ITU Triathlon World Champs Vancouver 2008

In many ways I felt more prepared for this race than any other. I had my ten week training program prior to the event. Much to many of my friends surprise I decided to take this event seriously. I wanted do my best for myself as an athlete who has been playing around with this sport for 3 years and also for my sponsor Bonitas who had supported me financially to allow me to take part in this race.

I did all my sessions to the max, had early nights, quit alcohol and got some technique training to improve my swim stroke. I did what my budget would allow with regards to equipment – I invested in cycling shoes with one strap and I had my set up done professionally – I also had a friend loan me his carbon fiber tri-bars – which I even ended up having to cut shorter.I raced all the races in the build up and I was quite competitive on the training field.

I got all the advice to best help me deal with my flight and jet-lag. In the week leading up to the race I did as little as possible – turning down shopping and dinner opportunities and just resting and stretching and tapering. I had a massage and we also had a team chiropractor who I consulted.

I went to the woman’s breakfast where we were promised an inspirational talker and pro athlete and to be guided through the course in the afternoon. She could not make it so we had some other women speak and another athlete showed us through both the bike and the run course.

The run route sounded confusing consisting of 3 fingers broken up into different laps…which were different for the sprint and Olympic race. This was explained to us again at our team breakfast the day prior to the race. I swam twice braving the icy waters as the temperatures plummeted. We missed out on our much awaited parade of nations due to cold and wet weather and we were also told that our swim was being shortened due to the extreme cold and athletes had already been diagnosed with hyperthermia in the sprint distance.

On the morning there was much talk of keeping warm and saving heat – I personally do not feel the cold but was also influenced by the hype thus taping up my shoes and purchasing arm warmers.

Standing on the beach I confirmed the run laps and the lady beside me said 2 and 1. My swim felt very long for the distance and towards the end I realized what bad conditions we were experiencing – I have had far worse conditions but was aware of quite large rolling waves and the thought did cross my mind that I would hate to be smashed into the rocks so I swam wide. (The swim was cancelled after we got out due to dangerous conditions – the men… did a Duathlon)

On exiting my swim I started my stop watch I turned to see how many athletes were behind me and those left looked like they were struggling in the water. I got to my bike and took quite some time putting my arm warmers on thinking how silly it had been to upgrade my shoes and now due to the cold conditions I was losing time in transition anyway.

I got onto the bike and tried to get a comfortable rhythm – I warmed up quite quickly and my arm warmers were bunched around my wrist. I raced my heart out aware of my disadvantage on the bike leg – my bike – I must admit I did feel intimidated by all the sparkle and wheels. My room mate’s wheels alone were worth double the value of my bike. I am on an aluminum road bike with standard wheels – one of my guy team mates also jokingly remarked that my equipment was not up to scratch for a world class event. I biked a 1.13 and for me that is satisfactory.

I thought I had gone through the motions of my second transition when I was stopped to remove my helmet on the way out of transition. My run is my stronger of the three disciplines where I usually gain some advantage. There were a couple of great runners that passed me but I was pacing well and getting stronger into the run.

The route was confusing – the first leg that I had understood we would only pass once we passed twice. Unlike the elites we had all started according to our age slots and doing laps the bunches were very mixed. On my second lap out a lady with my age category passed me and ran towards the finish. I asked the marshal where to go – he asked how many times I had seen him and I confirmed twice – he sent me towards the finish line as I grew closer I tried to deduct my bike time and realized that my run time was looking too short for a ten kilometer – I was confused if I had run really quick then turning would add more time to a brilliant result – however if I had been sent off early every step toward the finish line was a step way from my final loop. I stood still and I jumped on the spot like a frustrated child. Why now! I was all the way in Canada and feeling great why now! I ran back to the marshal and explained that my time looked too quick to be finished and he sent me back on the course and apologized sympathetically.

On this last lap I felt rage.. I had to pass some ladies that I had previously passed and when every second counts you do not want to be given incorrect information. I finished with a total run time of 45 minutes - I am not sure what time I lost on the detour but accepted my fate.

I realized later that I was one of the lucky ones – there had been some other athletes that had finished a lap short unaware and been disqualified with a DNF – I would rather have the frustration of a longer run than no result.

I wanted to get my official splits from the site but it seems that they are incorrect and are being double checked – another competitor also described a number of athletes doing short laps on the bike and run etc. It is a pity they did not hand out elastics on the run and possibly even the bike. It was actually quite a simple route but think too much detail was put into the description which made it misleading.

I will need to confirm my result but it was last listed as 1.28 if I remember correctly and I was in the early 60’s in a category of over 80… I was hoping to do that kind of time with the full distance swim.

Was I happy with my result… hmm – I would have liked to have done a little better – well, a lot better, I would have loved to have won!!! and I think that is an indication of my being competitive and think this will motivate me to improve with every race. This was my first experience at triathlon worlds and I did experience some difficulties with the run laps. So for now I say it was fine.

Thanks Bonitas Medical Fund it has been a great experience and I have loved every moment!

This entry was posted on Wednesday, June 18th, 2008 at 9:47 am and is filed under Bonitas Girls Triathlon Team, Bonitas Medical Fund, Bonitas girls, ITU World Champs, Nicola Lockhart, Vancouver. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.