Back in September, having just made the decision to accept my wild card entry into Hyvee 5150, I remember being very scared. I was a little scared to go back to the short course quickness, having been focusing on Kona retribution. I was worried I would have 'gone long', which usually means 'got slow'. My predominant fear though, was meteoric task ahead - my decision to race the four majors, across all distances.
Making a choice that looked like a chance was challenging.
When I jumped I said to Siri ‘Well one of them will go right won’t it?, I’m going to walk away with one medal.’ She replied, ‘Yes, you will' she paused 'possibly four’ .
Whilst being the exact opposite of an impartial party and completely invested, Siri has taught me to trust the process. The numbers don’t lie and my numbers were consistently showing that I was ready. I know that when she says that I am ready…I am. Take away the positivity , the praise, even the love that makes it all ‘awesome’ and Siri and I know that we are have nurtured the bare bones of our relationship; honest work and trust.
I have never dedicated myself to triathlon like I have this year and whilst I remain myself ; I get up , I go out....smoke a fag, put it out (JOKING!-I most definitely do not do that!). Joking aside, I dress up, I socialise, I celebrate, I live but I feel like I am constantly preoccupied with preparation. Training is the best part of my day and I have felt like a stranger doing everyday tasks. I drive James crazy with research, planning and evaluation and whilst I still throw it all out the window when the gun goes off I have the weapon of knowledge. Siri and I found our formula. We plan to be crazy.
Accelerate 4 months (save for 4th place in Kona) and Siri was right. 3rd at Hyvee, 2nd at World Champs 70.3, 3rd Challenge Bahrain. I would never have thought I could do that. The work doesn’t lie.
As for being a bridesmaid more times than I would like?
I’m not going to rush a good thing ….every one of those races could have been mine if teeny tiny things had changed. As it is, I got to star in some of the biggest battles that have ever happened in professional ladies triathlon.
People tell me that Challenge Bahrain was 'amazing', 'true head on head racing', 'pure entertainment'. Indeed It was -but so were all of the other events I have done this year. Thinking back as far as Ironman South Africa, Boulder 70.3 and St George 70.3, they were spectacles in the making. It is the provision for coverage in Bahrain that was so good and that people actually got to see that spectacle and to invest in the athletes through great commentary and great interviewing. It made all the difference.
Because the coverage was so good and the media reporting so comprehensive I find myself in a position of trying to write a blog about a race that everybody already knows about. This is why Serena Williams and Lewis Hamilton don’t write competition reports!
I’ll add the link to the playback coverage and I’ll direct you to an amazing interview Helle, Rachel and I did post race and you have the whole story.
Watch the Race
http://live.challenge-bahrain.com.bh/live/index.html
Post Race Interview
http://www.witsup.com/challenge-bahrain-pro-chatter-with-the-top-3/
It occurs to me that my blog is now entirely void and my writing a mute exercise done greedily and self indulgently. Hopefully, instead of enabling this poor show of behaviour, you are now all off watching me pushing big gears on the bike, getting terrorised by an ostrich and turning blue (literally) with effort . That’s ok, because with the provision, coverage and excellence that was displayed by Challenge Bahrain last weekend, I can honestly see a very bright future for the professional sport of long distance triathlon. That makes me incredibly happy.
Thank you Challenge Bahrain. Thank you Felix. Thank you Siri. Let us entertain you.
Happy Christmas all. Congrats to the stars of the year : Mirinda Carfrae, Rachel Joyce, Helle Frederikson and Daniella Ryf. Proud of you and the races we forged.