Then 500m along the beach (I ran most of this), up a steep hill (I didn't run) then 1.2km to the bike transition (ran the whole thing).
The bike course was pretty tough - pouring with rain much of the time and a VERY strong northerly. The uphill section was straight into the wind. I do recall a burst of laughter from some spectators as I screamed 'Bitch!' at a gust that almost stopped me completely. The second time around I had my cadence going better and didn't find the hill so hard.
Unknown to me, at this stage the weather was so bad they were talking about cancelling the race halfway through - prompted by the fact that the marquees and finish line were being blown away!
Then it was back into transition to drop off the bike and finish with another 2km run. Most of this was flat (alternated running and walking), finishing with a bit of off-road - up a steep track (ran), along the ridge (ran), drop back down (walk) and then across the park to the finish (ran).
Now the really surprising bit - I had a lot of fun doing this. The weather was vile and the ride was hard work at times, but it really was enjoyable. And the sense of achievement at the end was overwhelming.
It's hard to work out how good my time was, considering most of the swim was dropped, but I'm happy with it anyway, especially given the conditions. This is the time I took on my watch, as the official times aren't on the website yet. Update later in the day - official time was 1 hour, 2 minutes 39 seconds. 586th out of 1100 finishers.
Big thanks go to lots of people for their support - family, friends, colleagues, blogland (especially blogland) - because everyone has been so positive.
Huge thanks to Mark and Jake - for getting up at 5am this morning, for their support and encouragement.
32 comments:
*gives standing ovation*
Well done Sue, you are now officially a legend in my books (and i'm sure everyone else's!). What a great feeling to make it through not only the triathlon, but the weather AND at the end to say you have enjoyed it! You're a champion. Congratulations!!!!!
Bri
Well done. What an achievement. You must be so proud of yourself... woohoo!
Sorry about the two comments, when I did the first one and submitted it, it took ages to register and then it came up with a message that your blog was unavailable. By that stage I couldn't remember exactly what i'd written and clicking the "back" button just blanked out everything, so I wrote a new comment. The first one didn't come up on my system.
Apologies again, but you ARE a legend!
Bri
Sue you are absolutely amazing and I would take my hat off to you if I was wearing one. I have been thinking of you all weekend and I am thrilled that 1 you did it but 2 that you enjoyed it so much despite the inclement weather. What an achievment. You are and continue to be an inspiration.
And I forgot to say..you look amazing...skinny sue...I had to look twice to see if it was you,
HUGE CONGRATULATIONS SUE - BRILLIANT!
Two things really struck me about this post. Firstly, your bullish determination, to the point that you even enjoyed the crazy conditions. I have a feeling that the increased degree of difficulty was right up your alley. And secondly, your appearance has changed significantly. I would think that lots of people wouldn't recognise you anymore. Well done.
I don't know what to say! but WOW. That is one amazing effort :) You should be very very proud of yourself, as I'm sure your family and friends are!
Congratulations on a very inspirational effort
:)
Congratulations you clever, clever girl!!! Just look at how far you've come in less than a year!!!!
You are an amazing, inspirational woman to so many people, and I'm stoked to see your two biggest supporters were at the finish line waiting for you - they must have been so proud.
Well done :-)
It sure looks cold but seriously a huge WELL DONE and CONGRATULATIONS for doing this Sue! What a great personal achievement and you are certainly someone to admire. You are looking so FABULOUS too :-)
Congratulations Sue!!! I agree with everyone, YOU ARE A LEGEND!!!
Great pics. Thankyou for sharing this great achievement with us.
Now you know you can do ANYTHING!!!!
Well done Sue!!! What an inspiration you are. I'll bet your boys were so proud of you. And you look AMAZING!! How skinny do you look in your bike shorts?! And those muscly arms in the first shot - wow!!
Thank you for sharing this wonderful achievement with us. Enjoy a well earned rest tonight!!
