My preparation for Bintan 70.3 was interesting!
After Challenge Roth I had a weeks break in Europe, then a week off as I was unwell, leaving me with a 3 week block and then taper week. My first week back felt good and I was happy to be back into training.
Unfortunately my legs did not agree so much on the run and I found myself water running for the remainder of the build into Bintan 70.3.
With Ruth back in Perth on taper week I found myself seeing her for a couple of appointments and a check and prep before leaving Friday night on a late night flight to Singapore.
I was excited to be off to race again with Andy and also the support of Mum and Dad. A midnight taxi to our accommodation and we were all a little worried when we arrived at the Singapore Yacht Club. But we just needed a place to sleep before having to leave to catch an early ferry to Bintan so it served its purpose!
We arrived at the Angsana Hotel around midday on Saturday and found ourselves assembling my bike around the pool with 5 other athletes who had travelled from Perth.
This was followed by a quick bike before managing to check in to our rooms at 2.00pm, and then catching the bus to transition to register and drop off the bikes. It was hot, but exactly what I had expected. We stayed for the athlete dinner but left rather quickly as I still needed to pack my bags and ensure I had all my gear ready to go for the morning. I was fairly organised and had this all ready to go with my hair braided and in bed by 8.00pm.
My alarm went at 4.00am, but I was awake well before then. I had had a night of interrupted sleep but I just got up and got ready.
It was a bit of a wild ride on the bus to the race start and I felt really nervous. I had been pretty relaxed leading into this race. I wasn't too worried as I had just completed an Iron distance race. I think I had become so relaxed I forgot I was racing. I was pretty flustered in transition and to ad to this the power went out and transition became a whole lot darker! I was fine though as I had most of my stuff already sorted!
The tide was well and truly out by a good 200m! The female Age Groupers were the 4th wave to start. We walked out 200m and started at the buoys. I had an ok start. There was a small pack that lead off the front, then me! I found it difficult coming back in. I swam as far as possible, before running through the knee deep water. Into T1.
Swim - 29.46
Off onto the bike. Straight away my heart sunk. I didn't feel strong and I had nothing to push! This was going to be a long day I thought to myself. The start of the bike was slightly different to last year, but the remaining 75 odd km's were the same, so I knew exactly what I was in for. In all honesty I struggled. I struggled to push on the flats, I struggled up the hills. And the many little inclines I might add!
But I tried to remain positive and stuck to my nutrition plan which is the only thing that I probably nailed through out the race! Knowing where I was going was a positive and although it was a slower pace than usual the ride did seam to go fairly quickly. Coming into transition Andy, Mum and Dad were there waiting for me.
Bike - 2.44.17
A quick chat in transition and then off onto the run. The unknown. But to me I has happy with what seemed like a more reasonable 21km! The first few km's into the run and it was hot. The run course was exposed. Open to the heat and no hiding from it. I took on plenty of water, ice and sponges at every chance I could to remain cool. You could see the 7km loop and where you were heading, where your competition was, where the next aid station was. You could also clearly see everyones body language and it didn't look positive, unless you were Gina Crawford or Caitlin Snow who motored past, with Caitlin even providing some words of encouragement to me. By the end of the first lap I saw my support. I stopped and walked! I told Andy I had nothing, nothing to keep running and certainly no speed. He told me to remain positive and that everyone was feeling the same. I then reached mum and dad. Dad reminded me my goal - to get a spot to the 2016 World Championships. I told him I didn't care, but then once I verbally got rid of the negativity I continued to run. I didn't look too much at my watch as it was honestly a little depressing! But I was still passing may age group athletes and rarely being passed so I took this on as a very positive result.
Finally I was on my last lap. I ran as hard as I could to that finish line and was exhausted when crossing the line. It took me a good few minutes to get my breath back. Into the ice bath (or melted ice water) to cool off then wait to support the other GKEndurance and Perth athletes home.
Run - 1.41.31
It was a long wait from crossing the line at 11.15am, for the awards at 1.30pm and then roll down to the 70.3 World Championships for 2016. I was in the shade but hot. We went to the beach to cool off and I tried to drink plenty of electrolytes to stay hydrated, or mostly replace what I had lost.
I also grabbed a chocolate milk, at the time it sounded like a great idea but in the words of Anchorman - 'So hot. Milk was a BAD choice'!
My over all time of 4.59.24, achieved 1st place in the Female 25-26 AG, 3rd Female Age Grouper and 10th Female Overall. I accepted my spot to the 2016 70.3 World Championships held in Mooloolaba, Queensland.
I am pleased with what I achieved over the weekend but am disappointed in the individual times. I have since had a little time to have a look at the results comparatively and have learnt I can not compare. Last year I raced Bintan leading into and Ironman, this year, after one.
I am always learning and lots to take away from this weekend! I did enjoy this race, not so much at the time, but now looking back and are so ever grateful for the support of Andy, Mum and Dad. And off course to Kate Bevilaqua, Guy Crawford, Ruth Chang and the Perth crew who also made it over. We had the best time away with the GKEndurance crew and fellow Fremantle Triathlon Club members and this makes the racing even more enjoyable!
