After IMCDA I was disappointed but after a few days it was easy to reload and focus again on Ironman New York. I was fit and ready to race! Training was going great! Plenty of recovery, lots of sleeping, quality recovery pump time and good nutrition. But sometimes you can still be missing one little thing, and unfortunately that was the case for me!

I arrived in New York late Tuesday night spending my first night at the airport hotel then transferring downtown to the host hotel on Wednesday. I settled in, unpacked my bike then went for an afternoon swim.

Thursday was an exciting day with the crew from K-Swiss and Paragon Sports. I had an autograph signing at there downtown store then at the booth at the Expo. The store signing was great with so many people asking a heap of questions, not quite understanding what the Ironman triathlon was. I ended up learning a lot from the locals and training in New York City.

Friday morning was the usual swim, bike, run except for ease of logistics for my ride I actually rode from New York to Jersey to the transition area. It wasn’t that far, but I did get lost a few times trying to work out how to get across the George Washington Bridge. Thankfully there were plenty of others with the same idea so I just followed them!

The most exciting part of the day was Guy arriving! He had been in London for the previous 10 days at the Olympics and doing some work for BlueSeventy. I was so excited to have him there with me to share the experience!

We spent the afternoon relaxing, watching movies, early dinner and early to bed. Although by now I am used to not getting any sleep before a race. The 2.50am wake up call didn’t help, but I think I may have come away with 2 1/2 – 3 hours. Getting better!

3.30am bus from hotel to Ferry. 4.15am Ferry to transition. Get myself organised, including a last minute panic as my brakes seemed to constantly want to rub!! Back on the ferry at 6.00am to the barge for our Pro wave start at 6.55am. It was great having a separate female start from the males, and I loved the dive start! Two caps with my goggles in between and there was no way my googles were coming off.

The sprint was on at the start and I found myself hanging onto Hillary and Bec’s feet, but unfortunately I could not stay there and ending up dropping back to the next group. But a great swim for me!! Regardless of the time, my swim is getting better and better! It is exciting! Now…speaking about the time…lets just say..totally current assisted and that Guy is not happy at all that my new 3.8km PB is nearly 6 mins faster than his!! To be fair..I won’t count it!

Onto the bike and Christie was setting a cracking pace! Out on the highway, there was nothing but her and I and the long ride ahead! Unfortunately the nature of the course didn’t allow for many spectators out on the bike, but the aid station volunteers were full on energy and so many words of encouragement. I was totally focused on my nutrition, drinking constantly and eating every 20 – 30 mins. I decided about 45 miles in the pace was probably a little quick for me and it would be smart to back it off a bit.

Heading back in after the second lap the head wind had picked up and the heat and humidity were beginning to increase but I was confident I had done everything right and was excited about putting together a solid run.

I took my time in transition getting in more fluids and a banana! The first 14 miles of the run was going to be tough! You ran straight up out of T2 and I planned to take the first 20 mins easy and build into my marathon. I wanted to be strong coming home the last 6 miles. That was the ideal plan, but again it was not to be! 4 miles, 5 miles, that horrible feeling was coming over me again, nausea, sick….but I thought I had nailed my nutrition and I did not come speeding out of transition, I was going way slower than my goal pace. I walked every aid station lots of coke, GU chomps, gels, something would work. Something was bound to work. But it didn’t seem to be!!

I didn’t care…I was going to finish this race no matter what….just a finish would be a huge improvement on my last Ironman! However I was getting worse and worse. Walk, run, walk, run, across the George Washington Bridge, “come on Kate, take this all in, it is pretty spectacular” down the stairs on the other side, needing to stop to throw up, then I spotted it….a park bench! That is where I laid….and unfortunately I stayed! Guy eventually found me and by then I could not even sit up straight, let alone stand up!

Finally a ride in the back of an ambulance and I was at the finish line in the medical tent, trying not to throw up but also holding back the tears!

