Gatorade Triathlon Series: Race 6 - Portarlington - TriathlonLong Course

This was a mass start of the women & teams. It was a bit of a white wash to start with but then once everyone sorted themselves out it was much easier. I had a pretty smashing swim, even with a little bit of a detour (oops). I felt pretty good coming out of the water too. I attempted to draft but kept picking people slower than me!

Not much

I had a long run into T1, hence the longer than usual T1 time. I was a little uncoordinated trying to get the wettie off and shoes on. I figured it was probably most important to just get it done regardless of time.

Not much I can think of.

This was a nice ride, although the road surface was worse than home - well, in parts! There was a bit of a headwind as we rode down through Indented Head, but on the return to Portarlington, the wind wasn't much of a factor. I am very happy with this time though. Anything sub 3hr was my aim.

Drink more. Eat more. My quads were smashed by the end, so maybe I went too hard?

Another long run into T2 - but my bike was right next to the run exit, so I had a little bit of a bonus there.

Okay, before I left T2, I knew this was going to be a struggle. My quads were SMASHED. On the first lap, my left quad kept trying to cramp up. On the second lap, my calves were screaming. On the 3rd lap, my right toes were cramping so bad that it was hard to land properly. I did a lot of walking. I drank a lot. I tipped a lot of water over my head. I started running at 12pm and it was 23C at this point, not hot but I couldn't cool down. But, on the bright side, at the start of the 3rd lap, the race comentator Phil Wrochna gave me lots of encouragement, and some random spectator reminded me to have fun. So I did. Even while walking and in lots of pain. This is the worst 20km I've run, but considering I'd swum 2k and biked 80k and been on the go for 3hrs already, I think I can live with this result.

In preparation for Shep (Nov, 2012) I need to get in lots of 90k rides followed up by runs.

Lots and lots of walking. And Gatorade. And watermelon. And more walking.


I tapered too late. I was overtrained. I need to address that over winter.


Firstly, I am certain I can knock down my run time. I did it on the OD course, so I can do it here. Secondly, to finish 6/10 in my first ever long course is a pretty good effort. Thirdly, I am stoked with my swim and bike. Lastly, I am truly smashed and worse still - I have no HR data. The new HR strap didn't register any data and I am rather pee'd with that.