Hell of the West report

Gundiwindi 2008 was a great experience. I got a lift out there with a couple of Cycos, Chris and George, and I’m sure that made all the difference. Almost it was almost my undoing as we stopped at Toowoomba for lunch and something from the shopping centre possibley had some gastro bug in it. So the rest of the day, the next morning and now still, my guts are causing me a certain discomfort.

 So race morning breakfast was light, and consisted of about 150ml of high 5 (roughly 70cal – count ‘em george). I was last to transition (but still had more than enough time) due to my atatchment to the toilet in our room(luckily transition was only 500m from hotel), and I managred to keep my guts settled until race start – at which point the guts were forgotten and thankfully never heard of until lunch.

 My swim didn’t feel great and there were a few good swimmers in the pack – Matt Clark, Cam Watt, and Simon Nash – so i sat in. I dropped about 20 seconds to Watt, and 10 to Nash through transition as i had to put on my race top, tuck spare tubes and co2 canister into my shorts.

 I have had a hard 11 days of training up here in Brisbane. To finish it off I ran 2 hrs friday morning and in the afternoon a 1.5 hr ride with 40mins threshold motorpacing. Not a heap, but with the cumulative effect i was a bit flat, but strong and fit. aha!

 So i started chasing on the bike, feeling a bit flat. But as we had done in our wind trainer sessions I counted out 50 revolutions and made them strong then took a break for a minute or less. I did this again and again and slowly but surely caught up to Nash. I did the same to catch Watt. Then at 50km we were caught by 2 others and they took the lead as we rode in a pack of 5. With 20km to go i went to the front but couldn’t get away, until Watt went past and i went with him. Again i was counting my revolutions. This time about 75 ‘on’ then wait for Watt to come through to the lead. We worked well together and opened up a minute or more lead on the other 3.

 Again i took my time in transition, putting on socks, tying my shoes, and i knew i was in a good position. My running has been very solid in training and i jogged with with Cam for a couple of km’s, stopped for a piss, then ran past him to take the lead. I was feeling great and just cruising. Into the last 10km I was getting a bit stiff from running so I lifted my pace and stride and felt much better. I easily negative split the 20km run for 1hr 13min total. I have never felt fresher at the end of a 3hr 44min race and today i feel brand new. Except pretty tired for the big day in the sun and 4 hr car trip back to Brisbane.

 This morning i went for an easy ride in the rain which is quite nice up here, and I have just gotten back from my second visit for this trip up north to the Kinesiologist. He found a few things that are good and bad for me, and made a couple of adjustments structurally. He really is an amazing Dr.

 I head back to Sydney tomorrow, and can’t wait to see my beautiful girlfriend I’ve been missing madly!

 And to all the Cycos who have helped me train, have fun, and feel very welcome at all their sessions over the last 2 weeks I can’t thank you enough (yes Yoyo, I could thank you by leaving my Xentis bars behind for you….but I won’t). It has been a real treat for me to train with such a motivated, yet relaxed, succesful, yet modest, smart, yet funny, talented, yet hardworking, tough, yet supportive group of triathletes. Of course the ‘leader of the pack’, coach Alan Pitman, who keeps them in line and gets them often first to the line, can take credit for holding together such a well balanced yet extremely competitive squad.

It has been an honour.

speak soon

PJ