My main race in a series of 5 races in 5 weeks was finally here.. I could still remember my Aviva 70.3 2009 experience vividly; it was the most memorable race of my life. It will be the benchmark of all my races that are to come...
I always believe that a good race experience is more than just the results; it should entail the process of training for the race, the enjoyment of the race, the supporters and the entire race atmosphere. Results are just a bonus.
I planned as I did last year on my goal for this race - 5hrs 15mins was the time to hit. The splits are as follows: 40mins for the 1.9km swim, 2hrs 40mins for the 90km bike, 1hr 50mins for the 21km run and 5mins for transition and 'chill-laxing' time.
In the transition area before the race
As the gun went off, I mentally prepared myself for a long race ahead. I entered the water and started to find my stroke for the swim. The waters were relatively calm and the swim was comfortable. Upon exiting the waters from my 1st loop, I glanced at my watch and the split was within reach =] I did a mental calculation in the water on my 2nd loop and decided to up the tempo abit; I came out of the swim within my targeted time!
I mounted the bike and started to churn away. I was going faster than my targeted speed as I felt really good and comfortable. This was probably where my race went wrong...
I remembered 3 weeks ago during the 90km time-trial that Jon Ma, Amos and I did that I started conservatively but ended strong. Today, that was not the case. I could not replicate the form I showed that day. My first 2 laps were within my targeted splits, but the 3rd loop took me 58mins. That was where the additional 5mins came from. The timing was not my major concern, what worried me was the run that is to come. A glorious 21km more to go...
As I ran into transition, I overshot my transition area and had to back up, loosing some time in the process...I have to work out a system of identifying my area as it was David who helped me point out my bike after the swim (yes, I was pretty lost in T1 as well).
I felt weak on the 1st km on the run as my leg muscles spasmed away and threatened to cramp up on me. This was the portion of the race that I learned from the most.
One thing that came to my mind while running was that what I am doing now is a priviledge; It is not an entitlement. This thought really got me going as I remembered my 2 month plus hiatus from exercising late last year. I thank God for keeping me healthy to be able to enjoy this sport.
I also remembered what Coach David told me a few days before regarding relaxing your muscles in order for them to perform and I put it into practice. It was not easy to hold yourself back knowing that you can go faster, but I did and it paid off.
My muscles felt so much better after the 2km mark and I continued to slowly increase my pace but maintaining the rhythm and the 'lightness'. I only had one thought on my mind:
"Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee" - Muhammad Ali
I kept repeating it in my head and pushed forward on the run. It was really a battle of the mind under the crazy Singapore sun beating down mercilessly. All I wanted to do was to finish the run quickly and 'pang kang' (Hokkien for stop work), but I held back the temptation to go faster for I knew if I did, I would have crashed out with major cramps.
The support from friends and relatives made the run so much more enjoyable - it was the ONLY thing that motivated me to reach the 7km U-turn point after every lap. I dare say that the support from close ones were equal, if not more compared to the electrolytes and water at the aid stations.
Thank you everyone who took time out to support us today! =] Without you there, it would have been so much more painful and it will not have made this race so memorable.
With 2km to go, I increased my pace and surged for a strong finish. It was finally over. As I crossed the line after 1hr 56mins on the run, I felt really good. It was merely 4mins faster than my run last year in the same event, but I died real badly for the 2hrs last year. I felt strong today and that is a good sign =]
After the race, we hung around the buffet area and I caught up with Renny whom I met during my Ironman in Switzerland. He was here promoting the new Taiwan 70.3 race. It was nice seeing him again =]
As Jon Ma had a high chance of getting a Clearwater 70.3 World Championships slot via roll down, we decided to wait and see if he gets it. The thought of being able get a roll down slot myself did cross my mind but I got over it quickly when I saw my name on the no. 9 spot. There were 8 people before me and there are 2 slots, what are the odds? I thought it to be very very low.
It was only after the automatic qualifiers slot allocation was announced that I saw a glimmer of hope. The top 2 in my age-group did not claim their slots which means that Jon Ma will definitely be going to the World Championships and I might have a small chance of going too!
It seriously DID NOT cross my mind that I could get a slot, so when it finally came and was finalised, I was really elated and thankful to God for this unexpected blessing. It seemed so surreal! =]
Jon and I settling the paper work
This is a new experience and something to look forward to, but first, let's get down to training =]
