The flights were officially paid for, wow, it was getting real!
The lists were getting made as to what I need to stock up on, pictures of Cozumel were getting posted onto Facebook, especially about the temperature of the water. Questions such as; ‘How are you feeling?’ ‘Are you ready?’ ‘How’s the training going?’ were starting to get thrown around and I had the same answer every time someone asked me. My dad was getting worried that I wasn’t focused enough, 2 months, a month, 3 weeks, 2 weeks before the race because I wasn’t talking about it, at all!! Everyone has their own way of dealing with nerves for a race, in my case, I don’t talk about it. This is strange for me, because I’m not often quiet, hence why he was worried. I think my dad was more nervous than me anyway. Don’t worry dad I was focused.
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I’ve been on the big island for a week, and its quite clear that there is something brewing. We’re pretty fortunate to be staying on Ali’I Drive about 2 miles from the start. In our complex, we have three world champs and about 15 other professionals just hanging around, going for rides and runs like we all do.
Yup, for the first time in yonks, the race felt way bigger than me. I've been happy with a lot of results in the past but on this day I was completely overwhelmed and incapable of keeping It together. Thankfully I was in good company and we yelled and screamed and acted completely crazy in a momentary relapse of pure excitement and joy.
A win at the world championships was incomprehensible. It has been a long time of wishing, hoping, training, fatigue, disappointment and patience to reach this moment in my triathlon journey. I knew that taking a gap last year, under the advisement of coach, was the right thing to do. The focus was to do a few longer races and stepping away from the standard distance. I'm not a fan of anything longer than a 2:30hr race. I think everyone I train with knows this. The long stuff chokes me and bored me. But, none the less I followed the plan. When SA Short course champs arrived I was excited to race and soon enough the passport and air tickets to the magical Island of Cozumel, Mexico were ready. Bela Bela 5150 was supposed to be my return to triathlon after recovering from a major op in Jan. The limited local racing calendar ruled out anything before June/July and I was in no shape to be considering Durban 70.3. Unfortunately, the Bela Bela date then clashed with a family commitment and race 1 now became The Cape Ultra. With flights, accommodation, bike transport and the likes all organised, I was going.
The trip was planned with the regular military precision that comes with Ty (brother-in-law and fellow Trifactri athlete) and I going away. The flights and car hire sorted months in advance, house booked in Theewaterskloof Golf Estate 10kms from the venue, we had it all covered. Travelling down on the Friday gave us plenty of time to travel through the Cape winelands into Franschoek and over the pass where you then see the vast Theewaterskloof dam for the first time, all the while being distracted by the postcard views left, right, behind and in front of us. It was a tough drive to the house, Africa tough, the tough where you feel the need to stop every 5mins to appreciate the beauty Africa has to offer but we resisted and soldiered on. How did I get onto this plane that is heading to the other side of the world for a bike race?Now this is a very special bike race. It starts with a swim warm-up and ends with a jog to the finish. And it's a World Championship race.
On 8th October this year, the cannon will fire on the pier at Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, and I will be off, racing in the Ironman World Championships. Over the next few weeks, the lovely guys at Bike Hub have offered to post some of my experiences. For the moment, this piece will be about my journey to Kona, and the first impressions. Firstly – getting to Kona has been a long dream of mine, but one of those that you think will probably never happen. Probably a little worried about failure - I had never fully committed to getting to Kona, although I knew I had a reasonable chance. This season I returned from a triathlon hiatus and posted some fairly average results. I was left a bit dejected and confused about whether I had truly reached middle age. This ones for the coach
Been on the Big (Small) Island of a week now. We've been working hard since Ironman South Africa but the last 12 week block has been very focused. Travelling for 38 hours with an early 3am start, 3 flights and landing on the other side of the world on the same day is never easy. Training started the next day but we eased into the island for the first few days. Just another aspect of Lucie's experience. I've been working with Lucie since 2013 just before IM South Africa. Her exact words were she could do nothing for me on that Ironman but if I gave her 18 months she'd get me to Kona. Trifactri is coming to Pretoria! If you are in or around Pretoria and a triathlete, beginner to professional, we can help. Join the best group there is to develop and unlock your full potential and talent. We do one on one, group and online training for your personal needs. Please contact Magda Nieuwoudt for more details. Magda Nieuwoudt : [email protected] or 084 583 6845 For more information about Magda and the other Trifactri coach's, check out their bio's at www.trifactri.co.za
Thinking about 70.3 Durban there are two separate elements for me.
