Photo: trizonewomen.com
Cairns 70.3 was a great hit out and taking the win was a bonus.
In my last blog, I mentioned I wouldn't be heading to Cairns to race as I was working on a big block of training after our NZ summer season. ….Then winter crept in. It brought dense fog that would mull around all day, temperatures dropped and the consistent grind of training became more and more monotonous in these bleak conditions. The warmth of Cairns started to look appealing and we made the decision to race the 70.3. My fitness wasn't up to the full ironman yet, which was on the same day, but I definitely underestimated how swept up in it I became once we got there. I don’t think I could race another 70.3 while the ironman is also on, I felt like I was cheating myself by only doing half the distance! However, it did turn out to be a good decision and hopefully it will pay off later in the year when competing over the iron-distance again, as I have already raced two this year and have another two scheduled in August and September.
Temperatures have always been reasonably warm when we have travelled to Cairns at this time of year, around 25-28 degrees if not warmer and quite humid, I expected the same. However this year was different and the highs were only around 20 degrees, so rather than heat and humidity, it was the clouds were relentless bringing a constant downpour of rain that drenched everything over several days. So my attempt to escape the wet wasn't to be, if anything the conditions just brought a familiarity that I was attempting to escape!
We started off with an ocean swim at Palm Cove. Permanent signs erected along the shoreline warned us that local crocodiles also shared these waters, ...apparently these ones were only small so we didn't need to worry....
The waves were rolling, surf was up and I expected a slower swim in these conditions. To come out just over 30min for the 2km was an improvement for me and for once my bike wasn't the only one left in transition. A good start.
The roads are smooth and undulating on the bike, heading up to the turnaround at Thala beach. I managed to make a few passes through the women's field, then I was largely on my own with the Trek churning out the kms. Towards the end I could see Lisa Marangon not far in front and I thought I must be in 3rd or 4th place. I didn't know until I hit T2 that she was leading. On realising this this I hit the run at a pace much faster than I knew I could manage for the 21km, in the hope I could make the pass early, open a lead…and then hang on to the finish. Fortunately the plan worked and I was able to claim the win.
Dad and my sponsors Nick and Pip Smith from Proform had made the trip over to support me and to get the win with them there was really special ….Particularly because last time I raced and Nick was there during at the Taupo half ironman, I accidentally spent 90km with my back brake rubbing hard on my race wheel. By the time I had started the run I was a significant time behind the other girls…..as in not even competitive with them ....At all.... Nick hasn't let me forget it either! Proform had only just come on board with me as my sponsor and it wasn't exactly a good impression. Fortunately they stuck with me and I glad I could get a win with them there.
Afterwards Dad and I watched the ironman athletes compete.....well, dad went to the pub in his poncho to dry off. Watching Cameron Brown take the win was a real highlight. I always knew he was an absolute legend, but seeing how he races I really understood. The man doesn't run, he floats. If I hadn't competed in ironman myself and knew the horrendous dull ache of those last 10km, I would think he was doing it easy.
Huge congrats to NZ athlete Mel Burke finishing up 2nd in the ironman race. It was awesome to see the kiwis get on the podium with Anna Russell also rounding off 3rd place in the 70.3.
Massive thank you to my sponsors and coach Keegan Williams & Russell Smith who are keeping me honest when the going gets tough. Thanks for the support.
In my last blog, I mentioned I wouldn't be heading to Cairns to race as I was working on a big block of training after our NZ summer season. ….Then winter crept in. It brought dense fog that would mull around all day, temperatures dropped and the consistent grind of training became more and more monotonous in these bleak conditions. The warmth of Cairns started to look appealing and we made the decision to race the 70.3. My fitness wasn't up to the full ironman yet, which was on the same day, but I definitely underestimated how swept up in it I became once we got there. I don’t think I could race another 70.3 while the ironman is also on, I felt like I was cheating myself by only doing half the distance! However, it did turn out to be a good decision and hopefully it will pay off later in the year when competing over the iron-distance again, as I have already raced two this year and have another two scheduled in August and September.
Temperatures have always been reasonably warm when we have travelled to Cairns at this time of year, around 25-28 degrees if not warmer and quite humid, I expected the same. However this year was different and the highs were only around 20 degrees, so rather than heat and humidity, it was the clouds were relentless bringing a constant downpour of rain that drenched everything over several days. So my attempt to escape the wet wasn't to be, if anything the conditions just brought a familiarity that I was attempting to escape!
We started off with an ocean swim at Palm Cove. Permanent signs erected along the shoreline warned us that local crocodiles also shared these waters, ...apparently these ones were only small so we didn't need to worry....
The waves were rolling, surf was up and I expected a slower swim in these conditions. To come out just over 30min for the 2km was an improvement for me and for once my bike wasn't the only one left in transition. A good start.
The roads are smooth and undulating on the bike, heading up to the turnaround at Thala beach. I managed to make a few passes through the women's field, then I was largely on my own with the Trek churning out the kms. Towards the end I could see Lisa Marangon not far in front and I thought I must be in 3rd or 4th place. I didn't know until I hit T2 that she was leading. On realising this this I hit the run at a pace much faster than I knew I could manage for the 21km, in the hope I could make the pass early, open a lead…and then hang on to the finish. Fortunately the plan worked and I was able to claim the win.
Dad and my sponsors Nick and Pip Smith from Proform had made the trip over to support me and to get the win with them there was really special ….Particularly because last time I raced and Nick was there during at the Taupo half ironman, I accidentally spent 90km with my back brake rubbing hard on my race wheel. By the time I had started the run I was a significant time behind the other girls…..as in not even competitive with them ....At all.... Nick hasn't let me forget it either! Proform had only just come on board with me as my sponsor and it wasn't exactly a good impression. Fortunately they stuck with me and I glad I could get a win with them there.
Afterwards Dad and I watched the ironman athletes compete.....well, dad went to the pub in his poncho to dry off. Watching Cameron Brown take the win was a real highlight. I always knew he was an absolute legend, but seeing how he races I really understood. The man doesn't run, he floats. If I hadn't competed in ironman myself and knew the horrendous dull ache of those last 10km, I would think he was doing it easy.
Huge congrats to NZ athlete Mel Burke finishing up 2nd in the ironman race. It was awesome to see the kiwis get on the podium with Anna Russell also rounding off 3rd place in the 70.3.
Massive thank you to my sponsors and coach Keegan Williams & Russell Smith who are keeping me honest when the going gets tough. Thanks for the support.
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