Ok, so it's not quite true. But I've had a great couple of weeks. I've celebrated my birthday, moved out of home and had a few great sleep ins. I've also had...far out like FOUR hang overs. It's been great, I've recharged the batteries, had a think about the season that was and have started to put things in place for my assault on my up coming aim, but more about that later :)
In quick summary I think I had my best season ever (2011 - 2012). Some quick highlights are listed below.
Port Mac 70.3. For me this was a massive mental breakthrough. I had a great swim, followed by a TERRIBLE bike, normally this would be race over for me but I rallied and came back with a super strong run to run back into second place in my age group at the Australian Age Group Champs. A great start
Next up was a bit of a dream come true my first race in the Professional field of a half ironman distance race. Port of Tauranga Half. It was made 10 times better by the fact Paige was able to come over and watch me race. I learnt alot in this race. I need more work on my swim. If you are riding in a pro bike paceline don't loose attention for a second otherwise you will be spat out the back in a millisecond, even if you have been riding in it for 60k. And I felt 10 times more awesome with my name on my race bib and not a number :D
These guys race on another level and I have a long way to go, but it was an awesome, amazing, dream come true experience and I can't wait to go back there next year. I also set a P.B. 4.25
Next up was Singapore 70.3 the highlight of my season arguably. I swam well, rode ok and ran for the win. Finally I managed to snare my first 70.3 age group win. I was PUMPED :) I put a lot of hard work into the prep for this race and it paid off, it was an amazing race. I also fullfilled a dream and finally took my spot to the 70.3 World Champs in Las Vegas
(Side note: I've managed to qualify for the 70.3 worlds for the past couple of years with 2nds and 3rds but promised myself I wouldn't take a spot until I won my age group)
Here I think I should have ended my season, but I couldn't, Busso 70.3 was on the horizon. I was tired, physically and mentally but I wanted so bad to have a good result at our home race. I trained through but ultimately the race day result spoke for itself. I swam well, but half way through the ride my day was over. I was so lucky to have my mate Sean Jermy there on the day to help me through the run, what a legend.
That's platinum friendship right there :)
Other season highlights include, finally getting to race my first draft legal race and the Kalgoorlie Olympic Distance race, what a laugh :)
Over the season I've been lucky enough to have some amazing help from some
woah woah woah hold up. I saved this draft one night intending to finish it the next day HOWEVER, I had an unfortunate bike spill.
For a week and a half I was in cast with a suspected broken wrist, no wait a broken distal radius, no wait a broken scaphoid. To be honest it was a very challenging couple of weeks for me and I was pretty down but the good news came recently after 2 x-rays and a CT scan that nothing was broken!! :) This time made me realise pretty quickly how I need to appreciate being healthy day to day and having the ability to train.
So now for me it's back to pre season. I've got a long hard slog ahead in the prep for Vegas worlds with some pretty lofty goals but I cannot wait to give it all a real go. It's all helped by some amazing people I have behind me. Thank you to everyone for their support and look forward to writing a little more over the winter
Cheers :)
