We had prepositioned ourselves in the region weeks before the event with the belief that we would be acclimatising from our winter to their summer. We also wanted to get used to the change in diet that living away from home can bring. We also wanted to have a bit of a holiday in Lisbon and Vigo before joining the rest of the Australian Team in Pontevedra for race week.
We had not been drinking any alcohol (maybe a beer or a glass of wine once or twice) for at least 6 months. We found the culture of Lisbon and Spain and the fact that they produce some of the best wines in the world that it took a very short time for us to break our abstinence. The change in diet had us on the top paddock, with both of us concerned that our Australian Trisuits would no longer fit us.
The three weeks in the region certainly allowed us to brush up on our Spanglish and we saw some of the most amazing things and places in Lisbon and Vigo. However, being unfamiliar with the roads, our confidence to get out there and do the rides, our preparation needed for a world championship was not as ideal as it could have been. We got some good rides in but not enough. In hindsight, we should have come up to Pontevedra (only 30kms away from Vigo) and ridden the course. We had only ridden the course virtually on Rouvy and I’m here to tell you that that climb is easier virtually, than it is in real life. Also in real life, the downhill allows you to recover before the second climb where virtually, you are pedalling the whole way.
On race day we woke at 5am after about 6 hours of broken sleep, had a breakfast that was a collection of snacky things that we picked up at the supermarket (our room had no kettle, toaster or cooking facilities). The positive aspect of our hotel was that it was located about 800m from the transition/starting line. We arrived as transition opened and had a very casual setup and check of our bikes before heading out to catch up with some of the other Aussie representatives. My headspace was good, no anxiety, and feeling ready to go.
Bathroom breaks and carb intake prior to the race all went to plan and then we went over to the starting corral to find that the other 49 blokes in my age group were already there keen to go. This put me at the back as we were called out to toe the line. I chose the inside running which turned out to be mistake number 2. When the starters gun sounded we pushed forward as a group at around 3:15 pace only to come into a merge zone with the younger athletes who had started only 8 minutes before and were already coming through on their first lap of 2.5km.
It was then a wash of arms and legs racing down the ancient alleyways of Pontevedra at a pace that I knew I could not sustain. I had no idea if the blokes around me from all corners ofthe globe were my age group or the younger ones. There were just so many of them and you really needed to watch your step in those streets as one trip and we would all be on the ground. I glanced at my watch and backed it off to 4:11 pace which I thought might be possible in a 10km race, but not knowing what was ahead of me on the bike this was to be a mistake too. A bloke from Turkey with an interesting little beard and moustache who was in my age group raced by, then 3 blokes from the UK. OK, there goes the podium dream as they disappeared into the distance.
I decided to stop looking at my watch and run to feel. My heart felt like it was about to burst out of my chest. There was only one hill on the course but being 4 laps, you had to traverse that hill 4 times in the first run leg. I consider myself a pretty handy hill runner but at this pace, that small 150m long hill climb took its toll on me. My 10km ended up averaging approx 4:23 pace which is pretty strong for me without following it up with a 40km ride and another 5km run.
Into transition 1 and it went smoothly. Some burrs on the exit and I was running in my socks. Brushed them off and jumped onto the bike. I’d been running alongside a spanish guy called Sanchez for much of the 10km run. I dropped him very quickly on the bike and my confidence lifted again. I was churning my way through competitors from other age groups and wasn’t being passed by anyone in mine. As previously mentioned, the hill climb was a huge surprise to me having planned to ride it all in the big ring. When I succumbed to dropping down to the small ring I realised how unprepared I was for this hill.
Upon reaching the top of the first 10km and the first hill, a huge sigh of relief before enjoying a high speed downhill 10km reaching 68km/h (others apparently got over 100km/h). My nutrition was spot on up until now and I had a second wind on the second climb managing to stay in the big cog all the way
up this time. This comes back to bite me in the 5km run. I passed my wife Kylie on the way up this time which lifted me even more. It is great to see her out on course. The ride back down was fast again before heading into Transition 2. I should have had my second caffeine gel coming into transition but missed it and hadn’t taken on all the fluids that I was carrying either. The transition was smooth and I was excited because there were no bikes in transition that I could see were from my age group. I later realised that they were the ones right up the other end, but still it gave me confidence that I was probably middle of the field.
Out onto the final 5km run. I can usually finish pretty strong but I found myself dehydrated and slightly out of energy. My hip had started to give me issues in the latter part of the bike leg and this continued to worry me. The right hamstring was extremely tight and threatening to snap at any step so I reduced my stride length. This allowed the hip to relax a bit too. The run was largely a case of hold it together and don’t allow anyone to pass you. I didn’t look back, instead asking people in the crowd who I thought may speak english if there was anyone close behind me. I was running alone. Running into the stadium for the first 2.5km lap I was passed by a bloke from the UK in my Age Group called Williamson. He was running into the finish lane and I was running out for my final lap. My confidence took a huge hit because I thought he was the winner and he had just beaten me by 2.5km!! I later found out that Williamson didn’t even make it onto the podium either. So I had been beaten by far greater than 2.5km.
There is no feeling like running into the final straight onto the blue carpet wearing the green and gold colours of my country. Crossing the line 23rd in my age group with a final overall time of 2 hours 26 minutes and 48 seconds. The moment I crossed the line, I took about 5 more steps before my quads locked up and my legs ceased to propel me forward. A wheelchair was behind me before I was able to fall and they whisked me into the medical tent for a checkup. After some magic spray, massage and vitals being checked a couple of times they released me to proceed into the recovery space to get a massage from one of the physio students from the local university.
Many lessons have been learned and great memories created. I had the privilege of sharing the world duathlon stage with my wife Kylie. It wouldn’t have been possible without the support of so many people. Thank you!
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