Hi all,

Just wondering if any ladies are doing the women's only tri at Hillarys next Sunday (March 1st)? It's a new course this year - should be good! Has anyone else noticed the short course distance has changed? Used to always be 10km cycle, but now it's only 7km...


Lauren

I wasn't. then on Thursday I randomly decided I might do the 150m swim distance, took myself off to Hillary's Park Beach on Saturday to see if I could swim in the ocean, found that yes I can BUT i'm still terrified of drowning once the water gets over my head

Anyways, that puts me out of the running once and for all (unless the swim is an out and back going parralel with the shore which I know it's not!).

On the website it says it's a protected course, but the map shows it's not in the marina or anything...? I don't know Hillarys that well.

The course is out, across (parallel to the beach), and then back. You can always start at the back of the group so you don't have anyone swimming behind you. It's a great course to do if you've never done a tri beofre, mainly because it's all women of varying degrees of fitness and ability. My sister is doing it for the first time

The course is in a rectangle so I assume out, across and back in to the beach (which I just realise you said).
It's not at the marina but at a beach not far from it and it was calm with pretty much no waves when I was there... bit chilly initially but if those are the normal conditions it's perfect!

I did triathlon pink and if there hadn't been an edge for me to hold onto after 100m I would have required rescuing. For me it's also mental...I cld be swimming along happily and then thing "OMG I can't touch the ground, what if I can't swim anymore - I'll drown!" and then I get panicky. I know if any tri is going to be perfect for a first timer it will be this one but I just don't trust myself enough.

I was supposed to be doing this one (I have entered), but then I found something I wanted to do even more, so now I'm doing a 100k MTB race in Northcliffe on Sun

I think this is the same course as the Hillarys tri I did before Xmas. It was a cold windy morning then and the water got quite choppy. But I'm sure it will be nice and calm this Sun, and there will be those lovely surf lifesavers doing water safety if you were to get into difficulty.

Good luck Lauren, and Stella - why don't you "just do it" as the Nike ad says. Once you get over that fear you'll be fine and a whole new world of open water swimming will open up for you. Its worth it.

If its is anything like the Trishave Womens only that was recently held in sydney there will be an abundance of lifesavers on boards there to help.
And Suzy is right, they are very lovely. We enjoyed a good perving session afterwards.

I just rang them... again. They confirmed it's 50m out 50m across and 50m back in to the beach (for the 150m) and lots of life guards.
On my cross training day i'll go to a 50m pool and try doing 3 laps without touching the end...
If I enter it will be on Saturday at the event rego.
I'm going to also need to check if I'm allowed as I now have a new marathon program and didnt mention this event therefore it hasnt been written in and I'll have to do my 3 hour run on Saturday instead of Sunday.
Not like the tri distance I'm aiming for shld take it out of me but sore upper body muscles may occur!
This will be a last min snap decision and if I drown i'll be really pissed off!

EDIT: Just remembered i'll probably be hung over on Saturday so won't be able to shift my long run... looks like i'm out after all (I'm not giving up one of the first proper social going out at night and drinking alcohol occassions I have had the opportunity to attend since new year!)

Stella, I do not recommend you do your 3hr run on Sat then the tri on Sun. You will be way too tired and you probably won't enjoy it very much. Could you email your coach and see what they recommend?

Is there any way you could rearrange your week so you could do your long run on Thurs or Fri, or maybe Mon? I know its difficult with work but perhaps you could squeeze it in before work or after? That way you get to do both the long run and the tri

BTW, I'm sure you won't drown but if you do I'll understand if you never speak to me again!

I'm sure you wouldn't drown Stella! But maybe try a river tri first for the open water thing, because it's usually in such shallow water that if you move a few metres you can stand up (like Point Walter that I did on Australia Day).

So does that swim course mean the 300m swim is out 100m, across 100m and then back 100m? Bugger. I was hoping for 50m out, 200m across and then 50m back again (I have a fear of sharks). But at least the thought of them might make me swim faster!!

Hehe I run slow so it's not as bad but no I won't be embarking on this particular challenge.
Lol @ your "BTW..."!



Not sure about the longer events... didnt think to ask. I would think 50, 200, 50 but that's just me.
Funnily enough I dont have a fear of sharks as such... but the thought crossed my mind. Actually I'd be more worried about random fish bumping into me...that's freak me out... ah i'm just a big fat wuss aren't I?! Lol! Yeah river or Lake sounds safer to me... though all those Jelly Fish in the Swan... Bleh!

