Thursday, February 25, 2016

Challenge Wanaka - NOT "just a race!"

Well Challenge Wanaka didn't turn out like any of the scenarios that played out in my head!
I had a pretty good build up with 2 good months back training, with 3 little races thrown in.  The Lake Hayes sprint tri, Cromwell sprint tri and the Wanaka Sovereign Olympic distance tri coming 3rd in all 3.  I didn't think i had the fitness for a full ironman yet leading in to the race but i knew i had more than 100% passion and motivation to get to the start and finish line of Challenge Wanaka.
With Smashfest Queen, Profile Design and Blue Seventy recently coming on board i knew i had the best of the best gear and everything had been feeling great in training.
(Photo - Hillary, Smashfest Queen)

(Photo - Hillary, Smashfest Queen)

So race morning started off by waking up to the sound of gale force winds.  I had a smile on my face and thought the harder the day the better i would probably be able to race.  With tough weather conditions i knew i wouldn't be worried so much with what speed i was doing, as i would be trying to race strong rather than fast.  Lining up for the swim we were all trying to work out where to go as the big corner buoys kept shifting off course.  While the team tried to sort out the swim course we had a 10-15min delayed start.  I wasn't bothered.  It was cold and windy but i knew we would sure enough be off soon.  As the gun went off i stumbled and fell over while everyone else was running in to the water.  How embarrassing!  As if i needed to give anyone a head start.  I remember being at the very back of the field until the first turn buoy.  Towards the end of the first lap i caught a group of 3, 2 pro females and a male.  Instead of settling in behind them silly me thought i was swimming faster and knew better and went around them.  Well i went way off course and they left me for dust.

Out on to the bike the fun was about to begin.  Hillary was on the sidelines letting me know i was in 8th place and there were 2girls within 90secs.  Stupid me, those were the 2 that i could of started the bike with if i had swam a better course.  I set off to see who i could pull in.  It didn't take me too long to pass Rachel and Julia on the way out to hospital flat.  I was surprised as i thought i was riding the slowest i had even ridden out there and then was even more surprised to turn in to what felt like a head wind on the way back.  I knew Simone was behind me riding like she stole it but i was having fun and the thought of her catching me didn't worry me as if it wasn't on the ride she always mows me down on the run.  We caught up to April and Anna up the hills out the back of Hawea.  Simone had passed me but i cheekily passed her back in the big ring up the hill.  It was short lived as she motored past me again with the tail wind surging us along.  The windier it got the further i seemed to be getting away from the girls behind.  The wind was brutal with the cross winds especially.  Around 80-90km i realised Gina had pulled out and i was now in 4th place.  From here i couldn't see me getting any further up the field so i was determined to keep ahead of the girls behind and push until the end!
(Photo - Steph, Witsup.com)

My end was to come much sooner than i thought.  Around 135km i went through a wee dip in the road and immediately thought my back tyre had gone down.  I kept riding for about a km then realised it was going down quickly.  I hopped off and stayed calm until i pulled out my spare tube and saw it was an 80mm.  I had no idea how i had the wrong one.  Before i even put it on i knew that the valve would barely go through the hole as my back wheel was an 808.  I tried anyway, but when i tried to put the gas in it just went in to the atmosphere.  People yelled out that i was now in 3rd!  It didn't make sense to me but i hadn't realised that Simone had had a nasty crash.  Standing there waiting for a mechanic i felt helpless but i never had a thought of pulling out even after every other girl passed by while i was standing on the side of the road.  It seemed such a long time before the next girl behind me went past me on the side of the road which made it even more gut wrenching.  Had i had the right gear i would of changed it and been back riding without my position even changing.  Once the mechanics came and i realised none of their tubes would reach through either, nor would my valve extenders work on their tubes i started to realise my day might be over.  I couldn't believe it :(  Well over 30mins had passed by and there was nothing more the mechanics could do.  It was a slow trip back in the van to the finish line.
(Witsup.com)


It was a very weird feeling putting the bike on the car and driving home.  My body didn't feel like it had just been racing all morning.  Watching the girls head out on the run and wishing so much that i had been able to go out and run the marathon.  Even though i was out of the race i had to try and be grateful that it was only a mechanical that made me DNF.  Poor Simone and Alyssa both ended up in hospital as a result of their crashes.

(Photo - Hillary, Smashfest Queen)


What came next was having to explain to everyone what happened.  Having to tell my sad tale over and over that i stupidly grabbed the wrong spare tube and it wasn't long enough.  My day was over because of a $10 tube.  Its a hard pill to swallow but one that has to be done so that i can move forward and prepare for the next race :)
One thing people kept saying to me was don't worry "its just a race".  It honestly wasn't though
- Challenge Wanaka was my first iron distance race, this year was the 10th anniversary and it was my first ironman back after having Anja 5months ago
- It was a race that for the last 2months i had been training hard for and putting all of my energy towards
- It was many hours of dragging Anja out running with me, finding people to look after her, and many times having to say goodbye to her when i headed out the door training
- It was also the reason i made Glen take time off work every week so that i could get a longish ride in, and many other times the staff putting up with her at his work
I am so grateful to all the Sponsors, supporters, friends and family that helped with getting me to the start line of Challenge Wanaka.  It will never be forgotten as to me it was never just a race and i will be back :)
To all my friends and family that helped look after Anja, and accommodate Glen, Anja and i both over summer and during Challenge Wanaka i am forever grateful.

To Victoria and her team at Challenge Wanaka, thank you SO much for welcoming me back.  It is truly my favorite race of all time.  Those who say its tough and slow need to harden up.  Its a spectacular course :)  I loved every moment i was out there and was very envious of those who got to finish at whatever hour they did.

Steph at Witsup.  You do an amazing job for promoting women and triathlon.  Was great seeing you out there.  Thanks for the snaps :)

Huge thank you to my sponsors
My primary partner sponsor NEW WORLD DUNEDIN CENTRAL (CENTRE CITY)

Cycleworld Dunedin
Profile Design
Smashfest Queen
Kinetic Health
Aloe Up Sun and Skincare

and supporters
Specialized, Blue Seventy, New Balance and GU energy

Also to Keegan at Vo2coach

These businesses allow me to continue doing what i love.  Always grateful.


Now to plan for the next one…and remember to ALWAYS double check my gear!

Cheers
Tams