The dread day before the event:
It was the Friday the day before the event, Max was working till noon, and I finish work around 11am. After finishing work at Attadale cycles, organizing I went thru my check list. I got my Carbo-shotz sorted.
I was driving home from the shop when Nathan rang (the cyclist from Bryce’s’ team, whose bike we were taking down to Busselton) & said he was just leaving home to pick up his bike up from Parkers South.
Packing the car, I was leaving space for Nathans’ bike. When rang me again saying he was having bike troubles, he said he wouldn’t be too long by the time Nathan arrived the car was packed. Not too bad running nearly hour late.
I had a delivery to drop off in Bunbury. Busselton jetty was the next stop. I rang ahead, letting everyone know that would be running late & start swimming without me.
Once at the jetty, I had a series of emergencies to sort, Caitlin could put air into her rear wheel, Jon was having gear troubles with the wheels he had borrowed, Damon was handing out assessment sheet & between Max & I the squad t-shirts had to be handed out. All sorted, next was to go thru everyone’s race plans.
Off to unload the car at Kerry’s’ place and do the finial checks on few bikes, including my own.
After going thru all the virgin half ironman athletes’ race equipment, race plans etc. Max & I went to check our bikes in with Pete after we heard about the Horror queue stories. By the time we got there were NO queue. We numbered & racked our bikes in their nominated slots.
Then it was time to have the Last supper, after dinner I gave into getting my chest shaved.
After dinner, everyone was talking. When I got asked, what did I want to achieve from the race, I took a deep breath and replied, solid swim, well paced bike & consistent run, if I have good race and get a top 10 finish in my age group I’ll nominate for Long course Worlds (it was time to get the Gremlin off my back, it has haunted me long enough).
I check my race gear again and off to bed.
Race Day
I woke up feeling a little nervous; I made a coffee and went thru my race again.
Then got ready and made mention that I felt naked, I was missing something. (My manly chest hair was missing). We hurried the troops along, headed down to transition area then off to tent land, to get the Squad sunshade up. After the shade was up, we quickly headed over to the transition. I sort most of the troops, wishing them all the best & helping with any last minute mishaps.
After I went thru my Pre- Race ritual, I walk away. I checked on Max, she was starting to look a little nervous. We walked back to the squad Shade, as the troops gathered they went thru the briefing. After the briefing. Body guild, hugs, best wishes were all the go. Before the finial march to start line.
We all lined up, in our respective wave starts. I opted to stay with Max, try & keep her positive. I hear my wave get called to water. I had quick kiss I made my way down to start line. I just entered the water when the starter siren went off. I took off as fast as could to warm my shoulders up in doing so I lead most the group to first buoy. Then focused on my rhythm, & breathing. As we made the furthest turning buoy, the sun blinded everyone and I swam straight into a slower swimmer & lost contact with the leaders of my wave. On the way back to shore, I was weaving thru masses of slower swimmers.
I exited the water, ran to bike. Helmet on, ran out toward the mount/dismount line. I heard a noise, sounded like the person next to me had punctured. I jump on my bike, my DISC was flat. I quickly lent my bike on the fence behind a sign to fix the puncture, I got asked, NO told to move down the road. I grabbed bike thru it over my shoulder, grab the disc & ran down the road about 50 to 60 meters. Where I proceeded to rip my single off & put the spare on. In went the air & I was off. I took it easy thru the first few corners.
I was feeling strong, so I decided to try a make up for the time I lost on the first lap. I stuck to nutrition plan. As I finished the first lap, I scanned my computer and was happy with my first lap, but made realized I could keep this pace up, if I wanted to good run. As I settled into my new rhythm, we went thru rounded & headed toward Bussell Highway; I had a group of wheel sucking cyclists joining the S train. I decided to pick the pace up again and drop the train. By the time I finished the 2nd lap, no one was left on my wheel. The final lap maintained the current pace. I dismounted, racked my bike. On went my compression sock, shoes & out I went onto the run.
I was feeling great, feeling strong. I keep telling myself it’s a long way to go. Run smart, stick to you plan don’t be stupid, save yourself for the final lap. I finishing of 1st lap running under the banner, my watched just turned 30:00. I was excited, one down, two to go. I maintained my pace, nutrition plan, as headed back toward tent land; I could feel my quads burning. As I finished my 2nd lap, then went out onto my final lap. As the emotional roller coaster ride started, I held myself together. As my legs were feeling like I had concrete boots on, I had no go. I made the final turn a head toward tent land. My focus was to get to tent land as soon as possible, before I went down the finishing shoot. I was happy, I had not only finished the half, but I had done it in under 4:30. I was happy... It was the first time I finished an event, knowing I gave it my all.
I felt a weight lift, the gremlin was gone. I was so happy. Bring on the Worlds, I crossed the line 8th.
Time to party! WELL DONE EVERYONE – 43 Starter, 43 finishers with 22 PBs.