I'm adding my congratulations to the rest!!! Well done Sue - you really have come such a long way - what an inspiring woman you are!!!
P.S. Looking very trim too I might add!
Well done Sue! I am in awe of you (and Helena and others that have completed it )!!! You are looking real good too!
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!
Congratulations Sue!! You are so inspiring and your determination is fantastic. You look absolutely amazing in your photos and am now wondering where exactly did u carry the 46 kilos that u lost? You look fantastic (incase I didn't say that before). Well done.
What a woman!!! You are awesome. I was thinking of you today and was so happy when I checked your blog and found you had taken the time to let us know how you went and posted the great photo's. Enjoy the high that you will be on now for days. There is nothing you can't achieve girl - a fantastic role model to us all.
great time, great effort & you look geat. you certainly are smaller sue!
Well done you fantastic inspiring woman!! You rock!!
Pity about the weather, but at least it wasn't sweltering and burning!
Hi Sue
Congratulations on your great achievement.
You are an inspiration to all of us, you deserve a medal.
Man, I can't wait to be in your shoes one day, because that it what I want to do and you have made me even more determined.
You must be feeling absolutely unreal.
I hope you can have a really nice relaxing week to get over it.
All the best Sue, you are my hero!
Maria
A big HUG to you Sue. Have you looked at those photos the pride and acheivement in those eyes GOOD FOR YOU GIRL. I am so thrilled for you. I wonder if you have come down from the high yet. EXCELLENT
I don't know what to add, all of what has been said before and more. Congratulations on finishing, on handling the rough weather and the bitch of the wind.
You look fantastic, and I can bet you feel it too.
Well Done...bring on the Marathon?
Have a great week!
Yaaaaaaay Sue. That is fantastic. And look at all those sections you RAN. That is sensational. You look great in all your photos and I can understand why people find it hard to believe that it is you. Other than the fact your smile has not changed at all. Except for getting bigger.
And LOL at the Bitch comment.
Now are you getting seriously drunk tonight?? Probably wouldn't take much after all that training. So an added bonus to training hard, losing weight, and completing a triathlon (almost in the top half you clever thing) is that you become a cheap drunk. ;D I am surmising only LOL.
Well done Sue. Now bring on the next one :D
FAN-BLOODY-TASTIC !!!! What an amazing woman you are. I am tired after a great weekend in Sydney (which was certainly not nearly as strenuous as your day !!!), my eyes are scratchy from the aeroplane but I just had to hop on and see how you had done. What a great achievement. I am sure that by now you are sleeping soundly in your bed and I hope that you won't be too sore tomorrow !
You are such an inspiration and are looking absolutely wonderful. Be proud of yourself and your achievements - I am very proud of you !!
Take care and have a wonderful week.
Me
*crowd goes wild*
well freaking done! what an achievement :)
Hi Sue, congratulations - huge achievement with a great time - despite the sad weather! I completed the tri on Sunday too - (my first one also) 1hr10mins ... I'm still buzzing - wont be something either of us will ever forget! Nice work :)
Congrats, you are such a determined women, ever thought about changing careers and becoming a life coach.... the weather sounded dreadful, we had 30 degress in North Canterbury yesterday!!! Once again well done.
Margaret
I am sure I can speak for everyone who reads this when I say that we are so proud of you! What a fantastic achievement Sue!
xx
What a Champion you are Sue - I am so thrilled and happy and excited for you I got tears in my eyes reading about your success.....Good on you sister. So what's next?lb
Hurrah! Hurrah! This is so exciting, you are SUCH an inspiration. I love the picture of you with your medal, you sure deserve that. It's hard enough without all that weather.
Awesome. This was totally inspiring.
As tears well up in my eyes, with an overwhelming sense of pride I have for your effort, I realise that I too can achieve something like this one day. As I have said so many times, you are a true inspiration ti those of us that still have the hard slog ahead of us to get to the point you have reached. Good on you for sticking to your goals.
Congrats! What a feeling!
Post a Comment