running with wet sandy feet in my sneakers is not a good idea, I had to settle and get my breath back on the first lap but then tried to run a bit faster on the second two laps. I felt like I was running on my limits so was pretty happy to be pushing myself a bit

run faster, maybe get a bit more sand off my feet first.

I'd already taken off the cap and goggles running up the beach so just threw on the sneakers sand and all and off I went

maybe get a bit more of the sand off my feet

Swim 1 9.11m 500ms
The swell and chop were huge so I knew this was going to be a fun/challenging swim. the start was a bit average I'm wary of sprinting into the water and diving and off I go as I'm wary about my calf. So I trotted into the water dolphin dived a few times and I was away. it was a bit rough and tumble heading out to the first buoy.

I could not see the first buoy at all the waves were just too big, but I had a great time swimming over and under the waves. at one stage neither my legs or arms were in the water!
luckily there was an IRB on the first turn around buoy so I used that to sight off. rounded it and started getting hammered and clobbered by the wave of guys behind! I'm not used to getting caught by the wave behind. super fast guys were poudning over the top of me. managed to swing wide a little to avoid them.

after the first buoy I started using the current/swell to help me get back into the shore faster. jumped out and tried to sprint up the beach but it probably looked more like jogging to any spectators.

__________________________________________________________________________
Swim 2
10.56 500m (time includes run from transition 400m or so down the beach)

This swim was alot tougher then the first, I could not see the buoy to sight at all on the way out. I struggled sighting as a result of the waves. I managed to get past the breakers pretty well and just kept swimming out to sea hoping that the closer I got to the buoy that I might glimpse it.

I had to stop and defog my goggles 2 times which slowed me down a bit. but just swam on through the chop and swell and tried to use it to my advantage as best I could


swim faster ;)

again quick transitions shoes came off very quickly after the first run, and shoes went back on just as quickly after the second swim

get more sand off my feet

The second run felt alot harder the nthe first one. I was just running along in my own little dreamworld, thinking that even though 2.4k is very short when you think about it. when you are actually trying to run it fast its actually quite long. (thats my logic when I'm racing anyway)

On my second lap a girl went running past me, and I passed a volunteer who I know, he said come on Mel sprint, which was just the encouragement I needed at that point. I came otu of my dreamworld and actually picked up the pace and pushed it a bit harder.
I managed to pass t he girl back and then passed another 3 girls. I really had to surge to pass each of the girls. on the way back in on the last lap I was very proud that I pushed it hard and passed people. only to find out the last girl I passed still had an extra lap to do as I was finishing so I was already in front of her. hehe how funny!

run faster

I ran into Shaun (Try-athlete) afterwards we have decided we are the male female equivalent of each other. our race times were within seconds of each other.

I tucked into an awesome sausage sizzle and a beer that went down very nicely waiting for the presentations. and was blown away to find out I had won my age group! How hilarious its an awesome race and not many people actually compete I just lucked out that there was only 2 people in my age group I beat her by a few seconds!

hehe picking races with low numbers does come in handy. I am now State champ aquathlete in my age group haha! And I got a lovely Medal to prove it!


my level of abilities ;)