2011 is here and what a best way to start it than with a race report.
Contact Tri series, race 2 - Whangamata - 3 Jan 2011

The Swim
The race start is gentleman's hours 8am and the surf was on there were 2 and 3 feet waves breaking from 100m to the shore, that's fun to get in and more fun to get out, bodysurfing. My mate Martin was doing the sprint as well and Reado and the coach were doing the standard as a team as well as Kevin. In the girls field, Alesha was doing sprint distance. We're off, Martin is on my side for the first 100m and then I lost him after a big wave that I ducked into and he might have taken full face. I tried to power through the first buoy and then got a bit carried away and kept the pace to the second buoy which is also the turnaround to the beach. As I kept swimming I was trying to catch waves and bodysurf, but I wasn't lucky this time and had to be content with not being too delayed with the backcurrent. I got off the water in the top 15 (bloody 13 and 15 year olds can swim these days)

the good news was that the running legs were there, I started running fresh and I didn't feel the need for gels or water or anything. That boosted my morale and I just kept running. I've forgotten how nice of a race this is: running on the hard sand with the sea washing one's feet, with a great sight of sea, woody ranges and blue skies, it just doesn't get any better.
There were two laps and I did identical times for both of them, without being too much on the absolute red zone. I kind of regret it a bit, as I finished 11th, 20seconds from a top 10.The run split was the 4th overall and it helped me to secure the first place in the age group.
Balance
I've been in a base-unstructured-holiday-ish kind of training since Rotovegas half and I've enjoyed the training, but more importantly, I've enjoyed the rest of what happens in my life. The race was a reflection of that and I am very very pleased with it as it showed me that I am where I want to be and that the tri life and the real life are in a perfect harmony at the moment. The sprint distance is such a great way of racing, I wish I hadn't let so much time run between races. I'm looking forward to Nationals now, and see where I can get.
There's more to come on the holiday, the Lance and a few fresh photos. Stay tuned.
All is well!
ReplyDeleteGreat race out of the gate in 11'! and such a solid sign the run legs were there. But you wish you hadnt let so much time since Roto wasnt that just several weeks ago!
Happy New Year
Derek
I miss bodysurfing! Sounds like a good race and good news for Nationals.
ReplyDeleteFlying. What happened to the person that went down ?
ReplyDeletethanks!, the person that went down didn't even had a scratch.
ReplyDeletethe holiday is stil running!
and bodysurfing rocks!