Race report from top of the world....... Nearly. A big congrats go's out to Falls Creek and Supersprint Events for an epic race in an amazing setting at 1600m.
As mentioned the setting is amazing in the Alpine Narional Park, VIC. Views a plenty. Swim takes place in Rocky Valley Dam (15deg), Ride is a hilly 3 loops across the top of the Bogong High Plains and the run is 2loops of the aqueduct trail atop Falls Village with a stinger of a hill. All this being played out in dry conditions at a balmy 7-9 deg C = logistical nightmare!
Ben's take
Nervous for this one! For the 2 weeks of being here it has been an amazing place to train but knowing how chilly it could be and how helpless I am in it was playing on my mind. Why on earth in AUS am I going to the coldest place to do a bloody race!?!? Drinking coffee in the morning with the heater on under the covers.... What was I getting myself into!?
Once on the bike, riding to transition those thoughts all go out the window as the adrenaline kicks in. Before you know it transition is set up (Inc arm warmers, gillet & gloves) and down to swim start. It looked epic with the sun rising over the lake .
Plan is always to have a solid start in the swim. Usual smash and grab at the start and exited the lake with a pretty average swim. Felt fine throughout though and can take some positives away from it. Just glad to have my Sailfish on to keep me warm and make me faster..... Long run to the bike after that with T1 perched on top of Falls Creek. (no. 1 transition destination on earth)
Another thing I always aim for and what everyone should aim for is the best ranked transition times. I am usually not far off the mark and historically has made me up many positions in races. This one was a disaster for T1 with the logistical nightmare of layering. (note for next time) Once I fumbled my way through, it was onto the bike across the beautiful Bogong High Plains. For this race, T1 cost me a podium!!
On the bike things were ok. Altitude lowers the top end speed and amplifies the exertion.... but that is generally the same for everyone. Was enjoying the ride holding pace and loving it. Demanding course with lots of climbing. Lap two the right side of my abdomen was in a knot. You can only imagine what come out of my mouth! Couldn't work out if it was muscular or fuelling problems. Sipped water took salt tabs but a end of day I had to turn to a Lance Armstrong TdF style cadence and limit what I was putting into each pedal stroke. At this time you could panic (Which I did).... The bike is usually my best leg...I soon calmed down and just kept doing all the right things in fuelling and getting as much 'free' speed from the course as I could (Spin up the hills and speed down them). Getting to T2 I had EVERYTHING crossed that I would be ok as things were coming good......
T2 better than T1 but still not perfect, I set out to catch everyone :)
Things were ok and I just kept focussed all the way around, keeping all the hard training sessions in back of my head. I was pumped as i was able to transfer everything in training to the course....Gained a lot of confidence from that run as it was my best to date on any Long Course race with rankings overall. I ran myself back into 4th for age category, so not quite enough for the podium aim.
A lot to take from the race, although it didn't all go my way for 100% of the time the lesson is to never give up and trust your training. The recipe in training for a triathlon is a fine balance and the first time my reliable bike leg was taken away I had to try and use the run and it worked. Maybe it is the training or maybe it is how I cycled the race!?!
My aim now is to go with the running confidence to Jervis Bay LC tri this weekend and cycle hard and run harder off it. See if I can pull it off .
Cat's take
I echo and ditto all the above, the end!!!
Only joking but I won't write war and peace! My race was similar to the course profile, had it's up's and down's.
The up's: I rode my bike like a demond, only 2 guys got past me, was able to draw strength from many of our killer training sessions, finished In the same spot as Ben 4 th in age cat and bagged a top 10 finish amongst the lady age groupers.
The down's:
Swim still not clicking podium positions had sunk within a few strokes of my unvarnished nails entering the water! 2 nd lap on the run I lost my " bronze" podium position and my breathing at times resembled the grunting noises those noisy female tennis players make!!
We are backing up this race with another long course tri, I am just banking on all those extra red blood cells I produced at altitude to get a little helping hand!
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