It wasn’t easy heading down this path but in the back of my mind I thought it was the right thing to do. Training has been going quite well. Improvements are being made and self-management has kept me on my feet.
One lovely Friday morning after swimming I was told I might as well have a hit out this weekend.
In an instant the part of me that wanted to race shouted, ‘DONE! We are racing, and there’s no changing your mind.’ Remaining skeptical was the other part of me, wondering whether it would be a good idea. ‘What if I’m not ready?’ ‘What if I have a bad race?’
To my surprise and much to my delight, things were different this time round.
Just breaking up the text with an appetiser...
Round 5 of the Queensland Triathlon Series. Nothing major, just a state level race... So I assumed.
The un-foreseen hit out left me feeling slightly un-prepared (mentally) so I took on the mind-set that it-is-what-is and you’d give 100% like always. So treat it like training!
That seemed to work pretty well. Nerves were non-existent the night before, until the good luck messages started coming in from the family. As rude as it sounds, I tried my hardest to ignore them. However, it was for the best.
As I rolled into the event area and headed to transition I started to see many familiar faces. Faces that are recognized worldwide at very high levels of racing.
Those nerves that were non-existent. Well, now they were existent. In an exorbitant amount!
Nonetheless, it was time for business. Got my head around it and begun the race prep.
More interspersed photographic brilliance...
Finally it was go time. The horn/whistle/hooter, whichever one it was, sounded and we were away. I had a great start thanks to all the practicing and I found myself in clear water. Not quite in the lead however as there was a group of swimmers off to my right. But I was leading the brigade on the left.
I had chosen a good starting position, maintained a good line and found myself rounding the buoy in 3rd or 4th position. There were some very strong swimmers in the race so I was pleased with how I went and where I was for the whole swim.
I held my position to the exit but had a slight stumble and ended up exiting the water in 5th with a small gap between the leaders and I. It felt like I was floating through transition so the gap was easily closed. I even made up a place!
As the lead group jumped on the bike there was a bit of sorting out with positions. Soon after the stronger riders found themselves at the front and were setting a solid pace.
During the third lap a gap had been created between another athlete, the lead bunch and myself. I decided to take my time to catch up and use the corners to my advantage. Most of the field were riding time trial bikes so my bike was much faster in and out of U-turns and around the round a bout. Eventually I caught up and tried my best to spin my legs in the closing kilometers.
Again a little gap had been opened up but I knew I would be faster through transition so I allowed the gap to be created as I spun the legs over. Just as planned I jumped off the bike and caught up fairly quickly.
Onto the run!
I wasn’t sure what to expect, I had been running well in training, but that was in training. So I just ran my way to second places shoulder and just sat to see how it played out.
I was telling myself not to make a move yet but I was feeling fantastic. I moved into the lead and took the 4 of us around the first turn. Not long after that Dan Wilson came flying around me, I decided to wait and see if one of the other boys were going to attack and I would be ready for it and go with them.
Eventually we got to the second U-turn and I had a chance to see what was going on. Surprisingly there was a gap between Mitch Kealey, Ben Shaw and I. So I just kept turning the legs over.
At about the 4k marks I felt myself beginning to lose it with technique. Mitch came around me at this point and I was unable to go with him either. We made the 3rd and final turn and as I got back up to speed a voice in my head said “relax and turnover”. All of a sudden I was back feeling great (still very much hurting inside though).
Fading:
The gap that Mitch had created was no longer increasing and I may have gained a meter or two. It was hard to tell though.
I finished off in 3rd position, very pleased to have raced especially having a good one!
Usually when you find out the course is long you whinge and complain. At first I did this but if it weren’t for the extra distance then I may not have found my form again and finished off strong.
Some early plans have been put in place and it looks like Mooloolaba will be the 3rd race of the season. And to think I was only going to do one… Who was I kidding, that was never going to happen!
January’s update is on its way!
Thanks for your time.
Would just like to send a huge thanks to Leanne Handreck Photography for supplying the photos, even though she would have no knowledge of me using them I though it be appropriate I acknowledge her.
