Sunday, 29 November 2015

Western Sydney 70.3

In this blog I regularly use the term, 'it was a mixed bag'. Well today truly was that, and then some. A day of great highs and fairly crushing lows. 

The highs came as part of the Western Sydney 70.3. I will put together a more detailed race report later, but for now I am happy to say it was a good day. I ended up the day as 15th in the MPRO category, which I am happy with given how big and talented the men's field was. My time was just a touch over 4 hours 12 minutes. 

However, it was neither the position or the time that made this race a good one. To be honest I would have liked to be both a little quicker and placed a little bit higher.What made this race good was the execution. Building on what I learnt in the Rottnest Long Course, the goal for this race was to have a balanced day. Not smash any one leg at the expense of another. I think I can say that I achieved that. The swim wasn't anything special time wise, but then it was also a non-wetsuit, freshwater swim, about as slow as they get. However, the bike was a good solid effort, coming in at just under 2 hours 15. It is reassuring to have a bike leg feel quite business like and still be done at a 40km/h average. I am also quite proud of how I handled the bike leg. Early on I knew I was going too hard, working to stay with some other guys. However, over the course of the bike I managed to moderate my effort to bring my average power down to what I had intended, giving myself every opportunity to run well. Previously I probably wouldn't have had the self control to do that. 

So that brings me to the run leg, which like on Rottnest was probably my highlight. I am still so slow compared to all the other guys, but today was a big step in the right direction, with a half marathon PB. If my goal today had been to smash the run then I would have been disappointing, however, I always saw today's run as a stepping stone to quicker runs and that is exactly what it was. I expect to get quicker on the run and todays' run was an important first step to achieving that. Nice and controlled, very even splits across the entire run. It felt good the whole way. Bang on target. 

So whilst the result is not one to particularly write home about, today was all about progress for me, and that progress was most certainly achieved. Which is why I consider today's race to have been a success. 

So that was my race, what about the race? I will go into more detail about the race in my full report, but for now probably enough to say that it was a great race. Running the event around the rowing lake works so well for spectators and competitors. It gets everyone away from roads etc and puts them in a parkland setting. It really worked very well. Not all perfect, there are issues with the amount of accommodation available in Penrith and some bits of the bike course could have less potholes. But on the whole, a very nice race. I think it will work great for the 2017 Asia Pacific Championships.

Okay so that was the good bit of the mixed bag, what is the bad bit. Well the bad bit is really a fairly stupid move on my behalf. After the race was all done and dusted, I went and got my bike and headed off to my car. I could have walked the bike the entire way, but it was far and I was tired so I jumped on my bike and decided to roll some of the way. Long story short, I was carrying to much stuff and wasn't in full control of my bike. One of my bag went into my front wheel throwing me to the ground. I essentially broke my fall with my face. So I now have 3 or 4 stitches above my right eyebrow. Of more concern though is my shoulder. The medics couldn't be conclusive without more testing, but it is looking like I have a medium grade tear in my AC. Just how bad that tear is I should find out a bit more tomorrow. No matter how good or bad the tear is though it is going to mean significant down time. Of the weeks variety. It is only just dawning on my how serious an injury this is. I am not drawing any conclusions until I have seen the doctor tomorrow, but however you slice it, it isn't good. 

Damn frustrating is a bit of an understatement. I am so fit right now, and a lot of stuff is just starting to fall into place. The idea of losing all that and having to start again is not appealing. I suspect I don't have a lot of choice and so am just going to have to come to terms with it. As stupid as the cause of my injury is, it has happened. Getting annoyed at myself won't make it unhappen. Now the focus has to be on getting over it and getting things back on track. It may take me just a little while to get to that point though. I still have a bit of self-recrimination to get through. 

Watch this space for a shoulder update. I should have more news tomorrow. 

The racing bit was good though. 

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