From the Sidelines

If I have learnt one thing today, it is that spectating is exhausting.

I am currently flat out on the couch after a morning down at the local Gatorade Triathlon...and no I wasn't even racing! My body needed a little extra time to recover after last weeks half ironman at Shepparton, so for a change I was the one on the sideline and Sam was the triathlete.

I never realised how stressful it actually is being a spectator. So many questions! What to wear? When to arrive? Where to park? Where to stand? How loud to cheer? When to cheer? When to clap? How many claps (apparently this is very important...too many is over eager, too few shows dis-interest)? Camera or no camera?

It is so much easier being the racer, the only thing I have to worry about when racing is being on the start line by the time the gun goes.

Getting down to the race on time and finding the impossible parking spot in St Kilda was the first of the challenges. Then there was the stress of trying to find the racer before the start. Thinking I was running late I made a bee line to the start line where I was hoping to see Sam to wish him adios, but I couldn't find him anywhere...which was very stressful in itself as I was wondering if he was actually at there at all?? However, two minutes before the gun went I finally spotted him on the start line and was just about to run up and give him a big good luck hug...until commonsense prevailed and I stayed in my appropriate position on the sideline.

I had now found my perfect cheering vantage point and yelled my little lungs out as he went on by. So I had seen the start...check. Then it was straight over to transition to watch the him get his bike...check. Then up to the bike course...check. Then trying to keep count of what number lap he was on (one would think this wouldn't be too hard considering it was a 2 lap race, but apparently it is)...check. Then back to transition...check. Then to the finish line...check. (I decided it was just too hard to get out onto the run course...and besides, I was getting exhausted from all this cheering). Then when I thought it was all over, there's the hanging around after the race waiting to get the bike back, and then walking back to the car at the impossible parking spot in St Kilda.

By the time we got home and had some food (I did need a feast from all of my energy expended) it was well and truly time for one mighty nap!

So to Mum, Dad, Sam and everyone else who has cheered me on in a race, thank you! I now understand it is more stressful and more work than the race itself. Not only do you have to get up early, stand around for hours on end and say all the right things (at the right time, in the right volume with the appropriate number of claps), you also have to deal with my often unpredictable post-race moods ranging from excitement to disappointment, happiness to frustration.

*Also, congrats to my big sister Laura for running 21.1km up mountain today...apparently it is the hardest half marathon in the world. Personally I would stick to the flat, but whatever works! So good job.

Shepparton 70.3 Race Report

It's never much fun writing a race report on a disappointing race, however it's all part of the game and must be done! After returning home from the US I had 3 weeks off from training, followed by a short prep of 4 weeks for Shepparton 70.3. For me, it was a big ask to get race fit again in a month, however I love to race and especially love racing at home in Australia, so I was really keen to get into the best shape I could for Sunday's race at Shep. Whilst a few extra weeks of training up my sleeve would've been handy, I was still feeling positive, fit and ready to go before race day.





Ideal conditions greeted us on race morning, the sun was shinning, the birds were singing and I had friends and family cheering me on both on and off course (well the family were definitely off course, but cheering nonetheless!).



At 7am we were set on our way for the 1.9km swim, 90km ride and 21.1km run. Early on into the swim, I knew that it was going to be a long day. While my day wasn't a total shocker, I just never got going and wasn't firing like my usual self. I didn't have one particular leg that was horrendous, rather I was just a little off in all three.



I was disappointed after crossing the finish line, every race I go into I put so much expectation on myself to race well and get results, so when I fall short of this it is shattering and I feel I have let myself and my supporters down. However, it is all part of being an athlete. The highs are high, and the lows are low. It is how I respond to the lows, learn from them and try to limit the bad days that is important and all part of the roller coaster ride that is racing.



Although the day didn't pan out as I had hoped, I still had fun out on course and loved racing in such a great event with fantastic race day support from the many volunteers and supporters. Congratulations to all other competitors out there racing and especially to the girls that I lined up against, it looked like a hard fought battle at the pointy end!



Thanks to Mum and Dad for making the trek over to the big island to watch me race, to Sam for the support and awesome photos, and to my sponsors Malvern Star, Peak Bike Hub, Brooks, Giro, Selle SMP and Team Barefoot.

