Another week down and another weekend of successful racing! This week I was in Kinloch, Taupo at the ITU Oceania Sprint Champs. After a hugely delayed flight on Air NZ to Auckland we finally got there, picked up my parents car and drove down with the family to Taupo. Arriving at 9pm at night instead of the predicted 4pm in the afternoon. I went for a quick run, but soon it was dark and I decided it was safer to go to bed than keep running on the streets in Taupo.
Saturday was a good day for a session on the course, it was set up for a criterium style multi lap race (similar to the other ITU events to make a spectator friendly race). I cycled the bike course and then ran the run loop a few times to refresh in my mind where the twist, turns, climbs and descents were. With my map in hand I found the changes from previous years and noted them in my head ready for Sunday. By this time I thought I was warm enough to go for a quick dip, one very fast lap around the course to stop myself freezing completely and a quick transition to home for some warmer clothes! Still I guessed the temperature to be around 20 degrees and later that day at the registration I was told it was currently 21 degrees, so I was right and no wetsuits were permitted for the race swim – I was glad I braved it!
The race was a bit later than usual, we started after the men’s race finished at 1.50pm. Tri NZ had such a busy morning with so many different races on it was incredible. Hats off to Haidee the events manager from Tri NZ, who continues to amaze me running around organising things pre and post race and well done to all those that competed in the Erin Baker triathlon earlier in the day – I heard there was over 700 participants!
The swim was pretty rough, which is good practice for the Oceania standard distance champs in Wellington I am sure! I have changed my swim technique slightly to suit open water swimming better and manage the chop on the water, things seemed to work well as I found myself leading the swim until the final few meters and positioned myself comfortably amongst the lead group. My race plan then was then to see how the lead bunch was working together and figure out their pacing. After the first lap riding with them and nothing eventful happening I knew it was going to be much more exciting if I rode away, so half way through the second lap I attacked up the hill, when I looked behind and no one was with me… so just kept going! With 3.5 laps to go I knew I had enough time to put some good time into the chasing bunch and coming through T2 I had managed to increase my lead to a handy 1min 50sec. Out onto the run I was able to relax and enjoy the crowd and the occasion as I comfortably ran home to win in 1hr 6mins.
During the Contact National Series the racing there has been little competition for me as most of the racing has been only against the NZ elite juniors, however this week there was a strong international contingent with World U23 Champion Emma Jackson and the entire Dutch Elite team racing so I was interested to see if my form was really stacking up as well as my training has been reporting… turns out things are on track! I was really happy to come away with another win and the Oceania sprint title in an international field – It’s also great to retain the NZ National Sprint Champion title for the 3rd year running and pick up some ITU points early in the season.
My plan from here is geared toward focusing on my running block in which I will include some time training at altitude at the Snow Farm Lodge in the mountains here in Wanaka and rumours are I will be making an appearance at the Contact National series race in Takapuna – also screened live on National TV (TV 1)!
Thanks again for your support, be sure to keep an eye on my website www.nickysamuels.com for blog updates and race pictures. And in other exciting news the ITU have confirmed a World Cup race for Auckland in November 2011 and the World Championship Series Grand Final for 2012!
Until next time,
Nicky
