28.10.11

Austin 70.3 and en-route to Miami!

Sunday was Austin 70.3- my 2nd race in the USA in 2 weeks and 4th one back since august. Bit a a confiendence lull after the Rev3 in south Carolina, but having trained well for a good 10days with Minsok I was feeling like I had improvement to show. Seeing the sun doesn’t come up here til 7am, I’d been doing a lot of sleeping in, so the 4:10am wake up race morning was a rude shock. After my ritual peanut butter, honey, banana on toast and a good serve of caffine, Minsok, Bliss and myself headed out to Walter E Lake for the race. Another race with two transitions makes careful planning and timing race morning essential. T2 was close to the finish line and T1 was a short bus trip over to the Lake’s edge (which we would later run past 3 times). My bike happened to be positioned under a tree and in pitch black so moved it to a flood light to get prepped which kept me away from the hussel and bussel of the other pro girls, setting up at the last minute in my allocated spot. Then after a short warm up run on pitch black roads and about 4 trips to the porta-loos, I got to the start line a little late and only managed a 2minute swim to warm up. The pro men were off two minutes before us and I nearly soiled myself when the shotgun went off! BOOM!!!! Only in Texas……
Then we were off, frantic sratching, hitting, kicking in the first 100m and then it settles. I found myself swimming with two other girls and on a nice set of feet which I latched onto for the 1.9km swim, came out in 8th, seconds pack and in 28:40 (which I was happy with), quick transition and only the bike, leaving my swim feet behind me, passing another in the first 1km, catching 2 more by 15miles and then  having one girl repass me around mile 30. Biggest breakthrough during this race was my nutrition. After lengthy talks with Minsok, I realised that taking one maybe 2 gels during the bike IS NOT enough which probably has contributed to my lack luster performance of late. I timed the whole ride and 15min inttervals taking in either electrolyte (or rather my sludge concoction) or a gel. I got off the bike in 6th with a time a little slower than I’d hoped for. Once again picking up more nutrition than I have ever before for the run leg. The aid stations were plentiful- about 5 per lap of the 3 lap course!!! I got passed in the early part of lap 2 by two girls so back into 8th, not happy, hang on for top 10 I kept telling myself. Then at the beginning of lap 3 another girl passed me- oh no, 9th, even more unhappy! Then things began to fall apart in front of me! The leader dropped out with over-heating/ dehydration, so back into 8th. I could see two girls infront who’d been fading the whole run leg and with 3 miles to go passed both of them in a span of about 2minutes. Okay, I could see 5th in front, not far. Someone who’d passed me earlier but was now struggling. GOOOO!!! Your legs feel great! At the final aid station she looked over her shoulder and saw me coming- dam! She kicked it up a gear, as did I but too little too late. I managed to close the gap to 5th by 11seconds at the finish line, but she got me, so had to settle for 6th. 9th to 6th in the last 3miles. I was happy. Still seconds from prize money, but I got a glimpse of what I know I’m capable of.
Minsok my training partner came in a little while later- our overall times only 27seconds difference…..he got me! At least I beat his run time by 2 seconds!!!!!! Bliss came through about half hour after Minsok with a great performance too!
That afternoon consisted of “horrible bosses” movie, a massive steak and 2 great bottles of red wine between the three of us. The next few days were pretty painful though. Monday and Tuesday of some very easy light training and Wednesday saw my only hard day of the week and a big day of bonking. I turned out 2.5hr ride into 3 ¼ hrs by having a tyre come off the rim, throwing a little hissy fit wanting to turn around and then getting a great hunk on metal through my tyre resulting in a flat. After a massive feed of pancakes, crashed hard for 2hours, struggled through a surprisingly good sprint swim set,  watched Hanna then chick a heap of boys at her cross country meet and set herself a new PR for 2miles (sub 15mins for 11year old girl!) and then surprise myself again with a solid 7 mile run (thanks again Minsok for pushing me to my limits!). With Hanna rocking out at a Taylor Swift concert (soooooo jealous) Bliss, Minsok and myself hit the famous Austin Trailer resturanat’s the Odd Duck and Gordough’s for dinner with yet another great drop of red (no wonder I’m not fitting into my jeans at present!!). Crashed hard again after my solid day for this week.
So depressingly left my amazing Austin family. Oh how I will miss my time here. They are trying to con me into doing a ‘real race’ and signing up for Texas IM in May and coming back to stay…..and I’m actually considering it! At the Austin airport now, enroute to Miami for the 70.3 there this Sunday. I have the training, I have some racing in me now and I feel that the best of three will be Sunday. I can’t wait!
Rachie xo

Rollingwood pool all to myself...... all of the time!


