I will say this the weather was horrible, it did not stop raining the whole day and the ride was one I would like to forget, but I was there to put another brick in the Believe in Trace Wall and I did that.
The day before race day
The day was windy raining but mostly just overcast, I put my bike in transition and looked around the expo's
I had planned on meeting Mel and looking over the course but the wind and wet weather was not on mine or Mel's side and with different things happening we missed each other.
But I was not concerned as I thought that we had time before the race tomorrow
Pre- race
I was up at 3.30am with everything ready to go, I just had to get the family up as they were coming too. But thats were things started to fall apart. Little Miss went nuts when I woke her up ( I had told her the day before what was going on) then I said to OH that I will just go (as the weather was so bad and they can go back to bed.) Well LM was not having that either . we didn't get out of the house till 4.45am and I was starting to stress then. The drive up to the race was ok LM was chatting up a storm so that keep me entertained for the trip while OH slept. We go about 10km out of the event and we were all stopped. GRRR but the time we parked I was 3km away from Transition and it was 5.45am they closed at 5.45am (stress was on over time) I ran to tranistion and asked to be let in with 3 other people. They gave us 30ses. I set up what i could and got out of there before. then I had to Find OH and LM to drop off my bag, I was running out of time so i improvised and dropped off my bag with a lady that I have never meet but was camped out for the day in a spot under some stairs, I just left my bag there and hoped for the best. I ran straight over to the start line, jumped in the water and swam around for about 50mtrs then I was up at the start line with everyone in my coloured cap! Thank god they where running late at the start line.
Remembering my goals for the race
- Swim - don't panic let everyone go first and stick with them - This is what I did and it worked out the best for me, My swim time was slow because of it but I was so happy just to not panic and to hang with everyone, I still got kicking and my legs pulled but I was OK with that and I kick right back!
- Transition - my bike shoes where full of water that I had to empty them before putting them on (it was bad) but i was off and riding in no time.
- Bike - be smart and refuel water water save some of your legs and know that this is your best leg so over take as much as you can with out pushing to hard - No matter what i did on the ride it didn't matter it was raining cats and dogs I felt so slow and I was trying to push my legs so hard but with the wind and the rain I was going no where. I started off really well but the road was really bumpy and I seem to find every big puddle to ride through which only slowed me down more.
- Transition - Everything was wet and half my stuff had started to float away , my runners weigh a tonne, and where so hard to get on. but I got there and was off again.
- Run - get your legs in a nice rhythm and breath. I am going to walk at the water stations if i need too. - Getting off the bike I knew I was in trouble for the run as I had pushed hard just to get the bike to move. The run started with me only feeling 2 toes and by the end I could feel every blister, I only ran 7 km but my shoes being so wet, rubbed bad. I did find a nice rhythm and a lovely lady Carol in the age group up from me to run with, she called me her wind and rain block and I called her my speedo, as soon as I slowed down she would start taking off and I knew I had to keep up. At the last 1km I did take off and sprinted. I couldn't believe I still had something in the tank! i never walked once :) but was slow running.
The weather made the race just horrible and walking back to the car in the pouring rain, freezing my butt off I was not happy at all.but what made me pissed off was the 1hr and 30min wait to get out of the parking lot. I would have been fine if everyone had did what they were told and stayed in the line. But they always has to be those people that push in and wreck it for everyone!
I think the event could have been planned better but that was my first time to it,
Still sad that I didn't get to meet Mel, or even see her but there is always next time.
Things to improve on, my confidence in the swim and open-water as well as some speed work. Bike I need to be prepared for all weather conditions, run I need more speed and confidence that I can do big distances.
ox Trace
End Results
336/504 overall
113/177 Gender
25/45 category
Total finish time was 02hrs:16mins:10sec
Splits
Swim
1 km | 00:23:04 | |
| HH : MM : SS | |
Bike
33km| 01:11:23 | |
| HH : MM : SS | |
Run
7km| 00:41:42 | |
| HH : MM : SS | |
What a fabulous job in the circumstances.
ReplyDeleteI am glad LM and OH made it to the race, even though there were tantrums!!
Don't be disappointed in the slightest, I am totally using you as a role model for my first tri of the season (41 days now!) and if I think I'm having a hard time, I'm going to picture you slogging it out in the rain and wind... Won't get much of that in Shepparton, I'll probably die of heat stroke first :(
I think Mel had a much harder time then me in the race, Because you know Shepparton make sure you use it as an advantage and get your training in on the course beforehand it will only help on the day! I think weather is the hardest thing to plan for but the one thing that makes a huge difference on the day. enjoy your training and you sound like your having fun with it ox Trace
ReplyDeleteGreat job on what was a horrendous day to race! So what's the next race on your agenda?
ReplyDeleteI am sorry I am so late to the party
ReplyDeletebut
CONGRATS!!!!
Send OH over to Ohio so I can put him through sherpa training. Your morning should have been easier because of the race.