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Latest news4-12-2011 Catherine Thiele, our sponsored triathlete competed overseas, read her race report below: Thailand, Phuket 70.3 Asia Pacific Championships Triathlon What an amazing race and location. The Asia pacific championships for the 70.3 ironman is held in Laguna Beach, Phuket. A wonderful location for couples, families and triathletes eager to race hard. This is my first race here and I was keen to race! I felt my training up to the event was well on track and with my new bike, I was feeling really pumped. With a considerable short flight time (around 9 hrs) we arrived in Phuket to feel the text book hot conditions we were warned about. With a couple of days acclimatizing and testing all the Thai cuisine is was race day The swim was broken in two. The first part was in the ocean then we had to run up the beach to swim across the Laguna Lake. I felt great for the entire swim and I swallowed minimal Laguna water which is always a bonus! I could see a few pink caps in front of me (“the swimmers”) and then I was at the front of the next big pack. I swam solo for most of the swim, but it felt great. I could see I was coming around 5th out of the water and I didn’t feel too fatigued. Now the ride, my favourite bit. This was my new Giant Trinity's (The Black Diamond) first race. I was keen to see how she raced with those hot new 808 firecrest wheels! I had heard it was quite a hilly course so I was eager to see how the Time Trial bike would handle them. Prior to race week I was toying with whether I should race with my TT bike or my road bike. I'm glad I had my TT, because despite the hard hills and climbing, there were a fair few stretches that allowed me to really put the pedal down and TT - It was great. My Black Diamond felt fantastic.
It was a really technical course with scooters zipping everywhere, dogs, locals, more dogs and some serious cornering. The hills were short, sharp and STEEP. I'm not sure on the gradient, but one of them was similar to Huncy road (for the Coasties), approximately 15%. Most people around me were walking the hill which made for more cheerers to those of us riding it. I'm not sure if I actually got to the top quicker, but the challenge was great fun. The wheels felt good with no slipping........ but then the heavens opened and it started to pour with rain. Monsoonal rain! For the next hour or two on the bike it poured and in Thailand there are no gutters so the roads quickly flooded and became quite dangerous. I saw two crashes and saw three ambulances leave with athletes. There was carnage everywhere! I kept thinking to myself "stay safe, take it easy around corners and watch the white lines". All was going well, there were fewer dogs on the road and I had completed the two hard hilly sections - 5kms until the run starts. It was at that moment that I started to prepare myself for the run mentally. I knew I was probably coming 4th or 5th and I knew it was time to focus. "High cadence out of transition, connect with the earth and think easy, flow, smooth and fast (my mantra)". At that moment, I cornered and slipped. I guess I got what I had just thought - "connect with the earth". Yet another example of the power of thought!!! BANG - crash, slide and I ended up in a bush (with prickles!). Bloody water/mud on the road. After a fair bit of cursing, checking out my injuries and having two lovely Thai locals help drag me and the diamond out of the bushes I evaluated..... continue? You bet! Only one problem, I had taken a big blow to the head which was making me feel very dizzy. My helmet had also cracked and my neck was killing me. I shook my head a few times and saw a few girls in my age group pass me - wow, I can be competitive! I had carved up my elbow, shoulder and hip/bum, but fortunately my suit wasn't torn too badly and it wasn't showing too much butt ;) I jumped back on my bike and slowly rode back into transition - I hadn't come all this way to not finish. Onto the run - 21.1kms of running through beautiful tracks! I was happy to be off the bike and on safe ground. Coming out of transition and I felt good, my turn over was quick and the crash pain wasn't too bad, but after 5kms my "demons" visited. My demons are those thoughts everyone has when things get hard or tough. You know the thoughts - "C'mon Cath, take it easy, you've had a crash. You can ease off." I always find it fascinating when the "demon" visits during endurance races. Over my years of racing I’ve tried to embrace the demon - I'm almost happy when she comes, because it’s a sign that I’m racing hard. I always acknowledge the demon thoughts then tell them to pi&# off!!!! With the crash injuries it was a bit different, my neck was killing me. My competitive spirit (or stupidity as some of my family would say) helped me quieten the demon thoughts and push through the run.
I really learnt something in Thailand that no other race has ever taught me. I desperately wanted to qualify for the Ironman World Champs in Kona, Hawaii. That was why I was racing. For the whole race I felt great - happy, strong, well prepared, well spirited and fast. The only bummer was the crash, but that was only 10mins of the whole race. I crossed the line elated. My hubby cheered me in, I had given it all and I was racing in THAILAND. Then something strange happened. I got back to my room and saw my times. I had come 9th with a time of 5hrs 14. It's sad to admit, but at that point I was devastated. I knew my chance to qualify for Kona was gone. I know it's girly, but tears started to pour and I mean POUR!!!! Why do we do that? Put so much emphasis on times and results? Until I saw my run was a 1hr47, I was sure I had run a 1hr35!!!! Those other girls were quick. The demon returned. The thoughts of "I'm not good enough for this sport", "time to re-evaluate the dream of Kona Cath" started to sneak in. Sounds silly now, but I think we all do it. That's what makes us athletes and/or dreamers. After a big squirt, a few drinks and some lovely messages from my training mates I had silenced the demon and started to look for the three positives of the race (this is something I try to do after every race and training session). 1. After 10 years of cycling and racing I had my first crash and I came out of it pretty good. My Trinity (the black diamond) was ok, phew! I crashed and I still finished! 2. For the first time, I silenced the demon pretty quickly when I was running. Training the mind is just as important as training the body. This meant for a good run (despite the time not being my best, I felt strong physically and mentally). 3. I had the opportunity to race in THAILAND - c'mon, that in itself is great!!! Sitting here at the airport, reflecting on my race has given me the opportunity to really see what is important. First and foremost, my family (we went to Thailand without the two kids and missed them dearly - but secretly LOVED having time together), my health and my training buddies. Who is up for a ride on Saturday? Safe riding all
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