Yeppoon 70.3

If there's one word to describe my day at Yeppoon 70.3 yesterday it would be "tough".   After a year away from racing the half ironman (70.3) distance due to injury, I decided to pick Yeppoon 70.3 as my first race back. The race has been my motivation to train through Melbourne's wintery weather and I wanted to use it as a guide to see where my fitness is at. 
  
In the months leading into the race, I put in some really solid training sessions and I know that I am swimming, biking and running the best I ever have. I have been loving the training and have taken so much confidence and satisfaction from the sessions I have been able to get through; and for the first time in a long time I am  getting pure enjoyment out of training, I am doing it for myself and it makes me happy. However, as I found out this weekend, having the confidence and the numbers in training means very little if it can't be transferred to the race track!

On race morning we woke to perfect conditions...bright blue sky and very little wind. The 1.9km ocean swim was almost dead flat. I managed to find some feet to sit on in the small field of 5 pro women and had a pleasantly uneventful swim. I exited the water in 3rd place, ran up the sand dune to transition and unracked my Avanti Chrono Evo TT bike. I was planning on pacing myself through the ride with my  power meter,  however within 100m of mounting my bike, my Garmin bike computer suffered the effects of Yeppoon's famously rough roads and went flying off into the distance, only to be seen 7 hours later in lost and found! I made the split second decision to continue riding and just focus on perceived effort instead. 

Once out on to the 5 lap 90km bike course I knew almost straight away that it was going to be a tough day. I just felt "off" physically and mentally and really struggled to get through the ride. The nature of a 5 lap course also made it super tough mentally. At the end of each lap I was sure I would call it a day, but there was something telling me to continue on, hoping I might come good. My only saving grace was how smooth and aero my Avanti felt...if only my body would come to the party too!

By the the time the 5th lap came around the wind had picked up and the temperature was rising. I exited T2 in 5th place and knew it would just be a case of "getting through" the 21.1km run. The 3 lap run course was pretty awesome, with 1/3 on road, 1/3 through trees and 1/3 winding through the resort. I focused on trying to enjoy the run leg and concentrate on my form. It was great to see so many spectators, volunteers and fellow athletes out on the course which definitely made it a little easier and more enjoyable. 

Finally the finish banner was in sight, and as I made my way down the finishing  chute I felt a huge sense of relief knowing that I had actually finished. While it wasn't the result I was after, it was still extremely satisfying to know that I had accomplished my goal of racing 70.3's again after almost certainly giving it all away this time a year ago. I'd have to say that my own personal journey preparing for this race has been the most satisfying part for me and it has been more than just training for another race. I've learnt so much about myself over this past year and this race was really just the reward and a reminder that I can still do it. 

I've taken a lot away from the weekend, and definitely have a few things to work on for the next one which is Port Macquarie 70.3 in October. I finished 2nd in Port Mac in 2011, so have some fond memories of the course and can't wait to test myself again! 

Congratulations to all the competitors who toughed it out over a great day of racing and to X-Tri for putting on such a fantastic event.

Until next time, thanks for reading :)

Avanti | AvantiPlus Brunswick | Giro | Brooks Australia | Selle SMP

July Update

The last few weeks have been exciting, which have included the renewal of my Brooks sponsorship for season 2013/14, as well as the beginning of a new partnership with Avanti and Avantiplus Brunswick. My Avanti Chrono Evo TT is one amazing bike that I am super excited to be riding.

I also raced in Race #1 of the Brooks Victorian Duathlon Series yesterday to a). test out my fitness and b). take my new Avanti bike for a spin. The guys at Avantiplus Brunswick have spent hours putting the bike together for me and they had it ready in time for the race which I am very appreciative of, as I know it was no easy task! My setup also felt superb thanks to Paul Parker from Cycle Finesse.

The race went well and I managed to put in a strong effort over the 5km run/20km cycle/3km run to come away with the win. A big thanks to the organisers, Bayside Triathlon Club and Triathlon Victoria for putting on a great local event.

*photo courtesy of Steve Davis*

After putting in five months of consistent training, and with my body feeling great I have also had the confidence to put together a solid race schedule for the coming months, which all going to plan the major races will include Yeppoon 70.3 in August, Port Macquarie 70.3 in October, Mandurah 70.3 in November and Challenge Melbourne in February.

It's only six weeks away until Yeppoon 70.3 and I am just about to hit my final block of training for the race. The days are starting to get longer and the sun is slowly starting to get warmer which is definitely making it easier to get out the door :)

The blog is back...

Phew...it has been quite sometime since I have visited blogger.com and put pen to paper (so to speak). So long in fact, that I forgot my log-in user name and password. But what better time to start blogging than with an exam and two assignment due dates looming in the near distance. Ahhh blogging...the procrastination tool of the century.

The real reason I have decided to blog again however is because I am sick of the depressing, injury ridden blog that is currently taking place on my homepage...it needs to be shifted down the page a few mouse clicks out of sight.

