Out on one of my long endurance rides in January, chattering away with my cycling buddy we reached the topic of triathlon, something that has always interested me. Having been so focused on cycling for the past four years, intrigued by the sport is as far as I have come to considering actually entering an event.
Why not enter the Mooloolaba Tri for a bit of fun? Always up for a challenge, knowing that I would have two weeks to "train" myself for the run and swim components after competing in the womens UCI Tour of New Zealand in late February, I rose to the challenge, no expectations! Sign me up, Lets do it I replied in haste and excitement!
Before long March had arrived and the two week count down was on. Getting back on the bike to start at base training was combined with some quick "cramming" and cross training. I've always loved running, and was super excited to put on my trainers again. So much so that I let my adventurous side get away with me and decided to run round Rangitoto island, up and over a volcano on an exploration mission near Auckland on the last day of my New Zealand trip.
Over zealous going down hill, I literally tripped and fell head over heels and ended up rolling onto the lava fields, giving myself some pretty decent gravel rash in the process. Of course the next day I woke up feeling like a train wreck, and my legs continued to feel like lead weights for the next few days, I had bitten off a bit more than I could chew on my first run for a very long time!
Once I was back into my working and training routine I included a couple of small run offs after my rides, and enjoyed some drills playing in the waves at the Ins and outs swim sessions held on the beach at Mooloolaba on a Friday morning. Safe to say I am not a graceful swimmer and my technique leaves a lot to be desired.
On the day the swim was certainly my most feared leg, being tossed into the water surrounded by 50 other girls fighting for position, and then probably finding myself being caught, passed, and kicked by the following wave of male age groupers I was pretty daunted.
To my surprise after having a good starting spot on the right hand side of the group I found myself managing to stay with the lead bunch of girls in the swim to the first buoy. This let me settle into a rhythm, get my breathing under control and set out to ignore anyone who was grabbing at my legs. How far was 1500m? There were times I thought the swim would never end, and if I had stopped to think for too long I think I might have just frozen in panic, so I just focused on how soon it would be that I would reach dry land, and all the things I would have to do in transition until my feet finally touched the sand, and off I went to jump onto my beloved TT bike!
Suddenly I was beaming from ear to ear, back at home in the saddle I was pedaling and already passing people through the corners as the course wound its way out of Mooloolaba towards twin waters. Chasing is fun, I felt like a Cheetah hunting down it's prey as I glided into my rhythm of a steam engine chugging forwards as fast as my legs would take me.
During the ride I had no idea where I was in relation to the other girls in my age group. There were riders from different genders and age groups dotted all over the road in front of me, I had passed some girls, but was completely unaware of how many were still in front at this point. All I could do was keep going at my own pace and hope for the best!
I rode home in under an hour, and quickly changed into my running gear. I headed off down the esplanade, back towards Cotton Tree, setting a steady pace as the heat of the day began to seethe. Passing through a cold hose from time to time certainly was a welcome relief, and I was very happy to see the 1km signs to go and hear the cheers as I passed through the finish line! Phew I made it through my first triathlon, it was super fun!
Later in the day I found out that I had come 3rd in my age group, with the first female and 15th fastest bike split time overall. Quite a suprprise for my first triathlon, and may have sparked a flame for future endeavours!
Meanwhile, its back to the bike for me now, some serious training for the NRS and the rest of the 2015 season!
Why not enter the Mooloolaba Tri for a bit of fun? Always up for a challenge, knowing that I would have two weeks to "train" myself for the run and swim components after competing in the womens UCI Tour of New Zealand in late February, I rose to the challenge, no expectations! Sign me up, Lets do it I replied in haste and excitement!
Before long March had arrived and the two week count down was on. Getting back on the bike to start at base training was combined with some quick "cramming" and cross training. I've always loved running, and was super excited to put on my trainers again. So much so that I let my adventurous side get away with me and decided to run round Rangitoto island, up and over a volcano on an exploration mission near Auckland on the last day of my New Zealand trip.
Over zealous going down hill, I literally tripped and fell head over heels and ended up rolling onto the lava fields, giving myself some pretty decent gravel rash in the process. Of course the next day I woke up feeling like a train wreck, and my legs continued to feel like lead weights for the next few days, I had bitten off a bit more than I could chew on my first run for a very long time!
Once I was back into my working and training routine I included a couple of small run offs after my rides, and enjoyed some drills playing in the waves at the Ins and outs swim sessions held on the beach at Mooloolaba on a Friday morning. Safe to say I am not a graceful swimmer and my technique leaves a lot to be desired.
On the day the swim was certainly my most feared leg, being tossed into the water surrounded by 50 other girls fighting for position, and then probably finding myself being caught, passed, and kicked by the following wave of male age groupers I was pretty daunted.
To my surprise after having a good starting spot on the right hand side of the group I found myself managing to stay with the lead bunch of girls in the swim to the first buoy. This let me settle into a rhythm, get my breathing under control and set out to ignore anyone who was grabbing at my legs. How far was 1500m? There were times I thought the swim would never end, and if I had stopped to think for too long I think I might have just frozen in panic, so I just focused on how soon it would be that I would reach dry land, and all the things I would have to do in transition until my feet finally touched the sand, and off I went to jump onto my beloved TT bike!
Suddenly I was beaming from ear to ear, back at home in the saddle I was pedaling and already passing people through the corners as the course wound its way out of Mooloolaba towards twin waters. Chasing is fun, I felt like a Cheetah hunting down it's prey as I glided into my rhythm of a steam engine chugging forwards as fast as my legs would take me.
During the ride I had no idea where I was in relation to the other girls in my age group. There were riders from different genders and age groups dotted all over the road in front of me, I had passed some girls, but was completely unaware of how many were still in front at this point. All I could do was keep going at my own pace and hope for the best!
I rode home in under an hour, and quickly changed into my running gear. I headed off down the esplanade, back towards Cotton Tree, setting a steady pace as the heat of the day began to seethe. Passing through a cold hose from time to time certainly was a welcome relief, and I was very happy to see the 1km signs to go and hear the cheers as I passed through the finish line! Phew I made it through my first triathlon, it was super fun!
Later in the day I found out that I had come 3rd in my age group, with the first female and 15th fastest bike split time overall. Quite a suprprise for my first triathlon, and may have sparked a flame for future endeavours!
Meanwhile, its back to the bike for me now, some serious training for the NRS and the rest of the 2015 season!