Last week Flynn, Elliot and I were in Indonesia on Bintan Island where I raced the 70.3 (Half Ironman). I have competed here twice in the past and it was great to return. What I lacked in ability, I made up in enthusiasm. I was excited to be on the start line again. I knew after 15 months of being away from competition I would be a bit off the pace, I just wasn't sure how much, but I have to start somewhere and I think there is no shame in lining up to give something a go.
My enthusiasm got me through the first 2 1/2 hours or so of the 4:39hr it took me to finish. It was great to be back in the atmosphere of racing. The non-wetsuit ocean swim was well marked, I had feet to follow and it was nice to swim in a warm ocean after traveling over from our NZ winter. The bike course is very smooth so the momentum on the bike could be built up to some good fast speed, but it is also hilly and that works the legs a bit. It was towards the end of the bike course that my enthusiasm wavered a bit and the work really started. I had forgotten how much racing hurts! I came off the bike in 5th place after 2:31hr. The eventual top 3 women had opened a decent lead with fellow NZ athlete Gina Crawford leading the charge to the finish line.
In the past running used to be where I could usually make up some time, but that was a while ago and hopefully in the future I will get there again. The run was 3 x 7km laps around a lake. At 31 degrees with 65% humidity it was scorching. I was a little worried because before this race I had only managed to run off the bike in training on two occasions. I have still been breastfeeding and I would usually come home after my weekend ride feed Flynn or express, hydrate, eat, ...get caught up in playing with Flynn.... and then try and get myself out the door for my run, so this doesn't simulate a very good transition which usually takes about a minute in a race, ...not the 30 or so I was taking at home. Two weeks before the race I figured I really better get some practice in. To make sure I followed up on this I did a brick session with fellow VO2coach athlete Patrick Bain. The first week my legs felt absolutely horrendous, like I had big headaches in both of them. I seriously questioned what I was doing or how I ever managed to do this. The second week went a little better, the third week was race day and I was concerned about that, but fortunately they came to the party and thankfully the aid stations were filled with plenty of cold stuff providing ice, sponges, coke, isotonic, food and water. Meta Sport did a great job in keeping the athletes charging around in circles.
On the second lap I caught Laurel Wassner holding fourth, but in the final 4kms she caught me again and we ran side by side for 2km until she started to lift the pace ....and I started to drop mine. I slipped back into 5th running 1:33 and finishing about a minute behind her.
It's been a long time between race paychecks and I was thankful to get through the race and finish in the top 5. Based on my past results at their event (1st & 3rd over the iron-distance) Meta Sport provided a great travel package which helped make the trip possible. Elliot, Flynn and I also had some quality family time together, it was well worth everything we had to do to make it happen.
Every 4-5 weeks mum and dad have driven the 4 hours up from Whanganui to Cambridge to stay for a few nights to help look after Flynn which gave me a little flexibility with training for a few days. Having some help once in a while makes things 100% easier. Poor dad, he came up declaring he would love some time with his grandson, but wouldn't be changing any dirty nappies. Flynn had other ideas and every time I left the house he would fill his pants, once "right up to his shoulders! There was shit everywhere!" I was told on my return.
Elliots mum has also come to stay from Christchurch while Elliot was away with work which was a huge help. The Cambridge Fitness Centre has free daycare in the gym for up to 90min which is where I can get my run sessions in and admittedly I used that once....for a quick nap on their mats, ....is it that bad to sleep in a gym? Keegan has also been running a coaching session combined with babysitting on Thursday afternoons. While we run he multi tasks with a stop watch in one hand and a pushchair in the other.
From here I will start another block of training, I would still love to get on the start line of an ironman race and will be working on it.
Thank you so much to my sponsors who have helped make competing again happen PRO-FORM, Trek, GU Energy New Zealand, Graham Scott, Aloe Up, Hamilton Shoe Clinic, Advanced Massage Therapy, Soar Physio and Gary at Cambridge Family Osteo and to these two boys in particular who have made life especially awesome, I wouldn't have got to the start line without the encouragement from Elliot and his positive, supportive, and practical attitude.
