As one of the hardest races on the circuit, with a 400m, 12% climb hidden in the bike course, its always going to take its toll on a number of legs! But personally I like the tough courses and was excited to race this course a long way out!
Unfortunately race prep was a little hampered coming down with yet another cold in the week leading up to the race, but I was still hopeful that after many a lemon, ginge,r and garlic hippy tea I would be able to put in solid race....Unfortunately Madrid had other plans for me, and the race resembled something more like what I would pick up and put in a doggy bag before throwing it in the trash.
Race day was lovely, good weather, a festy brown looking lake (which i would put money on has dead bodies floating in there somewhere), and of course a park full of prostitutes hiding in the bushes of Casa del Campo to boost crowd numbers!
On the pontoon I was focused to put aside the fatigued sensation I had already and was ready to give it my best and see what my body could dish up, still confident i could get a reasonable result. About 300m into the brown water, I knew it was going to be a tough day. I was having trouble breathing, my arms were flat, and the punch up round the first buoy had begun. Unfortunately the punch up lasted until after the first lap where I finally had clear water..clear water I didnt want, as I just lost touch of the pack and swam in off the pace to exit the water spent. All plans to use the long transition run ti get back also went out the window, as I just started to feel how much this ilness had drained from my body. Onto the bike wasnt much better. Disappointing as I had been riding well and feeling really strong in the lead up, but I was spent, and though I tried to whim the body on to make ammends for my loss in the water I was done. As I picked up a couple of stragglers who had been dropped from the bike packs, it wasnt much use as I TT'd the 40 long km before heading out to the run a very demoralising time behind. I ran ok, not to my potential but better than most, but it was too late, and when i finally crossed that finish line in a mere 46th. I was done, drained, and disappointed. But the body just didnt have it in it at all this day.
Not an exciting day for the aussies this day all round, with both the boys and girls postting results well below capabilities, next WCS Kitzbuhel, can only get better! Madrid line honours went to Alistair Brownlee (GBR) and Paula Findlay (CAN)
On a positive note on Madrid, the coffee shop did a mad smoothie, and the shopping is well worth a look!! So its not all bad!
Flick xo