It's been way to long and there is way to much to catch up on so it'll be pretty brief.
Busso was a disaster unfortunately. After an average (and i do mean that i should have been faster) swim, my day was over 45k into the bike. The most soul destroying part about this is i dont know why. Smart pacing, nutrition etc, but my body decided it wasnt to be. No power on the bike (i know, i was using a power meter) and i felt good on the run for about 4 of the long 21.1k - quite simply not to be.
Since then i have had a lot of time to soul search, and disect by below par performances for the season. In my eyes i performed well below what i was capable of this season, unfortunetly the most annoying part about that fact is that i think it can all be attributed to myself.
So i thought i'd write a blog about it, enjoy.
Gold Coast: Here i believe i was the fittest i have ever been, except for my swimming. Going into this race i had a SOLID pre season behind me of road racing (even having won a few) and some really strong running, having run a 1.18 at the city to surf half. I swam ok (just under 30 mins for the 1.9k) and got onto the bike feeling good, i was riding super strong for 70k and was well on track for a 2.20ish bike time, then boom flat tyre. I panicked and lost 15mins on the bike. I finally got off and ran a 1.20 of the bike, however the damage was done. (6th place)
This is where my season ended.
After putting in so much effort and having something like that stop me in my tracks and take away a solid result, i broke. I got depressed about training and racing and did sweet all untill January. what a loser!
New Zealand: I honestly felt a little foolish heading into this race, i really literally had bugger all prep under my belt. However it really took the pressure off and i was really enjoying my self. Race morning and i was actually looking forward to it. Another eh swim (sub 30) and i was onto the bike feeling really excellent :) for the whole 90k, it was great, and i rode about a 2.25. Onto the run and i was on track to run a sub 1.24 but fell apart in the last 5-6ish k. Seriously, you know how no matter how bad you feel in a race, the last k with the crowd there is always super fast? yea well i did mine in like 6 minutes haha! Completely expected, but this race really bought my confidence back, and i did a 4.25 :) (3rd)
After this race i went straight to the tour down under and got some solid training done in Adelaide :) it was one of the most amazing experiences of my life :)
I really found my motivation again but having so long off before NZ i was really struggling to find form again :/
Singapore: by the time Singapore came around i was starting to feel really good again, but this time i made some real shitty mistakes that made a potentially great performance just a good one. 1. i got really dehydrated the day before the race (by running from transition back to my hotel in the midday sun) and loosing the front two boys in the swim after a really really stupid error. Pretty good swim, but then i had instant and constant cramps for 90 whole k's on the bike. It was depressing and painful and f*ck it sucked. I got off that bike the angriest i have ever been and ran myself into the ground. I dont regret that decision for a second and i would do it again and again. It needed to be done, i wasnt going to catch the two infront pissing around. I ran 3.45's for 12k then found a dirty big scary dark deep hole. Seriously about 75 meters before the finish line i saw my mum on the side of the road, i ran up to her and said "i dont want to do this any more :(" she literally had to push me away haha. (3rd)
But my hunger was back, i made my self hurt and i loved it.
In between then and busso, i was really focused, i worked on my swim and let everything else take care of itself. I got a power meter and ran smarter.
Busso: Man i f*cked this one up for my self. 2 weeks before i did the relay for life, this let the fatigue really set in. 1 week out i ran for over 2 hours in one run. idiot. It actually wasnt intentional but when you get stuck out in the bush with a group of mtn bike riders and home is over half an hour away 1.30 hours in you have no choice. 1 day out from the race i rode, ran and swam and got a massage, inbetween that i was on my feet all day, idiot..again. Race day came around and all of this caught up to me, game over. (6th)
The most annoying part of this self assessment if you will is that almost all of this was preventable. The flat wasnt but the unecessary down afterwards was. As was everything else.
But ive had a couple of weeks to dwell on that and i am done :)
One things for sure, next year, next season rather, i need to lift, not give any excuses, get my sh*t together and perform.
Last weekend started a new pre season and i cant wait :) demons need to be settled and revenge served.
Also, massive props to a few friends through the season. Johan had some stunning preformances and is the real deal, good on you mate. Andy you had a great season mate and topped it off with a huge performance at busso. awesome. just remember i did beat you this season...once.. :/ haha. Seano had a killer at Busso and is a constant constant inspiration to me, thank you mate. And my GF paige ended with a 3rd in her age group for triathlete of the year and a killerrrr bike leg at busso, im so proud :)
A thanks to everyone that was there for me this season :) my parent and fam who cheered me on literally at every race including singas :) best family ever. My training buddies and others for their constant help and advice. Especially sean jermy. Finally Paige Bowman that has been there for me every second of this past season. You'll never know how much you mean to me :)
So bring on next season! Train hard and there is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing :P
