Race day world
championships – Penticton
I
would be lying if I said I wasn't building towards this event for the whole
year, this event was kind of a big deal for me.
Travelling
to the venue had gone well, California the previous week, flight to Seattle and
then a 6-hour drive to Penticton had been extremely taxing on the body with an
accumulation of over 24hrs of flying and driving over 6 days, but fun. I
travelled to the race with two friends, one a good friend (Mr Lee Piercy, a
previous world champion) and the other a new acquaintance (Mr Mark Evans) who
both live in California, but are both British. They made the experience so much
more enjoyable and pleasurable than it would have been on my own. We arrived at the
race venue a couple of days before and everything went smoothly, sign on, event
recces and pre-race training was all spot on.
ITU Multisport World
Championships - Duathlon
2017-08-21 •
Age Group Standard
The
morning of the race was a 4.30am wake up, standard overnight soaked oats, water
and coffee to start the race day procedures, I do try to relax and think about
the race ahead. Nevertheless, a bit of tune-age curtesy of Calvin Harris to get
the blood flowing before the race and get the house jumping was much
appreciate. We all need to find our natural rhythm before a race.
We
arrived at the race venue at around 6am. My bike racked due to the pre-race
overnight racking, so that was one job done. The next step was to make sure the
bike survived the night, place shoes and attach race nutrition. Done! Just before the race
around 45/50 mins I ensured my stores were topped up with a half a banana and
then another black coffee just to give me the extra caffeine buzz and a metal
race edge. All going to plan...let’s keep it that way.
Now
it gets interesting, excitement and nerves were building, I had been working
towards this race for such a long time, it was eventually here, that was a
little surreal in itself.
My warm up went well and I felt
smooth, a slight niggle in my left knee and my right hamstring was a little
tight, but the best it had been feeling (thanks to the work from Mindy at 206
for working on it over the last few months) since March. Senses are always on
red alert before a race so I was confident things were going to be fine.
After
the warm up this was it. We had to be in the holding pen before the race and
that was the most nerve-racking part of the whole day, I am good with nerves
prior to races until the last 5-10mins before and then it tends to all go out
the window and I get crazy nervous...I was bricking it.We
pulled up to the start line and I made my way to the front (rather
confidently...not sure why, but why not ay!). The horn went and then that was
it...
My races are calculated and unfortunately
not that exciting, so reading this might not fill you with stimulation, however
it will provide you with a great insight to how the day unfolded and what I was
going through during it.
10k
(run) - 40k (bike) - 5k (run)
The
first run was 4 laps of 2.5k (10k). As ever it went off super-fast and I tried
to control my run and settle in, this worked well and I had plenty of company
to run with, however as the run went on it really did thin out and people were
dropping off throughout, a lot going out too hard and not able to hold the
pace. The first run of a duathlon really can just end your race, pace it wrong
and it can be your race over completely. Go out too hard and you will not have
the legs left to bike well, too slow and you will lose too much time
(complicated right).
I
arrived into T1 (first transition) in 4th place, with 3rd (Mexican)
close in front and 5th (Brazilian) a little behind, a fellow Englishman had led
the run and an American was second. I ran well, the quality of the field was
good and the times were a little slow due to the nature of the course. A quick T1
transition, blowing a little, but level headed I ran my bike out and slipped my
feet into my shoes. I was out on the bike (41k) thinking I might actually be in
with a real shout at doing something in the race. On the bike, I soon dropped
the Brazilian off my tail and overtook 3rd...although he did his best and tried
to hold the pace but very quickly fell away (to my relief). I then...to my
surprise caught the fellow Englishman who had stormed than run. Just one more
up the road...I was looking out for him and was hoping to catch him, I was looking
out for him at every possible passing point and there he was, I saw him at the
first turn around point. I thought I was possibly catch him at this rate. I had
my head down and just kept driving forwards, keeping my speed and holding my
bike position. Unfortunately that was the last I saw of him, he was too fast I
just couldn't catch him at all, I tried hard to push the pace but just couldn't
do it he was nowhere, I have no idea how he was so fast, actually I was just too
slow!
I arrived in T2 after what I thought was a strong ride, holding a good pace and really working to hold a good aero position. I saw the 1st placed American (what I thought was first place, and later to find out it was) come out of transition onto his final run (5k), I wondered to myself what has he got left in his legs after that strong ride, then I thought concentrate on your own legs they are shattered!!!! I had a very good transition, helmet off, shoes on, and off I went, legs in bits to be honest due to a fast bike. I tried to hit it very hard and just go for it, but my legs really did not enjoy that idea. My legs went okay on the uphill section of the first 2.5k lap or 2, but coming down the bank my hamstrings really locked up and I was so close to cramping and coming to a stop. I literally looked up and just though give me 3k, all the work I have done through the year and hard effort, sweat, dedication and to honest major sacrifices I have made, just give me 3k to the finish and don’t cramp!
I
slowed a little and the pain slightly eased, to my major relief, the course
flattered out before the beginning of the second lap and my legs felt okay, I
was so relived, however I was running scared I had no idea who was really
behind me and how close they were. I just knew that I had 2.5k left to run, not
be caught and I was home and dry and in 2nd place. I headed back up the bank,
my watched beeped at me 2miles, that means only 1.1 to go….I headed towards the
turning point, then back down, no cramping but my chest burning, left and
towards the finishing shoot. I shouted to a friend who was a spectator if there
was anyone behind me, they said it was clear...relived is an understatement,
2hrs of hard work and we are home and dry. I slightly slowed, round the corner
and down to the finish....2nd! Silver medal!