The first one, the one of Trifactri coach was time spent building up to the start. The weekend spent with my team, team warm up and pre-race dinner. Lots of nervous messages and last minute advice. There was no time to think about my own race but that was something I knew would be the case before I entered. I entered this race because I knew I would be in Durban to support all the Trifactri athletes and that I would feel sad not to be racing on the beautiful Durban 70.3 course. I went to this race not worrying about the outcome but going there being excited to see efforts rewarded of everyone racing, from our top guys to half Ironman virgins. Atmosphere in the team didn't disappoint. There was lot of laughs, nerves and amazing spirit. I loved every moment of it. My journey to Durban 70.3 was very mixed…I arrived in Durban with a huge amount of self-doubt. I was not convinced I could do the race. I knew I could do the individual distances but not all together. As people around me got more and more excited I got more nervous – I definitely was not caught up in the excitement of the whole event – actually I got worse as the race got closer. If it was not for a very supportive husband (Chris) and the TriFactri team members I would really have struggled to get to the starting block.
About two years ago I was diagnosed with a severe anxiety disorder as a result of specific events in my life. I was in and out of hospital with a very strict diet, and different Drs’ trying a variety of medications until I was finally diagnosed and treated accordingly. Being somewhat stubborn and having a strong mind I decided during the middle of last year I no longer wanted to be on strong daily medication and I that would try and manage my anxiety myself. Up until Durban I hadn’t really been in a situation where I could properly test my ability to manage my anxiety disorder……. I FAILED. I failed so badly that it very nearly ruined my whole race experience. Can I get a blog from you? A question I have never been asked before but have been asked twice in the last two days! Writing has never been my forte but I will tell my story the best I can!
So lets start at the beginning – Months of training, early mornings, long rides, intense pool sessions and generally just hectic training sessions day in and day out – But would this all pay off? Would I finish? How long would it take me? Would my foot injury hold out? All questions racing through my mind every single time I thought about the race. It did, it all paid off. Janine, yes, beginner Janine, here I am.. but as of the past weekend, as Luc would say, no longer a beginner. I took part in the Sun City ultra this past weekend – My very first one! And yes, I managed to somehow cross that finish line! The power of team work in an individual sport is something so precious. It doesn’t happen often enough for me. My schedule usually finds me doing many of my sessions on my own, but there are two sessions in the week when I immerse myself in the “group”. It is when I get to run in harmony with track team mates or push a long sweet stretch of tar side by side on the bike with sweat sitting on the front edge of my helmet.
When it’s over we laugh at the fact that we did it and did it well, or console that it was shitty but so much better to have hated it with company. It’s special for the words of encouragement received as you ache to the end of a set that has left you lagging, or the “come on – push to the line – you are looking strong” that you say to those who need it. My husband, Chris, was the first to join team TriFacTri. It was a big deal you know, not just anybody got to train with the infamous Lucie Zelenkova! So when Lucie decided to take Chris on as an athlete we were so excited! He flourished from the minute he started training with the group and had many podiums to show for it. I was the ‘team photographer’ which made me so proud. I loved every second of snapping these super-humans (whom I looked up to each time I got to spend time with them)… and I still love photographing each athlete every chance I get.
This past year has presented me with enormous life challenges, both personally and at work. Was it the masochist in me that led me to add to these challenges by taking on the physical challenge of an Ironman. Was it ego, that I was determined that though my head be bloodied, I would prove to the world it would remain unbowed. Was it just the right time, after years of dabbling in different sports, to bring it all together. Why now?
It’s been difficult to put a race report together for my Ironman at the African Championships last week. The outcome seems to have overshadowed the race itself.
I’ve been playing this game for a few years now and been following Ironman racing for a lot longer. After a few disappointments, and some time away I wanted a special last Ironman. My plan was to finish my career and have a race that I would be proud of. No expectations, no time, no place, no goals. Our age group is insanely competitive. At least 5 top athletes from Trifactri alone, add a few sub-9 hour finishers, then half of Europe and the usual mix of strong Saffa’s, making a top 20 place is a great result. So no expectation or pressure to place well… just a plan to perform in my last race. My greatest motivation has always come from failure. Going back to September last year, Ironman Mallorca was that failure. It was humbling to put in a good performance but still be totally blown away by the European competition.
Lucie, Andrea and I discussed a winter training plan to overcome firstly my shortcomings on the bike and secondly a programme that would include mostly (what turned out to be a complete) indoor winter. The other main goal was to race at 65kg's, considering I'd raced Kona at about 72kg's this was going to be a challenge without losing power. During October I invested in tests, equipment and software to ensure each and every session would be tracked and analysed. During November, December and the first half of January I trained. I worked hard but allowed myself to enjoy my training. Sessions were moved around to fit my day to day and work travelling. I'd say 90% of the sessions were completed but I never stressed if I missed one or had to cut one short. Time was spent training with Andrea, swimming with the club and running a few off road lanes. Basically I loved training. I’ve been asking myself what it is about this Ironman thing that keeps me wanting more…?
