The Icebreaker Part IIIII

Tuesday, 9 July 2013

This is part 5 of a gad zillion part race report of the Icebreaker Multisport Race.  Scroll down (and down, and down..) to get to part one.

As I arrived Jon grabbed my muddy bike and said calmly…  "so… Rowena is 10 minutes ahead, you miiiighhht not need to worry tooooooo much about catching her…" Ha! Well that explained that little mystery - she'd made up all the lead I had from the paddle, AND put 10 minutes into me and clearly come past me soooo fast that she couldn't be seen by the naked eye. huh.  Actually she has short hair and a narrow frame so I recon to my sweat clouded eyes she would have looked like every other fast guy out there - it turned out she had the 8th fastest mtb time overall and that includes the hot-shot male riders who had come down from the mainland for the race.  Ok - so that was all good - I didn't have to wonder about that anymore. It did still leave the question of what had happened to Jenny Enderby - by rights she should have come past me as well but Jon hadn't seen her yet.  So it was just going to be a matter of pulling on my running shoes and hoping for the best.

 

Now the last time I did any sort of racing transition from bike to run was back in 1994 when my brother Paul and I did a few triathlons around Melbourne. Now kids, in 1994 the way you entered these events was by chiselling your name into the entry tablet,  attaching a carrier pigeon, stuffing it into a bottle and throwing it out to sea. So it had been a while…  

This isn't to say I hadn't practised 'brick' training at all - I'd been for 5 or 6 paddles where I went for a run straight after, but by the time I'd loaded my boat on the car, taken off my lifejacket and wetsuit, put on running tights, dislodged the fish from the rudder and put on my shoes, I'd had about 15 minutes rest.   It was the same with my ride-to-work-stop-over runs - where I would lock the bike at the bottom of truganini track, change my shoes, flap around stuffing my riding gear into my backpack then finally get going.

This time I was pretty quick -  I just needed to pull on my shoes, lose the glasses and gloves, and put on my running cap. Easy. Actually the problem was that this meant I actually had to get my tired legs going.  Funnily enough, despite the fact that my stankle prevents me from doing much running training, this was the leg I had feared the least. I knew I should do well in the paddle so I was worried about not doing well (and running up that hill). I knew that mountain biking would not be my strength, so I had fretted about that, but the run.. well I knew that no matter what, it was the last leg, and I would finish it even if I had to crawl across the line.   I also knew that it was a nice course, I had run it twice a few weeks ago and I knew all the steps and hills as well as the point at which it was downhill all the way home! 

The route is all single trail as it winds along beside the lake with a few steep rocky step sections along the way. I was absolutely determined to run these steps as a way of convincing myself that I wasn't completely stuffed - cos if I thought I was buggered, I'd have all sorts of excuses to walk later on and that was NOT going to happen - so I huffed and puffed up those steps, overtaking someone along the way (by this time there weren't all that many people around me - most of the teams were almost finished, so to go past someone was a bit of a treat). 

After the huff and puff of the steps I settled into a steady pace and let the kilometres roll on by.   All the time I expected Jenny to come past but while a few people did, none of them were her.  At the turning point I got a bit of a look back along the trail but I couldn't see anyone and I didn't want to linger as I knew if she so much as got a sniff of me her determination alone would zoom her straight past.  

The run home is along a meandering trail next to a road which slowly goes up a hill, then the last few ks are pretty much all downhill. As I approached the top I overtook a fellow paddler who had over taken me near the end of the paddle, then I was faster out of the transition, only to have him put 10 minutes into me on the bike.  He looked like he was really struggling but he was still running - impressive.  He certainly appreciated the news that it was the last hill.

Once I reached the top I decided that it all was in my hands now, and no-one was going to overtake me from this point.  I love a bit of downhill so I dialled up the pace as much as I could (about 1/10th of a notch!) and set about finishing this thing. Across one road, around the fire trail and I had just a few hundred metres to go on the sealed road down the hill.. but just as I approached the line I heard thundering footsteps coming up behind me.. - no just kidding !  It was all smooth sailing from there across the finish line - yaaaaaay!!!  2nd female overall, 1st in masters and one score settled. yay!!!!!

