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Ussher at the Anaconda Adventure Race Finale

Richard Ussher / 13.12.2011

Finally the last race of this block had come around and I’d even managed to squeeze in some training in the two weeks between races this time. I was ultra motivated to end the year on a high note, despite the inevitable decline in form in the last month I was hopeful I would be able to put on a winning performance for one final race this year.

The weather near Melbourne was anything but warm with the forecast for only 14 degrees and high winds, more what I’d expect from Wellington in May.

The wind had swung around into the main bay at Lorne forcing a change to the paddle course, which would now be two laps within the bay rather than a long out and back around the point. Looking at the swells already rolling past the point it was still certain we’d still be getting some good downwind runs.

The swim was the usual chaos off the start line and I got a bit swamped - which was not how I’d hoped to start the race. I probably shouldn’t have been surprised when someone absolutely hammered be from behind with what felt like a closed fist. By the first buoy things had started to spread out and I was able to find some rhythm.

The swim felt as though it was going reasonably well though and the only issue was the girl I was swimming next to seemed determined to swim to the left when the next buoy was getting further and further to our right. I ended up having to stop, duck around to the right and I was then able to head straight to the turning point.

The final stretch into the beach saw some good waves coming through; I managed to miss almost all of them unfortunately.

As I ran down the beach towards transition I was with Grant Suckling, the 2010 series champion. I’d expected to out swim Grant so it was hard to know if I’d had an off swim or he’d had a good one.

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