another very early start to this day to tag along for a ride
this time out to the olympic rowing centre at penrith
venue for the 2008 state all-schools triathlon championships
team brown on the road again - athlete, father, god-father
weather - gloomy, excitement - high, expectations - reserved
a top 6 finish in elliot's race guarantees a place at the nationals
so the strategy is plotted, discussed and agreed upon
don't burn out going for the win - hang in for a place
this venue is absolutely first class for such an event
the swim in one direction along the rowing course
the bike ride around a purpose-built track
not unlike a car-racing track with excellent vantage points
the run on the opposite of the lake to the stadium
but able to be viewed almost entirely from a distance
with the finishing line back in front of the stadium
elliot had a good swim leading from start to finish
after transition he was back in second place
arch-rival and arch-friend sam appleton out in front
rain starting to fall so making for a very slippery ride
elliot very carefully riding and pacing himself
it's not unusual for riders to come down even in the dry
so the all-important top-6 finish the object of this exercise
by the end of the bike leg elliot was back to 3rd position
and about a minute off the pace but looking good
we sat in the stand avoiding the rain now settling in
watched the run proceed back and forth on the other side
and noticed something starting to happen
against all the expectation elliot started reeling them in
including number 2 at this stage with a known very fast run
the on-course commentator picked up this too
and before long there was a real buzz in the grandstand
as they came back over the bridge heading for home
we decided to get trackside for the home straight
father to give the last word of encouragement
me to hopefully snap a photo of the big moment
as they entered the final straight and hard rain
elliot was just off sam appleton's shoulder (photo)
which meant he had made up a minute on the run
an incredible achievement by anyone's standard
then the sprint for the line was on
5 metres out they're dead even
2 metres out and appleton flags
elliot brown has the final kick
and takes first place
just unbelievable
like this sport!
