Bali International Triathlon (Page 3)
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Bali International Triathlon - Triathlon
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![]() Swim
Comments: New speedsuit (ha! Nothing new on race day! ha!) performed fantastically. It sure didn't make me any faster, but it allowed me to wear a comfortable long loose top for the tri and not have it drag during the swim. I took it really easy and just relaxed, stretching out, treating it as a warm-up. I knew I wouldn't have an ounce of extra energy to spend on this race, so definitely didn't want to blow it on the first leg. There were a lot of swells and significant currents--Brennan (RD) said he could see the athlete packs getting moved around by it. Luke took 22 minutes to do the 1500m swim, so the times were quite slow this year. I came out solid MOP, but FOP among the women. What would you do differently?: Get in a pool more than once a month ... ![]() Transition 1
Comments: Even waterlogged and dizzy, I heard major cowbell and screaming and saw my sister jumping up and down! She tossed me a water bottle, which I sucked at greedily. She wasn't able to keep up with me running, but jogged a little ways with several of my friends coming in behind me. This transition featured an excruciating half-mile (800m) run on soft, sharply sloped sand studded with coral to transition. I actually jogged most of it--11:14 for that kind of half-mile run plus transition is pretty damn good for me. It's the only thing about this race I think should change. Not just for the difficulty, but your supporters can't see you through transition and out on the bike. However, the tradeoff was getting a large, spacious, grassy transition area with a safe bike out/in and run out. Last year's TA was super-cramped and the narrow passage out created jam-ups at chip swiping as well as safety issues with bikers and runners in the same small lane. What would you do differently?: Practice soft-sand running. ![]() Bike
Comments: Holy schitzenfoofle. This is the wildest, coolest, most beautiful tough ride you can imagine. One of the things that makes it so beautiful is that you get stunning mountain-and-clifftop ocean views ... and tough because of the HILLS that get you there. There are about 20 major climbs, with 4-5 of them bad enough for Luke to call them "STEEEEEEEP!" Add woolly corkscrews, false flats, screaming winding downhills--you get it all during this race while dodging local traffic, locals, and wildlife. I did the course on a tri bike last year and a road bike this year--and most people would strongly recommend the road bike. Trust me, you want to be near the brakes and shifters at all times. And if you're not used to peeing on the bike, it might just scare the pizz out of you. ;) Don't wig out--I'm buying the photo. Mostly I wanted to show you the background--despite the open course, there are many nearly-deserted and very empty parts. They, too, are idyllic and rich in local sightseeing as you pass through quaint villages, resort areas, a major university, and beachfront. Yes, there is third-world style traffic on some of the course. The kind that just witnessing might make you scream and gasp. Yes, on one part I had to slow down majorly for two cement trucks that were, highly improbably enough, going slower than I was until I could safely pass (that took a while). I have a sneaking suspicion the cement trucks were the same ones as last year, but at least there were no ducks flying off them at me this time. At the same time, this is the best-directed and marshalled course I have ever seen. We had 500 Balinese police lining the bike and run course, and many more volunteers. I am FAMOUS for getting lost, and it is impossible to get lost on this course. Every intersection remained fully staffed until I came in (DFL, if you didn't notice), and one of the nice things about being DFL is that I had my own police escort for much of the way. :) Everything on the road sure got the heck out of my way when they saw the police car! It was great! You must try being DFL in this race--sightseeing, locals cheering you on (out of pity, maybe, but joy too). People leaned out of car windows to shout encouragement to me, people lining the streets waved and shouted AYO! AYO! (Let's go!), people waved at me from passing scooters (including a family of 7 on ONE MOTORBIKE). You gotta see this stuff to believe it. I stopped to help a fellow triathlete change a flat and gave him my CO2 cartridge. See ... I told you being DFL is great! Frankly, though, I was so tired that after that, I kept praying for a flat (which I knew would put me out of the race, having no extra cartridge). But, as I suspected, God gave me strength instead. :) The second half also had a strong headwind that was wonderfully cool--but by that time you really don't want to be riding a headwind. Fortunately there's also a lot of downhill on this segment, so it wasn't so bad. I realize that 10mph is laughable. However, taking into account all the hills, wind, and my lack of training (especially anything over 1/2 hour on a spin bike), I am super proud of getting through this course without destroying myself and still being able to do a "run" after. What would you do differently?: Train. At all. Preferably on hills I'm looking straight up at. ![]() Transition 2
