Ironman 70.3 Busselton - Triathlon1/2 Ironman

50 metres into the swim I was already battling into the big chop that was running. It felt more like I was swimming up and down rather than forwards. Quick mental note to self - check into medical to see if there is a psychiatrist available! My first toughen up experience so on I went. It wasn't going to be pretty but I would get there. Just keep swimming I told myself. I didn't need to worry about getting beat up by all the other swimmers, the sea was doing a good job of that by itself.
Having not swum in such conditions before I had difficulty sighting and found myself regularly having to stop and allow a wave to pick me up in order to see the next buoy. In the haste to return the buoys back to the water I don't think they were in too straight a line. Many people had trouble navigating today. I rounded the last buoy and the anticipation of land underfoot spurred me on. Visibility in the water was so bad I had no idea when I was able to stand up. Finally there, climbed up the sand wall that had developed and off to T1

More open water swimming in other than ideal conditions.

I remember being told to let go of my swim cap and goggles in my wetsuit sleeve and even practiced it a number of times. Bad mistake - when I packed up at the end there were no goggles in the sleeve!!
I was in the second last wave start and given my poor swim I was pretty excited to see so many bikes still in transition.


Not much. For my first time I was pretty happy with things. Always room for improvement but that will come with experience.

Out onto the bike course and spent the first 2 kms sorting out some problems with my Garmin (all my own doing). I get out of town and look at my speed - 37 - 38km/h. Must be a bit of wind behind. I have ridden the course a number of times so kind of expected this to be the case, I knew it would slow up later, once we hit the rougher road conditons. Some of the pro's were coming through on their second lap and I could only watch as they would disappear up the road ahead.
I planned to grab a bidden at the first aid station. I slowed down a touch and bang, straight into the hand, great work from the volunteer.
I found it difficult to monitor my Garmin in these conditions and so planned to pace myself on feel alone. I found myself being able to pass a number of other riders along the way and was concerned that maybe I was pushing too hard but I kept telling myself that this was how I had trained and to put some faith in that. I knew I could run off the bike at this effort.
First triathlon is always a big learning curve and I did get one big lesson. I went to throw off my first bidden at the aid station and nearly dropped the bike as it swung out from under me as my hand passed across it. That one won't happen again.
The rest of the ride went smoothly, was able to stay aero the whole way except for a few corners.

Not too much, I really enjoyed this part of the race. Maybe next time I would push just a little harder.

Feeling good at this stage

More practice, more experience.

I had battle a mild achilles tendonitis for the last couple of months and so my run volume was lower than I would have liked. I was however very happy with the running that I had done and so felt a nervous anticipation that this leg would be OK.
I ran out of transition and onto the pathway along the beach.Wow, the crowd there was amazing. It certainly lifts your intensity with all those people cheering. By the 2km mark however I was in trouble, my left foot had gone to sleep and soon became painful. I saw a bench and had to stop, take it off and try to get some feeling back into it. It worked for a short time but I had to stop several times in the first ten kms and repeat this process . (I probably lost 5 minutes overall as a result). The elastic laces were as loose as they could be. I tried to undo the knot and let them hang loose but it was too tight. I tried to break them but to no avail. I stretched them out as much as I could and on I went, it seemed to finally be comfortable.
It was time to get the job done. I walked the minimum I could at each aid station to throw down a water as quickly as possible and then on again. I am yet to master drinking on the run.
The kilometers went by, each lap back into town was greeted by all the excitement of the large crowd and back out again. Finally on the last lap and feeling good, excited, anticipating the finish chute. How good does that last turn feel, onto the carpet instead of round for another lap. A couple of high fives to some friends in the crowd, and extra sprint to the line and I was there.

Consider normal laces simple for the flexibility to adjust them more.

Eat, drink and eat some more.


Knowing how hard I could push myself over the distance. That will come with experience.


This is a very well organized event and very well supported by the local community. I could not have asked for anything more from my first triathlon.