TRI

Wow what an experience this by far is the hardest thing I have ever done so far with my new sporting life. Was very hard on me mentally yesterday with the rain but I just couldn’t stop smiling the whole way around.

Pre Race
My day started at 3:30 in the morning as I we had to leave the house by 4 to make it up to Newcastle. I jumped out of bed as I just couldn’t wait for the day to start had my Yogurt and Nutri-Grain for breakfast and then we were of. The excitement laster all the way to the edge of Newcastle until I realised that the rain I thought would go away in fact was not going to go anywhere. Started to worry here as I had no idea how my equipment would handle the rain as I had tested my clothes in the wet but only in 30oC heat so they dried pretty quick so wasn’t sure what would happen if they were constantly wet. Decided to put that behind me and just see what happens. So I picked up my registration pack and then dropped my bike if in the transition area. Then walked down to the beach to check out the swim leg and the route we had to take back to the transition as it was about 250 meters. Then I had my race briefing and then we were all headed down to the beach. Let me tell you I was a little scared by this stage once I got down to the beach and had the Swimming Cap on I realised that there was no escape I was really going to do this the nerves were amazing I was really scared but then I just focused on everything I had done in the last 9 weeks everything I had achieved and got myself into my racing mindset.

The Tri

Well how many things can go wrong on the day lets count. Firstly I had my Swimming cap on and my goggle’s on my head waiting to go into the water then with 10 seconds to go the guy called out goggle’s on I was alive at this stage with so many emotions everything was running through my head. This time last year I couldn’t even run 100 meters and here I was ready to go for a whole Tri what was I thinking. Then the lights went out. As I put my goggle’s on they were fogged up to the max so I could see anything I lifted them of my face and was trying to clean them as I didn’t want to pull them all the way off as they took to long to get on in the right position. I could hear the starter counting down so I was in a real hurry to get them cleared then bang off we go and as I raced into the water ready to attack the Tri I made my first mistake unfortunately I got a little excited and dived a little to early and came up with a mouthful of sand luckily nothing was hurt except my pride so I ran a little deeper into the water and we where off. Now we had to swim out and back twice and I had a little trouble on the direction I was going so I probably swam 600 to 700 meters instead of 500 but still I got out of the water in 14:30 which was 30 seconds in front of my goal so things where going well. Just jogged easily back to T1 so I could catch my breath as I had sallowed a little too much sea water. Changed my shirt and put my shoes on but because of the rain everything was wet so I was unable to dry myself properly and my stupid race number wasn’t staying on my shirt they really did give us the worst safety pins I have seen so far in any race. So it just kind of had it half sticking on as I took of on the bike.

Now the plan was to go easy for the first lap to get into it and then pick up for the last two. Unfortunately due to the wet conditions and the fact my back breaks weren’t working properly I decided in the interest of safety to take it easy for the whole bike leg and then really push the run. Half way around the bike leg I noticed my Watch wasn’t working so no longer had any idea of how I was going. The bike leg was a lot harder than I thought it would be as it was described as a flat course when in fact there wasn’t really a flat edge on the course. Also my mountain bike might have the heart of a Felt but she doesn’t ride like one so I felt slow and unsure over the whole ride leg. Looking for a new bike today as I’ll never ride that bike again just not built for the road. So pulled back into T2 a little sore and feeling like there wasn’t much left in the tank as the final hills really took it out of me. T2 was a lot faster for me as all I had to do was jump of the bike and go.

Took of for the run and 2 minutes into it I new it was going to be a bad run my shorts were drenched and they were starting to chafe but dug deep and tried to push on but by the 2K mark things weren’t going well so had to pull up and just coast in didn’t see the point in ripping my legs apart to cut a few minutes of the run. I was in no danger of winning so pulled up and put it down as I learning experience.

Crossing the finish line was an amazing experience it just felt so good to finish I was on top of the moon it didn’t matter what the time was or what place I came I had finished I had been challenged and I came out on top. Really was something to remember was just awesome.


Official Results
Swim: 16:25
Bike: 47:12
Run: 25:14
Total: 88:51

Not sure how I feel about those cause I know I came out of the water in 14:30 I remember looking at my watch I would admit to a small error but not 2 minutes. The bike leg also seems a bit slow but then again it was bad conditions. The run I fully believe because I really was buggered by that stage and with the chafing I really wasn’t up to running a fast time.

All in all it was a fantastic experience and I look forward to next year so I can smash it in under an hour hopefully but for now the focus is C2S then the Half Marathon in September those are the goals for this year so thanks to all for there encouragement I really wouldn’t of got over the line if it wasn’t for everyone’s advise and support.