Patience & Consistency... (the beginning of my 70.3 journey)

Here are some truths; for the month of December, my average weekly bike volume was 72km. In January, it was 158km. February came and went with an average weekly bike volume of 148km and in March, I clocked an average 201kms per week. This is what a sensible return from injury looks like. With only these numbers in the bank, I lined up on Sunday for my first 70.3 (and simultaneously, my first long course professional race) with my best strategy not coming out of a fabulous preparation, but rather trying to apply the “ignorance is bliss” and “fake it til you make it” mentalities. In the end, I largely did fake it, finishing my first 70.3 and surprising myself to finish 9^th female overall and in a pro field in which I was the only athlete to have never raced the distance. Indeed, I felt like a school student at a new school with a field full of seasoned 70.3 champions and medallists suddenly all around me. People may baulk at my lack of volume. Indeed I’m not deluded enough myself to think of it as anything close to what I need to be doing for this distance, but the other truth is that I sit here today, with my back letting me fight another day. It was worth the cautious build. The build that I don’t anticipate nearing an end until much later in the year. “Consistency” – The ultimate word that I hope to attribute to 2016 come its end.  

I can’t pinpoint the exact moment that I decided to do a 70.3. I definitely remember declaring numerous times over the past few years that I would never “go long”. But when did that change? I really can’t remember. I think it was a gradual process. I remember entering Challenge Shep at the end of last year, but that was simply as an “end of season why not little fun challenge”. I subsequently pulled out pre-race with injury but how did that then become entering for Geelong 70.3 in February this year – and subsequently withdrawing pre-race due to the same injury. And when did that turn into my whole year now becoming solely about 70.3 racing and not ITU? These questions suddenly sprang to mind, quite inconveniently as I dove into the 31 degree waters of Lake Putrajaya on Sunday. How did I get here?!

 

With the race underway, I bluffed my way through 90km of hard riding. I rode an average of 36km/hr on a very lumpy 45km x2 bike course which is what I usually average for an Olympic non-drafting race. I had no bike computer, no power data, but just focussed on the girl ahead and making sure I maintained a legal distance (probably being overly cautious on that front in hindsight and sitting 15-20m back) whilst totally entrusting her to pace the entire 90km. I simply would have had no idea myself.

 

Come the run, I couldn’t quite bluff my way through. A half marathon in searing temperatures that had many of the pros walking (myself included) is a totally different beast to a 10km off a 40km bike in “everyday” conditions. With temperatures up to 39 degrees, and high humidity, it was quite simply a death march. The run was where I saw the eventual 4^th place getter slip away from me. I ran the first 7km like an ITU race and found myself in 6^th place after dismounting the bike in 8^th …. And then, like the flick of a switch, I was walking by 8km. At around 8.5km I decided to try walk/jogs. By the time I discovered my team mate and good friend, Will, sitting by the path at 11km (his day sadly over when he had ended in an ambulance a few kms earlier), I was sure my day too was done. To his credit, he got up and attempted to get going again himself, providing me pivotal support as I considered whether I truly could make it around another 10km. The problem was, I only had two gears: ITU pace and walking. It was only when we began to jog with the approach of “this is my warm down”, that I was able to find something sustainable to get me to the finish line.

 

My lack of volume going into this event was in no way born out of a lack of respect for the distance. Quite the opposite. I understand what it takes all too well, and that is a fully healthy body that can withstand all the mileage. So to that end, I wont be lining up for my next 70.3 with a sudden increase in mileage following a sudden realisation that I need to be riding 300-400km a week. I do know that’s what is ultimately needed, but I’ll be taking the sensible approach, progressing slowly and gradually. Consistency: That is what 2015 lacked and is my only focus for 2016.

Oh and I’m NEVER doing a full ironman ;)