Jamie Whyte Blog: Back on the podium

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Hey team. Hope everyone is well. I haven’t been in touch for a while, it has
been head down bum up training getting ready for the first block of the
international season which got underway today at the Bussleton 70.3 Ironman
(half ironman), Western Australia.


The course is dead flat and is known for being extremely fast. This sort of
course suits the fast runners and there was a good bunch of top Australians
racing who are renowned for their running ability amougst the field of 20
pro men. However some of them raced last weekend at Port MacQuarie, so
despite the course suiting them, there was an opportunity to catch them out
on tired legs.


We all exited the water together. It was a massive group with just two guys
up the road. The big bunch was moving pretty slowly, so after 10km it was
timed to test their legs out. I pinned it on the front several times to try
and break the pack up, but with the bike course being fast and flat it was
very hard to create any gaps. Finally with about 15km to go I hit it hard on
the front through an aid station and finally got away with familiar company
in Australian Josh Rix, who I rode with off the front for most of Challenge
Wanaka.

Entering T2 with the second fastest bike split I had moved up to 3rd (a good
start for racing on the new Cervelo P4!) But the breakaway was too late in
the ride to really distance ourselves from the chasing pack of runners. A
the first lap of three, I was over taken by a fast moving group of
Australian including Tim Berkal (eventual winner), Matty White, Tim Reed,
David Dellow and Leon Griffen, which meant I was back in 8th and off the
podium. I stuck at it and overhauled the initial leader off the bike, Guy
Crawford, and then caught Leon Griffen back. When David Dellow blew up and
pulled out I was back in 5th and held that place through to the finish.



It was also a new personal best time for me over the Half Ironman distance
in 3:57:10. Of my last 6 starts in Ironman 70.3 events I have top 5 podium
finishes in every one.


Huge congratulations to our Kiwi Ironman legend Jo Lawn for winning the
womens race only 6 days after also winning the Port MacQuarie 70.3. Two
great results for her and is in some seriously good form!


I fly out for Cairns tomorrow where I will train for the next 4 weeks
leading into Challenge Cairns (Ironman distance race). I am looking forward
to getting stuck into some quality training there and ramping the form up
for the big race.


Thanks to everyone for taking a moment to read my race update.


Hope everyone is well and I will be in touch with soon with how the
preparation goes for Challenge Cairns.




Best regards,
*Jamie Whyte