Comments: As I came into transition, my sister, Luke, Amanda, and Ashley cheered me on! What a great race! ![]() CHARLIE SWIPING MY WRIST CHIP AS I BLOW INTO T2. This was a screaming fast (2:32) transition, especially for already being so tired and having to lace up my shoes (Yankz just don't work with butterfly lacing, without which my shoes just don't fit properly). I ran in, blew through the shoe changes, and ran back out. My sister also threw a banana at me, which I stuffed in my face. What would you do differently?: NOTHING! :) Look--I executed this part of the race perfectly, and quickly! ![]() Run
Comments: By the time I got on the run, it was midday and damned hot. I mean, HOT and HUMID. Equatorial tropics at midday is nothing to sniff at. And although I had paced well (snail-snot-slowly) on the bike so that my legs were still good to go, I was just really, really tired. I had the muscles but not the endurance. I started out on a 2:1 but quickly switched to a 1:2. This is a beautiful run, though, with about half of it being beachfront and through a colorful local market. The other half is on the open road, but EVERYONE and ALL TRAFFIC is very careful to move around you and give you lots of room. It's a fairly quiet street anyway, but there are still tons of locals waving you and cheering you on. I SWEAR the same group of kids was sitting on a ledge and yelling out, WAH! YANG GEMUK BISA! (Hey! The fat one can do it!) I LOVE THOSE KIDS. One of them got off the ledge and did an imitation of my waddle-shuffle that put all of us in peals of laughter. When I passed back by them, I was on a walk, but the kids all got off the ledge and started to come with me, shouting "AYO! LARI!" Come on, let's run! And by golly they all ran with me for a ways and got me going again so I managed to do a 2:1 on the second half. It is an incredible tribute to this race that every intersection and every last run station (each 2 km) was still staffed when I came through. The volunteers just went crazy when they saw me (probably 'cause they were relieved to FINALLY HAVE ME COME THROUGH, heh), but that kind of enthusiasm to the very last is just phenomenal. I ran the entire last kilometre and barreled in for finish, just trying to hold onto my footing on the swishy, sloped, soft sand. I came in the middle of the awards ceremony and Brennan (RD/MC) STOPPED THE AWARDS just to scream out over the mike, "IT'S YANTI, COMING IN TO THE FINISH LINE!!!" My sister cowbelled and yelled, and everybody was cheering and clapping and high-fiving me just like I was Luke McKenzie!!! I was just SO HAPPY to be done! Here's Lukey, first-place finisher coming in: And the last place finisher, Miss DFL, yours truly!!! What would you do differently?: I think run training would be a good idea. And lube my damn feet! Don't do a tropical tri without lubing your feet! EWWWW! I wanted to post a picture of the horrid blister but my sister refused to even look at it, much less let me post it. (My sister herself, the hero, sustained a nasty cut on her foot from the cowbell. Don't ask. Just assume she has similar dexterity to mine). ![]() Post race
Warm down: After getting my medal and getting laid ... excuse me, lei'd ... all the finishers got a beautiful plumeria lei along with their medals and a bottle of water ... I took everything off ... I mean, took my accoutrements off (see how I was by the time I finished?!) and plunged into the ocean. Several other triathletes were there, cooling off, and congratulated me. What a race. What an amazing, amazing race. Tina brought a race mascot, like last year, only this time it was her super-puppy Argentinian Dogo called Paco, who was the belle of the ball: ![]() My beloved super-sherpa Doppelganger with a hot dog and me with Haagen Dazs (the post-race food is unbelievable): ![]() I then got a full-body, full-30-minute massage at the tent. Back at the hotel--isn't it a gorgeous medal? ![]() And far be it from me to NOT post a sports-bra pic--do note how DIRTY it is ;)-- ![]() Puppy pooped out after a long day--I feel you, man! ![]() What limited your ability to perform faster: If you haven't figured it out by now ... ;) Event comments: THERE IS NO RACE LIKE THIS ONE. NOT EVEN CLOSE. Do it, do it, do it!!! With any luck you can come to my wedding too ;) or better yet be in it ;) ;) ;). I've already gone through all the highlights--this is the very best of the best, and don't forget that evening there is even an after-party/wrap-up with all the ice-cream and beer you could want. Roundtrip plane fares (if you plan in advance) are $800, you can stay at that amazing resort for $60/night, and the race fee is $125 everything included. Last updated: 2009-07-01 12:00 AM
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General Discussion-> Race Reports! |
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Indonesia
Generic Events
90F / 32C
Sunny
Overall Rank = 158/158
Age Group = F 30-34
Age Group Rank = 6/6
WARNING/AWAS! THERE HAS BEEN REPEATED SERIOUS DISREGARD FOR ATHLETE SAFETY AND NEEDS ON THIS COURSE IN PRIOR YEARS WHICH HAS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED AND RESULTED IN NUMEROUS ATHLETES INJURED OR UNABLE TO FINISH THE RACE. TAKE CAUTION IN SIGNING UP FOR THIS RACE UNTIL ORGANISERS HAVE PUBLISHED SPECIFIC AND DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT CORRECTING THESE FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEMS.