No horse playing???? Only in Texas....


View from Hula Hut, dinner at sunset!


Hanna and I


Hanna, Bliss, Minsok..... the bare plot.... in 12months time the mansion!

17.10.11

Austin Awsomeness

I don't usually blog about training etc but this is an exception I feel. After some issues with being 'positive' or so i'm told (yes I'm in need of a good sports psych at present!), life is pretty unreal right about now. It still doesn't feel real!

I left Anderson, SC on Thursday morning after training in a few days of pretty ordinary weather after the race there last weekend. Off to Austin to staying with the incredible Pak family. I had briefly met Bliss, Minsok and their daughter Hanna at a couple races back in 2009 (Putrajaya 70.3 and Laguna Phuket Tri) and they have been so much more than generous to me since before I got here. Opening their home to me for the two weeks I will spend here in Texas. I have been here for 3 days and since arriving I have been to multiple local restaurants, cafes, frozen yoghurt and sporting shops, eaten my body weight in cow last night, cupcakes from a trailer restaurant (local Austin thing!), listened to free live music in a beer garden come park, been to the Austin Symphony oh and I've managed some training too!!! Minsok has been a great training buddy since my arrival, though I am in awe of him as he raced Hawaii last weekend only a week after a minor bike crash Chrisse Wellington style, and yet he still seems to kick my butt up and down the Texan hills and around the running track at the lake, claiming to me his knee is still sore!! What's my excuse?????

So i am on the look out for Lance, his hometown and this weekend is a Livestrong festival where they have a 5km run on Saturday and a 25mile ride today which he apparently leads off! I did see Lyle Lovette at the Mexican place we went to on Friday night so I'm happy I've seen at least one celeb so far.

Austin is a great place to train, although there are 3 lane major roads, the shoulder is huge and the traffic is very tolerant of cyclists. There are some great loops or out and backs that give you some amazing views of the city, the dam and the surrounding areas.... and some nasty little hills if you choose. About 1.5miles from the house you can find Ladybird Lake running trail, where you can do a 3/4/7 mile loop on the trails where it's nicely shaded and there are plenty of water/ toilet stops (very important on my running destinations!). It's probably the most populated running track I've ever encountered (Mooloolaba strip on Australia day eat your heart out!) with joggers, mt bikers, dogs and prams galore! I am still yet to see the famous "Leslie" who apparently rides a cruiser around in nothing but a thong!

Promise I am training! Still getting used to the 25yard pools and converting miles back to kms. So I am really looking forward to Austin 70.3 next weekend. I am on the right track with training at present and will look to have probably another 4 days or so belting it out before a short taper and then a proper taper leading up to Miami 70.3 the following weekend. Bliss is also racing Austin and Minsok tells me if his bike arrives back from Hawaii in time he will probably give it a bash too..... hmmmm the race is on- for not only his bike, but I feel maybe between him and I!

Look out for the Austin 70.3 race report. In the meantime, enjoy the pics from my Austin adventures.

Rachie xo


Running trails at Ladybird Lake

Ladybird Lake


Hey Cupcake!


Hanna eating her cream filled Hey Cupcake!


Bliss and I


Live music in the park/ beer garden in Austin


Austin sky line at night


The Family! Emily (another ring in!), Bliss, Hanna, Minsok & I
Austin Symphony Orchestra

