Post Ironman 70.3 Sunshine Coast just two
weeks ago I managed to contract a nasty flu which had really limited my
training and might also explain why I had a less than desired performance at
IM70.3 Sunshine Coast. With that said I had managed to get in a few good
training sessions once I felt a little better but was still struggling a lot
with recovery and was far from being 100% physically. It is very hard as a
professional triathlete to toe that start line knowing that you are not in the
best shape due to sickness. Nevertheless I have always enjoyed racing at Robina
on the Gold Coast and decided to give what ever the body and mind would allow
me to give on race day and not be too disappointed with the end result.
With a wetsuit legal swim I was excited to
wear my new Orca Predator wetsuit which I have been using a lot in training and
am feeling very confident in. I started fast and was one of the leaders heading
towards the first of 3 swim turn buoys. Rounding the first turn I slipped in
behind the first two lead swimmers and felt strong all throughout the 800 meter
swim leg. I emerged from the swim and had a great transition out my wetsuit to
hit the 32km bike leg in second place. As soon as I slipped my feet into my
bike shoes I set about trying to build a solo gap to the rest of my
competitors. After the first 8km loop I had around a 30 second lead which I
really wanted to extend as much as possible over the remaining 3 X 8km laps.
Photo: Paul McCarty
Photo: Leanne Handreck Photography
With eventual winner Ben Cook having caught up to the chase group he pushed
hard to reduce my lead with a small group of chasers latched onto his fast
paced cycling effort. Coming into transition I knew that I had my work cut out
for me as my solo lead had been reduced down to just 20 seconds.
Photo: Leanne Handreck Photography
After two
weeks of battling sickness I knew that my run might not be where I needed it in
order to win due to the high heart rate zone I would need to hold to keep my
lead intact. The run consisted of 3 times 2km laps and I really pushed hard
over the first lap to hold onto my lead. Unfortunately as I headed out onto lap
two the pass from the lead was made leaving me holding down the final podium
position. I crossed the finish line just 34 seconds behind the winner for a
hard fought 3rd place.
Photo: Leanne Handreck Photography
I always go into races with the mentally
that I am racing to win but after a shocking two weeks of being sick I was
really just happy to be on the podium. I gave the race all I had both mentally
and physically on the day and put in a big effort to race off the front and
have a big crack at the victory. As an athlete that is all you can do and
sometimes it goes your way and other days it doesn’t quite work out.
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