I've never been able to swim properly so never considered doing triathlon as I've always had this fear of water, I think I've always been jealous of others that were able to do triathlons.
As soon as I saw XTERRA is coming to England I've decided that it is the closest I'll ever get to do one... So I sent an e-mail to my friends and got a group together. Many of them entered whilst I was still procrastinating clicking the button!
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| We are coming... |
SINK or SWIM?!
Liezl and I managed to arrive late at the race briefing, not even wearing our wetsuits, needless to say I didn't hear a thing of what was waiting for us.
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| The Mess |
I ran on wobbly legs (I mustv'e been kicking for a change Steph ;)) to T1. Zane & Simon arrived just in time to see me at T1. Myburgh was screaming at me to go faster in T1, but I couldn't get my socks and gloves on properly, it was sticky.
RIDE LIKE A HORNET STUNG YOU
The start of the bike leg was weird. I wasn't used to my legs being like jelly and found it quite frustrating as I couldn't get into a rhythm. The first part was more technical too and I kept thinking, but you can ride technical sections, what is going on? After 3km I seemed to get better. I was frustrated that I was so far back in the field, so decided, the bike is my strongest part and if I wanted to make up some time, then NOW is the time to do it. Inspired by the UCI Mountainbike World Champs the weekend before I just went for it.
Past the half-way mark I was able to see Katy in the distance in her Tango Cycling kit, so it kept me motivated to catch her.
I caught up with some guys and didn't expect to see Stu in front of me, he offered to pull over so I could overtake him. I was just about to pass the guys sitting behind Katy when I heard them swearing, the course went under some trees and the next thing I just saw things flying around and felt a sting on my bottom! I tried to ignore it and kept going at it, although it was quite painful.
I loved the ride, overtaking a few people gave me confidence again and made the memory of the swim short lived.
The start of the bike leg was weird. I wasn't used to my legs being like jelly and found it quite frustrating as I couldn't get into a rhythm. The first part was more technical too and I kept thinking, but you can ride technical sections, what is going on? After 3km I seemed to get better. I was frustrated that I was so far back in the field, so decided, the bike is my strongest part and if I wanted to make up some time, then NOW is the time to do it. Inspired by the UCI Mountainbike World Champs the weekend before I just went for it.
Past the half-way mark I was able to see Katy in the distance in her Tango Cycling kit, so it kept me motivated to catch her.
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| HAPPY SO HAPPY |
I loved the ride, overtaking a few people gave me confidence again and made the memory of the swim short lived.
RUN
Back in T2 I noticed blood through my trisuit and saw the sting still in my trisuit. I ran along over the uneven field with my wobble legs through the first forest section. I suddenly noticed a marshal and some people and then came to a sudden STOP. There was a ditch, the width was longer than my length. The marshals told me to jump and I was like, "With my short little legs???" So I jumped inside the ditch and crawled out the other side. They also told me mind the bog which I interpreted wrong and went down right in the middle and sank into the bog up to my knees. It was fun though. The run was much harder than I expected. We had to cross the same ditch on our way back, but this time by using a tree stump, I literally shuffled/crawled over whilst holding on to it.
The last part of the run was through more forest parts, it was so nice to run through it, but it just felt like it was never ending.
Coming down the home straight I heard the voice of Annelize in my head. Just make your steps longer and keep breathing deeply.
The way I got cheered on over the Finish line made me feel as if I won the race, just the ribbon was missing. :-) It was special - thank you!
Katy & I located the First Aid people. They were only able to offer us ice for our sting injuries, so I stripped off and the lady had to hold the icepack on my bottom. She did say after a while that I can hold it myself to which I just said I know...
Liezl made it onto the podium in her very first triathlon ever! We are so proud of her.
Tango Cycling Chill Zone
Back in T2 I noticed blood through my trisuit and saw the sting still in my trisuit. I ran along over the uneven field with my wobble legs through the first forest section. I suddenly noticed a marshal and some people and then came to a sudden STOP. There was a ditch, the width was longer than my length. The marshals told me to jump and I was like, "With my short little legs???" So I jumped inside the ditch and crawled out the other side. They also told me mind the bog which I interpreted wrong and went down right in the middle and sank into the bog up to my knees. It was fun though. The run was much harder than I expected. We had to cross the same ditch on our way back, but this time by using a tree stump, I literally shuffled/crawled over whilst holding on to it.
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| I've done it! |
Coming down the home straight I heard the voice of Annelize in my head. Just make your steps longer and keep breathing deeply.
