Xosize Race 5 2011 - Brighton - Race Photos



Coming out of swim not looking happy about either



Time for a Sunday morning ride

Let's finish the morning off with a run too

XoSize Race 5 Race Report - Final Tri for the Season

The final race of the season of Xosize/Start to Finish was my final race for the season.


Yesterday and was blowing around 25km/35km from the South-west and during my race collection / checking out the transition area the bay did not look like fun.

This morning the wind had dropped right away I found my spot and set my gear ready to race. Then the mad dash to the toilet before the queues got too long. I headed down the beach, with a race start of 7:30am + 8mins for my group so I tested the waters and it felt cold.

The horn sounded and off we went. I let the pack go and waded my way in and started towards the back of the pack. The problem about starting at the back of the pack is you run over the top of everyone. I got around the 2 buoys and headed towards the beach. Once I hit the beach the run to transition got to my bike wetsuit off, socks, shoes on, helmet and sunglasses on grabbed my bike and off out to the road.

Got to the mount line got on and road towards Dendy St . Around at the cones and back down towards transition then along Beach Rd towards Black Rock. Turned around then headed back towards Green Point. I ran back in re-racked my bike off with the bikes shoes on with the runners grabbed my visor and off I ran.

The legs felt ok the run felt slow and it showed.

Overall I finished the race the last one for the season it was not my best race but I have been battling a head cold off/on for the last few weeks.

So this completed the month of Tri’s and my first full season of Triathlons now I move to running events from here on in.

Here are the official times

Overall time 47m 05s
Overall Place 171

Swim 08:17.4
Bike 22:35.9
Run 11:41.2

Placing M40+ 20
Gender Place 122

Pictures to follow as soon as I have them and look out for the Tri season in review.

Active Feet FunTri Race 6 St Kilda Pictures

Coming out of the Water - swim all done with

Bike completed run almost done.

Active Feet Tri Race 6 (St Kilda) Report

The final race of the season (Active Feet Tri's) was going to be huge and it was. I knew it was going big when I first saw the site. When you see some 39 bike racks you know there are going be a lot of people in the events. I heard that 900 plus people did the Active feet race this morning and another 1500 for the Gatorade Tri.

It had rained a little around 5am a quick heavy shower which had just made everything a little wet, but not too bad like Sandringham was a few weeks ago.

Found my bike spot and set my gear ready to race. Then the mad dash to the toilet before the queues got too big. I made a quick re-check of my gear and off to drop my bag off. One thing about St Kilda the compound so big and it takes some time to get around the whole site.

After dropping my bag off I headed down the beach, with a race start of 7:30am + 20mins for my group there was a bit of time to kill. The water felt cool but not cold, the more you went in the warmer it got.

The horn sounded and off we went. I let the pack go and waded my way in and started towards the back of the pack. This helps with my swim anxiety but the problem about starting at the back of the pack is you run over the top of everyone. I Got around the 2 buoys and headed towards the beach. Once I hit the beach the run to transition is about the same length as Sandringham without the hill of Jetty Rd, remember I did say the transition area was huge. Got to my bike wetsuit off, socks, shoes on, helmet and sunglasses on grabbed my bike and off out to the road. The swim showed the fact I didn’t do any swim practice during the week. Why? I had a head cold at the start of the week and work was crazy at the backend of the week. Ah well such is life.

Got to the mount line got on and road like hell towards Kerford Road. Around at the lights and back down towards transition then along Beaconsfield Parade to Point Ormond Avenue. At the turn off to Point Ormond Avenue some riders turned to early and had to come back to complete the course. One guy nearly took me out but all pushed on made the turn around then back up Beaconsfield Parade to transition area. I ran back in re-racked my bike off with the bikes shoes on with the runners grabbed my visor and off I ran.

The legs felt heavy, sore with a 3km plus 250m out of transition, I sucked it up and pushed on the run felt slow but looking at the data from my watch afterwards it was at 11km pace with a life to 12.5km at the end. What felt bad turned out to be good. Looking forward to a strong run session ahead.

Just want to say I think that Super Sprint does a great job. I have enjoyed 3 races of theirs this season and will look at doing more next season.

So what’s next – well the month Tri’s is 3/4 done. One more race – Xosize Race 5 at Brighton next Sunday. Again this race I love.

Here are the official times

Overall time 48.11
Overall Place 250

Swim 07:54
T1 2.58
Bike 19.44
T2 1:39
Run 15.57

Placing M40+ 29
Gender Place 194

Pictures to follow as soon as I have them and look out for the Tri season in review.

Xosize Race 4 and Active Feet Race 5 Pics

Here are the Pics


Xosize Race 4




On the run heading for the finish line



Active Feet Race 5

Coming out of the water at Elwood



Out on the Bike



Heading along the beach towards race finish

At the finish line

 





Active Feet Race 5 Report

After last week’s wet Tri this weekend’s weather was shaping up to be perfect. Saturday was nice day but bit windy. As I walked through the compound you could see the white caps on the waves along beach it’s been like that most of the week. I chatted with a bloke who had just been swim in the bay at Elwood he told me that the water was cleaner but still didn’t taste great.

