I look forward

Dear my friends,

I have long story only on my race day! To conclude 3 flat tyre made me DNF for Taiwan 70.3 which I have prepared well since August to make me here!

Arrived 2 days before the race day, rode 30km for test ride, water check but not the run course! Everything went perfect and checked my bike without any bad sign! Have very good sleep at the night before and wake up with perfectly good shape!

Arrived TA at 5 a.m and Charles helped me to pump up the tyre on front! The real problem came! The front wheel keep deflating and can hear clearly the air was coming out from the valves, I was so depressed at that moment! So I asked Charles to pump my rear tyre first and I bring the whole front wheel to the bike mechanic to fix. I was extremely nervous and thats alot of questions behind me. The guy helped me to take out the inner tube to check, there a one puncture nearby the valves. So I took out my spare to him with an air tested. Everything is fine until the outer tyre is mounted and we pumped up, the air keep blowing out! Watched my watch every minute as I know the TA will be closed at 6 and by that time is 5:45. I was completely down as I did't set up anything and I don't know I can make myself to the START line, I know I'm started to sobbed but I could't help. Sally (小汪）appeared, she is trying to figure out what's going on with the bike mechanic. She is swapping the valve from the old tube to this one and we tried again. Same problem! Kenneth was with me and helped and i said "go" u should be ready at the start as i realized there are not much people left around. And this time we found the whole on the other side. I was hopeless, most of the athlete gone.

By that time, i saw Belinda and Justin walking towards the swim start and cheers for me" Gigi, you still got time 30 mins to start, don't worry!Th" i was so glad that the people i know they cheer me up, and help me.BM try to use the electric type to cover the hole a and bundle with elastic band, this is the first time I did with my wheel. We tested and OK. I ran quickly with my wheel toward the TA. Luckily Charles is still waiting for me. So he mounted the wheel for me and I quickly take out my wetsuit, goggle and cap ran out of the TA! I have no time to think about the sun screen, aqua guild and my bike, run and nutrition set up!

Ran towards the start with my half way wetsuit. Charles is will me all the time asked me to calm down as he realize I was breathing so vigorous! Sonic team is already there and they cheer me up and was saying so happy to see me at the START! I started to sobbed inside my goggle! Making myself to stand on the START is not easy to me today, and i should treasure the time:) Washed my face and the race just started.

I take a rather back start approach as I know it will be a packed swim with 820 people to swim together! No points to be flighting! I was being kicked, pushed at the first lap, goggle off and on. So hard to manage my breathing rhythm as I don't have wetsuit swim practice for long! Feeling like neck is being squeeze into half and cannot breathe! Saw many peoples is swimming so ridiculous as they tried to swim on one hand and pull the robe (marking line) with the right hand to pull the swim fast! This is so funny!

After the first lap of 450m out and back, I feel I get back my rhythm and I can swim my own pace without any interfere! Feeling quite exhausted at the beginning and just too much on my mine! Done my wetsuit PB at T1, grabbed my bike and I'm feeling glad that I can race again:)

I'm doing my best on the bike as I know I can paddle hard and my swim was't good. On the bike, it doesnt set up yet, meter not working. Water is half fill( no time, i was being kick out at TA) gel is inside my suit. I have passed so many people on the road, and I still keeping my faith and never think about to give up with my tyre situation. "thank god I can still race" is always on my mind!

When I reach around 25 km, I feel that the front wheel is funny, like rolling on the bump again and I again! I stopped and found out the tyre is flat again!( thanks for the only method that the BM use the elastic band to bundle my inner tube) I was hopeless in the middle of the road, looking the peoples passing me is torturing!

I manage to walk to the closest support and I confirm with them I have to stop and cannot race! By that moment I'm looking back my training hours I have put every week, the hard time to wake up at 6 A.M before work and all the non stop session I have worked out is all ruined by something I could not expect and cannot prepared for it, no matter how well I trained for, how many inner tubes I ride with and by what time they will be flat. ( I have to say the problem is not the wheel, many peoples have asked me must be your wheel problem and I wonder why they said so. I have been riding my Zipp 404 650c over the past 2 month, no flat, no problem at all) I would say I'm bad luck. I have done whatever I can and prepared well with 2 inner tubes, co2, things like this with me. All finished! And I have no choice and I need to stop!

It was a hard day for me and I keep think about where is the problem. And understand my Hubby is suffering from his first HIM, so I must be positive and I get changed. Be the supporter on the road and that's all I could do. Understand thats its hard for me to cheer up for other on the road especially i have fail, it took a while for me to stand on the road, taking pictures for peoples. Its hard to turn from a person who supposed to be racing and eventually changed to a support with camera on hand and say "well done, u doing good!" but i know, people need mu support at the last 6km, people looking tired and they need to be awake. Sorry guys I was not able to talk when u guys come to Finish! I have to shut down myself and I just cannot response anything. That's the real me, I cannot fake!

To end the story, I would like to to thanks my Hubby who always stand next to me no matter how mess i am. Never leave me alone. My great coach (Kenneth) who understand me NOW finally after his 6 years of coaching. My true friend, understand me, don't ask me anything! That's it I just need the accompany:) I can tell from the face!

Well, the story ends and a new one going to start. I took an hour run in the morning the next day, feeling fresh in Kenting. I have Phuket Tri coming a month later, I look forward for the next one and I look forward to rising up again. I would not fall. The bitter just make me stronger!

Enjoy the rest with Hubby and friends here for the beach and beer. So much warm from them to bring me laugh again!

I love you all xoxoxo.....mucho mucho mucho!