My Byron Tri debut.

I've been down to spectate a couple of times.
Two years ago I was watching the last swimmer finish swimming and make it up into transition.
I think the whole crowd was willing her on.
Everyone was supportive of this participant who was many minutes slower than anyone else.
That was a major part in me deciding that I wanted to do Triathlons.
I think Byron Tri has just the right mix of organised and relaxed.

We drove down Friday night and stayed in a small 1 bed unit.
Cosy, a few blocks back from the beach, not much noise either, which was good.
Sleep in on race morning. 12:00 race start is a winner there for sure.
I had planned my breakfast all week.
Went to Campos and had pancakes with bananas and maple syrup. Washed it down with a choc milkshake.

After brekky wandered over and registered. Picked up the Byron Tri backpack. 2 thumbs up for that!
Got numbered up and went back to get my bike.
Got set up OK, then into transition. Not too crowded for a sell out race.
Lots of Did Not Starts it seems.
Had everything set up and realised I didn't have a towel.
A bit daft that.
Went back down to the shopping strip and picked up a $12 beach towel.

Red Dog team photo and then down to a cafe with a couple of mates.
Relaxed, easy morning.
They went off.
I headed back to the unit and got my stuff together and ambled back to the Red Dog Tent.
Squeezed into my wet suit, then back out of the top half for the wander down the beach.
Had a bit of a paddle.
Watched a couple of other waves go, saw how spread out they got thanks to the sweep down the beach.
Soon enough, time for my wave to go.
Seemed like a heap of people, so I tried to shuffle back in the mob.
No point gettting in the way of the people actually racing.

And we're off.
I remembered to start my watch. I usually forget, so that's a positive start.
Under the first breaker, then up into a mouthful of salt water.
Cough it out, then try going over the next breaker.
I seem to find every gutter there is and I'm struggling already.
After what seems like an eternity, I'm actually swimming. I can still see purple caps around me which is good.

It's a M shaper swim. The first turn sure seems a looong way out.
The first swimmers in the next wave pass me before I make it there.
I get around the turn OK, then try to sight the next turning can.
People seem to be going in about 12 different directions.
Eventually, I spot the can and head off.
Now the swell is coming from my right.
This is a bad time to be a unilateral breather.
the trip to the can takes ages again.
There are a billion different coloured caps swimming past me.
I have no idea if I'm the last purple cap or not, but think I must be close.
I think about giving up a few times along this stretch.

Finally, I make the can and turn back away from the beach.
Relatively speaking, this is the best section of the swim for me.
I spot the next turn and think it must be about 50m away.
I put my head down for a bit then look up. It doesn't seem like I'm any closer.
So I look over to the life guards on paddle boards, I pass by a couple of them, so I'm heading the right way, I just can't judge distance.

Turn and head for the beach and anyone who was behind me seems to find something extra.
I find nothing, so another horde of swimmers motors past me.
I'm tired, my shoulders hurt. I don't seem to be getting any assistance from the swell.
I promise myself I'm going to be more dedicated to swim training in the future.
Finally, I'm on a sand bank and can stand up and body surf a wave for 20m or so.
I get up, walk out of the water and undo my wet suit.
A couple of people cheer me on.
I walk past the photographer.
Further up the beach the lovley Kay is cheering me on and taking video on her iPhone.
She says something encouraging. I say I feel like crap, give her a kiss and walk on up the hill.
Past the Red Dog tent, more encouragement followed by more walking.
My HRM has started working now, walking along at around 174 bpm.

Finally, I'm into T1, forget to take the split, so I say to myself not to worry about splits, just remember to stop the watch at the end.
You could say T1 was very deliberate. No rushing at all.
Timing says 2 minutes.
Finally out onto the bike.

Spinning along through town.
A bit of a drink and try to get the HR under control.
People start passing me.
I finally get my feet in my shoes after about 2 km.
I finally get my shoes done up after about 4 km.
Still spinning along at this stage.
Up over the small rises out of town, I struggle like I'm going up the Alps.
On the way down, I put it into the big ring and get up a bit of speed.
For some stupid reason, I leave it there and grind away for too long.
I'm not going any faster, but I'm hurting my legs.
This goes on for the entire out leg.
I get passed by a few more people, then no on for a while.
I start to wonder if I'm last.
Then I start to think about the turn around.
The course maps had it short of 18 km.
Finally, there it is.
17km. I've never been happier to have an event be under distance.

Turning around also means I can see people still heading out.
Knowing I'm not last is a bit of a boost.
Heading back is a bit more enjoyable.
Mainly because I'm more sensible and actually use the small chain ring when I need too.
A bit of traffic as I got closer to town, but not too shabby.
Kay cheers me into T2.
All in all, I'm happy that the ride is over though.

T2 is also quite deliberate, then out for the 4 lap run.
Kay cheers me as I run past, then turnaround past the Red Dog Tent for more cheers.
Along past the water and grab the all important rubber band.
"A band a lap. You need 4 to finish."
My guts feel full of water.
My chest hurts.
I think I'm gunna puke.
Only 9.5 km to go.
I run up past the kayak tour I did a couple of weeks ago.
I contemplate heading through the carpark to the toilets near the turn around, but keep going.
There's still alot of people on various laps at this stage.
I don't think I passed anyone though.
No water on this lap, the guts couldn't handle it.

Onto lap 2.
"A band a lap. You need 4 to finish"
This time, I have no choice.
Detour to the dunny.
Feeling much better, I rejoin the run.
I feel OK this lap.
Grab a water at the drink station near the oval.
Thank a couple of vollies.
Start running again.
Seems to be thinning out a bit.

Onto lap 3.
Threw my sunnies to Kay as I passed the tent. Great catch Going!
"A band a lap. You need 4 to finish"
I grab a band and put it on.
One of the vollies asks if it's my last lap.
I smile and say nah, 1 more.
20m or so down the road, I count the bands just to make sure.
I'm starting to hurt a bit now.
I manage to keep running though.
The hot girl in the black shorts and purple top takes my mind off the pain for a little while.
Some people walk by the other way, they've already got their bikes out of transition.
Take a drink at the oval and thank a few vollies again.

Onto lap 4
Past the Red Dog Tent.
Hand slaps and enouragement.
And one question "Are you doing 5 laps Dave?"
I had to laugh. Bastard.
"A band a lap. You need 4 to finish"
I grab the last band.
I drop it.
The lovely vollie hands me another one.
There are way less people still running now.
Drink and thank the vollies again.
Navigate around the path of least surface changes.
My legs are really hurting now.
I promise myself I'll do more training.
Up onto the finish straight.
I'm shuffling along past the tent.
They try and get me to sprint.
Fat chance. I'm happy with whatever I get.
A Red Dog Girl sprints past.
I can live with that.
Over the line.
Lovely vollie takes my timing band off.
Drink.
Watermelon
Kiss Kay.
Drink.
Watermelon.
Finished.

Stats:
107 Finishers in my category. 2 DNFs.

# 603 Tynan, Dave
Swim - 38:36 (100)
T1 - 02:01
Ride - 74:01 (101)
T2 - 01:54
Run - 67:46 (104)
3:04:20 (103)