Race Day – New Zealand Day 7

I’ve already written a full race report from the 2012 ITU Age Group Triathlon World Championships, so won’t go over it all again here, but the race went well. It was mad to be competing at such a high level and on such a big stage but I loved it. I had a bit of a nightmare start and had real trouble getting my shoe on in T1 but other than that the race went well. I came 11th in my age-group, 86th overall out of about 1300 people – half of which were younger than me, and 2nd Brit in my age-group, which means that I have pre-qualified for next years World Championships which take place during Septemeber in London.

I didn’t feel as though I was quite as fast as I could have been during the race and I’m sure I can go quicker, but it was the end of a very long season and I had been injured in the run up to the event. So, all things considered it went really well and I’m delighted with the results.

Before the race I had been a little concerned about racing against Graham – he was in the same age-group as me and for some reason I don’t like racing against people I know. Actually, probably more accurate is that I don’t like being beaten by people I know, but I needn’t have worried as I beat him by 3 minutes in each discipline and finished 9 minutes ahead of him overall.

The race was really well organised, there were loads of athletes competing but things seemed to go smoothly. It was great to compete in and I’ll be back for more. My next big race is the European Championships in Turkey next June, followed by the spectacle that will be the 2013 ITU World Champs in London. Who knows, maybe after those I’ll start believing that I do actually deserve to be there competing in them!

I’d like to thank my sponsors and supporters once again, without you it wouldn’t have been possible. There’s a list of them at the bottom of this (and every other triathlon related) post. You helped me achieve a dream and I’m now hungry for more. Thanks for you help and support it is hugely appreciated. Don’t forget, if you want to help me train, get to and compete in more events like this then I’m always looking for sponsors and should be able to repay you with coverage and promotion opportunities.

The full results from the race are available here:

http://www.triathlon.org/results/results/2012_itu_world_triathlon_grand_final_auckland/7910/

But here are the Top 20 in my race – The Sprint Distance 40-44 year olds with me just outside the Top 10.

Results

Results

Here are a few photos of me in action as well.

Running with SkyTower in the distance

Running with SkyTower in the distance

On The Bike

On The Bike

Finished

Finished

Me and my Groupies!

Me and my Groupies!

After the race it was back to the hotel for breakfast – my first chance to really go to town with the buffet spread, but after the efforts of the morning I felt a little sick and couldn’t quite manage as much as I would have liked. The rest of the day was spent checking results, collecting my kit from transition and relaxing, all followed by the closing ceremony.

We also managed to fit in a trip to MacDonalds where I got to try a New Zealand Lamb Burger – complete with fried egg and beetroot!

Burger!

Burger!

We weren’t really in the mood for the closing ceremony but listened and clapped as prizes were given out and then got our much needed food. Organisation on the food front was much better than at the opening ceremony as the food was now in the expo tent. There was loads of it too with a help yourself buffet to hot and cold food all followed by free brownies and ice cream… Mmm Mmm.

I’m sure we also went for a walk down to the harbour at some point today as well. I can’t remember quite when we fitted it in, but I have the photos to prove it so here they are.

Morgan in Auckland

Morgan in Auckland

Morgan in a Playground

Morgan in a Playground

Its things like this that make it really important for me to write these blog posts. It’ll be great in years to come to look back at them and remember what we did and if I don’t write them down now they’ll be forgotten and some bits will be lost forever. It was definitely after the race though as I was telling Anna and Morgan where we had been on the run.

It was then back to the hotel and bed. The race was over, I could now relax and start to enjoy my holiday. I was going to be a normal person for a few weeks, no more Mr. Triathlete, no more training day in day out and it was time to let the diet slip too. Caffeinated coffees, chocolates, biscuits – It was time to enjoy some of the things I’d been missing, spend some quality time with Anna and Morgan and be a normal person for a while.

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Alan Cole

Alan is a Freelance Website Designer, Sports & Exercise Science Lab Technician and full time Dad & husband with far too many hobbies: Triathlete, Swimming, Cycling, Running, MTBing, Surfing, Windsurfing, SUPing, Gardening, Photography.... The list goes on.

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