Ok, admittedly, the weather was perfect hardly any wind and a bit of cloud cover to keep the heat down a bit...
Starting with the pros was interesting at the start. Just like last year we drifted way over the line. This time I was quite happy about that! They were trying to bring us back and then the gun went. I found a set of feet for a while and then hand to swim in the front of a pack the whole way. Not much fun. Got stung whilst swimming through part of a jellyfish too. 29'44" so not too bad for the course with the tide etc...
Exiting the water...
Into T1 one did not run that quickly never seem to be able to just got caught by the first of the age groupers too. 1'23"
Onto the bike and I did swim quite hard so was feeling not so great. Did not get going. A group started to form with me, Armando, Rob D and Paul W. We were going at about 40Km/h or there abouts.
Starting out it was quite wet...
Started picking up riders all over the place... Caught Jo and Shacks, then Walter, Glen G, Micheal K and Tony. That's when I tried to get away. No go every one was onto that. Then Michael K had a go... I tried to go past and push on. That lasted a few minutes then Paul went past and one other and I go pinged for drafting I cannot believe it! I'm quite sure I was not. well at least I am sure that 15seconds had not elapsed when the last rider went past me. But what do you do? Nothing I think just take the penalty and get going.
End of first lap on my own here due to penalty.
I got into the penalty box first but was too slow to line up and did not get the card first. So I was first in and third out. That did not go down to well either I do not think that the officials really new what the were doing. I reckon it cost me 3 mins from off bike to back on at speed.
Just starting the second lap...
I caught the two in front of me Michael and Rob and then pushed on riding a lot harder than I might have otherwise... time with penalty 2h15m13s Still a personal best...
T2 was quite good for me, 1'23" I put socks on as usual so pleased with that considering it is quite a long run out of T1.
Then onto the run. I was feeling quite tired by this stage. Was beginning to wonder if I biked to hard... Michael then went past quite fast, faster than I dared anyway, then Rob. Rob then took a detour to a rubbish bin worried that he might get pinged for littering! Once 'round to Ocean Beach Road I caught and past Michael and did not see him again. I then past Shacks and Tony, his calf was gone so was only going to be able to try and complete. I started to feel good so tried to get going a bit. I sore Mark B ahead which gave me something to aim for. after turn around he had to duck into the sand dunes - he then came out just in front of me! Glen G then went past like a man possed. He is really quiet good at pacing himself on the bike.. I caught Mark at the base of the Mount track... Took it easy on the climbs and free running on the downs.
First lap with Rob just behind
At the half way in just over 42' - not bad for this course hoping for more like sub 41' but I'll take it! Had a GU and started taking coke. Things stared to take a turn for the worse on the beach road heading out again and I think I lost a bit of time. But once I started to work out possible finish times and see what was possible, I started to wind it up a bit... the Mount track the second time really hurt and the last few hills were quite slow...
'Round the Mount...
Down onto The Mall for the last time the cramp started to appear in the hamstrings but was still able to run well to the line...
The Finish :)
Total time : 4h 13m 30s
Fantastic result. I think that the draft bust cost me 3 mins for a unofficial time of 4:10:30 Can you believe that? Very good conditions for the bike so a bike split could have been 2h12m !!!
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