I just finished 3rd in the Ironman 70.3 Vineman
tri today up in Sonoma Valley. It was a tough race but I am pleased with the
result and I am looking forward to a couple easy weeks before the build up
towards the world champs in Las Vegas begins.
Kelly and I spent the last 2 weeks up in Portland, Oregon.
The training up there was great and it was good to have a good friend of mine,
Chris Boudreaux up there to smack out the miles and the hard sessions with.
Looking back I am somewhat surprised with the amount of work we managed to do
in the short time between these past 2 races. Aside from a couple appearances
at the local bike shop “Athletes Lounge” the big thing to report back with was
the amazing food. Both of us expanded our taste buds horizons and had an
absolutely amazing time in the NorthWest. I would like to say I managed to
execute self-control and not over indulge in the amazing food… but I would be
lying.
Race day rolled around and while I felt I had not recovered
and absorbed the past 2 weeks training as much as I would have liked I managed
to get stuck in and take out of the race what I needed to.
The pace was hot in the swim and a small bunch of 7 of us
formed going out onto the bike, again for 5miles the pace was on, Tim Don, Luke
Bell and Paul Matthews all trying to stretch it out. About a mile later Bevan
Doherty made a move that couldn’t have been any more perfect for his race. He
attacked and basically road away from the group and held onto that lead to win
the race. I tried a couple times to get
the group working to close the gap but it seemed everyone was content with
sitting in. Something I still can’t understand as we had a couple minutes on
Gambles and Reed, 2 of the stronger runners in the sport and Bevan was riding
away basically to take the title without contention. I guess they were happy
with finishing outside of the money.
I stuck to my race plan and soon Gambles and Reed caught us,
we eventually got off the bike 2.5minutes down on Bevan and set off on a mad
chase. I was 1st out of
transition with Reed hot on my heels, we ran through the 1st mile in
5minutes (which is quick) but soon settled down to about 5:25 pace. Both of us
kept pushing the pace trying to take as much time as we could. At 6 miles we
had made up almost 1minute. Bevan showed his class by holding that time
difference even for the rest of the race and Gambles was equally as classy,
after setting out at his even tempo he was now closing the gap to us. The last
2 miles was a dogfight with Reed and I doing everything we could to hold off
the fast approaching Gambles. We did so but I had nothing left in the tank to
react to Reeds kick with 200meters to go. I would be content with 3rd place
today and I am happy with where my form and fitness is leading into the final
build up to the Ironman 70.3 world champs in 8 weeks time in Las Vegas.
Back to NZ for a couple weeks of R&R, I am looking
forward to sleeping in my new Tempurpedic bed and hanging out with friends. But
firstly a quick detour to Queenstown for the filming of a new Kelloggs
Nutri-Grain commercial. Watch this space…
