Challenge Forster 2013 Louise’s report
Forster - the birthplace of Australian Ironman. Who wouldn’t want to race there?
I departed Thursday morning with my support crew in tow, to arrive in the Great Lakes district of Northern New South Wales in preparation for the inaugural Challenge Forster Half Ironman Race. To be held at the most
unusual time of Saturday afternoon 1pm, the race was the first back in Forster since Ironman moved to Port Macquarie.
I wondered why Ironman had moved from Forster in the first place but on completion of the course, I had a pretty good understanding of why this might have been. This is how it was …….. Raining! Windy!
Muddy! And while these are things no one could control, they certainly had affect on the race for all of us. Given the race start was 1pm, I had to reconsider my prerace routine and adjust accordingly. Late breakfast about 11am then
off to transition. I had decided not to check my bike in the day previous
on account of the rain and as we had the opportunity to do this on race day, it was the best option.
We had been keeping a keen eye on the weather forecast and it wasn’t
looking good. Late showers and possible thunderstorms – but seriously, how often do they get this right?
We started the race in overcast conditions, at Forster Keys, which is inland,
protected and calm but very dirty. I am sure I came out at the other end with a beard and moustache but I was so happy to be out, that was of
little consequence (and it washed off later in the thunderstorm anyway!). I had a good swim, great even, so was fairly chirpy when I hit the road.
The first lap was uneventful, the wind was neither head nor tail but felt advantageous all the way around. The roads are pretty ordinary in parts
and when coming back in to town for the turnaround, part of the road
remained open to traffic. This is a major sour point for me – perhaps the organisers were unable to get permits I don’t know, but this was
dangerous and as it happened, a car hit a competitor. We were sharing the road with cars where there was no shoulder so ‘single file’, and ‘car back’ commands could be heard among cyclists whilst at the same time we were getting the rev up from an official to spread out!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Once out of here though, it was smooth sailing straight in to the predicted thunderstorm. Good on the Bureau of Meteorology! I wasn’t too perturbed
however and surprised myself, and everyone else, when I had feet back on the ground after 2:35 hours.
Now, this is the bit that gets interesting for me – the run. My body doesn’t
mind it but my head hates it. The rain had stopped by now and I had three laps of seven kilometres to dry out. Quite a scenic run course, from
Forster main beach across the bridge to Tuncurry, out to the breakwater and back again. One could not dwell too long on the scenery however, as it was also quite busy with competitors and very tight in places.
Lap one went ok, lap two, not so good. Lots of girls were passing me and I was getting disheartened and lacked the strength to talk myself back in to it.
I had to shush my support crew at one stage so I could try and get my
focus back to the run and make it to the finish line. Did I mention that it had starting raining again about now?
Lap three I managed to pick myself up a bit and convinced myself that I
probably was going to make it and finally came across the finish line to be welcomed in to the ‘Challenge Family’ …. Huh?
Challenge go right over the top with the ‘family’ business but being
involved in such events, I am overwhelmed every time by the camaraderie of the athletes (given it is a very individual sport) and the support of the people on the sidelines. I was as proud as punch to have my family there to support me and whilst I was minus one very important family member, I
was lucky that he was back in Darwin on his computer checking out the results. Otherwise we would never have known that I was expected at presentation later that night to collect my medal!
Turns out, I was the fastest girl in my age group on this particular day!
