I put myself second from the front to start with. next time I'm going at the front and fighting for some space that way. I really got boxed in very quickly and swimming in the lake seems to be more constricting on my breathing then in the ocean. I got boxed in and then got a great big kick in the face smacking my goggles right into my eye socket. it hurt so badly.

but I just kept swimming trying to get the water out of my goggles as I was going. It really did hurt for the entire swim, the pressure of the goggles was hurting the newly formed bruise I htink.

I rounded the first buoy and found some free space. Had a good swim after that. I don't like swimming in a wetsuit my neck feels a bit constricted. I warmed up fully by the second lap and was passing people in the wave above.

not get kicked in the face. put myself at the front of thew ave start. and just swim like crazy for the first 200m's to get some clear water.

there is a really long run from the swim finish to the transition area. I think someone said it was around 700m's so ran out of the swim and stopped on the road bit to take my wettie off there instead of in transition. got it off in record time! (glad I wore it now good practice for the half) ran carrying the wettie to transition.
shoes and helmet on really quickly and flew out of transition

Nothing

I knew the minute I got out on the road on my bike that I was going to have a long bike ride, my legs just didn't have anything in them. I felt like I had concrete blocks for legs. not really sure what was wrong I just had a really off day. and this course is tough so nothing in the legs combined with hill after hill after hill made for a slow race.

I somehow rode the ride without any back brakes as well. flying down hills with no back brake.

It was long hot and hilly and I really just couldn't get any speed up. thank god I wasn't the poor guy that came off his bike and broke his collar bone though.
I was very glad when I was coming down the last hill and ready to turn into transition and out on the run.

check my back brakes. ride faster! try and figure out why ther was nothing in my legs.

I think I should have had more gels or eaten more. not really sure waht nutrition I need for that distance tri.

All I remember about T2 was running in racking my bike and hearing the commentator announcing the winner of the race and the ssecond place guy was sprinting down the hill to finish. it was very demoralising.
I did put my shoes on as I was taking off my helmet, think i had a fast transition

concentrate on me not on the winners

headed out on the run just as my friend came running down the chute in third place. again very demoralising. I had a stitch from the word go on the run. I just couldn't run any faster then I was going as the stitch prevented that. it hurt. but I just settled down and ran whatever speed the stitch let me. (which was slow as)
As much as I sucked and was going slow as, its an absolutely beautiful course so I just enjoyed running through the bush tracks and out through the resort. It did suck a fair bit when on my second lap of the run I could see all these people in the lake cooling down, all cheering for me when I went past but they were finished in the cool lake and I was still running like a very slow turtle.

the water stations on this race were brilliant I don't know how they kept the water so cool but they had plenty of ice cold water, one cup for drinking and one cup over the head as it was sooo hot.

the stitch eased by the second lap and I actually negatively split the last lap. yes it was still slow but faster then the first lap.

it was such a relief to see the finish line and sprint down the hill to the finish ilne and to some cold water

more run training. Run faster I suck at running

chatted for a little bit collected all the gear and then ehaded down to the lake to cool off, stood in the lake up to my waist for ages talking hopefully that helped the legs.
Its a brilliant race and its made even better that its my clubs race so there are so many familiar faces to talk to and play with :)


Not sure why I had such an average day but that really limited my ability to go faster, I just had nothing in the legs.



I absolutely love this race venue and being my clubs race its even more fun! I love the party after the race, as i said its great being on the same venue as the accom so we can all walk back afterwards.
I just didn't have the ability to go fast today. but the scenery and course at Karri Valley well and truly made up for the nearly last placing. at least I got my money's worth :)