LUKE WHITMORE "Professional Triathlete"
2011, Falls Creek Triathlon - 6th Place
Last Sunday saw the running of the inaugural Falls Creek Triathlon. This event would double as the Victorian Long Course Triathlon Championships. With Leon Griffin and Olympic Bronze medallist Jan Rehula taking the start line the pace was always going to be hot. After a two week period of complete rest over Christmas, I got back into training in early January. I had a good little hit-out at Elwood in early January at the Elwood Xosize triathlon placing 2nd by seconds to the in-form Monty Frankish. I felt good leading into the race and was confident this was a course that would suite me.
After a lack-lustre swim I exited the water with known cyclists Chris Bradford and Dave Meade. I set about keeping with these two as I knew they would ride a solid pace and minimise time lost to the leaders. Jan was off the front and Leon, Monty Frankish, Lyndsay Wall were riding together a minute or so down on him. The pace was solid and by the first turn around at 13km we had put some time into the leaders. I was working hard to stay with these boys, pushing the boundaries of my capabilities but still sitting at pace, which should be manageable. I lost concentration at the top of a steep climb after the turn around and Chris and Dave quickly gapped me and I was not sharp enough to recover this deficit. I didnt worry too much about this at the time as I was keeping them in sight and only about 45seconds down at the end of the first lap. This proved to be a big mistake and I was quickly taught a lesson in racing as these two bridged the gap to the leaders and with all the strong riders now together they put a further five minutes into me over the next 50 +km.
I entered T2 in eighth position 6 minutes down on the first six and about two minutes down early swim leader Ben Allen. I knew I was in good running form, and knowing how tough the course would be I still expected to work my way through the field. I posted the second quickest run split with a toilet stop but was only able to catch Allen and Bradford. I finished the race in sixth position only a minute down on fourth and six minutes down on the leader. I walked away from this race a little disappointed but will learn a lot from this result and carry these lessons into my next race, the Torquay TriMan.
