Busselton Ironman 70.3 Race Report

Not sure where to start with this report.  so much stress leading up to it.  COVID lockdown for one thing.  cancelling my accommodation, trying to re-book once the event was all confirmed.  Working from home and having to meet deadlines.  trying to pack and get the animals organised was a nightmare.  i think i took everything i owned rather than make a decision.

left town around noon on thursday and stopped in bunbury for a feed of nandos.  the chips were awesome.  once in busselton a quick trip to coles for supplies then checked into my favourite place - the sebel.  the rain had gone away.  during the drive it poured down just before bunbury.  so much that i had to stop as i could not see the road in front.  just a little bit scary.

unpacked the car and got most stuff organised before a decent night of sleep.  up early at first light and headed out on the bike down to the jetty.  legs felt okay so that was a positive.  had a chat to phil from my tri club and then saw bill as well and had a good catch up.  the water and conditions looked fabulous and they usually are the day before.  rode back and changed gear to my swimsuit and drove back down to the jetty for a quick swim in my spare wetsuit.  what a heavy chunky thing that is.  the water was fresh but nice.  afterwards i bumped into alex from swimming and had another chat.

  

drove back to my room and a wonderful hot shower and some breakfast.  started getting my gear organised and gave the bike a wash and clean.  a quick lie down and then back to transition for a 30 minute massage and check the bike in.  back home again and a nice soak in the spa with some epsom salts before dinner of leftover pasta and lights out around 9 pm.

up early as i wanted a good parking spot.  nothing beats a good parking spot.  slept reasonably well and felt okay and a lot more relaxed than the past two days.  had everything set up ready to go so 30 minutes and out the door.  

into transition and started setting things out.  it was cool but not cold and there was no wind.  a few nervous trips to the porta potty and back to transition for the final check.  a few familiar faces were next to me so had a nice chat before heading out to get the wetsuit on, street bag stowed and down to the swim start.  bumped into brett and flora so another chat and wished them well.

for once my wave was one of the first off which turned out to be a big positive.  i went for a warm up swim and the water was fresh but not super cold.  it was lumpy though.  rolling start and once through the little shore break it was straight out to the first swim buoy. it wasnt going to be a fast swim and locating the buoys was a bit difficult.  it became a matter of just ticking them off.  i had my own space and really no one to draft off but i felt like i was swimming okay and managing the conditions.  had to watch which side i was breathing to so i didnt get a mouth full of water from the chop.  i remembered brett's advice and at the turnaround i stood up in deeper water and ran to shore and around the flag before back in the water for the second part of the 'M" course. i did this hoping to make it easier on my back when getting up from being vertical.   i think the swell and chop became worse as time went by.  it seemed to take ages between buoys but i was passing people and a few that had been near me dropt off.  as usual it felt great to get out of the water and into transition.

to my total surprise as i got near my bike i looked back and spotted two people who would eventually finish second and third in my age group behind me.  while my time wasnt fantastic (seems no one had a fast swim) i had managed fifth in my age group.  my transition to the bike chewed up whatever time advantage i had gained.  i am really committed to making an effort to improve.  i know i have said this before but i REALLY mean it this time.  seriously.

so out onto the bike and a bit of a slow start but eased into it.  two 45k laps.  first one had cross winds on the way out but not too bad.  bit of tail wind on the way back in.  i am so rusty when it comes to racing.  had to really focus on drinking and remembering to eat.  i had my 920 garmin on my wrist so the swim and the whole event got tracked but i also had my garmin 830 on the bike.  this was awesome as i could really track what was going on.  the main goal was to come in under 3 hours.  the second lap was definitely an effort.  my body started to feel uncomfortable and there was a bit of wiggling around although my back felt okay.  the headwind back in really sucked and made it so much harder.  i also had to avoid getting caught up in packs.  my biggest problem i think was the road surface.  i have spent far too much time riding on my nice smooth bike path that i have grown soft and did not handle the the open road at all.  this is going to change.  managed to get in just under three hours and while the second lap was more difficult i managed to come in quicker than the first lap. a few small positives.

