Well its officiail im now a triathlete .

Had an awesome day. the weather couldnt have been better the water was like
glass. we had a few little hiccups but nothing that deterred from getting
through the day.

the swim was incredible for the first time i felt quite relaxed and just
enjoyed the feeling of being out there. I have learned not to worry about
what i can and cannot see out there and just trust my guide will keep me
safe. I focussed on my breath and stroke and just paced a nice slow swim. My
partner accidently took a wrong turn turning our 750 m swim into a 1 km one
that was cool i need the practise anyway and i found it funny.

Getting out of the water was gross loads of smeely seaweed i had vision of
falling arse over in it and getting a hpotot taken with me looking like some
sort of swamp creature but i didnt. We jogged up the path into trasistion.
Racking a Tandem had preoven o be a it of a test but with the help of the
organiserd we figured it out Wetsuit off and shoes on off we roade and the
gears wouldnt change. So we had to ride in no the best gear but it got us
through. One of the issues with iding in the wrong gear is after riding 20
km you have to run 5 and your legs can feel awful. We cruised through the
ride. the days plan had always been about just getting through each section
without overding it. As we came back into transition. Iput my foot down and
bang my calf cramped big knot lot of pain ouch. Ok helmet off get some fluid
in. I need to work on drinking on the bike. Off we trotted nice a slow
hoping my calf would settle once we got moving. It didnt so i had to run the
5 km with a very sore calf that was getting tighter and tighter i was
concerned i might do my achilles but with 1 km to go i figured i'd be fine.
rossed the line in pretty good shape feeling very excited and satisfied with
my effort.

the crowd were amazing people i've never met were congradualting me and
everyone had waited to see me finish. The club has been so supportive they
made the day run so smoothly im glad i chose there to do my first Tri. My
Guide was amazing considering we only did one trianing session together he
thought of everything looked after me and made me feel safe the whole time.
I relaly couldnt fault anything about the day.

to top it off At presentation we were both presented with $50 gift vouchers
fro one of the club sponsors XOsize as our prize for winning our catergory
of me myself and i. It was a lovely gesture from the club and the fact that
they included my guidemeant a lot to me.

so thats pretty much how it went. Cant wait til the next one. The guys from
Rapido offered to service the bike next time round so we shouldnt have
problems. We now know the swim course and i will have learnt how to get my
drink bottle while riding

Stella

Well done Staypuff - Fantastic! Great to read your report and great to hear that you and your guide had such a great time...and the tri club were so welcoming. A nice warm fuzzy feeling leading into Christmas

Stella (Staypuff);

That was awesome to read your report on your triathlon ... and that you got through it. I hope the calf mends ok for you ... but wow, you must have an indescribably feeling of elation at present. Bloody good on you; fantastic stuff.

I do have a small question to ask ... in that, you mentioned about when riding you'll have to learn to drink when riding ... did you take any other fluids or gels or the like during the event; or was it pretty much, just participate and fuel up later?

Anyway, I just wanted to congratulate you on a very fine performance ...

A.O.

On ya Puffster!

Fantastic! Well done StayPuff! Having done one season of surf-lifesaving in south east Victoria - I reckon a triathlon must be one of the hardest things to do (harder than a steeplechase! ).

You rock.

thanks guys

yeah i drank before the event then coming out of trannie 2 nd on first km of run

Congrats Staypuff, I didn't make it down to watch the race but went down to Altona later with the kids and the amount of seaweed on the beach was incredible, I've not seen anything like it before.

Are you doing more of the WSTC races? I hope to be at the Australia day race if I can swim again by then.

Congrats staypuff, that is a great report. A win is a win, doesn't matter how many in your category, I think you are awesome. Good luck with your future races.

Fantastic staypuff!! Your recount of the event gave me goosebumps. What an inspiration you are. You should be so damned proud of yourself. Well done!!

Well done staypuff. Impressive effort.

Fantastic report, Staypuff, and a brilliant effort--congratulations!! I still haven't taken the "plunge" and done a tri. Maybe one day!!!

Rachel

thanks guys it was an awesome day

May be doign the aust day one if i can get a partner sorted

am heading up to canberra in feb for the FIT tri womens only and they run FITability a group tht cters for epople with disability so invited me to come up and participate. they will supply the bike and soemone to race with so whould be another big experience.

Well done Staypuff! Loved the report. Good luck for Canberra 2009!

thats fantastic!

SP

well done on once again setting your mind to a task and completing it in fine form. Your are awesome and a great role model for others. Your enthusiasm is infectious.

Is it true that you were drafting the whole way around the course?

Awesome! well done Staypuff, i loved reading the report - those little things that happen are what make tri so interesting. there's no two races the same.

I really admire anyone with a CAN DO IT attitude....everyday heroes

Look forward to the next one

cheers

PH

For anyone who doubts they CAN, have a look at this little snippet...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5GdUMVnzTw...feature=related

or this one if the first doesn't work

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRHxHapwirw&NR=1

Dd i get sprung again for drafting.

Yeah i have a bad habit of it lol

Very nice Peterhorse. And Staypuff, yet another victory. Thanks for sharing on such an appropriate day...as I get engrossed in presents and food it's nice to remember the poignant things in life and what REALLY motivates us to be better people.

Well done Staypuff-sorry I didn't return your sms on the day-I was a little preoccupied with other matters! I'll call you after the dreaded xmas day.

Well done Staypuff, you are awesome! I am doing my first on 11 Jan and am also doing the FIT WAG Tri in Feb too! Your story is very inspiring for us tri-virgins!

Hi Catgirl

Cool will have to meet up.

I was supposed to be doign one on the 11th jan but coach says no

So that kind of ruins my question as to when your next one will be? Do you have thougths for another one?

Hi Ao

Im doing Canberra i amy do Aust day at Altona not sure. But after Canberra im doing one or two down Cape paterson which are olympic distance.

you know me once you've done a distance time to move up the ladder lol.

My coach and i are planning to ward soemothing bigger late next year but im not saying to much at present

Hope your giong to be around that weekend been dyign to meet you