This was a hard swim. I've never swum this far in a race before and it was a big step up. The water was murky and the sun was coming up ahead of us so it was difficult to see the buoys. I swam hard initially and soon was only able to breathe unilateral. Later in the race I settled down and tried to breathe bilateral but the wetsuit gave me a choking sensation around my neck so I stuck with the unilateral. I was out there in the water thinking what am I doing here? There were two laps of a 750m course and it seemed to take forever to complete. I just sucked it up and kept swimming, wanting it to be over. My stroke was all over the place, I felt sloppy and I couldn't get a proper rhythm. Navigation was OK, it was difficult to see the buoys but I didn't swim too far off course. On the second lap I got caught up with the men from the sprint distance, luckily no one swam over the top of me! I finally finished and started running up the long hill into transition. I glanced at my watch and saw 40 mins, I was most disappointed, I was hoping that would be my HIM time, I'd been hoping to do this swim a lot quicker.

I'd Body-Glided everywhere I could think of except my inner arms, now my inner right arm is pretty chafed. I must remember that for next time!

I don't know, it all just kinda fell apart. My coach said to me the next day that it had been a tough swim and that everyone did slower than normal times. I need to stop trying to keep up with everyone and just swim at my own pace, but with good form, breathe bilateral. This is what I'll focus on in the HIM swim.

There was a long run up a hill into transition! Did I mention this course was super hilly LOL? I saw my coach on the way up and she cheered me on. It was the first time I'd raced with my wetsuit but it came off super easy. Its sleeveless so I'd got the top part off by the time I ran into transition and the bottom part slipped off fine, the baby oil helped as did following my friend's advice to just step on it to get it off.

Not a lot. Baby oil it is!

So I was feeling pretty crap after my swim. I got on the bike and started peddaling. The course is very hilly, there was one big hill and then quite a few smaller ones in between. There were some flat sections where I got up some speed. I needed to complete two laps of the course. The course was over normal roads in a residential area, the organisers were not able to close the roads for the event, so we had to negotiate cars, turns, roundabouts etc too. Luckily the traffic wasn't too heavy and they did have volounteers at the intersections so there was some control. There was a strong wind on the whole which was a blessing when it was behind me and a curse when it was straight in my face! So, it wasn't an easy course. I did the best I could with it and I am pleased with my speed. I had 2 gels and a bidon of sports drink during the ride. I aimed to get all the nutrition into me on the ride because I was worried it would upset my tummy if I took it in on the run.

The cycle time includes T1 & T2 so in reality my average speed was probably a bit quicker than 25 km/hr.

Erm, not a lot. If I was to do this event again I would probably do some more hills training which would help me go faster.

You have to ride up the hill again to get into transition. I was pretty knackered and not looking forward to the run at all. I took a moment to steady my breathing, re-focus and then I set out to just get it done.

Not a lot.

By the time I got to the run I just wanted to get it done, I was so over it and I was groaning inwardly knowing I had at least another hour to go, it usually takes me about 70 mins to run 10k. Initially you run down a hill, then some flat, then turn around on the flat, then run up the hill again. This is done 4 times over. Whilst this sounds really hard, on the run I actually started to feel better. Running is my weakest leg but I struck a pace which I was able to maintain without stopping, even up the hill. I stopped to walk through the aid station to gulp a little bit of water, and that was it. I just kept going. All I thought about was Busselton and how much I wanted to finish it. During the swim and bike I was thinking about how I should not bother it was too hard. On the run I visualised myself running the Busso course and I told myself that yes, I could do it.

On the first two laps there were still a lot of people on the course. On the third lap there were significantly less people and I noticed they were packing up the aid station. On the fourth lap it was pretty much just me and a few stragglers ahead of me. The aid station had been packed up but there was a race official holding out two cups of water just for me! People walking on the path were saying encouraging things to me. The runners in front of me said nice things when they passed. The race officials said nice things. No one has ever been this nice to me on a race! It was very uplifting. On the way up the hill on the last lap, one of the officials on a bike rode along me almost the whole way and talked to me, it was so sweet. Finally I was there, I ran up the final steep bit of hill and I was over the finish line!!!

Nothing much. This was a super run for me. I don't think I've ever run a faster 10k. I'm always amazed about how I run faster during triathlons than with fresh legs. It must be all the people running around me that encourages me to go faster.

I crossed the finish line and everyone knew I was last, they announced it and then presentations started as soon as I crossed that line! The timing chip lady told me not to bend down, instead she bent down and removed my timing chip for me! I was given a bag containing two bananas and some fruit cake, as well as a bottle of water. I went and lay down on the grass exhausted. I drank some of the water but it took a while before I could stomach any food. I had to find a toilet pretty quick too, my gut played up but thankfully not until I'd finished. It may have been all the river water I swallowed, yuck!


General lack of talent when it comes to speed? I can endure the distance, just not very fast it would seem. Maybe illness played a factor but I was pretty much over my cold but this stage so probably not.


OK, so I know this race report might sound like I'm just having a whinge, but I have tried to honestly document how I was feeling at each stage of the race. I've done a lot of thinking since this race. I felt really awful on the swim and not much better on the bike, but then the run went better than expected and I finished strong. After I'd finished Sef found me and asked how I went, he said he thought I was injured because it took me so long, this comment made me burst into tears! I am not normally so emotional but I was at that point, because I was thinking I raced to the best of my ability and yet I still came last out of the whole field, whats the point??? However since this princess moment I have done more thinking. I am fit enough because I finished strong. Who cares if I'm not fast? Three years ago I struggled to finish a mini-sprint and look how far I've come. I think I need to focus on my own race and my own journey and not compare myself to other people. I probably don't have much talent but I have gained so much from triathlon - new friends, better health, better perspective, mental toughness. The reality is, the other option is to give up, stop racing, stop training, sit on the couch and get fat LOL. And thats not an option! So I will keep going with this sport. I WILL finish Busselton HIM. I'll be slow but I will get across that finish line and get my finisher's towel!!! :)