Ok girls, i'm getting in early and starting this all again.
The Triathlon Pink series are holding their Sydney triathlon on the 26th September 2009.
I'm definetly doing one of the races, even though it is the weekend after the Blackmores Bridge Run.

Here is the link to the info.
http://www.triathlonpink.com.au/s-info.html

Plenty of time to train. So who's going to come join me for another weekend of silliness .

I'll be in it - definately doing the "long" one.


You can round the weekend of silliness off with a 55km bike ride on the Sunday from North Sydney to SOP.


BC

You are kidding aren't you boney? Where is SOP and will there be paramedics to revive me.

For us locals SOP is Sydney Olympic Park.

You may have your very own private Paramedic along for the ride

kb

Umm? No, not kidding. I'm doing both. You can make the ride as hard or as easy as you like.


BC

Ok, will consider the bike ride as well, depending on if i can grow some bike riding legs by then.

Just bumping to see if anyone is considering doing this one?

Yep, still planning on it

BC

Possibly maybe potentially... I'd like to but that swimming aversion still has the best of me atm!

I'm in! Doing the long one this year so seriously need to get to the pool and learn to swim ASAP. Stellabella I sooo know what you mean about swimming aversion, but I did it last year and I'm going to just make myself do the 300m this year no matter what!

We've got 3 teams from the gym I work at entered in the 3 different categories and my daughter (8yrs) and her friends are doing the kids one.

We've set up a fundraising page and raised over $1500 so far. Check it out

http://www.everydayhero.com.au/body_beat_babes

I did the long one here in Perth last year but by the time it rolls round I'll be living in Sydney.
My blog entry about the event can be found here - I think it will explain just how *ahem* "skilled" I am in the pool!

11 weeks to go so I already wasted at least a week... must get back in the pool!

I did the medium event last year and am doing the long one this year. My swimming is very sad and I have just started back in the pool this week - 11 weeks to cram for the 300m!

Hey Stella,

You are not as bad as the woman last year who required the lifesavers' red floatation thingy from half way down the first 50m.

You'll be fine. Paigebaby & I will be there with you in Sydney this year.

BC

I just managed to talk myself both into and out of this in the space of 5 mins. It goes like this....
I can do that I just swam 500m, (but I can't jump in the pool, scared of the water )

I can do that, I just did a 25k bike ride ( but I have not bike and it was all in the gym )

so maybe not this time, but so help me I am seriously considering it for next year, will somebody inject me with some common sense

I am entered in the Sydney event but a friend quite selfishly (jk) planned their wedding in Brisbane for the same day so I'm out for Sydney, but am going to go over to Adelaide in November and do it there. Such a shame too as I didn't see any CRs there last year and was hopeful of catching up with some people this year!

Milly, no bike is not an excuse, i can always bring my mountain bike down for you. And the swim starts in the water i think so you dont have to worry about jumping in.

Go Milly go Milly.

Make a commitment and join in - what is the worst thing that could happen?

kb

Millymoo you definitely start in the water, and its only 10 people at a time. The water is nice and warm to get into as well. You can actually hire bikes from homebush (don't know about the quality), but thats another option for you.

So no excuses, you'll be on the biggest high afterwards, its just an awesome day. Everyones a winner, places don't matter. I finished my race and then went back out and did the run leg again with one of my team mates, she crossed over the line last and the crowd gave her the biggest cheer, you should of seen her face, it was inspiratoonal to be a part of!

By the way Millymoo if you can swim 500m, you're off to a flying start, the swim leg is the hardest for most people, definitely it is my biggest fear and the longest swim option is only 300m (I wish I could take my own advice and say ONLY 300m, but thats another story) you'll kick butt. Go for it

Come on, Millymo - and anyone else wavering. Finishing your first triathlon is one of the best moments of your sporting life!

And, IMHO, Triathlon Pink is one of the best ways for women to take the plunge into the sport - a supportive, friendly, nurturing environment with no outside pressure.

And it's fun!!

Muz

So true Muzman!! I loved the triathlon pink events I went in a few years ago. So much fun and a very supportive atmosphere. From memory they also have great goodies bags compared to other events. I love free stuff

Hey Millymoo I see you are from the Central Coast, why not try a duathalon at the Mingara Triathlon Club. Then later you can add the swim. If you can swim 500m then your way ahead of so people.

