It's been inactive for me after Aviva though I am still swimming every week.
Has been learning front crawl since April and was not able to use it during Aviva, so I have targetted to use front crawl during my next triathlon or ironman race...
To give some background : Before the learning, I know nuts about front crawl and has never swamed more than 10 laps even using breaststroke ( the most was 8 laps )
I was always feeling breathless at half a lap of the pool, and was always demoralised by it.
Finally last week, I realised it was due to the "air time " that I have . I did not get enough air before my head goes into the water again. I was also stroking too fast (thinking that it would help me swim faster which was actually a false perception , the correct way should be using lesser strokes and glide further with each strokes)
Today I did not only managed to finish a lap but 16 laps... though i need to do 30 laps. I believe the next time, i would be able to achieve more laps... More training.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Aviva 70.3
Finally after few months of training, I managed to complete the inaugural Spore Aviva 70.3. It all began 6 months back when I wanted to participate in a triathlon, Hansen told me about Aviva 70.3 and I said : Why not ! .
Being someone who only started biking and serious swimming some 4 months back. It was not easy and I kept on with my believe and pushed on. That's why I also found out from Hansen that SAFSA is sponsoring a team for this event. I am glad that I am part of this great team. Even though during the training , I was always the last few or rather last :P . It spurred me to do my best of meeting the 6hr 30 min target set for the team. Being a normal being, there were definitely times when I kept wondering if I could meet the target or even complete the race , luckily my determination kept me going. Enough said about the pre-race events, now to the event actual.
It was drizzling and cold at 5am, however our spirit were high. We reached the Transition Area 1 (T1) at 615hrs, preparing our stuff for the bike leg, including putting the numbers on our arms. I must say the organisation over at T1 was well done and the officials /volunteers were very friendly.
At 0655hrs, we gathered at the start point for the swim leg for the brief and introduction of the elite triathletes.
At 0715hrs, the elite wave started followed by the female wave at 0717hrs. The wave for my age group started at 0725hrs. As a slow swimmer, not wanting to be tramped by other strong swimmers, I chose to stand at the back. I kept my focus on every stroke till I reached the first buoy. During the swim to the 2nd buoy, I could not see the buoy as the sun was shining straight into my eyes, I followed the rest of the swimmers to realise that they too have steered off the course and I have to make a 45 degree turn and swim towards the buoy. At this time, some of the later wave participants started to overtake me, I just focused on my strokes and count every seconds towards the next buoy. Finally after 1hr 2 mins , I reached the finishing line for the swim and proceed to T1 for th bike leg.
I took a gel, few gulps of energy drink , wore my helmet , unracked my bike and went to the bike mounting line. After a few pedals, my bike chain dropped off the gear, luckily i could still fix it back within seconds and went off. Then I realised my meter was not working, after 2 press on the meter, it flew off (WTF!) . I kept going and all the way , I do not know my speed. Finally I was out of ECP service rd and went to AYE to conquer my first slope on Sheares Bridge. (This is the first ever race that biking can be done on Sheares Bridge!) Due to some slope training prior to this race, I was able to maintain my candence during the ascend. then my bike chain came off again and have to spend some time to fix it. During the bike leg, I was feeling quite comfortable and was enjoying the scenary. The volunteers at the aid station were very spontaneous at giving out the water and energy drink bidons. Some participants were less fortunate when they encountered tyre punctured and some even met with crashes, I counted myself lucky with only a few hiccups here and there. Finally after 4 laps, I dismounted at the bike dismount line where a volunteer took over my bike and I proceed to change my gears for my run leg. My watch read 4 hrs 05 mins when I sat down to wear my running shoes.
At approx 4hrs 09 mins, I started running , the first 9.8km was the most enduring one for me. My outer sole for both feet was very painful and my stitch started again ( since AHM). I went really slow to recover from the post bike leg fatigue. The sun was scorching and I had to use alot of sponge to cool my body. To make things worse, my left thigh started to have the cramp syndrome, I was on the verge of walking and give up. However, the supporters and volunteers were very encouraging and I kept running until I finished my first lap at 5hr 20mins. Another 9.8km to go, by now, i was feeling better on the run and picked up my speed. It started to rain at the 15km mark and was very cooling. By now my legs were aching and I knew the moment I start walking, it would cramp and not meet the target. i kept going until the last 1km when I just could not take it and started to walk for 50 metres before I started running again till the finishing line.