Moments after the finish. 
2013summary
K.I. Day 3 Saturday, 28 December 2013
K.I. Day 2 Friday, 27 December 2013
K.I. Friday, 27 December 2013
Belair National Park Wednesday, 25 December 2013
Special Talents Monday, 23 December 2013
The K2K Sunday, 22 December 2013
Takeaway Sunday, 22 December 2013
Morning Paddle Wednesday, 18 December 2013
Before and After #28 Wednesday, 18 December 2013
Milestones Sunday, 15 December 2013
Run-Sheet Sunday, 15 December 2013
Gingerbread Houses Sunday, 15 December 2013
It must be December.. Sunday, 1 December 2013
Not at all the plan..not even a bit Sunday, 24 November 2013
in other news.. Thursday, 21 November 2013
Winners are grinners! Saturday, 16 November 2013
Before & after #28 Friday, 15 November 2013
Triple Tops Mark IV Sunday, 10 November 2013
Lake Rosebery Paddle Sunday, 10 November 2013
Tullah Challenge Saturday, 9 November 2013
Assumptions Friday, 8 November 2013
Halloween Orienteering Sunday, 27 October 2013
Chocolate Saturday, 26 October 2013
Fine and Windy, with a chance of Sulkiness Saturday, 26 October 2013
Archives.. Friday, 25 October 2013
Freycinet Challenge - Part 3 Friday, 25 October 2013
In safe hands Friday, 25 October 2013
Freycinet Challenge - Part 2 Wednesday, 23 October 2013
Freycinet Challenge Part I Tuesday, 22 October 2013
Dogs and Babies Saturday, 19 October 2013
Mt Amos Sculpture Trail Friday, 11 October 2013
Contrasts Thursday, 10 October 2013
Walking Machines Wednesday, 9 October 2013
Fishing Wednesday, 9 October 2013
Mt Graham Wednesday, 9 October 2013
Restraint Tuesday, 8 October 2013
Overnight Hike Tuesday, 8 October 2013
Harrowing Journeys Part #4 Tuesday, 8 October 2013
Harrowing Journeys Part #3 Monday, 7 October 2013
Harrowing Journeys Part #2 Monday, 7 October 2013
Harrowing Journeys - Part I Sunday, 6 October 2013
McComb Swimming Carnival Wednesday, 2 October 2013
Fishy Update #3 Wednesday, 2 October 2013
Lift Lounging Wednesday, 2 October 2013
not so much riding Tuesday, 17 September 2013
Sensational Sydney Tuesday, 17 September 2013
Fishy Update #2 Tuesday, 17 September 2013
It's Back! Saturday, 7 September 2013
one of these things.. Saturday, 7 September 2013
Piñata Update Saturday, 31 August 2013
Fishy Update #1 Saturday, 31 August 2013
Home-Made Friday, 30 August 2013
We should have gotten meerkats Friday, 30 August 2013
Rainbows and Puppydogs Monday, 26 August 2013
Redbanks Sunday, 25 August 2013
Soccer Season Saturday, 24 August 2013
Bookweek.. Friday, 23 August 2013
Jon in the Winter Challenge Wednesday, 21 August 2013
Well this is quaint.. Wednesday, 21 August 2013
Winter Challenge 2013 Sunday, 18 August 2013
Preparation. Saturday, 17 August 2013
Proclamation Day Saturday, 17 August 2013
Inevitabilities Sunday, 11 August 2013
Saturday Afternoons Saturday, 10 August 2013
Sunrises Saturday, 10 August 2013
Re-surfacing.. Saturday, 10 August 2013
look! Saturday, 10 August 2013
Magic Melbourne Thursday, 1 August 2013
Sunday Paddle Sunday, 21 July 2013
Saturday Paddle Saturday, 20 July 2013
The novelty is over Saturday, 20 July 2013
Happy Birthday Me! Sunday, 14 July 2013
and in other news.. Saturday, 13 July 2013
Egg Island Circumnavigation Saturday, 13 July 2013
The Icebreaker Part IIIIII - wrap up Tuesday, 9 July 2013
The Icebreaker Part IIIII Tuesday, 9 July 2013
The Icebreaker Part IIII Monday, 8 July 2013
The Icebreaker Part III Monday, 8 July 2013
