To cut a long story short, I did enough training and I did it with more verve than I thought possible. And I did it in a shorter time than I thought I would – just under 3 hours (I think, I’m still awaiting the official results). (Results in. I completed the triathlon in 2 hours and 47 minutes. I came 147th over all out of 205 participants who completed the event and 18th in my category. As usual I did best in the swim, middling in the run and worst in the ride. There were 24 in my age category.)
The triathlon was at Victor Harbor and we stayed in a rental at Middleton (which is nearby) for three nights. ‘We’ were Graham and Kenneth, Terry and Kay and David and me. Graham, Terry and me all did triathlons on the Sunday and Terry and Kay also did the fun run. David and Kenneth were secconded as support crew.
The 1.5km swim was straight forward, apart from being smacked in the nose and hitting random arms and legs as I swam along. After the first 500 metres though, I had a puddle of water to myself.
Then off on the bike. We rode a course that took us out of Victor and into the nearby hills. The hills suited me. I caught up to people on the hills . . . but then they whizzed past me on the flat. It was really windy on the ride. There were huge gusts in one particularly unprotected place. It also rained while we were on the ride - just drizzle really but several people fell off due to the wet conditions. We did two laps of a 20km loop.
The run was in the area around the canal estate we swam in. Two 5km loops. I did the first at a moderate pace and then when I found that not too difficult I upped the pace and hooned the last 5km.
Graham attempted the Olympic triathlon. He did well in the swim (as expected) and came out of the water about 5 minutes or more before I did. He did the whole ride and one loop of the run before calling it quits. He did no training for the run! Nothing. So he did really well!
Terry completed the short course triathlon. The swim (as usual) posing the biggest challenge for him. He also did the 5km fun run with his wife Kay later in the day.
On Sunday night David cooked for us all. He used the barbecue at the house and chargrilled marinated prawns, chicken and lamb. Each was a separate course with its own small salad or accompaniment. Dessert was chargrilled peaches.
Kenneth did some cooking too. Tea on Saturday night was a sensational smoked salmon salad and on Monday morning we had scrambled eggs and more smoked salmon. Terry did a yummy traditional eggs and bacon breakfast on Saturday morning.
On the holiday Monday we had lunch at a newly renovated pub at Port Elliot with Graham. While we were there the steam train went past twice - the pub is right next to the tracks. Then we visited two wineries in the Yanaklilla area and drove along the coast to McLaren Vale. We had dinner at Awganix in McLaren Vale (the former Limeburners). Great food. Then home.
Below: Enlargification occurs if you clickificate the photos.
Terry tackles the short course triathlon.
Graham almost completes the Olympic distance triathlon. As he did no training other than swimming - to complete the swim, the ride and 5km of the 10km run - represents quite a feat.
In the swim someone hit me in the nose and I kept banging into random arms and legs for the first 500 metres. The water was cold but okay.
Here I am on the course riding and running. I was so happy with the run - I sped up as I went along. I did the second 5km much faster than the first 5km. Last photo, leg cooling.
Finishing the first 5km lap
Running to the finish.
The competition.
Terry and Kay on the 5km fun run.
The after-race team portrait - Harvey, Graham and Terry.
On the Monday we took the long way home. David posing at Carickalinga.
The beach at Carickalinga
