Well the IRC is not quite the World Champs and I was not expected or expecting to win, but this race has been my World Champs equivalent over the last few years and as it is also a team event that is highly enjoyable. I was feeling good and hoped to have a good race and be up there at the finish and with the extra points on offer from the IRC and depending on a couple of other results I could perhaps have pinched a place or two in the Super Series League table as well as help the team in the regional race, but disaster was to strike...
...The race started well after a 5 hour wait following racking and I got myself into a nice position in the swim and some relatively clean water, I emerged from the lake in 5th and following a good transition was out on the bike course alongside fellow HPU athlete Connor Delaney in the front. Whilst the lead bike pack was setting a good pace it was not an overly fast one with nobody willing to attempt to break and by the last lap we had been caught by the chase group who according to my dad had been well organised in the chase by team colleague Sean Watson. I was by now though feeling some chest pains and by the time I hit the run I was finding it hard to catch my breath as my asthma hit me. This was my Usain moment in as much his error saw him disqualified, my lack of preparation in not taking or having with me on the course my asthma medication saw me sadly slip back on the run and my dream of finishing well in this race and higher in the Super Series final league table evaporated in front of me. I finally staggered in 12th and not even my sun tan could hide the pale complexion of my face at the end as I was completely drained
I was somewhat inconsolable for the rest of Sunday as not only did it impact my final league placing, finishing higher could have scored more points for the region and got us a higher finish given that the team results were so close in the end. Dad though was on the job quickly to try and perk me up and remind me that as a 1st year Youth athlete, 12th and 3rd firts year youth home was not at all bad and I would have the opportunity again next year to compete in this age group, plus finishing 7th overall in the series this year was a good performance, along with the fact that the Juniors had raced the same course Sunday my time would have seen me finish in the top half of that race and those guys are up to 4 years older than me, so overall if not happy with Sundays outcome I can be pleased with the season as a whole. Sunday will still hurt for a while and it reminds me of one my brothers goalkeeping coaches favourite sayings 'fail to prepare, then prepare to fail' so looking ahead I must remember to have my medication with me and use it and be properly prepared for every element of my race
So for the most part my season is now done, I will have a short rest before getting back in the water, on my bike and on the road again to be ready for next season and once Sunday is behind me I will be looking forward to the new competitive season.
Before I sign off for a while a quick but big thank you to my coaches that help me greatly throughout the year - Dave, Tim, Gary and Bob Cheers Guys.
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