Tuesday 18 March 2014

Mooloolaba Oceania Cup 2014

The last major race of my Australian season had come up very quick, the Mooloolaba Oceania Cup. This is definitely one of my favourite races of the year but after two years of competing here I still haven't experienced the real deal, the swim leg at Mooloolaba Beach. Due to extreme surf conditions forecast for the weekend, we received an email on Wednesday stating that the swim had moved into the canal. A little disappointing but they had made the right decision this year with surf on Sunday morning around 5ft+.
I arrived in Mooloolaba early Friday morning, the weather was very tropical with intermittent rain, very hot and sunny, then the same three times over. Off to race briefing that afternoon to get the run down of the course, second Olympic distance triathlon of the year compromising of a one lap 1500m swim around an island in the canal. The 40km bike leg was practically flat, one lap out and back course. The 10km run was two laps consisting of three significant hills, the run was by far the most challenging part of the race. Woke early Saturday morning to head down to the canal to check tide movement for race morning, I had a quick float in the water and after headed into the surf for a pre race swim. Through the day I was able to watch the men's and women's elite races which was great, awesome racing. Wrapped up the rest of my pre race training in the arvo and was off to bed early ready for a 0430 alarm.

Race morning was here, luckily I had been getting up early the past couple of weeks otherwise it would have been a struggle. Great morning, weather was perfect for racing and I was keen to get underway. Straight into transition to check in, set up and get started on my warm up as there was only a short amount of time before race start. Warm up finished and I was now waiting in the athlete area ready to be lined up and called down to the beach. Going into this raced I was ranked 16th out of 37 athletes but only 30 showed up, small field but strong. Everyone was now ranked up and heading down to the beach, the first half of the field had taken the right side and I walked over to grab second place from the left, it was race time.
The race was on and I was off to a clean start, wasn't much of a beach run but still gained a bit of an advantage. After settling into to pace I checked the right side and they had a very fast start, a long line of swimmers was edging away and I needed to get onto feet by that turn first turn buoy. Bridged across but was about tenth place, terrible start but was swimming within front pack. Exited the swim with ten or more athletes and with a 600m run to transition I was able to make up some ground, although the bridge crossing was extremely dangerous with wet, slippery timber on the way down, a few athletes had a stumble. I had a bit of a mishap myself trying to jump on the bike, miss timed my jump and landed on the rear wheel, second try a success. The front group of around twenty athletes came together pretty quickly and we picked up Barrie soon after as he was sitting up. The bike leg rolled through at a pretty solid pace but everyone sat in comfortably with only a couple of attack attempts which were closed down in seconds. The last couple of km's on the bike was very technical and I wasn't taking any risks being stuck on the back, about 500m from the major right hand turn I came around from the back to take the lead and have a clean run through the first few turns. I was overtaken by another athlete just after one of the roundabouts but he locked up big time and almost lost it into the barrier at the turn into transition. I took the inside line and regained my lead into T2.
Very fast transition as I could hear chaos on the racks around me, I was out of there and into full stride. I had a little gap between myself and the group behind me but kept pushing, hit the hill for the first time and it shook me, legs went soft and wasn't able to rate up on the downhill. At about 2k the NZL guy had passed me and the large group was right on my heels. Three guys pushed past too quick and I couldn't jump on but a few other just edged in front and I was able to keep in close proximity. Heading up Alexandra Headland for the second time, I started to reel in some of the guys, passing one at a time I felt my run getting stronger again. En route back to the finish, 3k to go, there was a group of 4 ahead and another athlete running solo just in front of me. Over the top of the hill for the last time and downhill to the finish, I struggled running downhill and I had the athlete from Finland not too far behind me and closing in. He was getting closer and closer every 100m and I put everything in to hold my position until the end, finishing in 6th position.
It was a relief to find my running legs again in this race, as that is what the race came down to. It's been a very slow build after my injury last year but feel as though I am back to where I was before my injury. I look forward to it progressing more as I still have the European season to come. Happy with my result on the weekend, good end to the Oceania Cups in Australia. All I have planned now is NSW Club Championship in April and training before I head over to Europe in May, I will have a look at any local races if suit.

Also massive shout out to Stephen Harman for the race photos and photo shoot Sunday evening. Check out his Facebook and Instagram pages for triathlon coverage and the Mooloolaba weekend @stephen_harman 

Wednesday 12 March 2014

Bont Cycling Shoes

Just received a pair of the new Bont Riot TR shoes, my first impressions was that they are extremely light and look great. This was also my first heat mold cycling shoe so was keen to chuck them in the oven for the optimal fit. On first ride I noticed a huge difference in the stiffness of these shoes compared to my previous pair, I had only had the previous pair for about a year so they were still in good condition. There is so much support in the arch of the foot and the front of the shoe is very wide and comfortable. Would recommend these to any triathlete, especially the ones who look for support in their run shoes, these would be perfect. Thanks Pete Coulson from Bont Cycling, can't wait to use them this weekend at Mooloolaba Continental Cup

