Taupo 70.3 Race Report

Race morning was slightly rushed arriving late to transition and sprinting out to the start line before the swim started. The swim was crowded with multiple clumps of earlier waves still out on the course making it difficult to get into a solid rhythm. After the long run up to T1 I started the bike leg with a 4:30 minute deficit to make up. The light northerly for the bike meant facing a head wind on the way out and flying back in the tailwind, suiting the course perfectly being a predominantly downhill outward leg and upwards on the return. With the tailwind on the return I planned to ride the first half aggressively and just ride with the wind on the way back. I was lucky to have a strong rider to pace off as we swapped positions on the road throughout the ride managing to pass a few pros' along the way. As I was heading into the last 10kms of the ride I was struggling to see any other racers ahead and began thinking about having to pull back a 5 or 6-minute lead on the run leg. It was much to my surprise to hear the commentator announce coming into T2 that I was in first place, almost looking for somebody else already in transition, not quite believing it myself.

Leaving transition, I started with a few of the pros on their second lap and managed to run with a couple for a kilometre before they took off again. My strategy was to run a conservative 10km in the aim of a negative split but that never seems to happen. It was hurting throughout the last 5km of the run but I felt pretty happy I was in first and was either smiling or grimacing, I'm not sure which. The final climb towards the finish line was brutal but coming down the finish line was a mixture of relief to finish and elation for coming first. It was a great event with myself PB'ing by 13 minutes and lots of support from the others who were racing - Jaro, Peter Kadar, Pete Humphries and Andy, as well as Jason, Mum and Toby. Coming first this year meant less stress waiting at the rolldown event for my age group, and I accepted my slot for the World Champs in Chattanooga in 2017, with Anthony Cowan qualifying well in 2nd place for his age group.

Since May this year I've been coached by Steve (Farrell) and the improvements made in this short space of time are incredible; creating a programme that suits a work/life/tri balance while still having a lot of fun. Special mention and thanks to John from the Workshop gym in Hinemoa St, for his strength and mobility classes and use of the gym making me into a stronger athlete across all three disciplines yielding huge gains. Thanks to my current sponsors Spring Business Accelerators for their support over the last several months. It's been a great start to the season for me and I wish everyone a fun and successful one too.

Jack