Triathlon back to the future

Another article for www.firstoffthebike.com

Triathlon is no longer the new kid on the block, no longer the novelty event, no longer the thing that extreme athletes do. It has reached mainstream, where people consider doing a triathlon in much the same way they would consider a fun run or bike event, albeit with a little more complexity!! One of the things that helped triathlon get on the map…much like it did for our Ironman cousins in surf life saving…was live TV coverage of events tailored for a TV audience. The Formula 1 series was a new era for a new sport, and like World Series Cricket, shook the sport at it's foundation but changed it for the better.

However, the difference between the F1 triathlon series and World Series Cricket is that cricket has kicked the theme along, and extended it with Twenty20, whereas triathlon has shrunk back into the corner, under shadows, where a lot of other minority, mainstream sports live. When did you last see triathlon live on TV?

What made the F1 series so good and so successful? It started with the big thinking Bray brothers to come up with the concept and develop it into the product we saw. They were rebellious, but visionary, brought some great sponsorship, knew how to package the product so it would be appealing, took it to the people in central city locations, sexed it all up and bingo, triathlon was live on TV and something the public talked about around the water cooler at work on Monday.

The concept challenged the traditionalists, but turned out to be popular amongst the public, and importantly, the athletes, who supported it with enthusiasm. The athletes were well presented, wore matching uniforms, recognised the leader with a yellow suit, and were front-centre of the series - they were the product content and PR. The TV ratings and event crowds supported the idea, and eventually even Triathlon Australia came around to it, liking the effect it was having on their sport…but perhaps wondering why they didn't come up with the idea in the first place (answer is that they couldn't think outside the square!).

The features of the races are what people will remember. They were short, fast and exciting, with one event often including several actual races which resulted in a winner for the day, and series scoreboard. You could follow your favourite athletes throughout the series. When I say the races were short (although some were longer), I mean in the range of 10-20min, which had lactic acid blowing out the ears of the athletes. Some were swim-bike-run. Some were run-bike-swim. Some were bike-run-swim…there were no rules, and anything went.

Also, try things like the "bike bowl" - something you'd see in a skate park rather than triathlon - or the portable pool they carted around the countryside for the event, or the bike cameras…these things defined the F1 triathlon series.

Then there were the athletes. All the best triathletes in Australia came together for the F1 series. In fact, it was a fight to get a start let alone a "contract". From short course to IM, they were all here. It was a proving ground for these guys and girls - yes, women were part of the F1 scene - and not only served to raise the standard of Australian triathletes to being world best, but gave them some profile out from the sporting wilderness. Brad Bevan was the star, who mastered the game first, and held his place there for year after year - all comers could not knock him off. Add in other legitimate stars like Greg Welch, Chris McCormack, Emma Carney, Jackie Gallagher, a young Crowie, an even younger Peter Robertson through to latter day star Courtney Atkinson, the races were a who's who in the sport. Even Guy Leech had a go, but got smashed. There were no beg-your-pardons, or excuse-me's. Racing was cut-throat, and the athletes hard.

The legacy of the F1 series has been lasting, but the sponsors haven't. The series coincided with Australian dominance of the sport internationally - many who still are today - and leads you to wonder whether the current crop of triathletes would be better racers if they also had the chance to race F1 style races.

What would it take to get triathlon back on TV in Australia on a regular basis, for as many sports will attest, TV coverage is the key to success in terms of profile, participation and eventually performance. The short answer is that it's not easy, and takes a lot of will power, connections, influence, money and more, but starts with a great product.

Triathlon does offer that product, and while many would suggest it would be as simple as reincarnating the F1 series, I think it needs a bit of evolution to keep pace with the changing appetite of the sporting public since those glory days of the 90's and early 2000's. Perhaps a mix of individual and team events, mid-event primes to encourage aggressive tactics, immunities from elimination, mid-race point scoring, madison-style enduros, and similar concepts could add appeal to the style of racing. Working on the event production would add some pizzazz, like the trademark blue carpet in ITU events, raised finish line, grandstands, GPS measurement of athlete's speed / pace, live athlete cams, stats analysis, and more. There are great ideas people around in sports who would a give some good insight to sparking things up.