The world's best tri deserves the world's best (or at least longest) RR. There is simply no better triathlon experience in existence. Athletes come from all over the world and bond closely during three days of organized activities that the RDs and ROs take part in. What race offers three days of included festivities, activities and personal access to everyone, including the pros and head honchos? If you have a question or problem, you go directly to the top and they will take care of it. Every aspect of this triathlon, down to the goody bags with water bottles/plenty of Gu/athletic rub/more!, was phenomenal.
I wasn't certain I was going to be able to do the tri at all--I'm essentially untrained (this was the last race I did, last year!) and suffered a nasty tropical virus the days before that involved BAD tummy problems, rashes, and my skin coming off in wads. That's not to mention just having made a big move across the world and having had the most turbulent, stressful year of my life. Thankfully, I was better enough for the pre-race activities ...
The first activity Friday morning was a group ride of the course (I did not partake, although there were several turnarounds for those who didn't want to do the whole course) led by Luke McKenzie (3-time Ironman champ) and his SO Amanda Balding (China 70.3 champ), both friends of mine of course :).
Then, the bike blessing. First, we were wrapped in sarongs and sacred sashes.
LUKE MCKENZIE BEING DRESSED FOR THE BIKE BLESSING.
Holy women decorated the bikes with woven banana-leaf offerings and chanted over each one. (If you saw this bike course, you'd have your bike blessed, too). We then sat in a group while a Balinese priest performed rituals, ringing bells, blessing offerings, and leading us to meditate with palms pressed together over the forehead and OMMMMMS.
BALINESE PRIEST DOING OFFERINGS AND RITUALS FOR THE ATHLETES.
ME DOING THE GROUP MEDITATION.
The priest then came and blessed each of us individually, sprinkling us with holy water and pressing rice grains to our foreheads and necks.
PRIEST BLESSING ATHLETES.
GROUP SHOT AFTER BIKE/ATHLETE BLESSING. THAT'S ME AND AMANDA BALDING AT THE TOP LEFT.
ME WITH MY PERSONAL OFFERING.
Then I checked into a hotel near the race site--we're talking a gorgeous resort with lap-sized pools, inclusive of massive awesome breakfast buffet and spa offering $10 massages--for $60/night. (I did, however, pass on the colonic hydrotherapy. I'd pretty much had enough of that during my illness before the tri). It was so beautiful I have decided I'm getting married at this resort, and of course you are invited! Oh--any volunteers to be the groom? I'm taking offers! Tri and wedding all in one!
VIEW FROM MY SPACIOUS HOTEL BALCONY
The next activity that afternoon was a group swim at the race beach you see in the photos above--I drafted off Luke's feet for approximately 3 seconds before he zoomed off. :)
Friday evening was a poolside cocktail/hors d'oeuvres party. The pool was covered in floating lanterns and trees cheerfully sporting lit globes.
POOLSIDE COCKTAIL PARTY--COUPLE IS LUKE AND AMANDA.
LUKE--READ HIS ATHLETE NAME TAG CLOSELY. :)
LUKE TOOK THIS PIC OF ASHLEY (one of the ROs), AND AMANDA AND I BEING SLUTTY.
