Going into this race, I wasn't putting too much thought into how I would do. The plan for the day would be steady pace = good race. However, it seemed that mother nature would give her say about the race, as it poured. It rained so much I was looking at farms as we rode through the sugar cane fields for some bloke building an arc.
Saturday I finished my prep on the bike, cleaning it, making sure the chain and gears were nice and clean and freshly oiled. Everything you need to do to make sure your trusty steed was in its best condition so the chance of something happening were minuscule. Completing this, I put the bike on the car, drove the little over an hour to the race location and checked in. It's amazing how you see all your mates down there, little bits of smack talk here and there but all in good fun. For this race the transition was in a 2 level parking garage. I was fortunate enough to have one of the spots on the lower level, nice and covered. Home I came and was in bed by just after 8:30 as the alarm would be waking me from my slumber at 3:30am.
The alarm went off, I got up as quietly as I could, and made my way out the door shortly before 4am. My wave start wasn't till 6:41am but transition was to close around 5:30am so I wanted to make sure I was there in plenty of time. I made a stop on the way, grabbed some brekkie and a coffee (we may be crazy for doing this sport, but we are still civil). On the way it started to rain, light at first, then patches of heavy down pours. When I arrived I went straight to transition to setup my area. Remember my spot down below....dry as bone my bike and transition area was. I set up my area, threw an extra pair of socks down (just in case) checked everything, a double check and I went to the tent area to stay dry.
The whole time I was calm. I kept picturing the race, over and over in my mind and what I would do. This race was the start to the season, so for me, being the year and a bit coming up, I wanted to ensure it was started on the right foot. One of the ways I would try this was to not time myself. I pulled on my wettie to the waist, and made my way down to the start area to watch the last of the sprintman people head out. I finished putting on my wettie and jumped in for a quick warmup. (as an aside, I was seriously considering not wearing a wettie but with the weather, and the coldest ocean swim temp I've have seen in Australia (19.5) I opted for the suit)
My heat was right after the pro's so I jumped back in and swam over to the start. The horn went off and away my day started. I quickly found some toes to get onto as well as a few legs, some arms and the odd head. A quick look up, I found some free space and off I went. Now being in the water again for only 7 weeks after a 15 week layoff, I just wanted to swim smart and ensure I was doing full pulls with each stroke. Out into the broad water back into the canal and up we went. I was swimming fairly well (really good by my standards) and could just feel a bit of the tide going out as we headed up the canal. I was swimming fairly straight and was feeling good. I found the turn around buoys and back we went. Not being in my wettie for a year was starting to hurt. My shoulders could feel it and in a couple of places I was getting rubbed which was starting to get irritating. We turned into the marina and there was the finishing ramp. I hopped out and was happy with how things went. A jog over to the transition, dried off (have no idea why) and hopped on my trusty steed.
The mantra for the day on the bike was to ride smart, with good cadence of around 90-95 and take it easy on the hills and push it on the flats and downhill areas. If I felt the legs getting pushed, I would back it off or gear down, it was going to be a long day and no matter how hard I could have gone on the bike, a great bike split with a walk in lieu of a run is not worth it. It was pissing rain on the 2 lap course and there was carnage everywhere. With the wet weather, there were lots of flats, and a few good spills and accidents. At times it was raining so hard you couldn't see through your glasses, but you needed them on as without them, you were pelted in the face. I think we all learned how to look over the tops of our glasses, squinting with our heads bent down. After the first lap of the bike, I'd rode to my plan, taking in the necessary gels and drinking lots. Even though it was raining, I somehow stayed warm. Soaked to the bone, but warm. Out onto the second lap, the wind had picked up but I kept the legs turning over and was starting to believe my plan was falling into place nicely. Being smart, I stuck with it and avoided the urge to go faster. As I made it to the turn around point of the 2nd loop, things were feeling good and I was starting to pass more and more people, a sign my plan might be right. I made the turn into the community, took my last gel for the bike leg, finished my sports drink and rode on by the people standing under umbrellas or squad tents cheering us on. As I came into transition, I took my feet out of my bike shoes, and as they turned over on the pedals, the water poured out of them. A slow flying dismount and into transition I went.
Remember that nice dry transition area I had, and those extra socks..... They would have fetched a kings ransom by those on the upper levels. I dried my feet, put my nice warm dry socks and shoes on, and headed out with my two gels, one for the end of each the 1st and 2nd lap of the run.
As I headed out, all I wanted to do was run consistently and the whole way. Now this may seem easy enough, but I'd been at it for about 3+ hours. Rather than think about it as distance, I tricked my mind a bit, and told myself, 'Hey, it's only 3 laps. Each lap has 3 main sections. Complete one lap and re-evaluate." That little mind game seemed to work and it worked well. Within minutes it seemed like I was on cruise control and I was along for the ride...PERFECT.
I went through the first lap and came into the aid station area, grabbed a water, downed my gel and chased it with the water. Each aid station I would grab a water but keep running. The first lap went well, and onto the 2nd. I was still feeling like I was on cruise control and was in a zone. I was passing people, with only the odd person passing me. About half way through the 2nd lap, I started to feel the pain. But I pulled another trick out from under my sleeve (okay I was wearing a sleeveless top, but work with me here), I smiled. As soon as I did this, it was amazing how the feeling of pain disappeared. This seemed to work well and before I knew it, I was coming into the aid station at the end of the second lap. Another gel and water and I was on the last lap. Onto the last one, I could keep running right????
Smiling was only working a bit, but with some people behind me keeping me honest, I couldn't stop. I had to keep going. My mind wanted me to stop, but I wasn't listening, maybe it's because I'm a parent, but I managed to tune out the negative. The mileage marker said 16kms, only 5 to go I could do this. I kept repeating the distance 5 to go, only 5 to go. Before I knew it, I was saying 4, then 3 then 2.... 19kms down maybe I could pick it up for the remainder.... I called for more speed but there was nothing there. I tried again at the 20km marker, but I had nothing more to give, I'd ran the smart race and had nothing left, but more importantly, without smashing myself to bits. I made the turn into the finishing chute, having no idea what time I was on. I looked up it said 5.38ish or something. I was stoked. I'd ran to within 2 minutes of my PB on 7 weeks of training. I gave a thumbs up to Kaz (cheering squad extraordinaire) and made my way to the finishers tent. As I grabbed some watermelon, cookies, candies, whatever I could get my hands on, I overheard people talking about the clock time. Apparently the time on the clock was for the pro's, so I had to take away 5 minutes. I'd done a PB!!!!!!!
Being over the moon with this news I made it back to the tent to collect my things. I had done it. Raced my plan to perfection, left nothing on the course and somehow raced faster than I have before at this distance. It was only 3 minutes but hey, there's so much more potential to tap into now.
Looking back at this race I think there were three things I can take away from it.
- I had the right positive attitude and didn't fall prey to the dreaded watch.
- I controlled what I could and listened to what my body was telling me.
- Paying attention to the smaller details is critical to success. By this I mean, doing your core workouts, making sure you do your nutrition right and don't sweat the small stuff.
Even though walking is now comical relief for those watching me, I know this coming season is off on the right foot. My swimming is coming along nicely, even with a PB on the swim this race, I know I'm onto something greater here and maybe, just maybe, I can chop a bunch more time off.
I'm working on the anti-oxidants (aka, red wine) for a couple of days and will be back into it later this week. Nothing too big between now and January, but I will continue to train, and maybe have some more fun in the shorter races before gearing up for my attempt at the double IM year.
Keep smiling and see you out there.
Cheers
Rich
