Nepean Triathlon - pleasant shock to the system

Nepean on Sunday just gone was a pleasant experience. Great to be racing again, as the last triathlon was Port in March. Thinking back I don't know what I managed to do in such a long period of time, but I do know it wasn't very much training. Suffice to say my time on Sunday wasn't quick. About 5 one hundredths of a second behind mr scam himself in 1:53:12 or thereabouts. Had I known I'd like to think it would be a different story, but alas this is the way it goes with staged starts.

A very brief race report for me:

Slow swim, standing up in just over 16min and crossing the mats in 16:59. I was comfortable the entire swim, managing to maintain a 3-stroke alternate breath rhythm that is usually only reserved for in the pool. This indicates I wasn't pushing it very hard though, as usually my heart rate and therefore breathing rate would be too high to manage 3-strokes/breath. A conservative start to the day, which to be honest wasn't such a bad way to approach the race on the back of little training.

Once on the bike the first lap was slow. There was only ladies from the previous wave that I was overtaking, as most of the guys in my wave were out in front and I wasn't putting any time in to them. 2 guys passed me, one of them I caught back half way through the second lap. Definately felt much more comfortable on the second lap. The quads and gluts had settled in and having some fluids on board helped. I think my time was around 51:20, which isn't to my usual standard.

On to the run and with a lot of doubt as to whether or not the foot would hold up I took it pretty easy. Getting through the first lap in over 25 minutes I decided to open the throttle a little and managed to bring home the second lap rather strong (for me) to finish in 44:52. This gives me a second lap of under 20 minutes, which for me and with my lack of running lately I'm pretty pleased with. It did feel good to run hard again, and picking up all the people that passed me on the first lap was satisfying.

Positives from the race was being able to settle in to a good pace for both the bike and run, the foot holding up and giving no problems at all (besides a few blisters), the heat not really getting to me and probably just the satisfaction of putting all three together after what feels like a long time. Finally found some motivation to get more intentional with training.

That afternoon after a birthday party over lunch at the rowing club in penrith and a very brief nap, headed out for 40 minutes or so running along Faulco Point FT. Happy to be able to back up, even if it was short.
Monday was supposed to be criterium racing at the regatta centre, which was called off due to rain, making monday a rest day. Tuesday am run was positive, although the hill out of sun valley is taking me more than a minute longer than it used to. Tuesday PM was a short but solid set in the pool with The Animal, followed by a short run out to Martin's LO and back. Wed am was a ride for about 1.5hrs with The Animal, however having to turn back before the bends to allow enough time to get to work.

Work commitments meant a late night wed and subsequent sleeping in thur am, missing the run. Was planning to ride down and do the run and ride back, even had my bag and clothes ready to go. Not terribly pleased with myself about the alarm, will have to start using the radio as well. Made up for it with a quick run around Shaws after work at about 8:30pm. This was an interesting experience as I haven't run it very much in the day light, so going there alone with a head torch at night was a little eerie. A bunch of sleeping cockatoos weren't pleased I interupted the slumber, needless to say they scared the bejebus out of me. Sounded like a Gorilla screaming through the canopy (pretty sure they don't hang out in trees though). This took me just over 44min, for about 8.5km. Not super quick but again, I managed to run pretty strong along the back half, feeling good to stretch the legs out and keep my HR up.

Plan is for an early swim down at the regatta centre to round off a pretty solid week and good quality start to training.
No triathlons for a while though, with Husky long course championships the next event in March. I think the plan is to do the 6-FT track/Husky Tri double as they are on the same weekend. Welsh Exchange Student and Scam have committed to the double, so it has now been documented and they cannot get out of it. Will be content to settle in to some 6FT training along with some triathlon training.

With 3rd little girl due next week however, it may be all over before it's begun!