Caloundra Triathlon this weekend

[light_sabe_r]

WOOHOO! My first "elite" sprint tri is this weekend! Third Tri this season

400m swim 15km ride 4km run

This is not an ENTICER distance... But is a similar distance to what I've done at my last tri at Raby bay (300m swim 10km ride 2.5km run) so think I'll do okay even if I'm at the back of the pack and versing some of the real tri legends in the state.


Training's going well. I can swim 400m now. :P I've done mt cootha twice so 15km on the flat should be no worries and can "jog" a hilly 4km (there's nowhere FLAT near me to try that)

Everyone keep your fingers crossed for me!

Two weeks after that is the Luke Harrop Tri on the gold coast where I'll be back to doing the "enticer distance of 300m swim, 10km ride and 2km run.

[rocknrollgirl]

Best of luck. It sounds like you are well prepared, and plenty psyched...

Kick some booty!!!!!!!!

[Tri Girl]

Wow!!! Best of luck this weekend- you know we expect a report (and pictures are definitely a welcome sight also).
The distance is longer, but you're ready!!!!! You go get 'em tiger!!!

[beetle]

Have a great time. Wish I could come and watch. Can't wait to hear how it goes.

[mel1976]

I'm heading to Caloundra on Sunday to watch the Tri. A friend of mine and I decided it would be good to go and at least watch a Tri before competing in one and thought it may also provide us with that extra motivation to keep our training up.

Do you know your race number light? I'll have to remember to take the camera and if I come across you, I'll take some happy snaps.

Best of luck for the Tri. Its suppose to be about 30 degrees (86 F) so make sure you slip, slop, slap.

[light_sabe_r]

WOOHOO! Mel you have nothing to worry about. But come along and enjoy it! ^_^ The enticer distance this time is incredibly short.

Yeah! It'll be 30 degrees and the water will be a VERY warm 25 as it has been for quite a few months.

No. The race numbers aren't allocated until the day.

However Mel, You can look out for this bike and the rider in this outfit... And that will be ME! ^_^

[beetle]

nice suit!!!!! What brand is it? You will fly

[light_sabe_r]

Beetle the suit is TYR. and having raced in it now I can highly reccommend it! It's comfy on the bike, it keeps you cool and yeah. I love it.

ANYHUE!!! The race was great today!

BF and I woke up at 3:40am to get ready and DRIVE 1:30 to get to Caloundra. BF drove and I slept in the car when I could.

I registered and put my bike in. Then waited around for my training buddies to show up. they got there with 30 seconds to spare before they shut registration!!! She's LUCKY

Anyway, my number was 843 (same as last time actually!) and I was in the 20-24 QTS distance today, which meant 400m, 15km ride, 4km run.

Nancy was in the group going before me. So we waited and stressed each other out. "Be the porpise" was our motto for the swim... After her group left I got to the water's edge. 8minutes later my group was off.

The swim was great! Pumicestone passage is BEAUTIFUL clear blue seawater at a very warm 26.5C. I panicked at first cause all the girls just TOOK OFF!!!! I'm NOT a fast swimmer. I was very quickly 10m behind second last.

As it turned out I didn't get any further back (although it felt like it) After they all choofed off I got into a rythem and just kept stroking, THe current helped getting out to the third buoy, but coming back I was swimming against the current.

Swim time was my fastest ever 400m, 11mins. (lol)

Anyway. it was a LONG run to the transition. My transition time was 15mins, BUT the actual time I spent sticking on my helmet, shoes and chowing down endura was about 30 seconds... the rest of it was running in and out of the damn entrance way! lol

Bike leg was FANTASTIC. I was making time already overtaking people in my category who had probably already lapped me, But on the third lap the clydesdales were ZOOMING past!!! They're scarey!! Nice blokes but their wheels were scarey! Nancy and I were SCREAMING encouragement to each other as we passed each other on the ride (We saw each other twice)

Anyhue. On the my third lap I knew I'd done well because I'd overtaken women who'd started the swim in that went before me. Who cares if I was still last in my age category... at least I was making up some time!

BF yelled out that he loved me from the sidelines as I unclipped. I had the confidence boost from overtaking people in the category before me so I knew I shouldn't be too far out from my own group now at least. A VERY quick change of shoes and half a bottle of Endura and I was off again!

Onto the run! 4km! Heart rate stayed at 190bpm for most of it, that's usually my threshold but the adrenalin was pumping. A lot of the boys yelled encouragement as they began to race past.

The kids on the drink stands were great!!! "Splash??" "YES PLEASE" and BOOM I had water thrown all over me!

