Auckland WTS Race Report 2014

Auckland always seems to surprise me. In 2012, when I came second in the Grand Final, I was shocked and wasn’t expecting it. In 2013, I was confused and out of it after getting too cold before the start of the race. This year, I was surprised again. I came to the race excited, nervous, and confident (maybe a bit too confident!).

The first World Triathlon Series race of 2014 started on Sunday, April 6, 2014, in Auckland, NZ. My support crew made sure I had everything I needed. We had a plan in place to stay warm, but we were uncertain if it was enough. Thankfully, the sun was shining and I had my new Mobile Warming jacket to heat me up. I started the race dry and hot and never even thought about being cold.

When the gun went off, we dove in the water for a 2-lap 1500m swim. I had a good start and exited the first lap of the swim in about sixth position. This is where the race began to fall apart. My emotions got the best of me, and I was excited and complacent with my position. Before I knew it, I was in the middle of the swim pack, getting swam on top of and pulled in every direction. The pace was slow, but by the time I realized my mistakes, I wasn’t able to move up in the pack enough.

I got on my bike and didn’t show enough urgency on the eight-lap 40km hilly bike course. I was on the cusp of getting on the front pack, but again, made mistakes and was never in the front pack. Thankfully, a few laps later my ‘get out of jail free’ (Anne Haug) card arrived. A lap or so went by and we were riding comfortably; however, I was in the back of our smaller chase pack when a crash in front of me occurred. It happened quickly and there was nothing I could do. Thankfully the only thing that broke when I fell was my front shifter. I made sure my bike was working and got back to racing. With the hilly course, it didn’t take me long to figure out that I was limited to my little chainring. Anne Haug caught the front group, and our new chase pack lost time every lap. I did what I could, and was thankful no one in our group attacked a downhill when I ran out of gears.

I started the four-lap 10km run over three minutes down from the leaders. At this point, my day was over. I finished as strong as I could, catching only a few from the front group. I ended the day in 12th.  I have no one to blame but myself for this result. Coach Jamie had me physically ready, Patrick made sure I had everything I needed race morning, and my supporters made sure I had all the necessary equipment to succeed. I got complacent and it cost me the race. All I can do is learn from it and not let it happen again.

Cape Town, WTS, here I come: April 26th, 2014.

It was great to see some of my training partners have success this weekend. Special shout out to 'Gong Wizards breakthrough performances: Aaron Royle on his first WTS podium, Ryan Bailie on his 5th place finish, and Sarah-Anne Brault (Sarah Anne CAN aka "I Run Track") on her 4th place finish. 

Me trying to hammer in my 39. Thanks for the photo, Specialized

Entering T2 and seeing too many bikes already racked. Thanks for the photo, Specialized.

Mooloolaba World Cup

Mooloolaba is a classic on the ITU circuit and a great way to test fitness early in the season.  The 2014 Mooloolaba triathlon was the 12th edition of the race and my 3rd time racing there.  The first two times I raced in Mooloolaba it was an Olympic Distance World Cup.  In 2011, Moolooaba was my 2nd ever World Cup (I came 16th). The following year, in 2012, I came 8th.

I came into Mooloolaba this year with memories of a very tough bike because in years past I’ve lost the race during the bike leg.  But I was confident in my recent progression in cycling.  I knew it would be a challenging course, but I was excited to test myself before the WTS racing begins (WTS races are the highest level of ITU races, and my main focus for the year).

The Gong Wizards and I traveled to Mooloolaba on Wednesday before the race.  It was nice to get settled in and relax after a few hard weeks of training.  I was nervous, but excited and ready.  The first race of the year is challenging, but a very solid indicator of how training has gone over the winter.

This was the first year (to my knowledge) that Mooloolaba was a sprint race. The 2014 race started with a 750m swim in the harbor.  The swim was moved from the Ocean to the harbor for safety as the swell was predicted to be two meters high.  I was bummed, as the Gong Wizards have been prepping for an Ocean swim; however, I respect the decision because it kept everyone’s safety in mind.  The bike was pretty straight forward: a 2.5km out and back (for a total of four laps) with a respectable hill in the middle of each lap and a tight 180 at both ends.  The run used 1.25km of the bike course for a 4 lap, 5km run. 

