Crazy few days in Phuket

What a whirlwind weekend - thankfully not every weekend is this action packed! It was a great combination of sporting excellence, golf buggy antics, beach rugby and carbo loading which included educating Ado to the fact the G&T's are not classified as good pre-race carbohydrates!!

On Saturday morning, we all headed out for one last training session in yet more rain but at least this promised cooler conditions on race day.   There were quite a few relieved faces at the thought of an overcast run although I wasn't convinced the sun would hold off.   The session ended with a 10minute easy jog, this soon disintegrated into being a full on competition between a number of the boys and it was time to get them quickly back in the stables before they bolted completely!   The race briefing went without any issues and it was straight over to the pasta party for one final feed up. Ado opted to miss the organized carbo-loading option and instead headed to an unknown venue for a few swift G&T's and was last seen ducking back into the hotel at midnight claiming sleep the night before a race is very over-rated... ........

Joss and Claire ready to lead the charge.

Joss and I arrived in the transition area on race morning fully expecting to be greeted by a large number of very nervous clients all needing assistance.   Instead we found everyone looking organized, relaxed and like they knew exactly what they were doing....clearly we must have done something right!   The transition area is about 2km from the swim start, which is point-to-point with 1200m in the sea and 600m across a lagoon.   After a quick boat trip, everyone was lining up on the beach ready for the mass start of 700 athletes. It's pretty nerve wracking for experienced racers but petrifying for the first-timer - I was still waiting to have a good start in Phuket after 6yrs of racing here!   Quick warm-up and some introductions then the gun went off and the charge down the beach began....finally my rugby playing experience comes in handy.   I had a clear start for a change and settled onto Joss's feet for the first 100m before she left me in her wake.   It was her first pro race and if you guys think you were nervous pre-race, you should have visited our room on race morning!  

Checking out the water conditions pre-race.

Most of our guys went wide at the start trying to find clear water and apart from Mark loosing his goggles at one point and Ado enjoying the view out the back of the field, the swim went by without any major issues.   Once you come out of the water, the idea is to grab your bike and get out of transition as quickly as possible......as I entered, Joss was already close to 3minutes up the road with the lead women.   I hung around just long enough for Rob to get a good look at my butt as that would be the last time he would be seeing it on the bike course.   (We were both racing in the relay section and doing the bike leg......no we're not competitive!)   As everyone started heading out on the bike course, the 6km fun run started and the whole Magicians team hopes were pinned on young Hettie Morrision.   She took the challenge like a true pro and did a fantastic time to come 16 th out of over 100 women and she's not even twelve!!   Great things to come and hopefully a new member to the training squad.

Joss Heading Out on the Run.

The bike course is renown for being really tough as it starts with 15km of relatively short but very steep hills as you follow the coastline.   After the final climb, known as hurl hill (yes, you often see guys leaning over their bikes part way up opting to take breakfast on rental option!) there is a steep descent onto the airport road.   While many people think it's plain sailing from there, it's a technical course which winds it's way through many small villages and has lots of sharp bends....hey Chris?   Chris is the very proud owner of a new, very expensive Pinnarello bike.   In all the excitement of doing his second triathlon, he sailed straight through a corner and took out not only a Thai lady but also her entire fruit stand!!   Luckily Graeme was on hand to take detailed notes of the whole incident so he could recount it plenty of times over beers at the post-race party to the amusement of everyone (except Chris!).   No serious damage and Chris was back on the road again.   One of the best things about this race is the hundreds of school kids who line the course cheering everyone one and making you feel like you are Lance Armstrong whether you are leading at the front or bringing up the rear. I came off the bike to hear we were the lead relay team and sent my runner, Clive on his way.....Rob's team truly crushed!   The news on the course was Joss was holding 5 th place close to some very strong, experienced pro's and looking good.   Alex Morrison (chief photographer) and I were able to watch the spectacle of everyone coming off the bike and heading out onto the run, which is a flat 12km but by this point, incredibly HOT.  

Georgia Post-Race

I can't tell you how amazing it is to watch everyone achieving their goals, big smiles and a look of pure relief as they see the finish line!   Joss had the race of her life finishing in 5 th place and in the money.   Harry de Pree was next over the line taking 30minutes off his previous time but the effort and thinking drinking on course was for whimps took it's toll and we spent an enjoyable 2hrs together in the medical tent.   It has to be said, suffering from heatstroke, you say something pretty interesting things....Harry we'll have a beer one day and I can remind you of a few of them! Harry spent the evening enjoying the Thai hospitality in Phuket Hospital - what some people will do to get an extra 2days off work and have to sit round the hotel pool as penance.

Ado ripping up the run course (check out the shorts!)

I had been really impressed by the determination, persistence and hard work everyone put in to prepare for Phuket but even knowing all this, it was still amazing to see everyone do so well.   This is one of the hardest courses in Asia to take on as your first triathlon so to have everyone finish was awesome.   Everyone who had previously raced here had personal best times and Nicky Walker came 3 rd in her Age-Group in her first attempt. A huge pat on the back for Rafael, Mark and Sophie who only joined the program in October having done no swimming, biking and running.   I still think the hero of the day was Ado who despite taking a 3wk taper plan holidaying on with no training, a novel carbo-loading plan and limited sleep stormed home with a very interesting look going on down his shorts.   The pressure had been on, he was escorting Rob's (his boss) daughter back to HK on the 4pm flight so it was hit and miss he would make it and getting the sack was looming....as always he pulled through in flying colors.

Ado, Gawain & Joss after the finish.

After all the excitement, sun and racing it is amazing we were all still standing but in true form everyone rallied to meet for pre-dinner drinks at 5pm.   I should have known things would get silly as the champagne went down way too easily and there was a lot of hair being let down - especially Jeremy and Mark Stevenson!   We may not have won all the awards but that will change in Bintan, but we certainly must have won the award for having the most fun and coming up with the most ridiculous beach games at the post-race party.....well done guys!   I also must say a huge thanks on behalf of Joss and I for all the tequila and Mekong whisky shots you insisted on buying us and forcing us to drink.....I was particularly grateful when trying to pack my bike on Monday morning!   Chris, I also have received a note from the race director to say you should probably opt for another hotel next year........something to do with stolen gold buggies, flattened hotel signs and trying to drive it through the hotel front desk!

Everyone did a fantastic job and it has to go down as one of the best weekends I have had so thanks for making it so much fun and making Joss and I so proud.

Until Bintan.......thankfully a few months to recover yet!

For full results see www.lagunaphuket.com