Bondi Barefoot

Well, this race was in fact ages ago. But I had a win, and this race was on my home beach, and in front of all my club mates at North Bondi Surf Club - so I need to blog about it, perhaps the way an emo kid would blog about their pain.

Yes I am going to do it1 No I'm not going to do it... But given that after a week of terrible weather in Sydney, the prospect of facing 3 hours on the bike, in the pouring rain, wine and arctic weather conditions - a good excuse would be to race.

Given that I was under orders I was still to ride - I jumped on the wind trainer for 2 hours, woke the family up and managed to watch a movie, and consume breakfast on the bike.

As I made my way down to the beach, the quads were burning, the pre race coffee wasn't going down well - and with people telling me how well I am going to do after my race at The Aussies. I was filled with fear...

My old coach Scotty Thomson was calling the race and was on the microphone, and after giving me a pep talk on and off the microphone, I knew all I could do was run and see how I felt.

A mass start and hundreds in front of me, including about 15 girls - I had to back myself, knowing that I would run a good race if I negative split - or atleast be able to keep the coach happy.

After the first kilometre - I found a guy's footsteps to follow that was comfortable, and there were no girls around me. at the 2km turning mark, I was well under record time - My first thought was that I was going to blow up, but thought I felt good, and would lift and see how I went.

To my surprise, as the race went on I felt faster, and crossed the line as the fast female and top 10 overall and even better - the course record by a good 35seconds over 4km.

Of all the races to win, The Bondi Barefoot has the most sentimental value - I am now in our club's history books, and I was the first club member to win the race.

This race was at the end of May and very late on the blogging, but I have photos. All shortcomings in cyber world can be blamed on the delayed receipt of photos... Here are photos

Surf Life Saving NSW State Championships

So the mysterious knee pain turned up 3 days out, I got a cold - and yet funnily enough felt great on the start line. Psychological much?

After an early start to drive to Swansea Belmont - and an awful coffee, the usual nerves that I used to get that RUINED every race were no where to be seen. Rather was filled with excitement, as to what I may be able to pull out of the bag.

Surf carnivals being surf carnivals, the 8am start time changed, and it was an earlier start. This meant no long swim warm up, but a very short run warm up. On the start line, I felt completely relaxed, and as the gun went off - I stuck to my race plan knowing that if it didn't work, it didn't work.

I jumped straight on the feet of the girl who went out first. The pace wasn't too quick, and given the fact the sand was so soft, I needed someone's foot steps to find the hard sand. At the 1km we were substantially had of the rest of the field. As we turned the final flag for the last 500 I decided that I was going to pick up the pace and see what happened. I lifted, and looked around and she was not close by, I maintained my pace - as I ran into the arena following coach's orders, "only do what you have to do" I slowed down, and jogged to take out my first State Title.

It was a great feeling, and now am so excited to go to The Aussies - 17 days, and COUNTING

Surf Life Sydney Branch Championships

Sometimes there is nothing better than doing something you love - just for the hell of it.

This weekend I decided to race the Sydney Branch Championships 2km Sand Run. Despite my inner demons from last year's Australian Championships - I was really excited to throw the bike, goggles and best of all the joggers to dig my toes into the sand.

The weather was a little overcast and light rain, which meant we were able to run without melting. but most of all - the torrential rain the night made the sand incredibly firm. This always makes for some quick running across the 2 lap course.

I rode from home to Cronulla which is about 35km, and despite it being cruisy I was not sure how the legs were going to hold up. As the gun went and we all headed up, the quads felt great, and was happy to settle into a comfortable pace with a few of the girls. After about 300m I knew the pace was a little slow so I decided to run with a group of boys and use their foot steps to make it a little easier. I continued to edge away from the girls, and slowly started to pick off the boys.

It felt like a quick 2km (not sure how accurate the course was) and I was third including the men and first in the women. It felt good racing on the sand , and forgot how much fun racing that race is. But the best bit of the day, has to be hanging in the North Bondi SLSC tent listening to the the banter of the boys go back and forth.

Can't wait for State and the Nationals