Sun City Ultra

Last weekend at Sun City I started my triathlon long distance journey. After talking to my coach, we decided that the long distance triathlon will be a better option for me, as I have lacked the top end speed needed for ITU racing. This was a big step up as long distance racing is completely different to ITU racing. There is a lot more tactics involved and pacing plays a crucial role, if you go out to fast on the bike and blow, it will be a very long day of racing. Also nutrition plays a vital role, as the distance is a lot further and you race longer, timing of your nutrition as well as the amount that you will take on race day plays a big part in your performance.

At the start of the race there was a bit confusion as the race started late due to traffic cops being late and safety was a priority. This meant we would start at any given notice and made warming up for swimming a bit hard. I was very nervous for the race as it was only my second ever long distance race. I was and am still very inexperienced with this type of racing, but was confidant in my swim. Coming from an ITU background I knew my swim was strong and I can rely on it to give me a bit of breathing space for a smooth transition and an opportunity to settle in on the bike. Luckily that was the way it panned out. I was first out the water after the swim and was still feeling anxious and exited at the same time. Leaving transition I knew this is where the race would really start - whether I would have a good race or a great race.

The first few km on the cycle felt very comfortable. I was feeling good and was pushing the bike a bit. But at the back of my mind I kept thinking to myself that am I going to hard? Will I pop in a while? And where is the rest of the competitors? The cycle was a 2 lap route consisting of 45km each. So I could see the other competitors at the turn around points. This gave me a bit of insight to how I am doing compared to them. I was racing athletes who has done a lot of these races so I knew form them how I was doing and how the day is going. As expected they kept closing the gap on the bike at every turn point that I looked. I took a chance and decided at the last turn around I would wait for them and stay with them when they caught me. This meant that I could save my legs a bit on the run as well as that I would start with them. This was a risky gamble as I might have given them a big mental boost by letting them catch me. But it was a risk I was willing to take. I thought if I cycle 1min slower I might be able to run 2 faster. They caught me with 10km to go and I stuck with them till the end. It was a lot easier for me to pace myself of them then what I had to do when I was on my own. Still a lesion that I have had to learn.

When we entered transition again, I heard there was a mix up with the swim and that some athletes missed a buoy. The organizers decided to discard the swim and only take the run and bike time. This meant that my full advantage that I gained on the swim was now a disadvantage, as I had to run 4 min out of the competitors. If I had known that now then I would have not waited for them on the bike. This was a big mental blow for me, but also a challenge. I knew I had to push myself as hard as I can to see if I can make up the time as well as how hard and far I can push myself on the run. I started the run and felt quite good. I did start a bit too fast and thought I need to keep pushing but also I need to hold back that I don’t blow. The run route was quite difficult as it was around two golf courses and there was a few hills to get from one to the other. Also there was a few twists and turns to navigate. In the end I managed to complete the run and was able to run the 4min I needed to win the race. This was a good confident booster for me and I am grateful that I could have done the race and got a positive result out of it.

This was a good learning experience and I am happy for the positive outcome and I am confident that I will be able to improve in future races as I gain more experience. This success of the race is also attributed to the great support system backing me up. It goes down from my family to my coach and all my sponsors. Without them none of this would be possible. I really do appreciate it.

My next race will be the 70.3 in Rapperswil, Switzerland on the 7^th of June. This will be my first international 70.3 race and I am quite excited for the race and the whole atmosphere of racing overseas at a new distance as well as the fact that my whole family will be there to support me. Let’s hope I won’t let them down and that I will have a good race and most important of all, have fun.

Cheers

Rudolf