Hi Folks,

Are any Cool Runners going to this race?? Its a great race that is on a good fast course.

Cheers,

Danny

I would love to, but sadly my trusty bike will be all packed up in a bike box in preparation for flying to WA the very next day.

Next year for sure!

See you at Sparke Helmore in Newie in March.

M

Not much response on this one. Well I'm certainly in Danny!

Although I forgot to taper, did hard 1km repeats yesterday. Hmmm hope the legs still work come Sunday.

I wonder how early I'll have to get up to drive from Sydney?

Anyone else doing this race?

Tubby is a starter, but the times from last year make the course look pretty slow, particulalry the bike.

Looks like a good setting on the web site.

Looking forward to it.

T

You only have one bike? Don't tell over at trannies

One trusty, one rusty.

See you all tomorrow - hope the rain holds off, it was wet last year (look out for King Edward hill!)

Hey Danny! How did you go?

Hey Muzman - did a 2:39 which I was happy with, very tough bike course with some killer hills and the swim seemed to take forever!

Over all a great day though - good luck next weekend!

Well done Danny - a couple of my training mates went up there and had similar reports - tough bike and even tougher swim.

So a great result for you - fantastic!

Hey Danny, well done!

The swim was a bit of a surprise, I thought the tide was supposed to be with us, not against us! It felt like a long slog. I kept hoping those dolphins would come back and give me a ride.

I had no idea about that damn King Edward hill on the bike too... it kept going and going. And then we had to go back and do it another three times!

It was an absolutely beautiful course though and the weather was perfect. How crazy was that fog / sea mist?

Well done Danny and RaceMikeRace - you have my sympathy for having to ride up King Edward Park hill no less than three times!

I called in to Honeysuckle during my long run and hung out at T2 for a while... wonder if I saw you!?

Good stuff anyway - it was darn hot out running so I imagine you would've been feeling the heat in more ways than one...

Hello! I was up there on Sunday, and doing my first o.d. Tri - and gee I can only concur RaceMikeRace - that swim felt like it was so much longer, I can normally pull off under 30 minutes for that distance (in a pool, so yes I guess you can't expect those perfect conditions!) and did this one in 47 minutes!!! everytime I looked up the exit point seemed so far away - the tide must have been against us for sure! (either that or I really am a crap swimmer). And I have the expectation in Triathalons that the bike leg is meant to be flat - gee what a suprise doing that hill, and 4 times! I think I chose a rather difficult tri for my first o.d. - although It was spectacular scenery! The run was very good though, nice and flat - although by then the legs were shot by those hills. Any advice on a fast course o.d. for my next attempt anyone?

Hey MQ, I haven't done that many Olympic Distance tris as I'm just getting into the sport myself. I did Cronulla earlier this year and the bike course was almost completely flat (just one tiny hill at the end), although the run was kind of undulating.

The Nepean triathlon the weekend before Newcastle was completely flat on the bike and run and -since the swim was in the olympic regatta centre's manmade lake - there was no current, tide, chop etc. So a very fast course, but it's not full olympic distance (1km / 30km / 1km).

I hear Noosa is pretty flat, but you have to wait a year. I'd say give Cronulla a go in January!

Hi RaceMikeRace - thanks for that! - I think I like the sound of the Cronulla one in January!! I did contemplate the Nepean one, but was a bit put off by it not being the full distance O.D. - I am too anal for my own good! Its seems to be a good sport to do in summer whilst the distance running scene is in 'summer recess'. I was a bit daunted by all the expensive looking bikes though - mine loked hilarious racked up with the others, with its toe clips and 80's helmet. mmm think I prefer distance running in that respect, a bit more laid back in the equipment department. What made you get into Triathalons?

Hey MQ, go for Cronulla! I'll be there again, I really enjoyed it last year. Mate you're right, the equipment fetish for triathletes is ridiculous... and I'm being slowly sucked in! Huge contrast to running.

I wouldn't be daunted all the expensive gear - people don't buy that stuff to intimidate others, just because they're addicted! You don't need that much stuff to actually compete and have a good time (and do a good time if you're well trained), but it is fun to look at all the swish gear and dream.

To answer your question I did my first triathlon on a mountain bike with big knobbly tyres. I was talked into doing the BRW Corporate Tri by workmates a couple of years ago and was hooked, it actually made me go out and buy a road bike for the first time in my life.

Last thing - a friend and I are putting together a free podcast series for beginner triathletes in Sydney with lots of info about doing your first few triathlons, equipment, race reports about local races, interviews etc.

The idea is that there is plenty of info out there from experts, but they often don't remember (or never had the experience) of what it was like to be a newbie starting up triathlon for the first time as an adult with no real guidance. Especially coming from a running background - there is just so much to learn!

Anyway watch this space, it should be out next week.

Hey the podcast sounds great RMR - any advice would be helpful at this stage. So you are getting sucked in then! well it is a good alternative in summer, as we don't have too many running events then anyway. I deliberately did it to come down after a marathon, thought it was a good way to stay fit when the legs are recovering - I should try sitting on a couch next time perhaps!

I had a look at the Cronulla website, and the ocean swim looks much harder than the newcastle harbour experience. mmm. My 'coach' has told me to choose between 6foot and cronulla - oh dear. I might have to wait till next tri season to do some damage on my easy to beat 'pb' (and 'pw'). I think I'll keep swimming regardless though, its very addictive.