A late race report from Madrid World Champs Series

June 12th, 2010 by Will

I’m on the flight from Madrid over to Des Moines after racing the World Champs Series.

It didn’t go great to be honest, It was far from the result I was expecting. I didn’t see the move and the race moved away before my very eyes! Quite frustrating really but major fault by me for not concentrating in a key moment!

I had a decent swim, I knew it would be really important this bit, it was a non-wetsuit lake swim and traditionally, especially last year groups usually get away. I started next to a whole heap of great swimmers on the start line and managed to stay with them till the first buoy setting me up nicely. I only had 30 seconds to chase to get to the first Russian out the water! They were well in sight which was encouraging.

Jan Frodeno, Matt Charbot and myself did the lions share of the work in the first few laps to get the 8 or so athletes back. Not going to lie though, I found it bloody hard to get there. I think they found it tough to stay away though as well so everyone was hurting I guess.

I think I was hurting a bit too much though as on the 2^nd to last hill (150m of ascent each lap) a group of the best athletes were at the front and next thing you know they had time on us which soon rocketed out to 1:30!!!

It was the crucial moment in the race, and as I felt a bit tired after the early stages of the race. I wasn’t concentrating assuming we were going to have a running race and watched the best guys get a 1:30 head start on me!

Race not over though, I set off running ok but my legs were heavy and spent. I had to let some people go but I started to feel good in the last stages and took 3 spaces back in the last lap (a very important skill I’ve been working on!) I finished 12th

I have been pretty confident with my form recently. I think I trained too hard into this one and didn’t have enough gas on the day. I am going to do next to nothing this week and I hope in Des Moines I can bounce back with a result I can be proud of! 12th place won’t pay for much of the wedding!!!

This was Alistairs first race back after injury. He’s had a tough January-April but even when he’s injured he’s fit. He surprised everyone again with a fantastic showing to win again! I can’t believe how much that guy can hurt himself. It’s inspiring.