After Challenge Roth I had a weeks break in Europe, then a week off as I was unwell, leaving me with a 3 week block and then taper week. My first week back felt good and I was happy to be back into training.
Unfortunately my legs did not agree so much on the run and I found myself water running for the remainder of the build into Bintan 70.3.
With Ruth back in Perth on taper week I found myself seeing her for a couple of appointments and a check and prep before leaving Friday night on a late night flight to Singapore.
I was excited to be off to race again with Andy and also the support of Mum and Dad. A midnight taxi to our accommodation and we were all a little worried when we arrived at the Singapore Yacht Club. But we just needed a place to sleep before having to leave to catch an early ferry to Bintan so it served its purpose!
We arrived at the Angsana Hotel around midday on Saturday and found ourselves assembling my bike around the pool with 5 other athletes who had travelled from Perth.
This was followed by a quick bike before managing to check in to our rooms at 2.00pm, and then catching the bus to transition to register and drop off the bikes. It was hot, but exactly what I had expected. We stayed for the athlete dinner but left rather quickly as I still needed to pack my bags and ensure I had all my gear ready to go for the morning. I was fairly organised and had this all ready to go with my hair braided and in bed by 8.00pm.
My alarm went at 4.00am, but I was awake well before then. I had had a night of interrupted sleep but I just got up and got ready.
It was a bit of a wild ride on the bus to the race start and I felt really nervous. I had been pretty relaxed leading into this race. I wasn't too worried as I had just completed an Iron distance race. I think I had become so relaxed I forgot I was racing. I was pretty flustered in transition and to ad to this the power went out and transition became a whole lot darker! I was fine though as I had most of my stuff already sorted!
The tide was well and truly out by a good 200m! The female Age Groupers were the 4th wave to start. We walked out 200m and started at the buoys. I had an ok start. There was a small pack that lead off the front, then me! I found it difficult coming back in. I swam as far as possible, before running through the knee deep water. Into T1.
Swim - 29.46
Off onto the bike. Straight away my heart sunk. I didn't feel strong and I had nothing to push! This was going to be a long day I thought to myself. The start of the bike was slightly different to last year, but the remaining 75 odd km's were the same, so I knew exactly what I was in for. In all honesty I struggled. I struggled to push on the flats, I struggled up the hills. And the many little inclines I might add!
But I tried to remain positive and stuck to my nutrition plan which is the only thing that I probably nailed through out the race! Knowing where I was going was a positive and although it was a slower pace than usual the ride did seam to go fairly quickly. Coming into transition Andy, Mum and Dad were there waiting for me.
Bike - 2.44.17
A quick chat in transition and then off onto the run. The unknown. But to me I has happy with what seemed like a more reasonable 21km! The first few km's into the run and it was hot. The run course was exposed. Open to the heat and no hiding from it. I took on plenty of water, ice and sponges at every chance I could to remain cool. You could see the 7km loop and where you were heading, where your competition was, where the next aid station was. You could also clearly see everyones body language and it didn't look positive, unless you were Gina Crawford or Caitlin Snow who motored past, with Caitlin even providing some words of encouragement to me. By the end of the first lap I saw my support. I stopped and walked! I told Andy I had nothing, nothing to keep running and certainly no speed. He told me to remain positive and that everyone was feeling the same. I then reached mum and dad. Dad reminded me my goal - to get a spot to the 2016 World Championships. I told him I didn't care, but then once I verbally got rid of the negativity I continued to run. I didn't look too much at my watch as it was honestly a little depressing! But I was still passing may age group athletes and rarely being passed so I took this on as a very positive result.
Finally I was on my last lap. I ran as hard as I could to that finish line and was exhausted when crossing the line. It took me a good few minutes to get my breath back. Into the ice bath (or melted ice water) to cool off then wait to support the other GKEndurance and Perth athletes home.
Run - 1.41.31
It was a long wait from crossing the line at 11.15am, for the awards at 1.30pm and then roll down to the 70.3 World Championships for 2016. I was in the shade but hot. We went to the beach to cool off and I tried to drink plenty of electrolytes to stay hydrated, or mostly replace what I had lost.
I also grabbed a chocolate milk, at the time it sounded like a great idea but in the words of Anchorman - 'So hot. Milk was a BAD choice'!
My over all time of 4.59.24, achieved 1st place in the Female 25-26 AG, 3rd Female Age Grouper and 10th Female Overall. I accepted my spot to the 2016 70.3 World Championships held in Mooloolaba, Queensland.
I am pleased with what I achieved over the weekend but am disappointed in the individual times. I have since had a little time to have a look at the results comparatively and have learnt I can not compare. Last year I raced Bintan leading into and Ironman, this year, after one.
I am always learning and lots to take away from this weekend! I did enjoy this race, not so much at the time, but now looking back and are so ever grateful for the support of Andy, Mum and Dad. And off course to Kate Bevilaqua, Guy Crawford, Ruth Chang and the Perth crew who also made it over. We had the best time away with the GKEndurance crew and fellow Fremantle Triathlon Club members and this makes the racing even more enjoyable!
