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

Geelong 5150 Race Report

With my broken toe just on 5 weeks again and coaches advice I swapped my race from a solo race to a team event. Ellie offered to run then 2 weeks out she went down with an inflamed appendix which needed removal. So I needed a new runner, thanks to my Coach Emma she arranged a run for me and her name was Christina. Christina made it clear she was not a quick runner and I confirmed with her that this was just a training event for me.

On the Saturday before the race Ellie pulled out of a field trip away still recovering from her operation, so I loaded up the car and headed down to Geelong on my own. Before heading down I removed my race wheels as the weather reported high winds for Sunday’s race.

When I arrived I found a park right in front of the race finish and expo area. I walked over to the help desk and change the entry from solo to team, paid the extra  $34, collected our kits and registered the team name as “Team Toe”. I went back to the car put the race numbers on my bike and walked the bike down to transition and raced the bike. Being a hot day I dropped the air out of the tyres and headed back to the car and headed down to the motel via a supermarket .  After checking in I started on my race prep. Fluid in-take, Pasta dinner, shave my legs, chat with Ellie and an early night.

When waking in the following morning the temperature was around 28c and strong north wind. In the motel where I was staying there were at least 5 other Triathlete’s staying in the same place. When opening the room door there was the standard nod and good luck looks as we all packed cars and headed off. After parking I walking down the team tents and found the Endurance Tent where Coach Daz had arranged for all the TA crew to share, they made us all welcome. I texted Christina where I was and were we should meet and had a chat with team mates while waiting for the 5150 transition area to open and shortly after Christina showed up and we did the form paperwork before heading in transition. While we were setting up Brianna who was doing the 5150 asked if she could use my bike pump which I had no issue with, but as Christina and I were leaving Brianna asked for help as she had pulled the value right out of the tube as I felt bad for her I changed the tube and took a huge chunk of skin out of my thumb. Oh well not much I could but get on with it as Sally (Trivic Tech Officer) asked us to leave as I explained to her we were changing a tyre she asked if we could hurry as much as possible as the 70.3 peeps were due in any minute, and we just made it.

Home for the Day

 

As the 5150 and supporters were watching on we notice some of the athletes were walking into transition. David who did the swim in the 70.3 team event said that it was not pretty, nice strong on shore swell. Before too long it was time to wettie up and get ready to race, as a group we did a warm up swim, Dave was right. As we lined up the wind really kicked in and the waves picked up from around 1m to 2m swell. The horn sounded and off we went, out to the first buoy was hard, couldn’t see it really got smashed around. I found the first buoy and headed down to the next but the swell started to push me into shore and I had to keep on adjusting my course and continued to be smashed right until the final turn into the beach and got a nice push right into the beach. Garmin showed that I swam 1.7km instead of 1.5km not too bad. I run into T1, got the wettie off, on the helmet  grab my bike and run out. Sally yelled out you be careful out there. The ride felt good until I hit Point Henry Road, the salt from the salt flats was all over the road right in my face. At the turn I had a good push back and out towards Portarlington. At the turn around that all changed to head winds, it was a dry hot heat. The data showed 70kph winds at 36c (yuk!) at the water stations I grab water and poured it right down the top of me. My Garmin showed a speed of 15kph, dead slow and it was hot, very hot. I was glad to hit the water front, almost done up past the finish line to the turnaround then back into transition. I got off the bike headed into transition where Christina was waiting, racked the bike, took the timing chip off and the race belt and Christina headed out.

TA Boys at the Start

Waiting for the horn

Heading out on the bike

Heading Back into Town

Glad that ride is over

For me I grabbed my water, wettie and goggles and headed out of transition. I found one of the beach showers and just stood under it for 5mins cold water cooling down. I walked back to the team tent only to find it packed up due to the winds. I found my bag changed out of the Trisuit into my shorts and T-shirt. Michelle who was completing the 70.3 pulled out on 1^st lap due to winds, She and I walked down to the finish where we both got a finishers towel and I waited for Christina to finish. Christina said that was a very hard 10km run, at one point she thought she was running on a treadmill. After cooling down and recovering we headed back to the tent area picked up my bike and Christina’s bag. I thanked her for time and being my team mate, said our goodbyes and we headed home.

Christina at the finish line

Post Race Team Pic

 

It was one of the hardest races I’ve ever done.

Our final time was 3hrs 15m 35s, but weather had a lot do with this race. We also heard on Monday after the event that 352 people either Did Not Stop or Did Not Finish, that’s 32% of the field. We did not stop, we where one of the finishers.

Port to Park Race Report

 

Saturday saw me complete other open water swim, this time Port to Park in Port Melbourne hosted by the South Melbourne LSC. The course is basically a straight line and at the final buoy turn in and head to shore. The conditions where perfect, pool like water and warm. Almost too warm for a wetsuit, but still yet another race in my 2xu X2.

Ellie came along for support and something to do while she was still recovering from our Appendix Operation. We got there parked, registered, grabbed my gear from the car and headed for the walk up towards Port Melbourne. Around 15mins before my swim and fully put on my wetsuit and headed in for a warm up swim.

There was a little bit of onshore current but not too bad. The sun was warm so I stayed in the water to keep cool, before the Marshal's called us all to shore for a race briefing and then sent us out for a deep water start. Some 60 old 40-59 year old guys, this would be a washing machine start was my thoughts and with that the horn sounded and off we went. I felt strong and good along the course, swim over people and people swimming at my toes; yeap a washing machine race. At the final buoy I turned in and headed for shore and ran up the beach over the line in 20m 54s.

 Bring on Geelong 5150 next weekend.

Bay Conditions at South Melb LSC

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.