Challenge Canberra Race Report
We drove over the Crowne Range from home in Wanaka to Queenstown Airport, and flew out to Sydney on the Wednesday before the race - post swim squad of course 😉. We had a night in Sydney booked (got totally catfished by the accom provider!), close to Sydney Central Train Station - and the plan was to get the train to Canberra early the next morning. Once we checked into our accommodation I went for a short run to shake some travel out of the legs, and then we headed down to the waterfront to see the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House.
Thursday was travel day to Canberra. We had the train booked and were both looking forward to an easy travel day, out of the crazyness of Sydney and into the buffet car. Unfortuntely when we got to the train station, I was told my bike was too wide to get on the train. In fairness, I knew this, but usually people are able to accomodate, so to be told no was a bit of a surprise. Tired from not sleeping in the dungeon the night before, with a sore throat which I also was blaming on the dungeon, I was now crying, completely irrational and ready to fly back to Queenstown (dramatic enough?) We decided to get a coffee, a snack, use of brains and just rent a car. 2 hours later - we were on the road to Canberra, only an hour behind schedule. Surely that’s all the bad luck for the trip used up, right?
Few easy days in Canberra, hanging out with friends (humans and doggos). Some easy training sessions ticked off and lots of tourist experiences in the books. A cool pro dinner. honestly, who do I think I am hanging out with these girls.
I was now coughing alot, my nose was running all of the time, my chest didn’t feel too good.. Must be the pollen. Definitely hay fever.. Onwards to race day!
Race day was awesome! A 5.50am race start meant a 3am alarm. Spirits were high and the coffee was strong.
Inhaled breakfast, sudafed and some panic panadol to get rid of the pesky headache and chest pain. All while thinking (convincing myself), god this pollen is everywhere. Even inside. When the all the windows are closed…
Beaut morning for a smash fest with some awesome ladies. It was starting to get warm and windy early, so we all knew we were in for a hard day. With only 9 starters, I knew I had a shot at the elusive first pay check!
Swim start was hectic. My plan was to hang on for longer than I normally do. I actually wanted to pull out about 20 seconds in because my body was in alot of pain, but I pulled myself together, let the front 3 girls power ahead and settled into my pace. Turns out my pace was good enough for 4th out of the water. Confidence up, doubt gone. Nose still running.
Hit the bike with Els and Penny, got dropped like a bag of sticks on the descent at the Arboretum. Mental note - learn to descend better. Battled through the 3 lap course, (which was definitely not as flat as I had thought). Wow, the Aussie roads are good. Shit, this wind is annoying. These girls are total beasts. Just some of the thoughts that were flaoting around. Off the bike in 6th. Nose? Still running.
Onto the run and I had no idea where I was in the race. I knew I was 6th off the bike, but as for time, not a clue. I tend to not want to know these things. I’m a big believer in doing your best on the day and racing your own race, so getting caught up in numbers and time, may mess with that. The run was a cool 3 lap course. I usually like lapped courses. It’s never really lonely and I like to have a countdown. By this stage, I was coughing pretty aggressively, but physically I felt good, so this pollen wasn’t going to stop me. On the 2nd lap, I knew I could catch 5th. She was fading and I was feeling good. She must have also got that intel and managed to pull a few fast kms at the end.
I crossed the line in 6th. A pb swim time. A pb run time. My first pro race. My first pro podium. $900 in prize moeny. I’m making a profit! Buzzing! But my god, this pollen. Get me out of here before I cough my lungs up.
An incredible sense of pride and personal achievement filled me for the next few days. I left Canberra feeling like I have made the right decision to race as a pro. The self doubt that had consumed me some days while training had left. I’ll probably never fully believe in myself, but this was a step in the right direction and something I will look back on when I’m being my own worst enemy.
Just me at prizegiving holding a giant cheque and hanging out with Fenella Langridge, Els Visser, and Radka Kahlefeldt.
The pollen turned out to be Covid, so that’s put the brakes on for a few days. Next up is Tauranga in January where I get to line up alongside Chelsea Sodaro. If anyone had of told me this would be my reality this time last year, I would have laughed and told them they are crazy. Let’s hope she doesn’t get intimdated by my third-hand tt bike 😬