Finally I reached the finishing mark and took my time so that the officials could put up the finishing line for me to cross ( first time mah ...hehe) then a AngMoh just went pass and cross it, so i waited for a few seconds to cross it. Yes! I made it in 6 hrs 22mins and 44 secs. It's a mixture of exhaustion, satisfaction and greater satisfaction. (My first ever Triathlon) .Hope to can get a decent finishing photo ( Thanks to fennel for these great pictures). It took me about 5 mins of resting before I could get back to my normal self.
What's next ? Full Ironman ......
Being someone who only started biking and serious swimming some 4 months back. It was not easy and I kept on with my believe and pushed on. That's why I also found out from Hansen that SAFSA is sponsoring a team for this event. I am glad that I am part of this great team. Even though during the training , I was always the last few or rather last :P . It spurred me to do my best of meeting the 6hr 30 min target set for the team. Being a normal being, there were definitely times when I kept wondering if I could meet the target or even complete the race , luckily my determination kept me going. Enough said about the pre-race events, now to the event actual.
It was drizzling and cold at 5am, however our spirit were high. We reached the Transition Area 1 (T1) at 615hrs, preparing our stuff for the bike leg, including putting the numbers on our arms. I must say the organisation over at T1 was well done and the officials /volunteers were very friendly.
At 0655hrs, we gathered at the start point for the swim leg for the brief and introduction of the elite triathletes.
At 0715hrs, the elite wave started followed by the female wave at 0717hrs. The wave for my age group started at 0725hrs. As a slow swimmer, not wanting to be tramped by other strong swimmers, I chose to stand at the back. I kept my focus on every stroke till I reached the first buoy. During the swim to the 2nd buoy, I could not see the buoy as the sun was shining straight into my eyes, I followed the rest of the swimmers to realise that they too have steered off the course and I have to make a 45 degree turn and swim towards the buoy. At this time, some of the later wave participants started to overtake me, I just focused on my strokes and count every seconds towards the next buoy. Finally after 1hr 2 mins , I reached the finishing line for the swim and proceed to T1 for th bike leg.
I took a gel, few gulps of energy drink , wore my helmet , unracked my bike and went to the bike mounting line. After a few pedals, my bike chain dropped off the gear, luckily i could still fix it back within seconds and went off. Then I realised my meter was not working, after 2 press on the meter, it flew off (WTF!) . I kept going and all the way , I do not know my speed. Finally I was out of ECP service rd and went to AYE to conquer my first slope on Sheares Bridge. (This is the first ever race that biking can be done on Sheares Bridge!) Due to some slope training prior to this race, I was able to maintain my candence during the ascend. then my bike chain came off again and have to spend some time to fix it. During the bike leg, I was feeling quite comfortable and was enjoying the scenary. The volunteers at the aid station were very spontaneous at giving out the water and energy drink bidons. Some participants were less fortunate when they encountered tyre punctured and some even met with crashes, I counted myself lucky with only a few hiccups here and there. Finally after 4 laps, I dismounted at the bike dismount line where a volunteer took over my bike and I proceed to change my gears for my run leg. My watch read 4 hrs 05 mins when I sat down to wear my running shoes.
At approx 4hrs 09 mins, I started running , the first 9.8km was the most enduring one for me. My outer sole for both feet was very painful and my stitch started again ( since AHM). I went really slow to recover from the post bike leg fatigue. The sun was scorching and I had to use alot of sponge to cool my body. To make things worse, my left thigh started to have the cramp syndrome, I was on the verge of walking and give up. However, the supporters and volunteers were very encouraging and I kept running until I finished my first lap at 5hr 20mins. Another 9.8km to go, by now, i was feeling better on the run and picked up my speed. It started to rain at the 15km mark and was very cooling. By now my legs were aching and I knew the moment I start walking, it would cramp and not meet the target. i kept going until the last 1km when I just could not take it and started to walk for 50 metres before I started running again till the finishing line.
Finally I reached the finishing mark and took my time so that the officials could put up the finishing line for me to cross ( first time mah ...hehe) then a AngMoh just went pass and cross it, so i waited for a few seconds to cross it. Yes! I made it in 6 hrs 22mins and 44 secs. It's a mixture of exhaustion, satisfaction and greater satisfaction. (My first ever Triathlon) .Hope to can get a decent finishing photo ( Thanks to fennel for these great pictures). It took me about 5 mins of resting before I could get back to my normal self.What's next ? Full Ironman ......
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