Yesterday I raced Ironman Los Cabos. My first Iron distance race of 2014, It has been a long time, for me, since my last Iron distance race which was Challenge Henley in September. After that race I had a long break and started training properly again just before Christmas.
I felt some pressure coming into this race. In this sport of professional Long distance triathlon. Ironman is the main brand. But the prize money on offer at this race payed to 8th. And I want to make a living at this sport so I have to finish high, to earn some decent money. It is also a long way to come to not perform well.
I am aiming at being better than I have been before with my performance this year, I am not sure I am there yet. But yesterday was a good start.
I am trying to collect points for Hawaii, but practically I need to get the prize money more than points.
The race went fairly smoothly, I managed to get a gap in the swim and had a 2min gap to the next out of the water. I decided not to push hard on the bike and the front group caught me after a while and I stayed with this group for the rest of the ride, Jan Van Berkel managed to get away and had 3mins at the end of the bike.
Onto the run and I felt ok, but struggled to keep the pace of Fontana. But I also managed to keep the gap to a reasonable amount, then at half way I started being sick, which wasn’t a big problem, but I then lost energy and needed to regroup and get more calories in, so the gap opened and I lost 2nd place too. But at the start of the last lap I started to get some energy back and re took 2nd place but unless Fontana started to walk I wasn’t going to catch him.
All in all it was a good start to my Ironman campaign for 2014.
I am really looking forward to getting back to Bella and Charlie now.
I want to thank Tri Cozumel for giving me the opportunity to race for the team, there support and belief in me is very important, thank you!
Also I want to thank Sands Beach Resort for there support the last 2 years. Without there support it would also be very difficult to be racing as a professional triathlete.
Thank you ON running, for the best shoes out there.
Bike and nutrition sponsor and others still needed:)