The water was cold, my toes went numb just waiting for the start. there were 4 waves for the OD, all two mins apart all the women were in the final wave. Had a fairly goodstart relaxed and just started swimming. Actually the first quarter of the swim was good, until I started passing the guys in the wave ahead. I got a good boot in the stomach which almost stopped me. One guy was swimming freestyle but decided to start swimming breastroke right next to me and kicked me hard in the guts. OW! Breastroke in a race should be banned. At the next buoy I got blocked in and had a terrible turn one guy knocked me in the head and knocked my goggles clear off my head. luckily I somehow managed to catch them. Rounded the buoy got to a little clear water and put them back on.
Settled back into a good stroke and got my heart rate back down. If this had happened to me last year I think I would have pulled out. I am definitely way better at relaxing and just swimming.
I didn't warm up for the swim though, wasn't uncomfy but was definitely cold the whole swim.

Wetsuit! Find some toes to draft on. (i've never found a good draft in a race before always find myself going passed them.

Transition area was 500m up a big hill from the swim. So tried to jog/run up to the transition area from the swim. trying to get feeling back in my toes. I didn't want to sprint up the hill wnated to keep my heart rate manageable. My side was hurting from the kick. Had a fairly slow transition

concentrate, practice transitions, have a list/order in my head before I get to transition of what I'm going to do.

Its a tough course, I knew as soon as I jumped on the bike that it was going to be tough, my legs just felt tired/sluggish. I pushed the flat parts as hard as I could and managed the hills, flew down the other side of the hills. It wasn't as fast as I know I can go on the bike. I was really good with my drinking and gels though. today really was a training brick session for the half so was testing out the gels they have on the course. I stuck to my plan and was conscious of how much I was drinking.

Even though its a tough hilly course its a great spot for a tri, although the roads weren't fully closed, there were marshalls on each turn around point etc but there were cars allowed through and some of them were really angry I had a few run ins with cars. and after the race heard that others did too.

At one point on the course I saw a guy had come off his bike. slowed to help realised he was ok and thought I would be more helpful riding to a marshall to get somne help to him. so let him know I was off ot find an official for him. Let someone know and they said they would radio for help straight away. I'm surprised no one else had let them know earlier as I'm sure he had been off his bike for a while before I saw him.

The end of this course was mean, you rode up to transition on the left side of the road. transition was on your right and you had to go past transition down the big hill to the swim start and straight back up that hill so transitio nwas on your left and then entered transition puffing from the hill.

I've been training for the half which is on a completely flat course so I've been doing lots of flat training, my legs were not expecting those hills. It was a training ride and if that time is right then I actually did this faster then the city of perth tri which was completely flat.

Had a good transition whacked the bike back on the rack threw off helmet and shoes at same time. almost and pulled on shoes, (I love elastic laces) and off I ran/shuffled :)

Nothing

As soon as I started running I knew I was in a little trouble the pain in my calf/shin was pretty bad, After all the mishaps in my last race though was completely determined to finish this race even though I wasn't sure if I was going to be doing more damage to my legs. I just kept running (with dory's voice in my head just keep swimming just keep swimming) Normally the pain in my legs actually doesn't come till the end of a run so I was surprised I had it immediately, eps after physio treatment on Friday) Ran down the hill keeping a fairly good pace even though it was hurting. Got to the first turn around point hinking right thats 1/4 of the run done you can do this. After that point it actually started to ease and by the end of the run I could feel the area was tender but the pain had almost gone. which was very strange.
On the second half of the 1st lap I reached a drink station which had run out of cups! NOOOOO I was counting on that drink before the run up the big hill. I think they could see that on my face too! when I passed that drink station the third time they had some cups BUT when I passed it again on the way to the finish line they had run out again, I really wasn't happy at that stage. there were only two drink stations on the course so I really didn't get enough to drink. Finished the race fairly strongly though considering it was up a hill and I was thirsty.
I really liked this coursse though it was great running passed lots of friends and encouraging them and getting cheers back high fives etc. Team turtle tri suits are def a good idea as heaps of people recognised us from Karri Valley (even though only two of us were racing) got lots of Go Turtle girl!!

Drink more, run faster, hopefully not have calf problems.

I headed straight to the first aid tent for some ice, as per physio instructions. Man what a peformance that was. just to get a bag of ice, the St John'ns ambulance lady had to fill in this great big long form. Of my medical history and millions of other details. she even took my pulse! I was like umm I've just done 2 hours 40ish of exercise my puls is going to be high! I can tell you just how high becausse I've got my heart rate monitor on. she wouldn't trust the hrm and took my pulse anyway. I was there getitng ice for 15mins!! crazy.

Stuck around for the presentations and spot prizes. nope and nope! then headed hom to watch the Dockers first footy game for the year, (the less said about that game the better)


Umm my lack of speed. It wasn't the greatest time to be doing this race.


Ok now these are the official times posted. I didn't have the greatest race it was all just kind of average but it was just a training brick session really so I'm happy with it. In saying that Its still faster then the city of Perth tri I did, so I'm actually quite impressed.
the cars on the road and the lack of water I got on the course were a bit disappointing. I can tell you halfway through the race I really was regretting this HIM idea.

Overall for my first full OD I'm happy with it. Off to the physio to get my leg checked out. If my run time is right I'm really happy with that time considering my legs were really hurting at the start.