Annual PD Triathlon 2012

Time for our annual drive up to Port Dickson for the triathlon race (OD of 1.5k/ 40k/ 10k) over the weekend. My last race was exactly 1 year ago at PD, just before school started. Since then, I swam once (at Safra pool) and never touched my bicycle saddle. Ha! Only tuned my bike 3 days before the race and off we went. I think I should be able to complete the race, swimming and cycling were kind of 'mechanical' memory - slow but would not forget. It was my first chillax weekend after a crazy week, I was just beginning to switch mental modes.

We stayed at the Regency Apartments 1.8km away from the official hotel, Admiral Pavilion, which was fully booked. It turned out good because they did not have our rooms and upgraded us (4 pax) to a 4-bedroom apartment, each with attached bathroom! Obviously, my group was not as concerned with the race than the food. We had 'tze-cha' (aka stir-fry) seafood meals throughout the stay - 3 sumptuous meals, one for each of the race discipline. Way too much food.

As testimony of my (and fellow travel companions) lack of race experiences in the past year, (a) I forgot my race belt, and (b) my Timex watch strap broke - it was such a trusty but worn-out well-thrashed watch. Awww.....

For (a), I almost bought a new belt, when Wee Haur and Sok Hwa suggested that I use the string from the race pack paper bags instead. Great idea, saved money. For (b), I looked for duct tape to mend it but no one brought it (we would typically bring along many tools for a race,... if it was an important event...). Luckily Melvin had a Garmin, so he lent me his Timex. It was a Men's watch so it was not very fitting, but good enough, it was not sliding along my forearm.

Morning of the race, another boo-boo. My goggles were a tad loose, which I only realised the implications after the race began. Water seeped in, so I either had to close my eyes when I surfaced to breath for front crawl (cos a sideway head tilt would send water into eyes). Breast stroke was fine, so I used a combination of both. And treaded water twice to clear goggles.

The weather was cooling until the run, so the bike was at least enjoyable. I could still clip into my cleats and not fall off. I think 40km was about the max I could get away with without training. I would certainly need some butt time if I wanted to do a half-IM distance of 90km.

The run was the best part of the race. My legs did not cramp after the ride, courtesy of the great weather. So I was able to ease into the run and then pick up speed. We ran through sand and bits of trail-like dirt track. About 2.5km to the finish, Alber came out to look for me and paced me back. So I actually ran (like panting run). The distance, according to Melvin's Garmin, was only 8.9km though.


Time recorded by Trusty Timex:

Swim - 43m24s

T1 - 5m58s

Bike - 1h30m

T2 - 3m04s (best lap time according to Timex =P)

Run - 51m32s

Total - 3h14m47s

 

All in, a fun post-exam race. Definitely survived the race, and almost could not survive the feasts!