NOOSA RACE SUMMARY
Have finally made myself sitdown and write a little summary of the race last Sunday after many questions. I am in complete relax mode for the next few months so trying to avoid anything that feels too much like work 
On Sunday I managed to successfully defend my Noosa Triathlon title but it wasn’t without drama.
Normally a few day after a race the muscle soreness goes away, but not this time. A heavy crash at a wet and slippery roundabout around 4km before the end of the bike made me have to claw my way back through the front runners after losing a minute going into the run.
Noosa Triathlon week is simply the best in the world and this year with around 6000 participants the event felt bigger again if that is possible. This is as close to a holiday you get when racing but once the early morning alarm goes off on Sunday it’s business as usual. First and only time this year for an early morning race start 6.30am
Since the World Championship Grand Final 7 weeks ago I have kept myself in really good shape. Pretty relaxed and not at full training load, but my good end of season fitness held together. I wanted to hit the bike hard and try and ride away with the race on my new Orbea Ordu.
Funny thing was as I was being interview by channel 7 before the race they asked me weather I could make the race interesting for the show? I replied ”what do you want one of us to have a crash for you!” then proceeded to find the closest tree trunk and ‘touch wood’. Well that theory didn’t work did it!
Anyhow before the unexpected crash the race had panned out pretty much as expected. I settled into the swim well and came out with the leading 5 into transition after having improved my swim since a mid year slump in my normally strong discipline. Out onto the ride; after we settled in I tried to apply some pressure to see if I could ride on my own because of the non-drafting format, but with a pace line of 4 even with the 7 meter draft zone it was just too much wasted energy to make the jump away from the young guys who were riding much better than last years event. Know that I had the best running legs in the group I decided to relax, wait and then run hard….but that idea quickly changed.
Coming into the first of a series of roundabouts back into town I slowed slightly and started to pick my turning line but before I even had a chance to lean in I was on the ground sliding for the metal barriers. I took the full hit on my hip and shoulder and except for a bent derailer rubing on my disc my bike came through unscathed. I was up off the ground fast and trying to get going again (while a volunteer on the roundabout was yelling at me to come back for my sunnies…enjoy my new Oakley’s mate.) The other 3 guys Jimmy Sears, Josh Amberger and Clayton Fettel where out of sight and it stayed that way until I was out onto the run.
Onto the run angry at myself. Sears just won silver at under 23 worlds so I wasn’t chasing down some easy beats. I ran the first 3km like that was the finish of the race and had made the lost minute up by 4km. Kept running strong for my 10km split; which I will keep to myself on my Garmin 310X GPS then stopped short of the finish to celebrate an interesting day at the office with a minute or so to spare.
on my Garmin 310X GPS then stopped short of the finish to celebrate an interesting day at the office with a minute or so to spare.Serious stuff now over for the year. Have holdiays planned and at the end of the month will also be up at Hamilton Island for the inaurgral TRI HAMILTON ISLAND week at another amazing location for a triathlon. The race is going to be on the main resort island and also a swim race at the world famous ‘Whitehaven Beach’ + workshops by some of the worlds best in their respective areas. Sometimes I just love my job!
So congratulations to all who participated up at Noosa and good luck for the summer season of Triathlon here in Australia.
Courtney
