Home sweet home

Home! What a trip- been away for 13 days, 2 countries, 2 homestays, 2 races and minimal training between the two, so in a funny way I'm feeling a bit lazy!

Singapore 70.3 was yesterday. I pretty much lost all confidence last weekend so went into Singapore 70.3 with very very low expectations. I need to stop studying start lists and working myself into a frenzy with trying to guess the best possible placing I could get come race day. Top 10 was probably realistic but I'd have to give it all that was left in my tank.

The swim was in the ocean and there was quite a strong current we were (mainly) swimming agianst. A bit of a confusing 2 loop (one small one inside a big one) course, I lost the main pack quite quickly and was left swimming solo for the rest of the leg. Always such a good feeling when I get outta there! Onto the bike i acutally found my legs quickly and wondered how long it would last for. I was quite happy with my bike leg as I know it was a hard, solid, solo effort. It's funny how short the 90km TT on the flat, fast course feels after doing the 200km in Abu Dhabi the weekend before. The run, however took me about 12kms to warm up into. I was a bit worried that the chasers were gaining on me. With about 6km to go I thought I was in about 7th place, 6th at best. At the 17km mark I passed Kirsten Molloy and put the hammer down. I couldn't believe it when Whit called me over the line as 5th place Pro female. Turns out Jodie Swallow had pulled out after the bike... and I had just assumed that she was that far in front that i couldn't even see her! (If she had of completed the course she would have embarrassed a few of the pro men!).

I am more than happy with this result. I was still in the money (even if it's not much, better than nothing!) and to pull out this race one week after feeling like i shouldn't even bother trying to do another triathlon makes the 5th place even more of an achievement.

Kudos to Michelle Wu who worked herself up into 3rd place during the run, her ability to push herself to her limit really came out on the course yesterday!

To my amazing homestay family, the Smiths. Susan- i'm missing your cooking sooooo much already, keep those recipes rolling in please. David- thanks for enduring slaps on the wrists for stealing extra papers with my article in it, my grandparents will be stoked! And Lauren- thanks for the photos, your enthusiasm, encouragement, entertainment with the hamster Kim Chi, taking me out training, showing me around the city, carrying all my crap and putting up with my pre-race nerves. Get onto the swim technique chick, good luck with the SAT's and your training/ racing. I'll be back to stay with you again soon :-) Another special thankyou to Donna for being taxi services, lady with the hook ups and for that memorable ride through singapore city's morning traffic!

Home for a little bit now, next race is the end of April, but more on that closer to date.

Rachie xox

singapore 70.3 pre-view

I arrived in Singapore on Sunday night and was met at the airport by my homestay’s daughter Lauren and another lady (who has a car!) Donna. After a short drive to my homestay’s lovely apartment building with a 30m outdoor pool (about 6 lanes wide too!), I crashed hard.

I have made the most of the 30m pool, running along the river, biking with some locals and the massage lady 3 blocks away. So far have had 3 trips to 3 different bike shops for 3 different problems! Valve, bottom bracket (and then the guy snapped off my back derailer!) and front brakes- so that’s 3 so I’m done J Apart from that I have really been pretty much bed ridden keeping recovery at the highest of priorities. I am actually feeling quite good considering the race I did on Saturday.

So after last weekend’s fiasco I’m even nervier about this race! Normally I would go into a 70.3 full of confidence and excited but this time round I’m worried. I know I’m fit but I’m scared of a repeat of Abu Dhabi- whatever happened there, happening again. So I’m putting it behind me, fresh race fresh head. Lots of impressive girls on the start list for the weekend so will be a good hit out to see where I’m at right now. Then back home the night of the race. Lots of work to do when I get home.

