2019 Nice 70.3 World Champs Race Recap

You know… honestly, I felt a bit of imposter syndrome leading up to this race. In ways I felt like I didn’t deserve to be there because I had qualified in Korea, where the competition wasn’t as tough as it would have been had I raced in a California 70.3 (like 5th place in my AG at Santa Cruz 70.3 last year vs 1st overall at Goseong 70.3 this year, with very similar finishing times). Maybe it was a self-fulfilling prophecy for my bike to not have arrived for this race?

In any case – I have very mixed feelings about this race. On the one hand, I feel like a fucking champ for pulling what I did despite the bike/airline fiasco leading up to and during the race. Racing on an entirely different setup on a challenging bike course like that and still finishing the bike leg in 3:13, and continuing to finish the run segment in 1:43 after all that… makes me incredibly proud of myself. Yet on the other hand, I feel like I’ve been gipped. It would have been nice to know how I stacked up against all the top competitors in this distance under normal circumstances. It does, however, make me want to qualify for Worlds 70.3 again for redemption’s sake (and no, I don’t feel any bit of imposter syndrome anymore, not after all this).

Here was how the day went down:
Swim: they called it wetsuit legal on race morning, saying that it was 24 degrees C. Bullshit. The day I did my swim shake out, I had done it in a swimskin when the temps read 26 (at a time close to when I would actually race in) and it felt extremely warm. Later that same day, at Athlete Briefing, they claimed that the temps had read 24. Knowing that I didn’t have my usual hydration setup (1 less bottle), I didn’t want to risk being out of fluids by the first aid station at mile 12, so decided to go with my swim skin on race day. My swim isn’t amazing to begin with, the wetsuit is uncomfortable, and I felt buoyant enough when I had done the swim shake out that I was confident in my decision that this was the best way to go, despite the majority of the ladies donning their wetsuits. There was a lot of chop on the return, and factoring that in + my hit/miss swim performance, I was pretty happy to walk away with a 38 (slow, but surprisingly unbothered all things considered).

Bike: I don’t think the bike fit me super well – I started having back pains and my right hamstring kept seizing up on the longer climb. The course was gorgeous, and I recounted my blessings for being able to race to begin with, AND getting a chance to ride the route to take in the sights. The hardest part were the 3 steep climbs leading up to the longer one. Also noticed that my legs/body didn’t feel very fresh or peppy like it did at IM Mont Tremblant only 3 weeks ago. My heart did sink each time a girl passed me on the flats/descents on their TTs – couldn’t help but think to myself “if only I had my TT…” The descent was where I think I made up the most time/gains – since it was so curvy going down a lot of the girls didn’t seem super confident with their handling, so I took advantage of this and just whizzed by when I could. I likely would not have hit the brakes as much if there were fewer ladies out there from the older AGs that started earlier.
** I will say though, of all races for my bike to not show up, and for me to have to use a road bike to race, I am grateful it was this one – I feel like the difference in speed gains between using a TT and road bike were a lot smaller thanks to the course, so for that I am grateful.

T2: I must have been really anxious/stressed from all the events surrounding the race because I forgot where my bike was racked. I went to the correct aisle, but on the wrong side of it, so kept getting confused and ran up and down the same aisle, halfway up the other side (not getting to my number), running back down to check the sign for the # range listed, then back up to finally rack my bike. Such a rookie mistake that I keep rolling my eyes and shaking my head at.

Run: I didn’t know where T2 ended and where the run began… in any case – it was so hot, and my back was so tight and in pain for the first loop that I couldn’t push. My legs also felt heavier than usual for the run off on a 70.3 – I tried to tell myself to be patient and let my body open up like I usually do, but rounding out the 1st loop (~6 miles) it still wasn’t working. Instead I tried to focus on the finish line – imagining how great it would feel to complete this race despite all the stupid obstacles leading up, and told myself that when I crossed, I’d cross as if I won the whole fucking race. Visualizing that helped a lot (I mean I went completely silly with it, imagining myself doing some hip hop dance moves -**Google Cat Daddy & Dougie here**- under the arch, over the line, with the biggest smile slapped across my face), and I felt my body (back especially) loosening up entirely. A quarter way into the 2nd loop, I started counting my wins/blessings:
1. Thanks to the kindness of a stranger, I was able to borrow a bike and actually start + participate in this race
2. I’m here, at a World Championship race
3. I’m here, healthy AND uninjured
4. I’m doing this 3 weeks after completing a full Ironman that I podium-ed at
5. I’m here, healthy AND uninjured AFTER completing a full IM that I podium-ed at
6. I finished that bike course safely on a new setup with a decent time
7. My run may not be as fast as it could be, especially on a flat course, BUT all things considered my pace is still pretty good AFTER THAT KIND OF BIKE COURSE
… and the list goes on. But needless to say, I learned to be kind to myself, and be my personal cheerleader when I needed it most. The moment that happened I started really enjoying the run – although my pace may not have been faster, necessarily, it didn’t slow down too much (at least I don’t think so).

All in all, getting to partake in this race was very humbling, and definitely makes me want to push harder to really improve my run and swim (especially). All 3 are a constant work in progress, but I want to qualify for Worlds again (both distances) without a shred of doubt that I’ve earned that slot the next time around.

Thank you for an amazing 2019 season! The work continues, and I’m really looking forward to what 2020 will bring!