i was tired getting my shit together for the run.  i took forever and i think i dropt about 10 places in my age group.  up until the bike transition i was only about 12 minutes from 2nd and 3rd.  but this isnt a swim - bike.  i didnt want to run at all but too many people around watching so i had to pretend to run.

this felt like it took longer than the marathon at taupo.  it was pretty awful.  i averaged 7:30 pace which i guess isnt totally terrible.  at some stages i kinda had fun.  brett ran past me and gave me shit.  for most of the run i was with another girl from my age group.  we kept moving past or behind each other.  i eventually took the lead and came in ahead of her.  i should be able to remember her name.  gave pip a high five.  it was really nice to see familiar faces out on the course.  it has been awhile since i did an event at home.  

anyway i finally managed to drag my sorry arse across the finish line. i think my run time was around 2:45 but the course was 22k instead of 21k !! not happy jan.

so overall a pretty decent day out.  tired afterwards but raced to grab all my gear and bike etc so i could get home and changed for the presentations only to find out when i arrived back they had been cancelled.  another covid outbreak so even the funman team event on the sunday was cancelled.  instead i went and grabbed a pizza, icecream and a beer for dinner.  

had a nice sleep in and packed up and off by 10 am.  so my 10th 70.3 done and dusted.  my fourth may 70.3 event.  not my best and it wasnt my worst and there were some positives but i think overall it was just great being out there doing our thing with friends.  

3 Dams Challenge

i really should have signed up for this event much earlier than now but i guess ironman got in the way and i think i was also worried that it was such a huge event for cyclists i would just make a fool of myself.  not being a cyclist and all.

so after the karri valley debacle i only had one weekend to get in a decent ride before this event.  i did but it wasnt a hills ride and from memory the weather had not been great.  but on the day the weather was perfect. 

as usual i arrived early at champion lakes for the most optimal parking spot.  it was quite chilly out so i was undecided as to whether i would wear my wind breaker.  headed over to the start line and a visit to the toilet.  the only negative about bibs is the time it takes to go to the loo.  decided it would warm up so rode back over to the car and dropt the jacket off.

i loved this event and the course.  i love how you have pit stops for toilet breaks and bottle refills.  it is all very civilised.  i love how lunch is provided and they actually stop the clock while you take a break.  for this alone i will be back again next year.

the first 45k is flat so i managed to find a group at my speed and i stuck to a back wheel the whole way.  the first climb was interesting and once up that it was basically a lot of rolling hills and a big flat section along a dangerous highway and a shit surface.  that was the worst part.  mostly i was on my own but i am always fine with that.  it wasnt too hot and there was no wind to worry about.  the first dam (serpentine dam) was nice and i stopped for a few photos.  i dont know what happened to the second dam (serpentine pipe dam).  after the horror ride along the highway i was pretty glad to reach the lunch pit stop.  this is at the 104k mark so a good time to get a break.  

lunch was an egg salad sandwich and a muffin. i sat under a tree as all the tables and bike racks were full.  my legs felt okay and my back was holding up quite nicely.  i was tired but i felt i was actually going better than expected.  filled up the bottles and headed off without hanging around too long.  with only 30k to go i was feeling pretty confident.  

the last 30k are a nightmare and the most difficult of the day. it is very steep as you head down to canning dam and a nasty corner comes up on you quite quickly so i was glad to have read about it prior.  more photos for the record books and then headed for home.  the climb out is not easy. there was alot of swearing. probably on fresh legs it would be okay but this was just painful.  after that you get flat sections followed by sharp climbs and then comes the worst part.  about 10k from the finish you wind your way up the hardest but shortest climbs of the day. you keep thinking you have reached the top and then another hill appears.  alot of guys were pushing their bikes up the hill.  i stopped at a cafe parking lot and had a very short break before tackling the last section.  just about at the top and the guy next to me throws up his lunch everywhere.  full on vomit launch.  it was disgusting and i totally lost my momentum and had to walk my bike up the last 30 metres.  it was gross and i was disappointed but considering my lack of training i did okay.  it was then all mostly downhill and then a flat 5k to the finish line.  i was pretty happy to get off the bike.  it had gotten quite warm and the body was pretty bloody tired. 

