Beijing World Cup 24th September 2006
Hey everyone, Well another Chinese experience is over at least for this year!! Have just arrived back in Germany after racing in the World Cup in Beijing China, on the proposed course for the Olympics in 2008 and our very own NZL selection race in 2007 for the 2008 games. The course is great. It was changed a little from last years course, and made some small differences. The Bike was a little bit easier this year in my view and also the readings I got from SRM on the bike confirmed this. I think the run was also a little bit easier as they had taken a few hills out to keep everyone within view of the crowd more but it was a lot faster. But after the bike it still caught some people out.
In terms of the race I was really looking forward to it. I had based most of my year around this and the worlds and I was feeling great going into it and wanted to see if my running was going to click after the hard ride like it did at world champs. With a little bit more speed I had gained since being down from altitude I hoped for even more this time. The race didn't get off to the best start for me as I didn't hear the call for 'take your marks' and missed the start. It was only by half a second or so but it meant I was behind a wall of 85 guys and was looking for gaps to swim through all the way to the first buoy. In the World cup races these days the swim start has almost become the most important part of the whole race!! And so it was.. I got trapped on my way to the first buoy, finally got round and I knew I was a long way back..... I pushed hard and when I got out after the first lap I was 33rd... not good! There was also a gap to the first bunch. I swam really well on the second lap and exited the water 19th but still behind the first group.
I knew I had to push on the bike but I also thought it would be hard without help to bridge the gap. I was praying for some boys with strong legs to be around me too! I pushed hard the first two laps, but I got little help... we got as close as 14 seconds but just couldn't get the rest of the time. The front group got the call who was chasing and they put there head down in the front. After 3 laps my group of 7 were caught by the big group from behind of about 40 athletes. Then it was rolling around time while everyone just looked at each other. I thought to go away, and did try once but they were straight on me and it wasn't going to happen at such a slow pace as everyone was pretty fresh to cover the breaks.
I decided to wait for the run. All the best runners in the sport were in the group. World Champ Tim Don, Bevan Docherty and 4 time World cup winner this year and Comm games champ Brad Khaledfelt. I knew I was in better shape than worlds and running better so I waited like the rest. We started the run fast and the 3 I mentioned and myself separated ourselves from the big group in the first few kms of the run. Then on the second lap I moved to the front I was traveling very easy at the time and didn't feel like I pushed. But after the hill I heard a call of "ten meters" I turned and I had dropped them. I kept my pace and maintained my rhythm and went away. I was running faster than anyone on the course and was catching the guys from the front group all the time after 5k. At about 8k I was only 1min down on the leader and 27secs to 3rd and 4th but then I ran into some troubles not sure why and will have to work it out. It may have even been as simple as the smog in Beijing!! I just had real trouble breathing and this was really causing me to slow down to gain enough breath to keep moving.
Anyway no sad stories here it was a small part of the day and most of everything else went so well and I was very happy to make it back to the line in 10th place. After the way the race worked out it was a great result and I ended up still with the 4th fastest run. I maintained my consistent year of results and my 4th place in the world cup rankings. Now I have one week off just recovering from traveling and racing. Then start back into it for the last two races of the World Cup season. Cancun and of course the end of year final BACK AT HOME IN NEW PLYMOUTH can't wait!!! So take care to all of you in 22 months we will all be back there again in Beijing doing it on the big stage and realising a dream.
Cheers, Kris