The guy who won the Rotto swim this year (David Cox I think) saw a shark - maybe that's why he won, swimming like buggery to get away from it, all the way to Rottnest. Seems ocean liners were more of a worry for swimmers crossing Gage Roads this year, although I don't think thats going to be an issue at this tri

serena

I saw that article in the paper! (He reckons it was a "baby" great white... how would you know?!?!). I was skipper for a duo doing the swim and swam at several stops along the way (sometimes over 40ft deep) and never saw a shark, or even a ray or fish. I just remember the stunning turquoise water and clear sandy bottom.

Stingrays and fish don't bother me, and I had the funniest encounter with a jelly fish one tri (it was the women's tri at Matilda bay a few years ago). I had just been going on and on to my friend who was a first time competitor, saying how there are hardly any jelly fish, they get moved out of the way by the first few waves of swimmers. So, typically, half way through my swim I smack head first into this massive brown jellyfish. I saw it coming in my goggles at the last second but had no time to get out of the way. It made my giggle though and I ended up getting my fastest time for that course.

Yeah those Swan River jellies are more of a nuisance than anything else. I remember one year when I did the Swim Thru Perth we had to jump off the Barrack St jetty for the start and there was literally a blanket of those brown blobs to jump into - no clear water at all. Yukk! Then you'd be swimming along and you'd bump head first into one, or your hand would slice into the middle of this thick jelly substance. Thank goodness they don't sting.

I'm usually not too concerned about sharks, though this summer I have been more wary after that guy was eaten and all those sightings. And I've become more wary of stingrays too after Steve Irwin - I swam over one in Anaconda last year but luckily the water was deep enough and it was on the bottom.

I may be doing the womens tri after all so might see you there Lauren? (I'll be doing the long course).

Definitely I'll be there Suzy. I'm doing the short course with my sister, we both look pretty similar (medium-long curly brown hair, freckles). My bike is a light blue/grey Avanti Sub zero with a white seat, and my sister has borrowed a friend's bike that's yellow.

What is your bike like?

Might be hard to say Hello becuase I've never met you before... what will you be wearing? I'll be in short black bike pants and a teal green coloured lycra singlet.

If I don't see you - GOOD LUCK!!!

All the best and have fun, Lauren & Suzy !

Lauren, my bike is a Giant Trinity which is carbon/blue/white with a black seat. I'll be wearing my grey/blue/white Jaggad trisuit. My bib no is 238. I'm 44yrs young with short-medium long brown hair. I'll wear my Coolrunning cap so it will be easier to spot me.

1000 women entered - this is gonna be fun! Are you going to the sundowner afterward? Ok gotta go get my gear ready for tomorrow. Good luck!

Good luck ladies... have fun out there

Good luck chicks! It's going to be a perfect day for it.

serena

Well I was a bit concerned waking up to a thunder and lightning storm this morning, but thankfully it had all blown over by the time I reached Hillarys. It was a beautiful day, even got a bit hot during the run. I had a really good race, my new bike went like a rocket, and I picked up a pair of Skins as a spot prize. Perfect. Sorry I didn't get to meet you LaurenR, I hope you had a good race.

Well done to everyone who took part in this today! My friend and running partner Sue (Atom) did the short course and finished 4th in her age group, she was very happy with her results!

Well done Suzy and Atom! Suzy not bad picking up the skins - did you win and you are being modest about it??
serena

Well actually SJ I came 3rd in my age group and received a water bottle! Thank goodness for spot prizes.

And well done Atom.

Well done Suzy! That's fantastic! It was such a great morning, the ocean was flat as a tack. I really enjoyed the swim, the water was clear and the bottom sandy. Had a small fright when I saw the fins in the water but was pleased to see a pod of dolphins. I had a dreadful run though, my hip was playing up and I had to take it easy, still enoyed it though.

I also got a free water bottle from the Avanti crew who were major sponsor, they handed it to me just before I racked my bike and said 'here's one for your sub' (the type of Avanti I have). So that was a good start to the day.

My sister did her first tri and she also loved it, think she'll be hooked now

Great stuff Lauren. So all I had to do to get a free water bottle was rock up with an Avanti bike? I'll know for next time...
I'm glad your sister enjoyed it. Theres another race at the same venue in April, its a great spot. My next one is the Perth Challenge in 2 weeks, its a 1.5/40/10.

Good luck with the Olympic distance one Suzy, is that near Langley Park?

Yes I've looked at the Hillarys tri on Sunday April 5th, my sister wants to do it (I told her she'd get hooked!!). But it's on the same day as the bridges run... hmm, not sure which one to do. It will depend on my hip I think. If the hip is fine and I'm running the distance ok I might do the bridges because running is supposed to be my focus this year before Perth HM, and I've done a few tris this season already.

Fingers crossed!