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Winners never quit

Submitted by Jo on Thu, 07/05/2009 - 12:55am.
Winners never quit Print E-mail
Tuesday, 05 May 2009

 

Jo Lawn didn't only have to contend with the competition at the famous 70.3 Half Ironman St Croix, but also nature. At her first appearance at the competitive race Lawn finished a creditable ..8th place, more so when you consider what the Ironman NZ champion faced in the race.

Just minutes into the swim Lawn was stung by a Jellyfish on her face close to her eye, In pain, she stopped to clear the jellyfish sting off, but the pain wouldn't go away.  Somehow amidst the race chaos and brush with nature Lawn managed to navigate the rest of the swim and the tricky and technical bike course.

Things were not right, so Lawn stopped for a quick medical check at the top of the famous Beast Hill Climb, before rejoining the race.

Starting out on to the run in 6th placed, her day was about to make another turn, when suddenly her shoe laces broke.  This just wasn't going to be Lawns day, as she continued along her shoe came apart and tongue flapping everywhere.

Two miles on whenfor most hope would have run out, she came across Kiwi Erin Ohara, Bryan Rhodes' (Kiwi pro triathlete) girlfriend.  Lawn soon spotted her similar looking shoe size and asked, "what size shoe you wearing?...I need your shoes.."  As luck would have it they were a similar size and with a quick swap Jo was off climbing back up the placings.

 

  

 "Definitely this weekend's race was uncharacteristically challenging; everything went wrong however after all these mishaps; it never crossed my mind to quit, I thought, well it's a good day for a training day on this beautiful island."  Jo's next race is in two weeks, it will be the Florida Half Ironman 70.3.

All in all a good days' effort for Lawn in the face of adversity, but what a nice story she can recount to the grandchildren in a few year time.

 

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