Portsea Swim Class and Great Australia Day Swim Race Reports

Last weekend saw me race for the first time since I broke my toe some 3 and bit weeks ago. The week and had been long with next to no swim training due to Ellie having to have her appendix out and me having to help her out. Saturday morning saw us head down the coast to Portsea. Ellie needed a day out away from home away from bed just some fresh air and the same time give me an event to complete.

On the drive day we noticed the swell and the wave at the top end of the bay had white caps and around 1-2m in size, but knowing the wind was blowing South West and Portsea was South West the water should be claim, an off shore wind as it’s called. Once we got to Portsea parked picked up our rego bags, (Ellie handed back her timing belt) we checked out the bay conditions perfect flat as. We headed back to the car and waited out time before I had to get on my wetsuit and head over to the buses to head down. Around 9:40 I changed into my wetsuit pulled up around my waste and headed over to the tables where we caught up with other Tri Alliance Team members racing along with G (Gareth) who I work with. Soon we headed over to the buses for the short trip down to the race start. At the race start waiting for a wave starts and allowed for time for a warm up swim beforehand. The water was clear and a little cooler than further up the bay.

Once called up I headed down with the rest in our wave group. As we lined up ready to start I stood at the back of the group. My plan was to let everyone run in and I’d walk in before aware of my toe. A Life Guard asked if I was ok and I explained to him about letting everyone  go and I’d take my time due to my broken toe. The horn sounded and off we went. It was a good 50m walk in before I could start swimming but I caught up the back markers pretty quick and turned the turning buoy and headed south down the bay. I could feel the tide going out at this point and use the pull to help me down the bay. At the finish buoy before heading in I was little way out and I started to head in by the time I hit the beach I had passed the finishing shoot along with many others I had to almost swim back up the bay. I stood up and sort of run in over the line.

My final time was 18m 49s

The next day saw me down at Brighton Baths for the Great Australia Day Swim. This time the start would be in deep water, Ellie and I got down to Brighton Baths and I collect my race kit and caught up with John another TA team member and we walked out on the pier to check out conditions.  It was perfect just like a swimming pool. could not be more happier with the conditions. Ellie found a great spot by the finish got out her camping chair and setup camp. It was not too long before a few more TA team members rocked up and we all chatted away before our race start. While chatting away it was nice to see some old faces, Katie from the run group, Ryan from the TriVic and many other old friends. About 20mins before the start we all started to put on our wetsuits and think about heading up the pier to for a warm up swim. Kate never had used a wetsuit before so I gave her some tips on how to put on a wetsuit. We all headed up the pier to the swim start area jumped in and lined up ready for our wave starts. As John and I were in the same wave start we hung out together before proceeding over to the start and waited for the horn to sound. Once it did it was on a washing machine of arms and legs true madness of people and bodies. After the first buoy the pack started to spread out and everything found their own clear water. The course is very simple you start outside the breakwater swim around the breakwater come back in via the marina and into the beach. I felt strong and good as I came into the beach, I stood up and run over the line.

My final time was 28m 25s

TA Crew at Brighton Baths

Kate and I ready to go

I had no real guide to what I wanted to do I just wanted to finish these events as pre for Geelong only a few weeks away now.

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.

Portsea Swim Classic 2013 Race Report

Last Saturday saw myself and TA crew down on the Mornington Peninsula for the 1.5KM Portsea Swim Classic. Some of us drove own and some of the crew rode down.  We got down their nice and early to beat the traffic and get a park spot, the drive is some 100 minutes away from home. After collecting Ellie we started headed south on the way down we saw Steve who was riding down with his brother Mark. We pulled over and offered to take Steve’s bag with his swim gear down which he took me up on the offer.

 The trip down was uneventful we headed down the new Peninsula freeway and got down to Sorrento in around 90mins, time for a coffee before doing the last 4kms down to Portsea just as we hit the National Park. On the way down Ellie and I spoke about if she should do today’s swim or not, her "A Race" is the Great Australia Day Swim the following weekend, we agreed to view the conditions and if she ok with it, she should do it. We had to stop at the visitors centre as the park was not opening until 8am, we bumped into JoJo (Another of the TA crew) who was down early to register for the swim. Once the park opened we made our way in, parked and then over to the rego tent and race pickup.

Ellie & JoJo at the Rego Tent

After we all picked up our race kits we did a bit of a tour of the event had a look displays, the water, etc. and killed some time.

Shortly after 9am more of the TA crew started to arrive and before too long it was time to get ready and head over to the buses to be taken down to the start line. So we changed into swimwear / wetsuits (well put them half on) and head over towards the buses to run us down to the start line.

Steve and Mark

TA Ironman Crew who rode down

At the start line there was a little walk down the lane way to the beach. The beaches are just wonderful down on the Mornington Peninsula much nicer than the local beaches up in the city.

Down to the Beach

After a little chatting and standing around it was time to get a warm up in before our wave starts we all seem to have our own warm ups, after a few photos then in the water we got for our respective warm ups and then a short walk down to the marshalling areas before the start beach.

TA Crew Group Pic

I felt good and comfortable and ready for a good swim. Looking at the previous waves the water entry had a beach cove on one side and very shallow water start with some rocks. I made the call to let the pack go and then find my own space in.

Walk to the start line

Start Line

The horn sounded and off we went we went. The first 200m the water was not deep so it felt like it was going to be 1500m running event, but once the water got to my quads I dived in and off I went. At the first buoy I could feel the tide pulling and it made the swim light work and I went with the flow. Before you knew it I could see the finishing line turn past the final buoy and headed in. The swim was fast, very fast looking at my Garmin I registered a time of 15 minutes and 35 seconds. At first I thought it was wrong until I looked at the time of day and knew it was right. My Official time was 15 minutes and 15 seconds.

Swim finish line

After the race I caught up with Ellie to see how her first race was and she loved every minute of the race.

Us at the finish

A few of crew headed to the Portsea pub for a drink before we headed back to town. Over a beer someone pointed out a long way to come for just a short time to swim, but it was fun.

Drinks at the Portsea Pub

This weekend it time the Great Australia Day Swim at Brighton Baths.