At this stage it was hot... REALLY hot, My shoulders were BURNING and I was trying to run in the shadows of trees, parked cars you name it.

At the u turn I touched the Witche's hat for luck.

All of a sudden I had ENERGY. I galloped on the way back. More kids splashing water on us and they even had an "outlawed" sprinkler going covering us in water. Ahhh.

Anyhue. I made it accross the line. 1 hour 16 minutes. I was quite chuffed with that for my third tri. I did come last, HOWEVER one of the girls was disqualified for riding without shoes. So I placed 24th. WOOHOO!

Nancy had run in 15minutes before I did.

I practically collapsed after getting to the line. Someone took off my timing band for me and I sat there talking to a boy scout. He was amazed that we'd been out there for an hour.

I then got some gatorade and laid with BF under a tree until my energy got a level big enough to go and collect the bike.

My training buddies and BF and I went to La Promenade afterwards for breakfast, where I treated myself to Eggs benedict with SMOKED SALMON and baby spinich. I was STARVING.

I slept in the car on the way back, and slept for four hours when I got home. woke up, ate again and I'm starting to feel NORMAL again. lol

In any case I think I was totally out of my league when It came to the QTS distance. BUT I can say that I raced against women who are aiming to get to the Olympics in Bejing. Now that's cool! So I'll be sticking to the enticers from now on I think. LOL

[Tri Girl]

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

Sooooooo excited for you!!!!! Sounds like you had a great race, and you did very well!!! Loved your race report- I was hanging on to every word. Wow- three tris down, a million more to go! So excited/happy/elated/thrilled for you. And you drove such a long way to get there- even more impressive!
Glad you got to race it with friends!

[mel1976]

CONGRATULATIONS on a great race.

My friend and I were also up early in the morning to make the trek to Caloundra (just under 2 hours) to watch the competitors and spend a day getting some sun and surf.

Whilst its very hard to pick out any competitor unless you know their race number, I did see you three of four times on your bike leg and you looked great. The bike and the tri suit are very distinctive. I yelled out "Go Madonna" at one point when you zoomed past. You looked like you were having fun.

It was fabulous just being in that atmosphere and around so many people that were obviously enjoying themselves. Can't wait to actually compete in my first tri.

Had fun for the rest of the day catching some surf at Cotton Beach (3 to 5 metre swell) and eating fish n chips. Not the best "tri" training food, but yummy anyway.

I'll also be going down to the Luke Harrop Memorial Gold Coast tri in a couple of weeks, so may get a chance to cheer you on from the sidelines again.

[light_sabe_r]

Mel! I didn't see you I'm sorry but after the race all I wanted was shade, sugar, water, food and sleep in that order. Yes it was fun! IT IS FUN! Of course it usually starts becomming fun after the swim leg. I just love the atmosphere at these events.

I forgot to mention we watched the kid's transition their bikes after the swim. There was a GORGEOUS half size Merida frame with I dunno, I think 350cc or less size wheels and this tiny little girl looked AMAZING on it. That's when I told BF that when we have kids, they WILL be doing Triathlon! :P

There were a set of boy twins as well, Wearing the same trisuits, they came out of the swim at the SAME TIME and got on the same bikes at the same time and got back at the same time... I'd hate to think what the sibling rivalry would be like there! Just amazing!!! These kids have TALENT!

But yeah, It's just great to see people there of all different ages and different sizes out there having a great time!

I'll be doing the enticer at Luke Harrop! (I think Nancy wants to do it too, and our other training buddy Fiona)so we'll see you there Mel!

Thanks Tri-girl!
Hey I wouldn't be doing these if it wasn't for reading all your tri and IM reports over the past few months you are an inspiration. ^_^

[susanm8048]

Congratulations! Glad you are enjoying it all. My achilles is stuffed again, so REALLY enjoy it and make the most of every opportunity to get out there.

[beetle]

Well done. Sounds like you had a great day and all your training paid off. Thanks for the pos comments on the trisuit. Would love to see an action shot of the day!!!!

[Tri Girl]

Congrats to you, too Mel!!!!!

Yes, we demand pictures when you get them!!!! We LOVE to see action shots, so bring them on ladies!!

[eclectic]

I am very late getting to all the posts

but here is a belated WHOOO HOOOOO ! ! ! ! WAY TO GO ! ! ! !


It sounds like you are having a great season! I think your times sound very reputable - my goal is just to git er done in less than 2 hours

I LOVED the writeup AND I am glad to hear your HR gets up to 190 - I have been a little panicky because mine hangs around 176 on what I consider a not too fast run where I can still talk brief sentances - I thought maybe I was a heart attack waiting to happen

Once again WAY TO GO ! ! !