Wet day at the office. Xosize Race 4 Race Report

After a perfect day Saturday the cloud rolled in along with some showers late in the day. The weather forecast called for a Shower or two clearing for Sunday. All I will say is it started to rain, not heavy rain but the stuff that kind of makes you feel like yuk! From 4am Sunday morning it started to rain off then on.

When I arrived at the transition area it was wet and dark. I setup my stuff in transition lucky for me I took a garbage bag to over my bike and running shoes to ensure they didn’t get wet. Dropped off my bag at the clothing drop off and headed down to the beach. Mistake #1 – I wore my sleeveless wetsuit, with a +18min start the rain and a little gentle breeze it got cold. At approx 7:18am the horn sounded and off we went, it was the typical pack start – Koas, but it claimed down and we all got on with it.

If you know Sandringham at all there is a good 500m plus run from the beach to the transition area, the run up felt good but managed to get pretty puffed out by the time I hit the transition area. (Happened last year too) Luck for me My bike was right at the end of rack so no loosing where I left my bike, however when I got to my bike I found it knocked over and my helmet and sunglasses on the grass instead of the handle bars where I left them. As I was putting on my socks and bike shoes I had issues getting my left sock on as it ripped Mistake #2 - I made the call to ditch the left sock. The right sock and shoe was on and I just had about enough of this and wanted to get out on the road. As I headed out on the road it was wet and spray was not a lot of fun. After a while I ended up putting my sunglasses in my Trisuit’s pocket and kept on going Mistake #3. I made good ground and time on the bike but taking special care not to slip over on the turns or crash out.

When I got back into Transition again I put my bike back but the bike next to me was way over blocking my gear. I had to fix up that bike plus rack my own and get my shoes off and ditching on other sock (from my right foot). I grab my run visor and headed out. Passing people and feeling strong usually my legs feel like crap after I get off the bike but not this time, they felt great not heavy or sore. I only have one comment re the run leg. After the turn around and heading back to the finish line when we hit the Hampton Life Saving Club there was choice of paths to follow some people went the wrong way. There should have been a marshal there but there was not. Made it back to the finish line in what felt like a good time only to see that it wasn’t bad but not great.

According to the BOM it’s been the wettest Summer for some time.

Here are the times

Overall time 50.07.5
Overall Place 240

Swim 12:41.2
T1 2:32.9
Bike 20:25.1
T2 1:53.3
Run 12:35.0

Placing M40+ 27
Gender Place 165

First of the Month Tri’s completed. Next week is the other course that I have had a love / hate relationship with. Elwood. with the Active Feet Tri. The last 2 times I have raced there the water has been dirty and choppy. At this stage the forecast is saying a shower or two for Saturday so here is hoping that it’s dry race Sunday.

Pictures to follow as soon as I have them

Taking it to the next level

Recently (ok December) I felt everything was coming together I feel strong, positive, committed and I have direction.


Today as I write this I am pain free after runs or bike sessions. I love the pool and put in 4.8km min per week. Open Water ok I'm a little behind on that. Here in Melbourne the bay is dirty, very dirty. It rains and then the bay is dirty. It's not safe for swimming. Lot's of metro Tri's and Open Water Swims have either been cancelled or postponed. It will be interesting to see this weekend's tri if the swim is on or off.

With 4 Melbourne Metro Tri's left I have somehow signed up for all 4. Wish me luck I'm really looking forward to it.

After March I switch to running events. Might even do a Duathlon or two.

Brazilian Butterfly Queen of the Lake 2011 Photos

Here are the pics

Heading up the city side of the lake

Another 5kms done

Go the Tan Race Report

This is the second time i have done this event. I have a love / hate relationship with The Tan. I love the track but hate Anderson St hill.


The morning was overcast a nice 16c – great conditions for a running. Those who have done Go The Tan will know it’s a 1 lap time trail around The Tan. The track is a mix of tar and crushed gravel which can be fast or slow. This week in Melbourne we have had some rain but the track was pretty good. One 3 or 4 mud areas but all were able to be run around. After collecting my timing chip and race number I did some warm ups and off I went as per normal I went out fast but as I hit the rise into Anderson St hill I started to slow down and up Anderson St hill but once over I found my pace and kept on going.

Reached the line in 19m 08s

There will be no photos of this event

Brazilian Butterfly Queen of the Lake Report

Here in Melbourne late Friday we had a huge thunderstorm come through. For the 24 hour period from 9am Friday until 9am Saturday we had 140mm of rain. Most of that was in the later 12 hour period. This was the tail of Cyclone Yasi which hit Queensland earlier in the week. Gatorade Triathlon Series @ Portarlington which was in the 25th Anniversary had to cancel the swim leg of event. Start to finish publish yesterday that this morning’s event would still be on but they would be monitoring the weather and updating us if there was a change to the event.


When I got up this morning you could hear the wind blowing and checking the online weather it should it was 14c blowing from the SW @ 25km per hour. Not too bad but as Albert Park does not have a lot of protection from the wind it can be an interesting place at times. So I got ready and put on my running clothes (T-Shirt, running shorts, etc) but I also grabbed my long running jacket great if it’s windy and wet. After parking at Albert Park I noticed the wind and weather were not as bad at home or near the Beach so I left the running jacket in the car. After getting my race number and timing chip I started my warm up with some stretching and little runs mixed with some sprits. I lined up towards the front of pack I always hate being caught behind someone slower than me. Right on 8:30am off we went the pace I started out was very quick 4:50 pace but it felt ok but I knew I would be slowing it down, but too my surprise I did slow down not to a 5:30 pace but more at 5:15 pace. I got to say that event was well done considering that track was free of puddles, muddy areas we missed and where the water run off from Friday’s storm was they marked well. With the first running event of year over I was happy not only with the time but the result as well.

With this being the 3rd time I have run Brazilian Butterfly Queen of the Lake I don’t feel sore at all which is great I’m really happy with the performance, the result and the recovery. With in the next 6 days I have another event Go the Tan which I looking forward to smashing.

The training is starting to really pay off. Thanks Alana

Results
Time 26.14.1

Overall Place 85th
Age Group Placing M40-49 8th
Gender Placing 40th

Pictures to follow (I hope this time)