LUKE WHITMORE "Professional Triathlete"
2010 Port Macquarie Half Ironman - 4th
Last weekend I headed to Port Macquarie for the last half ironman the town will hold before it becomes a 70.3 event and part of the Ironman week next May. Coming from drizzly Victoria it was a relief to finally be greeted with some nice weather. Each day of our 5 day stay was mid 20s and generally fine. Although race day we were challenged by a strong northerly wind.
The verdict.
4th Place, Super stoked!!
4.13 Not the quickest of times!
24.33 Swim (10/10 my best ever only 40 secs down on leaders)
2.27.50 Bike (7th Overall OK for that course this included transitions rode solo and lost too much time too the leaders)
1.20 Run (Slow shut-up shop at 10km after signs of cramp and wanting to ensure I held on to 4th place)
I had the best start to a race I had ever had only loosing 45seconds to the leaders in the 1.9km swim. I felt strong the whole way and know my consistent 20km weeks in the pool are starting to pay off. A big thankyou to my Swim coach Brian Miller from the Eltham Swim Club.
Exiting the water my wife Tarryn told me how close to first I was, after a speedy transition I was on my bike but unfortunately never caught site of the leaders until the first turn around at 22.5km. I know I need to attack the first half of the bike a lot harder if I am to be a chance of a podium finish because the boys had already put another minute or so into me. I maintained my 10th position out of T1 for the first 67.5km of the bike ride. The last 22.5km was about 12km into strong headwind and then 10km of hills. I decided to put the hammer down and increased my average wattage quite a bit. I was feeling super strong at this point and managed to ride myself into 6th position by T2.
I then continued my form from the last section of the bike into the first lap of the run, splitting just over 24 minutes for the first 7km. Perhaps a touch too quick but I think on a perfect day I am capable of holding this pace. By the 10km mark I had caught Adam Hollborrow who was in 5th, however not long after I started to suffer from hamstring cramp and was forced to back the pace right off. I knew if I just kept the pace sensible I could maintain 4th position. There was no chance of catching 3rd position Tim Berkel who was a couple of km up the rode. I crossed the line in 4th position a very happy man. By far my best result. I then enjoyed an awesome couple of days in one of my favourite places (Port Mac) with Tarryn and Oscar.
A big thankyou to my wonderful sponsors Winners Sports Nutrition, Saucony, Team Degani, Consultive Recruitment and Ryders Eyewear. I am grateful for their persistence in supporting me as I continue to learn as a Triathlete. I will take a lot of confidence from this race and look forward to tackling Shepparton HIM in just over 10 days time.
(Also check out some great pics from the pro field at www.nashyspix.com)