As I went to bed last night the windy was blowing from the South East at 22km/h at the time I thought that the bay could be interesting Sunday morning.

As I got up around 5:15am to get ready for the race I checked the weather and the wind had dropped right way to nothing. I don’t sleep well the night before a race so with around 3-4 hrs of off/on again sleep I knew today would be either a long day. After checking the temp was a cool 9.8c. I had breakfast, had a shower, etc. Grabbed my stuff and headed off. When I got to the compound it was dark and a little chilly. I racked my bike setup my transition area then headed over to race marking. After I got marked with my race number I walked down to the beach to see what the bay was like at this point my feet felt frozen, basically the ground was wet and cooled. The bay looked dark but flat but as the sun had not come up it was hard to really see what the bay was like. I made my way again back into transition to ensure that my bike had not been knocked over like last week did a final check of my gear and then headed over to bag drop off and grabbed my wetsuit (full sleeve this week) after the feeling the cold in the swim. Heading down to the beach again thinking about doing a warm up swim I slipped into my wetsuit and talked to a guy who was also racing, as we spoke we noticed that tide was heading out. A few younger competitors wadded out some 50 meters into the bay and the water was just up to the top of their legs. Comments like walking on water and you can walk half of the swim were made. I managed to catch up with Kathleen who I meet at the last Tri @ Sandringham we both had goals and what we were hoping for in this Tri. My goal was Sub 55mins as this was a longer race than I had done before.

Race time came and the first wave went out again they could walk the first 50meters or so. Few more groups went and then it was my age group turn we all head off. I stayed at the back of the pack and decided to take it easy. As my face hit the water for the first time it was fresh, cold and woke me up, I thought to myself glad I have the full wetty on. My swim was much better than last weeks, I made it around the first can and then heading up to the second I kept on have to stop as I was running over the top of other people. Once I got some clear water I went for it. I made it around the second can only again to run over the top of other people again. I stopped had a look around only to see myself mid pack. I pressed on and made it back to shore (ok some 20 meters out) I walked/run the rest of the way to the sand a started to remove the wetsuit. Once I made it back to the beach and started the run into transition. Found my bike removed the rest of my wetsuit got on my socks and bike shoes put on my sunglasses and helmet grabbed my bike and headed out. As we all headed up to St Kilda I powered on and passed other competitors, made it to the turn and started to head back to transition area passing more people as I went, towards the end I backed off a bit as I had a 3km run left to do. Grabbed a drink, jumped off my bike run back into transition area re-racked my bike took off my helmet and bike shoes and out on my runners and I grabbed my running visor and headed out. I held a good place right through the 3km run and I felt strong. This means a good running season a head starting in April. I made it over the line and watch showed 49mins and 41seconds. My goal was sub 55min.
My love / hate relationship with Elwood and today was love. After collecting my bike and leaving the compound I put in another 38km ride to Patternson River and back. My personal trainer will say I need to find some new challenges. We do have a bit friendly talk going on over Run for Kids, we both are doing 5.2km in April.

Now with half of my month of Tri’s now done I have next weekend off from competing but as it’s a long weekend in Melbourne I will use my 3 day weekend to put some training in, so far the weather says Sunny and 25c for Saturday here is hoping it will be nice all weekend.

Here are the official times

Overall time 49:38.44
Overall Place 403

Swim 08:23
T1 1:58
Bike 20:44
T2 1:58
Run 16:58

Placing M40+ 29
Gender Place 194

Pictures to follow as soon as I have them

My ABC's

A. Age: 40. Yeap been around 40 years working on 41 right now
B. Bed size: Queen - Just right the size for me and a friend
C. Chore you dislike: Taking out the rubbish vs washing
D. Dogs: Mum had two lap dogs, don't like big dogs that run/attack you.
E. Essential start to your day: Bathroom break as soon as get up don't want to make a puddle
F. Favorite color: Black or Red
G. Gold or silver: Silver
H. Height: 180cm
I. Instruments you play(ed): None
J. Job title: Network It Manager
K. Kids: 1 - Daughter - Rebecca (19)
L. Live: Bayside area of Melbourne Australia
M. Mom’s name: Jill
N. Nicknames: Simmo, Si-Si
O. Overnight hospital stays: Many all ENT Related - mainly when I was kid/young adult
P. Pet peeves: Mess and people who run late to meetings, appointments, etc You agree on a time stick to it people!
Q. Quote from a movie: So many, but the one I use a lot is "we're on a mission from God" - Blues Brothers
R. Righty or Lefty: Righty
S. Siblings: Nick (younger) – lives in Hong Kong with his wife and son
T. Time you wake up: Weekday or race day around 5:15 If not, 7. If “sleeping-in”, a whopping 8am.
U. Underwear: Most times
V. Vegetables you don’t like: Cooked small tomatoes
W. What makes you run late: Not allowing enough time to get there. Always try and get there early. (see letter P)
X. X-rays you’ve had: Few but none for broken bones (so far)
Y. Yummy food you make: BBQ Steak.
Z. Zoo animal favorites: I don’t really like the zoo person.