Have now started my running season after having gone up to Oatley Park on the weekend. This was another race I have not done before but had heard that the field is pretty competitive. That rumour did not disappoint when the 10km National running champion Harry Summers turned up. This week he is travelling to USA to qualify for London Olympics, the best of luck to him.
There was a good turn out for the run, with just under 700 competitors in the 5km event. The course was all on road and was very undulating with some major uphills, two 2.5km loops would make a bit of congestion the second time round.
Race start at 9am and the field was off. Some competitors tried to make an early break but wasn't able to hang out the front for long. The lead bunch stuck together for about a km which it then started to break up with the pace set off the front. The first hill was tough, fairly long but it definitely took it out of me. I was now running in 6th position and feeling pretty comfortable. The second lap round posed a bit of a problem as the road was only narrow and the walkers did not allow for much room to pass. As we headed back from the tail end of the loop, 7th passed but I was able to jump on and run along side him. Coming around the final corners the guy next to me really started to kick and I was not able to find that extra bit off speed shortly after I ended up in 8th position coming up the finishing straight.
Overall was pretty happy with the time for the course due to the difficulty but was a bit disappointed with the last km of the race.
Look forward to coming races over this winter season, my schedule has been updated with running races that I intend to do.
Tuesday 24 April 2012
Sunday 15 April 2012
2012 Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship Series Sydney
This race would be my last Triathlon of the season, so I was hoping to get out there and smash it up. Raced this last year and unfortunately had a crash on the bike about 5km into the cycle leg, although got up and kept going, still managing to have a awesome race. Went up on Saturday for registration and bike racking, and to watch the Elite men and women race. Both of these races were great to watch and it was good to see Erin Densham come out on top in the women's race.
Looking forward to my second Olympic distance race of my career, I entered the OPENS category as it was the first wave off and there was a good bunch of athletes in this category. Race start was at 6:30 Sunday morning so an early night was in order for sure.
Fairly calm morning, light breeze and a small field of only 16 males in the OPEN category. Good start in the swim was up there with the front guys to turn around first buoy, which the pace then slowed off a bit to settle in to the 1500m swim. Felt pretty good in the swim came out of the water in 5th position. I was having a solid ride until half way in the second lap I got pinned for being cut off going around corner and having no option but to overtake on the left hand side of the rider, which I then had to spend 3min in the Penalty Box before I was able complete the last lap, very frustrating times in a non-drafting event, even riding without a TT bike. Time was up and got back on the course to smash the last lap of the ride. Came off the bike in 11th spot and was not happy at all, went out onto the run hoping I could run down some of the athletes who had passed me while I was stopped. Felt really good in the run, kept a solid pace throughout and was able to run myself into 7th spot by the end of the run.
Overall it was a good race placed 7th in the Opens Category with a time of 2:06:07, if I had not been pinned time would have been at least 4min faster but that happens.
Photos to come....
Looking forward to my second Olympic distance race of my career, I entered the OPENS category as it was the first wave off and there was a good bunch of athletes in this category. Race start was at 6:30 Sunday morning so an early night was in order for sure.
Fairly calm morning, light breeze and a small field of only 16 males in the OPEN category. Good start in the swim was up there with the front guys to turn around first buoy, which the pace then slowed off a bit to settle in to the 1500m swim. Felt pretty good in the swim came out of the water in 5th position. I was having a solid ride until half way in the second lap I got pinned for being cut off going around corner and having no option but to overtake on the left hand side of the rider, which I then had to spend 3min in the Penalty Box before I was able complete the last lap, very frustrating times in a non-drafting event, even riding without a TT bike. Time was up and got back on the course to smash the last lap of the ride. Came off the bike in 11th spot and was not happy at all, went out onto the run hoping I could run down some of the athletes who had passed me while I was stopped. Felt really good in the run, kept a solid pace throughout and was able to run myself into 7th spot by the end of the run.
Overall it was a good race placed 7th in the Opens Category with a time of 2:06:07, if I had not been pinned time would have been at least 4min faster but that happens.
Photos to come....
Illawarra's Fitness 5 run
Two weekends ago was my first time at the Illawarra's Premier road race hosted by Kembla Joggers. The Fitness 5 consisted of a 5km road run starting from in the middle of Wollongong down to the harbour along the beach road and back again. The weather was really good, sunny and a little breeze. Race start was scheduled for 8:30am and there was a tough field getting ready to line up. The Field included some of the best Australian triathletes and a few international women triathletes.
The start of the race was fairly fast and the pace was set early on. I was able to stick with the lead pack for about the first 2km but then started to drop back a little, although still running strong. The course itself was pretty tough, a few hills and a slight headwind on the way back made it a difficult run. The pack started to break up a bit with a couple of km's remaining. The front 3 guys kept powering along and myself and two others ran solo between packs through the last couple of km's. Unfortunately it was a bit of a boring finish as I did not have anyone to sprint with to the finish line but still came a solid 6th overall and 1st in the U18 category.
Happy with the outcome, 16:12 for a 5km road race. 6th overall and 1st in the U18 category.
The start of the race was fairly fast and the pace was set early on. I was able to stick with the lead pack for about the first 2km but then started to drop back a little, although still running strong. The course itself was pretty tough, a few hills and a slight headwind on the way back made it a difficult run. The pack started to break up a bit with a couple of km's remaining. The front 3 guys kept powering along and myself and two others ran solo between packs through the last couple of km's. Unfortunately it was a bit of a boring finish as I did not have anyone to sprint with to the finish line but still came a solid 6th overall and 1st in the U18 category.
Happy with the outcome, 16:12 for a 5km road race. 6th overall and 1st in the U18 category.
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