Hey guys

Can someone tell me what the bike course is like in terms of it being hilly or not hilly?

Alas I don't have a road bike but my hybrid did me fine last year and she's coming over with me

Stellabella, last year it was dead flat and I used my mountain bike From the course map this year, it looks like a slightly different course from last year, but the area where it is, is mostly flat no hills of any significance that I know of and I'll be riding my new hybrid bike this year too.

Right on Willow73, there may be a 1-2m difference throughout the whole course. It's a gently looped track (not tight corners) around a man-made rowing lake. Very smooth bike course and you are going to love it

Almost sounds too easy!

Umm Mouse,

The event is held at Sydney Olympic Park - no man-made rowing lake there. It's around the stadium.

Stella,

It's flat!!

BC

It's a very easy course Stella. You'll have no problems whatsoever.

Ahahaha - sorry gals, I was thinking they were still at Penrith regatta centre! Oops.

Anyhoo - highly recommend the events to anyone who is interested in giving triathlon a go. Even if only for the free stuff and bragging rights that you have finished

And dont forget the fabulous excuse to dye your hair bright pink. That is what im looking forward to as well.

Er.... no thanks!

What I need is to buy an uber cute tri outfit

*wanders off to start a new thread about brands that won't send me broke!*

I went for my first swim in ages this morning and I swam 300m freestyle non stop I was so excited it was my first time doing it without stopping.

I actually swam 32 laps (25m pool). I always struggle with my breathing and have a panic attack, so it was strange today. I swam 2 x 50m first to warm up, then thought right I'm doing 300, well I did but had to change to breast stroke after 125m because I could feel the panic attack coming so I caught my breath and then continued with freestyle for the last 100m. I had a 5 minute break and just started swimming and it was like everything just clicked into place, the next 12 laps were done quite easy and I actually would of continued except my kids distracted me, so I sorted them out and then did another 100m to finish off the day.

I'm keen to go again now, will head out before work tomorrow morning and see if I can replicate today's effort

Ooh I thought of another question... is the pool at SOP a "normal" pool with a shallow end and a deep end? One thing that threw me off and freaked me out at this even last year is there was no shallow end in the pool that was used in Perth!

Good stuff Willow - I'm going to brave the pool on Saturday

The pool is deep at both ends. You'll be right though, last year there were very cute lifeguards floating on things in the middle, so if you need help they're there for you. It will also have the large bouys that you turn around that you can hang onto if need be.

I actually did the long distance event in Perth last year...I effectively swam 100m and then 4 x 50m! 11 min for the 300m swim leg & 4th slowest out of all the ppl doing the long distance. Made up time on bike and run legs.

I had just hoped that I'd have the comfort of a shallow end this time around!

Well I've come up with a plan... I hate swimming... I'm no good at swimming... but I want to do triathlons. Solution? JFS (as opposed to JFR!)...so I'm just going to make sure I swim several times a week - there's a pool at my gym, my gym is a mere 1km from home... there's no excuse!

Stella when I was doing triathlons, I was a pretty crappy swimmer but did find that after I built up to swimming 1-2k without resting (but very slow) I did a stroke correction course, and then found that I could manage a squad if I wore fins. That really improved my swimming dramatically - and at the end I wasn't even the slowest at the squad!!!

Thanks Ellie... I did do some lessons earlier in the year. I have taken away from it some advice but suspect she was just being kind when she said that my stroke/technique was fine!

Meanwhile, I swam 2km (in a 50m pool). It took me ages (about 70 mins I think) and I tended to rest every 100m but as I got a rhythm the rest breaks weren't too long. Had some problems with a cramp in my foot from about 650m but this isn't unusual for me. So the time includes rests and hopping about trying to stretch out the cramp. If I were entering a HIM I'd be disqualified before I even left the water with a time like that! On a postitive note I didn't actually mind it, it's very different swimming where you have a whole lane to yourself and I think that I get rather stressed when sharing a lane bce then all I can think is "OMG I'm so slow, what if I get in the way" whereas today I didn't care as I didn't have to!