Rachie xo

Lessons learnt in Abu Dhabi

1.       I need to learn how to swim

2.       I need to learn how to bike

3.       I need to learn how to run

4.       I will never EVER do an IM

5.       200km solo in the desert is not fun

6.       I do, however, really believe I have a ‘Never say die’ attitude- there were multiple times yesterday where I could have pulled the pin. For example- just finishing the 2 big loops (ie. 160km) when Julie Dibbens was finishing the 200km. Or when Caroline Steffen was crossing the finish line in 2^nd place when I was coming into T2 and still had 20km to run

7.       Re-assessment: yesterday it went from: aim for top 10……to aim to not come last……to just finish the god-dam race

Still I finished- of the professionals only about 23 males of the 40 that started finished and 16 of the 23 females. It was windy but the heat wasn’t as much as an issue as I initially thought it would be.

Had an absolutely fabulous homestay; with the lovely Sheena Thomson. Nice to have company of another athlete, Amy Marsh, who had a bit of a tougher day out there than me, not being able to complete the run leg. You can imagine it was a sombre feel at home last night.

Body actually feels ok which suggests I just didn’t have the push in me yesterday, so hopefully a quick recovery. The most painful/ uncomfortable thing at the moment is the burnt skin off the soles of my feet from running on the hot concrete into T2. Off to Singapore today to get my head back into line, body recovered and re-focus for the 70.3 on Sunday. Lets just say if I wasn’t an angry b***h, I surely am now.

Rachie xo

Abu Dhabi Preview

Well I’m here so no backing out now! After a last minute stress about my newly printed race suit not showing up the day before I was supposed to leave and a very early trip to the south side of Brisbane to receive it I started the long haul to the UAE. After a brief stopover in Sydney, where I managed to talk my way out of a $200 excess baggage fee (thankyou V-Australia!!!), I quickly nab 3 free seats after take-off and managed about 6hours sleep in between 4 new release movies I’d been meaning to go see. Great trip over J Arriving in Abu Dhabi at about 11pm only myself and about 4 other people weren’t connecting (including Macca and an Aussie guy from TA who was flown over to officiate) I was met by my bubbly homestay lady Sheena who I must thank Justin Rees (the elite co-ordinator for the race) for organising. After a short trip back to her 9^th story apartment I met her 4 cats and she showed me T2 and the finish line, that were literally across the road from her place as well as a conveniently located Baskins and Robbins!

The next day we headed out to Yas Marina where the turn around for the bike course was which is next to Ferrari world, a very quiet part of Abu Dhabi with minimal traffic but great roads for riding. Did some loops here and met up with an Ex-Pat Aussie bloke, Troy, who just happened to be an old Maroochydore High boy!!! Small world!!!! Next stop was back at a local beach where Sheena and her friends do open water swim training. It was a small bay, about 750m across. The water is so salty it’s indescribable. Within minutes I felt like my whole mouth was coated with salt and my taste buds were burnt off! After getting out, my skin felt like it was raw from the salt. But not complaining as the buoyancy is awesome! They’re even querying a wetsuit swim so imagine that!

After a little rest I headed out for a little jog around the run course. The weather was mild and the track was quite busy with walkers/ joggers/ bikers and the occasional other elite athlete….. my nerves continue to grow. A nice healthy dinner and back to bed.

Another athlete, Amy Marsh arrived that night that is also home-staying here too. Her bike however didn’t. They have assured her it will arrive tonight, which I’m sure it will, however I don’t think I’d be handling it as well as she is!!! Sheena gave us a real local taste this morning taking us to the 2^nd largest mosque in the world here in Abu Dhabi. We dressed up in the formal attire for women, which was a bit of a laugh and had a walk through the women’s pray room, the main prayer room and the women’s wash room. The sheer size of it is deceiving from the road, it is massive! Then to rego where I ran into a couple of other athletes I know, my nerves growing more and more…. Time for a kip! Nothing like a recovery day to try and settle the nerves…well kind of!

Tomorrow is a roll over training day, not much at all really. Do the swim course over in the morning, spin the legs a little and maybe jog a wee bit if I feel. Elite brief, rack, eat, TRY TO CALM DOWN and sleep….

Race report to come….if I live through it!

Rachie xo

Coming outta the salty salty water

The crown prince's private yacht