Let's see, I got punched and lost my goggles about 30 seconds into the swim, and then got elbowed and lost them again about 500M further along. I also found that I was getting run over a fair bit, people just choose not to give you any room. I come up on other swimmers, I'm trying really hard to give them (and me) some space. I don't see this being reciprocated enough.

Anyway, I told myself to just take it easy, find a good rythym and pace and not worry about the time. This worked pretty well and I felt comfortable for most of the swim, until I started to see yellow swim caps (the next wave) pass by me. I expected to see some, but it felt like 1/2 the wave caught me. By the time I exited the water there was more yellow than red around me.

Not much. Overall I'm quite pleased with the swim. It's my worst discipline, and I know that at best I'm occasionally MOP, but most of the time I'm BOP.

T1 is long because you've got about a 3-500M run uphill to get to transition. I hadn't planned on using the strippers, but once I came out the water I figured why not, and my suit was off within a couple of seconds. As for the run to transition, I actually ran. I'd expected to walk, but I managed a jog.

Nothing really.

I told myself from the beginning - this was about being conservative. I tend to like pushing myself uphills, and even though I took it easy I still passed lots of people going up - but they invariably flew past me on the way back down. Being in the first non-pro wave meant that I spent over 3 hours being passed on the bike, which was definetly a bit frustrating.

I was surprised to feel a bit fatigued around km 60-65 when we turned on Bremner. I had to take it easy for the last 30km, but even still my quad tried to cramp on mewith about 5km to go. This is the same thing that happened a few weeks ago when it completely seized during a ride, so I backed off a further notch and just got myself to transition in one piece.

Nothing. Considering the game plan was to ride conservative, I was happy with my time and I think we definetly had some help from the wind for part of the course.

I forgot to take off my shoes. As I got within about 100M of the line I suddenly realized and managed to get one foot out but the other was still in my show when I got to the line. So I had to take the shoe off and run with it in my hand.

Took the time to visit the port a potty because I ddin't want to stop on the course. Even though I lost time doing it, it was definetly the right choice.

Not zone out and get my foot out my shoe in time.

The run saved my day, even though it wasn't a great performance. Around km 7 I was forced to walk for the first time. I wasn't cramping or anything, I'd just run out of steam. Up till then I'd been managing about a 5min/km pace, but this dropped pretty rapidly from then on. I sort of yo yoed between running and occasionally walking. Seeing others doing it seemed to validate that it was ok - I wish I hadn't, but the legs told me it was necessary.

With about 6km left I developed a pain in my knee that rapidly got worse. It got to the point that I was stressing I'd need to walk the last few km. Between walking and running I got to the finish line, and seeing the last hill with all the people cheering was great motivation.

Running down the finish line and seeing that I was going to break 6 hours, even though I'd walked was incredibly rewarding, and validated the months of training to get there. I don't think I could have had a better day when I consider everything. It was a nice icing on the cake.

I should have been taking more fluids and some gels during the run. This would probably have helped.

No warm down, just some very light stretching. Although I walked with a limp for the next 2 days because of my knee. I couldn't even bend it 45 degrees.


Where I am as a triathlete. The run always helps me a bit, but I really need to do better in the swim and bike sections.


Incredibly great venue, great support, brilliant volunteers. During the run I said I would never do this again. 4 days later I'm thinking about next year.