Pete Jacobs: Professional Triathlete

Hi everyone!

I can’t believe that I am writing these words. I went down to Huskisson just to go as hard as i could in the swim and bike, sure that I had done nowhere near enough training to be a contender for the Australian title once we got onto the run. I wasn’t even fit enough or swimming well enough to lead the swim and did all I could just to stay on the feet of three others as we broke away  from the rest of the feild. Once on the bike i felt ok, ‘fresh’ is how to explain it, due to lack of hard training for a few weeks due to bad cold  I picked up on the way back from Gundiwindi triathlon in early February.

I rode as hard as I could. I rode just to try and beak away from the three others and have a lead comiing into transition. Something that alone would have given me some confidence, enjoyment, and made the race worthwhile. I had no idea how far back everyone was or if they were catching me. That didn’t matter. I didn’t care about the run, I assumed I was going to be caught by  Craig Alexander and Simon Thompson -just to  name a few  – so as long as they didn’t catch me before the end of the bike I would be happy.

I broke away  on the last of three laps from the other three athletes and just kept pushing myself, imagining the entire feild was about to catch me any minute if I went easy for a second. Through transition it was a thrill to be leading after such a poor build up to the race and it was fun to give my girlfriend Jaimie and Mum and Dad and all my other supporters something to cheer for. The 500m doubles back on itself and as i headed back towards transition Micheal Murphy was charging  pretty close behind me, with the other two from that pack not far behind him.

My legs were spent and my back was tight from the leaving it all on the bike course, so I eased into the run and just relaxed. After 3km I was loosening up and feeling good for the easy jogging just as Murphy caught me. I picked up my pace slightly and now easily to go with him. I was relaxed and my  breathing was much slower  than his was. I felt liike we were running pretty slow and that we would be caught soon enough. I still had no idea how far in front of Craig we were.

The first 5km went by quickly and easily, I couldn’t believe we’d gone a quarter of the way. I kept up with Murphy and as we went back through town at halfway the crowd was wild. Heading back out for the last lap we passed Craig and i was sure he would catch us, and I thought I might be able to hang in for second if i can drop Murphy. So i picked up the pace, still feeling comfortable, and the gap opened and at the last turn around Craig was getting closer and i was imagining my runners up acceptance speach (which I know no one would ever hear). “I’ve come second to Craig three times at this event now….”.

But with only a few km’s to go I realised it was going to be close. “Is he foxing just to make it a good show passing me up the finish chute?” I thought. I had picked up the pace with 5kms left, but now with 2.5kms left I started thinking “what if…?”, “Is he sick? did he get an injury?”  So I started sprinting. I hurt like it was a VO2 Max test and at the same time feeling a rush with fear he was going to appear on my shoulder any second. With only 1km or less to go I looked back and couldn’t see him! With 500 meters to go I asked a spectator if they could see him. Then, as the crowd started lining the course I knew I was close enough that it couldn’t be taken from me now. It was the most unbelievable feeling, and I have to really try hard to replay the day in my head to remember even a glimpse of how it was, it was all over so quickly, and the emotions are too great to recall easily.

Now, after I’ve found out that I had over 4 minutes lead off the bike from eventual second place getter Craig Alexander, I understand how it all happened.

I can pretend to understand how going back to doing some hard landscaping work last week helped me. My improved diet over the last couple of weeks definitely helped. Also coaching others in swimming and triathlon helped. And of course training with Jaimie while i was feeling down with a cold and seeing her race and enjoy her first triathlon the day before also helped.

Maybe getting up at 4:30 Saturday morning and spending most of the day watching Jaimie and other race in town helped. And I was so tired I had to sleep Saturday afternoon. And racing like I had nothing to lose, really helped.

Sorry for long winded report. It was so unexpected, there’s a lot of thoughts and feeling to process.

thanks for your suppport.

Skip a day  training.

Pete

p.s. A link to the race story -  http://www.triathlon.org.au/Story.aspx?site=ta&dept=events&section=articles&content=news&item=763