Race Reports: First Olympic Distance

Race Reports: First Olympic Distance

Having completed several sprint triathlons so far, Matthew’s first attempt at an Olympic Distance Triathlon was a complete success! Let’s hear what he thought about his race.

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The Race Report

First Olympic distance triathlon in the bag. Longest race to date … so far. 👀

Overall, I was very happy with the outcome. I had a plan in mind and executed it pretty much perfectly.

The Build Up

Race weekend arrived, and I’d put in hours and hours of training over the last few months all leading to the race. Taper week had been good, feeling strong and I was happy with my equipment, using new gear for each discipline that I had tested leading up to the race.

I was excited to say the least.

I drove down on my own so not to get the whole family up at the crack of dawn, I enjoy the drive to a race alone, it gives me time to reflect on training and also final thoughts on executing the race. Jasper and Terri-Ann arrived whilst I was putting my wetsuit on in transition, perfect timing. Jasper was shouting “come on Daddy, you can do this, you’re going to win!!” All the while the other participants laughing at his chants! This really put a smile on my face and put me in a good head space for the start, I was settled.

Standing at the waters edge, briefing complete, I entered the lake. Having only swam OW in the Liverpool docks, I wasn’t sure on what to expect temperature wise, but it was pleasant. Few short stints to warm up and it was time to line up.

The Swim

Speaking to a few other Swim Squad members prior to the race, guidance was to get close to the front, so positioned myself front row on the left. From the off it was relatively straightforward, no flying elbow or spinning heel kicks, I found a pace and rhythm and stuck to it. I knew people would go by me, especially as some were in a sprint race (only 1 lap).

First buoy came up and I had a bit of traffic, I didn’t want to use lots of energy getting by so I took my time. This was my thought process throughout to be honest. I had 2 issues with the swim.

1. My goggles steamed up by start of the second lap. I could not see the buoys so had to do a few strokes of water polo to get a better view. I know we discussed this, but I’ll be looking for better goggles (for me). Perhaps I should have stopped to wipe them, I don’t know.
2. Issue number 2 was toward the end of the last lap… I had caught a wave of swimmers, they were all doing breastroke and they were scattered. There were a few swift changes in direction which cost me valuable time. Next time, I’ll go wide and keep a steady pace.

For Olympic distance, I was 5th or 6th out of the water, but still room for improvement.

T1

I took my time here getting the wetsuit off and ensuring I had everything set, I was new to the wet suit scene, so nothing ground breaking. Bike was pre loaded with nutrition to save time

The Bike

I came out of T1 pretty quick, feeling strong. The first half of the course was pretty flat / downhill, so settled in aero position and  used that to my advantage. The course was split for sprint, olympic and middle / full distances with specific road signs for each.

I expected to be overtaken a lot on the bike this didn’t happen. Instead of thinking “I’m going pretty quick here keep it up”, I thought “oh no have I take a wrong turn, or missed a turn”. This doubt lasted from about 5k in until 15k, then I saw the sign. Relief. Head down and cracked on.

A few steep hills in the second half and as I approached I saw riders off the bike and pushing, slightly worried until I saw they were on MTBs. I kept the legs spinning. Last 3k there was a long gradual uphill, I was flying past the last of the sprint race riders until I was overtaken on the crest by 6th position in my race. Admittedly, I didn’t like that one bit so on the downhill I threw a bit more coal on the fire and teared past him. 😆 

I led us in to T2, but I didn’t see him for a while after that.

Nutrition on the bike was good, stuck to my timings of consuming gels and the energy bar I took. Electrolytes in my drinks, too, felt strong throughout … oh and my new wheels were bloody brilliant!! 😬

T2

Bit of traffic getting in to T2, slower sprint riders walking their bikes in, cost me and my new found rival a few seconds each. I switched the new carbon wheels for new carbon plated shoes, pick up a gel and a sweet and off I went.

The Run

I started (what I thought was) too quick. 4.25-4.30 pace through the woods exiting the park and onto the main track. After 1k I decided maybe this was my new 10k race pace, I had been training hard, I’d just never had the chance to test myself. I stuck to it.

There were 3 small climbs on the first 2.5k and then again in reverse for the return. I wasn’t expecting these but head up and kept going.

There was guy a few hundred metres I front of me, I kept my eye on him as reference. Toward the end of the first double back point I saw my bike rival go past me in the opposite direction, he was flying. I saw him twice more at each double back point, I just met him a little earlier each time. 🤣 Not to worry, I still had my trusty reference guy.

First lap done and my pace was consistent. I was catching my ref guy, he was slowing. Last climb of the outlap I caught him and he stopped as I overtook him, a small victory. I timed my jelly sweet just before the double back point so I could take on water after it. With no one running infront of me I thought I’d pick up the pace. I’d never felt better on a run this distance. Last KM was pretty much a sprint, and I managed another sprint finish over the line 💪🏽

As I approached the line I heard “And here is Matthew Flood finishing in 6th place!!”.

What!?

I thought there was a mistake. I was so shocked. I went to find the family and they had heard it too. I was over the moon.

Reflection

At no point during that race did I think “what am I doing here, I cant do this”. I never thought I’d see top 10, nevermind 6th.

I loved every swim stroke, bike pedal and stride of the race.

At the time I was shocked at 6th, yes, there were not thousands in the race, but I still had to come before everyone else who finished behind me.

After a day or so, still thinking about it, I thought to myself …

“Why should I be shocked at 6th in this scenario!? I have applied myself. Trained hard, was motivated, had supportive family / friends, a group of superb people to train with that pushed me every session and a coach that knew exactly what I needed to unlock my ability.”

I may never see 6th position again, but if I can race like that every time I will be more than happy!!

Thanks Bryan for giving me the guidance and plans to accomplish this one. Your coaching, as always, has been unmatched.

On to the next. 😌

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Race Reports: First Olympic Distance

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