National Schools Triathlon Championships Race Report

School Sport Nationals Triathlon Championships - 20th of April, 2017
 
GOAL
My Goal for this event was to finish in top 10.
 
Race Details
Distance - 400m/12km/3km
Race Start - 7:25am
Race Number - 132
Race Result - 11th Place Junior Male
 
Warm up
Consisted of light jog for 10 minutes, followed by some run drills and explosive sprints to warm up the legs.
It was a non-wetsuit swim. I jumped into the water turned the arms and legs over so my muscles did not lock up due to the cold water.
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Swim
I had watched the previous race start and then chose the best position that would suit me. The starter held us for a long time in the cold water, but I made sure kept my legs moving in the water in anticipation for the start. Positioning was going to be very important for this race, I had raced a number of these boys at the Triathlon Australia National Series so I had a good idea of their strength in the water. I was happy with my swim leg, I managed to come out of the water with fellow QLD team members, which I knew would be an advantage going into the draft legal bike leg. When ran strongly from the exit to transition, hoping to keep in contact with the first pack.
 
Bike
Transition was relatively smooth; I managed to jump on just behind the front pack. Unfortunately, I involved in a minor bike crash where one of the other riders slide out/fell on the turn in front of me, I quickly got back up with no injuries or damage to the bike. This incident was detrimental to my raced, as I was now off the pack and chasing the whole race with my QLD team mate Harry Chapman. I knew I had used a lot of energy both physically and mentally. The run leg was going to be touch. 
 
Run
Transition from the bike to the run was smooth. I knew I had some work to do. My legs were heavy; I was not comfortable at all with the race. After the first lap of the run I was sitting in 9t or 10th place as I had a caught some competitors but started vomiting on the run and lost those positions. I was slowly fading in the last quarter of the run and I was pasted on the last lap by other athletes and finished overall in 11th place. Not the result I was looking for. 

Post Race
Spoke with Coach Toby Coote, hydrated with fluids, then went for a light 10-minute cool down and stretched. I was disappointed with my result; however I knew I could not let this race get to me. Tomorrow is the relays and I was determined that I would have a better day of racing.
 
Team Relay –AA
I was ready to race again, I dived of the pontoon into the water, I had a great swim leg, I jumped on the back of one of the faster swimmers, which helped me push through the water. I ran strongly up into transition to my bike. I was able to jump on the with fellow QLD Col Curry and worked together on the bike taking turns up front to ensure we kept a consist time. My transition from the bike to the run could have been a bit smoother, I felt good going into the run leg and confident I would make up for the day before. My run leg was fast, I had put our team into second position it was now up to fellow competitors to finish off.
 
Overall Analysis
I was happy with my performance. I have gained a wealth of knowledge and learnt heaps over the season. I would like to thank Head Coach Toby Coote and Sunshine Coast Triathlon Academy/Protector Aluminum Junior Scholarship Sponsors for their ongoing sup