Hey team,
April, another month building blocks stacked, more tools in
the box, a notch in the belt! Coaching analogies aside it was a great quality
month of training & some SUPER Racing!!
After selection by the Triathlon Australia Elite Selection Committee
last month I was head down, butt up to start the month, getting ready to really
“Race” my first World Triathlon Series Event- my first BIG DANCE, a run down
the blue carpet with the world’s best! I couldn’t wait to rip in!
I was thrilled to have the oppourtunity to step it up &
race proudly apart of the Triathlon Australia Elite Team racing my first WTS on
home soil up on the Gold Coast! A race within a race as it doubled as the Comm
Games Test Event & the first of two Australian Commonwealth Games Automatic
selection events, the second being in the Hamburg World Series Event in mid
July. The first Australian across the line in the top 10 would earn the
Automatic selection spot on the Team for the 2018 Commonwealth Games in a
years’ time over the same course! Super exciting hey!
We arrived up on the Gold Coast with plenty of time to
settle in, with some big Triathlon Australia Elite team events to welcome in
the “1 year to go” Commonwealth Games celebrations! Arguable the most exciting
for all was the revelation of the new Triathlon Australia Elite Team Trisuits
and Uniforms designed especially by Scody. These new uniforms are pretty
remarkable, showcasing featuring Australia’s rich & dominant history within
the sport! Featuring the names of all of our former World Champions,
Commonwealth medalists and Olympic Medalists! What a way to inspire us as
athletes! Racing with such pride and history- It certainly is my goal to earn
my name onto that suit! Well done Triathlon Australia and Scody for our
terrific new uniforms!
My preparations in the lead up to the WTS were nothing
different, Mick & I working to keep it simple and not get ahead of
ourselves! I was feeling comfortable about my race process objectives I wanted
to nail & ready to roll come Saturday Race Day!
I was lucky enough to have the best support around me up at
the race, with my beautiful Mum and best mates Madi & Tanya flying up to be
there to support me, watch, cheer, celebrate & double check my head stays
screwed on straight haha. I also had Mick’s family there for the race with his
3 young nephews making the best green & gold “Go Emma” posters I’ve ever
seen! Plus so much love & support back home form everyone watching live!
And not to mention the whole Triathlon Australia Elite Team of Staff there to
help with everything us athletes needed! SO thankyou!
Racing kicked off at Southport for the Elite Women at
2.06pm. The Gold Coast produced some great racing weather- sunshine & blue
skies, crazy to think that Tropical cyclone Debbie had only ripped through the
same area a week prior! I was starting as number 23 and was bouncing around pre
race ready to rock and roll, who doesn’t love those pre race nerves… Its what
we live for after all!
Running down to the line I was pumped to rip in & step
it up, time to see where I sit today among the Worlds Best! I got off to a
clear start and was fortunate to have some quick swimmers around me, leading us
out into clear water and space! Sitting happily in third avoiding the chaos
around those swim buoys as we turned for home into the choppy water. Exiting
the water towards the pointy end of the field, I could already hear my friends
and mum screaming yahoo!
Getting out onto the bike where the chasing field was quick
to work there way onto us 4 up front! Numbers quickly doubles & then
doubles again! Before long the chasing 2 packs had used the incentives and
worked hard to catch us up front and by the middle of the 20km 4 lap cycle leg
there were about 35 of us Elite Women sitting together! Now a jostling game
& challenge to avoid the 2 wheeled tricks some athletes pull out on course
haha. A little disorganized at times with no one really willing to put down the
hard work once packs came together so it was a race of sticking in!
I was pleased with how I rode out there on course, but as
always there is plenty to learn from & improve at! But as I got off the
bike up front into transition I was ready to battle it out on the run!
It was
awesome, I loved every minute of that run, I stuck & felt great out there!
A real boost as I pushed myself to bring it home strong, even coming out on top
sprinting down the blue carpet!! It could certainly look prettier but on that
day it did the job, I got my big dance!! Thrilled to cross the line in 11th
after a closely contested race!
A giant bear hug & kiss from mum across barrier, cheers
and celebrations with my friends & some great feedback from coach Mick! And
of course, a cheeky thumbs up to the TV Camera! Safe to say I was really stoked
with myself in my execution of my first World Triathlon Series Race, the first
of many years of Top level international racing to come I hope!
A huge Congratulations to Ash Gentle, who crossed the line
in 2nd behind the inspiring Andrea Hewitt to take a well fought
Automatic Selection Spot on the 2018 Commonwealth Games team!! And in the men’s
Jake Birtwhistle gained the male Automatic Selection spot on the team finishing
in 5th just behind the World’s Best men! Very happy for both of my
fellow athletes!
Heading home one very happy athlete!! I unfortunately missed
the Triathlon Australia Awards night on that Sunday but had a Monday Morning
final Uni Exam to return for, the joys..
Finishing off my mid semester exams I was lucky enough to
have my family time in a perfect few days getaway to our second home up at
Sugarloaf Lighthouse in Seal Rocks! One of my most favourite places in the
world & I love being able to head up here, pretty hidden away from
everything for some quality family time, sun, surf, water, relaxation &
adventures!
Enjoying a great Easter break & plenty of chocolate… my
favourite! Not that I need an excuse, but Easter gives no judgement when having
eggs for breakfast, Cadbury eggs! Haha.
Finishing off the month settled back into some quality miles
& training, with Mick and I drawing from Gold Coast to work on plenty of
areas of improvement!!
Next up was Chengdu World Cup in China. After a lengthy 3
hour wait at the Chinese Consulate I got my Visa and headed over! I’d never
been to China before & was excited to see what was in store here! Safe to
say the phrase “Only in China” became common place & it was certainly an
interesting week here before some awesome 2 day racing!
The racing kicked off on Saturday in a very unique format
where we competed in a Sprint event on Saturday in 2 heats over 750m/20km/5km
racing to finish in the top end of the field to earn a spot on the start line
for the “A” Final on Sunday. Where we then raced over the super sprint distance-
400m/10km/2.5km. It was some awesome racing, a super exciting format, FUN &
QUICK! But more on Chengdu World Cup in next month’s update!
I’m currently halfway
through a movie, “Hidden Figures” on an overnight flight on route to Sydney
from Hong Kong (after leaving Chengdu). Enjoying the peace & down time now
because when I land its straight to University for my final ever practical
exam! Let’s hope I won’t have to use the jet lag excuse & get the green
light, one step closer in the final stage of earning my Bachelor of Nursing!
The joys, No rest for the wicked!
Thanks for all the support legends!
Em 😊
X
No comments:
Post a Comment