Part One - From Start to Finish: Stu’s World Final Journey

We continue the story that began with Stu’s rigorous training before and after the race in Germany in May, Stu took on the challenge of the World Final in Australia. The World Final wasn’t just a race for Stu; it was the culmination of months of hard work and preparation. We’ll follow his journey through the heat, the competition, and the ultimate test of his abilities.

1. Welcome home, and many congratulations on completing the World Final! How does it feel to have crossed the finish line?

"Really good! The whole race was an experience itself. It was so hot out there. I think it was 20°C at the start of the race. I'd never raced in extreme hot weather before, and we knew it was going to be tough.

On Friday, while watching the race, we saw a GB athlete whose legs had given out; she was carried across the finish line by a GB male athlete and an Australian athlete. We could see how challenging the weather would be. I knew what my optimal pace was under normal conditions, but with the heat being so extreme I had to dial it back to avoid dehydration and prevent my race from falling apart.

Typically, I run at a pace of about 6 minutes and 30 seconds but for the race I'd decided to stick to 7-minutes per mile. Although, I think I ended up running faster than that. It's easy to get drawn into the race, and you really have to race with your head.

The first 10K went by quickly, and the pace was very quick. The top five runners were already pulling away by the second turn. The winner was Lee Peircy, an ex-professional triathlete from GB. He won the race with a 30-second gap from the second place. The level of competition was incredibly high, as you would expect in a World Championship final.

I finished the first run in 10th position but lost some ground during the bike with eight people passing me which is frustrating, ending up 24th out of 33 overall for the bike. It was frustrating, but I rode to the best of my ability. On the second run, I managed to claw back two positions, finishing with the 9th quickest time. In the final 100 meters, I passed another competitor, which was a tough but exciting moment.

Part of me wished the race could continue because the surroundings were amazing, running along the coast, the sun was out, wearing the GB suit and feeling proud to represent GB against athletes from six different nations. It was something  I’d never ever experienced before.

Even though the race was so tough, another part of me was looking forward to passing the finish line! In the final sprint to the blue carpet, I looked around to see if the GB athlete I had just passed would challenge me, but he didn’t. He decided not to try and stay with me, so that was a nice feeling to canter in.

In the end, I achieved all my goals. I competed to my abilities, finished 4th among the nine Brits, secured 15th place out of 33 competitors overall and even managed a PB. So, four goals ticked off! It was an incredible experience. It was quite something, for sure!"

2. That sounds like an intense experience! It’s an epic achievement; how did you celebrate?

"I was quite fortunate during the trip, as I met several people along the way, and it turned out that I was staying in the same hotel as all the other British athletes. There was a large group of us.

I allowed myself to indulge a bit. I had been very strict about my diet in the lead-up, keeping my weight to a minimum, but after the race, I treated myself to a massive ice cream. Later, I enjoyed a beer and spent time with the other GB athletes, chatting about our race experiences. It was a great way to unwind.

Once we got back to the hotel, I packed everything up, dismantled the bike. Then later on in the evening, twelve of us went out for dinner together. I finally allowed myself to enjoy a burger and fries after sticking to salads and water for so long!"

3. What a treat! Can you describe the atmosphere and energy at the World Final? How did it compare to previous races you’ve participated in?

"Flying home on Monday afternoon after the race turned out to be perfect timing for me. It was a bit strange travelling alone to Australia, so far from home and without my family. Although the experience was incredible and I loved being in Australia, I was also looking forward to returning home.

The World Final was unlike any race I’ve ever been a part of. When I competed in the European event back in May, it was a much more low-key event. It was one race, and as we were finishing up, a local German race was about to start afterwards. Whereas, the World Final was part of a two-week festival of racing, with multiple events happening.

The European race was held in Alsdorf, an industrial mining town, but in Townsville, we were running in 22°C heat along a promenade with the Coral Sea as our backdrop. It was so picturesque. The Australian event was more organised and professional.