Then you need to work through the bureaucracy, starting with Triathlon Australia, the seemingly immovable beast in the way to endorsement. You could bypass them and be damned, or work with them and perhaps in 20 years have a outcome…with a product that would probably be watered down and sanitised to the point of boredom. Perhaps WTC or Challenge would go at something like this, but since it would be elite based and not mass participation, their interest might be limited. So the obvious pathway is to get existing event organisers to begin incorporating these ideas, companies like Supersprint, Elite Energy and USM, to name a few. They might not get TV coverage (straight away), but it would be a move in the right direction, at least.

What they could do, in conjunction with an existing race, is have an elite, F1-style race AFTER the age group race, during the time when people are standing around chewing the fat of their race. Have some quick fire races that are over with in 60mins, and which burn holes in the lactic tanks of the athletes. It would be fast and exciting, have a ready audience of triathletes (who otherwise never see the elites because they are first away), and be on in a mid-late morning time frame when the public might actually be passing by. Sure, it wouldn't be the F1 series, but baby steps towards that…proving the concept has a life beyond the memory of old triathletes.

Something needs to be done to give triathlon a lift and boost the way the F1 series did, and short of the major sponsor or benefactor stopping by (which seems very unlikely at the moment), the people with influence and ability to make things happen need to get ideas together to lift triathlon by the shoelaces (back) to a field of prominence from where anything is possible for the sport.

Lance Armstrong - situation normal

Another article for www.firstoffthebike.com as an update on Lance Armstrong.

A well known TV phrase springs to mind in relation to Lance Armstrong's halted foray into triathlons…"we now return you to normal programming". While discussion of Lance's situation is still running strongly in the media, talk about his participation as a triathlete seems to be consigned to the message boards now the door to him racing in Kona seems to be all but closed. It seemed (or was?) a bit like a meteorite…lots of sparkle, but fizzled out quickly.

So what has happened since the last chapter? From a triathlon point-of-view, WTC stood by their rule that excludes athletes under investigation of doping, which seems to have drawn support for standing by their principles. As Crowie said, hypothetically speaking, if they wouldn't have made an exception for him, then neither should they for Lance. That closed the door to WTC races…unless some legal wrangling can find a work around…and Lance has a lot of legal horsepower in his corner.

But it seems that Lance racing IM anywhere may the least of his concerns at present. Currently he is literally fighting for his life, his reputation, his integrity, the support of millions of fans, and more, as USADA work to land perhaps the biggest fish in the ocean in the fight against drugs. The mud being thrown is leaving dark stains, and in the court of public perception there seems to be hints of resignation that, perhaps, what we all hoped wasn't true, might be. It's a long, slow, drawn out process and regardless of the eventual outcome of the legal charade, the damage is done and the verdict may be met with a "whatever" kind of response. Oh well.

But putting aside the warfare happening in trenches between USADA and Armstrong, where has this left triathlon in light of the huge potential that Armstrong's involvement offered?

For a start, WTC have dropped any reference to Armstrong quicker than a hot potato. Who knows what will happen to the rumoured $millions promised to Livestrong foundation - the value of that money would be worth far less than what he would have brought to the sport and the coffers of WTC. They must surely be pi**ed, bummed, frustrated, dumbfounded and altogether over the fiasco it has all turned into. Associatating themselves with him was a great move in the beginning, but damaged goods don't appeal to shareholders (private equity owned, remember) and so they quickly disassociated him from the brand.

The sport and IM brand has been bigger than any individual since day dot, but Armstrong was threatening to change that balance, which would have - and currently is - posing a risk to the sport being too reliant on any one personality for its successful future. WTC must be re-writing business plans and reverting back to dusty strategy that was shelved when Armstrong walked into their arms. Already we are seeing on-line race day coverage of IM 70.3 events…where Lance "cut his teeth" earlier this year…being scaled back, and any possibility of live TV coverage from Kona into USA remains as a pipe dream. You would also imagine that many big media folks have cancelled their Hawaiian sojurn since the drawcard is not looking like being there.

