Dirt N Dust Triathlon - 1st (4 time winner)

The Dirt N Dust Triathlon is one of the most unique races in Australia if not the world. This year I came into the event as a 3 time winner and on the hunt for title number 4 in as many years. This event has crowned champions such as Brad Bevan, Loretta Harorp and Emma Jackson so to be racing for the most wins in the events 20 year history was something special and not to be taken lightheartedly. This year the Bondi Rescue lifeguards added a lot of added media coverage as well as an upcoming 1hr TV program of the event.

How your bikes are taken to T1 which is 25kms from T2.

For those who don't know last year (click here to read my 2013 race report) there was a real lack of water to swim in. This year the swim was held in a very full creek which made for a much better swim leg than last year. Although looking very muddy the water was very fresh and on a very well marked course with a lane rope down the entire length of the swim course. Equipped with my HUUB swim skin I hit the water feeling good and ready to swim fast.

The flat water meant that I could quickly find a good rhythm and settle into my race. After rounding the end buoy I headed back upstream where I could get a good view of my gap to the next competitor. I hit transition with about 30 seconds on the next competitor and wasted no time getting onboard my new S-Works Shiv. The wind this year was totally brutal out on the bike course. The wind was a mix between a strong head wind with gusts coming from the right side every so often. I found it very hard just to hang onto the aero bars and had a few scary moments when the wind really started to get fierce. The tropical cyclone hitting the top east coast of Australia the same day seemed to be the culprit from all reports. After battling the winds I hit the run feeling pretty spent. With the ride being one straight road into town there was no respite from the windy conditions so in someways it felt good to swap the bike for a set of run shoes.

The temperature was scorching and with minimal shade I was grabbing drinks at every chance I got through the aid stations. The run is essentially 3 laps of the towns main street with what seems like the entire town cheering you on and a big band right in the centre of it all blaring out some country music covers. I kept pushing the pace during the run and was very glad to hit the finish line in 1st place.

Having raced this event 6 years ago for the first time against the greatest triathlete in Australia's history, Brad Bevan (and getting beaten by the legend) I felt pretty chuffed to take out 4 titles in as many years at one of Australia's toughest and most unique triathlons. This year was the 20th running of this event and to say I have won it 4years running is very special.

Queensland State Sprint Championships - 6th

The State Sprint Triathlon Championships this year was a testament to the quality of athletes that the state of Queensland is producing. It was a strong field over a fast course and I was looking forward to it. Truth be told going into the event I had spent a good portion of the last month with a back injury. It was something that I had never experienced before pain wise. Being in bed at 2am and not being able to sleep due to the pain isn't the best feeling. 2 MRI scans, ultrasound and multi visits to doctors, massage therapists and physio yielded no insight into the cause of the pain. This excruciating back pain had slowly started to go away and after just a week of training I just needed to get out there and race to clear my head more than anything else. A week of training really isn't the best preparation and due to the aforementioned weeks off with injury I went through this race never hitting top gear. 

Race morning approached and with no open/elite category on offer (only age group swim waves) I watched my training partners Matt Roberts, Drew Box and Matt Brown head off 2 minutes ahead. I toed the start line in wave no. 2 with no other than Clayton Fettel and spent the entire 750m trying to hang onto this coat tails.  

I dropped off the feet of Clayton over the last 200m of the swin but managed to have a quick transition and head off onto the bike leg with one of the best swim/bikers of the sport. 

Unfortunately thats where things started to go south with Clayton hitting the gas and dropping me like hammer on a nail. I kept riding solid and managed to pick off most of the remaining competitors who started 2minutes in front of me finally hitting T2 with only a handful of competitors in front. 

Onto the run I kept things in third gear and ran within myself to come through in 2nd behind Clayton in the 25-29 age group and 6th fastest time of the day. At the end of the day this race was just about seeing how much fitness I had lost after some decent time off with injury. 

Next weekend I am heading out to the famous Julia Creek Dirt N Dust Triathlon and am attempting win no. 4 in a row. A great record to have and I am looking forward to the challenge ahead.