For now it's time to knuckle down and get my mojo back!!

3 Cracking Races!

One of the greatest attractions to triathlon racing is the amazing locations of races. I love to race on a course that is challenging, scenic and most of all fun. I have come up with a short list of 3 of my favourite races that I have done so far in my triathlon journey. If I can continue to find races like the ones listed below, I will be one happy triathlete for many more years to come!

1. Falls Creek Long Course Triathlon (Vic, AUS)
All time favourite race in an all time favourite location. On a wind-less day when the sun is shinning, Falls is one of the most beautiful places on earth. I grew up tackling the ski slopes of Falls Creek, so when I heard there was going to be a tri at Falls over summer I knew that it would be a must do race. The triathlon which is held in February is of the long course format of 2km/80km/20km.



As the sun rose up over the mountains on race morning I could tell it was going to be one perfect day. The swim was one lap in the icy cool waters of the Rocky Valley Dam, followed by a three lap cycle which had a bit of everything - flat, steep climbs and sharp descents. The day finished off with a stellar 20km run along the aqueduct trail. Some races are just that, a race, but Falls is an experience. It was tough racing; the course was tough, the altitude was tough and the competition was tough, which when combined made for one rippa day out!




2.Alcatraz Triathlon (CA, USA)
I've done the Alcatraz Triathlon twice now, and it is by far one the the best races in the world. It is a tough as nails race. The day begins with competitors jumping from the ferry into the the icy cold San Fransisco waters off Alcatraz Island to battle the current, chop, sharks (??) and poor visibility in an attempt to make it back to dry land in one piece. It is then on to the bike for some challenging riding through the hills of San Fransisco. The run is by far one of the tougher runs going around. A nice 2km flat section at the beginning is followed by some super tough climbing up to the Golden Gate bridge, followed by a touch of sand running and then the torturous sand ladder climb. The return has some stellar views of Alcatraz Island and the Golden Gate Bridge. An awesome race which should be on every triathletes bucket list!





3. Kansas 70.3 (KS, USA)
"We're not in Kansas anymore Dorothy" was the running theme for the Kansas 70.3. This race was my favourite 70.3 while in the US. The beautiful scenery combined with world class competition in Chrissie Wellington and Leanda Cave made for some memorable racing. To be lining up against two of the greats in the sport was awesome.



The scenery out on the bike course was spectacular, with rolling fields that reminded me of Tassie and the support on course was the best. The run wound and wound thorough the local campgrounds, which made for some nice distraction when the going got tough. It was one of my best 70.3 races of the year. I felt strong, it was fun and I am definitely hoping to get back there next year for some more Wizard of Oz adventures!



So there you have it, 3 cracking races that remind me of why I do this awesome sport.

A quick blog's a good blog!

Quick update on all things triathlon and training! After returning home from the US 6 weeks ago I had a few weeks break to recharge the batteries. When I have a break, I have a break! I'm really good at doing absolutely nothing...I do pride myself on that. So when it was eventually time to hit the training track again my body certainly felt refreshed and ready to go.

I have put in a good 4 weeks of consistent training and have started to get back into the swing of things. My first race of the Aussie season will be Shepparton 70.3 in a little over a weeks time. The 2010 Shepparton Half Ironman was my first Half Ironman distance triathlon. With 10+ half's now under my belt since my initiation to going long, I am looking at improving on last year's race and having a red hot crack!

When I finished my last race of the US season, the thought of doing another half wasn't so appealing, however with a bit of time off to refresh and re-energize I am really looking forward to getting out there, and I can't wait to be racing again!

In other news, I received my new 2012 Malvern Star Oppy C7 road bike last week and will be taking it for a spin on the weekend which I can't wait for (the rain has been delaying this ride...I don't want to get him dirty on his first outing!). It is one of the lightest bikes I have ever felt, so I can tell we are going to have many a happy day.



No other amazing news to report on...the battle with Melbourne's glorious rainfall patterns continues as do the ever present northerly winds.

I shall try my hardest to be more punctual with next weeks blog...the public holiday just through me out of wack this week!