After Kona last year, I entered a bit of a no-man’s-land (so many people told me this would happen), I didn’t rest enough but I couldn’t stop training. I was nursing a hip injury and a knee that would hurt on and off right up to race day. The worst part is that I kept most of this from Lucie just in case she stopped updating my Training Peaks (really!?). In January I ended up at my physio, Julia Witt, somewhat over-trained, stressed about starting a new career and not quite sure what was next for me with regard to triathlon. At this point I wasn’t running as my hip was too sore. In our first session she asked me, “Why are you beating yourself with this big stick?” and I know this sounds weird but I began a journey with her where we got to understand how my body works, but more importantly how my mind works and what are the things that drive me both positively and negatively. The morning began with a final stop in at transition to do the last little things that needed to be done before the race. My bike and transition bags were set and ready. At this stage I was feeling fairly calm with a few butterflies in the stomach. Being around the Trifactri group also helped settle the nerves and kept me smiling. We slipped into our wet-suits, said our final goodbyes and headed down to line up in the starting pens.
The swim went off smoothly; the rolling starts really do allow a pleasant experience in the water. The sea was fairly calm and I enjoy swimming up and down in the swells. After a very long drag along the shore with an endless amount of yellow bouys, the turn around bouy was in sight. The sea on the way back wasn't as pleasant as heading out, but still quite an enjoyable. Finally it was the last turn around and I was heading back to the beach. Running out the water I felt great and was satisfied with the time which I had completed the swim. The big one, the main event, and the reason for so many early nights and even earlier mornings. Ironman! The race was finally here, race weekend was upon us and to be honest, I have never been more excited! This was my first attempt at the full Ironman and I actually couldn’t wait.
Sleepless nights in the days running up to Sunday 10 April were the order of the day, anxiety my starter, excitement the main course and just a hint of fear for dessert. This was it! I really wish there was an Ironman every week, even though my body may disagree. Trifactri members were asked for comments on the ducks at the track at UJ. Here are some of their responses:
Bhavik (always first): I don't like ducks. Nasty little creatures. They don't have teeth. Eugene: Luc, how many qualifying spots for Kona are there in my age group at Beijing? Robyn: Their brown eye patches are so cute😀😘😚 Ty: Wonder what those ducks eat? Hmmm. Hmmmmmmm. Lucky I've got that lemon meringue pie in the car. The Midlands Ultra was a race I had always wanted to come back to after a mishap in December 2013.
This year it promised to be a lot hotter and drier. On arrival at Midmar Dam in 2013 - I couldn't see any dam because of the mist and rain - this year I almost couldn't see any dam because of the drought. A warmup swim the day before was without wetsuit as Craig assured us the warm water was just like Kona... (Apart from some barbel replacing Dolphins, and the visibility being 20 cm not 20 meters...but same same!) In the run-up to my first ever Ironman I knew i had to complete an ultra distance event. For time reasons it had to be the Prestige Ultra in Sasolburg on 28 Feb. The fact it was reputed to be a flat course was not irrelevant to my decision tree! I was looking forward to travelling down with Eugene and his girlfriend Shannon. However Huge fell ill shortly after the monster Sunday set of 30 x 800m and was forbidden by coach Lucie to race. So Shannon decided not to race either. One down.Then on Wednesday at track i heard that Karl and Gareth were going to do the sprint event. Phew. So at least i would have some Trifactri peeps on the scene. Had a bad couple of days of sleep and was not feeling great.
SOME HIGH’S AND LOWS
So after finishing Ironman Mallorca last year I had a pretty dismal end to the year. I took about a month off training after Mallorca (coach’s orders) and with about a weeks training, I decided to give 5150 African Champs (Germiston) a bash. SA Time trial champs, first time, new experience, new rules and new people. Thinking I can just
pack up my tri suit and my bike and arrive at the start line to ride a measly 24km. Boy was I wrong! The day before the race we go to register and they ask me for my licence, and I proudly give them my drivers licence. They look at me and say no, we need the your cycling licence. Fail #1. Then I proudly present my Pinnarello Bolide to the official and he says ' you can not ride this. I either have to move my saddle back 5cm or move my extensions back 2cm. After much debating, pushing and pulling, one genius Mcgyver fixed my bike, moved my extensions back and fitted into the 75cm range. Fail # 2. |
Authors:Where Trifactri athletes get to tell their side of the Swim, Bike and Run Archives
May 2018
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