Hey guys, I'll definitely be in this for the 'long' haul

I just did the shortest one last year (could barely swim, having entered with 3 weeks to go and without having been in the water for years..) but am much more confident now, especially as it's in a pool (still trying to figure out ocean swims..).

Hey girls,

Very glad I stumbled on this topic - I have been convinced by a friend to do a full length triathlon in late October, which will be only 3 weeks after my first marathon.

Now I can do this one first, just to see how I go with transitioning between legs.

That is presuming I can walk a week after my first marathon!

Just wondering if anyone is interested in sharing accommodation at Sydney Olympic Park.
Most of my friends live a bit away, thought if i stay in a motel i could get a bit of extra sleep & not have to worry about parking?

good on all you ladies for giving it a go! watch it, you'll be addicted!

triathlon pink was my first ever tri..last year i did the mid-range event (and thought i'ld never make it through)....now i'm training for my first half ironman at the end of the year!

my advice is go out hard in the swim if you can. i'm a non-swimmer...i still suck at it....but knew i could do the distance. because you are swimming around bouys, you'll find that the turning areas get really congested with girls bumping into each other and doing breast stroke and stuff. if you can get out fast and have a bit of clear water around you, leaving the rest of your wave in your wake, navigating the bouys will be heaps easier. jump in the water first and position yourself so you are on the inside (half the game of triathlon is having a bit of arrogance, haha!), closest to the first turn. i somehow managed to get 17th place in the swim using these tactics (and a bit of andreneline and luck!) they were given to me by the girls i went in the tri with, both water polo players who managed 2nd and 6th in the swim leg.

you guys are runners....so run the transition leg...you'll be amazed how many places you can make up by just shaving half a minute off your time. i think they've changed it slightly, but it was a rather long run from the pool to the bike transition in sydney last year....so you ladies will kick it

but most importantly, practice your finish line smile

have fun!

This sounds fantastic, but does anyone know if they have one organised for Adelaide? I had a look on the website and on the main page it doesn't mention Adelaide

Email sent out July 20th:

Hi Pinkies,
It is with much sorrow that we email you to inform you that we have had to cancel the 2009 Ramsay Health Care Triathlon Pink Adelaide event.
Initially we had booked Waterworld at Tea Tree Gully but the global financial crisis brought forward some great funding for the council to improve the site and they had no option but to go ahead with the planned renovations this coming summer meaning that the pool would be closed. We fully support the council in this decision as it will be a great addition to the community of Tea Tree Gully.
We have since been trying to find a suitable location for the event but time has run out for us and we are now planning to bring the event to Adelaide in 2010.
We apologise if this causes anyone any issues and we will refund all entry fees in full by COB Friday of this week.
Cheers,
The Ramsay Health Care Triathlon Pink Team

Ahh I heard about that upgrade on WaterWorld, thanks for letting me know StellaBella

I have managed a sneaky peak at the next roster and it looks like I might be able to make the Sydney event.

It is a week before my big race (Gold Coast HIM) and would be an excellent little event to have a smash at before I head to QLD.

I think it will be the long course for me - 300/9/3.

What half ironman are you doing Melodee??

kb

I still cant decide whether to do the medium or long course. I think i will decide about 2 weeks before.

Do the "long" - I know you want to

kb

I agree with kb!

You CAN do the long one - it's not that long

Hi Girls,

Just joined the boards today and thought I would say hello as I plan on doing the Pink Tri down the Gold Coast. I have done one enticer tri before and this will be my second go at a mini tri. I am really excited and glad I found these boards as I plan on doing a bit more training for this one!

For any of you ladies that have done a Pink Tri before, I just wonder what it is like doing the swim leg in a pool? Does it get really crowded and did you find the counting of laps difficult? I am just worried that when caught up in the moment I may lose count

Nic

Hi Nic

Welcome to CR

In answer to your questions... you dont need to count laps!

The way it works is that you are grouped into "waves" of about 10 and each wave starts 2 mins apart so that stops things getting too crowded. They take the lan ropes out of the pool and put big floating buoys at each...the number of buoys depends on which distance. You basically swim in a zig zag shape swimming around the buoys. I hope that makes sense!