So with your “A Race” over what do you do? Fun time! That’s what.

Port to Park Race Report

1 week on from Challenge Melbourne I signed up for Port to Park, just a little 1.2km. After doing my rego bit I went for a run towards Elwood, my pace was good, not bad 1 week on from a Half Ironman Distance.  I bumped into the Short Course Crew who were on their long run out, great to see some faces.

When I got back to the car I changed and grabbed my full length speed suit and headed down to the race briefing before walking up to the beach to the start area. I had never raced in this speed suit, but it was my downtime and time to have a little fun.

We lined up and when asked went out to the deep water start, straight line down the bay, left hand turn and in.

 The water was flat, the horn sounded and off we went, I found clear water and got in a race pace. I came up to the last buoy and headed in.

Race time 19m 10s

Sorrento Race Report

This race was went to be part of my build for Challenge, but due to bad weather they cancelled the race. I pay my money and I figure might as well race it. The Friday it poured down rain all night. I really thought they would cancel the race. On the drive down it rained, I got to Mornington got a coffee and checked Facebook for any updates. Still on; when I got Sorrento I parked and headed down to rego picked up my pack, listened to the race briefing before headed back to the car to drop off the all the gear I didn’t need and grab my wetsuit. It was still raining a little but what the hell I’m swimming anyway. As we got down to the race start the sun came out, water was clear, swim time.

We lined up the horn sounded and off we went. Out around the boats and down the bay towards the end I could feel the tide pulling me. I missed the turn buoy my 50 meters, on well into the beach and over the line.

Race time was 30m 23s.

After changing and getting some food I found a nice quick spot on the beach in Mornington for some R&R in the sun.

 

After talking with Anna, Swim Coach and Kristine a team mate about a secret swim but more on that later.

Nice Conditions

Finish Area

Swim Finish

Cerberus Swim Race Report

With a secret swim coming up I up’d my swim training with Anna, part of the this event was another open water swim 2.5KM distance. On the Wednesday before race day I txt’d Anna and asked her about doing the double, 2.5km and 1.2km. She felt no problems, so I changed the race entry to do the double.

I showed up on the Saturday early to get a onsite car parking spot, this is my backyard, my outdoor big pool; I know half moon like the back of my hand. I went got registered at the desk they asked which event I was doing which I replied with the day double. Looking down the list there was some 20 or so doing both events.  I headed off for a 10km warm up run before the swim. I got back and re-hydrated before getting changed and heading down to the swim start.

The water was flat and clam perfect for swim, almost like  a pool. We listened to the race briefing before doing a little warm up swim and then lining up. The horn sounded and off we went; down the bay towards Sandringham then a U turn and back up and into the beach. 

I stripped my wetsuit down to my waste and headed back to the car for more fluids and food. I had an hour between events. While waiting I bumped into a few TA crew who showed up to do the 1.2KM. Before too long it was time to get ready for the race #2. The wetsuit arms  and upper body where dry like the suit hadn’t been used. I jumped in for another warm up swim and race briefing number 2. Just before the swim start on the buoys had drifted the wind had picked up. We were told to no worry about the first buoy just head for the second and around the back of the Cerberus and in. 

Horn sounded and off we went my arms where sore and heavy but with the secret event coming up I need to push through. I did around the boat and back in.

Race #1 (2.5km)                42m 46s

Race #2 (1.2km)                20m 24s

Great Conditions for 2.5km Swim

View of the course on my run

1.2KM Swim Start

Conditions changed between 2.5km and 1.2km

Swim Finish on the 1.2km

Cerberus in her heyday

The secret Event (Melbourne Swim Classic)

I see your saying OK, it’s just another swim, yeap it was but this was the longest race in my life 5km. Now you can understand the double header race. In the morning I did a little 5km run before heading up to St Kilda. I got to the race start, did my rego big, bumped into David Brooks, a mate, who did an interview with me about the race. Then I found a nice quite spot on the grass and chilled out for a bit. After listening to the race briefing I changed into my wetsuit. We went in for a warm up swim, when I got out to the turn buoy you could feel the current coming down from the St Kilda pier, oh well. There was 2 starts one for the 2.5km and one for the 5km. We lined up on the beach the horn sounded and off we went.

