What a Race...! What a Race!... This is a cool Vid and Summary of the Mens Race. Check out the 'Packet Abuse' @ 02:15. "Hey Raelee wanna drink? You thirsty back there? Na... I'd rather throw it down my pants :-)"
Yep Kona was certainly an entertaining race. Macca was awesome and there weren't many people out there predicting that result... including me...
You'll see from the clip how fast Raelert is especially when he passes Lieto... on paper Raelert is a better runner (just?) than Macca but Macca beat him mentally and strategically.
Macca let him close the gap to less than a minute, I think forcing Raelert to go too fast in trying to catch him but then he kept Raelert dangling there before he LET him draw level. If Raelert had gone straight past him it could have been different but one of the worse things you can do with an athlete like Macca is to run alongside him and have a bit of a chat... Sideways glances... Shaking hands... Letting him get in your head... Going through the aid stations first (Raelert was obviously pissed at Macca taking a few drinks in front of him??... I couldn't translate his lips though?).
Macca made sure that Raelert's Central Govenor started to kick in and quite literally forced his legs to stop working... Raelert could barely stand up as he crossed the line.
We can all have a go at racing like Macca and beating our opponents with mental tricks and strategies. Whether you are at the front, mid pack or battling it out at the rear, there is always someone around that we are racing against... and that's why triathlon and racing is such a thrill... the excitement of competing against that guy up the road, the one on your shoulder or that one who's been drafting your ass the whole race! It can definitely make a difference and allow you to grab a few Age-group scalps... maybe even leading to a podium position or just beating 'That Guy' you've always wanted to beat... Sweet!
- When catching some one up make sure you have a little rest before making the pass to get your breath and composure back. Then go past as fast as you can BUT make it look as easy as you can. Continue this pace until you are out of sight or you have opened up a good gap. Basically the person you are overtaking will think 'there's no way I can keep that pace up' and they'll let you go without a fight.
- For added effect when making the pass have a chat with them (this is why it's good to get your breath back before). It depends on your acting skills but I always like to hit them with a good one-liner... "You're looking pretty good Bro!" is patronising and sarcastic... "What's up with that shit all over your face?" offensive and demoralising... and with urban races... "I'm more of a Postmodernist man myself" confusing and bemusing.
- Another method is to pat them on the back or butt as you go past them... (Raelert does it to Lieto as he goes past him) just to put that final nail in their coffin. Marcy P did it to me as he passed me in Challenge Wanaka and I remember thinking... 'Man he's cruising??'... he later admitted he was on the limited but didn't want me to put up a fight. Darn it! :-)
- When running out-and-back courses always make sure you are running fast and looking good when running towards your opponents (i.e. when they can see you). Once you pass them you can slow down but you want to make them believe that they won't catch you (if being chased) or that you'll catch them easily (if you're the chaser).
- When going through aid stations take the lead so you get to choose what you take. If you want to be extra cheeky offer a drink or two to your opponent... you're just showing him how confident (and friendly) you are.
- No matter how much your hurting do your best to not let it show... this is when the acting skills come in. Even though you're about to puke your lungs up work at keeping your composure and learn how to say a full sentence as you exhale... believe me it works! Sunglasses are also good in pulling off the disguise too.
- If someone is running about the same pace as you and you really want to annoy / break them just sit on their shoulder. So not directly side-by-side but with your shoulder just behind theirs. Match all their movements... it tells them that you are just sitting there quite comfortably and you can go past them anytime. I broke Gordo like this at Epic Camp... he actually told me to run behind or in front of him... I went in front and it was easy after that ;-)
- And as for throwing ice cubes down your pants... I guess it can give you that 'jolt' you need to get the gap. But come on your Packet goes through enough with all this IM racing... shrinking to the size of acorns they do their bit and try to keep well out the way and you go and torture them more with an ice bath!? The Ancient Greeks did all their sport in the noddy... could be the way forward?
Dam, have I given too much away? Hopefully I won't be racing you anytime soon?
In the Women's race Miranda was awesome but big respect has to go Dibens for doing the whole bike pretty much on her own and hung on for third. Shows how difficult it is to ride without 'drafting' AND have a top run.
Sweet AS! To everyone I know who did the race... looking at the list of Top Quality Pros who didn't make it into the Top 10 (Top 20 even?) shows how tough and competitive Kona is these days.
Viel Spass
Westy
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