Following on from my previous post (re getting gastro at worlds), I think it would be appropriate to commence with some (i.e. many) apologies. So in chronological order (no exaggeration!) here is my list of apologies:
1. Mum
2. Maneka (one of best friends) not the nicest way to thank you for taking me out to dinner the night I got back to college. We both sat there saying how nice our food was, upon returning home we both vomited up all its contents. We had a college running event on the Sunday (three days after dinner), her spectating was interrupted on multiple occasions, by her frenzied running back into college to vomit.
3. Grace (Sister) Was almost taken to hospital, not ideal three days before her first Year 12 exam.
4. Gretel (another sister) ditto
5. Elspeth (yet another sister) who was staying at her best friends house
6, 7, 8 and 9. Elspeth’s Friends Family, for A. Nursing my sister and B. (through Elspeth) giving you entire family gastro. With one family member being taken by ambulance to hospital!
Special mention goes to my dad for A. avoiding infection and B. still being blamed for spreading the disease by my mum. Poor guy!!
Road Relay College Running Event
After taking five days completely off with illness (coupled with a full taper) I was seriously underdone for the annual ANU road relay running competition. The basic format is a team of 8 runners from each college run around ANU, with 4 runners doing the 3k loop (two boys and two girls) and the remainder the 1500m loop. Our college had only lost once in the last 17 years, it helped having a sub 8:10 3k runner anchoring our team last year. Unfortunately we came short by 20 seconds, not the best feeling especially since I was the anchor runner. My time 9:37 was reflective of my recovery from illness (only stopped vomiting a few days before, let alone was still barely eating) and the general lack of training over the last two weeks. Obviously the course was very hilly ;)
Below are some photos.
Xosize Triathlon Series- Race 1
This race holds a special place in my heart, as it was my first ever triathlon three years ago. I came 187th overall, 16th in my Age Group with splits of a 12.02 500m swim, 37.40 20k bike and a 22.52 5k run. I’ve come a long way since then!
The Xosize series is the little brother to the bigger Gatorade series, personally I prefer it, 2000+ people at a race gets a bit hectic, especially as an Age Grouper trying to pass hundreds of people on the bike. Moreover the field is still generally strong, with all the top Juniors and a decent contingent of Elites racing, this race would be spearheaded by Mitch Kibby who had spent the last six months in the US, who, amongst other results had gotten a top 10 at the LA triathlon.
I’ve had a few opportunities to test my improved swim this season, but to me this was the first test that really mattered. Last year I was exiting the water around a minute down on the lead pack, the goal this time was to make it!
Swim- 500m: 7:17 (lead swimmer, 6:54, 2nd 7:07)
The water at Mordialloc was incredible, crystal clear, devoid of used syringes, condoms, jellyfish (as is the case at neighbouring St Kilda) and as an elite, no breastroking AG swimmers.
The plan was to start as hard as I possibly could, maintaing that intensity until I found good feet. At the first turnbouy 150m in I was 4th. I took the perfect line around the buoy somehow avoiding any contact. Being such a mediocre swimmer over the past few years has meant that I am used to (and somewhat relish) contact in the water (us MOP swimmers make up for our lack of swimming ability with zealous aqua-combat skills). So far, all of my Elite races have been quite wimpy in terms of contact.
At this point I was seeing lactate-induced stars. I clung on swimming on the hip of eventual 2nd place finisher (and new EnduranceTeam member) Nick Mcguire. By the time I rounded the last buoy into shore the effort was starting to take its toll. I lost the feet of Nick, swimming in no-mans land for the last 100m. Fortunately I had not lost too much ground, coming out easily within striking distance of the main pack.
T1: 54s (Most Elites between 42-56s)
The run to transition was brutal, generally this is where I record my highest HR for the entire race. My T1 was sloppy again, simple things like putting on my helmet whilst taking off my wetsuit can save 3-4seconds, which in draft-legal racing is an eternity. Still I was in a good position, with a line of people ahead of me, it was all looking good.
This is where it all goes pear-shaped.
Let me preface this by saying my memory is slightly hazy, my general cognisance was similar to that of a drunken driver, my mind-altering substance was lactate instead of alcohol.