I only had one goal was to finish the event. I had a 4 laps to swim I found my happy pace and swam. 1^st lap, 2^nd lap, 3^rd lap. On the 3^rd Lap I looked at my Garmin, it said I had swam some 4.6km, is this right did I swim right, it was 4 laps according to my race briefing and notes. I started to question my race plan, did I stuff this up. I talked myself into doing the 4^th lap. I finished the 4 lap and crossed the line. I grabbed some water and headed back to the gear tent. I changed and headed back to the finish line to sign my name.

On my way back to the car I bumped into a few from the TA crew who where showing up to do the 1.2km swim. I was asked not swimming? Which I replied with I just did, I did the 5km swim.

My time was 1hr 46m 41s.

Once home I looked at the data and did some checks the course was long 5.6km by my watch. On Strava others who did the same swim showed their data was 5.8km/6km. OK I felt better. After a nap and shower I took myself off to see the Foo Fighters. 2 ½ Hours of a great concert, this was my reward for doing Challenge Melbourne.

So what’s next, well and OD at St Kilda at the end of the March.

Conditions

Stuff you see when registering - Yes that is the Titanic

Swim Finish

5km signing board

Foo Fighters!

Cerberus Swim Classic and Neon Fun Run

Last Saturday saw a double header event weekend, the Cerberus 2.5KM Open Swim Classic and Neon Fun Run around Albert Park lake.

Saturday morning we headed off to Half Moon Bay for a dip. Walking down to rego we spotted Coach Daz (Darren) who has signed up for Ironman Melbourne he had signed up for the 2.5km swim same as me. There was nice Southerly breeze and with that a Southerly swell, meaning the swim out would be fast but slow coming back. After rego I went and dropped off my Free Race T-Shirt and get my wet suit out of the car. Ellie watched the start and then headed off for her run while I swam. After the warm up swim we all lined up on the beach where Daz told me that Kylie and him where expecting their 2^nd Child, I shook his hand and said congratulations. As we all stood there do the small talk they let us go, no real notice, etc off we went. I headed out to the first buoy down the bay towards the turn around the turn and head back. At this point I could feel the swell; hard work on the way back time. I came back to the final buoy and turned into the beach and run up over the line.

 

Time for 2.5km 58m 36s not my quickest time, but certainly my longest competitive open water swim.

View from the Beach

 

Southerly Swell

 Saturday night Ellie and headed off for some fun that the Neon Fun Run. I was using this a training run and to have a bit of fun. I didn’t time it, I just ran it – one lap of the lap at night with 8,500 of my new friends with all of us flash and glowing in the dark.

 

Here are a few photos from the event.

Over look the lake to the Start/Finish Party Area

Start line and dance area

Time to Start

Running into the night

Neon Tubes

Light up the Night

The Season that was

Last weekend saw the last in the Melbourne Triathlon scene for the season.

It sort of feels a bit weird I've not done the do every Tri in the series but instead targeted races that I wanted to do well in. It started back in November 2011 when I signed up for Noosa in 2012, my first Olympic Distance Tri. This meant instead of doing a series of mini's stepping up to sprints. Over Winter 2012 saw me take on my first Half Marathon (Run Melb) then the 10km event at Melbourne Marathon which was my lead in race to Noosa. I was meant to complete the Latrobe Valley Tri but I was sick that weekend, so the Duathlon (Knox) would have to be my lead in race.  In September I took ownership of new my TT and along Belinda and Steve we trained together in September down at Mornington, Riding, Run of the bike and swimming. All of us where off to Noosa for the first time.

Ellie and I at the start of the Half

New TT Ride

Belinda, Steve and I

I went to Noosa with 2 goals - complete the event and have fun. Why is there always someone who says, what time do you want to do? I said 3hrs and I did that. I loved Noosa and I'm going back this year.

