Finally it has happened the
I arrived at Busselton on Friday morning and it was cold, windy and raining. I spoke to my family and they said it was a beautiful day in
I went for a swim in the local pool as I was not confident I could swim 2km due to my fall off the bike one week earlier when my front tire blew out - the day before I could barely swim 200m without flippers. I managed to get through the swim, in a lot of pain, but I was happy I could swim.
After putting my bike together at my hotel and getting the guys to check it over (due to previous events where bits had become unexpectedly loose) I went to bed watching Turner and Hooch. I had a great sleep.
My alarm didn’t go off and when I checked the time it was 5.30am! I jumped out of bed to have brekky and get ready to go over to set up my bike. It was still cold, windy and raining but I wasn’t too worried as the weather for Port Mac half was worse.
We hopped into the water which was a chilly 17 degrees. The start was delayed because people weren’t behind the buoys. Then suddenly the gun went off!
After getting stampeded by a lot of age groupers, I got quite comfortable. I felt that the wetsuit help protected my ribs as I only felt them a little – though the water was so cold that my feet went numb. Swimming into shore, I stood up in 26min and I was stoked! I had seen one girl just in front of me but I seemed to have a quicker transition than her. I heard that Claire had hopped out of the water as I was mounting my bike.
My training prep for this race was hardly anything and I felt "unfit". But the base I had ahead of Port Mac made me confident that if I paced myself and built into the bike I should be OK.
During the first lap of the bike I was lactating like crazy and felt like I couldn’t go anymore. But I also knew if I backed off a little bit and kept getting in my nutrition I would come good.
I was with a nice group and we had a draft buster with us the whole way and he kept telling me that I was legal and so I just kept at that pace.
Getting off in 2hr17min I was so pumped. I knew that I had a good distance on Claire who I knew could run. I started off a bit slower on the run as I had cramps in my knees. I slowly built into each loop getting quicker. I saw Claire a few times and said to myself "it’s not over until it’s over" and so I kept pushing until I was on the home stretch.
The woman on the bike who asked if I was first rode with me. Seeing the finishing banner I knew that I was home safe, and I was running with a huge smile on my face, getting goose bumps from knowing I had was going to win.
*****
I have a dream board at home with all my goals written out. After deciding to race Busso, I had written down that my goal was to win – and it happened.
If you really want something and believe in yourself, you will get it!!
After I finished the race my ribs were in so much pain. I saw a physio and I couldn’t even get up off the table after she had treated me!
Thank you to my sponsors - cheeky monkey and high5 - and also john my coach and especially those who believed in me before I even believed in myself. Also to my best friend Damo, who has been a huge support and my family.
Lisa Marangon
