Sorry it’s taken me so long to get this out, I have had a
few comments from people to hurry the heck up with it so here goes…
Where do I start? It was such an amazing experience to
compete with a truly great and dedicated team. It was my first time competing
at this level for duathlon; I wasn’t sure what to expect. I stayed in a
different hotel to the official GBR hotel as the family came with me and we
wanted to be away from it all. I was only about a mile away so wasn’t too much
trouble to get there to meet up for training, course rekeys and team briefings.
It was kind of nice as I prefer to be away from everyone before a race anyway.
So we all met up for a course rekey on the bikes, Jez Cox
(team captain) let us know what to expect and basically the bike course was
pretty much an out and back and the run wasn’t too much dissimilar. Off we went
around the course in a big group, it was pretty hard to switch off to everybody
chatting about various things, half of us hadn’t even met each other so there
was a lot of whos who going on, I got to the front of the group and rode it
myself, just so I didn’t miss anything (potholes etc..) Got back and went out
to the run course to check it out. Couple of hills but nothing to worry about; the
run route was about 300m longer than the said 5k route so that was a benefit
for me.
The day before our race we needed to check in our bikes; the
transition area was massive and had been set up by what looked like scouts -
probably singing while setting up. That night after arguably hundreds of thousands
of pounds worth of bikes and equipment were guarded by police (if it were me, I
would have had the army guarding it), one of the racking bars holding around 75
bikes decided to fall down, I didn’t see it but apparently bikes were
practically piled on-top of each other while they sorted out the racking.
Race Day Setup:
We were given the time we could go back into transition in
the morning to do our final checks and set up. My transition area was in a
great location next to a flag so I had no problem finding it. I was happy with
the set up with my shoes on the pedals and helmet sitting on the bars. I made
sure I was early so I could go for a jog on the run route and go for a
little nap on the grass.
20mins before the race start and it was time to get my chip
and make my way into the holding pen; it was so hot so I managed to find some
shelter away from other athletes and just waited until they called me to the
line..
I was very calm until they announced 5 mins until start, then
it kicked in hard. I had my full race strategy constantly running through my
head, and I kept on doubting parts of it…I was a mess!
Race strategy:
Run 1 – Knowing there
was a faster 5k runner in the field I decided I would line up as far away from
him as possible so I didn’t go out hard out with him. My plan was to go out easy
until I was up the first hill, kick hard down it and hold steady for the rest
of the way.
Bike – Smash the hell
out of it, rest up in the ‘technical bit’, then smash the hell out the rest of
it.
Run 2 – Try and
survive!
Race Time:
There I was, lining up at the front of the World
Championships; I knew people were trying to wish me luck etc. but I was so
zoned out I didn’t respond.
Run 1 (5340m) - 00:16:51
The Claxon sounded and I went straight into an easy pace
watching the guy I knew was faster than me practically sprint out with a few
others. It didn’t take long (20m) for the others to drop back with their
breathing already a mess; I on the other hand kept my pace up the hill in 3rd
place pulling another GBR athlete up with me…I could already hear his breathing
was a mess so I knew it was only a matter of time before I was running on my own.
This is a problem for me as I tend to ease off… which I did! T
here was no kick
coming down the hill, I just held steady. I obviously started to nod off as it
wasn’t long until I heard someone coming up behind me…luckily it woke me up and
I kicked hard dropping him fast into transition..
T1: 00:00:38
I was very happy with transition, straight onto my bike and
helmet on in record time and before I knew it I was running with my bike to the
mount line, crossed the line jumped straight on, pushed up to 20mph and then
feet straight into shoes. I would recommend these sworks-trivent shoes to anyone - they are so
quick to get in and out of. Later I found out I had fastest transition overall!
;)
Bike: 00:32:09
So obviously my heart rate was high, but I was determined to
go hard until I made it into the ‘technical bit’ where I would have no choice
to slow down which would let me sort my breathing and heart rate out. The
technical bit was basically what looked like an industrial estate about 1K long
in a square, I spent this time mostly off my aero bars sitting up and going
easy. It wasn’t long until I was back on the straight road; it was time to get
my head down and go all out when suddenly hills started to appear. I swear
there weren’t hills on the rekey; just shows what you don’t notice when you’re
not pushing 100%!!!
Anyway, it wasn’t long until I saw the marshals at the end
directing me through the turn-around point, so I sat up and took the welcomed
breather, then it was back on the grind up another blummin’ hill! With only 4 miles
to go I felt my right calf starting to twinge a bit and knew I would need to
ease up or suffer a massive cramp. I eased up but not by much and kept it going
up another few hills at this point practically every bump felt like a hill. The
transition area was sort of in sight and it was on a long downhill giving me the
opportunity to keep speed and get my feet out of my shoes before I jumped off.
I saw a load of marshals on both sides of road flapping about so I slowed down
and got on one side to jump off, getting closer there was no line and they were
marshals for the run exit…it was back on the bike for another 100m losing me so
much time.. easily 30secs!! I jumped off my bike at the same time somebody flew
past me putting me down a position.
Transition: 00:00:37
Another brilliant transition, shoes on at the same time I
got my helmet off and I was gone, taking back the position I had just lost.
Run 2: 00:09:27
I felt good until…wait for it…CRAMP!! It felt like my calf
had literally folded inside out, I could barely stand on it; I stopped and hung
onto railings kicking the crap out of it thinking it would help, it sort of did
but left me with a dead leg! At this point I lost the position again and it was
disappearing in the distance. I hobbled past spectators all looking at me with
saddened faces as I was welling up at the same time; after about 150m I managed
to find a slow stride and slowly managed to build back up to pace - unfortunately
though, 3rd place was way out of sight and all I could do was hang on
to the finish.
The finish was such an emotional experience; the finish
straight was the best bit of the whole race, I was handed a GB flag by a
spectator and I ran in barely holding myself together doing my best not to cry some
happy tears! That was it…I was 4th in my AG with the most amazing
team in the world! We placed 2nd,3rd and 4th
with some USA dude taking 1st. I think I was in shock… I think I
still am!
This race is a race I will never forget! Whatever my
accomplishments in the future I will never forget my 1st
international duathlon race! 4th in the world baby!! BOOM
I know I have done this before but…
Mike Smith, Ian Turner, Darren Preston, I could never
have done this without your coaching, help and support. I am loving the plans
for next year!! A massive thanks to all the amazing sponsors! And most
importantly, Helen & Isla, the most amazing support team ever…thank you so
much for helping me through this!
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