Best & Worst of 2013: An Arbitrary Account

As the title boldly states, here's an arbitrary account of the year 2013. Nothing personal here, it's just for laughs. I've got the memory of a peanut, so if you think my list sucks feel free to make your own. There's a 'collective' list & a small 'personal' list at the bottom. I haven't done a Women's list, I wouldn't be able to do it justice (peanut memory). Enjoy!

The Collective: 

70.3

• Most memorable performance- Sebastian Kienle, Las Vegas. He did the same thing, two years in a row & still no one could stop him!
• Biggest implosion- Ben Collins x2: San Juan & St. Croix
• Most dominating performance- Pete Jacobs, Sunshine Coast
• Old dog but gets it done- Greg Bennett
• Best swim- Tim Berkel, Mandurah, front pack effort
• Best ride- Seb Kienle, Las Vegas yeow
• Best run- Ritchie Nicholls, Wiesbaden
• King Beef of 2013- Terenzo Bozzone
• Comeback king- Terenzo Bozzone
• Breakthrough athlete- Christian Kemp
• Most consistent- Tim Reed
• Most inconsistent- Ivan Vasiliev
• Best newcomer- Jan Frodeno or Courtney Atkinson
• The phantom- Filip Ospaly
• Best quote- Tim Don; "Dirty fast".
• Best backhanded compliment- Tim Reed, backhanded compliment to author after Vegas; "Big respect for the way you raced on Sunday. Sorry it didn't work out. The pack was pretty ridiculous there for a while although I have to say I found it harder in the pack then when I got the front later on and could just ride steady state".
• Failure to launch- 75% of the field in St. Croix, flat tyres
• Fastest first mile- Jan Frodeno, Las Vegas
• Slowest last mile- Peter Robertson, Wiesbaden 70.3
• Want to see more of- Javier Gomez

Iron Distance 

• Most memorable performance- Luke McKenzie, Kona
• Biggest implosion- Courtney Atkinson, Metaman
• Most dominating performance- Tim O'Donnell, IM Brasil
• Old dog but can't get it done- Bryan Rhodes
• Best swim- Don't know, Andy Potts?
• Best ride- Sebastian Kienle, Kona (how could anyone else have ridden up to the front & still lasted?)
• Best run- Bart Aernouts, IM Nice (2.37.01)
• Breakthrough athlete- Tyler Butterfield
• Best newcomer- Bevan Docherty, IM NZ
• Comeback king- Chris 'Big Sexy' McDonald Or Luke Bell
• Most consistent- Eneko Llanos & Victor Del Corral
• Most inconsistent- Chris McCormack
• Sure can race a lot- Pedro Gomes
• King Beef of 2013- Freddy Van Lierde
• Best quote- Sebastian Kienle, Kona post-race presser (we've all thought this!) 
• Good, but please know when to stop!- Andrew Starkowicz's 'diamond man' 
• Did he really say that?- Unknown, Kona post-race presser (see bottom of page)
• Failure to launch- Pete Jacobs, Kona press conference
• Most honest/humble- Craig Alexander, Kona post-race

Personal: 

• Best swim: St. Anthony's 5150 (1st out, 18.55 & a little long)
• Best cycle: Port Macquarie 70.3 (2:10:10, fastest ride)
• Best run: Weisbaden 70.3 (1.14.46)
• Best overall race: Port Macquarie 70.3 (1st)
• Hardest race: Wiesbaden 70.3 (crazy bike course)
• Most competitive: Las Vegas 70.3 (it's a World Champs)
• Worst swim: Buffalo Springs 70.3 (HOT water, diabolically uncomfortable)
• Worst cycle: Hy-Vee 5150 (drafting penalty + blow up)
• Worst run: Las Vegas 70.3 (mmm poor bike tactics)
• Worst overall performance: Hy-Vee 5150
• Best training base: Boulder
• Best race destination: St. Croix
• Best race experience: Wiesbaden 70.3 
• Best crowd support: Noosa Tri
• Best training Partner: Martin Van Barneveld
• Worst blog of 2013: You've just read it!!

Off-season, Off-road

I spend most of the year on planes, so it's nice to be able to get in the car & drive somewhere exotic for once. Moreton Island has been on the menu for the last three years, but it's a paradise only 90mins from my door so it's hard to beat. This island is a magical place, it's so far removed from the normal routines of life that it's hard to believe there's a huge metropolis just across the bay. Take me back!!!