 

i had a couple of really cold drinks before heading back to the car and home.  total time was 5:49 and 1500m elevation.  longest ride and time spent on a bike since new zealand.  definitley more comfortable on the madone roadie than the speed concept trekkie.  overall a pretty good effort and it gave me some confidence.  the legs  felt okay the next day  so straight back into training.

i will be back next year for this event.  i really enjoyed it and the challenge and no matter what happens there will be no pushing the bike next year. 

 

Karri Valley Fail

i dont know if i was looking forward to the actual race or if it was just that i was excited to have a few days off and to be on a road trip.  staying at the pub in pemberton had always been one of my favourite getaways so i know i was looking forward to that.  i had finished this event twice before.  in 2012 and 2013 and both times i finished in around 4.10.  the first time on my road bike in the rain and the second on my trek with tired legs.  knowing the course should be an advantage however it seems it was too long ago and i had forgotten quite a few things.

i was very under done for this but went into as a training session.  the weekend before i went far too hard on my long ride and it had taken me all week to recover.  i also struggled at swimming thursday and left early.  as it turns out i had been carrying a sinus infection for the last six weeks and it had moved into my chest so it was antibiotics for me.

got a few things done on friday morning including dropping cooper dog off at the holiday camp.  as usual he was beyond excited.  i think the break would be good for the two of us and as usual when i picked him up he was exhausted from his camp activities.

on the road by 12 and in pemberton by 4.30pm.  the place had not changed.  unloaded the car and got a few things organised before i headed downstairs to the pub and a pretty decent battered fish and chips.  love country pub food !  also love the race start time of 10am so nice sleep in until 6am.  fell asleep quite early and except for the pillow that was like a log slept like a baby.

20 minute drive to karri valley and a quick check in.  walked around a bit before taking my bike into transition.  did not see anyone i knew.  this race has quite a different feel to perth or busselton races.  it is run by stadium triathlon club and they make up a majority of the competitors.  it certainly did not feel friendly and it was more like i was at interstate race.  hard to describe or even put my finger on it.  at the swim start i was on my own.  when i did speak to people they were all very nice so maybe it was just me being weird.  

the swim is two laps in the fresh water lake.  no sharks to worry about here, only a few ducks and maybe a trout or two.  it was flat and not cold at all.  i went for two caps again and this will become a permanent thing i think.  i also used the vorgee goggles and they were awesome.  and in another first i wore my garmin.  i wish i had done this sooner.  turns out i can swim quite straight but i think the garmin needs calibrating as the distance was way off.  it felt like it was a hard slog.  i was swam over a few times by the dickhead male component you get at every race.  i thought i was doing okay as i was passing people in the different coloured swim caps who started in earlier waves.  but then again maybe they were just really super slow.  

i was pretty happy to get the first lap out of the way.  the back section seemed to take forever but once that was done then it was around the buoy before heading straight into shore.  i was tired as i got out of the water but my back felt okay.  just a little unbalanced from being vertical i think.  found my shoes and took forever to put them on before starting the 600m run uphill through to transition.  i would have been quicker sitting down as i really wasnt bending over very well.  then it took me forever again to get my wetsuit off. it was really embarrassing.  finally got on my bike and headed out where things got really interesting.

while i remembered how hilly this course is i had forgotten about the bad road surface.  probably worse than anything i have ridden on when talking about big chunky blue chip shit. very few sections could be described as smooth or fast.  going down hill on this stuff was awful.  there was also something seriously not right with my bike.  last week end i had noticed the front end felt a little weird and a small rattling sound like the bottle cage holders were loose.  well the front end felt okay but the rattle was huge.  it sounded worse than anything i have ever experienced.  it wasnt too bad when the road was smooth and i was aero but anything else and you could hear me coming from miles away.  i was riding okay but this was really distracting.

