Lorient World Long Distance Champs 2007

OK so the drama of the week started when my bike didn't arrive on Paris after a day's travelling from Christchurch to Auckland to LA to London and then to Paris...and neither did seven others!

So we got to Lorient on Tuesday. As I had no wetsuit either I went for a swim in the local pool and a short run round the lake where the triathlon was to be held, just eager to have a dip- but I have a real aversion to swimming without a wetsuit in open water so I passed! The next few days were spent exploring Lorient, swimming in the pool and a couple of short runs to get my bearings...and chasing the bikes...and some great team meals- lots of good tri chat, kiwi chat, using my somewhat rusty French and eating great French food (however I really don't ever want to see a white baguette or a croissant for a long time!)

Come Friday we were getting worried...no sign of the bike at all. So we headed down to the lake on a gorgeously hot day to watch the French tri national competition- Andrea Hewitt, Nicky Samuels, Taryn McLeod and Jenny Cooper were all competing for their French clubs. Andrea won and looked so strong, it was great to see all the kiwi girls out there. So...I sheepishly introduced myself to her after the race and asked if it was ok if I could borrow her bike on Sunday for the race( we being a similar height...I say similarheight not size as she is soooo tiny!) So I was all set for a speedy Cervelo...until my bike arrived at 1.30 am on Saturday morning!

Thank goodness it did though- I was so scared of crashing Andrea's bike, and elt much more comfortable on my own.. We fixed it up with some great Race X lite Bontrager race wheels and I was ready to go!

So to race day...

The swim (in what I found out later to be a lake infested with snakes...!)

I have never ever been so nervous...ever! Kristin and I shed a nervous tear and a wee hug before the swim as all us kiwi girls headed to the Pontoon and sandwiched our way into our start. And we're off...all the women together in one wave, it was madness arms and legs flying everywhere. I tried so hard to think about technique and not panicking about others, and just swim my own race. The first time I would ever swim 3km. First lap was a breeze, really steady and even passed some blokes in the wave ahead. Up the ramp over the pontoon and dived in for the second lap. Again I took it steady head down knowing a long hot windy day lay ahead. I was actually enjoying it! Thinking to myself yep I can do Ironman- 3.8km no problem. Up and out of the water to start the 800m-1km transition. Put bike shoes on as the start was straight up a hill and ran out...

Bike

Having only biked 15 mins one way and driven the rest in a car, I knew I'd be winging it...It was windy from the on shore breezes and hot, with false flats and a steady climb to the turnaround. Focus was to keep legs spinning, take on fuel, water and not get pinged for drafting...of which there was a plenty. To be honest it was more like the tour de France peleton...Drafting rule was 10m, 30 secs to pass and a 6 min penalty....well I didn't see them ping anyone, depsite a rather hilarious demonstration of what they would pull up at the race briefing, and a strict zero tolerance enforcement policy- allegedly.... Well anyhow....Fiona and I pushed each other the whole way- we're so evenly matched it was good for the kiwis to be right up there. So the bike felt strong, and going into the run I was looking forward to it- I knew it would be a toughie- some testing hills- not as flat as originally planned.

Run

I felt strong on the run but knew it was really hot and it would be so easy to blow up- lots of people were walking, being sick, one girl was on oxygen! I felt a bit dehydrated on the last lap, and couldn't stomach any more gels, but I left every last bit out there and snuck in under 1hr 30 mins. So I was running faster than my half marathon pace on the flat, even after the swim and bike- I was stoked!

I finished 6th in my age group in 4hr 46 mins. Us 4 kiwi girls all finished within 2 mins of one another.

It was an amazing experience. I now go forward to Ironman having learnt so much after the last six months. There's still a long way to go. I know my strength is running, but my biking has come on leaps and bounds as has my swimming. There's much room for improvement in all areas. Pacing and nutrition and tweaking my bike will all be considered in the next six months.

Now I'm looking forward to a well deserved rest and catching up with my family and school friends in the UK. I am proud to be a kiwi, my adopted nation! We were a great team. A great family team spirit was evident everywhere in our team hotel, team meals and on the course. For a small nation, we did ourselves proud.

I'm itching to get back out there training though but know I need the rest to be reenergised to take on Taupo! Bring it on!!!!!