Sunshine Coast Ironman 70.3 - You Win Some, You Lose Some

It's been close to two weeks since Sunshine Coast Ironman 70.3 and a lot has happened since then but one thing that hasn't happened yet is me publishing a race report. I've certainly spent more than my fair share of time going over my result and I've actually had a race report ready to post for a couple of days. Each time I've been prepared to post it online I give it one final proof read and to be completely honest, I just haven't liked what I've read. To write an interesting race report is actually a lot more difficult than most will give it credit for and every time I read through it, I found it to be a boring account of my race and something that I wasn't even interested in reading.

I really enjoy writing race reports and find that more often than not I can find a way to put a more entertaining spin on things than just a swim, bike and run. My race at Sunshine Coast last weekend can be summed up in one paragraph and after a lot of deliberation, that is what I've decided to do. We all have bad races from time to time and I think the way we deal with those results and bounce back from them make a much better story than what your standard race report ever will.

It's been close to two years since I've been on the start line of a professional Ironman 70.3 event but Sunshine Coast Ironman 70.3 was my time to bring that drought to an end. I went in to the weekend feeling good and ready to race but there was also some doubt and a feeling that I was slightly underdone. I knew the only way to confirm those thoughts and get a proper gauge of where I was at was by racing. My winter training had been pretty disappointing for a number of reasons but I'd seen the light at the end of the tunnel and the changes that were made in the month prior to this race and the people that I have around me lead me to believe that there is a lot more to come for the rest of this year

The weekend itself came around with very few hiccups and before I knew what was happening the all too familiar race weekend feels were back and to be honest I couldn't have been happier to be involved in it again.

As the gun went off we all attacked the beach start and set about getting to the swim can first. I got what I thought was a really good start and was within the first handful of athletes around that can but shortly after found myself drifting off the back of the front group. I didn't feel like the pace was quick and when you feel yourself drop off that front group, you know the rest of the day will involve a lot of chasing.

Out on the bike, I just never felt as though I could settle in to a pace. Racing is never supposed to be easy but for some reason this race felt different. Shortly after the 45km mark I found myself dropping off the back of the group I was with and spending the remaining 45km feeling very lonely and dejected. It was a mental battle just to get to the finish line.

My head space was pretty negative as I racked my bike and started the half marathon but I knew finishing was a far better outcome than not. I spent the majority of the run in a state of frustration and disbelief that after a ride I was so disappointed with, I seemed to be running so freely. I didn't make up too many places throughout the run but did cross the finish line able to take away some positives from an otherwise disappointing performance.

So what do you do after a performance that you believe is well below your potential? I think the number one thing is to be honest with yourself and I've definitely done that since this race. Looking back, I knew I was underdone going in to this race and I also knew that my winter training was not what I'd wanted. It didn't matter how good the past month had been, when you are racing the best you need to be at your best and I wasn't on race day. I've had some honest discussions with my coach, my family and a lot of friends about my performance in this race and each time I've discovered something else that I can implement to avoid the same thing happening again.

"I learn from my mistakes. It's a very painful way to learn, but without pain, the old saying is, there's no gain." ~Johnny Cash

Disappointment is inevitable and to be completely honest after crossing the finish line I wanted to quickly disappear so I didn't have to talk about the performance. I thought a top 10 result was achievable but when I finished 18th I knew I'd fallen well short of that goal. I think it was two days after the race that I had a new plan in place for the next block of training and racing and that excited me - thinking about what's to come rather than what's been and gone is a big motivating factor. From the moment I rang my coach to discuss the new plan, I haven't even thought about the disappointment of the race, only the lessons I've learnt from it.

"If 'Plan A' doesn't work, the alphabet has 25 more letters - 204 if you're in Japan." ~Claire Cook

With every visit to physios, podiatrists and specialists, those plans have changed and there have been a lot of visits in the past two weeks! I'm currently sitting here staring down the prospect of a month wearing a moon boot because of a stress fracture in my foot. This can be enough to destroy that motivation in a lot of individuals and it certainly hasn't been easy but things could be a lot worse. I wouldn't still be so positive and optimistic if it wasn't for the people that I've surrounded myself with. I often joke with my family that I'm not a people person and I enjoy my own company more than that of others so it has been a big change lately and certainly one for the better. From the moment I crossed the finish line, I've had a very big support network to discuss my race, enjoy a few drinks, spend down time with, discuss my injury and motivate each other. In fact last weekend I made the decision to head out and spectate at a race an to have the opportunity to cheer on a lot of those who had cheered me on the previous weekend and spend time with others on the side line was not only great fun but really motivating.

"Surround yourself with people who push you, who challenge you, who make you laugh, who make you better and who make you happy." ~anonymous

The result at Sunshine Coast Ironman 70.3 may not have been what I was after and in the short two weeks since that race, I've been thrown a few curve balls but nothing I haven't taken in my stride and looked to overcome and use in my advantage. Races that we don't achieve our goal in are inevitable but being able to use that experience to fuel the fire for the next race is what really matters.

"There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure." ~Colin Powell