Upon mounting my bike, my foot slipped causing the shoes to hit the ground at a funny angle, nearly propelling me off my bike. I had to stop, fiddle around with my shoes and then accelerate from a standing start. With that three people passed me (including the eventual 3rd place getter) and the front pack was 100m ahead of me. Things were looking grim!
Bike: 16k’s (24:20, front pack 23:20)
I set about absolutely demolishing myself in the opening few kilometres, treating it more like a 3k individual pursuit. I was riding solo between the front and chase pack, riding on a lot of anger! I can deal with not being good enough, but not making stupid mistakes (something I make way too many of!!). By the turnaround at the 4k mark, I was about 25-30s down, the pace was still high as someone was off the front. At the turnaround I crossed paths with the chase pack with one of them calling out to me to wait. At that stage my gap to them was 45s, I didn’t want to completely surrender my race just yet.
The rest of the bike consisted of me gradually losing more time to the leaders, especially in the last 4-5ks. This was probably the hardest I’d ever pushed in a ride, unlike non-draft racing, pacing yourself isn’t really an option. You make front pack or your day is over.
*On this note I would like to call out the race organisation. The entry into T2 was a bit convoluted and incredibly dangerous. People starting their second lap would make a U turn, whilst the people finish their bike leg would proceed straight past those turning. With only one lane open here, there was a serious risk of a U-turner being t-boned at 40+km/h by someone going into T2. I was lucky to avoid hitting someone, and frankly it was a miracle no-one (from what I know) was hurt.
T2
I entered T2 exactly a minute down on the leading pack and 20s up from the chase pack who had mowed me down over the previous few K’s. This time I managed to avoid any disasters and head out onto the run, hoping to harness some anger.
Run: 5ks (actually 5.1) 18.13 (winner 16.09, four under 17mins)
,
Riding solo at 180+HR compared to those who could save themselves by drafting meant I had very low expectations on the run (which I well and truly met). For the first time in living memory I actually followed my coaches directive of not wearing a garmin or HR monitor. A strangely liberating experience. The goal was to try and pick off one or two people infront and hold off those behind. To that end, I passed one person from the lead pack (Fraser Walsh, who I always seem to finish either directly behind or infront of in the overall for the last three seasons) and was passed by one person (Paul Speed, our finish line sprint at the Geelong Triathlon earlier this year made the TV show).
It was a lonely and very painful run, at least it went quickly. Illustrative of my exertion I managed to cut my knee following the obligatory fall to the ground in exhaustion as soon as one crosses the finishing line.
Overall Time: 51:37, winners time 48:xx
I was very disappointed with myself for letting the front pack go, I had done all the hard-work by actually getting myself to a level where I could swim near the front, stuffing up on something I could control really hurt. Hindsight is a lovely thing, but by saving myself on the bike by riding with the chasers, I probably could’ve run 40-60s faster. That’s where some tactical nous/experience comes in.
Other general notes.
1. The intensity difference between AG and Elite is immense. A few seconds in transition or on the mount/dismount line doesn’t mean that much, but as I learnt the hard way there is no down-time in a draft-legal race.
2. Draft-legal really feels like you are properly racing, whereas non-drafting feels much more like a race against yourself (especially on the bike).
3. There were some classic brutally honest post-race comments from mum. Generally commenting on the size of a person who passed me (“he was obese!”) and the ‘quality’ of the Male 35-39 men (said something to the effect of how much she “loved” watching those men….perve!) She has promised to do a “Happy Feet” Triathlon this year (which will be great entertainment for the rest of the family, solar eclipses are more frequent than seeing her running). By “Happy Feet” she means the "Active Feet" triathlon series (the little brother of the Gatorade Tri Series, with the events lasting 30mins). At one race last year she accidentally called it the “Happy Feet” race, the name has stuck.
The next race will be the Gatorade Series (25th of November). If there is a stronger field for any local race in the world let me know, field includes. Clayton Fettel (arguably fastest swim/biker in sport), Brendan Sexton (Olympian and Oceania Champion), Peter Kerr (2012 Noosa Tri Winner), two Australian Junior Elite representatives (coming 5th and 21st at Worlds), Luke Bell (multiple IM 70.3 winner), Mitch Kibby (winner of this Xosize race and top 10 in the LA triathlon), Jamie Huggett (4th U/23 Worlds as a 19yo) plus a bevvy of top ITU Juniors.
It will be yet another step up in intensity….
