Have you ever just had an urge to cry? No matter what
rational thoughts are traversing your mind, you just want to cry? If, at the
same time, you’ve had an overwhelming concern that you might simultaneously
vomit, then you know exactly how I felt in the moments leading up to the start
of my very first ITU Elite race in Osaka, Japan this weekend. These sensations
were made even worse when I glanced at my team mate, fellow ITU debutant Chloe
Butt, seeing too clearly that with every deep breath, she too was feeling
exactly the same way.
Rewind 7 days. The temperature was struggling to break
through 10 degrees, the wind was howling and the threat of rain was intensifying
by the second. We were lining up for our last hit out, a duathlon, in Melbourne’s
outer suburb of Altona. It felt like, and it was, the very depths of a Victorian
winter. This was our last piece of preparation for Osaka, Japan, in the midst
of a steamy Asian summer, the following week. When we lined up there, it was
already 34 degrees …… at 9.25am, with the scorching sun emblazing a nice race
suit tattoo across my back.
Race morning began much like any other race morning, plus
a few (million) extra nerves. It was comforting having Chloe with me as we
rode the 5km over to the race venue, nervously rabbiting on about
absolutely nothing. We set up transition together, using the bike stands that I’d
only ever witnessed the Elites use. Thankfully, they weren’t actually as
complicated as I’d orchestrated in my mind. After that, it was simply a matter
of trying to keep as cool as possible until race start. Not quite as easy as it
sounds. At 8.45 we were permitted a swim warm up. The water was 26.5 degrees.
At 9.00, we were ushered out of the water and ordered into our starting positions.
For 25 minutes we waited, constantly dousing ourselves with the endless supply
of bottled iced water. Then, at 9.25 the 43 Elite girls were announced and we
were directed into the water for a deep water start. Honestly, from there, it
was just like any other race. With the horn sounded, the enormity of the
occasion went out the window and it was purely race time.
I had very low expectations for my swim. I absolutely
expected the worst so when, at about 200m in, I could only see whitewash around
me, I was rapt. I was actually around people!! The first buoy was situated 360m
in, followed by a 90 degree turn and 15m across, before turning another 90
degrees and heading straight back in. Rounding the buoys was every bit as
violent as Jarrod had encouraged us to simulate in training. I couldn’t believe
how unnecessary it was what some girls were doing, but I’d had a reasonably easy
ride to that point so I couldn’t complain. Coupled with the drowning around the
buoy, fatigue set in and the swim home was far less inspired than the swim out.
Nonetheless, I was NOT completely off the back as I’d imagined I would be. I
was in a “pack”.
The bike course was interesting. For starters, it was the
first time I’d raced such a small circuit. Only 4.5km for each lap plus a km
out and back to the circuit proper. I’d had nightmarish thoughts of being
lapped out prior to the race but on seeing the leading 2 packs only about a
minute ahead at the first turn around, my concerns of that were alleviated. Each
lap consisted of a long bridge over which you had to climb and descend twice on
each lap. I guess I started the bike leg in maybe the fourth pack, but I didn’t
take much notice as my eyes were firmly on the front 2 packs and seeing if I
could close the gap. After 2 laps, it was clear that the first 2 packs would remain
ahead, and I’d be left leading a pretty unmotivated third pack that I’d reeled
in, with a couple of packs behind us. I actually
wasn’t too concerned with how much work I was doing at the front of our pack as
I liked being in control of the pace and knowing that I was doing everything in
my power to minimize the gap to the leaders. It was quite awkward though when I
began taking “breaks” from riding hard but was still sitting on the front. I
was barely pedaling at one stage, happily taking in some water and still no one
came around. I got very excited when, on the 3rd lap, a Japanese
girl actually tried to go off the front out of the turn. Sadly the excitement
didn’t last though and we were back as a pack.
With Jarrod’s voice in my head, I dismounted my bike at
the front of our pack and made sure I was on the correct side of transition
that housed my running shoes. Onto the run and I have never struggled so much.
If it weren’t for my running through people, I’d have felt in even worse shape.
I felt like I was running in quick sand. The run leg was 3 laps, with basically
no protection from the 34 degree sun. It was simply a hill out and a gradual
downhill back. It was tough, and it was slow. Realistically though, I knew the
harder it was, the better for me as a runner. I just had to endure it and run
through as many as I could. I have to say, particularly as the sun bore down,
it was really nice having a team mate out on course, as we encouraged each
other throughout the entire race. I ended up exiting T2 in 23rd and running
my way to finishing 17th, all far beyond what I had envisaged going
into the race. To be able to take home my first ITU ranking points by finishing
in the top 20 was something I had definitely hoped for, but hadn’t imagined
would actually eventuate…particularly with Olympians in the field.
As is the case with this sport though, each race fast
becomes yesterday’s news, and so after a few days down time, it’s now back to a
nasty 9 weeks leading into our next challenge. Onward and (hopefully) upward.