12.10.11

Rev3 South Carolina Race Report

So last Sunday I packed up my life on the Sunshine Coast and left the last 6 years behind me. I left on a rough note having battled the worst case of gastro I've had in years the night before I left after having the best week of training I've had since pre-pelvis. I managed a little easy training the Monday but still felt pretty ordinary with my tummy upset. An early 3:30am start Tuesday morning to get to the airport by 6am I had no problems checking in my 32kg bike through to South Carolina (thanks Dane, best travel agent ever!). Down to Sydney and then on the long haul 19hour trip to LA. I felt pretty good until about the last 4 hours on the plane, when I found myself intermittently running to the toilet for a few more chucks, thank god you pick up a day travelling to the USA and that I left with quite a few days to spare. Crazily enough at the delta terminal at LA I saw a girl run past and thought, gee that looks like Katya Meyers (another triathlete I met a couple of years ago in Malaysia), sure enough she had a helmet on her bag and after she missed her flight she was walking past me and stopped to ask if there was free wi-fi- ‘I know you, you’re Katya!’. Thanks girl for helping pass my nauseous stop over hours at LA.
Back on a plane to Cincinnati, I slept the whole way, had about a 40min stop over, then my final hour flight to Greenville, South Carolina.  I was met at the small airport by Howard, my homestay’s father-in-law and no bike! AGAIN! Sure enough it was still in Cincinnati as it didn’t make it onto the next plane in time. The Delta baggage lady assured me it would arrive the next afternoon. Howard then drove me the 45mins or so to where I was staying in Anderson. A gorgeous lake house about 10km from the race site. I cannot believe how lucky I’ve been with amazing homestays this year. Gina and Scott who own the lakehouse, live in another home about 20miles from here with their 3 beautiful daughters and have spoiled me more than my family does. I cannot thank them enough for driving me over the bike course, taking me to the pool, transporting myself and my bike around the area and stocking the lakehouse with enough food to feed an army!
Battling a nasty case of jet-lag, having 9 then 5 then 11 then 4 hours sleep as well as taking a while to get my appetite back after being sick, I took it pretty cautiously with the training/ taper week. Tenille Hoogland, a Canadian triathlete, also arrived a couple nights later to keep me company pre-race and before we knew it it was Saturday, the day before the Rev3 South Carolina Half IM. Race morning was fresh, but it was a non-wetty swim for the pros. I found out my helmet is NOT CPSC approved so a big thankyou to Rev3's Eric for finding me an approved helmet race morning. A little warm up and I thought I was good to go. There were about 20pro girls on the start line, the biggest pro field I have ever raced. My plan was to try and stick with Kate Major for the swim, but by the first buoy she was already about 20m in front of me. The swim felt long and I spent 90% of it out on my own. Got out about mid field and 2mins down on where I was hoping to be so not the start I was hoping for. The bike leg was quite technical with multiple sharp 90 degrees turns throughout the first half. About 5km in I caught Kate whislt she was serving a 2min stop/ go penalty so my plan was to pace behind or beside her for the remaining kms. This was my first race that was raced according to the stagger rule- which means as long as you are on the opposite side of the road as far as possible to the person infront you can ride side by side. We caught Nina Kraft around the middle of the bike and then at about the 40mile mark I really started to flat line and Kate broke away from me. 5mile later another girl passed me and I had nothing in me to go with her. Off the bikes I actually felt ok. Got the heads up the 8 girls were in front of me and I could see 8th in front and I was ever so slowly gaining on her. Run was a bunch of little loops and at the begining you could get a good look as to where you were. Two girls behind me were moving fast through the course so I was trying pretty hard to keep the gap. The first one passed me about 6miles and then the next at about 7.5miles. At this point I had caught the girl infront too and we ran together for the next mile. Then it all became undone. I felt my left hammy twitching and took a salt tablet to keep the cramps at bay. I lost the pace of the girl I was running with and I just kept thinking hold on for 10th. Top 10 and a little cash would be a good result today. The last mile I knew there was another girl slowly gaining but I was pushing hard to hold her off just a little longer. Up the carpet to the finish chute and woosh! Another girl i didn't even know was there zoomed past me, taking 10th from me by 2seconds. I was gutted, my heart sinking and dissappointment already overcoming me. Straight to the ART tent to have my hammy and messed up body treated, then to the Recovery pump tent for more TLC for my body. That afternoon consisted of watching Titanic and picking up some mental pieces.

The beautiful Lake house (the kind where slasher flicks are made!)


Fat arse leacing T1


Homestay mum Gina, me and Angie post race



So this is what IM training feels like, Gina- last long ride pre IM Florida-
GOOD LUCK!!!!

I need to recognise that I'm not the athlete I was this time 12months ago having spent 4months injured. Not to mention the severe case of GI upset a week before and the 33 hour travel fresh in my system. I decided to do this trip and 3 races to get fit so I can't expect to be killing it as I just don't have the training or miles in me. The 70.3 points will be nice if I decided that I want to do a world championship race in 2012. But I am my own worse enemy and I need to stop being so focused on results and money, otherwise I'll never get anywhere!
A big congratulations to the lovely Magali Tisseyre for the win and my roomie Tenille Hoogland for leading for about 98% of the race but holding on for 2nd (I know how much you needed this!!).
I have recovered really quickly from the race and had an easy day yesterday followed by a solid day today which has gone 10 times better than expected. I have one more day left here in Anderson before heading to Austin for 2weeks to stay with friends and get prepped for Austin 70.3. 
Rachie xo