So after what is fair to say is an extended break from the world of blogging, I feel obliged to post some banter! Taking a more extended somewhat forced break it has been a pretty tough off season for me this year. Wanting to take some different direction to improve myself, and reflect on my prevoius year and what I want to achieve in the years to come, my summer was turned on its head, and in reality left me in arguably the hardest and most challenging period of my triathlon career thus far.
With this came a change in race plan, and deciding to sit out on the early races after a training stint in Melbourne and a cheerleading routine at IM Melbourne, it was bag packing and heading off on the long trip to Sumatra for a premium Asian Cup. Lucky enough this trip to meet up with some local west aussies, it was a successful voyage. Landing in a somewhat more poverty stricken country always makes way for some educational worldy experience and taps in how lucky we are living here in Aus, and how lucky I am to do something I love every day.
Saying that the Indo's were a hoot! treated like rockstars and swarmed by people wanting photos you felt like an A list celebrity! haha what a crack up it was having half the street yelling and cheering and lining up for photos when you were just out for a spin to ease the jetlag! It also highlights how high maintenance we are in teh western world spoilt for choice, when you can see so many friendly little kids whos day is made by a wave from a white person on a bicycle, and the excitement of the volunteers to be part of such an event. I am always happy to support races like that even if the events are run below par, because they try and it exposes these kids and people to things they may otherwise have never even heard of - Triathlon.
Race day started off super early, sporting some funky new scody togs, soon to be smeared by lake muck, and the humidity on the pointy end of things.I had prepared diligently for the humidity, as historically I nothing short of suck, in humidity. A one lap wiggly swim with a lane rope the whole way suited me and my horrible direction sense in the water was kept on track, exiting the h20 3rd with a reasonable gap to make up I wasnt to phased to just chop away with the 2 other girls I exited with as I knew the girls up fron didnt have the advantage of a big group I was accustomed to chasing. Sure enough one lap in we were rolling together just filling time until the run.
Out on the run I had NOOO idea what to expect as I had barely raced and only done a very small amount of time on intensity, add to that 300% humidity and hey anything could happen. Lucky for me something did happen, and I got away from the start and the girls didnt come with me :) so I just focused on relaxing and keeping it under wraps so not to be a fatality to humidity. With plenty of go "mister mister" support on the sideline...im not really sure to be greatful for the cheering or offended at being called male...It was nice to get a race under the belt, and better still a win and my first oversized novelty cheque! :)
After a finishing up with race duties myself and my "WA WA" buddy Troy Dawg, hitched a ride on the bakc of some locals scooter into town, where I was positive I was digging myself a live grave, none the less the locals I entrusted with my life delivered, and we arrived with a heart beat, and enough time to see the Indonesian life, a group of goats walk down the busy main road?...and make it back to catch the aeroplane home sweet home. Great experience and the hospitality of the indonesian volunteers was second to none, but happy to make it back to my bed.
Flick x
With this came a change in race plan, and deciding to sit out on the early races after a training stint in Melbourne and a cheerleading routine at IM Melbourne, it was bag packing and heading off on the long trip to Sumatra for a premium Asian Cup. Lucky enough this trip to meet up with some local west aussies, it was a successful voyage. Landing in a somewhat more poverty stricken country always makes way for some educational worldy experience and taps in how lucky we are living here in Aus, and how lucky I am to do something I love every day.
Saying that the Indo's were a hoot! treated like rockstars and swarmed by people wanting photos you felt like an A list celebrity! haha what a crack up it was having half the street yelling and cheering and lining up for photos when you were just out for a spin to ease the jetlag! It also highlights how high maintenance we are in teh western world spoilt for choice, when you can see so many friendly little kids whos day is made by a wave from a white person on a bicycle, and the excitement of the volunteers to be part of such an event. I am always happy to support races like that even if the events are run below par, because they try and it exposes these kids and people to things they may otherwise have never even heard of - Triathlon.
Race day started off super early, sporting some funky new scody togs, soon to be smeared by lake muck, and the humidity on the pointy end of things.I had prepared diligently for the humidity, as historically I nothing short of suck, in humidity. A one lap wiggly swim with a lane rope the whole way suited me and my horrible direction sense in the water was kept on track, exiting the h20 3rd with a reasonable gap to make up I wasnt to phased to just chop away with the 2 other girls I exited with as I knew the girls up fron didnt have the advantage of a big group I was accustomed to chasing. Sure enough one lap in we were rolling together just filling time until the run.
Out on the run I had NOOO idea what to expect as I had barely raced and only done a very small amount of time on intensity, add to that 300% humidity and hey anything could happen. Lucky for me something did happen, and I got away from the start and the girls didnt come with me :) so I just focused on relaxing and keeping it under wraps so not to be a fatality to humidity. With plenty of go "mister mister" support on the sideline...im not really sure to be greatful for the cheering or offended at being called male...It was nice to get a race under the belt, and better still a win and my first oversized novelty cheque! :)
After a finishing up with race duties myself and my "WA WA" buddy Troy Dawg, hitched a ride on the bakc of some locals scooter into town, where I was positive I was digging myself a live grave, none the less the locals I entrusted with my life delivered, and we arrived with a heart beat, and enough time to see the Indonesian life, a group of goats walk down the busy main road?...and make it back to catch the aeroplane home sweet home. Great experience and the hospitality of the indonesian volunteers was second to none, but happy to make it back to my bed.
Flick x
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