Never boast about having a iron immune system! Last weekend in Busso, my mate Bec came down with a pretty nasty cold and here I was saying ‘I never get sick’….. Comes back to bite you in the rear end! So after a nasty red eye flight home, arriving at the Goldie airport at 6:30am Monday morning, slapping myself in the face to keep myself awake to drive home, 2hours of sleep, back to work at midday I knew this week was going to be a struggle just with that. Then Wednesday morning I work with a bit of a dry throat…hmmm……
Then Thursday it got worse, and then Friday it was worse again…. I could still train but I felt very, very ordinary. I don’t do sick therefore I reckon I had a bad case of man flu!!
At least I’d look the part with my new Orca suit having been printed up….. However unfortunately all the logos peeled off when I tried it on!!! Below is a pic of how I SHOULD have looked on Saturday! Thanks to Mizuno for the Friday arvy delivery of new shoes- including the spiffy new Wave Ronins- I absolutely LOVE them!
I did consider sitting Byron Tri out as I did wake up Saturday morning still feeling quite sniffily and with a head full of lead. Still it was my (now) home race, only 25km up the road and a beautiful day. What’s only 2hours of pain???? Once again, like all races I seem to do of late, it was a stellar women’s field: Melissa Rollison, current 70.3 world champion, Sarah Crowley, previous ITU specialist, and the speedy youngsters Courtney Gillfillian & Paige Single.
The ocean was pristine in comparison to Busso last weekend. A non-wetsuit swim for the pros- we were off 1minute behind the boys. I was really happy with my swim, staying shoulder to shoulder with Mel the whole way- great start being alongside the girl who’d no doubtedly win! I had a great T1 getting out quickly and managing to hold Mel off for the first 2.5km before she came flying past. Two girls up ahead, first one, then second one passed…. But my time in 2nd place was short lived as Sarah was moving faster than Mel on the bike and passed me before the turn around. The bike leg is now only 36km so I knew that I’d have to really put the hammer down to extend the gap to Courtney who is a good 5/10km runner…..
Off the bike in 3rd and was hoping to hold my podium position. It’s amazing how much better the legs feel after only 1.5km swim & 36km bike in comparison to 1.9km swim and 90km bike!!!! Running hasn’t been going as well as I hoped since my stress fracture and I’m still prone to flare ups which sees me back in my pelvic brace to get through the run training I need to be doing. I have previously run a 37 off the bike but at present I’d be happy with 4min pace for the 10kms. I was focusing on holding form, keeping the turn over going as quick as I could and trying to look as though I wasn’t hurting. During the 2nd lap, my heart rate was telling me I was sick, but I was thankful it was the first time that day. I managed to hold Courtney off until about 7km when she came past in good form. I knew I couldn’t match her pace but didn’t let it sway my focus. I felt pretty good on the run and no real signs my body wasn’t handling the intensity of an Olympic distance tri (well with the brace holding me together!) Crossed the line in 4th only about 20seconds behind 3rd…. Think I really needed those 4 extra kms on the bike!!!! All in all considering how awful I have been feeling I’m really happy with this result. This is how I should be racing 70.3s! I just need this type of form/ performance to cross over to the longer distance. But at least I know it’s in there!
Thanks to all my wonderful sponsors- love the new Orca tri suit- sleek and comfy and the new Ronins from Mizuno. Have had a large shipment of delicious enervit bars- the lemon cream is awesome- one of those and a gel before I set off! And as always my Ryders sunnies never let me down! It was great to also have Annie from Oshe out there supporting me from the sidelines and the wonderful Dave Chick from Allez Sport Mooloolaba out there on the race course making the podium in his category. And of course thanks to Gilsey for coming out to support all of us from the squad.
Now to get my health on track, get a few more weeks of training in before setting of for the USA on the 4th of June. First up there will be Kansas 70.3, but I may have time to fit one more race in this month ;-) will keep you all posted!
Rachie xo
What I should have looked like......
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