Well it's been way to long since my last blog, so i think it's best to start with my Singapore 70.3 race report.
I arrived in Singapore wayyyy to early Wednesday morning and caught a couple of hours sleep, before meeting up with other friends racing there, namely, the clarkys (pete and caroline) and lauren and her husband mick! These guys were the best crew to hang with taking care of me until my dad arrived on Friday. We spent the few days having a look around Singapore, resting and eating well! I also put my bike together and went for a quick spin, almost dying in the process, those Singaporeans do NOT know how to ride! (No offence).
Before i knew it Friday was upon us and it was up early for a quick swim over the course and then registration! With that done i bummed around for the rest of the day before hitting up the Carbo dinner and making mate with Bryan Rhodes (a top bloke). After a good sleep it was time to get up set up the bike properly and take it down to check in. Another uneventful day and it was off to bed early again.
A 4.30am wake up and it was race day! I grab my stuff in the designated "yellow bag" and headed off for the short walk to transition (about the only good thing about the hotel we stayed in....location). I got there at 5.01am on the dot (i am one of those MUST BE THERE ON TIME kinda people) and with no problems i was set up and out of transition with plenty on time. I had my usual powerbar and banana brekky, with a nice balance of water and powerade. I went for a quick warm up swim in the warrrmmmm ocean then it was down with a powerbar shot, and watch the pro's start!
SIXTY SECONDS! It was game time and i was ready, happy and confident in my prep i knew i was ready for this race and whatever it was going to choose to throw at me. The horn went and it was a mad run to the water. I had a great run down and was the first one in the water and to the first can! Just around the first can, someone flew past me, rather than try and jump on his hip and draft (the most effective place to draft) i decided to let him go, thinking he was probably just an uber swimmer. I settled into a good rhythm with some really realllyyyy annoying person tapping my feet every 2 seconds. I'm all for drafting but a little consideration when drafting off someone i think is called for. It was a two lap course and i came out comfortable after the first lap. I ran around the turn around and was back into the water. Unfortunately starting the second lap i faced a large amount of traffic which made my it a little slower. I decided to swim around most of the traffic rather than straight through and risk coping a stray breaststroke kick. I was the second male out of the water and had a longggg run into transition.
I ran into and found my bike easily, with my swim skin off easily and helmet on straight away. I grabbed my bike and had a good run out of transition, a quick jump and i was onto the bike and by the end of the short road my feet were in my shoes and i was ready to ride the 90k. Within 2k i caught the "uber swimmer" and i was out front with only the rest of the women to catch. I quickly discovered that who ever told me it was a flat and fast course was wrong. It was fast, but NOT flat. Up down flat and repeat 3 times before the turn around and repeat. I rode a good first 30k, and by the end of the first lap i was the first amateur on the course, behind the flying pros.
I started my second lap with confidence, sticking to my nutrition plan. As soon as i started my second lap i heard a motorbike come up behind me, i assumed it was a t/a but as it rode next to me i quickly realised it was a media bike with a camera man! So for the entire second lap, i had a camera man sitting next to or in front of me! This was a really cool experience for me and one i won't forget quickly. The second lap went past quickly and before i knew it i was heading out on my third, with some great support every time i came in from my dad (with splits and words of encouragement), the boys from racers toolbox and other "aussies" watching. Unfortunately my third lap was the worst. I really hit a wall and in other words, bonked. I'm still not 100% sure why but i think it was the combination of the heat and humidity and possibly not quite enough carbs...Anyway i was passed by one age grouper (in my age group) and came into transition with another hot on my heels.
I had another excellent transition, but was quite worried about how i was feeling coming of the last lap of the bike, in the back of my mind i was thinking, "oh crap, am i in for a 2.5 hour half marathon here??" But i didn't have time to think about that for too long, because i was running out of transition in pursuit. I was immediately surprised and really happy to feel the way i felt....excellent!! I was running well instantly and the worries of a 2.5 hour marathon had gone out the window. Because i was at the head of the field the first aid station hadn't been set up which was a bit annoying, but i certainly got a shock when i arrived at the second and put the ICE COLD sponges down my tri-suit, I'm pretty sure i ran the next k as a woman. This was fine by me as it was really starting to heat up. I caught the age grouper in front of me for 1st position in our age group un be known to me (i thought i was still in second) about 5k in and was feeling good.
Dad informed me at the start of the second lap that i was doing well and had a good gap, i was feeling good! I had a pretty uneventful second lap. I just stuck to my plan of running smart and taking something at every aid station. By the time i had finished my second lap however the guy i had passed for second had put some time back into me and was catching up! This is where i decided to really pick my pace up and run the last 7k hard. Unfortunately with about 5k to go, i was caught by a different age grouper in the 20 - 24. (I later found out that this guy was a 2.45 marathon runner so that made it a bit easier to swallow). I ran hard the last few k, constantly checking behind me with no one in sight. I turned the last turn around and with about 300m to go started to really enjoy the moment and got ready for the finish chute.
THEN out of NO WHERE the 3rd placed 20 - 24 age grouper ran up along side me with 70m to go and went for it!! HELL NO was the first thing that went through my mind as he ran past so i quickly jumped behind him, "you are NOT taking this from me" and i went for it. I pumped my legs as hard as they could go and pumped my arms harder...i pulled up next to him and i could feel my legs starting to cramp "not yet, not yet" i was screaming to my legs. Then i realised i was along side him, he was breathing heavy, he was done! I started to pull in front of him, but i didn't let up, i pushed my body harder and harder, the deepest i have ever gone....
COME ONNN!!!!! i yelled as i ran across the finish line and ran through the tape, i had beaten him by a mere 2 seconds. I collapsed and when i woke my eyes there were about 10 photographers standing above me taking pictures. But the greatest thing about that moment was through all those photographers a saw a hand reach through, i grabbed it and it lifted me up. It was the man i had beaten for 2nd, he could not speak a word of English but we both had a huge amount of respect and praise for each other, without having to say a word.
After a short dazed walk i found my dad who, unfortunately hadn't made the finish line in time. I gave a quick call to my family and then went back to see Caroline finish and give her a MASSIVE hug. We then waited for the others and all shared our was stories.
After attending presso's and a quick dinner, everyone was buggered and went off to bed. I was a bit disappointed as i was ready to PART-AY! But it wasn't to be....