Perhaps there is an ounce of hope Armstrong might yet race, if some legal deal can be swung to overcome the current impasse. But even if that happens, could he still race? He most likely won't have qualified on points, so he'd need the special treatment of a wildcard…but he's already been denied special treatment by WTC. If he did get a starting slot, what would his fellow pros be thinking?...would they want him there in the prevailing circumstances?? We can be sure that Lance has rarely given a damn what others think, so he might rock in there as confident as ever and just be damned!! The air of excitement that was promising just a month or so ago, has changed for the worse and his bike in the rack may just inflame any lingering animosity amongst his peers.

What is for sure is that he hasn't been seen since his last race at Honu, and the stream of training updates have dwindled to naught. He didn't front up at Challenge Roth, and there seems to be no sign of him racing where he (legally) can in the near future. What he's up to is anyone's guess.

So assuming his chance of racing Kona is dead in the water, what of the expectations for Kona this year? Now there will be just one gunslinger, Macca, in the mix against the established star, Crowie (not withstanding an awful race last weekend), and the guys who have promised but not delivered a win, the likes of Raelert, Vanhoenacher, Henning, Jacobs, Bracht and others. Take out the wild card of Lieto on the bike (although he hasn't been an overall threat for a few years) but add in some emerging stars like Van Lierde (who I think would have beaten Armstrong at IM France), Cunnama, Dellow and others, and the race both seems to have a look of familiarity to it, but also the element of unknown that makes it such an appealing contest each year.

One positive side effect of going back to normal is that the women's race will get the coverage it deserves, rather than possibly being pushed aside under the saturation the men's race would have inevitably got.

There's a lot of things this whole situation has shown, none more so than people can be so quickly forgotten, no matter who you are, and that despite the right to be innocent until proven guilty, perception is perhaps the most important sentiment that matters to both individuals and organisations. At the moment the perception around Armstrong is questionable, and rather than risk this rubbing off on their brand, WTC have taken us back to the future, ready for life as it was going to be before he made a comeback. What comeback, I hear you ask??

Olympic Triathlon Gold Medal

This is part of a "debate" on www.firstoffthebike.com about whether an Olympic Gold is greater than a Hawaii IM title...I'm batting for Olympic Gold. Here's my take.

The Olympics Games are the pinnacle of sporting achievement, representing your country on the biggest sporting stage in the known Universe. Being known as an Olympian is deserving of respect for the achievement that it is, being selected as top of your sport in your country.

To win an Olympic Gold medal is the stuff of dreams. Winning any medal is, but Gold is the top of the pile. It means you are the best athlete in the world, who has the capability to perform at the highest level, on demand, on that one occasion each four years. It is recognition and reward for being able to manage yourself to achieve a peak performance when it counts, better than anyone else. Performances the days, weeks, months or even years before or after matter less than when Olympic medals are at stake. Get it right and you become an indellible part of your sport's history.

Olympic Gold is the biggest prize in triathlon, here is why:

1. They come around once every four years, not just year-in, year-out, and so it is a very select group who own the 24 Olympic triathlon medals awarded since 2000. Rare items have a high market value, and so it is for Olympic gold.

2. The Olympics represent more than just being a race. Their history goes back thousands of years - and the modern Olympics since 1896 - which is part of the honour of participating, let along winning. Unfortunately commercialism has touched the Olympics, but their significance is still great.

3. The Olympics are country vs country, not just athletes as individuals. Athletes represent their country, which draws attention and support from people in the street. Things that draw such broad-based attention demand greater prestige and acclaim. So it is with an Olympic gold medal.

Trends in Triathlon Performances

Another article for www.firstoffthebike.com

An age old debate in sporting circles is how would the stars of past eras go in today's competition, whether it's Don Bradman in a skill based sport like cricket, or Emil Zatopek in an endurance sport like running. Would they have risen to where the performance bar is now, or just be consigned as "also rans" amogst the hordes in each sport? It makes for great bar room debate.

