THEK OF A CHANCE
THE near-misses don’t haunt Grace Thek as she aims to take a step up on the podium at next month’s Geelong Ironman.
In her three starts at the half-ironman event, Thek has landed on the podium each time but fallen just short of the gold.
In 2018 she appeared set to break the tape first before stumbling and falling twice in the run home and finishing second, a loss that is stuck in her mind.
“I think ‘Fall from Grace’ was the title of the article on the back page of the Geelong Advertiser,” she said.
“I know the first race I did (in 2018) I was so close to getting that win there.
“I just think it’s always been a good field at Geelong and it’s been about racing against the best athletes in the world and the aim is to be on that top step and I would love to do that.
“Obviously that top step is the goal but I am not disappointed about the last three years at Geelong, it just makes me hungrier to get that top spot.”
Melbourne-based Thek took a break from training last year as she sat through the brutal coronavirus lockdown.
She said the one-hour mandated time allowed outside during parts of the lockdown suited her running and she spent hours inside on her exercise bike pitting herself against others online, but her racing chops may have suffered.
Thek said she was unsure how she would fare in her first Ironman event since the same race in Geelong last year but just getting to the start line was a success. “I guess there is an element of ‘I don’t know where my fitness is’ because I haven’t raced against the girls and I don’t know how I will fit,” she said.
“I’ve just been building up that desire to race for the past year and am excited to do another half (Ironman). There is a build up of nerves but I guess that comes with every race and I am just excited to be out there on course.
“Geelong is my favourite race of the whole circuit, it is as local to me as it gets and it has a big place in my heart because it was my first pro race.”
Thek has already qualified for the Ironman world championships, due to be held in Utah, United States, in September, and is hopeful the event will go ahead. The Geelong Ironman is due to be held on March 28.