I
couldn't believe it, it wasn’t a definite and not confirmed yet. I checked the
live timing and then that was it, literally just a feeling over whelming joy. I
actually could not hold back the emotion and did shed a tear. I was with Lee
Piercy the fellow Brit I travelled with at this point as he had won his wave
and won gold in his ace group. We shared a hug and the delight! A lot of hard
work and planning has gone into this trip and race. I was bed bound 3 months prior
with cellulitis and was not sure how the build-up was going to go...but it all
turned out for the best. I couldn't have asked any more of my body and laid it
all out on the line. Didn't hold anything back and just went for it.
Congratulations
to my roommate and fellow Brit Mr Lee Piercy who won his age group earning
himself a gold medal and finishing with the second fastest time overall in the
race.
Split Name
|
Split Distance
|
Split Time
|
Pace
|
Distance
|
Race Time
|
Overall (/603)
|
Gender (/382)
|
Category (/26)
|
Time Of Day
|
Run 1
|
1.3 km
|
00:05:00
|
3:50/km
|
1.3 km
|
00:05:00
|
53
|
47
|
6
|
07:35:04
|
Run 2
|
1 km
|
00:03:12
|
3:12/km
|
2.3 km
|
00:08:12
|
36
|
36
|
4
|
07:38:16
|
Run 3
|
1.5 km
|
00:05:28
|
3:38/km
|
3.8 km
|
00:13:40
|
34
|
33
|
5
|
07:43:44
|
Run 4
|
1 km
|
00:03:15
|
3:15/km
|
4.8 km
|
00:16:55
|
32
|
32
|
5
|
07:46:59
|
Run 5
|
1.5 km
|
00:05:30
|
3:40/km
|
6.3 km
|
00:22:25
|
30
|
29
|
4
|
07:52:29
|
Run 6
|
1 km
|
00:03:16
|
3:16/km
|
7.3 km
|
00:25:41
|
29
|
29
|
4
|
07:55:45
|
Run 7
|
1.5 km
|
00:05:33
|
3:41/km
|
8.8 km
|
00:31:14
|
28
|
27
|
5
|
08:01:18
|
Run 8
|
1 km
|
00:03:16
|
3:16/km
|
9.8 km
|
00:34:30
|
26
|
26
|
4
|
08:04:34
|
Run 9
|
0.2 km
|
00:00:46
|
3:50/km
|
10 km
|
00:35:16
|
25
|
25
|
4
|
08:05:20
|
run #1
|
10 km
|
00:35:16.0
|
3:31/km
|
10 km
|
00:35:16.0
|
25
|
25
|
4
|
08:05:20
|
Bike 1
|
10.2 km
|
00:15:32
|
39.4km/h
|
10.2 km
|
00:51:50
|
15
|
15
|
2
|
08:21:54
|
Bike 2
|
9.8 km
|
00:14:29
|
40.6km/h
|
20 km
|
01:06:19
|
16
|
16
|
2
|
08:36:23
|
Bike 3
|
9.8 km
|
00:15:43
|
37.41km/h
|
29.8 km
|
01:22:02
|
17
|
17
|
2
|
08:52:06
|
Bike 4
|
10.2 km
|
00:15:12
|
40.26km/h
|
40 km
|
01:37:14
|
15
|
15
|
2
|
09:07:18
|
Bike
|
40 km
|
01:00:56.0
|
39.39km/h
|
40 km
|
01:37:14.0
|
15
|
15
|
2
|
09:07:18
|
Run 10
|
1.3 km
|
00:05:02
|
3:52/km
|
1.3 km
|
01:43:57
|
16
|
15
|
2
|
09:14:01
|
Run 11
|
1 km
|
00:03:23
|
3:22/km
|
2.3 km
|
01:47:20
|
19
|
18
|
2
|
09:17:24
|
Run 12
|
1.5 km
|
00:05:42
|
3:48/km
|
3.8 km
|
01:53:02
|
17
|
17
|
2
|
09:23:06
|
run13
|
1.2 km
|
00:03:57
|
3:17/km
|
5 km
|
01:56:59
|
17
|
17
|
2
|
09:27:03
|
run #2
|
5 km
|
00:18:04.0
|
3:36/km
|
5 km
|
01:56:59.0
|
17
|
17
|
2
|
09:27:03
|
Finish
|
|
01:56:59.0
|
|
|
01:56:59.0
|
17
|
17
|
2
|
09:27:03
|
I arrived in T2 after what I thought was a strong ride, holding a good pace and really working to hold a good aero position. I saw the 1st placed American (what I thought was first place, and later to find out it was) come out of transition onto his final run (5k), I wondered to myself what has he got left in his legs after that strong ride, then I thought concentrate on your own legs they are shattered!!!! I had a very good transition, helmet off, shoes on, and off I went, legs in bits to be honest due to a fast bike. I tried to hit it very hard and just go for it, but my legs really did not enjoy that idea. My legs went okay on the uphill section of the first 2.5k lap or 2, but coming down the bank my hamstrings really locked up and I was so close to cramping and coming to a stop. I literally looked up and just though give me 3k, all the work I have done through the year and hard effort, sweat, dedication and to honest major sacrifices I have made, just give me 3k to the finish and don’t cramp!
I
want to say a rather large thanks to Pulsin https://www.pulsin.co.uk/ for all support they
have offered me over the last few years, they have been great. Also to Funky
nut co https://funkynutco.com/ for taking me on board this year. Onwards towards the next event. My
coach Matt Bottrill https://www.mattbottrillperformancecoaching.com/ has been a great help and support over the past few year
and become a good friend, thanks Matt! 