After Noosa I found that I enjoyed more the OD Tri's instead of sprints, so I signed up for Geelong. Few weeks after Noosa I completed Ride for Home along Eastlink. I used my new TT, got myself a Skinsuit and my Aero Helmet. I fly along Eastlink, on the track to slash the time from 2011 and then the weather turned and I played it safe and finished without crashing.

At the finish at Noosa

Flying down Eastlink

Tri season started and I went out to support the Club and help out as needed. Xmas came and went but it was kick off I needed to get my training in order for Geelong. My Tri Club runs what's called Hell Week, long rides, runs off the bike, swims everyday for week between Xmas and New Year. I had to also work so training was like 4:30 starts into the office by 9 then open swim after work, I felt good and started building a base for Geelong. Over Summer Mornington Peninsula became my  new training ground spent countless hours and time down there and I love it.

Earlier this year I did my first longest Open Water Swim at Sorrento 2km the water was clear and flat plus the swims are timed with the tide going out. I thought better do a warm up race and picked up Elwood, full dress rehearsal. Aero Helmet, new Trisuit, TT Bike with Race wheels. I pushing for a great time but just make sure I got it right for Geelong, everything went to plan but I know why I hate sprint distance. You are going 120% for the whole race where OD's you can recover during a leg if you need to and still make up time. Followed by another Open Water Swim at Portsea. Funny thing about this event spend 4 hrs in the car (2 there and 2 back) for 15mins worth of work. Oh well, heaps of fun and a drink at the Portsea Pub I not complaining.

At the Start at Sorrento

Elwood out on the bike

At the Start at Portsea

Drinks at Portsea

End of January came up and Australia Day, time for another swim, The Great Australia Day Swim at Brighton. This year was great as my Tri Club put up our Team Tent. Great to have more support from the Tri Club this year for this event. Next on the list was Geelong my 2nd OD race, another great weekend away and I walked away with 10mins off my Noosa time I could not believe my Garmin 10mins. I remember talking with the Head Coach, Ollie, who said Geelong is far more technical that Noosa is, meaning more time to be taken off this year. It was great weekend away and race. OD's are now my preferred distance. Was great have such a large number Tri Clubs members down at the event along with the Ta Taj.

Great Australia Day Swim

At the Finish line in Geelong

The Cerberus Open Water Swim at Black Rock, never raced it but again something new right? Home event and great swim, lucky for me my tetanus shoots are up to date, swimming so close the rusty boat you might catch something.  Great day out except for the wave start where like 30mins apart. A few of us from TA swam there, followed by another Beer and live music at the Pub.

Cerberus at Half Moon Bay Black Rock

Beer and Live Music (Jenny Biddle)

With my A Race's over time to have some fun, another Tri but this time Sandringham, a Sprint. Step back a few years Sandringham was my very first Tri ever. Guess what another PB took 4 mins of from previous year happy with that.

All done at Sandy and having fun

 In March Tri season for me over yet another Open Water Swim, Club to Club in interesting conditions. I have once raced this event and pulled out due to the conditions, but this time I finished it event. In April saw me try something on my Bucket List, a "Dirty Tri" ok a X-Triathlon. My Mountain Bike saw an airing, it had been a while, just don’t ask me about my Road Bike, it’s not been on the road much lately. I had a fun time and I might try another, it was small not well know event but different and fun.

Club to Club

Dirty Tri

 Ironman Melbourne 2013 came we were out in force to Support. Long day of Supporting our Clubs Ironman do us proud. We have 3 of our Club heading to Kona! The following Pics where taken at the Great Provider in St Kilda.

Sarah on her way to the finish line and Kona

Dave - class all the way

Andy - almost home

IM 2013 Party with Giant -what a night

At the last Tri of the season and series my other "Summer Project", Ellie did her first Tri. Ellie had a great season too, learning about Triathlon's, completing Open Water Swim's along with rides with Steve, Belinda and myself. I sure next season she will have a blast.

Transition Practice in the local park

Ellie head out on her run

So what's ahead? In a few Weeks I'm running up in the Dandenong's against a train (Puffing Billy), then start training my 2nd Half Marathon (Run Melbourne). Tomorrow see's our Club's Goal setting from there will came a list of events I want to complete. Again not every Tri under the sun, but target races.