Earlier that day at the bike blessing I'd introduced myself to a good-looking fellow who had this super-tricked-out tri bike. He, Luke and I chatted while I looked closely at his full name on the tag ... Richard Sam Bera ... that sounds familiar ... "Wow, are you related to that famous swimmer?" I asked.
Richard looked confused for a moment, then I clapped him on the shoulders and exclaimed, "Oh my God ... you ARE that famous swimmer!" He and Luke burst out laughing while I looked sheepish. Richard was Indonesia's top athlete for many years, swimming in 3 Olympics. What's worse is that he knows my brother and sister really well. What's worse than that is that I trained with the Indonesian national team for several years. Excellent work, Yanti! Richard now does tris and owns FHM magazine Asia ... and is considering starting Triathlete Magazine Asia. Robb, one of the RDs, came up to us and mentioned that Bali was considering becoming a 70.3 franchise ... let your ears perk up :) ...
WITH OLYMPIC STAR SWIMMER RICHARD SAM BERA.
Afterwards I went to dinner with RDs/ROs. :) It was an exquisite fresh seafood meal, one of the best meals I've had in my life, where Brennan (RD) and I picked out the jumbo prawns and red snapper from tanks. We sat at a table on the beach, entertained by roving bands, gorging ourselves on fresh seafood and fruit, and there were fireworks!!!
The next day, Saturday, featured a group run, which I refused to waddle in (and it was at 8 a.m., I mean, really). I did go and have a complete bike cleaning and tune-up with the onsite mechanics ... total $11, including a very nice tip!
That evening was the pre-race briefing, during which the RDs explained the entire race and course and personally fielded questions from the athletes, and made it clear they were available afterward for more. Then we had the pre-race banquet, with TONS OF REALLY GOOD FOOD of both Western and Eastern offerings. The tables were laid with linens, silverware and wine glasses for water, and there were also fresh-squeezed fruit juices and sodas available.
ATHLETES AT PRE-RACE BANQUET
ONE OF TWO VERY LONG, SUMPTUOUS BUFFET LAYOUTS
My sister came to the pre-race banquet and enjoyed a lot of back-slapping and good-lucks on my behalf as people mistook me for her :) ... she is the WORLD'S BEST SHERPA and did absolutely EVERYTHING for me (including packing up my transition spot after the race). TROOPER! SUPER SHERPA! She also told lots of people about BT!
MY SISTER TINA AND I ON THE RACE BEACH AT SUNSET
Then it was back to the hotel for race prep. My sister arranged for us to have a massage together to prepare and relax. (Sorry, no pics of that. ;)) She then helped me with every part of race prep, including mixing up endless bottles of Pocari Sweat, the unusually disgusting Asian version of Gatorade--it's every bit as good as it sounds. To make me feel better about the swill, she made up a little song and dance while she shook up the bottles ... "It's a Pocari Sweat Martini ... a Pocari Sweat Martini!!"
TINA SHAKING UP BOTTLES OF (BLECH) POCARI SWEAT FOR ME.
Race day dawns. Even here we get up at the azz crack of stupid o'clock, in the dark. I eat PB/banana and coffee which Tina brought me, she rubs me down with sunblock and schleps all my stuff down to her car. She sneaks into transition with me and helps me set it all up.
Pics of me in the transition area--do I look nervous to you???
She then drives me from transition to the race start (yes, start/T was that far apart! They had shuttles but Tina Sherpa was my personal chauffeur that day.)
I start putting on my speedsuit, and look pensively at the swim. What, you thought I wouldn't include an assatar?!
I enter the water to get used to the temperature and stroke a bit to warm up. (Stroking in the water. Not other athletes. Well, okay, I did a bit of that too ;)).
TRADITIONAL FISHERMEN LOOK ON AS ATHLETES WARM UP.
Every RD, RO, and pro triathlete personally came up to me to wish me luck. Again--what other race would that happen in?!
As the race draws near, I think I'm going to lose my cookies.
I'M ABOUT TO LOSE IT AS ROB AND WENDY FROM SHANGHAI LOOK ON AND LAUGH.
We all line up for the mass start and here's the countdown--10,9,8 ... BOOM! Two hundred athletes run for the water. Of course I lose a lot of time waddling down into the water.