I had envisaged Gatorade #4 at Portarlington to be a good lead up race to next week's long course race at Falls Creek, where I could practice my nutrition strategy and have a good hit out.
The race was switched to a duathlon format (2km run/28km cycle/8km run) due to the downpour in Melbourne the day before. My race plan was to get a comfortable lead on the first run, get out of T1 first, have a smooth bike leg, then once I had secured the lead on the final run I could back off and save the legs for next week. However, of course this was not meant to be!
All was on track coming into T1 after the first 2km run. I had that lead I wanted and I was feeling good. Then things started to go a little pear-shaped. For some reason (who knows what) I decided to keep running PAST my bike out of transition and up the stair climb (thinking that this was still part of the first 2km run). No officials were directing me otherwise so I just kept on running. It was after about 1min that I realised no one was following me. I was looking around mighty confused asking officials where to go. No one had any real idea. That's when I saw all the girls head off out on the bike...not good I thought! Eventually finding my way back into transition I was now about 2-3min down on the lead girls and had run an extra km. I was mighty pissed off (to put it nicely) and thought momentarily about giving up and calling it a day. However, I've never had a DNF and don't plan on having one in the future so I had to make the split second decision to refocus, find my bike, have a smooth transition then get out on the cycle course and go as hard as I could for as long as I could.
As the kilometres passed by I managed to catch up to some of the Elite girls until I had caught the main group. I was pretty relieved to have caught them, however there were still a few girls up the road.
Coming into T2 I made sure I had a good position so I could have a fast transition and get out onto the run course as quickly as I could. The first 1km of the run felt pretty crappy, I couldn't catch my breath as I think I was just running on adrenaline. However I told myself to calm down, breath deeply, be patient and just "run how you know to run" - nice and relaxed. I managed to get the lead at the 2km mark. Then at about the 4km mark I made the decision to back it off and conserve as much energy as I could for next week. This probably cost me the overall win as top age-grouper Bev Thomas went flying past, however my goal was to secure the Elite win and get the pay check to pay next weeks rent!
In hindsight (all though I definitely wasn't thinking it at the time) this kind of race was what I needed, something to challenge me physically and mentally. These are the races I learn the most from about myself and it gives me the confidence to know that I can handle whatever is thrown at me during a race.
Thanks must got to Stephen and Robyn from Team Barefoot for providing fantastic team support over the weekend and also to my sponsors Peak Bike Hub and Malvern Star for providing me with a well oiled machine, Brooks Running for super fast shoes and my most recent sponsor Selle SMP for a super comfy saddle.
I will now be taking a fairly cruisey week this week in preparation for Falls Creek next Sunday.
Also, Kudos to my big sister Laura for coming 715th in her fun run today in Hobart...it must run in the family!
Until next time,
Don't get lost...read a map
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