Thursday was our first day of competition. Beach sprint and relay heats. I had been training for beach flags this year. Opting out of the beach sprints had always been my intention for Aussies. However I had been toying with the idea of having a run. The tracked seemed good. I was feeling good. The relay was later that day and it would be a good warm up. I was in!
The plan was to have a hit out in the first round. If I was on pace I would continue, if not, I’d withdraw and save my energy for the relay and beach flags. This didn’t go exactly to plan. The heat I drew had only four competitors. The top four would qualify for the quarterfinals. As long as no one broke we would all get through.
Quarterfinals were up next and it was time to switch on. My plan was to run my own race. I didn’t want to know the competition. Nor did I want to know who was in the lanes next to me, or heats behind me. For our team uniform this year we had been given a white hoodie. This was my perfect retreat. I pulled the hood over my head and fell into my own world. The marshal called my name “Heat two, lane one, Abby from Anglesea.” Perfect, I thought. Being here meant I wouldn’t have to see or know whom I would race against. I lined up staring directly ahead, down my lane. The starter called us to our marks and I could have been the only one on the beach. As the gun went I channelled all the power and speed I could find. Propelling forward, I glided along the sand. Feeling relaxed and fast I finished the race. Effortlessly it seemed Barley raising a puff! It worked, I had just cruised through the semi finals placing second.
Soon after we were informed that our relays went down to straight semis. We wouldn’t have to run them today. Tomorrow we would flag. I could only try my luck in the sprint semi on Saturday. Our relay would feature then too. For now I was content. Day one was over.
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