Hi everyone, Just got home form my first race in the USA for this season with a 3rd placing in the 70.3 race in Kansas. It was a good start to the season after a few disappointing races earlier in the year but i knew that I had laid down the best base of training that I ever had and it started to show on the weekend. I was first out of the water in my xterra vendetta wetsuit and the start of the bike there were 5 of us together. Luke Bell (aussie) was riding awesome in the first 20miles and I was struggling to hang in there and Simon Thompson (aussie) dropped off and there were four of us left. Myself, Steve Hackett (my training buddy!!), Luke and Tim O'Donnell. I came good on the bike and rode the best I ever have for a half ironman. Riding strong for the whole 90km. I was first off the bike and we all headed out on the run together but then Tim and Luke took off and Steve and I ran together for about 15km when steve stated to struggle a little and I came good and ended up in 3rd. I have to thank Erik/Ivetter from K-Swiss who sent me out Erik's own personal bontrager race wheels for me to use and absolutely loved them!! Erik must have warmed them up for me! Next race is in two weeks down in Texas at the Buffalo Springs 70.3. Thanks to everyone for their support. Paul/Barny Go Dragons!! Thanks to Timothy carlson for the great photos!!

Hey Guys,

Just finished racing the 70.3 world championships here in clearwater, florida. The race summed up my whole season flashes of brilliance followed by unluckyness!!! The race started with the best swim of my life. Getting out of the water only 5-10secs behind Andy Potts and around 30secs in front of the next pack. Andy stayed in front on the bike and at 10km I hit a bump and my milky way bounced out of the little box I keep it in and it got jammed in between my crank and front derallier. So I had to pedal backwards and got it out and threw it back in my little box but it had jammed my front derallier up and my chain was grinding on it for the rest of the ride which was very annoying. Then at about 70km I flatted after being 15secs behind the front pack so my race was over. I ended up finishing but never really ran that good. A long way to come for that to happen but that's racing and you've got to roll with the punches. Huge Thank You to Rach, Jaylan, Mum, Dad and Kaz for always being there and helping me along the way. Craig, Neri and Lucy Alexander for looking after me in Boulder with cooking for me, all my training advice and for using crowie's disc all season. Stephen "wombat" Hackett for eveything he does for me in Boulder. Jeffrey Collier and Andrew Hunter for all their coaching. All the boys at home especially Pudd for his weekly phone calls to america to keep my updated on all the goss at home. Thanks to Geoff and Leanne Grey at Mad Spoprts, Greg Salter and the whole team at the Kingscliff learn to Swim centre and USM especially the Weet-Bix boys who are very flexible with my hours of working and put up with all the time. Thanks Jason Shortis and the team at Shorto's Bike shop in Tweed Heads for helping me with a bike for the year. Forbesy and Cannibal for their continued support throughout the year. Thank You to my brand new sponsors for their help this weekend with Eric and K-Swiss getting me on board, GU Gels, Nuun Hydration and Fuel Belt. And Thank You to Amanda Balding who's been looking after me this year with my sponsorship and her Boyfriend Luke Mckenzie. I think Luke helps her as well. And Ben for the great website that he has done for me. Off to Cancun tomorow for some R and R then up to New York then to the snow in Colorado. The body needs a rest. Been a long season. Back in 2 1/2 weeks. Attached is a photo of me in my new K-Swiss gear racing today.

Paul/Barny/Spongey and now Eric is calling me Boney!!

Hi Guys, Arrived in Florida now ready for the 70.3 World Champs on saturday morning or late saturday night aussie time. I finished 6th at Noosa which was a little disappointing but I did feel super strong on the bike and run so hopefully that can translate into some good form for this weekend. Flew straight out on monday aussie time and arrived in Tampa on monday night Tampa time. Phillipe and Lisa who are friends of Craig Alexander's have been awesome and looking after us. We head to Clearwater this afternoon which is about 20mins away to get ready for the race. Paul/Barny/Spongey

Hey Guys, Back in God's country now for another week and a half anyway. I head up to Noosa on wednesday for the big race then fly out the day after for 70.3 worlds in Florida so busy times coming up. If you haven't checked out the latest Mens health magazine go check it out. There's a story on Noosa and a guy that you might recognise in the photo. Apparently it's the "condom head shot" as the guys from USM like to call it!! Thanks Team!! Anyway take care Paul/Barny

