So as normal I took everything very seriously. Packed all my stuff up, well apart from the bike, poor Phil G had to do this for me AGAIN!! Then decided I had best pack a few extra, more shoes and dresses and then a wig (GB Style of course)! You just never know when these things come in useful and to round it all off decided to get my toe nails painted, just check this out.
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| For those of you lucky enough to live in Newcastle. These were done by U Salon Gosforth High St. Really think these should be a must for the Olympics. |
So off I jetted to Eilat. Sun, Sea, biking, running, swimming, racing what more could a girls ask for?
First proper morning there started at some unearthly hour with a bike recci of the course. Not much to it really, going out up a hill and into the wind on a road equivalent to our A roads (there motorway). Then hopped over the central reservation (race day a ramp was construction, just like a skate boarders ramp..........awesome) then cycled back.......FAST, it's a very windy place.
Straight off the back of that was a little jog to check out the run route, you have to love a triatheletes holiday, sorry race event. Run course was a bit of road then dirt track with mines (as in blow you up) to the right. Decided best to keep to the track!!
Later on it was off to the beach to check out the swim course. The Red sea is really salty and as I/we found out and we also kept getting stung. We had or been told various reasons for this stinging sensation two reasons being, sea lice eurghhhh!! and algae, ok can live with this one. This aside I was actually looking forward to the swim, I was feeling good in the water, despite the shoulder injury which has been niggling for the past 5 months. My asthma still wasn't great, don't think the sandstorm on my first night really helped either!
Race day started early, nothing new in the tri world. after a light breakfast at 5am it was down to transition. Just did what I needed to do and got out. 7 am it started my wave was 7.40am, it came round quick. I was not as nervous as I was on the Ironman, infact I felt reasonable relaxed. The horn went off and off I went. You never really know where you are in the swim, so decided to just go (always hopeful to find some ones toes to hop on but unfortunatly it didn't really happen in this race). Turns out I was second in my age group out of the water. Long run to transition which gave me lots of time to get the wetsuit off. Transition went well and off I ran with the bike, first time with shoes already clipped in (kept in place with elastic bands, for all you non tri people). What can I say but live dangerously!! So got to the mount line and the elastic band snapped, leaving my shoe swinging around........that wasn't planned, took a bit but eventually got my foot into the shoe (need to practice this!). Wind was really strong and going up the hill my chest was heaving, but just kept my head down and did my best. Went up and over the ramp, decided best not perform a trick then flew back down to Eilat, it was an amazing return journey...quick as hell. Went through transition and onto the run course, 2 laps of heat and dust, every asthmatic dream. Had my usual thought 'why am I doing this' it soon past and finally crossed the line much to my amazement in 4th place. Only to realise that I had been in 3rd place and was overtaken in the last 8 second, DOH!!!!!!. All I will say is next year.
Since I have got back I have kept up with training, after all it is just the start of the season. My next big goal is the UK Ironman 70.3 in Wimbleball which will be June 17th. So not that long to go really. I raced at the weekend at the Alnwick Sprint triathlon, it was yet another very wind ride but a lot colder than Israel. I finished this race 5th female overall, and looking at my splits I have improved in everything since last year, so happy with that result.
This weekend I am off to race at Keswick. Its an 800m open water swim, I am gasping for breath just thinking about it, it is going to be freezing. However have just got myself a nice neoprene hat to wear for the swim, that will be a good look.Then its a 35k cycle and a 10k run to be honest I will probably not warm up at all!!
Finally will leave you with a picture of the nice GB Wig. Probably would of looked a lot better had I got it on straight, then again maybe not!
