This is a race report with a difference, because I didn't actually do it.
Instead, I was support person for my husband The Saint in his first standard distance triathlon (1500m,40km,10km), and Coach to my first athlete doing her first ever triathlon (300m,9km,3km).
The little log cabin we stayed in - cool huh!
We decided to take the kids with us, which was a novelty in itself as we usually palm them off. I have to admit to being a bad parent and sometimes forgetting they were there, and who had them, and were they playing or lost!!! However, they are good muppets and spent most of the time amusing themselves on the great playground, and coming roadside to cheer when they so felt like it.
First up was my athlete Sam. She has come a long way since I first saw her swim a few months back. She has learnt to swim over winter and has improved tremendously. We caught up with her before the start to see how she was doing. "I'm really really scared Kathy" was her response - oh good lord I'm glad I had sunglasses on because the tears welled up instantly. I never knew this coaching bizzo would be so emotional.
Sam, all ready to go.
Her swim start was abit of a panic, she got kicked in the head, and needed assistance from a guy on a board. She was telling us she could';t do it while she clung on, while we told her she could from the shoreline. Eventually she got going again and even passed a few others - YAY SAM. Swim swum and Sam was away.
The guy on the board was BRILLIANT with Sam.
YAY, swim swum!
She was nervous about clipping into her pedals but she got on the bike ok and was OFF. PHEW... nothing gonna stop her now. She can run well, so it was just a case of seeing how many people she could pass. The smile started as soon as she saw that finish chute, and I have never felt so proud to see someone finish a tri!!!! Way to go Sam, if you can survive that course, you can do anything......
The run was the EASEEEE bit, except for the hills and sand!
ALL DONE! First triathlon is in the bag.
Still, there wasn't much time to celebrate with her as I had to gather the kids up from their tearaway positions, to come send Dad off on his longest tri to date. The race briefing we got in the race pack had said that transition closed at 6.45am, so The Saint (Paul - lets call him that from now on as his Saintly status isn't nearly so good now lol), got up early, drove up to the race, racked his bike, and then came back to pack up our accommodation and have breakfast, as the race didn't start until 10am. When we got to the race site at 8am, there were hardly any bikes racked. He stuck his gear in with the bike so he could watch Sam race, and then they closed transition. All his clothes were locked in!!!! So, it was a bit of a rushed start to get organised once they let you back into transition, but all good! Met
Kate (blogger buddy) and Phil (her hubby) just before the start - it's hard to find/look for someone you've never actually met before you know, and with no cellphone reception at the race, it was virtually impossible!! They both did great and we're looking forward to catching up with them properly at the Half Ironman in a couple of weeks.
His swim went SUPERB. Must be that awesome swim coach he's got (teehee, that would be me!). The bike course was pretty brutal. 5 laps that was really either up or down hill! Glad I wasn't doing it. Still, it was great from a spectators point of view. There was always someone whizzing by us and we got to see Paul 5 times! GO DAD!!! He ran really well and finished in grand spirits. He was terribly salty though, which is something he needs to watch out for at the Half Ironman in a few weeks - Coach Kathy went into mode then and filled him up on electrolytes! I guess it's pretty hard to drink enough when you are riding a race full of hills!
Paul is the guy in front of the one DRAFTING... tut tut
Great running on the sand - gorgeous spot huh
Paul finishing
All in all it was a great day out - Paul topped it off by winning a $250.00 Asics shoe voucher, so well worth the effort I say.
Blake, a triathlete in the making maybe!
Sam Warriner (the kiwi chick who nabbed the World #1 spot this year), was racing with one of her clients in my Sams race - managed to snap a few photos of her out there. She was great, cheering everybody on and going out onto the run course to bring home the tail end charlies in the main race. She's a great ambassador for the sport in NZ.
Sam Warriner heading out on the 3km run!
As for me, well I'm doing great thanks. I rode 83kms from Tauranga (home) via Pyes Pa gorge, to Rotorua (race site) on Saturday while the kids and Dad came in the car. It is a brutal ride too, as Rotorua is higher than Tauranga (which is at sea level), so it felt like all I did was ride hills - just always UP! It was a great ride and I'm pretty pleased with where I'm at bike wise for a change. I'm still slow, but I'm feeling stronger so that's gotta be something. The run off the bike, well that is still hurting - alot. The race in a few weeks is sort of my B race, while the one on the 10th January is my A race. They are both Half Ironman races though, so A or B, they are gonna be long and painful - my brain must have exploded the day I entered both of them!!!!
