do alot of that sort of thing, we took part! We both ended up coming 2nd so it was quite a satisfying holiday really!

2,500 people took part! And crowds bigger than I have ever seen for a Triathlon. I was deaf by the end as the noise was so intence!

It was really hot, like 30 degrees the 3 days before but on race day a storm had blown in and it was cool, rainy and thunderstorms.
However the lake was like a warm bath but we still had to swim in our wetsuits. I nearly passed out from heat exhaustion whilst swimming.
On the bike I began to feel strong after 20km. I seemed to be catching the girls ahead faster than I have ever experienced before. I was in the lead by 70km! A bit strange for me. I did’nt really like it cos all of a sudden I was getting no splits, but at the same time, it was fun too!
On the run I seemed to be moving along well. But I was hearing that there was another girl running well about 1 km behind me. Someone called Sandra Wollenhorst who I met a few years back in Boulder. I did’nt think she would be a problem for me, but by 37km she had gotten within 200m of me. She passed me but I had nothing more to give so she beat me. I realised I was still going to have a fast time if I concentrated hard. So I kept my head together and got to the finish line in 8 hours 51 mins! Not bad!!!!
I was frustrated at the finish line as I had enjoyed the taste of nearly another Ironman win. And then some camera man that kept getting in my way was the final straw. But after punching him and crossing the line I felt a little better. Met by Stephen who had also come 2nd! He calmed me down and convinced me my race had been very good.

It was a great race in a great place. Well worth a trip to!

Winning 70.3 UK has made me very happy and excited. I did’nt think I could do 70.3 competitivly! I feel pretty confidant about Ironman races and what I need to do in them but 70.3 feels a different kettle of fish to me, and to race Julie Dibens in one, (who I really respect at this distance) and beat her!!! I think I must be a bit fitter than I realise!

I was’nt sure the Boss would even let me race it so soon after IM Lanzarote, but he said yes! So I was very happy to go! I treated the whole thing more like a little holiday to England with my boy! (well, I serious business holiday! ..but, still in my mind I pretended it was a holiday!

We rode an easy lap of the bike the day before. I wanted to remind myself of the corners and decents. It took forever to get around! I was a bit worried I would even manage to get around the course for the race!

6am start. 6 degrees and mist on the lake. Bloody eery in the water and not being able to see anything. Yuk. But I came out only 3 mins behind Julie!!!

On the bike I just put my head down and rode the best I could. Because it was a short event, I thought I should just go as hard as I could.
All was fine till it pissed with rain and then hail. I really froze on the longer decent. I put the cold to the back of my head and tryed not to shake off my bike, as I decended, as I was shivering so much! I was so happy to have all the steep climbs to just warm up a bit!