A lot has gone on since that blog 8 months ago. It has been some of the toughest few months I have been through, and it was not a time that I felt like writing about. However, since things have been on the improve for the past few months, it is time to get this blog alive again!

When injury strikes, some people like to document the process, keep fellow blog-readers informed and remain in a positive frame of mind. I was of the opposite. Upon learning of those pesky stress fractures in my femurs on that wintery August day, I preferred to go into lock-down. I was burnt-out physically and mentally. I didn't want to have anything to do with the sport that once used to made me so happy, and so 12 weeks of inactivity (apart from the odd swim) and sadness followed.

But thankfully, with the support of some awesome friends and family I am now in the position of being able to to say I am a stronger and smarter athlete because of that time off. Looking back on it all now, time away from the sport was exactly what I needed. I needed to get away from it all and get a bit of perspective. Triathlon can often be a very self-centered sport, and luckily I have had the chance to learn that there is so much more to life than riding a bike all day, following a black line up and down a pool or running around and around an athletics track. Don't get me wrong, I am thankful for all the opportunities the sport gives me, but at the end of the day, it is just sport, and if it's not making you happy then why do it.

So after a few months of reflection and with a renewed vigour and passion for the sport, I decided to attempt running again. After about 3 months of rest I knew my body would be a bit out of sorts, so I decided to try running for just 30 seconds, and then two days later, I added another 30 seconds, and then two days later, another 30 seconds. Getting the jist?? After 6 months of slowly increasing the volume, I am stoked to say I am now up to 90 minutes of pain free running. It was a long process, that at times I thought I would never get back the fitness I once had. But luckily I am not one to give in too easily, so I stuck it out, and after a confidence-boosting bike time trial and run race this past week, I know I will be fine and I'm on the right track.

I have made a few changes to training over the past few months to ensure that my body stays strong and gets me through the next phase in my athletic career. I am so excited to get out racing again, and all going to plan I have my sights set on Yeppoon 70.3 in August as the first big one back which I can't wait for.

An extended break also gave me time to do some other things I have not had the chance to do over the past few years. I went mountain biking for the first time (think I'll stick to the road from now on), got my surf on with the girls and went over to Colorado to go skiing for a few weeks. While in the USA I also had the chance to drop by Boulder to check out the town in its winter colours...so pretty! So it definitely hasn't been all gloom and doom!

Until next time, thanks for reading!

Boulder in winter

Skiing at Vail

Not all smooth sailing...

I've been putting off writing this blog for a while, but have figured I have been M.I.A for long enough, so may as well get to it. Unfortunately after my last race 5 weeks ago (Boulder 70.3), things turned a little pear-shaped and I decided to cut the season short and head back home to Australia. Unbearable pain in both legs when running, mediocre performances in training/racing over the previous month and a few other factors all helped form this decision. At the time, it would've been easier to stay in the States and see out the season, but I knew that if I were to continue racing into the future I had to make the tough decision to come home, sort out my body and mind and get the fire back in the belly.

It proved to be the correct decision as once I got home I found out that I had 2 stress fractures...one in each femur. As sad as I was, it was a relief to know why my legs had been so sore, as the pain from femoral stress fractures is like nothing else and is so difficult to describe.

Consequently, I have had to take a fair break from all forms of physical activity involving the legs...which is not ideal for a triathlete. It has certainly been tough, going from 25/30hr training weeks to the odd 30min swim, but I know that in the long run I will benefit from this break both mentally and physically. As frustrating as it is being injured, it has given me a chance to take a step back and look at my training and racing from a different perspective and figure out what I need to do to be a smarter and stronger athlete in the future.

I'm looking forward to building up my fitness again once I get my body right, and after watching the World 70.3 Champs over the weekend, I can't wait to be back out there!

Thanks for all the support and I will attempt to keep the blog alive over the coming months :)

Rev3 Portland Half

I have just returned back to Boulder after racing in Oregon over the weekend at Rev3 Portland. The half Ironman distance (1.9km/90km/21km) race was held on Sunday morning at Blue Lake Regional Park, Portland.

I traveled to Portland on the Friday, and was greeted at the airport by my wonderful home stay host Cindy. On Friday we drove the course...and wow what an awesome bike course! It was the hilliest bike course I have ever raced on, which included 2451 feet of climbing. The run course in comparison was all flat apart from a few little rises up an overpass. Here is the elevation chart of the bike course. Steep climbs followed by technical descents.

The weather on race morning was perfect. Warm, blue skies and no wind. The women's field was once again choc a-block, with 20 pro females toeing the start line. As soon as the gun went off though, I knew it was going to be a long day for me. I just didn't have my usual spark and felt pretty flat throughout the whole race.

However, the amazing scenery, challenging bike course and wonderful support on course took my mind off my non-cooperating body! Despite how I was feeling I still managed to put in a solid race, finishing in 8th place. My aim was to go top 10, so to achieve that on a tough day was a positive.

