Second annual Abu Dhabi Triathlon was hold on 12th of March with unusual distances 3km swim – 200km – bike – 20km run. After nice experience last year, I decided to do this race again. What makes it different from other races is care what organizers take about us athletes. We all stayed in amazing 5 star hotel – Khalidya Rotana Palace. I was lucky that this time Kurt travelled with me and even he was amazed with our hotel and that is something special

We arrived on Thursday very early morning - 2am so most of the day I tried to catch up with sleep. Friday was bit busier, with usual stuff as pre race briefing and check in into both transition. I was excited to race and really looking forward to, at that moment I still haven’t have idea what will come

Race day arrived and I had very early morning at 4am, quick breakfast and nice walk about 20min to the start. Start is actually pretty impressive with Emirates Palace hotel and Abu Dhabi skyline in background and even more when our race was started by no one else then Ian Thorpe. Just pity that it was such a short flash to see him…

Pro ladies started 2minutes behind pro men and 20minutes ahead of age group athletes, which made it fair race for us. Water was 22 degrees and decision was made that it will be non wetsuit swim. Usually that is advantage for me. But this time my swim was just medium and I was leading second pack out of the water together with Rachel Joyce, Caroline Steffen and Amy Mars but 1:30 behind swim leaders Julie and Leanda. 

 

For a change I had good transition and started bike as a first one from our small group. Bike in Abu Dhabi is 2,5 laps on highway, flat and with no shade. I was feeling fine for first 80km but then it was getting just worst and worst. With temperatures getting close to 40 degrees, strong cross wind and I swore even with sand storm (or maybe it was just hallucination I started seeing:)) my body was shutting down more and more. I started throwing up at 100km and by the time I was cycling around Yas Marina Circuit for second time (120km mark), my body was overheating, I started to have double vision and thinking only where and how I can crash (not even stop). Just to show how slow I was at this point is that I enter Yas Marina together with Rachel Joyce, it takes about 10minutes to cycle around it, by the time we got back to road, I was 2minutes behind:( At that time I was caught by small pack of three girls, including Jo Lawn and Belinda Granger. I made it with them to next aid station where I stopped, drink whole bottle of coke and pour over myself two bottles of water. Got on my bike, caught girls again, rode to the next aid station and did same ritual. I finished cycling in this small group on position 8th-11th. 

Now “only” 20km run. I wasn’t sure I will be able to even walk but somehow I found my running legs and actually had almost enjoyable running if I could feel anything:) 

In the end I finished on 7th place. Not entirely position I hoped before the race but after my overheating experience on bike and throwing up for last 100km, it was small miracle.

If I forget the race, I really had nice weekend with Kurt in Abu Dhabi and not to mention my great sunburn:)