The history of triathlon is becoming long enough that we are able to have the same debates, about the likes of the "Big Four" at their peak in the 80's - plus Mike Pigg, Erin Baker, etc - through to the stars of the 90's - Spencer Smith, Simon Lessing, Paula Newby Fraser and Emma Carney to name a few - and the recent crop of athletes who shape our current performance expectations. The one thing we have as a tangible measuring stick is race times over defined distances and courses…even though there is such variability in courses and conditions around the world, and over the years.

So, where are the performance trends heading in triathlons and what effect are tactics having on race results, and the times posted? You could write a thesis on this topic, but I'm going to try keeping this a bit briefer!!

An obvious place to start is with IM Hawaii, on a course that has been largely the same for nearly 30 years (apart from changes in T2 location). The men's 15 year old race record was broken last year, which even allowing for variable conditions in that period, is a very long time, especially in a young sport like triathlon which has benefitted from many technical advances designed to improve performance. The women's race record was broken a couple of years earlier after standing for a similar period of time.

Were the athletes of the 90's really that good (ignoring any suspicions about some of those performances)?...or conversly, has there been such little improvement in standard?? Perhaps athletes from the 90's were over achievers at IM racing, even though the status and prestige - and competitiveness - of a Kona title has increased exponentially since then, which often drives performance standards. There have fast conditions at Kona several times in the last decade - '06, '11 (at least) - and even the other years didn't stop Chrissie Wellington from breaking the women's record, so you could say the argument about conditions affecting performances is a moot point.

Many will say that changes in tactics have affected IM performance times and that the bike leg, in particular, is much more of a cat and mouse affair with the race being won on the run. This is a fair argument as it seems in past eras there was perhaps a little more of a purist, time-trail approach to racing, and with a smaller number of pros in contention, breaking away was "easier" to do compared to now, where the bike leg draws comparisons to aspects of bike racing (albeit without the bunch sprint finish!). The women's race does still bear some resemblance to the "old days", so perhaps it is the size of the respective pro fields that has the most bearing on race tactics, and subsequently race times. This would also account for the smaller gaps in the men's field in Hawaii, at least, whereas record breaking performances generally tend to see one person way off the front.

Away from Hawaii there are few IM courses that are unchanged over the last 20+ years to allow comparison of times. An exception came in 2011 where in the space of a month the Challenge Roth record and IM World Record* were smashed. These were clearly outstanding performances and featured a solo performance in each case, which is the same way Chrissie has gone about each of her many record breaking results. An * is needed to denote unverified courses, which is a blemish against many IM events.

So I think we could say that in IM racing the depth of competition - more so in the men's field, at present - has impacted the way the races are run and won, and the subsequent times being posted, with many results from the 90's still being very respectible - and even fast - by today's standards. It often takes someone like a Chrissie Wellington to motivate a general shift upwards of performances, which we are seeing more consistently in the women's ranks, in races that are more break away performances rather than featuring head-to-head tactics.

Moving to shorter events, and IM 70.3 for a moment, the performance trend here is a clear upwards with race records being broken on a regular basis. However, there is even more variability in courses for these events, there is no clear "world record" time to compare to, and the relatively recent creation of the "IM 70.3" brand has seen an explosion in the number of these races that are contested, so in some ways these events are a newer phenomonon and are still establishing a baseline standard for comparison.

ITU racing has perhaps seen the most dramatic improvement in performance in recent years, although this is hard to quanity in the same way as long course. Scott Molina, who won countless short-course races in his career in the 80's, had a track PB 10,000 of 30:xx min, and although he raced in a non-drafting era that is now the time the top-10 are running off the bike in World Triathlon Series races. Even looking to the Olympic debut of triathlon in 2000, the winning run time was about 31:00 min…a time that might get top-20 these days. In the women's side, the last 3-4 years, in particular, has seen a dramatic improvement in run times…although women like Emma Carney set a high standard in the 90's.

