Old Tricks
Despite my best efforts to be sensible and limit my racing activities..... I really just can't help myself.
This weekend it was time to defend my title at the Matarangi Intrigue. An amazing, scenic, and rather epic 53km single lap race way up on the coromandel peninsula. Since it involved a rather long 7hr drive on Friday afternoon to get there for the Saturday event, I figured I may as well add in the NZ Sprint Triathlon Champs. They were in Kinloch on Sunday. 1/2 way home, so why not stop in for a 'rest' from driving?
Turns out it was a pretty good plan. And somewhat successful. They say you can't teach an old dog new tricks. They're probably right. My old trick is racing too much and getting away with it. It would seem as I get older I'm just getting better at this 'old trick.'
The intrigue was great. Due to an unfortunate traffic accident the start was delayed an hour and a half. Good for me as it gave time for more coffee. With Scott Thorne lined up against me I was more than a bit concerned. So rather than attacking all out, I rode a rather hard tempo up the initial 4km (ish) steep gravel climb. Going hard enough that I knew some one would crack, and hoping it wasn't me. Thankfully it worked and I proceeded to ride away on my own for a relatively trouble free win. As opossed to Scott, who had the misfortune of hitting a sheep and mangling his crossmax front wheel. Credit to him for soldiering on to what was a rather impressive 2nd place in the circumstances. Not knowing this though, I pushed on and ended up beating my race record by 5mins!
Knowing that the next day I would officially be a veteran, despite being barely 29 (being put in the 30+ age group by virtue of the fact I'll be 30 by December 31st).... I spent the afternoon being rather childish. enjoying ice-cream while playing on swings, splashing round in the pool etc.... Good times.
Thus, I turned up at Kinloch rather relaxed and expecting not much (but quietly hoping for an overall top 10). Swim went ok. Got beat up a bit. Gave some back. Swam in a few zigzags. Didn't mess up transition too badly this time; and headed out onto bike about 1min30 - 2min down. Legs felt average but was humming along ok, carving my way through the field. Thought I might be getting close to top 10 so got serious. Had a great transition and flew out onto the run determined to hang on as long as I could.
Turns out I was already 6th overall and within the first km had moved into 2nd. Apparently I was flying?! Catching sight of Shannon Stallard up ahead, I chased hard. Getting frustrated as Shannon is deceptively quick. He didn't 'look' fast, yet the gap was closing painfully slow, I finally got to his shoulder with about 400m to go. I planned my attack..... yet he pre-empted me and surged before I could respond.
So I crossed the line as NZ 30-35 Sprint Tri Champ, missing the overall title by about 3sec. I'd have been gutted if I had expected anything, but really I was in disbelief. I think I still am. Turns out I had both the fastest bike and run splits of the entire age group field...... and my run time was only bettered by 10 of the 30 odd Elite/U23 race.
Guess I'm a triathlete now? Maybe you can teach an old dog new tricks?
This weekend it was time to defend my title at the Matarangi Intrigue. An amazing, scenic, and rather epic 53km single lap race way up on the coromandel peninsula. Since it involved a rather long 7hr drive on Friday afternoon to get there for the Saturday event, I figured I may as well add in the NZ Sprint Triathlon Champs. They were in Kinloch on Sunday. 1/2 way home, so why not stop in for a 'rest' from driving?
Turns out it was a pretty good plan. And somewhat successful. They say you can't teach an old dog new tricks. They're probably right. My old trick is racing too much and getting away with it. It would seem as I get older I'm just getting better at this 'old trick.'
The intrigue was great. Due to an unfortunate traffic accident the start was delayed an hour and a half. Good for me as it gave time for more coffee. With Scott Thorne lined up against me I was more than a bit concerned. So rather than attacking all out, I rode a rather hard tempo up the initial 4km (ish) steep gravel climb. Going hard enough that I knew some one would crack, and hoping it wasn't me. Thankfully it worked and I proceeded to ride away on my own for a relatively trouble free win. As opossed to Scott, who had the misfortune of hitting a sheep and mangling his crossmax front wheel. Credit to him for soldiering on to what was a rather impressive 2nd place in the circumstances. Not knowing this though, I pushed on and ended up beating my race record by 5mins!
Knowing that the next day I would officially be a veteran, despite being barely 29 (being put in the 30+ age group by virtue of the fact I'll be 30 by December 31st).... I spent the afternoon being rather childish. enjoying ice-cream while playing on swings, splashing round in the pool etc.... Good times.
Thus, I turned up at Kinloch rather relaxed and expecting not much (but quietly hoping for an overall top 10). Swim went ok. Got beat up a bit. Gave some back. Swam in a few zigzags. Didn't mess up transition too badly this time; and headed out onto bike about 1min30 - 2min down. Legs felt average but was humming along ok, carving my way through the field. Thought I might be getting close to top 10 so got serious. Had a great transition and flew out onto the run determined to hang on as long as I could.
Turns out I was already 6th overall and within the first km had moved into 2nd. Apparently I was flying?! Catching sight of Shannon Stallard up ahead, I chased hard. Getting frustrated as Shannon is deceptively quick. He didn't 'look' fast, yet the gap was closing painfully slow, I finally got to his shoulder with about 400m to go. I planned my attack..... yet he pre-empted me and surged before I could respond.
So I crossed the line as NZ 30-35 Sprint Tri Champ, missing the overall title by about 3sec. I'd have been gutted if I had expected anything, but really I was in disbelief. I think I still am. Turns out I had both the fastest bike and run splits of the entire age group field...... and my run time was only bettered by 10 of the 30 odd Elite/U23 race.
Guess I'm a triathlete now? Maybe you can teach an old dog new tricks?