The way I got cheered on over the Finish line made me feel as if I won the race, just the ribbon was missing. :-) It was special - thank you!
Katy & I located the First Aid people. They were only able to offer us ice for our sting injuries, so I stripped off and the lady had to hold the icepack on my bottom. She did say after a while that I can hold it myself to which I just said I know...
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| The Sprinters Stu, TC, Jason, Katy, Liezl & Willem |
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| Pokkeltjie claiming her place on the podium! |
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| Braaimaster |
This was Gerhard van Niekerks idea, I executed it. #goodmanagingskills
Gerhard braaied wors for us and we all had boerie rolls after our races. It was so nice to have a place to put our stuff and it was so good to have the shelter from the rain.
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| Gerhard van Niekerk & his brainchild |
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| Pokkeltjie claiming a hug from The Machine |
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| TC |
Our other friends did the championship distance and it was fun to watch them compete! The course was well designed so we were able to support them at so many places. The 'internal' competition was strong between, Johan, Oli, Zane, Myburgh and Simon. :-) Lee-Anne is so head strong and despite sufferring from knee ache she soldiered on. Lizzie Doyle was called up by XTERRA and got offered a place at the World Championships in Hawaii in a month's time! Sooooo cool and proud!
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| Some of the hardcore ones: Zane, Simon, Lee-Anne, Myburgh & Lizzie |
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| Oli & Johan |
You can find more photos of the whole day on the Tango Cycling Facebook page
VIDEO:
HIGHLIGHTS:
- Thank you XTERRA for forcing me to learn a skill that I've wanted to be able to do all my life. Thank you Stephne van Niekerk for pulling your 32 year old friend up and down in the pool and teaching me how to swim properly! It has been the best birthday gift and I'll always be able to use it! I am far from a confident fast swimmer, but I've overcome my fear for water! If I can learn to swim at this age anyone can!
- Watching the full distance competitors crossing the ditch and the bog
- I also had the opportunity to meet De Wet & Carl from Squirt and am hoping to speak with them again soon.
- It was great doing it with friends and being able to support each other was fun and such a blessing
You have 3 finish lines... and you are ALL out all the time!
TIPS:
Wear a wetsuit - Conrad Stoltz was obviously right when he tweeted to me saying that a wetsuit would make a world of difference - it did!What others said:
Katy Hamlin: "I'm chuffed for completing the thing and watching Zane fall in the stream was priceless. ;) The funniest thing was cycling through the hornets nest - reckon we should set up a victim's support group for bikers with bum stings! I definitely wasn't prepared for how off road it was so would be more specific next time."
Liezl van Zyl: "My highlight was being the 3rd lady overall. It was so unexpected but very rewarding and encouraging. And of course the boerierolls afterwards #yesplease. I should probably practise my transitions as a shocking 4 minutes for T1 is just unacceptable. I mean...what did I do? Blowdry my hair? I would definitely do it again. It's a well organised event and it was such a great atmosphere...especially with all the friends being there to support us for the Sprint tri and when we returned the favour by cheering them on in the full tri.
Stuart Hamliton:
My highlight has definitely have to be the swim. For the
sprint distance race the water was as smooth as glass. You don’t get better
open water swimming conditions than that! Hearing the screams and squeals of
the people in front of me getting stung by wasps made me smile! Only funny
because I wasn’t stung. (though I did feel guilty!) Would you do it again and
why? For sure, it was my first off-road triathlon and it was such great fun.
The support was some of the best I have ever experienced, and to be able to
support the other athletes in the other race distances was awesome. For next
time I would train! One bike ride in 6 months is hardly preparation enough!
RESULTS:
http://racetimingsystems.net/Results/IndividualResults.aspx?Id=1424
ENTRIES OPENED FOR NEXT YEAR:
XTERRA England to be hosted on 23 - 24 August 2014 at Vachery Estate again.
http://xterra-england.co.uk/
I'm definitely planning to do it again and hope to see you there! Very happy that XTERRA is offroad otherwise I might've never ever done a triathlon.
http://racetimingsystems.net/Results/IndividualResults.aspx?Id=1424
ENTRIES OPENED FOR NEXT YEAR:
XTERRA England to be hosted on 23 - 24 August 2014 at Vachery Estate again.
http://xterra-england.co.uk/
I'm definitely planning to do it again and hope to see you there! Very happy that XTERRA is offroad otherwise I might've never ever done a triathlon.
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