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 Ironman NZ winner Jo Lawn has won the Noumea International Triathlon, a short course race which tested her speed and resolve. The race in ideal conditions started today with a 1.5km swim, then a 40km bike and finish off with a 10km run. Includes Cam Browns report
Jo Reports on her race...
Well what a day.....
Noumea is a great place and what an awesome place to have a race.
I only decided a few weeks ago to do this race, I have heard so many good things about it and I decided to give it ago. Olympic distance for me is ouch ouch and a few more. But this is such a great way to get back into the swing of things after some time off.
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I headed over to Noumea with a great gang of kiwi's telling myself this is for fun!! and always reminding myself of the enjoyment. Ultimately, I have learnt this year that everything in life is about enjoyment.....and no expectations.
Toeing the line with some great Triathletes I just kept on telling myself this is fun, this awesome and enjoy it.
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The swim for me was fast. These Olympic distance swims are fast and furious, a pace at which I am not so comfortable at. Actually the whole race is something that I am not too comfortable at. But who is....when you are pushing yourself to your max for 2hours!.......
I left the water in whatever position I was in, no idea, went as hard as Jo Lawn could, rode hard on a tough flat course, with some Aussies and Swiss athletes just up ahead. Its okay I was telling myself, this is a triathlon you have the swim, the bike and the run.....I have been doing some real tough runs up in the Waitaks' in Auckland...no speed work but endurance, so I knew when I got off the bike...I had ENDURANCE AND STRENGTH, but not alot of speed.
So I was comfortable and in control for the entire run. I dropped the 2 aussie girls I was with and now I had only one left. Caroline Steffen...the swiss miss, she had beaten my in Tauranga earlier in the year, and I wanted revenge. I ran well and felt sooooooooooooo good that within 5km I had her.
But being such a good athlete I knew she wasn't going to give in...or even give an inch. She pushed me by attacking a few times, I just relaxed and let her lose all her energy....then went for it with 2.5km to go. I had to go and go all the way. No looking back, oh accept for a few sneak peeks near the finish line.
Nope couldn't see her.....yippee I had won THE NOUMEA TRIATHLON.......and now I have been told that many legends of the sport have won this event!!!! coolness my name is now on the list!!!!!!
Congrats to Ryan too........great job for the kiwis!! onwards and upwards now........and enjoy the rest of the day.
It was awesome to hang around with Cam Brown too, as he was the guy who suggested we go and have a crack at the race.......he has been coming here since 1992!! how cool is that...................................
1st Jo Lawn - NZL
2nd Caroline Steffen - Swiss
3rd Rachel Paxton - Australia
4th Melissa Trimm - Australia
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