chrisbellesini.com

Hi All,
Well it was 28 August last year when I registered for the Melbourne Ironman which sold out in 5 minutes. Now seven months later the big day is nearly here.

Here is a summary for anyone who wants to follow my progress or support me on the course.

Online Tracking: http://ironmanlive.com/
My race number is 193. if this doesn’t work or there is a different site I would appreciate it if someone posts it on my facebook page as I’ll be kind of busy!

Facebook: http://facebook.com.chrisbellesini
I’ll have someone updating my status throughout the day with my progress so feel free to comment and encourage me as I’ll read the messages in the following days when I make sure I give my legs a well deserved rest.

Swim 3.8km

Start Time: 7:15am
Estimated Time: 1 hour 40 mins. Give or take 10 mins.
End Time: 8:55am

I’m wearing a red swim cap and short sleaved wetsuit. This is my weakest leg where I will start at the back of the field to avoid as much as I can started my race with kicks to the head! The majority of my swim will be breast stroke as that is what I’m best at and decided early on to focus on the ride and run as this is only 10% of the race. Cutoff time is 9:35am so plenty of room for error if it is a bit choppy.

Not really a spectator sport but as I’ll be the guy at the back of the pack in a red swimcap doing breast stroke you will actually be able to tell who I am easily I think!

Ride 180km

Start Time: 9:05am (after 10 min generous transition)
Estimated Time: 6 hours 30 mins. Give or take 20 mins.
End Time: 3:35pm

The ride is all about conserving energy for the run and the wind will be a big factor in how fast I go. It is more important to have a good peddle rate than speed so although I predict to do about 6 hours 30 mins, if there are strong winds or I feel I’m pushing a bit too hard the pace will drop off.

The only places to spectate the ride will be at overpasses on Eastlink or maybe at the Springvale Rd turn around. Not sure how close to Springvale Rd we will actually get. I will be dressed in gear as per photo with a Blue Giant Bike but as you can’t get close it will be hard for you to see me and vice versa.

Run 42.2km

Start Time: 3:45am (after 10 min generous transition)
Estimated Time: 4 hours. Give or take 20 mins.
End Time: 7:45pm

TOTAL TIME: 12 hours 30 mins

The good news is that the run is my strength, the bad news is that after already exercising for over 8 hours then I don’t know how the body feel setting out to do a marathon! The focus will be small checkpoints along the way and assessing how I feel. The aim is to get through the first half in reasonable shape at about 5- 5:30 per km pace but if I feel I have to hold back it is a long way to St Kilda so no point in burning out.

The second half could be anything. It may be that I can hold a reasonable pace or that I take the opportunity walk at drink stations to take on food and water.
If you are going to come out and support me here are some suggested points by Ironman Melbourne called live sites where there will a party like atmosphere!

Of course anywhere along the course it would be great so see some faces so feel free to find me out there, I’ll be dressed like I am in this photo. It is the official gear so might be others in same gear but my shorts will be short runners shorts not cycling longer one which most will still be wearing.

Keast Park Seaford 10km – 4:40pm
Pier Road Mordialloc 22km – 5:45pm
Green Point Brighton 32km – 6:45pm
St Kilda Sea Bathes 42km – 7:45pm

Note by the time I get here these points times could be way out either way so make sure you track me live or check out my facebook.

Thanks again for all the support!

Sebastian Terry – 100 Things

Synopsis from www.borders.com.au

Everyone has at least one thing they want to do before they die. Some even write a list. But how many goals and dreams on this list are actually ever achieved? At the ripe-old age of 26, Sebastian Terry realised that like most people, he had not achieved anything on his long-forgotten list. The death of a close friend combined with a naturally abstract view on life sparks a moment of clarity.

In the midst of overseas trip, Sebastian decided to put pen to paper and created a list of 100 Things. His goal, to tick off everything on that list. It’s the start of a crazy, no holds barred adventure that sees Sebastian travel to the ends of the earth on a quest to prove that anything is possible, including true fulfillment.

Along the way, Sebastian strives to raise $100,000 for Camp Quality, a fantastic organisation creating happiness for children and families affected by Cancer.

Support for the journey has been unexpected and also world-wide “What started as a journey based on my own goals and imagination has turned into something so much bigger. Never in a million years did I think anyone would take inspiration from this trip, but I now receive emails from people everywhere offering support, asking for advice and even thanking me! It’s very humbling”

Seb Terry 100 Things is a humorous, action packed adventure dedicated to anyone who’s ever worried about their age, or dreamt about living every day like it was their last.

CHRIS’ REVIEW

When I saw this book on the shelf just prior to Christmas I knew it was right up my alley and so added it to my list. Little did I know that this book was all about lists and the journey taken so far by Sebastian Terry to cross things off during his lifetime. Having a bucket list in your mid twenties is probably not the norm but Seb has an amazing insights on life and he is driven by his values and achieving his dreams whilst inspiring others along the way.

What I really like about this book is that it starts off with the death of a friend prompting Seb to make changes in his life. But as he meets people around the world and ticks items off his list the goal becomes about others not himself.

It is an interesting transformation and what Seb has done takes courage to go against the idea of financial security to be where he has to be which could be anywhere in the world at any time.

An easy read as it is broken into short chapters, some covering items on the list, others on insights and lessons. I’m looking forward to seeing this story continue on the www.100things.com.au website.

The Amazing Race is a reality TV show that has been a worldwide hit now for many years. I rarely watch TV so can’t say that I have ever watched more than a handful of episodes in my life but I love the concept of The Amazing Race.

What I like about the show is that like most games, it reflects life. The Amazing Race requires fifty-fifty decisions, working under pressure, mental and physical fitness, constantly reassessing your position, teamwork, victory and failures. Along the way as a consequence, the contestants have what is considered good luck or bad luck and those that come out in front are not always the ones that you would expect. I think the law of averages will generally reward the ones who are most determined, but the game is not always fair, that’s life!

The other day I went for a run through the Dandenongs in Melbourne and basically allowed myself to ‘get lost’ in amongst the trees and various paths knowing that I would eventually find a sign beside the path directing me back to the carpark. I thought of The Amazing Race as with each fork in the road I had a choice, just like a roadblock. I had no idea what sort of terrain I would be faced with by my choice and whether it would get me closer to me goal or further away. My initial decisions would appear to be the right ones as I was treated with some magnificent views of the city and had an easy run mainly downhill. But what goes down must come up and I knew the run home would be harder, but in my eyes more enjoyable as a love a challenge!

For those who are participating in my own version of The Amazing Race at the moment. Thankyou for taking your time to read this. You know what to do next to earn your points. I also mentioned that The Amazing Race has some lucky breaks. Once you have commented on this page, do the same at this page to earn some unadvertised bonus points!!

The Amazing Race is just like life, we can sit back and watch the box and watch from the outside as others have amazing experiences. Or we can commit to doing this ourselves by each year going on a holiday or doing new things.

Chris Bellesini
Remember, You Too, Can
Choose Your Own Success