Despite the timing of posting the
chapter below, it was actually written a couple of weeks ago. It was a Saturday
night. My second World Cup was the following morning. I had attended briefing a
few hours earlier like we do at all ITU events, but this time was different; rather than then returning to my hotel
room to ready myself for the events of
the following morning, I was collecting my luggage and heading to the airport.
Writing this, I was sitting at Cartagena (Colombia) airport, awaiting a flight
to JFK. I was raw with disappointment following a bike crash that had resulted
in my having to withdraw from my final race of the season and my second World
Cup start that I’d worked so hard to earn.
It’s
important for me to write this. Mainly because it is a vehicle by which I might
be able to remember all the good that has come out of 2014, the memories of
which seem to have fallen into the crevasse in the middle of the road in
Colombia, disguised by dirty brown flash flooding, that I too fell into, off my
bike, and out of my last race of 2014.
2014
was my first full season racing as an Elite on the ITU Circuit, and it was a
big year. Geographically speaking, I’ve raced in eleven countries across five
continents: Asia, Africa, Europe, South
America and Oceania.
Starting
triathlon so late, I feel a constant need to accelerate the process and 2014
really does feel like it’s been a microcosm for a far bigger phase in my career
than just one season. And I’m not talking about results, but rather experiences
– learning experiences.
My
only ever HP triathlon coach left Australian shores mid-year and with it, the
ability to coach Australian athletes. It was a fantastic opportunity for him,
but naturally, at the time, it presented huge uncertainty for the athletes
involved as Jarrod had been the cornerstone of everything our squad had
accomplished in the preceding twelve months. I feel so hugely fortunate to have
subsequently found the perfect coach and the perfect, most supportive squad for
me. After a stressful month, I felt so lucky to have been guided to Warwick by
Darren, and for Warwick to be willing to coach me. I fell on my feet and I am
so thankful to Warwick and Darren for that.
And
so my 2014 ITU race season began all the way back on the first weekend in
February. I ventured beyond my safety net of Asian Cup racing for the first
time since I began racing last July and threw myself into Oceania Championship
racing and Oceania Cups. I managed a top 10 at the Oceania Sprint Championships
in New Zealand and learnt from some of Australia and New Zealand’s best across
a variety of distances and formats in Oceania Cups. Then, I escaped over to the
unknown waters of an African Cup where I stood atop my first ITU Elite Podium
at the African Cup in Mauritius. From there, I embarked upon the intimidating
journey to Europe for a series of European Cups and then ended my season with
the most nerve-wracking of all – two World Cup starts in an Olympic
Qualification period.
From
a personal best perspective, I managed two top ten results in European Cups (out
of three) and a top ten at a Continental Championship. I ran a 3k track PB this
year and my two fastest ever 5km runs off the bike. I’ve made swim sets I never
thought possible for me (although swimming is still clearly a huge thorn in my
side). I earned two World Cup starts and won my first ever Continental Cup. I
guess it’s not been a bad year at all but, by nature, we athletes are a
self-punishing lot. And sometimes, in the depths of disappointment, it’s hard to
see the achievements. Despite how this year ended, I have to remember all these
positives.
Of
course, there were also the disappointments/hiccups along the way (or
rephrased; “learning experiences”): two races where a bad flu at exactly the
wrong time resulted in a poor performance in China and a DNF in the Czech
Republic. There too was the ear infection only two weeks out from a World Cup. There
were the travel mishaps: missed flights, delays, lost luggage (and bikes),
broken bikes and in one instance, terrible itinerary planning on my part
(trying to combine a race in Mauritius and China within six days of each other
- terrible judgment on my part).
Along
the way, through all of this, I’ve further clarified in my mind what I want
from this sport and possibly more importantly, it’s become clearer the level of
commitment that sport at the top level requires. I’ve met so many athletes
along the way and learnt so much from each and every one of them. I’ve picked
the brains of highly respectable and professional athletes, and, of course,
endured the company of the rare melodramatic/crazy ones. Both the good and the
bad have provided me the opportunity to learn and to grow.
It’s been a big year, that’s for sure!
After a ten day break in New York, the passport has now been safely tucked away
for a few months respite, readying itself for an even bigger 2015.
