Ishigaki World Cup 15th April 2007

In a Triathlon so many things can happen. In some races you have control, and in some you have none. Yesterday I had absolutely zero... nothing was happening for me and nothing went right all day it felt like. To start off on the wrong foot is never a good omen and In the swim I got on the wrong side of a dodgy current and paid the price of nearly acting out a scene from the titanic.

Once I finally made it back to transition I could see I was well off the back of the first groups and on the chase! and I mean chase. Unfortunately I didn't have too many helpers at the start of the bike. Most were either just to smashed to even pull a turn. Or they just didn't want to help out. Luckily I found a confidant though In Ronaldo Collicui from Brazil. The two of us rode our legs off trying to get to the front. We made it after 15k and I was already in what I would call the hurt box!! And trust me I was deep inside this box. But I knew I just had to get to that group to have chance in the race at the end of the day.

There was a small group of three that had escaped off the front before we arrived there. Two of them are the biggest hitters on the Bike in the world of triathlon in my eyes at the moment ( Craig Walton and Marko Albert ). For company they had three time winner in Ishigaki Courtney Atkinson and that was the race right there.

Myself and Bevan tried to get the front bunch working. But with two many guys not wanting work and just sit on the three in front were taking time from us all ride. Meanwhile we were trying to hold off the second chase group which contained some of the best runners in the sport. And they were just sitting in the big bunch waiting to pounce if we let up an inch. Onto the run we were 1.42 behind the three leaders. 1st was pretty much gone unless Courtney had a massive melt down. But he's too good for that and too good here on this course.

So it became a case of could we catch the other two big hitters and get onto the podium. I started on the run like the way my day had been going so far... BAD! After one lap of the 3.3k circuit I was sitting in 12th. I just felt ordinary. I was doing everything my coaches had taught me to try and find my form and composure, but nothing was working. Then after 4k I started to feel a little better.

Then within 1k I came right. For next 2k I was running with the form I knew I had. I moved all the way up to 5th. And was on the hunt for the guys in front. At this point I had to make a decision on weather to try to chase down Bevan who was 2nd at the time and risk blowing up. Or stay within my comfort zone and make good use of my sprint finish to grab the final spot on the podium. I went with the latter and with the way my day had gone It was an easy option considering my usual way I like to race.

Two podiums, two world cups for the year. Of course I could ask for more. But at this present time in my season I'm very happy with where I am. I look towards the next phase now with so much excitement. Now It's off to Germany to set up in Europe for the year. And have a week off training YAY!!. I hope all is well with everyone.

Take care.

Kris