Monday 3 March 2014

Oceania Championships Devonport, TAS + Team Zoggs

I managed to cut back my hours at work the past two weeks to prepare myself for the longer distance and Devonport is an extremely tough course. This would be my fourth time down to Tassie, first time being a 13 year old at All Schools and now racing as an U23 Elite against Australia's and New Zealand's best. Departed Sydney early Thursday morning with Dad for the trip to Launceston, quick flight over the Bass Strait and I was in a crisp 10°C, picked up the car and headed towards Devonport. Despite the cold the weather was awesome, very little wind and clear sky's. Just kept Thursday pretty chilled, watched a couple of movies and got some dinner before some pre race training the next day. Woke up Saturday morning to yet again another splendid day, headed to race site late morning for a swim, water was a little fresh but standard to where I live. Grabbed a bite to eat and was then on the bike to check out the course, they had included the North St hill again this year which was definitely going to test out the entire field, didn't get much hill training in on the bike but hoped for the best. Training done for the day and off to the athlete's briefing for a quick run down of Saturday's race. First Olympic Distance race for a while, 2 lap 1500m swim with a beach start which works nicely for me, a couple of lumps but no waves. Bike course was 6 laps, 40k Total with a 350m hill at 20% Grade each lap. Run leg 10k, 4 laps out and back course. The water temperature was hovering around 20°C so wetsuit call was to be made an hour before the race.

Race start was at 1530 so wasn't overly keen for a sleep in and decided to set alarm for 0700 to get up and get moving. Just hung out in the hotel room until we were kicked out at 1000 for room check out, drove down to race site to take it easy and watch the Elite Juniors race and Female U23/Elite. Conditions prefect for racing, a little bit more swell was running through the Bass and the wind was up just a little bit more from previous couple of days. Checked in at the athlete lounge just after 1400 and bike racked before commencing my warm up, run done, swim done, it was race time.
Athletes lined up in order of ranking and called down to the beach to take their spot, I was seeded in 35th so didn't like my chances of getting a good spot, as I jog down the beach I notice everyone lining up from right to left. Perfect, I had watched the previous three races and noticed the left side had more sand running out and they were also getting a drag out the back faster closer to the rocks. I took the furthermost spot of the left and watched the rest of the middle places fill up, whilst most of the top athletes were started on the complete opposite side, I was confident with my position.
The race was on and I was off to a cracking start, leaping over waves, a few dives and I was in the water swimming, after several hard strokes I look to my right and clear water, one guy was looked to be just sitting off level with me that had started way off to the right. I didn't swim over straight away but let the current take me over to him gradually before ending up on his feet in second place around the fist buoy.                                                          Pictured furthest left
I was now settled in to my pace and keeping on feet, after the second buoy I had a few creep up beside me and sit just in front for more feet to swim on. Coming around for the second lap the buoy was inshore and a few people tried to stand up to make it around but it was just a bit too deep, luckily I had decided to just swim around cause it could have made for some problems. Second lap went by pretty quickly and a few guys just edged a bit further in front. Wasn't able to catch a wave on the way in but came out it the front pack with one guy just ahead after having caught a wave. Quick transition and onto the bike for a gruelling 40k, the attacks were already firing . I was on the rivet just trying to hold wheels then the hill was upon me, not thinking straight I had positioned myself to the back of the pack for the first climb and suffered terribly, the pack split up and I was stuck at the back watching them get further away. As I round the U-Turn they are on their way downhill and that was the last I saw of them, a stupid mistake cost me the rest of the race. The chase pack I was in had 6 guys, a couple of Aussies and a few NZ's, at times we worked well and other times very inconsistent and making it harder for everyone in the pack. The front pack was increasing their lead and we were slowing getting chased down by the third pack. Last lap almost complete and heading towards transition, I was feeling the effects of the hill.
Onto the run now and jumped straight behind Sexton ready for a fast first couple of k's, feeling good, legs were turning over quickly, ready to get this 10k done then bam! I almost came to a stop, my stomach cramped severely and I was struggling to get air into my lungs. I had to slow right down and get my breathing under control if I was going to finish this race, other athletes pass and the thought of pulling out comes into my head as I take deep breaths and my pace drops dramatically. I was not pulling out, not in the position I was. After the first lap, I was starting to get it under control but was not running anywhere fast so took the next lap the same. Half way point now and as I turn around, grab some water I feel a set of new legs and lungs, the pace start to pick up and everything feels smooth. That lap was good, much quicker than the first two and I was still increasing, if only that had been there the first lap. Last lap now and one guy has just been sitting off the back the past few km's and starts to creep near but I find another gear and start to pull away, further and further. The last 1km I'm feeling the best I have all run and actually running at race pace but by then it was too late and the damage was done.
I was pretty happy with the final result, placing 6th in the U23 category and 12th overall in the Elites. Great race venue at Devonport, I will continue to come here in the following years. Love the beach swims and quality bike course. I now have two weeks until the next race, Continental Cup Mooloolaba. Really looking forward to this one, fingers crossed for a surf swim this year.... not the lake.

Also would like to say a huge thanks to Zoggs Australia, I have a signed a 2 year contract with the swim brand. I have been using their goggles since I started triathlons and are in a league of their own, by far the best triathlon goggle on the market. Superior comfort and performance, stoked to be on the team. Pictured below wearing the Zoggs Predator Polarized