So that happened...

Today was the Osoyoos Desert Half Ironman. I was really looking forward to this race as I've taken a major step forward in training over the last couple of weeks and felt I had a good one waiting to come out.

I've had time to look for the silver lining and have found a couple. I am pretty disappointed though as I was 4k away from putting together the race I was hoping for.

Good job to everyone who finished out there today, it was another great event put on by Outback Events as usual with the organization and volunteers second to none. If you have never done one of their races, do yourself a favor and sign up for one.

THE GOOD:
I was 4k away from putting it together better than I ever have in a triathlon. Best ever swim of 34 min where I found some feet and 'chilled', came out of the water feeling ready to tackle the bike/run. Bike was solid and I moved through the field up to the top 10. The first 17k of the run was also very good... through 10k in 37 mins, 15k same pace and moved up to 6th, with 5th in sight and I felt good enough to start hammering for home.

I managed to walk it in for 8th place and the win in my age group.

This course is awesome! The bike course is relentless!

THE BAD:
Transitions were a disaster today, forgot my gels and had to go back for them before the bike and had to stop to visit the facilities after the bike. My descending skills on the bike also need some serious work as I chickened out of aero descending both directions of Richter and was giving up time pretty much every downhill.

THE UGLY:
17k-Finish... with 5th place in sight, I started to pick up my run and head for home (I was on pace for a 1:18 run and 4:33 half on a tough course at this point), all of a sudden my right calf (which had been a bit tight for the last couple of km's) seized on me. It was very painful and forced me to a walk/hobble all the way to the finish.

...So close but I know the fitness is coming, I just really wanted to have a breakthrough race as IMC will be less about racing and more about getting through the day, so this was likely my last 'race' of the season. 4k more and I'd be over the moon. Right now, I'm very tempted to go find another half ironman as soon as I can figure out what happened with my calf (don't think it was nutrition but I'll take a long hard look at the day) and get it sorted out. But this may be the disappointment talking so I'll sleep on it for a couple of days before making any more racing decisions.

Thanks for listening:-)

Graham