The race started at noon on Saturday, and I was excited to begin the 2014 season.  The swim was a deep water start, so we were all in the harbor, holding a rope waiting for the gun to go off.  The race started and I felt like I was in an okay position at the first turn buoy, and continued to move my way up throughout the swim.  I came out of the water in 8th and ended up in a bike pack with Emma Moffat and fellow Wizard, Ellen Pennock, chasing three girls up the road.  The bike ended up basically coming all together, with our pack catching the front girls, and then the big pack behind us joining around lap three of the bike.  The run started with Moffat and Ueda taking the lead. After lap one, I was running with the front girls.  With a lap to go, I was in the lead and had a gap. I was able to break the tape, finishing in first.

Opening the season with a win feels good, and it was even better having my fellow countrywoman Katie Hursey cross the line in second.  I’ve had an enjoyable off season, but racing again feels amazing.

I have an incredible support team behind me starting with my coach Jamie, Patrick, the Gong Wizards, Heather Novickis, Specialized, Asics, Holowesko, Oakley, HED Wheels, USA Triathlon, NYAC, ROKA, Dolphin Organics, David Hobbs Honda, Shimano, my family, my friends, and my fans.  Many companies and individuals invest in me, and I look forward to continuing to grow as a triathlete and person this year—and this is only possible with the help of others.

There is a long season ahead with lots of work to do. The main focus is the WTS series. I’m excited to get back to training and to test myself against these same girls--and more--in the WTS opener in Auckland on April 6th.

Race results can be found at: http://www.triathlon.org/results/result/2014_mooloolaba_itu_triathlon_world_cup/264271

Thanks for the photo, Delly!

It's Not Every Four Years, It's Every day

It’s Not Every Four Years, It’s Every Day

-USOC Moto

Watching the 2014 Winter Olympics has a new meaning for me after competing in the 2012 London Games. I have a new respect, outlook, and appreciation for the athletes. In order to be successful, athletes must not only be excellent once every four years, but also excellent every day for four years. Athletes make daily investments with the focus on a one day event sometimes four years away. These athletes train for years for one event, and many of the competitions or races finish in less than a minute. The training in cold, wet, miserable conditions when your body can barely get out of bed, time spent away from home, missing holidays and valuable time with close friends and family is all invested for a single event that happens once every four years. Every athlete has come to the Games as prepared as they can be and ready to thank their support groups through performance.

Watching the Olympics with my new outlook has caused me to relate to and feel for every athlete: the one who succeeds, and the one who makes a millisecond mistake that costs him or her the race. I have a new appreciation for the profile stories about the athletes. I love learning about who the person is behind the ‘athlete.’ But I also understand the time and energy athletes put into interviews. Interviews are one way for athletes to communication with the public however, if an athlete is in a spotlight, numerous interviews may be requested. Phone interviews can take five to sixty minutes, email interviews can take an hour, and TV or filmed interviews can take eight hours. Often an athlete is asked the same question they have been asked in other interviews, but must respond like it’s the first time they’ve been asked. It’s not always easy, but it’s one small way athletes can give back to the public.

I am thankful for triathlon after watching some of the Winter Olympic sports. I’m thankful I don’t have to wait for a score after I compete; instead, I cross the finish line and know where I stand. I would be anxious waiting for someone else to judge my race. I also love triathlon as I have three different disciplines, and you never know what may happen. Each race is different, and each athlete has to be prepared for any race situation.

My coach, Jamie Turner, is helping to prepare me for any triathlon situation: we must be strong enough in the water to swim in the front pack, responsive to spikes in power on the bike in case a domestique or strong rider starts to control the race, and able to run faster than anyone else once off the bike. Every day of training is a challenge and an education. This year is easier than last year in the sense that nothing is new. But this doesn’t mean the daily grind gets any easier.

At this time of the year, many triathletes are in a building and base phase of training. Every day our bodies and minds are tested under fatigue. When struggling, I look to the USOC motto (It’s Not Every Four Years, It’s Every Day) to gain composure and focus on creating excellence in everything I do. I know when the big race comes practicing under fatigue and pressure will have been good preparation.

While watching the Olympics I became eager to race. Thankfully my first race of the season is fast approaching. I will race the World Cup Triathlon in Mooloolaba, Australia on March 15th.

Flashback to London Olympics. Spending time with my family.

Flashback to 2012 Olympics

Flashback to 2012 Olympics with Evelyn