Beauty Point Tri

The last of the State Triathlon series will be held in Beauty Point this weekend.  The whole family will travel up together and hopefully feel like it’s a bit of a holiday.

For some reason the bike leg will be 30km instead of the usual 20km.   I’m still fairly new to the bike, so that will test me.  If only I could find a comfortable seat!

Donna

Head Space

While I was out running on my own today, I realised that it’s often the time when I come up with my best ideas. 
I’m trying to think of some creative solutions to a problem at the moment, and sure enough, a moderately-paced run was time well spent.  Swimming has the same benefits, but not cycling…that requires my full concentration.      

I am not competing in the triathlon tomorrow.  The weather conditions were so miserable last week, that I promised myself the next weekend off in an attempt to motivate myself.  It worked.  I’ll train tomorrow ahead of the final race in the State Triathlon Series in Beauty Point next weekend.

Donna

Wild weather

I enjoyed the Summer Survival run but it was surprisingly hard.  I ended up running in the midday sun and the course was mostly uphill or on sand.  I was lucky though, because there were plenty of people ahead for me to catch. 

The triathlon on Saturday was in the worst conditions I’ve experienced.  I was having one of those days when I was questioning what on earth I was doing at the beach, instead of being warm inside with a coffee and the paper.  (I wasn’t the only one.  A spectator told me we were all mad).  It was very windy, cold, rough and then the rain started. 

We tried telling the beginners that it’s not usually this bad but they weren’t convinced. 

Donna

Team player

This weekend I will race as a member of a team in the Summer Survival challenge.  There are four legs- kayak, mountain bike, road bike and (8km) run- all around the Kingston area in Southern Tasmania. Needless to say I will be the team’s runner.

Knowing I’m part of a team will help me to push up the hills as fast as I can.

Donna

Biked out

I enjoyed riding nearly 60km on Saturday morning, although the last 10km were in rain.  I hadn’t seen some of the country roads we travelled on before and I was pleased to cope well on the ride that was almost twice my previously furthest distance. 

I did not count on being so worn out that I couldn’t function for the rest of weekend! Luckily I opted out of the Olympic distance triathlon in Sheffield today.  It would have been most unpleasant.  I’ll have to work up to that distance.  For now I’m happy to call myself a sprinter.

Donna

Surprise

I ran better than I thought I would- finishing second.  The time was 35.47- a couple of minutes off my best but Im happy, all things considered.  I enjoyed the course and hope to race it again next year to post a faster time.  Having got up at 5am, the rest of the day was a write-off. 

Donna

You can’t cram for a 10km

People have asked me whether they should run the day before the race.  Personally I think it’s fine to go for an easy 20-30 minutes if you feel like it.  Just make sure it’s relaxed and comfortable…not at all taxing.  If in doubt I would advise resting or perhaps going for a short walk.  There’s no point risking fatigue by doing too much- and the next morning will be an early one.  I plan to go for a short easy jog, perhaps with a few faster strides at the end.  I rested today instead and I’ll feel better if I get my legs moving. 

Donna

One week until Run the Bridge

The first Hobart Run the Bridge fun run will be on next Sunday morning at 7am.  I haven’t worked out how early I should wake up yet…but definitely no earlier than 5.30am! It’s a 10km course and entries are still open (but close before race day).  I have written some tips for race day that may help- click on the Run the Bridge logo on the right.  I’ll need to remember to pace myself-  it’s been a while since I covered the distance.

Donna

Australia Day competition

My family and I made the trip to Latrobe for the second of the State triathlon series races on Australia Day.  I won the women’s event, although it was disappointing that the race favourite had to pull out part way through the race with a flat tyre.  I loved the course- the river was calm and warmish (no wetsuit…that saved me heaps of time not having to get it off).  The bike course was a bit hilly- that suited me too. 

The Australia Day festival at Latrobe was great fun…ferret races, gumboot throwing, a scarecrow competition.  A short family holiday.

Donna

No ocean swimmer

It was only 750 metres but I was longing to reach land.  We started the race by running into the surf and a strong headwind.  The waves were so high I couldn’t see the buoy markers.  Apart from that there were plenty of brown jellyfish.  We were told not to worry…they would sting us but fresh water would ease the pain.  This was nothing like swimming in a pool.  I caught a glimpse of the surf rescue boat at one stage- pulling out another competitor who had their arm raised for assistance.  Breastroke and deliberate breathing were a feature of this stage of my triathlon.  Not surprisingly, the bike and run legs were better.

Donna