The Icebreaker Part II Monday, 8 July 2013
The Icebreaker Part I Sunday, 7 July 2013
Nerves Wednesday, 3 July 2013
Frosty Toes Wednesday, 3 July 2013
Going Up Wednesday, 3 July 2013
Aurora Chasing Wednesday, 3 July 2013
Monster Cake Wednesday, 3 July 2013
Dark Mofo Wednesday, 26 June 2013
Mona Wednesday, 19 June 2013
Working in Miniature Sunday, 16 June 2013
Wheels.. Friday, 14 June 2013
Aurora Chasing Saturday, 8 June 2013
Tas Sprint Champs Saturday, 8 June 2013
Beautiful Bicheno Saturday, 8 June 2013
Saturdays Friday, 7 June 2013
Soccer Buddies Friday, 7 June 2013
Utensil Update III Friday, 7 June 2013
Doing the Hard Yards Friday, 7 June 2013
Small Change Sunday, 26 May 2013
Sunday Morning Paddle Sunday, 26 May 2013
Work Friday, 24 May 2013
Not great value Friday, 24 May 2013
Today was not a good day for Mr Fish.. Wednesday, 22 May 2013
Utensil Update II Wednesday, 22 May 2013
Utensil Update Friday, 17 May 2013
Having fun with the children.. Thursday, 16 May 2013
Mini Cupcakes Wednesday, 15 May 2013
Ye Olde Hobart Sunday, 12 May 2013
Dog People Sunday, 12 May 2013
Early Mornings Sunday, 12 May 2013
North West Bay Sunday, 5 May 2013
Tip Trip Sunday, 5 May 2013
Sculpture Trail Friday, 26 April 2013
New Bike Monday, 22 April 2013
Wombat 100 Part 3 Wednesday, 17 April 2013
Wombat 100 Part 2 Monday, 15 April 2013
Wombat 100 Part 1 Monday, 15 April 2013
Disco Zali Sunday, 14 April 2013
Spirit of Tasmania Saturday, 6 April 2013
Last Day.. Saturday, 6 April 2013
Mt Buller Summit Friday, 5 April 2013
What we're not doing this winter.. Friday, 5 April 2013
Jon's Ride Friday, 5 April 2013
you win some, you lose some, and then you get sick.. Friday, 5 April 2013
You win some, you lose some Friday, 5 April 2013
Luna Park Friday, 5 April 2013
Metropolitan Meerkats Friday, 5 April 2013
Bendigo and surrounds Monday, 1 April 2013
Cape Huay and the Three Capes Project Monday, 25 March 2013
Tarn Shelf Walk Sunday, 24 March 2013
Canberra Sunday, 24 March 2013
Capital Punishment 50k Monday, 18 March 2013
The Best Bike Bag Ever Friday, 15 March 2013
Lovely Kids Saturday, 9 March 2013
Beach Shadows Saturday, 9 March 2013
The best leg Monday, 4 March 2013
Summer Survival Monday, 4 March 2013
Sunday Night Dinner Monday, 4 March 2013
Bruny Island Paddling Weekend Sunday, 24 February 2013
Cuteness Friday, 22 February 2013
For Dr Evil Thursday, 21 February 2013
Almost Perfect Thursday, 21 February 2013
Lucky lucky lucky Thursday, 21 February 2013
Complaints Thursday, 21 February 2013
My thoughts exactly! Thursday, 14 February 2013
Lunchtime Ride Thursday, 14 February 2013
Our new pet Sunday, 10 February 2013
Modern Family Sunday, 10 February 2013
Blue Dragon Part 2 Sunday, 10 February 2013
The Blue Dragon Part 1 Saturday, 9 February 2013
Wardrobe! Thursday, 31 January 2013
Mad Monday Monday, 28 January 2013
Jetty Beach, Bruny Island Sunday, 27 January 2013
Thursday night paddling group Sunday, 27 January 2013
News Flash Thursday, 24 January 2013
Sunday Paddle Sunday, 20 January 2013
I have perfect eyebrows. Thursday, 17 January 2013
Little Adventures Sunday, 13 January 2013
Maria Island Friday, 11 January 2013
Face painting Friday, 11 January 2013
before & after #27 Friday, 11 January 2013
bang for your buck Monday, 7 January 2013
Surfing at Maria Island Sunday, 6 January 2013
Slide of Doom Sunday, 6 January 2013
Picture Perfect Sunday, 6 January 2013