ITU racing is also seeing a real change in the dynamic of how races unfold, where it is no longer simply a matter of keeping in the swim pack, tucking in during the ride and running fast…the last 2-3 years has evolved into being a swim race, bike race and run race in the same event, where any weakness is exposed and athletes spat out. The standard required is amazing, no more clearly illustrated by the attempt of Macca, 1997 ITU World Champion, to comeback and finding the scene very different to when he left it. Only a small number of notably athletes have been able to move with the changes, to literally re-invent themselves in order to keep up, let alone be competitive. Refer to Simon Whitfield as example.

The progression of performances varies between the different styles of triathlon, and while times tell a black-and-white story of how things have changed, it is only part of the story and it would be a hard argument to say that today's triathletes are not an evolutionary leap beyond the performances of their fore fathers…although there are some exceptions, of athletes who were ahead of their time and who's age old performances would still shake things up these days.

Gold Coast Marathon 2012

Occasionally I get asked how many marathons I’ve run, and the answer is often a surprise (ie, low) since up until recently I’d run just 8 marathons (excluding IMs) which has included 5 x Great Ocean Rd, 2 x Gold Coast and 1 x Melbourne. Of those 8, only 3 were marathons where I set out with the intention of running fast and hard...the others (at Gt Ocean Rd) were mainly just good training runs.

Last weekend (1st July) I lined up for marathon number nine, once again at Gold Coast, with the clear goal of striving for my best ever run – a PB at least, and if things went amazingly well then I’d chase a time that I could proudly hang my hat on, and hopefully join an exclusive group of people who’ve run sub-2:30hr for marathon. This has been a dream which has inspired me for years, and yet for the last 4 years I’ve sabotaged my marathon dream with injury, which in turn has motivated the dream even more. Sub-2:30 is my 4 minute mile...a physical and mental barrier of equal parts, and the thought of actually achieving it was lifted me, however unreasonable it might be.

However, each of these goals – PB and/or sub-2:30 – were a very big ask, because since I ran my PB of 2:32:10hr in 2006, I’m 6 years older (42 yo) and only 2 years post Achilles surgery. This second point could have made or broken my running career, and history shows that not everyone who has such an enforced break from running makes it back to a similar level than before...but I was hoping for that and more.

My recent history of entering and not even starting marathons has haunted me, but maybe the omens would be kind this year...to at least have a go at running to a level that in one moment seems achievable, and in another seems almost impossible. I just wanted the chance to train for and run, no, race a marathon to see what I was made of. It would be a hero or zero strategy...either I would pull it off, or it would fail and I’d come home rather worse for wear, and with a corresponding time.

Training had gone well, and my recent 15km road race indicated I was in good form, but a marathon is a different beast. My immediate lead-up was also rather unusual since it included the birth of our first kid, Edward, just 9 days before the marathon, and having him home 5 days before introduced a life that bore little resemblance to what it was before...interrupted sleep, and more. My blessing was in the shape of my lovely wife who gave me two “nights off” from getting up on Thursday and Friday...these helped no end in putting some spring and zip into my previously weary body.

The other effect of Edward’s arrival was the distraction it gave me, to not obsess about the race coming up like I might otherwise have done. I knew it was just days away, and meant an enormous amount to me, but it was still in third place behind Edward and Ms A. This was a welcome scenario, since analysis paralysis can cripple a good race attempt.

I arrived on the Gold Coast early on Saturday afternoon, and after collecting my race number was picked up by my younger brother, Sam, who was also racing, plus mum & dad, who were there with Sam’s wife and 2 kids to support us...it’s amazing to have actual family support at an “away” race, which happens so very rarely. Sam’s running form had improved out of sight since his debut 2:56 in Melbourne last October, and being free of injury he had trained well and looking to run sub-2:40 – we would be quite a strong family team!!

The weather forecast was looking fantastic, and a far cry from the previous week of wind and rain...the promise of usually good conditions is a major drawcard for GC marathon, and it was delivering in spades. It was now, actually being at race central, that I was getting really excited by the day ahead.

Race morning started at 5am for some breakfast, ahead of the 7:20am start, and provided a good chance to relax and think of the day ahead. With some favourite tunes playing on my iPod, the realisation that I was about to line up in attempt at a lifetime goal, so many years after my last marathon, hit as a mix of excitement, anxiety, nerves and some raw emotion. What would unfold in a few hours time?...I just knew that I was feeling good and ready to give it my best shot.

