My First Tri 'Down Under'

[Feel free to click on the image to the right, zoom in, print out, and begin laughing.]

The triathlon season in Australia winds down in March so a race on the 30th is likely to be one of the last races in a southern city like Melbourne. Although 2008 marked the warmest March on record for Melbourne, the warm weather could not hold out long enough for Sunday's race. Over Easter weekend, temperatures regularly hit 27C. This weekend, the temperature at race start was 12C. To add to the drama, I caught a headcold mid-week. Despite backing off the workouts and getting plenty of rest, the brunt of the illness hit me Sunday morning.

When we first moved to Melbourne, I began working out at a local gym with a personal trainer. Joe, an elite triathlete, has brought me a long way in 3 short months. On race day, he came through once again and lent me a mate's wetsuit. The swim would not have been possible without it.

While Joe was on the podium at the conclusion of the race, I was merely watching from the crowd. Now, Joe heads to the US to join the summer circuit and make lots of $$$.Although my performance was not as good as I'd hoped, I enjoyed the race and I know where to focus improvement for the next competition.