My Experience in the Busselton 70.3 Half Ironman

My first blog I thought would be an appropriate opportunity to give you a little insight into my thoughts after my first race - Busselton 70.3 Half Ironman - and how much of a mental drain it was before I'd even started to physically race.

Coming down onto the beach to start the race was a daunting experience, nerves are high and everyone is dying to start their race. The scenery is beautiful, perfectly flat clear water, but all I can think about is the mental battle and pain I am about to experience in the hours to come. After what seems like forever waiting the race begins. It is a battle to break through the hundreds of hands and legs franticly splashing through the water but once I break through the pack, the swim seemed to go relatively quickly. Running out of the water after the swim is a struggle, as I try to get one gummy leg out in front of the other, it's a relief to make it into transition without a fall.

One down, two to go.

The start of the bike was slightly depressing as I cycled passed the 3.5km leg of the run. The fact that you will be running along there 6 times in a few hours hits home. I had to quickly push this thought out of my mind and focus on the bike. I knew the run would be my weakest leg as I had been battling a foot injury for the six weeks prior to the race and hadn't been able to train for the run. I knew I had to push myself in the bike leg to get the best advantage I could.

The ride was thoroughly enjoyable, besides the memory filling up on my Garmin half way through the bike course forcing me complete the rest of the race by feel. Again I ungracefully entered the transition area with one bike shoe on - I couldn’t manage to get them both off, it is hard to practise transitions on a wind trainer. I obviously have some fine tuning to do.

Two down, one to go.

The run was a struggle from the start as predicted, my watch wasn’t working so I picked a guy that was running at a reasonable pace and kept up with him. This tactic was working well, he pushed me through a number of walls but by the third lap I couldn’t hold him any longer. This is when the wheels truly came off and to keep one foot ahead of the other was a serious battle, which I almost lost running down the finishing chute.

For me, I got a huge boost from the crowd and the other club members that were racing along side me, whether it was a slight nod of the head or a small hand gesture in acknowledgement, it was good to know you had companions out there that were going through the exact same thing as you.

All in all for my second Half Ironman I couldn’t have picked a better race. The course, competitors and event organisation were amazing. From entering the transition at 6am to stumbling out of the function tent at 10pm, stumbling due to both post-race legs and extremely low tolerance for alcohol, I thoroughly enjoyed the day and learnt a great deal about myself and triathlon as a sport.

Although I made my fiance and my Dad promise immediately after the race that they would never let me compete in another triathlon, I can't wait for the next one and have truly fallen for the sport

#703 #bike #run #halfironman