Sam and I set off for the start at 6:45am, using the 2.5km jog over as warm-up, joined by other runners also heading across the Broadwater bridge to the start / finish area. The atmosphere was palpable, with the half marathon already underway and 5000+ runners readying themselves for the full marathon, plus supporters and more...pre start is a unique part of any big race. We both had preferred starts meaning we could join the field right at the front, enjoying some space to move around. This also let us mix with the elite athletes, including a swag of African (Kenya & Ethiopia) runners, some Japanese, other internationals, plus a range of Australian runners...many of whom I recognised as being very much better than me. Looking around I wondered if I’d even get in the top-30...but a marathon is a long way to sort out the field, and with a quick good luck to Sam we were in the stater’s hands as the gun went to set us off.

The first 1km+ is a straight line ahead of us and allowed the field to sort itself out and find space...although the thousands behind us were perhaps not so freely spaced out. The 1km mark would be the first indicator of pace, which I wanted to keep at 3:34 min/km (17:50min per 5km), which I hit almost spot on in 3:33. Already I could see a group forming at about my pace but my 2km (7:06) it had spread out a little and I was surrounded by several others, including 3-4 women.

I felt fantastic, almost like jogging, as I kept a close watch on my pace (3km in 10:40) and hoped this would continue, leading a small group. But in reaching 5km in 17:53min I was a little shocked – and surprised – to have slipped a few seconds off target pace, which was minor but I also knew I had to keep right on it or my goal would slip away out of reach. So I picked up my pace a fraction to get back on pace, and in doing so pulled up to a group that was 20-30m ahead, and eased past them and in doing so picked up an elite Japanese women who used me to pace off for a few km, but by 6-7km mark I was on my own. It was about this time I had the first of my gels, one every 25min, which worked well throughout the race.

My next few km were in the 3:33 min/km range, which was good in that it pulled me back right on pace by 10km (17:46min – 35:39min), and I was feeling good. I held this was comfortably further on to the turnaround at 15.6km, despite being all alone, but the fresh, lightness in my legs was going...as I expected it would by this time, passing 15km in 53:28min (17:48min). We were now on the return leg back towards the start / finish area, and away from the crowds gathered at the turn point. Sam & I crossed paths, with him looking good and nicely in with some other runners...things were looking pretty good for each of us.

The next 5km section turned out to be the section of truth, and the stretch that really told whether my goal was realistic or not. I was running well, and thinking I was on for a good day let my ego get a little ahead of me and my pace through a few of the kms got a slightly faster, not by much, but enough that it was noticeable. A couple of 3:30-31 min/kms crept in, and noting that I eased off so as not to vary too much from goal...but it was telling. If my goal was realistic this marginal pace increase for that short distance would have passed like a blink, but it didn’t. I noticed a very subtle decay of my form and freshness and although this was my fastest 5km split (17:41min) I wasn’t quite so positive about what was ahead.

Nevertheless, marathons are not easy and I also felt this could be where the hard work really started and I was ready for it...but things were on a knife edge. By this stage I’d been running alone for about 16km, and not minding it, with a couple of runners ahead me who were coming back towards me. Also along this stretch, while running back against the field of runners still heading out their mass was so large (albeit slow moving) as to create a slight headwind...which played with my mind more than my progress.

I reached half way in 75:06min, a full 30sec faster than in my PB run 6 years earlier, and 9sec under an even pace of 3:34 min/km, so on paper it looked pretty good but the reality was heading in another direction. My pace was slowing with km splits trending into 3:36-38 min/km range, and my legs tiring...my PB dream was not looking good. 20-25km was covered in 18:07min, the slowest so far, and slowing further...although I had passed a few people in that section. My mind was doing maths to thinking through what I would need to sustain for various finish times, but my legs were on a different plan and my gut instinct was sending warning signals for how bad this might get. I passed a couple of friends at the 29km mark and gave a thumbs down signal...no point dressing it up.

