Nothing in kathy_caribe's league but I'm happy to report I scored my first monument with a third in my category at Geelong 70.3 on the weekend!
I wish I could say it was a planned 'A' race but it was more a 'I call myself a triathlete so I'd better sign up for something before the season runs out and I hit the trails & XC skis' race. I've also got a skymarathon coming up in a month or so, so my taper week started with a 23km trail run with 1km of elevation. Yeah, whatever...put my feet up & stuck to swimming for the rest of the week. The 3.5k swim day a couple of days out probably wasn't in the ideal plan either but it was too nice not to go swimming over an underwater garden on a hot day..
I discovered after watch & nutrition malfunctions at my last race that I quite like the 'less is more' approach, so I went into this one with no watch, no HRM & minimal nutrition which was still far more than I needed. I also purposefully ignored my bike computer so I had no idea what my bike split was. I have to say I loved the lack of distraction. All I needed to do was race and keep tuned into how I was feeling.
Conditions were great, the field was relatively small and I just had a great day. A good swim for me. I started close to the front of the group, minimal collisions and fast smooth conditions. I've been training in my slower tighter 'B' wettie mostly, so my 'A' wettie just felt super fast & fantastic. As a novel experience I was passing people and finding the space to settle in. I'd had a great conversation with one of the 'real' swimmers at Masters a week or so ago and his words of wisdom were in my head as I swam, helping me get a better stroke.
The bike leg is where I'm most at home & this one was fun. Just enough ups and downs to keep it fresh and I was also purposefully ignored my bike computer so it was just me & Fuji. The whole road was closed, my bike felt sweet and we just cruised along, steadily picking off those 'P' branded calves. The last leg I was playing cat & mouse with a category competitor but I trusted my legs, stuck to the feel of my pace and ground her down. Hit T2 in front with enough time to get my bike shoes off & get in a discrete pee (thick grass - who's to know?) Bonus! No piss on my bike shoes!
I have to admit, the run is always where I start asking myself 'why am I doing this? It hurts!' Nevertheless, I was conscious I'd left a surprisingly empty T2 and I generally hold my place on the run. Focused on form, tuned in to getting as comfortable as I could and got on with it. Got passed by one gun runner in my age group but otherwise kept it steady, pretended I was enjoying myself and committed to running all the aid stations. Hit the magic coke around the 12km mark which gave me a bit more spring.
Made an effort to run tall past the photographers, high fived every kid I saw on the course and went down the chute happy in the knowledge that I had absolutely no idea what my time was. Hearing the words 'podium' as I crossed the line was icing on the cake, closely followed by the large cold (non-alcoholic) recovery beer. A nice day out!
One of my favourite pics here - Yeah, I ride like a girl...
I wish I could say it was a planned 'A' race but it was more a 'I call myself a triathlete so I'd better sign up for something before the season runs out and I hit the trails & XC skis' race. I've also got a skymarathon coming up in a month or so, so my taper week started with a 23km trail run with 1km of elevation. Yeah, whatever...put my feet up & stuck to swimming for the rest of the week. The 3.5k swim day a couple of days out probably wasn't in the ideal plan either but it was too nice not to go swimming over an underwater garden on a hot day..
I discovered after watch & nutrition malfunctions at my last race that I quite like the 'less is more' approach, so I went into this one with no watch, no HRM & minimal nutrition which was still far more than I needed. I also purposefully ignored my bike computer so I had no idea what my bike split was. I have to say I loved the lack of distraction. All I needed to do was race and keep tuned into how I was feeling.
Conditions were great, the field was relatively small and I just had a great day. A good swim for me. I started close to the front of the group, minimal collisions and fast smooth conditions. I've been training in my slower tighter 'B' wettie mostly, so my 'A' wettie just felt super fast & fantastic. As a novel experience I was passing people and finding the space to settle in. I'd had a great conversation with one of the 'real' swimmers at Masters a week or so ago and his words of wisdom were in my head as I swam, helping me get a better stroke.
The bike leg is where I'm most at home & this one was fun. Just enough ups and downs to keep it fresh and I was also purposefully ignored my bike computer so it was just me & Fuji. The whole road was closed, my bike felt sweet and we just cruised along, steadily picking off those 'P' branded calves. The last leg I was playing cat & mouse with a category competitor but I trusted my legs, stuck to the feel of my pace and ground her down. Hit T2 in front with enough time to get my bike shoes off & get in a discrete pee (thick grass - who's to know?) Bonus! No piss on my bike shoes!
I have to admit, the run is always where I start asking myself 'why am I doing this? It hurts!' Nevertheless, I was conscious I'd left a surprisingly empty T2 and I generally hold my place on the run. Focused on form, tuned in to getting as comfortable as I could and got on with it. Got passed by one gun runner in my age group but otherwise kept it steady, pretended I was enjoying myself and committed to running all the aid stations. Hit the magic coke around the 12km mark which gave me a bit more spring.
Made an effort to run tall past the photographers, high fived every kid I saw on the course and went down the chute happy in the knowledge that I had absolutely no idea what my time was. Hearing the words 'podium' as I crossed the line was icing on the cake, closely followed by the large cold (non-alcoholic) recovery beer. A nice day out!
One of my favourite pics here - Yeah, I ride like a girl...