I was looking forward to this race in more ways then one. Partly because I would be going home after this race and mostly because I had quietly been feeling good in training and could not wait to go and see how hard I could really go!
I love to race because that is when there is no holding back, nothing to save myself for.

Race day dawned wet, cold and miserable. Start time was 10.45am.
It was a wetsuit swim, luckily we had been wearing our wettys in Germany for the last few weeks so I was well used to it.
I had a pretty bad start by my standards and was a bit further back after the first lap then I usually am. But on the second lap I picked up my arm rate and found myself in the front group before the first bouy so just settled in and waited.

I had a really good transition onto the bike, running and jumping for the first time during a race (I am quite proud of myself for that).
We had a smaller group at the start of the ride which I thought would be good and we might be able to stay away, but it was hard work trying to get the group organised and we were caught by the chase group making a larger group and more chances of crashing.
The bike ride ended up being all about survival and at times it was hard to believe we were in a race as the pace was pretty slow with all the girls being really careful.
To say the course was technical would be an understatement. I think dangerous would be a more accurate description. But everyone was in the same boat and I just hung around at the front of the group and out of trouble.

I had another quick transition, coming out in 2nd.

On the run I stuck to my game plan and ran within myself.
I still get suprised when I can run alongside the other girls, it used to be that I would come off the bike in a bunch of 20 girls and finish 20th.
It just feels weird being able to run near the front of a race. I cant wait to get faster!
It was hard not to try run with the faster girls when they came past But I wanted to pace myself and finish strong.
I just kept remembering something that Pete had told me before another race, he said to run the first 5k and race the last 5k, so thats what I tried to do.
At around the 7k mark I was running with a group of about 3 girls in around 7th/8th/9th place, and just like a few other races this year somthing just clicked.
Its hard to explain, its like I find another gear and change up. It was awesome, I just picked up the pace and dropped the girls I was running with.
The last lap I was running with numb legs, but there was no way I was slowing down.
I have had this problem in a lot of my races this year. It only happens when I race, so it is hard to tell what is causing it.

I am really proud to say I raced as smart and as hard as I could, finishing in 6th place.

I want to say a huge thank you to my awesome coach Peter Bennetts.
My Sponsors, Ben and Tracy Marshall from Performance Bicycle Tuning, Blueseventy and Brooks shoes.
Thank you to all the Tri NZ High Performance coaches/staff who work so hard and do a great job making sure we athletes have all the help and support we need.
And most of all thank you to my Mum and Dad, family and friends.
I really appreciate all support, you guys make all the hard work worth it.

I am now looking forward to getting home and having a break. I cant wait to hit the beach and go surfing, getting stuck into some cooking/baking and being cheif babysitter to my gorgeous niece.