Hi Guys, I finally cracked it this morning finishing 3rd in the Los Angeles triathlon. I'm on foxsports-http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,24310516-23218,00.html and on insidetri-http://www.insidetri.com/article/71964/bennett-lavelle-dominate-la-tri Everything finally went to plan. I came out of the water about 5th and was on the bike in 4th and rode real hard the first few km and caught the leader Andy Potts who is probably the best swim/biker in the sport now that Craig Walton has retired but Andy can run real good as well. Andy actually dropped me but then got back on at about 10km and I rode with him until about 25km. I was on the rivet the whole time trying to stay with Andy then Greg Bennett went flying passed both of us. GB got to transition 25secs in front of Andy and I was about 10-15secs behind Andy. I managed to run pretty strong and hung on for 3rd place ahead to Stuey Hayes who won in Chicago 2 weeks ago. I'm happy i've finally had a good race and put my good form to use. Staying in LA this week and racing Malibu on saturday then back home to boulder for my last three weeks. Go the dragons against the sea eagles!! Paul/barny Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Triathlon Los Angeles, California Sunday, September 7, 2008 1.5km S/40km B/10km R Elite Men's Results 1. Greg Bennett (AUS) 1:46:04 2. Andy Potts (USA) 1:46:47 3. Paul Matthews (AUS) 1:48:09 4. Stuart Hayes (GBR) 1:49:01 5. Brent McMahon (CAN) 1:49:17

Raced in Chicago on Sunday in the second biggest race in the world. Almost 9000 competitors. I ended up finishing 7th which is alright but that included a 1min penalty on the bike. I think I must have an X marked on my bike, I don't know whats going on. I was having the best race of my life thus far. I felt awesome in the swim and was sitting on Andy Potts's feet who is a really good swimmer. I got out of the water in 5th but I ra across the timing mats first so it actually gave me first for the swim. I was first onto the bike and hammered the first few km and myself and Stuart Hayes of England who ended up winning the race managed to get away on the bike. After about 15km we were joined by Matty Reed and we had a lead of 45-50secs lead to the next guy and then all of a sudden at about 25km an official came up next to me and told me to pull over which I couldn't believe. I wont go into it but I was never doing what she said and her explanation for pulling me over left a lot to be desired and made me think that she didn't even know the rules!!! So the race of my life was starting to turn upside down. After the minute penalty I rode my arse off for 5mins and caught the second group but with 10km to go they started attacking and I didn't have the legs to go with them so I ended up getting off the bike about 11th and I managed to run up into 7th so I still got some ok money but it could have been so much better. On the positive side I'm in really good form so I have to put it together in LA now in a week and a half. Plus the dragons won so that was good!! Paul/Barny

Hey Everyone, I raced the 5430 in Boulder yesterday which is the Half Ironman in town here. I ended up finishing 4th which is alright but I was disappointed with the result. I came out of the water in 3rd place and rode with my mate stephen hackett for the whole 90km and we came off the bike in 2nd and 3rd about 4mins down from tim o'donnell the leader. I felt really good heading out on the run and the gap was down to 1min 40sec after a few mile but a couple km into the 2nd lap I started to die and with about 3 mile to go I blew and got passed by Simon Thompson and Brian Fleischmann and finished in 4th. If I'd run properly I could've won so it was disappointing but at least I put myself into a position to win the race. I just wasn't good enough. Race in Chicago in less then 2 weeks now. I think I should be in some good form for the biggest race in the world!! Looking forward to it. Going to get some new photos from yesterdays race and put the up on the website Go dragons!! Barny/Paul