My enthusiasm got me through the first 2 1/2 hours or so of the 4:39hr it took me to finish. It was great to be back in the atmosphere of racing. The non-wetsuit ocean swim was well marked, I had feet to follow and it was nice to swim in a warm ocean after traveling over from our NZ winter. The bike course is very smooth so the momentum on the bike could be built up to some good fast speed, but it is also hilly and that works the legs a bit. It was towards the end of the bike course that my enthusiasm wavered a bit and the work really started. I had forgotten how much racing hurts! I came off the bike in 5th place after 2:31hr. The eventual top 3 women had opened a decent lead with fellow NZ athlete Gina Crawford leading the charge to the finish line.
In the past running used to be where I could usually make up some time, but that was a while ago and hopefully in the future I will get there again. The run was 3 x 7km laps around a lake. At 31 degrees with 65% humidity it was scorching. I was a little worried because before this race I had only managed to run off the bike in training on two occasions. I have still been breastfeeding and I would usually come home after my weekend ride feed Flynn or express, hydrate, eat, ...get caught up in playing with Flynn.... and then try and get myself out the door for my run, so this doesn't simulate a very good transition which usually takes about a minute in a race, ...not the 30 or so I was taking at home. Two weeks before the race I figured I really better get some practice in. To make sure I followed up on this I did a brick session with fellow VO2coach athlete Patrick Bain. The first week my legs felt absolutely horrendous, like I had big headaches in both of them. I seriously questioned what I was doing or how I ever managed to do this. The second week went a little better, the third week was race day and I was concerned about that, but fortunately they came to the party and thankfully the aid stations were filled with plenty of cold stuff providing ice, sponges, coke, isotonic, food and water. Meta Sport did a great job in keeping the athletes charging around in circles.
On the second lap I caught Laurel Wassner holding fourth, but in the final 4kms she caught me again and we ran side by side for 2km until she started to lift the pace ....and I started to drop mine. I slipped back into 5th running 1:33 and finishing about a minute behind her.
It's been a long time between race paychecks and I was thankful to get through the race and finish in the top 5. Based on my past results at their event (1st & 3rd over the iron-distance) Meta Sport provided a great travel package which helped make the trip possible. Elliot, Flynn and I also had some quality family time together, it was well worth everything we had to do to make it happen.
Every 4-5 weeks mum and dad have driven the 4 hours up from Whanganui to Cambridge to stay for a few nights to help look after Flynn which gave me a little flexibility with training for a few days. Having some help once in a while makes things 100% easier. Poor dad, he came up declaring he would love some time with his grandson, but wouldn't be changing any dirty nappies. Flynn had other ideas and every time I left the house he would fill his pants, once "right up to his shoulders! There was shit everywhere!" I was told on my return.
Elliots mum has also come to stay from Christchurch while Elliot was away with work which was a huge help. The Cambridge Fitness Centre has free daycare in the gym for up to 90min which is where I can get my run sessions in and admittedly I used that once....for a quick nap on their mats, ....is it that bad to sleep in a gym? Keegan has also been running a coaching session combined with babysitting on Thursday afternoons. While we run he multi tasks with a stop watch in one hand and a pushchair in the other.
From here I will start another block of training, I would still love to get on the start line of an ironman race and will be working on it.
Thank you so much to my sponsors who have helped make competing again happen PRO-FORM, Trek, GU Energy New Zealand, Graham Scott, Aloe Up, Hamilton Shoe Clinic, Advanced Massage Therapy, Soar Physio and Gary at Cambridge Family Osteo and to these two boys in particular who have made life especially awesome, I wouldn't have got to the start line without the encouragement from Elliot and his positive, supportive, and practical attitude.
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