World Championships Final Gold Coast
7 October 2009
Well the inaugural year of the World Championship series is done and dusted!!
The final of the World championship was held last weekend on the Gold Coast. As you all know, heading into the race I was sitting third on the world rankings and in some great shape to try to push for the top. It had been an interesting year for everyone under the new format. Rather than the one of World Championship we had races around the world as part of a series. So getting that balance right during the year was always going to be the biggest issue for most athletes. The final on the Gold Coast was always going to be one of the hardest races of the year. Some of the guys were out of the overall series early, and thus had been focusing on this race more directly. While others would be scraping it out for those vital points for the overall series ranking.
After the last round in Yokohama I knew I was in very good shape. The trick for me was going to be how to hold onto it and no that level was good enough. Or do we push for that little bit extra which is what we both knew was needed to win it all! Both Chris and myself knew this would be the hardest part of the year for both of us. Right from the start we identified this. Its easy to maintain a slow build up if your not racing and traveling all over the world. But to race continually at this high level, travel and be able to complete big training blocks. Would only be possible with very good management.
I’d really felt we had got it right all the way up until I arrived in Australia 3 weeks before the Gold Coast. I did everything we set out to do in those important weeks but my recovery time between sessions was starting to lengthen. Unfortunately these things normally only pop up when you've done a hard session. I sat down with Chris after a key session, which went really well. We both decided I needed to watch myself very carefully from that point on because I was right on the edge. The days after I really started to struggle though. I felt very lethargic when I wasn't training, but when I was moving I felt pretty good! Catch 22… The guessing games had begun.
I pretty much shut up shop training wise 12 days out. I wanted and needed to give my body every chance of freshening up as much as it could before the big race. I had seen a local Doc and he had checked my bloods and results were not flash but there was still a chance with some proper rest. Timing is everything in this sport and I was cutting it very close. But we both knew these days to be on the top of the dias it takes just that little more. It started to feel like it was just going to be an on the day feeling for me, and I hoped it would go my way come race day.
Race day came and as I headed down to the race site with the rest of the kiwi boys things felt good. I knew the real test would come on the run there was no doubt of that but If I get there anything could happen so I was focused my family and friends were all here to watch me and it was game on. Positive thinking positive outcomes…
The swim felt great and I was firmly in the front group right from the get go. The one thing that has never changed this year has been my swim performance. Andrew and me have really worked hard to increase me level, and make me part of the front group every-time I race. One of the biggest changes in the sport this year apart from the insane running has been the need to be in the front group out of the water has all the best runners in the sport now are also the best swimmers. So I was again really pleased to be out of the water in contact with the front.
The bike was more than likely going to be fairly uneventful. No hills and not many corners. There was a lot of pace on early in the piece but it all came together pretty quickly. A few boys slipped off the front as the 40k came to a close to grab some vital seconds, but all the big names watched each other and stayed put in the main group.
A big part of our races this year has been to be into transition 2 at the front of the pack, and then get out early. I’ve been one of the best at this throughout my career, but today was not my day. I tried to slip through on the inside before the last corners, but a touch of wheels in front of me caused a reaction in the field and I got shuffled back. I racked my bike mid pack and then wrestled to get my shoes on and get running as fast as I could. I could see guys running out already in the corner of my eye. It was going to be real hard to catch up from here. The first Ks were nothing short of insanely fast! It’s amazing how this sport evolves so quickly at the moment. If you are not at the front of affairs after 1k! It’s seems almost an impossible task to get back to the front with the speed we are running now. I really struggled with the early fast pace, before the end of first lap of 2.5k was up It was clear I was not going to be at the front today. I tried to find some rhythm and hang on to the big group that was running for between 4th and 15th at the time. But even then I found myself over striding to stop myself losing contact with them. It was not the position Id thought I would have been in before the race that’s for sure. After the feeling I had in Yokohama I was only looking forward not to be here battling to be in any battle.
I found my feet a bit better after 6k, but I had been dropped from the group so was running at my own pace. I was also losing time with every step so this wasn't good either. I fought the whole way ( and it was a fight) and ended up crossing the line in 17th place. It was unfortunately my worst result of the year during the World Championship series. It was not a terrible race or a complete blowout! I still ran around 30mins and change. But it was not what I was looking for in the last weeks. If you are a little bit off in this game now, it will hurt you real bad!!
I don’t think I could have foreseen what happened between Yokohama and the Gold Coast but one thing is for sure, we wont let it happen again. Chris always said from the start we would learn more about each other every day by doing! If we get it right or wrong, we will have learnt something for the future. It’s even harder when you are someone like me who wants things to happen today, or at least tomorrow! But I understand these situations sometimes have to happen for the better, it’s just a shame it happened when it did.
Not to worry there is always a bright side you what I’m like... 6 World Championship races this year a 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 7th, 9th and a 17th (boo-hoo...) Overall I finished the year 8th on the World rankings list from the World Championship series races. And then 3rd on the ITU World rankings list. This ranking list also takes into consideration World cups, where I raced two this season and was 2nd and 4th. Lastly any ITU international events around the world.
I’m not sure if my racing season is over yet this year in the triathlon world anyway. Ill be sitting down with Chris and will work through some options once we get some more results back from the doctor about my health. I feel really motivated still in my head for the season. But it will be no good for anyone if my body is not willing. So once I have some feedback I'll let you all know what the end of the season could hold for me.
For now it’s off to Texas to keep an eye on my mate who's training for the Ironman World Championship in under a month in Kona Hawaii. I’m sure it will be a lot of fun and are really looking forward to it as I’ve never been there before to watch the race. Then it will be back to NZ for the Round the Lake cycle event on my Team Quantum with the Avanti boys. And the big Auckland Marathon with the Powerade crew… You are all formally invited to come and join in the fun!! come on you know you want too.
Lastly a special thanks to Matt and the Powerade team for keeping me refueled in the Gold Coast, and all year long for that matter. Having product there for when you arrive from overseas at a vital training camp was awesome. Gary and Paul from Suzuki, thanks for organizing the Suzuki SX4 for the time I was there, it was so useful mate. Harry, Emma and Paul thanks for sorting me out some new pumas before the big final, nothing like the feeling of new running shoes on the feet before a big race.
So spring is arriving in NZ I hear?? Well I hope for everyone it is, and you are all getting out there and enjoying the change in temperature. And being healthy because of it.
See you all later,
Kris
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