Surf ironwoman Georgia Miller chasing Coolangatta Gold win after race from hell
IT started with blurred vision. Then ironwoman Georgia Miller began to sweat before a wave of goosebumps covered her body. The Coolangatta Gold wasn’t going according to plan.
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IT started with blurred vision. Then ironwoman Georgia Miller began to sweat before a wave of goosebumps covered her body.
Shivering, the surf star struggled to lift her legs, make them work at all, as she endured the worst pain of her life in the final two kilometres of the run of last year’s Coolangatta Gold.
“I had hit a total wall and it came out of nowhere,’’ Miller said.
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“I was just willing my body to go on.
“I was telling it to do things but my body wouldn’t obey properly.
“I don’t remember a lot more. But I do remember as soon as I crossed the line saying I would never do the race again.’’
A year on and now armed with better training and nutritional information, Miller is now among of the favourites to dominate the iconic 41.8km race on the Gold Coast this Sunday.
A year ago, before her body shut down, Miller was running side-by-side with eventual winner Courtney Hancock who has opted no to compete this year.
“I’ve got to battle some demons out there. I had nightmares about that run for weeks after. It was really scary having your body shut down like that,’’ Miller, 22, said.
Miller has had the advantage of training on the course in recent months with fellow competitors Danielle McKenzie and Maddy Dunn.
“I have also been training with Courtney. She has been such an amazing help,’’ Miller said.
“She has won it three times before and has given me great insight.’’
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The Coolangatta Gold involves a 23km ski. 2.1km run, 3.5km swim, 6.1km board and a 7.1km run.
Ali Day is favourite to claim a record sixth Coolangatta Gold win in the men’s field.
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