Perth OD Triathlon Champs 2010-02-09

Race report by Brendan

Well better late than never hey! Everything has/is very hectic of late with 3 weeks into new job and roster and new house still with so much to do but back to the race!

I arrived for what would be my first Triathlon since the 2007 Busso Ironman with plenty of spare time up my sleeve but feeling more nervous than usual due to not much solid swim or run training, but knowing the bike would be the fun part.

I registered and caught up with Paul and quiet a few mates I hadn’t had the pleasure of racing with in quite a while. I set everything up for the 3 disciplines and tried my best relax knowing that I have done it all before and in allot worse conditions. But the wind was howling and knowing the swim opened with a 800 strong headwind and too warm for a wetsuit (check out good quality mens wetsuits on sale) didn’t help but least I had the tail wind section for 600 odd meters before climbing out.

So after the briefing we entered the water at the rowing complex on riverside drive and swam out to the start some 200meters out and waiting for the gun. I positioned myself up front hoping to find a good draft for the start, I managed to get dropped from the lead group pretty quickly and found myself in no mans land and thinking I was swimming off course only to eventually realise I was swimming straight and most of the pack seemed to be heading for shore a little too early. I settled in as best as possible and felt ok but knowing I was going slower than I really wanted but with the chop and wind I did what I could till the turn around.

Once heading towards shore for 50m we turned for the last 600 and felt much better but the headwind had taken its toll on my lack of swimming mileage but pressed on. I was 100m or so from the final turn to the swim exit and bang got a viscous cramp down my right hamstring from nowhere, it just wouldn’t let go so had to stop lucky I could stand in the mud stretched as best as possible for a good minute and made my way slowly not to let it grab again and made it to the stairs and on touching the ground managed to step on some glass and slashed my foot up so knew that would hurt later on the run but made way to T1.

T1 went smoothly as transitions were never a problem so just went through the motions and carried out for bike and make some time up (or so I thought) the tail wind start to UWA was awesome but like all awesome things has to end and back I came into the head but happy to be passing several riders as I went, laps 1,2,3 +4 were pretty uneventful but the wind got stronger and I struggled to hold my 40 ave but happy that my cramp never came back and knowing the 10km run was going to be a “new” feeling after a 40km TT I backed off on the head wind back but so many SPR family were out cheering all over the bike course it made you always give that little extra when you here the cheer.

I excited and headed for T2 reasonably happy with a 39 ave and set off for the run hearing Jodz, Lorraine and several others yelling out I set a solid pace for my first 3odd km lap (3 lap run course for 10km). I was very surprised how the body swung back into running off the bike and set a sub 4min pace for first lap and my mind started to wonder just how long I could keep that up with my lack of running miles.
I started lap 2 but I could feel the shoulders start to droop and knowing full well the last lap will hurt. I slowly came down in times and the last lap did hurt but pressed on with still no cramp coming back pushed all the way home in 43mins way off my PB but with a total time of 2hrs 18mins reasonably happy.

I watched Paul and several others finished and lined up for a massage that hurt like all hell and left me wondering why I started doing Triathlon again. But once through it all and knowing my PB of 2hrs and 1 min wont be threatened in a long time I actually quite enjoyed just competing against myself and enjoying the crowds and the atmosphere. So thanks to all who were cheering through out the day as it makes a big difference and is appreciated.

Will do a write up for Perth Crit series even though I only raced sat and Sunday but it may be a little while haha.

Stay safe in all you do and see you on the road soon.