The
last few weeks have involved focussing and zeroing in on PM Belgium in order to
see what standard I’m at as I approach the Euros in two weeks’ time.
Driving
from Brussels Airport was a very scary experience as it was the first time I
drove on the right hand side of the road with a left wheel drive car. After
nearly three hours of sweaty palmed driving I made it to my hotel which should
have taken just under one hour. Yikes, at least it was only Friday.
Once
I got settled, I put the bike together, grabbed a bite to eat and caught some
sleep.
On
Saturday morning I went over to the race registration to check out the race
start and to run and cycle around the course once.
The
10km run was four laps of 2.5km each that went around a large sports arena
outside the town of Geel. As I ran around the 2.5km lap, I tried to imagine
what it would be like on Sunday when we were racing around it four times with
everyone shouting and roaring at us.
The
60km bike was three laps of 20km each that left the sports stadium and went out
onto totally closed roads but had to go back in and pass through transition for
every lap. This involved very technical twists and turns on the Time Trial bike
which for those of you who ride TT bikes will know is very tricky to do at high
speed.
After
I had recced the course I went back to the hotel but made sure to stop along
the way in a Spar shop of all places to get a few bars of proper Belgian
chocolate. Do those Belgians know how to make nice chocolate or what!
I’ve
been trying to avoid gluten for the last few months but when you’re racing
abroad it’s very difficult to stick with gluten free diet so dinner was a fairly
simple affair of spaghetti bolognaise.
It
was very difficult to sleep Saturday night with the nerves and adrenalin pumping
through me. I was thinking about breakfast in the morning, how I was going to start
the race, where I was going to try attacking on the run, what I was going to do
on the bike, etc.
On
Sunday morning I had a nice lie-in till 8:30 as the race wasn’t starting until
14:20 and I wanted to delay breakfast for as long as possible I always try to
stop eating and drinking around four hours before the start of a race.
I
could feel the heat as soon as I opened the curtains in my room. I knew it was going
to be a hot one
Back
to my room then for another little rest and to double check for about the
twentieth time that my bike was okay.
I
arrived at the course after having to take a big detour due to the roads being
already closed for the race. Thankfully, one of the Belgian marshals who I met
at a crossroads drove in front of me all the way to the sports stadium.
Once
I got out of the car, the dead heat of the sun that hit me was almost over
powering. There literally wasn’t a cloud in the sky or as I was taught in
school “Nί raibh scamall sa spéir”. Was I glad that I brought the sun cream with
me!!
There
was a soccer pitch next to the car park where I went through my warm up routine
as I tried to ignore some of the pains and niggles I’ve been carrying for a few
weeks. I tried to focus my mind and shake off the nerves and usual fear that
was coursing through me as I tried to picture how I would start the race.
Once
the announcer called for all the male athletes to assemble at the start area I
had my work cut out trying to muscle my way to get to the start line.
What
a fast start!! While there were no hills on the course there must have been at
least ten right angled corners that you had to slow down into and then try to
speed up as guys put in fast attacks.
After
around 5km, there were four of us who had pulled away from the main group. Two
French guys, La Duey and Cadalen and a Spaniard, Rocca, plus myself.
Rocca
put in a couple of continuous attacks in the second half of the 10km but we
were able to keep him covered at all times. My plan was to stay with the lead
group for the first 10km and try to break away if I could. As the pace was so
fast I was happy enough to follow the other three and see what would happen on
the bike.
Even
though I came into T1 around 6 seconds off the lead, I was the first out on the
bike.
I
must have cycled 5km down the road before I started to try putting me feet into
my cycling shoes.
Next
thing I know, I see La Duey and Cadalen tear past me as I put my feet into my
shoes.
What
could I do though but keep the legal 10 metres back from the two of them and wait
for my opportunity to pass them both.
The
bike course was also very technical with lots of twists and turns. I attacked
four times throughout the full 60km but found it difficult to drop the two
French.
I
had two bottles of liquid on the bike and these were totally empty after 45km
so I was looking forward to the water stations on the final 10km run. I was
dreaming about water as I pedalled through the final and fourth lap.
I
should have probably guessed after the second attack that I couldn’t drop them
and have saved some of my energy but I’m the eternal optimist and kept trying
to break away.
As
I came over the dismount line into T2, the two guys in front were just racking
their bikes so I knew that I’d have to be quick if I was to have any chance of
catching them.
The
first water station I went through after about 1.5km was so welcome I nearly
stopped to drink. The water hoses they had set up to water athletes down were
also brilliant.
However,
I was going from a famine to a feast in terms of drinking water and took on
water four times as I worked my way through the 10km. Of course this resulted
in a stich meaning that I went down to a 7 minute mile as I struggled through
the third lap. At around 8.5km, I heard someone coming alongside me and attempt
to pass me. I had about two seconds to decide whether I was going to let this
guy pass me and take second place or was I going to dig deep and empty the tank
for the last kilometre.
I
said to myself “No way” and starting running for my life for the last kilometre.
Coming into the last 200 metres was amazing as I focussed on the finish line
with people all round shouting and roaring. I managed to hold on and outsprint
the Belgian who had been putting me under pressure for the last 1.5km.
After
the race it must have taken me 15 minutes just to get my breath back as I
struggled to fight the cramps in my legs.
Literally
one minute after I crossed the finish line, the heavens opened and the most torrential
downpour of rain descended on us, reminding me that wherever I go I can’t
escape the Irish weather.
Next
up for me now is the 2014 Elite European Duathlon Championships in Austria in
two weeks’ time.
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