Warriner Wins Shepparton 70.3
Ironman NZ Champion Sam Warriner is back strong & steady, enjoying racing after a solid 2nd in Port Macquarie Australia just a week ago, backed up by a podium on Sunday when she won the Shepparton Ironman 70.3.
The results in Australia were refreshing for the 2008 ITU World Cup Triathlon Champion, who at the age of 40 moved across to Ironman winning on her debut in Taupo in March. However in October her first time racing over the lava rock of Kona at the world champs fell short of expectations, with some consolation being the first Kiwi home in 17th (9:43.25).
Last weekend Warriner came from behind to win the Shepparton Ironman 70.3 "on a weeks training", which has rejuvenated the Whangarei pro triathlete, however she didn't have the half ironman all her own way.
Being behind Lisa Marangon & Nicole Ward out of the water, plus a 5 minute penalty while dicing with a pro man on the cycle, was enough to fire Warriner into action. While Elly Franks recorded the fastest bike in 2:23:50, Marangon was next into T2 with a 2:27:31 , with Warriner clocking a 2:28:30 (penalty inclusive) to place third off the ride. Firing into action on the run, the Kiwi flew past Franks and Marangon with a blistering run to take the win.
Warriner is really pleased to have her motivation back after Kona, "I didn't have a great swim yesterday - I got a 5 minute penalty overtaking one of the pro men and then I ran back up to take the win. For me there are lots of positives in that because the race didn't go well, yet I still had the strength to come back," she commented.
The penalty just drove her harder on Sunday's dead flat and very windy course, "basically, all I did was went hard from the start to finish, time trialling. The reason I got my penalty was because I was trying to overtake a pro male & unfortunately we played cat and mouse, & once again, I just can't seem to get out of the drop zone quick enough and I got done. I took the penalty and then just got on with what I could do now, which was to get the fastest run split, producing one of the best runs of my season," said a jubilant Warriner.
It was a drama packed race with three of the lead guys disqualified due to turning at a roundabout too early where the lead car had stopped. Warriner was unaware of the race controversy, until she finished, "It was just an unfortunate incident. At the end of the day, it's an athlete's responsibility to know the course. Yes they're following the lead car, but the lead car couldn't get up round where it had to go & secondly, it was the next roundabout on, where you could see all the crowds lining the street. But then, you're going so fast & your mind is keeping with the three lead guys in front following the lead car, so I can see both sides of the story. Even though I arrived with little time before the race I still made sure I knew the course," said Warriner.
Warriner was impressed with the Shepparton spectators and organisation, "It was just like racing in NZ because the community were right behind you, everyone was helpful, trying to make your lead up to the race as easy as possible. They couldn't do enough for the pro athletes, they were so excited to have you there and to me that's important for a race & in my state of mind, that's what I needed," said Warriner after banking two good results in just a week. "There were strong triathletes from Australia, as Australian triathletes always are, coming in to their season, whereas I am the opposite, coming to the end of my season, but not fully race fit yet."
Warriner says she still loves the sport and training, but she just wanted to get back a bit of balance & enjoyment, after a break following the World Champs in Kona early October, "With Kona, I lost a bit of balance & everything was about training. I put all my eggs in one basket at Kona and it didn't work. I was very very low, so for me, it was a case of, there's two races. Let's just go out and see how I go, & yeah, it was brilliant. I had such a good time. It's good to get the fun and my confidence back as well," said Warriner, "To be honest my 2nd place last week was quite good because honestly, I cannot say I was race fit. But at the end of the day I just wanted to get out there & get back racing. Second last week, and this week I got on top of the podium. Now I can definitely say that I can't wait to get back training & get ready for the NZ season."
Looking ahead to the Kiwi summer Warriner is going to go out and have fun, "I'm just deciding that I'm not pinning any goals on myself. I love racing in NZ and obviously this year I haven't raced much here because it's all been about Kona, but you can't beat racing at home, you can't beat racing in NZ and that's what I love about our season."
"Last year I raced to get points (Ironman WC Qualification), I was dictated to because I needed points, whether I was fit or not, I had to get points. I don't want that pressure on myself now. I've already got 1000 points (for Kona 2012), which does make a big difference from last year when I had no points from Kona. So it's not a big must that I have to race next year in the Northern Hemisphere. I want to race when I'm fit and the races I want to do. I'm just going out, training, having fun and doing a lot of racing, but I'm not sure which yet. My next race will be the Sam Warriner Triathlon in two weeks in Whangarei, I can't miss that! Then maybe the Taupo Half, but nothing's in concrete at the moment, I'm just really pleased to have got my motivation back," commented Warriner.
"I love triathlon, it's my passion, my inspiration and for me now is what I need to do. I know I'll be back and I know I'll be back stronger, but for now, it's getting ready for the NZ season and I'm really excited. If I can race like I did in the weekend and the week before, on 1 week's training, then that's really positive," concluded Warriner.
Leon Griffin won the mens race.