So this is a short and sharp report from my weekend, which I may say was a pretty successful and one I am very glad to have it in the bank! I now have less than 2 weeks to Hell of the West Triathlon in Goondiwindi and inside 6 weeks to Ironman New Zealand in Taupo!
I had a pretty solid couple of training sessions and race & I needed to celebrate the achievement! Saturday was a great day, Ian & I had a plan to ride to Robina, compete in the 1500m open water swim then ride home, we had expected it to be approximately 75km ride down & back (150km round trip). As it played out it was almost 85km down and we extended a little on the way home to hit 90km! So I totalled 177km ride split by a 1500m open water swim. Conditions were not fun, it was windy and showers of rain on and off almost the entire time we rode. But we got the session done safely and made it home incident and injury free!
Strava Data – To Robina Open Water Swim Ride
Strava Data – Robina Open Water Swim
Strava Data – From Robina Open Water Swim
So on the way down Ian and I joked that we would be the only people who turned up to do the open water swim and would happily occupy the podium given the effort we had gone to in order to compete at this swim. As it played out that’s not entirely what happened, there were a few more people than just us 2, but we did end up occupying the podium in 1st & 3rd!
So after the 3+ hour ride home and a little rest, a treat with the kids at Baskin Robbins, it was time to get off to bed as early as possible to get ready for the sprint distance (750m, 20km, 5km) triathlon!
The race was a text-book race from my perspective, everything just worked. I found clear water early in the swim and didn’t have to battle anyone for space. I exited the water to the sound of very familiar voices of my amazing wife & eldest daughter that traveled down to watch me race! My transition was smooth and methodical, talking to my supporters the whole time, but never looking up!
The ride was a little busy on the first 2 laps but again I found clear road and got through the 4 laps relative incident free. I did have a small chat tot he draft busters, who asked my not to sit in and continue past the line of riders (that I thought were all legal distance apart), but I did a little surge and pasted them all and settled in the front position, until they all proceeded past me again once the motorbike rode off, such is triathlon, be prepared to put in the surge if needed! Transition to the run was again entertaining with plenty of banter between my and Ella (my eldest daughter), who was giving me lost of race tips! Smooth and methodical is my mantra in transition!
My run was only ever to be a test, to check if the shock wave therapy was working or not. I am happy to report that while I wasnt 100% pain-free it is the best I have felt in nearly a year! So I’ll continue with the treatment and working with Eamonn (Everything Podiatry) and hope to at least get 2-3 weeks of solid pain-free running in before Ironman New Zealand. So here are a couple of photos that provide a little more insight to the race:
Racked & Ready!
Out of the water!
On the bike!
Always wondered what my transition area looks like when I’m out riding my bike!
Transition 2 – Getting ready to run!
Waiting for dad to finish…… “hurry up already”!
After the finish, no cuddles or kisses?!?!?!
QTS Round 5, Robina Sprint Distance – Official Race Results
QTS Round 5, Robina 1500m Open Water Swim – Official Race Results
QTS Round 5, Robina Sprint Tri – Strava Swim Data
QTS Round 5, Robina Sprint Tri – Strava Bike Data
QTS Round 5, Robina Sprint Tri – Strava Run Data
QTS Round 5, Robina Sprint Tri – Garmin Connect Multisport Activity
So all in all it was a very productive weekend of training and racing. I swam 2.25km at race pace, I cycled 198km and even banked a 5km run (my first for a week or 2)! Confidence is building and even though I am still having treatment on my troublesome Achilles and my running volume is absent. Almost all the weekends activities were in Z2, with the sprint triathlon race in Z3, I have recovered reasonably quickly, with a gentle swim on Monday and small TT on Tuesday, it will be another big weekend coming up! All the above is giving me plenty of confidence and I am really happy with my progress toward Ironman New Zealand.
If you’re not active at the moment & need some inspiration, follow me on Strava, Instagram and like my facebook page and let’s get back out there swim, bike or running. Make sure you subscribe (with your e-mail address) so you never miss a blog post from me! The biggest regret we can have in life is to not TRI!
Till next time build consistency, keep smiling and live to Tri!
SO, YOU WANT TO BE AN IRONMAN? 
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