The 30km mark is in the middle of the bridge, which itself is a slight hill and really broke me. That 5km was 18:37min, still respectable, but the writing was on the wall. A little further on mum, dad, sister-in-law Kate and kids Tom & Ollie were there giving a great cheer, but I just wanted to slow down for a break to get myself together again...physically and mentally. That came at the next aid station at 31km where I slowed right down to grab two cups of sports drink and water – a very small respite but very welcome. As I did so 4 people went right past me – 2 who I’d just passed, and 2 others including a women running into 2nd place. Damm them!!!

The 32km mark is right beside the finish area, from where we ran 5km away again in the opposite direction from where we’d come, before the final turn and back to home. I was struggling and really worried how bad it might get...I feared I would be reduced to a run-walk, not to mention having Sam pass me!!! But fortunately it didn’t get any worse than just feeling shot to pieces, and to my surprise my pace stabilised at around 4 min/km...in most cases this a comfortable training pace, but not what I was thinking the marathon would come to. But it had and I just had to keep going regardless.

The final turn around point seemed to take forever to reach, and with just a handful of spectators to cheer it was back down the road to the finish...finally. As soon as we turned I was looking for Sam, in part to see how he was running and in part to see if he was likely to catch me...brotherly love is not match for competitiveness in a race!!! He was a little way back and also had a pained look on his face... it looked like he would miss his goal time, also, but I was safe from being passed!!

The last 5km was very arduous and trying. 30-35km took 19:46min and I was just holding onto the same pace from 35-40km. The route detoured along the coast so there were no runners coming towards us, which made it quite lonely, to really dwell in your own situation. Two people passed me in this section – I had no idea what place I was in – but we were otherwise quite spaced out, and barely getting any closer to the finish area. 40km passed after a 20:00min split – the slowest of the day – and I pushed on.

After the loneliness of where we had just run, the last km is great, down the Gold Coast Hwy in a straight line with the side of the road lined with people, some in groups under club or team tents, and others on their own. The groups gave a great cheers, and it is fantastic to be in touching distance of the finish, which was down a side road, around three corners and then a fantastic finish chute lined with grandstands, carpet, announcers calling you in and more...it was all a finish line should be. Apparently mum, dad, Kate, Tom & Ollie were there also, to make it even better, but I completely missed them.

I played it up the crowd at the finish, not knowing when I would next run – or finish – a marathon, and crossed the line in 2:36:29hr for 19th overall (17th male). It was good to stop, as my legs were very stiff and tired. I was handed a drink and kept standing around waiting for Sam, seeing 2:40 tick past, with another 2:12min until he also crossed the line for a huge, 14min PB. The story of each of our race was similar...fading in the second half. But as they say, better to have tried for a great time and fail, than not try at all. I wasn’t ready to line up for another marathon for quite a while.

We slowly made our way to meet the family and spent some time at a great little water park for kids, soaking our legs in the water and enjoying some sun which was brightly shining by then. It was so nice to hang out with them for a while before we slowly walked back to the apartments...my toes were the sorest part, having been pounded in my shoes. The rest of the afternoon was relaxing, with a good feast of pizza that night capping off the day.

In the light of day the next morning I pondered as I slowly walked about, stewing over the run. I was happy to accept that I’m not a sub-2:30 marathon runners – if it was ever going to happen, this race would be it. I’d put it out there but wasn’t up to achieving it, and no regrets for trying. However I did think that my recent form is better than my finish time would suggest, by 2-3 mins, if I’d run a little more conservatively early on - I rolled the dice for a fantastic time, but also missed a really good time. 2:36 is a good time, but going into the day sub-2:35 was only my plan B time, and I’d missed even that. Being my own hardest critic, it was burning me that I really think I could have run faster, albeit probably not a PB.

So I am thinking I want to run another marathon soon, to capitalise on my good fitness and form, and post a really good time which I feel will reflect my current standing, before the decline of age increases too much. It’s a little like a punch-drunk boxer going back into the ring for one last bout, but I hope to be able to write another chapter of my running with a fitting ending. In the short term it is time be dad for a while and see what that brings. My dear wife has been a great support, and it will good to involve Eddie in life as he grows...and maybe cheer his dad on sometime in the future.

