Race Report - Bribie Island Triathlon Series Race 1

Yup.

You read correctly, a race report. If you've been reading my blog this year you will now be saying "what the...?" And fair enough too. When I last left you I'd just started a new job and the training/rehabilitation was fast slipping back in the priority listing.

So I had to act.

The Bribie Island Triathlon Series has been running for many years and while it isn't a full oly distance, its a great benchmark for the bigger events and a lot of fun too. The first of the season is always a shorter race, being exactly half oly and, well, I decided it was time to stop waiting for the nerve damage to heal enough for me to race somewhere like my old self. Fact is, I'm not my old self and probably won't ever be. So the reality is perhaps its time to start getting on with the self I have now. That meant it was time to test things out. Sure I haven't stepped into a training pool for several months and sure I haven't done much running apart from my 4km, again some time ago, but hey, no harm in trying. So I registered mid-week, prepped the bike and went through my gear to check nothing had disintegrated through lack of use. It hadn't, if you don't count my legs. So here goes...


Race Report
Weather was ideal with a light breeze and air/water temp not too cool, though some were feeling it and opted for a wetsuit. The swim started around 8am and as normal it was with the current in Pumicstone Passage. My group were towards the end so I got to see most others go and watched how the current affected the swim. Since I hadn’t been in a pool for more than two months I let the pack go ahead and took my time, settling into a rhythm, bilateral breathing and not kicking. My fear was not the distance but leg cramps, which I had been suffering on my last three occasions in the pool. They were crippling and forced me to stop each time and cling to the side until I could force it to release. If this happened in the open water it would not be fun. I almost introduced myself to one of the rescue paddle-board riders to ask for special attention. However this wasn’t an issue as there were no signs of cramp and I found myself at the finish buoy without a problem.

Exiting the water I started to remember what triathlon is about, i.e. shifting from one thing to the next and it being a little difficult. I was barefoot through sand and that’s the worst for my foot and leg, so it was a bit arduous. The run to transition was around the perimeter of the bike racks so it was like a mini run leg with me limping all the way! At the bike things went smoothly; I decided to put my shoes on there and run in cleats. Previously I did the shoes-clipped-to-bike thing but again the damaged leg might prove an issue getting into the shoes on the bike, so I opted for the safer approach. The 20km bike leg was reasonably straightforward; basically a T-shape with sections of tailwind and others with headwind, but I am better suited to the 40km Olympic distance. There were two nasty crashes on the bike course, which we had to navigate around; one rookie sneezed apparently while holding the front brake lever on the faster section and was propelled over the bars and onto the road. She broke her jaw badly and was unconscious for several minutes. She did not move from the recovery position the entire time I was on course – that’s three laps! A second rookie took a left hand corner with his inside pedal down and jack-knifed the bike. He was sitting up and seemed ok but he too didn’t not move in any hurry off the road. Both sights were sobering and helped me to stay focused. The Cervelo performed very well; the new aggressive aero bars were comfortable and the bike loves straight lines. Not so fond of U-turns – I took the roundabouts with a racing line and occasionally had rookies attempt to come up on the inside. They received immediate tuition in the art of circuit cycling, with suitable punctuation and emphasis.

Now the hard part; a 5km run. Transition was again good, although I decided on socks and laced shoes as I was using the new orthotics and as I was not breaking any records, decided to make sure my footing was right. Again, I was reminded of what triathlon is about, as the transition from bike to run is painful and I could only manage a shuffle. I settled into my stride and tried to focus on regular steps and balanced foot placement, but the leg was now tiring and when that happens all form goes out the window. But my goal was not to walk if I could help it and that’s what I managed. But Iwas being systematically run-down and passed as older people, large people, people using Zimmer frames, etc, were regularly gliding past. But the spirit is still in the sport and one guy turned as he went past and asked if I was ok. Clearly he wasn’t used to passing people and presumed there must be something wrong with me. “No, I’m ok” I replied, “this is as good as I get for now”. I can’t blame him for thinking something was askew, as by this stage I resembled grandpa heading down the hallway in the middle of the night in slippers to get a snack from the kitchen. I actually sought the guy out afterwards and thanked him for bothering to ask. Anyhow, I kept going and finished in time of 1:22:05 according to my watch. A friend who I used to race against and that I was close in ability to previously did 1:08 so that’s a fair estimate of the pre vs post-surgery difference. But the primary objective was met and I’m satisfied.

So stay tuned, as my intention now is to do all four races in the Bribie series and then finish the season with the Mooloolaba olympic race in March. Sadly, my dreams of Noosa have vanished, but it will be there next year. And so will I hopefully.

Ciao.