For now it's back to the drawing board to find my spark before the next Rev3 race in Wisconsin in 5 weeks time.

A huge thank you to Cindy for being such a great host and showing me the sights of Portland, it was great. Also, congrats to Rev3 for yet again putting on such a great event...I'll definitely be back again next year!

Malvern Star | Brooks | Giro | Selle SMP | Salice | Peak Bike Hub

Rev3 Quassy Half

I will keep this race report brief as I have some exam study that needs some serious attention before Thursday...

Quick low down on the race details- Rev3 Quassy Half (1.9km swim/90km cycle/21km run), one of the biggest races on the half ironman calendar. The pro women's field was stacked with Mirinda Carfrae as the race favourite. Going into it, I knew it'd be key to focus on my own race and not be too daunted by the competition. If I could do this, I knew I would be within shot of my goal of a top 10 finish.

After some choice words from Sam in the days leading up to the race on how important it would be for me to start off well, I was all set to put in a good swim to set up my race...and that I did. I've never felt so good in the water, just super relaxed, calm and in control. I came out with the lead girls and then set out on 90km ride.

Within the first few mile I found myself at the front of the race, however this was short lived as some of the stronger cyclists went screaming past. At about mile 20 Carfrae and Naeth caught me. I managed to ride with them for about 20min but knew that if I were to stay strong in the back half of the race, I had to pull back a bit and focus on my own pace.

I came off the bike in 8th place and set about tackling one of the toughest run courses in triathlon. I had driven the course the day prior but had somehow failed to take notice of the long one mile climb. It was tough going!

With about 4 mile to go, Williamson flew by me, putting me back into 9th place. At this point I knew I had to pick it up or I would fall out of that top 10. I managed to find an extra gear and picked up a place, and then ran into 7th in the final 200m with one last sprint. I was soo happy to see that finish line as I don't think I could've gone another meter!

This race was filled with lots of positives and some glimpses of what's to come if I continue to work hard. I learn so much when I race against the best athletes in the sport. I aspire to one day be as successful as these girls, so it great to have the opportunity to line up against them.

I must say a HUGE thank you to Trish for being the best homestay host an athlete could ask for (and for taking great pictures!). I felt totally relaxed all weekend thanks to the great hospitality. Also, thanks to Mum, Dad and Sam for staying up into the early hours tracking my progress.

In the meantime, it's back to Boulder for a solid few weeks of training in preparation for Rev3 Portland Half in July.

Malvern Star | Brooks | Giro | Selle SMP | Salice | Peak Bike Hub

Rev3 Knoville Race Report

Rev3 Knoxville was my first race of the US season. The Olympic Distance (1.5km/40km/10km) Triathlon was held on Sunday in Knoxville, Tennessee. This was the first time I have ever traveled to a race on my own (domestically or internationally), so to say I was a little apprehensive about it all would be an understatement!

I was greeted at the airport on Friday night by my wonderful home-stay hosts Karen and Cecil. They went above and beyond in helping me out over the weekend, from driving me around, to providing me with meals and even buying ice-cream on Sunday night! I am so grateful for their support over the weekend, it definitely made me feel more at ease.

Photo courtesy of www.rev3tri.com

Race start was 7am Sunday morning (which was actually 5am Boulder time which made for an early one!). Aside from 70.3 World Champs, this was the toughest field I have come up against, as such, I didn't sleep too great the night before as I was pretty nervous.

The swim was held in the Tennessee River. We swam 500m upstream, then a nice 1000m downstream. I got into a good rhythm fairly quickly and exited the water in about 11th place, and this was the position I would hold for most of the day.

Photo courtesy of www.rev3tri.com

The 40km ride was held on an awesome out and back rolling course, with some steep ascents and a few gnarly descents. While the 10km run wound around the out skirts of the University of Tennessee. I felt pretty good for the majority of the race, although I felt I lacked a little of my speed on the run which could've come in handy! However I managed to hold my position, crossing the finish line in 11th place out of 25 starters. While a top 10 finish would have been a much more satisfying result and what I was gunning for, I gave it my all on the day and it was my fastest time in a non-drafting Olympic Distance race by a long shot, so I'll take that.

Photo courtesy of www.rev3tri.com

These past few weeks have definitely been a steep learning curve. It was tough dealing with post-race emotions on my own, however it is toughening me up and I am learning the importance of staying in a positive frame of mind. I have a 3 week block of training in Boulder and then will travel to my next race, Rev3 Quassy which is promised to be another tough race!

Photo courtesy of www.rev3tri.com

Thank you once again to the Goodricks for being great home-stay hosts, Mum, Dad and Sam for staying up into the early hours of Monday morning tracking my progress and to Josh for continuing to provide his coaching wisdom!

Malvern Star | Brooks | Giro | Selle SMP | Salice | Peak Bike Hub