2004 BRW Triathlon RR (400m Swim/10k Ride/4k Run
Fri: Replaced American Classic Hubbed rear wheel with a "normal" Ultegra
hubbed one Replaced a badly frayed rear derailleur cable
Sat: Rode 'new and improved' Peugeot down to Elwood Beach fo
registration. After removing all the removable bits the bike staye
there overnight. Somehow the three of us scored prime positions on bik
row 1. It's nice not having to remember a row number in the midst of
little exertion. :
Sun: After attending a friend's birthday dinner last night (pizza an
beer - best pre-race meal!) and retiring at midnight, I was pleasantl
surprised by my alarm going off at 4.30AM. Yes, "A"M not the muc
preferred "PM". This might be normal for some of you folks, bu
certainly not me - I prefer the sleep-in/dodge-cars method. Hooking u
with a team mate, we drive in to Elwood and prepare the bikes: pum
tyres, layout helmet, spd shoes, runners, t-shirt, sunnies. Nibbling o
a Powerbar and sipping Gatorade (Hey! I had to look the part :P) w
spent time wandering around or 'flushing' dinners, waiting for th
start. Sooner than we expected, the first wave was off, disturbing th
beautifully calm sea. As well as the good bike spot, we were also of
early, ~4mins after the first wave, I think. Dave had to rush down t
the start because they were actually on time! He's quick and estimated
35min finish time. Passing most of the waves that left before him, Dav
was into transition in approx. 6th place overall! Scaring the "buff
crowd, I was ready and waiting to take the electronic timing band
wearing only tri-shorts, goggles and a swim cap. eek! I'm out of breat
before I even make it to the water. Swim goes relatively well (well I'
alive to type this!) and I exit the water feeling better than
expected. On goes the tee, the glasses and the helmet. Glasses fog up
Off come the glasses. Onto the bike course and I spin briefly to get th
legs used to not drowning. Then it's into 52/15(?) and my mission Jim
is to pass everything that moves. Early on I am passed by a CBD Cycle
rider on an aerobar/disc-wheel bike. He was moving! I pass just abou
everyone else. Another aerobar rider passes me, then I pass him, then h
passes me, etc. (you get the idea, right?). He loses me at the turn
around but then catches me ~1k from the finish. He has 3 riders suckin
his wheel... hard... in this 'non-drafting' event. I like to mess wit
people, so, I up the pace and pass all four of them, then click it dow
and spin the last 100m before dismounting. The run was slow. I had onl
trained for a week and I was the heaviest I've been.. ever (100kg)
First 1k was ok, then I slowed quite a bit. Moral was boosted at the turn
around and I started chasing people down that passed me. The "double
bouncing, trampoline bridge" was fun! Really hurting myself,
'sprinted' the last 2-300m to the transition. Struggled to remove th
stupid ankle timing strap and watched our last guy take off. Into th
Gatorade...and snakes...and beer ;-
Averaged ~37.6kph over the 10k ride. Official times might follow, if no
too embarassing
Summary: Bloody good fun, even after all my sooking about having to d
it. Training not necessary, but faster run would've been nice
hipp
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