Matty White

Geelong Urban LD Race Report

Geelong Multi Sport Festival was held last weekend and was a great success for everyone involved, a big shout out must go out the USM crew and all the associated sponsors such as Hotel Urban for making the weekend a great triumph, I really think that this is where multi sport is heading now as weekends such as this include everyone from the community and involves much more than just sport with a festival atmosphere with events like fun runs and open air cinemas. It was just a shame the weather didnt want to play the game.

On a personal note I made the trip over on Friday enduring the long drive from Adelaide arriving in Geelong Friday afternoon to wonderful sunshine, that would soon change as I woke up Saturday to a huge downpour on my ride around Geelong. This was pretty much a sign of things to come as I stayed inside for most of the day resting in preperation for Sundays race.The Urban long Distance race was a high quality affair with athletes such as Fettell, Griffen, Berkel and Jacobs etc in the mix so it was going to be a fast day. Personally I was not sure how the racing form was after a long break during December to fix my calf issue and not racing for a while, but I was feeling fit and healthy so I just aimed to give it my best shot. I knew the swim would be a fast affair with Clayton and Pete taking off leaving myself with Tim and Griff about 1min45 off the lead. I have been swimming really well at the moment but the 2 up front are at a level which is unreachable in the water for me and most athletes so I cut my losses and comfortably swam with the group of 3 in the 2nd pack, out of the water and after receiving time checks on the leaders I climbed the heartbreak hill out of tranistion with Griff powering up front, I have been doing triathlons for about 14 years now and I still remember this hill from doing junior selection races and it still hurts! The bike for me didnt feel great as I was pushing the whole way into the terrential rain, and all the while Clayton was extending his lead eventually pushing out to about 4 minutes at the end of the bike with Griff, Tim and myself coming off the bike in equal 2nd with Pete about 45 seconds back. I knew after about a km of running that the legs were not going to enjoy the day so it was a matter of getting through the run and maintaining my position. The boys at front were running hard with Griffo having a good day eventually grabbing 2nd place to a barnstorming Fettell who had a phenominal day in trying conditions, Berkel held 3rd with me in 4th spot and Jacobs crossing the line in 5th spot. I was actually happy to finish a race without injury and the good news is that the calf held up and the signs are good for Ironman Melbourne in a months time. The lack of racing really found me out on the weekend, but I have to start somewhere as I am an athelete who needs to race myself into form so the result is encouraging from that stand point. I have one more race in SA on March 11th which should be a good lead up into Melbourne, but as it stands now I am in heavy heavy training and have recovered well after Geelong.
Thanks again to USM and Urban for making the weekend a pleasurable one despite of the weather.

Matty