Yes, I was totally devastated! To feel that I was at my fittest and training had been great! It was time for an awesome day! But there is more to the equation than swimming, biking and running! My body has changed in some way and what it needs and I haven’t adapted to it! Salt/glucose….I will work out what it is and get it right and then it will be a great day!!

To all my incredible sponsors, I could not do this without my amazing team and I am excited to complete the puzzle and get back on the podium! K-Swiss, Novatron, FELT, SRAM, Quarq Power, Rolf Prima Wheels, GU, blueseventy, Ryders Eyewear, Paul Newsome SwimSmooth, Swish Design, Lazer Helmets, Computrainer, Recovery Pump,Rock Tape, Tri Town Boise

Mum, Dad, my family, coach, close friends and off course the one and only Blue70guy!!! It is just a small hump in the road which will only make me more determined and motivated. Your love and support means the world to me!!

Onwards and upwards 🙂

Last weekend I was lucky enough to make the trip again to gorgeous Eugene for the 2nd year of the Tri at the Grove! This fantastic event is run by Dark30 Sports in conjunction with Rolf Prima Wheels, one of my amazing sponsors, and this year more than 300 competitors took part in either the sprint or olympic distance events.

It was a flying visit as I arrived late Friday afternoon. But there was still plenty of time for a trip to Rolf Prima headquarters and a “chat with the Pro’s” for those who wanted to ask anything before the big day.

I was lucky to be staying with Brian and Carrie and their family of animals which reminded me of home! It was very comforting! It was also super nice not to have to get up ridiculously early for my wave start. 8.30am!! So civilised! I loved it! There was time for a good warm up, bike, run and swim! Everything was ready to go!

How beautiful is this location!! You have to remind yourself you are actually here to race!

The mind was ready, but what the body was going to be capable off, I had no idea??

It had been a big 4 weeks of training, and I was feeling it! New York Ironman was 2 weeks away so I knew I just had to get through this weekend and then it was taper time. I had nothing to lose!! Just go for it!

Another great Pro Athlete was racing, Emily Cocks, and I had heard she was a great swimmer and races more of the Olympic Distance races. This was going to be challenge!

The water temperature was perfect and after a good warm up we were off! Emily and I were a few meters apart at the start but once I looked over, worked out it was her and that we were swimming side by side, I slipped behind her and made it my goal to stay on her feet! This would be a very good swim for me! She did not know I was there until about 3/4 of the way through the swim when weaving around some of the slower swimmers from earlier waves I accidentally touched her feet. Bugger!! She picked up the pace a bit but I was able to stay there and was extremely happy to exit just behind.

But once again my Ironman transitions are not going to cut it in an Olympic Distance! I am working on this though!!

Onto the bike and it was a few miles before I caught and passed Emily. I was surprised I was feeling okay but was wondering how long that was going to last. 3/4 of the way through the bike, Emily and a few males caught back up to me and the pace backed off a bit as we rotated through back to transition.

Again, Emily had the jump on me out of transition and a couple of miles into the run we were again side by side. That was when I knew this was going to hurt!!

We stayed that way for most of the run. Accidentally bumping each other now and then and someone giving a little push every so often. As the miles passed, the thought began to come in my mind…we are not racing for anything, no money, just a good hit out…we are making each other work hard..lets just cross the finish line together. Then…no…don’t be ridiculous..we are both competitors…this is good practice…you love being the hurt locker and suffering…this is exactly what you want! Little did I know she was thinking exactly the same thing!

With just over a mile to go we passed the last aid station and I was on the outside so went behind to get some water. Emily made her move….and I could not get back on!! We ended up running exactly the same time with Emily taking victory by 10 seconds! It was exactly the hit out I was looking for!

We were bathed in sunshine during presentations and there were some amazing achievements on the day with a large number of first timers. Honestly a race that should be on your “to do” list if you are anywhere near Eugene in July next year!

Thanks to my incredible hosts Brian and Carrie! And to Rolf Prima and Dark 30 Sports and an awesome race!

See you all again next year!!

Women’s Winner Emily Cocks..Watch out for this girl!!