Blog
Xterra UK - European Champs and Sickness!
3rd Sep 2015
So Xterra UK was meant to be the grand finale to the European Tour, last race on the 2015 circuit and home support on English turf!
It was a course that suited me last year and I was hoping to have a strong end to the season. Up to race day everything went according to plan, and it was great to see all the Aloha girls, my Xterra friends from the World tour, plus local friends who were giving Xterra a go for the first time.
The course was drying out from the week's rain, and although I wouldn't get away with my favourite road shoes on the run, the mud looked fun on the bike where I knew some would struggle.
Even the rain setting in again on Saturday night didn't concern me - this meant race day would be a mudfest and it now wouldn't matter that I only had my (slightly heavy) training wheels to race on. I had broken one of my race wheels the week before training in Wales and the Peak District. I felt a bit tired as we drove home Saturday evening, but thought nothing of it and was just happy we weren't camping!
I woke up feeling a bit rubbish Sunday morning, but put it down to a poor night's sleep - nothing unusual. Put some extra caffeine in my drinks bottle and take some caffeine gels for the race as well as my usual Honey Stingers. Hopefully I would be more prepared for this race than ever, as I had the added bonus of my own physio on hand for treatment: Alex was also here and racing his first Xterra! So I warmed up as usual and talked myself into having a good race.
At midday the gun went on our pro swim, and I actually got a great start for once, not being swum over or elbowed in the face! I was in a good position and on some fast feet. But for some reason I couldn't concentrate or co-ordinate, I couldn't hang on to those feet, or any of the many other pairs that kept going by. I recognised some of the girls I usually swim with, and comfortably draft, but for some reason I felt too knackered to go with them today.
I didn't panic though, as their pack was still in sight as we reached the swim exit - 20 seconds hardly counts for anything when we've now got 2 hours on the bike. I felt spaced out going into transition though, couldn't think what I was doing, so just do everything more slowly to make sure I don't forget anything. The fuzzy head continued onto the bike, and I immediately rode into a tree - hoping nobody saw! Only the second trail section I was caught by Renata - she must have wondered what I was doing as I struggled to balance round the corners in the mud (which was now super slick and lethal for the un-initiated!!)
I thought - I just need to get my gloves on and caffeine in and hopefully the brain will start working Luckily some gels and drink helped, I started to ride more like my normal self, and started passing people. I was actually enjoying the conditions, being thankful I am used to mud! Given I have been complaining about hot races all season, these weather conditions are perfect for me!
I'd moved up to 8th heading out for the second bike lap, and still confident of catching more. But then I started running out of energy, even though I'd had more gels than usual and wasnt even pushing that hard through the technical.
One of the girls I'd passed overtook me again, but I couldn't respond. Hopefully I would catch her on the run. But any hopes of that when out the window when we entered T2 and I realised I couldnt get my running shoes on. All the spectators must have wondered what's going on when I kept trying, but every time I bent over my abs seized into a solid knot which was literally like a rock when I tried to massage it away - the most painful thing ever! I had to stop and stretch it out each time before I could try again with the shoes. After almost 3 minutes of this, 8th place was well out of sight across the field, and probably so were my chances of catching her. I was amazed no one else had come in and passed me in transition, so now it was just a case of getting through the run and trying to stay in the top 10!
I don't even know how I finished the run, as I wasn't feeling with it at all, trying to get another gel in but feeling pretty sick. I didn't trust my core not to cramp up again so I had to go very carefully (slowly!) over all the technical ground. I didn't dare to jump the ditches like last year, yet crossing the log bridges was a major challenge in balance! Amazingly no-one passed me for the entire run - apart from Jacqui already on her second lap and offering words of encouragement. As I crossed the final ditch with 500m to go, I looked back to see 10th place girl had almost caught me, and I thought no - I cannot have a repeat of Germany (ETU Champs) happening all over again - I'm not going to lose out in a sprint finish for 10th place again! So I gave everything I had in the final field - which was pretty much nothing - but thankfully just enough to hold on for 9th.
I was happy I managed to stay in the top 10 under the circumstances, but disappointed with my performance especially with all the home support, and my friends and family coming to watch. I hadn't realised how ill I actually was until the finish, when I had to lie down for about 10 minutes until Simon and Belinda could get me to the recovery zone! Simon had to get me out of my wet clothes and into dry ones, and fill me in on where all my friends had finished. I tried to eat or drink, but everything was making me feel too sick - all I could manage was a bottle of water and a few crisps.
I didn't want to miss the presentation, as the top 10 would be called up, and I would also be recognised for my biggest achievement this year - I had still finished 4th overall in the European Tour!
But once the presentation was over, I then spent the next 4 hours throwing up and feeling like I had been poisoned!! I was gutted to miss the post-race BBQ and celebrations, watch the age group prizes and say goodbye to my friends from all over the world. But this photo sums up how bad I felt:
All the medics had gone and we were on the verge of driving to A&E for a saline drip as I literally couldn't drink anything, even water, and it was now 5 hours after the race finished. We decided if we managed to drive home without me being sick, and I was able to drink a mug of warm Marmite(!) then we would just stay home and hope the worst was over!
So these were not the memories I was hoping for in the grand finale and my home race. Even though it was a super strong field, I love this course and I would have hoped to challenge at least near the top 5 if not actually in it. Instead I will be taking the week off to recover, and hope for a better experience in the World Champs next month!
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