This weekend we are away for my Uncle's 60th birthday. It is a 6+ hour drive and we are going there and back in 2 days - YUK. Unfortunately this is also the last big week before the Rotorua Half Ironman, so we are squishing all the weekends usual long training into the weekdays, splitting rides, runs etc... Our usual childminder is away, so it is a big mission to say the least! Still, we will do it..... we'll just be fagged by the end of the week, and probably fall asleep after 1 drink at the party, but we WILL do it!
Instead, I was support person for my husband The Saint in his first standard distance triathlon (1500m,40km,10km), and Coach to my first athlete doing her first ever triathlon (300m,9km,3km).
We decided to take the kids with us, which was a novelty in itself as we usually palm them off. I have to admit to being a bad parent and sometimes forgetting they were there, and who had them, and were they playing or lost!!! However, they are good muppets and spent most of the time amusing themselves on the great playground, and coming roadside to cheer when they so felt like it.
First up was my athlete Sam. She has come a long way since I first saw her swim a few months back. She has learnt to swim over winter and has improved tremendously. We caught up with her before the start to see how she was doing. "I'm really really scared Kathy" was her response - oh good lord I'm glad I had sunglasses on because the tears welled up instantly. I never knew this coaching bizzo would be so emotional.
Her swim start was abit of a panic, she got kicked in the head, and needed assistance from a guy on a board. She was telling us she could';t do it while she clung on, while we told her she could from the shoreline. Eventually she got going again and even passed a few others - YAY SAM. Swim swum and Sam was away.
She was nervous about clipping into her pedals but she got on the bike ok and was OFF. PHEW... nothing gonna stop her now. She can run well, so it was just a case of seeing how many people she could pass. The smile started as soon as she saw that finish chute, and I have never felt so proud to see someone finish a tri!!!! Way to go Sam, if you can survive that course, you can do anything......
Still, there wasn't much time to celebrate with her as I had to gather the kids up from their tearaway positions, to come send Dad off on his longest tri to date. The race briefing we got in the race pack had said that transition closed at 6.45am, so The Saint (Paul - lets call him that from now on as his Saintly status isn't nearly so good now lol), got up early, drove up to the race, racked his bike, and then came back to pack up our accommodation and have breakfast, as the race didn't start until 10am. When we got to the race site at 8am, there were hardly any bikes racked. He stuck his gear in with the bike so he could watch Sam race, and then they closed transition. All his clothes were locked in!!!! So, it was a bit of a rushed start to get organised once they let you back into transition, but all good! Met Kate (blogger buddy) and Phil (her hubby) just before the start - it's hard to find/look for someone you've never actually met before you know, and with no cellphone reception at the race, it was virtually impossible!! They both did great and we're looking forward to catching up with them properly at the Half Ironman in a couple of weeks.
His swim went SUPERB. Must be that awesome swim coach he's got (teehee, that would be me!). The bike course was pretty brutal. 5 laps that was really either up or down hill! Glad I wasn't doing it. Still, it was great from a spectators point of view. There was always someone whizzing by us and we got to see Paul 5 times! GO DAD!!! He ran really well and finished in grand spirits. He was terribly salty though, which is something he needs to watch out for at the Half Ironman in a few weeks - Coach Kathy went into mode then and filled him up on electrolytes! I guess it's pretty hard to drink enough when you are riding a race full of hills!
All in all it was a great day out - Paul topped it off by winning a $250.00 Asics shoe voucher, so well worth the effort I say.
Sam Warriner (the kiwi chick who nabbed the World #1 spot this year), was racing with one of her clients in my Sams race - managed to snap a few photos of her out there. She was great, cheering everybody on and going out onto the run course to bring home the tail end charlies in the main race. She's a great ambassador for the sport in NZ.
As for me, well I'm doing great thanks. I rode 83kms from Tauranga (home) via Pyes Pa gorge, to Rotorua (race site) on Saturday while the kids and Dad came in the car. It is a brutal ride too, as Rotorua is higher than Tauranga (which is at sea level), so it felt like all I did was ride hills - just always UP! It was a great ride and I'm pretty pleased with where I'm at bike wise for a change. I'm still slow, but I'm feeling stronger so that's gotta be something. The run off the bike, well that is still hurting - alot. The race in a few weeks is sort of my B race, while the one on the 10th January is my A race. They are both Half Ironman races though, so A or B, they are gonna be long and painful - my brain must have exploded the day I entered both of them!!!!
This weekend we are away for my Uncle's 60th birthday. It is a 6+ hour drive and we are going there and back in 2 days - YUK. Unfortunately this is also the last big week before the Rotorua Half Ironman, so we are squishing all the weekends usual long training into the weekdays, splitting rides, runs etc... Our usual childminder is away, so it is a big mission to say the least! Still, we will do it..... we'll just be fagged by the end of the week, and probably fall asleep after 1 drink at the party, but we WILL do it!