As the sun began to rise on race morning to reveal a perfect clear and calm sky I could tell it was going to be a very fast day for racing. Before I knew it we were lined up on the beach facing the Gulf of Mexico ready to start the World Ironman 70.3 Championship.
I started next to Terenzo Bozzone on the right hand side of the course and was ready for a furious start. I love beach starts, I am usually very good at them although today I can tell you it wasn’t one of my best starts as the cannon that signaled the start of the race literally blow up right beside us. I think instead of going forward into the water, Terenzo and I were blown backwards, almost stunned before we plunged into the water. The first 2 minutes my ears were ringing and I was contemplating “Am I ever going to be able to hear again?” A few dolphin dives got me up to the front of the pack and I swam comfortably near the lead for most the swim, although Andy Potts and Paul Matthews snuck away from us around half way.
I was out of the water in around 8th and after a smooth transition was onto the bike in 4th. I didn’t take long to realize the pace was going to be on from the get go. Before we were 5 miles into the ride I had jostled back and forth with over 15 guys for the lead before we finally settled into a long strung out line of around 20-25. The first 15 miles weaved in and around the neighborhoods of Clearwater and it seemed like it was going to turn into an ITU race rendering the bike “useless” but as soon as we hit the open highway sections of the course the pace hit top speed guys began to drop like flies.
Around the 35 mile mark the 25 odd riders in the beginning had been reduced to 10 and included myself, defending champ Andy Potts, Terenzo, Andrew Starykowicz, Richie Cunningham, Oscar Galindez, Joe Gambles, Reinaldo Collucci, David Thompson and Fraser Cartmell. These boys were all riding well and they all went on the post 2.02 bike splits or lower for the 56 miles! With a few miles to ride Terenzo, Galindez, Collucci and Starykowicz gapped as by 30 odd seconds as we entered T2.
I had a great transition and was 5th onto the run course. Richie blew straight by me after a quarter mile and I didn’t have the speed to match him. I settled into a good pace and after passing Starykowicz I was running in 5th place again. I honestly didn’t expect to feel so good since I hadn’t done much running since Kona. I ran a solid first lap only being passed by Andy and a flying Andreas Raelert.
Going into lap two I had chance to look back through the field and although I was confident I could hang in the top ten I was wary of Joe Gambles and a hard charging Brent McMahon behind me. With 3 miles to run it looked like a had a comfortable 30-40 second gap on Joe but the Ironman in my legs really started to bite and I was right on the rivet. Getting over the bridge the last time was a struggle and I was sure one of the guys behind would catch me. Luckily in the last 2 miles I had lots of support from friends and it picked me up to the line for a very pleasing 7th place finish. My time of 3.45.10 was also the fastest times I have posted over the distance.
I was really pleased to finish in the top ten which although it was my goal I was thinking might have been a little ambitious backing up from Kona. There was so much unknown to how my body would hold up. After having a disappointing day in Kona I was happy to finish the season on a high.
I have to congratulate Terenzo for his dominating win. He raced smart and without fear. After spending two weeks training with him in Hawaii prior to the race I wasn’t sure if it was going to be his year. He is definitely one of the best half Ironman distance athletes in the World but he had so much bad luck in those few weeks prior to the race. He had crashed his bike and broken a bone in his hand and was suffering with the Vog “Volcanic Fog” that troubles Asthmatics in Kona. Yesterday showed just how tough this kid is more mentally than physically. It was a great experience for me to watch those few weeks unfold, I think I learnt a lot too.
I would like to thank all my awesome sponsors that supported me in 2008. Erik, David, Ivette and the whole K-Swiss crew, you have been amazing to work with this year and it is a privelige to be part of the family. Thank you to my good friend and sponsor Adrian of Amalgamated Textiles in Australia who supports Amanda and my journey. We look forward to seeing you next week mate! Big thanks also go to PowerBar, Scott, Zipp, Sram, FSA, Fi’zi:k, BlueSeventy, Nuun, FuelBelt and Smith.
Thanks to mum and dad for their support and to my beautiful, amazing girlfriend Amanda for pushing me to be the best I can be. I love you all!
RESULTS
WORLD IRONMAN 70.3 CHAMPIONSHIPS, CLEARWATER, FLORIDA
1 BOZZONE, TERENZO 4/3/1 22:17 02:01:28 01:12:57 03:40:10
2 RAELERT, ANDREAS 7/15/2 22:21 02:03:37 01:10:53 03:40:42
3 CUNNINGHAM, RICHIE 10/9/3 22:29 02:02:08 01:13:49 03:41:46
4 GALINDEZ, OSCAR 27/4/4 23:47 01:59:55 01:14:47 03:42:28
5 COLUCCI, REINALDO 14/5/5 23:03 02:00:34 01:15:47 03:43:22
6 POTTS, ANDY 1/8/6 21:44 02:02:58 01:16:16 03:44:30
7 MCKENZIE, LUKE 8/6/7 22:22 02:02:01 01:17:16 03:45:11
8 MCMAHON, BRENT 5/13/8 22:20 02:03:56 01:11:36 03:45:43
9 GAMBLES, JOE 26/10/9 23:46 02:01:25 01:18:05 03:46:22
10 CARTMELL, FRASER 3/11/10 22:09 02:02:24 01:18:21 03:46:34
