Liz Blatchford finished second in the Ironman 70.3 Putrajaya after leading most of the race. Liz was first coming out of the water, with Vodickova just 3 seconds behind and the rest of the pro women at more than 4 minutes. On the bike, Liz pulled away from Vodickova despite some mechanical issues. She pulled into T2 seven minutes ahead of the Czech athlete. However, Liz starting feeling the effects of a tough bike leg and especially the broiling heat as Vodickova powered her way through the run. Vodickova passed a fading Liz for the win in the last kilometer before the finish line.
“To lead the race the whole day and then to lose it in the last kilometer, is harsh,” said Liz. “I overheated on the run, not moving very fast at all in the last few kilometers. My swim was good, even tough the heat was already a factor. On the bike, I managed to make a gap on Radka straight away and build a good lead. When I got to the run course, I felt okay. It was difficult to gauge splits on the two-loop course. Around 15 k, I was struggling and then I heard Radka was catching up. So I lifted my level a bit. I think that took me over the edge and I sort of exploded. When she passed me, I had nothing left. She was running really well though. I don’t know that I would have been able to hold her off if I had raced smarter.” After the Husky Long Course, Liz struggled with an ankle injury. That made Putrajaya more of a physical test for Ironman Cairns than a goal in itself for Liz. “I have been running again for only a few weeks now, so I knew I wouldn’t be in top form. But I am pleased that my ankle felt good. I still have a ways to go, but I can tell that things are moving in the right direction.”
The women’s podium in Malaysia:
1. Radka Vodickova: 04:23:09
2. Liz Blatchford: 04:24:17
3. Dimity-Lee Duke: 04:38:35