St. Anthony's is done, and to be honest, it was a lot tougher than I thought it was going to be. I guess first races always are, and there’s some easy improvements I can make for my next efforts. Here’s a small narrative…
At briefing on the Saturday, Sir Honourable Race Director mentioned the possibility of a back up plan for the swim, because there were steady Easterly winds bringing chop into the bay. When 'suggestions' like this are made, it makes Josh upset because we all know that if it comes to be mentioned, it essentially means they're planning on doing it anyway. Sure it may have been a little too much for the age-groupers, but I didn't go to America to have a swim cut in half because it was dangerous for people who enter a Triathlon with no swimming experience. This is twice in two weeks that a swim in the States has been chopped like Snoop Doggs vegetation. Can race organisers please move away from the legal jargon? We all signed a waiver before the race anyway. Isn't the point of a waiver to waive liability?
Anyway... I led the swim until the final stretch into the beach where Potts took the reins. You're allowed to wear cheat suits in these races, and I need to get one because he blew straight past me. There was a brutal brutal 1km run to transition along concrete from the alternate swim course, which my feet have been suffering from since. I rode well for the 40km, but still have a bit of work cut out for me to keep up with the big players. Cameron Dye rode like a madman and put 2mins into us folk. I came off the bike with the company of Hayes, Docherty, Gemmell and Ospaly and as expected, I battled pretty hardcore on the run. I will have to run quicker than 36mins to win these things. If fact, Ospaly ran like a hare with a sub-31min, which is phenomenal for a race like this. Mega-kudos given for that effort.
So I'm back in Oz now, and I'm thinking twice about going all that way again for one race, especially a seasons first. I guess it's all experience and learning though. Yet, the webs have certainly been blown out, and as always, have be superseded by every athletes good friend DOM(S). I'm looking forward to finally doing some proper running training and getting the bike a bit faster, and getting back over here to get my way to Des Moines on September 4. Next up is Seoul Continental Cup on May 15. Quick...cram in the run km's!
Here's some pictures, reproduced without permission.
At briefing on the Saturday, Sir Honourable Race Director mentioned the possibility of a back up plan for the swim, because there were steady Easterly winds bringing chop into the bay. When 'suggestions' like this are made, it makes Josh upset because we all know that if it comes to be mentioned, it essentially means they're planning on doing it anyway. Sure it may have been a little too much for the age-groupers, but I didn't go to America to have a swim cut in half because it was dangerous for people who enter a Triathlon with no swimming experience. This is twice in two weeks that a swim in the States has been chopped like Snoop Doggs vegetation. Can race organisers please move away from the legal jargon? We all signed a waiver before the race anyway. Isn't the point of a waiver to waive liability?
Anyway... I led the swim until the final stretch into the beach where Potts took the reins. You're allowed to wear cheat suits in these races, and I need to get one because he blew straight past me. There was a brutal brutal 1km run to transition along concrete from the alternate swim course, which my feet have been suffering from since. I rode well for the 40km, but still have a bit of work cut out for me to keep up with the big players. Cameron Dye rode like a madman and put 2mins into us folk. I came off the bike with the company of Hayes, Docherty, Gemmell and Ospaly and as expected, I battled pretty hardcore on the run. I will have to run quicker than 36mins to win these things. If fact, Ospaly ran like a hare with a sub-31min, which is phenomenal for a race like this. Mega-kudos given for that effort.
So I'm back in Oz now, and I'm thinking twice about going all that way again for one race, especially a seasons first. I guess it's all experience and learning though. Yet, the webs have certainly been blown out, and as always, have be superseded by every athletes good friend DOM(S). I'm looking forward to finally doing some proper running training and getting the bike a bit faster, and getting back over here to get my way to Des Moines on September 4. Next up is Seoul Continental Cup on May 15. Quick...cram in the run km's!
Here's some pictures, reproduced without permission.
Id say a 'mega-kudos' to you for producing that effort after months of injury and very little running coming into the race
ReplyDeleteGood to see you back Burgerman. Good luck for the rest of the season. Keep us informed on how you go.
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