Sun 8th March

AM
Race Olympic 1500/40/10

SURF'S UP FOR 1000 ATHLETES IN SYDNEY WATER CHALLENGE
Rough surf and blustery winds put some of Australia“s leading age-group triathletes to the sword at the Sydney Water Challenge in Cronulla today.

Swells of up to two metres and messy surf saw the 1500-metre swim leg off Wanda Beach slightly shortened and relocated 800 metres up the beach to ensure a safe aquatic environment. Given the testing conditions presented by an exposed beach and recent shark activity in Sydney, Triathlon Australia engaged the expertise and resources of Surf Life Saving Australia to oversee the swim component. Five IRBs (rubber duckies), two jet skis, an offshore rescue boat and 30 volunteer surf life savers were on hand to sweep the course and guide swimmers.

The field of more than 700 in the Olympic Distance Triathlon was also buffeted by blustery cross winds on the 40km bike course over two loops, before tackling a challenging 10km run that included a number of hills in Lucas Reserve.

http://www.challengeseries.org.au/Sydney/Olympic/Results/Results.aspx

8th
S 18:07 (17th), B1:00:57 (16th), R 35:26 2nd)
With around 80 people in the ag actually finishing it, and me coming 7th in 1:55 for an Olympic I guess Im happy. The swim was short but we had around 1500m sand run up the beach to make up for it. I lost goggles and swollowed heaps of salt water in the rough swim, Ride went well but too many slack drafters and tight course with no pass zones, so I got unlucky I think loosing a heap of time getting stuck and on the run it was tough and hilly. I reckon by 8kn I felt in a good rythem, before that I was struggling a bit

PM
Run 24km

What a day. Poor weather conditions early with cross winds and rain at times. I think the extended dalays waiting before the race may have led to me getting a cold which I felt the full effects of after my afternoon run.
Into my third 6km set I was hammered, I had that smashed feeling and knew I was going to stuggle on Monday. Definately one of the toughest sessions/days EVER.