I came off the bike only 4 mins down on Julie! Woooow. Thats not too bad I thought! But still, from the last 70.3 she did, ..she can run bloody good too.
I ate into that that time really quick. Before I knew it I was passing her with 5 or 6 miles to go! I kept running hard to get a good session in! And it was a brilliant feeling to come accross the line first! More news by category Topic -: Buy phentermine saturday delivery ohio Tramadol hydrochloride tablets Picture of xanax pills Free shipping cheap phentermine Buying phentermine without prescription Safety of phentermine Pyridium Generic viagra cialis Cialis generic india Pink oval pill 17 xanax identification Buy free phentermine shipping Best price for generic viagra Information about street drugs or xanax bars Ordering viagra Snorting phentermine Hydrocodone overdose Lithium Amiodarone Get online viagra Order viagra prescription Order xanax paying cod Cheap phentermine free shipping Imiquimod Tramadol next day Linkdomain buy online viagra info domain buy onlin Pfizer viagra sperm Vidarabine Cheapest viagra price Prevacid Viagra cialis levitra comparison Dutasteride Lisinopril Thiotepa Female spray viagra Black market phentermine Betamethasone Cialis forums What does xanax look like Loss phentermine story success weight Order xanax overnight Viagra alternative uk Diet online phentermine pill Order xanax cod Mecamylamine Eulexin Cheap hydrocodone Buy cheapest viagra Viagra xenical Phentermine with no prior prescription Xanax in urine Macrodantin Cheap phentermine with online consultation Epivir Buy phentermine epharmacist Ditropan Woman use viagra Cialis erectile dysfunction Xanax withdrawl message boards Viagra online store Atorvastatin Generic ambien Is phentermine addictive Next day delivery on phentermine Buy online viagra Ethanol Natural phentermine Avandamet Xanax long term use Diet page phentermine pill yellow 5 cheap Cheapest secure delivery cialis uk Information medical phentermine Cialis experience Phentermine no perscription Compare ionamin phentermine Viagra cialis levivia dose comparison Noroxin Effects of viagra on women Buy cheap cialis Viagra shelf life Hydroxyurea Phentermine discount no prescription Buy cheap online viagra Dog xanax Online cialis Viagra class action Viagra price Phentermine without prescription and energy pill Hydrocodone cod only Nicoumalone Cheapest viagra Cheap ambien Vicodin without prescription Phentermine prescription online Phentermine snorting Mirtazapine Quazepam Isradipine Buy generic viagra online Xanax look alike Moxifloxacin Viagra experiences Piroxicam Nicorette Free try viagra Sotalol Cash on delivery shipping of phentermine How do i stop taking phentermine Xanax prescriptions Cheapest phentermine 90 day order Niacinamide Phentermine weight loss Phentermine

I am just home to Switzerland after a very busy, but great week on the island of Lanzarote!

Our trip did’nt start quite 100% perfect.
We were welcomed by Iberia Airlines 150 euro bike fee, for each bike carriage, one way to Lanzarote!!! Even though we packed light and our only luggage was our bikes weighing 18 kg each. (It is some “new rule” that “special baggage” gets 150 euro charge)

So, heads up. I would advise NOT to travel on Iberia Airlines. They suck.
We met 2 guys from Annacy also checking in at the same time as us to go to Lanzarote. Well, poor guys, they could’nt affrod that fee, so one went home and the other, (David, who knows you Erika) left his bike in Geneva and just had a holiday in Lanzarote instead!

Maybe I should thank Iberia Airlines, for fuelling my fire to race harder and make sure I earn money!!

I had a good 2 final days preparing for the race. Stephen did my adjustments to my bike so it was ready to go while also training his back side off! (he did not race so his knee could get better and he will be strong for his next races instead)
I again had my fire fuelled at the pre-race press conference. I turned up 5 mins to 4pm. The other girls flop in between 4.15pm and 4.30pm!! Well, I just thought thats dam rude to the organisers. But I should thank them too, as it showed me how dedicated they are to themselves.

On race day, my swim went fine. On the bike it was windy, but I expected it to be. I just tightly hung onto the handlebars when the wind blew. By 150km I was getting really tired. I just ate a bit more as I realised it takes alot of energy to ride up hill into gale force winds.
When I got off my bike, I realised within the 500m transition run in my socks that my run legs were there! Once my shoes were on, I got on with my job.
I caught the Canadian girl, Tara Norton by 9 miles, I think the report said. I cant remember. But I continued to concentrate as the race was not over till I crossed myself over the finish line. I had that Dutch girl who ran past me at Ironman Florida last year so I really did’nt want that to happen again.

I crossed the finish line in first place! It was definatly an amazingly exciting feeling. And met by Stephen and his Mum and Dad who had also come to watch.

The Awards was very pleasant. Except that was quite a marathon too! It started at 6pm and ended after 10pm! Earlier in the day I went and bought myself some new clothes and fancy shoes for the evening! All great except when I stepped onto the stage I slipped in these new fancy high heels! Abit embarrasing but I suppose gave the crowd something funny to watch!!

It is really nice to be home now, and I will just continue to train as I have been so I am ready to kill some more in the next part of the season