Desaru Long Distance Triathlon 70.3miles

swim: 57mins
standing at the beach , waiting for the starting horn, I watched the sea. The swim is going to be rough, frequent wave came in and high when it crashed into the beach. as predicted, it become better when we are in the middle of the sea. although, the wave was still frequent, but it was calmer actually.

first loop, was like a mad rush, everyone was running into the water. stretching, kicking is not unexpected. when running into the water, I got a little stretched on the hand, but it was fine. started out on breast stroke, i managed to see a pair of legs with bubbles. I decided to follow it and it gave me some draft. managed to finish the first loop in about 24mins time.

when headed down for a second loop, I am in the middle but far from the front group, which allowed me to have my own time and space to the water. started out front crawl and mix of breast stroke. i lost my "feet" so no drafting for me. finish the swim in about 25mins time.

Transition: 10mins


bike: 3hr 15mins
running out to the transition, spotted joanne and took a photo in the shower. i ask who is still behind and she told me only sotong and xia di is behind. henry is already 5mins ahead of me. I quickly ran to the TT pt and changed into bike shoe, quickly took a power gel and bike out.

into the first loop, i was looking for a the first drink station, expecting to have a bottle of water ready for me. but there wasn`t, took a drink on a plastic cup and bike on. on to the next station, still not bottle. how come? was all the bottle given out already? no choice, i can only take the plastic cup water on each station.

biked out of the first killer loop, turn left and continue another 8km to the next u turn pt. on the way to the first u turn, i spotted Tao. ok, i am not too far from her. i shall be able to catch her on the third loop. After the u turn pt, i proceed for another 4km. i spotted chen ping, on the way to the first u turn. and soon after that, 2 km down the road, i spotted xia di peddling strongly on the "ironhorse" on the way, spotted buay in the mist, but he was just too far ahead of me to catch.

going on to the next u turn pt, the route was hilly, full of up and down slope. I was able to catch the momentum and continue to the next down slope. averaging a 38km/hr. it was a fast loops to the next u turn pt. gliding down another killer slope and u turn at the big round about. Going up the killer hill, I could only do 16km/hr. gear is already at the lowest and it becomes very mental. the hill was probably a 1 km climb. ( the mandai hill training prepare me for it) after that, it was cruising back to the starts pt for another 2 more loop.

on the second loop, not much happening on the way. looking forward to every down hill glide and picking up the momentum to the next hill. tao was still in the front, chen ping was closing up and xiao di was still strongly peddling behind. while reaching the killer 1 km slope, up hill. i was surprised to see tao just in the front. passing her, she was struggling on the hill. I took a quick calculation, i knew i was a bit too fast on the second leg. it was going to cost me. finish the 2 laps, in total time: 3hour 05 included transition. on the way, eat another power gels

Going for the final lap, the right quad started to hurt a little. still continuing the ride, i could only ride up on a much smaller gear and glide down without peddling. i knew i am a little tired when i could not reached the speed with momentum up the hill. after the last u turn, reaching the killer hills. i was struggling up. speed reached 12km/hr. it was really tough. I could see some of the rider get down from the bike and stretched. some eating power gels, some just sat by the road side. finally reached the bike in transition pt. time: 4 hour 20mins total time.

Transition 2 10mins


run: 2hour 40mins

going into the tt pt, i took off my helmet and took off my shoe, gloves and change a new pair of sock and get to my running shoe. i got a 2 x 10.5km route back on my mind and i told myself to be focus. took a short run out, Yue wah was just outside the tt pt told me it was the last leg, i mistook it as i am the last person. i was stunned for a while. but recovered when she told me again, it was the last leg. haha, now i knew, how bad condition i was in that stage.

into the first lap, only into 2km, the both quad started to cramps up. I took a short walk break and walked to the brushed for a quick released. came out, i was able to jog a little. took a short break at the water station. yankee caught up with me. encouraging me, he continued to run off. I was able to from a jog, turn into a run after 3km of the route. not sure of the pace, but i was able to pass many runner on the way. at the mist of the first lap, a blessed shower came and cool off my cramping quads. towards the first lap, IMD and buay is already on the return leg of their first lap and i am only in my 5km mark. reaching every water station, walked a little, took a quick drink and continue to run. first laps, 1hour 05mins. it was good form! i thought to myself. if i could continue this pace, i could be doing a 6hour 40 on the end.

continuing the second lap, saw ST, joanne, Tao, chen ping, sotong, henry, yue wah came out and gave us the support in a pouring rain. thanks guys!

1 km into the first water station, saw yankee on the opps side. i knew i wasnt too far away. when i reached the water pt, the right quads is really cramping up. till i could not run. had to walk a little to release the cramp. running again, i was behind a guy wearing the Singapore 70.3 Tri shirt. it say "who say i can`t" looking at it, i continue to run. thinking the statemnet back on my mind, i knew i am in my 13km marks. looking forward to the 15km marks. It was a slight slope to the 15km marks and it really get the best out of me. i finally cramped! i knew it would come and luckily it only came now. thanks to the rain. i am crippled and had to walk. keeping in mind less than 6km more and i would be done! i motivated myself back on my mind. walked and jogged if possible. calculating the distance in the mind. saw a few last person, that just finish their ride. telling myself i am Glad i am finishing and they got 21km of run for them. I took most of the last lap walking and finally jogged on the last bits of the route back to the finishing line.

holding Joanne `s hand, we completed the race 70.3mile into the finishing pt. it was a terrific feeling!

thoughts:

it was a wonderful events, in my opinion. the hotel was great, the start pt was just at our door steps. the rooms is big, although it wasn`t a five stars standards, but it was good enough. logistic was fine in this events, only set back was the "bottle" i am expecting wasn`t there. water on the bike could be improve and how come there wasn`t any power gel? banana was limited too.

it was a tough route, but i enjoyed it greatly! the swim is rough and the frequent wave, just as i like it. the bike is hilly and fast. run had a little slope but all this just added on to the creditability of this race. "Toughest Long Distance Triathlon Race In Malaysia"

I am glad, I did not drown at the sea, pushed up the bike on the killer hills and give up at the run. although, time wasn`t great, but it was good enough for me first timer.

total time: 7hr 02mins. I will be back next year :) next Singapore Ironman 70.3