Day before the race...
General consensus "Just shut up and race!"
Sending my bike to the bike check in, I feel like walking on air...
I feel like part of a special breed... :)
A breed that like to experience hours of pain. =D
***
Dun try anything new on race day....
Haha... that theory had been thrown right out of the window a long time ago!!!
And this time it will be a piece of garment that will be making up 70% of my race gear I am wearing! My tri-suit!
Same goes for the next 10%! My calf guards!
At the end the race? It is the most comfortable set of garments I wore for any race! =D
Reaching Car Park F3 at 5am, we noticed that the car park is almost full! =D
Haha... race starts at 8am, but most of us are there early to grab a parking lot. =D
With tons of time, we hang around to chit chat before making our way to the Transition Point.
Removing the trash bags, I am glad to see Alize sitting nice and dry, all ready to race. =)
Took my time to set up the transition point and mingle around.
At the shores, we noticed that the tides are raising fast.
Expecting to have a tough swim.
Chermaine and Gia Yee were the top 20 women out of the water!
Coach would have been so proud of GY!
Swim out seems to take forever...
You can swim towards the buoy but still end up way west...
After the turn at the first buoy, we were all swimming towards the yellow buoy that marks the outer loop which was easier to sight...
As we were nearing the orange buoy, I noticed that there was another yellow buoy to the right!
Tread water for a while and noticed that most of the swim pack had missed the second buoy!
There was no one between the second and third buoy!!!
To be fair, it will sounds extremely crazy if I were to swim back to the second buoy and then to the third buoy...
Anyway, the organisers are to blame.
The inner loop lane ropes were there in 2009, missing in 2010...
But what is frustrating is that they have the lane ropes on the shore this year!!!
Exiting the swim, I was shell shocked.
I did not do a second take, as I do not want it to affect my thoughts.
I still have a long day ahead of me.
The run to transition was long, but I was able to jog all the way. Nice!
Took my time at T1, stow the swim gear away, had 2 gels and got on the bike.
A look at the bike course... The half car lane is not as bad as I thought it will be.
Probably cos all competitors are more disciplined than OSIM / Tri-Factor triathlons...
Out on the first lap, legs are feeling good.
The aches I felt in the swim went away pretty fast.
Riding along, I passed cyclists in aero-helmet, aero position. I love those moments. =p
Along the whole 90km ride, a few of us keep playing tag. =D
One of the riders is riding a carbon bike, but is wearing a running tee and has a Nokia box for a bento bag... Hmm...
Riding along Changi Coastal Road and Aviation Road, it become evident that both stretches of roads are not flat!!! Psychological sia.
Right after Water Point 2, Chermaine had a fall!
Cuts on her eyebrows and knees.... but she is very conscious and looks ready to go.
The official keep shouting "The lady needs an ambulance!"
Saw a cyclist fell and remained unconscious.
A few of us keep shouting "Medic", hoping to catch the attention of any officials nearby...
One of his wheels was dis-lodged from his bike.
On the 2nd Leg Water Point 1, I stopped to take my 3rd gel...
Decided to full load my bike with H20 so that I do not have to stop so often.
While riding out from Water Point 1, a bee flew right into my mouth and into my throat causing me to choke...
Tried to clear my throat, but to no avail...
Decided to gulped down water to clear the uneasiness.
Haha... this is the most natural kind of honey that one can ever get to taste. Live and whole! =D
Passing the crash site, the downed cyclist was still out cold...
Ambulances were activated, but unfortunately for the poor chap, one ambulance got stuck in the mud while the other ambulance were stuck in traffic.
It took a third ambulance coming from Changi Village to reach the injured rider.
Past the 50km mark, I can feel my speed dropping drastically.
This is the longest ride I have done in months!
This is going to be extremely mental from this point onwards.
Riding past Water Point 1 for the third time, the cyclist in front missed his bidon and it rolled in between my wheels!!!
Wow... this is close!!!
I am still in my 2nd lightest gear, as for most part of the race...
If only my power plant has more juice...
I have decided to be conservative from the start, in case I blew it on the ride.
Was surprised that I made 3:02 on the bike!
If only I had trained!!!
Off the bike, I cramped!
Was able to made it back to my transition safely...
As much as I hoped to, I dare not sit down, in case I cramped BIG time...
Again, I stowed away all my gear before I went on my run.
A look at the watch and the first thought that comes to mind "This race is mine to lose"
4:10hrs on the clock, 4:20hrs to go...
Tried to get into the desired pace, but I know I am pushing myself harder...
Just could not get the pace down... Haiz...
The tri-suit is doing a great job in compressing my quads, preventing any cramps...
But I am cramping up in the space between the tri-suit and my knees!!!
Faintz....
Very soon, the muscles felt like steel rods, if I tried to run anymore, I am just seized up!
I was 1.5km into my run when Adri gave me a gentle pat on the back.
Oh boy, she is going to doing an extremely good time for this race.
Go, Adri!
Another km in, Coach came up from behind and gave me a nudge.
Oh gosh, he has pink running shoes on. =D
Haha... I amazed myself by being able to run past Transition till after Bedok Jetty.
With all the supporters cheering you on, it is hard not to run...
But this is it...
At the 4km mark, Chermaine (her 14km) past me!
Go girl! She does not looked hurt at all, but the visor is pulled down way low...
The rest of the run is very much uneventful...
I know I am making very bad timing, but I am hoping to beat last year's time.
The last 2.5km is the most enjoyable. The encouragement from the fellow competitors who had completed feels really wonderful...
Always made me wonder why runners cannot be more angelic...
Well, I shall not digress.
Running down the final stretch, I took a look at the clock. It is counting down to 8:30:00
Hehe... I will finally have a photo timing within the cut-off time. =D
Crossed the Finish Line, collected the medal and tee and proceed to fill my stomach before leaving for home.
******
The race results were a mystery.
James Cunnama, Pete Jacobs, Faris Al-Sultan, the three hot favourties din win the race.
Kris Gemmell, the ITU Specialist doing his first Ironman 70.3 have an excellent day, leading from Start to Finish...
Congrats, Kris.
Jodie Swallow has no timing.
Turned out, she has a shin bruise and retired after the bike leg as planned.
Ling Er had an excellent day.
Top local woman, 7th fastest Singapore...
Well Done Ling Er!
Esther Tan got DQ-ed.
She would have been the second fastest local woman.
Turned out she got red-carded during the bike leg but did not sit out the penalty as she felt that she did not draft.
She appealed after the race, but got rejected.
I think it was stated that the official's decision is final, thus I won't think that she would have won any appeal...
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