Life changing events

In the list of things that have a big impact on your life are events like changing jobs, moving house, getting married and more. Each of these things comes with change in all shapes and forms, which for athletes who thrive on the routine of training can range from being annoying to traumatic. I’ve just entered a new universe of change brought about by a new child, Edward, – our first – which so far exceeds anything else on the list, in all kinds of ways.

I want to share some of the thoughts that I went through in the lead-up to his birth, because I’m sure I’m not alone in both being a new parent and an athlete who still aspires to be competitive. There are many others far more experienced in this field to which I’m a newcomer, so my thoughts just represent a snippet of what it’s really like. I should point out that I am the dad in this scenario...the situation for mums is much, much different.

Like many people, I enjoy routine and the comfort it brings, and knowing with come certainty what I’d be able to achieve in a given period of time. So when even thinking about having a kid, that element of control and certainty is the first thing that comes under threat, because everyone who knows says your life is turned on its head, not just for a little while, but forever...oh my god!! But for any worry or concern I had about the prospect of us having a child, I only had to remember the sentiments passed on by every dad I know, that it’s the best thing that’s happened to them...and that many people with the same message can’t be wrong.

Nine months is a long time to think, wonder, plan, prepare for a baby to come into your world, and the process is not unlike planning for a big race...except for the outcome. I went through the full spectrum of thoughts about what was coming, starting with excitement, warm and fuzzy feelings, pride about soon becoming a dad, nervousness about how I would actually go at it, anxiety about losing my comfortable, controlled lifestyle, and also feeling a bit helpless about the unstoppable nature of what we’d done, and how I might be able to help my wife through the pregnancy.

Losing control began well before the actual birth, beginning with the first doctor’s appointments and hoping they are positive, the scans to check for anything unexpected, and then the ante natal class that clashed with one of my favourite annual running races...of course there was no decision, but I wasn’t really expecting the kid to start having that impact before he was even born!!!

Regardless of any inconvenience or frustration I was feeling during the pregnancy in relation to my own pursuits, it only took a quick moment to remember how much the pregnancy completely overtakes a woman’s body and emotions to realise that I was, in fact, being very selfish, and that any training session, race, or other self indulgent, related activity was a pale concern to that of creating a new life.

In some ways, it’s a shame that it takes something like this to really highlight where priorities are / have been, but is also empowering because it is also a catalyst for a great and positive change in your life.

As the pregnancy went on, I started to notice more and more when kids were at races, cheering for their mum and/or dad and really being part of the scene, and so I started to wonder what kind of kid he would grow up as...a sports nut (who would be 24 by time of the 2036 Olympics – an ideal age!!), or a book worm, or something else. I started to ponder less about the impact he would have on my own sports pursuits, but how I could involve him in them in a way that would be fun for all of us. As someone said to me during the pregnancy, children come into your life, so work towards involving them it.

As the birth date loomed, it was almost like an approaching cyclone and not seeing what would be on the other side, once it passed. Sure, life would go on, but the closer the (approximate) day got the more my life started to flash before my eyes...would it be recognisable to what I was familiar with? And what about the actual labour and birth? – this was something my wife was focusing on more than me...I was just looking to the aftermath.

I found that my own identity as an athlete faded a little, and I slowly morphed into the image I’d been creating for who I’d be as a dad, and the new responsibilities I’d soon have. All of a sudden, training was less of an obsession and something of relaxation...it was harder to focus and maintain the previous intensity that came so easily. My priorities changed.

As it turned out, the main effect on my life and pursuits was my analysis paralysis rather than any actual impacts...very different from my wife...

Fast forward a little to post birth, and now we have a little baby at home who does all the things babies do. But when Eddie rests his head on my chest, closes his eyes and drifts to sleep with the sound of his little squeaks, peeps, burps, breaths, then all those worries and concerns seems like a lifetime ago. Our journey has only just started, and there’s lots more chapters to write about having a kid and aspiring to be competitive. So far, so good, and it just wouldn’t be possible without an amazing partner.