I just wore my tri-shorts the swim cap and goggles. Being uncertain of what I'd be capable of I hung back and when the horn went off I casually walked in and started swimming. There were maybe 100 in my wave so after a flurry of close encounters we spread out and got down to swimming. I found I was breathing too hard and tried to slow down to calm myself but I felt my heart rate was too high so I started using breaststroke to relax. I was surprised to see others using breaststroke and even backstroke. I was moving pretty slow and falling back and when I started swimming again I found my heart rate elevated pretty quickly so I had to alternate between breaststroke and freestyle. I made it around all the buoys with no trouble at all but as we passed the last buoy people seemed to mass together again to get out of the water. I stood up a few feet sooner than I probably should have but I was glad to get out. From here it was a 250m run to the transition area. Waved to my wife as I ran up the cattle shute and assessed how I felt - no dis-equilibrium or any pains.

I need to get my heart rate under control and maybe do more swimming to prepare for the event.

I had a hand towel ready and took 20seconds to dry my upper body then put on a tight t-shirt only to find I had pinned the front of the shirt to the back and had to undo the pin and put it on properly - cost me almost a minute. Shirt went on easy and I just kept on the tri-shorts I swam in. Had a bit of trouble putting on one bike shoe - no socks. Grabbed the bike and ran to the mounting line - like a real athlete.

Get a race belt so I don't have to put pins in my shirts. I WANT a race belt. Otherwise I felt pretty good - maybe someday I can learn to put my shoes on the bike.

I ran out of transition with three other people and crossed over the mount line without any concerns or distractions, hopped on and started pedaling. I somehow left all three behind me and never saw them again. I was going pretty fast and looking forward to the first hurdle a steep climb part way up Knox mountain. I pushed myself up the hill which I didn't want to do but I knew from the top it was a good downhill to take time to recoup. I crested the climb and pushed to get some speed going down the hill. It was a fairly fast course and I felt it was pretty easy some elites passed me but I did a fair bit of passing myself.
Then I came around on my second lap and started up Knox again - bloody hills - this time I was keeping up with a few people but about halfway I came up to a really big Athena (300+) stopped and huffing so I took a few moments to encourage her then carried on. Over the hill again I was going even faster (I had to do all I could on the bike because I was going to lose ground on the run. I came around the last corner going pretty fast and unclipped my shoes then slowed for the dismount and crossed the line with two other people.

I still want to get faster other than that I enjoyed it a lot and wouldn't do anything differently.

I felt I was fairly quick here. I had a bit of trouble removing one of my cycling shoes off then I had to put socks on for the run but I had rolled them up earlier so I just rolled them on in an instant. I also had trouble putting on one of my runners then I laced them up, stood up and started running for the exit.

I'm wondering about the "no tie" shoelaces. Other than that I'll have to practice changing my shoes in a hurry.

Off the bike and starting running felt natural and I had no problems getting going I'm just still too slow. On the run I channelled my inner "Anne" and I just picked people and then ran until I passed them and kept doing that. My pace was slow but I kept going and I felt pretty comfortable except for a bit of higher heart rate (normal for me). I quite enjoyed the run through the park and ran up to a womanI was going to pass but when I came up beside her we started talking and I just stayed with her until we stopped at an Aid station for water then we continued on. We passed a volunteer that said it was 600m to the finish line and we passed a couple more people then came around to the beach where we had done the swim earlier. I saw my wife ahead cheering us in and she got a good picture of us about 250m from the finish then we ran to the finish line and I heard them say my name and the announcer even pronounced it correctly then across the finish line I was momentarily confused as I realized I could stop. As much as I'm not a runner I could've still gone further. They had water and gatorade at the finish line and the water was nice and cold. I should've had two. I stopped to talk to a fellow who said he had tried it two years ago but blew up in the swim so he was thrilled to have finished it this time.

Run faster. Talk to more people.

Within two minutes my heart rate had calmed down and I felt great if a bit buzzed. Found my wife very quickly and went to find some snacks. I had a coke (so good) and some watermelon. Within minutes I was ready to go again.
On my way to the transition area to collect my gear I heard the announcer say: "#491 our last competitor is approaching the finish line" so I looked to see it was the big Athena lady coming in. So I started cheering and clapping for her and the whole crowd cheered her across the line. I'm glad I got to see her finish because I would've always wondered what happened to her. Across the line a first aid attendant walked her into the Medical tent. I hope she'll continue to work out.


A lifetime without exercise. Next year I'll be even faster.