This was my most comfortable swim yet in the open water; I was able to bilaterally breathe for most of the way and didn't have to resort to breaststroke at all, not even around the buoys. The sea was dead calm and it was gorgeous looking down at the sea grass and shells but all the fish must have been scared away by the 900 women who'd gone in before me. Halfway through, I realised that my stroke was total bollox and that I was crossing my arms over my head and doing all the things I have worked hard at not doing over the past few months. Ah well, I refocussed and finished the swim, very happy. The time includes transition, as I stupidly didn't lap my watch when I got out the water. I know I was slow, I always am but not too many women in the wave behind caught me which was nice as I expected to get swum over near the end. As I stumbled out the water, a girl from my wave caught my hand and said "come on, we green caps have got to keep together", it was a lovely thing to do and typical of the Women's Tri.

Need to work on getting good technique second nature and not resorting to my default poor stroke when stressed. Different sunblock - the stuff I used all came off in the water - so much for 2 hours water resistant - I got a bit burnt.

quick, easy transition

nothing

I was a bit worried about the bike leg as the course is pretty hilly and I hadn't done enough hills in training but I needn't have worried, I flew along having a great time. This is the first time I've raced on my new carbon bike, Eddie, and she did me proud with me gaining lots of time on the same course 2 years ago. I've also been bike-commuting everyday some of which is done with an 8 year old who stops to rescue snails, clap dogs and chat to the neighbours. I do have one hill I do after the school drop which I always really push myself along and I wondered if that's helped - I would think so as I commute on my MTB which weights roughly the same as a Sherman Tank. I drank some water, had about half a gel and it was pretty uneventful apart from the turnarounds where everyone slowed down way too much and way too far ahead so that those of us who can do speedy turns had to resist the temptation (though some didn't) to do some cheeky overtaking at the hairpins.

nothing, I was really pleased with how it went

very quick, put socks on as I'd developed a blister when I'd tried running without earlier in the week

shoes that don't rub? It's only a saving of a few seconds so I'm quite happy putting socks on

The run was almost exactly the same as last time to within a few seconds, although I didn't stop for a pee so in reality, I was running a bit slower. I had done quite a few Saturday morning bricks with the club before the last tri but not this time. I did my usual geriatric shuffle, passing some girls and some passing me. The aid stops were always very welcome as it was getting hot and there is not a bit of shade on the run and the route is as boring as batsh!t - through the dunes and back. Coming down the chute is always a great moment; I got my medal and slunk off for a cup of tea.

I could have pushed the pace a bit more, something I need to work on in training.

I didn't do any stretching, just wandered about looking at the Expo feeling pleased with myself at my new PB. Had my tea (grossly overpriced, $5 for a cuppa? that is taking the mickey, shame on you Mr coffee van man) and some gym bars I'd brought with me - the only fruit available was bananas and I can't eat them. The queue for massages was long so I gave that a miss.


lack of natural ability and a tendancy to train at a slow pace. I know I have to push myself more in training and it's something I'm working on.


This is always a glorious event,well run and with a great atomosphere. The crowd was very supportive right up until the last girl got cheered home. (This was her 2nd tri, the 1st had been the day before and she had lost 35kg in the 9 months she was training). Again, the event's charity was the Esther Foundation, which helps young women who have had problems with addiction, depression and domestic violence, and exercise is part of the recovery programme so the women who had raced told us their stories and it was humbling and inspiring stuff. The final presentation was the spot prize of a $2000 bike and it went to a teenager who had borrowed a bike for the race so we all cheered at such a fitting end to a gorgeous morning. I phoned home to tell them I had done okay and when I got there, my son had set-up a pink race tape to run through with "Well done Mum" written on it and he'd made me a trophy. Best part of the day :-).