Saturday 21st May, Bintan Island Indonesia (Olympic Distance Triathlon)
Having hung around in the heat, 38c and the humidity 93%, for nearly four hours, I was almost looking forward to the start at 14.00hrs. This was going to be my first triathlon abroad and my first sea swim tri. So you can imagine I was feeling a little nervous.
About an hour before the start I had to sit in a chair on the beach and get my arms stamped with the race number, that made me look quite professional! Lining up on the sands waiting for the start was amazing, just being there with all the different nationalities. Then we were off racing across the sand to enter the water, very different to a lake start!!
The water temperature was 29c and very salty!! Running through the water eventually it came up to my neck, I then realised that this was the swim leg not the run leg!! Once I got into my rhythm I was fine, I was even out swimming the jelly fish and the sharks!! The swim course was two laps, so we had to run out of the water around a marker on the beach and back into the water. No problems on the second lap except that as I got nearer to the beach I went to stand up and the water only just reached my knees!!! Didn't want to be accused of the not swimming the full distance!!!!
I was in and out of T1 in 1min 22sec and out on the one lap bike course which was very undulating on wide smooth roads. I was flying on the bike and managed to overtake loads of people, making up for the time lost on the swim!! No problems on the bike and I made sure I was drinking plenty as the temperature was rising.
In and out of T2 in 1 min 3 sec and on to the two laps run course which was on and off road and very undulating. I was feeling good coming off the bike and soon got into my stride. Although it was extremely hot luckily there were drink stations every 2K which had isotonic drink, water and cold sponges!!! With lap one out the way I managed to pick the pace up a bit overtaking a number of other runners and before I knew it I was sprinting down the finish chute!!!
What a fantastic experience and a great setting matched only by my lovely daughter and her husband cheering me on!!
My results:
- SWIM 1500m 47min 59sec
- T1 1min 22 sec
- BIKE 40k 1 hr 15min 33sec
- T2 1min 3sec
- RUN 10k 57min 51sec
- OVERALL TIME 3hrs 3min 48sec
- OVERALL POSITION 239
- AGE GROUP POSITION 2nd
Author: Del Hastings