i wasnt sure what to do.  i got through the first lap.  the downhill back past the resort was awful. i didnt want to stop and then wasnt sure if i went on the damage would be worse.   it was a very strange experience.  part of the problem was the 120 psi tyre pressure. i didnt think of it until i spoke to the mechanic later and then i just felt stupid and should have known better.  anyway at the turn off out to the second section i called it quits and turned around.  i handed in my timing chip and then took the bike over to the mechanic.  long story short the front end bearings have gone AGAIN but the biggest problem is the bottom bracket has GONE AGAIN.  to be honest i could have kept riding and headed out on the run but i was not in the right head space to deal with this.  it was the excuse i needed to quit.  

i packed up my gear and headed back to the hotel and a hot shower and a beer to drown my sorrows  (first for 2021). 
i felt like a big fat loser but shit happens and it was a good wake up call.  i needed to get me shit together.  especially if i was to cross the finish line at busselton in may.  i also had the 3 dams ride coming up and i didnt want to embarrass my self there as well.

me and the blog

over the last few days i have been reading back over this blog.  from the very beginning to now and it is quite the little journey.  i have written some great race reports, written some absolute bullshit crap and there are things i cannot believe i actually did.  i use to train ALOT.  i am pissed off that i never wrote a race report for sunshine coast 70.3 in september 2019.  it is the only major one that is missing.  a number of posts (when things had slowed down) talk about me making a training comeback and then months go by and nothing happens. i will try not do this again.  i have accepted that things have changed but i havent given up on getting back to something more like my old self.  it is interesting to see how i went from complete triathlon newbie to multiple ironman finisher.  there is some really stupid shit when i thought i was okay at something but in all reality i was total crap.

anyway the reason for this is that i have been debating whether to continue or not with the blog.  i think while some things i wrote are fucking embarrassing, stupid and naive it is part of my journey over the last ten years.  with no one else along for the ride it is also a very good way of remembering and having something to remind me of those experiences.  so if it is staying then i need to contribute more than 2 or 3 posts per year.

i have come to realise that everything that happened from the time that my dad starting showing signs of decline (around 2016) to probably 12 months ago has left a deep and permanent scar.  i am not the same person i was before.  i will never be that person again.  accepting that helps.  on top of all that the world is not the same place and will not be again for a very long time.  

sometimes i dont like talking about personal shit or dwelling on it all too much. even going into too much detail.  when i do talk about it i would rather just keep it simple and then move on.  it is hard to explain.   so after mum and dad passed away within 18 months of each other, being made redundant from a long term job, losing casey dog and jingles the street gang cat and after two toxic jobs that were beyond anything i had ever experienced before i was pretty much head fucked.  to this day i sometimes still struggle with a little bit of what i would imagine is similiar to ptsd.  covid 19 did not help.  before i could handle a reasonable amount of stress and having curve balls thrown at me.  now not so much but the more time passes the easier it gets and consistent training has been the best thing for me although a catch 22 situation.

one of my current and long term problems is my back.  now that i have read over this blog i didnt realise just how much pain my back has given me and just how painful it has been over a long period of time and i just took it as being one of those things.  well this time it was far worse and i probably injured it (bulging discs) and aggravated an existing issue (facet joint arthropathy) with  gardening and painting to the extreme.  bad habits when it comes to lifting and bending etc certainly did not help.  being given advice from a physio that it is just old age and there is nothing you can do about it did not help.  so i got better help, had an mri then saw a good sports medicine doctor and life has improved.  pain makes life very miserable.  there are still some things that need to be into place to manage it but at least being aware of the what the problem is makes it so much easier to find a solution. coming to accept a permanent injury as such is difficult.  even now i struggle to understand that i might have limitations or the seriousness of it all.  it is really weird.  

this year it is 10 years swimming with swim smooth.  that is a lot of laps at claremont pool and a lot of driving.  swimming actually aggravates my back the most.  it is the turning and twisting thing at the end of each lap.  if i was slow turning before now i am like the titanic.  anyway the last month has been very consistent and i am getting back to where i was before the worst of the back pain.  lets hope it continues. 😎