World Series, Kitzbuhel, Austria 15th July 2009
Morning everyone,
Its five down, and three more rounds to go for this years inaugural World Championships series. With the last three events in London ( on the the Olympic course ) Yokohama and of course the big finale in the Gold Coast. this series feels like you just finish one race, and before you know it you are preparing the next one. But that's what makes this new series so interesting, and so exciting for everyone.
Hamburg is the birth place of this World Championship series and it didn't disappoint again. There is no way to describe the atmosphere in Hamburg without really being there yourself. The course is fantastic for the spectators, and yet still provides all the qualities to find the fastest athlete on the day. When you are running around and you cant hear yourself breath from all the noise, you know its something special. All of the three hundred thousand crazy Germans screaming there know triathlon because of this race, and every year it gets bigger and better.
Heading into Hamburg I felt good, a little tired from all the training volume I was putting in, but it was necessary for the later races in the series. I knew I was fit there was no doubt, it was just about how will this race go, and will it suit my conditioning.
My swimming has been maybe my biggest improvement overall during the year so far. It's something I have had to work very hard at for so long, and still do. But Andrew ( my swim coach) and myself have started to work out what I need at certain times of the year to enable me to race consistently in the front group. And again I found myself there in Hamburg. I relaxed my way through the swim and just tagged onto to the end of the front group when we exited the water after the 1500 meters.
Once on the bike course the first group formed quickly with around 30 guys. A lap later it grew to 45, with all the big names staying near the front. That's how it stayed until a group of 4 guys slipped off the front halfway through the 40k-s. None of the guys were the big hitters on the run and they gained one minute pretty easily as everyone was happy to let them go. Which meant it became a bit of a waiting game in the bunch before the fireworks would happen on the run.
I felt pretty good early through the first k-s, and managed to settle in the front group of around 12 guys. I didn't expect anything to happen until around the half way point but Jarrod Shoemaker hit us after just 3k and the game changed. It wasn't a big change in pace, but when you are already running under 3 minutes per kilometer or around 20 kph, a little increase will do a lot of damage. I couldn't go with Jarrod so early into the 10k and just tried to relax and remain focused as I thought they may come back or to attack on the last lap. The group got smaller and smaller at the front with every kilometer. And heading into the last lap of 2.5k Jarrod was still holding 15 seconds on Brad Kahlefeldt and a further 5 seconds on a group of 7 which I was in.
We had been going along quite nicely and I felt good, so at around 8k I tried to lift the pace and catch the boys in front. As soon as I changed the rhythm and mine I got in trouble. They guys in the group realized it and attacked me straight away. That's when I knew I was in diesel mode for today!! I just couldn't change gear and the other guys did. I feel off the back of the group with 1500 meters to run, and they stretched away from me. I did find my form again once i went back to the pace I could hold and passed a couple of the boys that blew up just before the finish line. So 7th, another great result by the World Championships. It also keeps my world ranking at 8 heading into these last races with still one more race to count for me unlike some of the other guys in front of me.
Maybe the best thing of the weekend was having Chris there to observe me and how triathlon has changed over the years since he was coaching Hamish Carter. I had predicted with Chris before the race that someone could run under 30-mins in Hamburg for the 10k! and I was right. But it was not just one bloke it was four! 30.07 for myself was not bad either but 20 seconds to far from first. The game has changed there is no doubt about that. But we both know this is a work in progress and we will learn more and more from each other with each race I do. So come the Gold Coast I'll be looking to slip into the extra gear I'm looking for when I need it most.
Until then its back to work for the next two weeks before London WCS on the 15th of August.
Take care,
Kris