Ahead of the race starting myself and the other competitors, were all gathered in a holding pen and at 8:09, we were handed over to the starter. An announcer kept everything on schedule, engaging the crowd and making sure everyone was in place. Once we were with the starter, they prepared us for the race, and at exactly 8:10, the horn sounded, officially starting the race.

On the course, officials were stationed to ensure the rules were followed. There were a couple of penalty areas, which is more than you usually see.

The support from the crowd was fantastic, and the entire event was as professional as it gets. It was clear that this was a world-class competition, especially with elite athletes aiming for world titles in addition to the age groupers like myself.

Compared to my previous races, this felt like a completely different level of competition. I felt spoilt to have experienced it because it was so well-run and unlike anything I had encountered before, in the best way possible."

4. Unforgettable experience! How did you feel upon arriving at the race venue for the first time?

"When planning a trip to Australia, especially with a bike and all the necessary gear, it can be quite stressful, particularly because of the strict luggage restrictions. My bike box was supposed to weigh no more than 30 kilograms, and I just made it at 29.9 kilograms. My hand luggage had a 7-kilogram limit, and I was right at the edge with 6.8 kilograms.

It was definitely stressful at first, but once I arrived in Australia, my main focus was adjusting to the time zone. I spent time assembling my bike and went out for a ride on Friday to ensure both the bike and my legs were in good shape. The heat was intense, so on Saturday, I got up early for a 7K run. Nothing too strenuous, just enough to get my legs moving.

I had worked out a plan with my coach ahead of time, so I knew exactly what I needed to do. Training went smoothly, and everything fell into place as planned. From there, it was just about getting to the start line and ensuring everything was ready to go.

When we arrived on Thursday, I spent the evening reassembling my bike, checking for any damage, and ensuring everything was in working order. 

On Friday, we watched the Sprint race, even though I was participating in the longer standard race. It was incredibly hot, around 27°C at midday, and despite wearing factor 30 sunscreen, I felt like I was sizzling just standing there. Interestingly, in Australia, you can’t buy sunscreen lower than factor 50.

Leaving the bike overnight was a bit unusual, but it’s part of the protocol for official races. So, while it felt strange, it had to be done to ensure everything was ready for the race."

5. It sounds like you had to be very organised with your preparation! What were your initial thoughts when you took your place on the starting line? What thoughts or emotions ran through your mind in that moment?

“I've never experienced the start of a race where we were handed over to an official starter. As you stand there, waiting for the race to begin, surrounded by your competitors, the weight of the moment really hits you.

When you're given that final minute before the start, your mind races through everything it took to get there. It’s been so long in the making in terms of taking the decision to qualify to actually securing the qualification, then finding sponsorship, creating the right training plan, and sticking to it. You also have to ensure that you remain injury-free. It's easy to take for granted that you'll make it to the start line unscathed, but not everyone does.

In addition to that, another focus was on strength and conditioning to ensure my body could handle the load of the training required to compete. I can honestly say that I was probably the fittest I’ve ever been in my life at the start of that race.

I’m usually quite relaxed, but race mornings always bring a certain level of stress. It’s all about making sure everything falls into place, getting to the venue on time, having proper nutrition, and dealing with the long lines for the toilets.

My routine typically starts with porridge for breakfast, and then I’ll nibble on a flapjack to maintain my carb levels. About an hour before the race, I start sipping on an energy gel to ensure I’m fuelled up with the right amount of carbs to take me through run one. 

On the race day, the usual nerves kicked in, but that’s just part of the process. You had to be in transition and have everything prepared by 7:15 a.m. sharp, no exceptions. I left transition around 7:10, but in the rush, I forgot to check my gears. I use mechanical gearing that changes gears with the press of a button, and with everything being so rushed and wet due to condensation (despite the 27-28°C temperatures), I just hoped everything would work fine.”

Stay tuned for more insights in Part 2: Post-Race Q&A with Stu, sponsored by nFocus. In part two of our series, we catch up more with Stu after his incredible performance at the Australia World Final and his race day experience.