- Home
- Membership
- Training Sessions
- Calendar
- Social
- Juniors
-
Race reports
Race reports
Race reports Celtman! 2023 by Duncan Kinnear Montreal ITU Age Group World Champs 2022 - Oggi Zurzolo Perth Marathon 2021 – Alexandra Meek Bunbury State Champs Race Report – Jonathan Good, bad and ugly – Bunbury Olympic Distance 2021 – Hamish Delo 2/3 Bunbury triathlon report - Min Gao Busselton 70.3 – Run, Alberto, Run… by Alberto Puccini Expect the unexpected - Busselton 70.3 2021 - by Oggi Zurzolo Manama Jeff - Busselton 70.3 2021 - by Jonney Sammut and Nick Th Introducing Triathlons – Hamish Delorenzo – Busselton 70.3 17/10 Alberto Puccini - Bunbury Olympic Distance Great Southern Ultra Challenge - Tony Smith Gaby Villa - 70.3 Los Cabos 2019 Alison Smith - ITU Lausanne Sprint World Championship Justin Ghosh - 70.3 Phillipines Aquathlon Nationals, Rahul Jegatheva IMNZ 2019, Sarah Meyer National Youth Champs, Lottie Thompson Bunbury OD, 17/02/2019, Alberto Puccini Busselton Jetty Swim, 10/02/2019, Phil Madden MetaSprint Aquathlon 2019 Singapore, Rahul Jegatheva IMWA 2018 Race Report, Alexandra Meek Ironman WA training and race report, Alex Williams Nathaniel Wells – Ironman WA Busselton 2018 Post Race Report Mount Magnet 1400, Tony Smith School Sport State Championships, Tommaso and Lottie WA State Duathlon Championships 2018 wrap-up, Nick Thompson Gold Coast ITU Age Group World Champs 2018, Gaby Villa Woburner long course, Alex Meek & Daniel Sly City to Surf marathon 2018 Post-race report, Nathaniel Wells City to Surf Marathon - Planning is key!, Angus Duncan Cyclocross – the winter sport a triathlete should do, T.Smith Perth Marathon photos June 17 2018 2017/2018 race reports Mooloolaba/Triathlon UniGames - Nick Thompson
- Club Awards Club Awards
- Contact
Expect the unexpected - Busselton 70.3 2021 - by Oggi Zurzolo
Expect the unexpected - Busselton 70.3 2021 - by Oggi Zurzolo
This was not the race report I was hoping to put pen to paper, but it’s the race that happened.
I tried to hide the anxious mess I was in the lead up to Busselton (a minor lockdown surely didn’t help). It reminded me of how I felt before I embarked my very first triathlon about 16months ago. It wasn’t until the day before the race, while going to check in and absorbing the atmosphere that I started to feel pumped and ready to rumble.
I remember twiddling my thumbs while I waited to be the last wave to start. I had time to watch the elite field go off and journey down to the half-way point to cheer Jonney, Nick & Flick as they exited the water. I clearly remember hearing Ralph commentating something about me as I approached the start, but at this point my heart rate had increased to a deafening level. The start of the swim made me feel like how a t-shirt feels being tossed in a washing machine, but eventually I found my so-called rhythm. I tried to find some feet to draft off, but I ended up getting kicked in the shoulders, so I opted for different feet. The swim was over before I knew it, and as I exited the water, my concentration was focused on not tripping over as I tried to get half the wetsuit off while running into T1.
I was most anxious about the bike leg, because I knew this was where things could go wrong for me. However, my mind was focused more on things like going out too hard too early, not eating or hydrating enough, or getting a flat, I didn’t expect what was to come. Somewhere between the 30 – 40km mark I started to get uncomfortable pain in my lower back. I remember dreading the bumpy roads on the course, as that didn’t help the situation. With the pain on the forefront of my mind, my nutrition and hydration plan went out the window, as my stomach seemed to shut down. I just remember telling myself to hang in there, to let go of any goal you initially had and to focus on just finishing the damn race.
The run was originally the leg I was looking forward to the most, and I was somehow wishing as I ran the pain would alleviate and disappear. I started the first km a little fast at 4:10 pace, and for a moment I felt good and thought I was in the clear, but by the second km the pain returned, I managed to push and hold onto the pace for only about 3km’s, and then I started to get a radiating numbness down my right leg. From here every km my pace was dropping 10seconds. I managed to finish the first lap but on the second my right leg went numb, my back was aching, I was dehydrated and probably on the verge of bonking and I came to a standstill. I pushed myself to at least walk, with the intention of starting to run again. I thought I would just try and do what I could to finish, and there were so many people, some I knew, some complete strangers offering words of encouragement as they passed me by. The mix of everything physically happening and my own internal critic made be breakdown in tears. Charles stopped and walked with me for a bit and helped me stretch it out, and I was very grateful for his help, but with the pain not subsiding and only getting worse, I ended up calling it quits just at the 10km mark. As I endured the walk of shame back to transition, secretly hoping that no one would see me, Steve spotted me. Steve helped me realise that I had made the right decision, as hard as it was to bear. That was my first DNF and as utterly disappointing as it was it still was an invaluable experience.
- When your coach tells you to get a bike fit, go get a goddam bike fit
- All the training leading up to this race, was not wasted. I enjoyed every moment of it and the progress being made. Whether that be the training with the club or with mates, I wouldn’t change that for the world.
- I may not be a half-ironman finisher yet, but I now understand a lot more clearly what it takes to be one, and no matter how prepared you think you might be, always expect the unexpected.
It may not have been the way I wanted to end the triathlon season, but in all honesty the journey has been a blast. Now to quote Terminator ‘I’LL BE BACK’ 
Sponsors
