It’s never easy writing a blog about a
disappointing performance, especially at the biggest race of the year. I wasn't
even going to write one, I didn't know if anyone wanted to read about me
finishing in 26th place, well back from where I know I am capable of
finishing. I guess it's the nature of professional sport and the way racing
goes sometimes. You take the good with the bad, and I definitely have taken a
lot of ‘good’ out of this year, so I can’t be too dismayed.
I’ve already moved on from the race, and I
don't want this to be a report of excuses or a sob story. At the end of the day
I was just tired. To be honest I never really got my mojo back after winning
Vineman in July, but I pushed on through training, hoping I would freshen up
and be ready to race worlds. Alas it wasn't to be and I have never felt so flat
and tired in a race.
I swam well, and put myself in a very
competitive position within the first 20km of the bike, but from there I lost
all power in my legs and was passed by so many guys going up the 13km climb. I
managed to hold onto a little group after the climb for most of the way back
into town on the bike. I wanted to quit when I got back into T2, but I thought
I would start the run and see how I feel. I felt terrible and ran (if you call
it running) about 6km before sitting down at an aid station, contemplating
whether to continue or quit. I wanted to pull out so bad, and I toyed with this
thought at the aid station for about 3minutes. But I didn't go all the way to
Austria to DNF.
I’ve never DNF’d a race that I couldn't
physically finish and my stubbornness kept me going. I didn't want to be
disrespectful to the guys in front of my by pulling out. I jogged on and just
got through the next 15km, pretty embarrassed at how far back I was.
I’m pretty sure that I just over raced this
year. I think I was in my peak shape in June/July, despite this not being my
intention at all. Its hard to sustain form over the year and unfortunately
worlds came a month too late in the season for me.
There is still plenty of racing left in
2015. I am back in Australia for the next 3 weeks taking a little bit of down
time before heading back to the USA at the end of the month. I am looking at
doing Miami 70.3 and Austin, TX 70.3 in Oct/Nov. Thanks for reading!
