A Bloke's Thing
After buying myself a decent road bike, I just had to justify the expense and make proper use of it. That's where the Bloke’s Triathlon Series came in. Mark and I both entered (well Mark did the duathlon series as he didn’t want to do the swims). Anyway, here’s a review of the series.
Race 1
As the distances in this, the first, event were very short (100 m pool swim, 11 km bike ride and a 3 km run) I was pretty confident of clocking a very tidy time. However, the day was overcast and very windy (not good when you are cycling down an exposed beach front road). I soon learnt that combining three events in conjunction with inclement weather conditions make it all a lot harder. The worst part was the transition from cycling to running, as the legs took about 1 km to get used to running. Not to mention the fact that it is bloody horrible starting to run when one is already puffed! Anyway, I finished half way down the field in a reasonable time of 39:39 minutes. After the race, we stayed around for the spot prizes which turned out to be well worth the wait. I ended up winning the top spot prize which was a triathlon wet suit. Cool even though I had just bought a winter wet suit (for surfing) just a few weeks before hand!
Pre-race nerves!
Race 2
This time, I was prepared for the transitions but the distances were longer (200 m pool swim, 15 km bike ride and a 4 km run). The weather was great (sunny and still air). Unfortunately, this meant more people hung around for the spot prizes at the end. Shame as it meant there was less chance of winning one! Again, I finished mid-field in a time of 55.28 minutes.
Race 3
This race was the biggest challenge as it involved a sea swim (250 m sea swim, 20 km bike ride and a 4 km run). Needless to say, I had been working on my swimming as that is by far my weakest link and even had a sea swimming lesson. I’m reasonably good in the pool now but had a real shock when I tried sea swimming. The waves, currents and lack of vision (no dotted line on the sea bed to follow!) all conspire to make it five times as hard as pool swimming. At least, I had the opportunity to use the triathlon wetsuit that I won in the first race!
I was not looking forward to the swim and was even less so upon arriving at Scarborough Head, to see large swells and an outgoing tide. The surfers were making the most of it but I certainly wasn’t looking forward to it. Visions of tumbling washing machines kept popping into my head. I quickly revised my race plan: I decided that I was not bothered about times but just wanted to get through the swim alive! I am not joking!
Luckily, I was in the fourth wave of competitors to start so was able to observe the first couple of waves and see how they coped. My fears were compounded when I saw the guys from the first wave (the top athletes) and second wave swimming diagonally away from the marker bhoy. It crossed my mind that they had a grand plan in mind but no did not. They were being dragged out by a rip. They did not seem to be making any headway and it was not long before the arms went up for assistance. I swear one guy was swimming hard for at least five minutes but made no progress at all, until a big wave pushed him past the rip. Needless to say, the subsequent starting waves were cancelled! Only three swimmers made it ashore around the bhoy. The others were picked up by the rescue boat or made it ashore but missed the bhoy. Thankfully nobody was badly hurt but one person was treated for injuries gained as he hung on to rocks on the headland.
As the swimming leg was cancelled, the race effectively became a duathlon but we still had to do a token 100 m run into the sea and back before jumping onto our bikes! Once again, I finished in a mid-field position.
Reflection
I thoroughly enjoyed competing in this triathlon series and certainly want to do so again next year. I am quite hooked on them now and am even considering joining the Canterbury Triathlon Club. I intend to keep working on strengthening my swimming as well as improving my cycling. First though there is the Sumner Summer Mini triathlon coming up in mid January!
Race 1
As the distances in this, the first, event were very short (100 m pool swim, 11 km bike ride and a 3 km run) I was pretty confident of clocking a very tidy time. However, the day was overcast and very windy (not good when you are cycling down an exposed beach front road). I soon learnt that combining three events in conjunction with inclement weather conditions make it all a lot harder. The worst part was the transition from cycling to running, as the legs took about 1 km to get used to running. Not to mention the fact that it is bloody horrible starting to run when one is already puffed! Anyway, I finished half way down the field in a reasonable time of 39:39 minutes. After the race, we stayed around for the spot prizes which turned out to be well worth the wait. I ended up winning the top spot prize which was a triathlon wet suit. Cool even though I had just bought a winter wet suit (for surfing) just a few weeks before hand!
Pre-race nerves!Race 2
This time, I was prepared for the transitions but the distances were longer (200 m pool swim, 15 km bike ride and a 4 km run). The weather was great (sunny and still air). Unfortunately, this meant more people hung around for the spot prizes at the end. Shame as it meant there was less chance of winning one! Again, I finished mid-field in a time of 55.28 minutes.
Race 3
This race was the biggest challenge as it involved a sea swim (250 m sea swim, 20 km bike ride and a 4 km run). Needless to say, I had been working on my swimming as that is by far my weakest link and even had a sea swimming lesson. I’m reasonably good in the pool now but had a real shock when I tried sea swimming. The waves, currents and lack of vision (no dotted line on the sea bed to follow!) all conspire to make it five times as hard as pool swimming. At least, I had the opportunity to use the triathlon wetsuit that I won in the first race!
I was not looking forward to the swim and was even less so upon arriving at Scarborough Head, to see large swells and an outgoing tide. The surfers were making the most of it but I certainly wasn’t looking forward to it. Visions of tumbling washing machines kept popping into my head. I quickly revised my race plan: I decided that I was not bothered about times but just wanted to get through the swim alive! I am not joking!
Luckily, I was in the fourth wave of competitors to start so was able to observe the first couple of waves and see how they coped. My fears were compounded when I saw the guys from the first wave (the top athletes) and second wave swimming diagonally away from the marker bhoy. It crossed my mind that they had a grand plan in mind but no did not. They were being dragged out by a rip. They did not seem to be making any headway and it was not long before the arms went up for assistance. I swear one guy was swimming hard for at least five minutes but made no progress at all, until a big wave pushed him past the rip. Needless to say, the subsequent starting waves were cancelled! Only three swimmers made it ashore around the bhoy. The others were picked up by the rescue boat or made it ashore but missed the bhoy. Thankfully nobody was badly hurt but one person was treated for injuries gained as he hung on to rocks on the headland.
As the swimming leg was cancelled, the race effectively became a duathlon but we still had to do a token 100 m run into the sea and back before jumping onto our bikes! Once again, I finished in a mid-field position.
Reflection
I thoroughly enjoyed competing in this triathlon series and certainly want to do so again next year. I am quite hooked on them now and am even considering joining the Canterbury Triathlon Club. I intend to keep working on strengthening my swimming as well as improving my cycling. First though there is the Sumner Summer Mini triathlon coming up in mid January!
posted by pandc at
5.1.08
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