Pete Jacobs: Professional Triathlete

A week ago I competed for my third time at Roth, and for the third time I finished on the podium. Three years ago 3^rd, last year 2^nd, and this year, in the final days before the race, and even when I got off the bike, I was confident of winning this year.

 

I’d never felt so good, so fresh, leading up to an Ironman. My training had gone smoothly, my health was great, and I had always performed well in Roth. I was sure it was my year, my race, and I told myself this.

 

The race started well. In the water, on the line moments from the gun, Belinda Granger next to me said “Don’t let them get a whiff of you..”. And she didn’t mean that I’d shit myself and shouldn’t let my competitors know I was scared. What she meant was that I should go for it, don’t look back, and make them worry about me out in front. So when the gun went, I went for it and broke away in a couple of hundred meters and by the end of the swim I had a lead of about 2 minutes.

 

I had a brand new wetsuit, Sailfish, made by ex-pro triathlete and gun swimmer Jan Sibberson. This was the 3^rd model and was the 1^st wetsuit I have never got any rash on my neck! To not have that pain on the bike was bliss, and no scabs post race is a dream. It was seriously the most fatigue free wetsuit I’ve ever swum in.

 

And when I got on the bike my legs felt fresh! Straight away I was comfortable and settled into a good rhythm, just wanting to ride my own pace for as long as I could. I knew I was having “one of those days”, where I just felt good, and this is what I’d known was coming in the days before the race. After years of competition you get to know yourself and you have to trust those feelings.

 

I got a few time checks and they weren’t getting smaller to the packs behind me, only Norman Stadler was making up ground, but slowly. He caught me at 60km and I followed him for 30km, before I needed to take a break. I’d built up a lead over the chase packs by now of 5mins or so! I figured I could relax a bit and ride how I felt and still get off the bike with a lead, or at least feeling fresh off the bike with the pack.

 

I went through good and bad patches, but ultimately was feeling great, and confident. I’d been running the best I’d ever been running by far, and felt sure of running away to the win. Norman had just 6min lead off the bike, I’d thought 10mins still wouldn’t have been enough. I started the run conservatively, yet still running my goal pace easily, although my technique didn’t feel quite right. At 10km turn-around I saw Michi Gohner 30 seconds behind me, and I was gutted. How had he caught me? I was running 3:45/km pace! I’d run the first 10km in a very comfortable 37:30 and this guy had run minutes quicker. I recomposed myself, sure he’d blow up later, but it was me who faded first. At 17km I slowed to 4min/km and he caught me quickly, just before we passed Norman at 21km. I was gutted, my legs were failing me and I just couldn’t pick up the pace. I had a dig on a slight downhill section to try and get my legs moving fast again but it just hurt. I knew my day was done. At the last turn-around at 30km I started to run relatively conservatively. It was still a pain to run, but I wanted to avoid losing the ability to run the last few km’s a bit quicker if someone was catching me. I was scared, and kept looking behind me in those last 5km’s, but as I got to the last km I was so relieved, and disappointed, yet satisfied, and since the race I am still emotionally confused to my result.

 

I finished 2nd in 8 hrs 2min – a new PB. I rode 4:24 – a new PB.  I swam 45mins – a solid effort on minimal swim training. And I ran 2:49 – not bad for a run that went wrong so early.

 

I rode solo, in my fastest and strongest ride ever. I rode Norman Stadler’s pace for 30km. There’s a lot to take from this race and build on for Hawaii. I should be happy.

 

It was an amazing event once again, and Felix the race director and his sister Katrin  organise an amazing race, and me at the same time! Haha. All my request for help are always met with an instant result and it’s unbelievable they are doing the job they are doing, while being so friendly and approachable.  Everyone comes back to a Challenge race once they have experienced it, and I’ll be going back to Roth again next year for sure.

 

I still have to win this prestigious event, and I still have to break 8 hrs.

 

Train easy. I do.

 

Thanks

 

Pete