Pre-Race

Going into this race, I was cautiously optimistic. The training block had gone well — no major setbacks, consistent sessions, and the numbers were trending in the right direction. My coach and I decided to target a conservative swim, strong bike, and let the run take care of itself.

Swim — 49:12

The conditions were almost perfect. Calm water, clear visibility, and a clean start. I positioned myself on the feet of the lead group and settled into a rhythm early. Came out of the water right where I wanted to be.

Bike — 4:18:33

This is where the race really began. I stuck to my power targets for the first half, then decided to push the second half. The new aero position is paying dividends — I averaged 42.3 km/h without going into the red. Ate and drank consistently every 20 minutes.

Run — 2:52:44

The legs were there from the first kilometer. Negative split the marathon, which was the plan all along. Picked up 5 positions in the last 10km as others faded. Crossed the line with nothing left.

Key Takeaways

1. Patience on the bike pays off on the run
2. Nutrition execution was flawless — 90g carbs/hour
3. The new run cadence drills translated to race day
4. Need to improve swim positioning for championship races