Hi Everyone, Had the weekend from hell on the weekend just gone!!! I'll start from the beginning!! Craig "Crowie" Alexander's wife Neri and his daughter little Lucy picked me up at 8am on thursday morning and took me to the bus station to catch the bus to the airport for my flight to Newfoundland, Canada which is located in the north east part of canada. Its only a 4 1/2 hour flight to London from there so its a long way from oz and even boulder!! Got to the airport checked in and never got charged $100 for my bike which we usually do every time we fly so I thought this is going to be a great trip!! On the plane to Chicago and the traffic control radars weren't working in chicago so we doing loops above the city then we started running out of petrol so the pilot was going to land somewhere else but then we got the ok to land in chicago and I made the harry dash to my next flight but got there to watch the plane pulling away from the gate. So i went to Air Canada to get the next flight which was meant to go to Montreal but the chick said there's a United flight to Halifax which gets me closer to my destination and leaves sooner so i said ripper put me on that. I re check in at United not getting charged again!! then my flight was cancelled so I lined up for 2 hours then the chick said she couldn't get me on any flights to Deer Lake what so ever on the friday and she had to book me for saturday. Over 8hours of travelling the day before my race, not the best preparation!! So they put me in a hotel for the night without my bike and clothes. I wore the same clothes for 3days!! Then the next day I went straight back to the airport and got on an Air canada flight to Montreal then Halifax in business class!!! Then I was on stand by for 2 flights to deer Lake but never got on them. they told me my bike would arrive in Halifax at midnight friday night and would be on the first flight to deer lake on saturday. Because I was on stand by I had to pay for my own hotel in Halifax. Next day fly to Deer Lake and arrive at the hotel in Cornerbrook at about 3pm to see Crowie. Almost 2 full days late!!! No bike had arrived so I was stressing a little. Made about a thousand phone calls and my bike turned up at 9.30pm and we were getting picked up at 6.30am for the race. So not the best prep I've ever had. I swam well leading out the swim in my brand new XTERRA wetsuit then got on the bike Brent the Canadian i was with led the first 5km I did the 2nd 5km then he came back around me then BANG the motorbike comes from no where and says that I was drafting and I get a 4min drafting penalty which is a load of #$&*#$%^!!!! (pardon my french) So i get to stand on the side of the road and watch everyone ride passed for 4mins. I end up getting off the bike in 7th and run up to 5th 20secs behind 4th!! If I didn't get the drafting penalty I think I could have come second or third which would've been awesome considering what my trip was like. The positive thing was I got my slot for the 70.3 world champs in November in Florida and the way I never gave up and got myself back into the money. The trip back was pretty uneventful apart from the customs chick telling me to get my arse back home on nov 11 and to stick up for my rights and get myself more in Australia so I don't have to come and race in her country!! I had to hold my tongue otherwise she could've made my life hell getting back into the USA. Of course my flight from chicago to denver was delayed and I got home at 10pm last night!! A great few days. Awesome that the dragons beat the doggies tho!!

Until next time

Barny/Paul

HI Guys,

I had the Boulder Peak Triathlon on Today. Its awesome because I don't have to travel anywhere!! I've been sick this week so I wasn't sure how I was going to go but I surprised myself and ended up finishing 4th behind Matty Reed who is off to beijing, Simon Lessing a 5 time World Champ and Brian Fleishmann who is in the USA national Team. I didn't swim as good as I have been and got out of the water just down on the lead peak but rode well the first 5km and almost caught all the guys except matty and simon who were up the road then we hit the climb and I was hurting from my early efforts but I held it together and managed to get off the bike in 5th place and moved up 1 place right at the start of the run then held it together holding off another aussie Peter Robertson a 3 time world champ. I never really felt good all day but managed to get in the money which is the most important thing. It keeps me alive!!! I think I'm starting to toughen up a little and push through the pain even when I'm not feeling so good. I think a couple years ago I wouldn't have got 4th I would've given up so thats the most positive thing. Fly off to Newfoundland, Canada on thursday for the 70.3 up there. Go the dragons tonight in the pink V jerseys!! good on ya boys!! Congratulations to Savo and Krystal on their little girl!!!

paul/barny

Hi Everyone,

I raced the the first race of the Life Time Triathlon Series in Minneapolis yesterday. Its the equal second biggest race in terms of prize money so all the good guys came out to play even though the olympics are just 5 weeks away. I ended up finishing 9th which I was pretty happy about. I swam well in the front pack with only Andy Potts of america up the road. It was the best I've felt on the bike in a race since I've been over here although I started hurting towards the end when everyone started attacking. It's meant to be a non drafting race but there was plenty of drafting out there. The I ran as fast as I could on the day to finish in 9th position and in the money which is even better!! Simon Whitfield of Canada won the race (2000 Sydney Olympics Champion). So overall I was happy considering that was my first time I've done that race. I've learnt a few things for next year that I can improve on and hopefully move up the rankings. Next weekend is Boulder Peak. No travelling!!! woohoo!! Then week after up to Canada for the Newfoundland 70.3. Hope everyone is well and just a reminder dragons to beat the storm!!

Paul/Barny

1 Whitfield, Simon 01:48:01 2 Potts, Andy 01:48:04 3 Bennett, Greg 01:48:07 4 Hayes, Stuart 01:48:48 5 Reed, Matt 01:48:54 6 McMahon, Brent 01:48:56 7 Tichelaar, Paul 01:49:23 8 Alexander, Craig 01:49:34 9 Matthews, Paul 01:50:41 10 Kemper, Hunter 01:50:47 11 Hackett, Stephen 01:52