When we bought our first
bike - a foldie, we already imagining ourselves doing triathlon, but we have no
idea at that time some triathlon events have strict rules on bike requirement.
So we have been postponing the plan and I have yet to learn how to swim,
properly.
Last year, finally get
myself a road bike, an upgrade! At the same time, my bro was training with my
buddy - Shwuni's husband for his swim to prepare for his first triathlon as
well.So, I followed them during training day. I started to learn proper swim
step by step but at a very slow progress. Then, this “triathlon together” plan
resurfaces again and it keeps buzzing in our mind. I still doubted about my
ability to swim in open water, but it was tempting!
What makes me make up my
mind to sign up was to know that my buddy choose the date of her pre-wedding
photo shoot to avoid clashing with any triathlon event. Just in case I decided
to join, so it won't clash the date! Not to wasted her thoughtfulness, I sign
up for 113 Melaka Triathlon! Why not other races? Because I am aiming for
Sprint distance and apparently the well-known PD Tri has only OD category. And
also I heard that seabed at Melaka pantai is much shallow, you literally can
"run" halfway.
So, long story short,
registered, training plan, bike maintenance and upgrade, apply leave, plan for
travelling and accommodation, bla bla bla
Pre-race
My mighty Myvi can only
fit in 2 bikes and 2 persons, so my bro is not following us to Melaka and be
our support crew. Ever wonder how to fit in 2 bikes in Myvi?
Me and Shwuni depart
from KL after breakfast, was thinking to have lunch in Melaka before we go to
collect our race kit. We know that before race day we should have look after
what we eat and what we drink, but we couldn't resist the famous Klebang
Coconut Shake!! After our lunch break, heading toward Melaka town to collect
our race kit and meet up with another friend Nicholas, who kindly offer to
share his accommodation with us. I felt like the traffic around town is 24/7
jam, run would be faster to reach the destination.
After all the traffic
congestion finally makes our way into Mahkota Parade and lucky us to get a
parking spot after a short hunting. The race kit collect is smooth, no waiting
and the volunteers are very helpful and efficient. We were shopping around in
the mall while waiting for the briefing. This is our first race, so the
briefing is important to us. The RD was talking so "LOUD" on the stage,
and some of the aspects turn sour on the race day. Anyway, we did not stay
long, because we decided to go to the race venue to do some recce.
The race venue is quite
nice location, adequate parking and empty spaces. The beach looks not bad and
the wave not looking too scary. LOL!! Nicholas booked room nearby the race
venue, just 2 km away. After quick check-in, we rush for dinner. Carb-loading
is a must!!
We did the final bike
check after dinner, making sure all the gears are ready and in good condition.
Then Nicholas was giving us some race day advice before we said good night.
Honestly, every night before race day, I couldn't really sleep. Dramas are
replaying in my mind the whole night!!! I tried to calm myself, drift my mind
to somewhere else, not to think about tomorrow.
Final checking and packing
Prep-talk by Nicholas before say good night!Race day
Woke up when the alarm
rang, half-awake half dreaming still. Quickly put on the TRISUIT (finally!),
put on the "sticky number" on arms and ready to get quick bite of
breakfast. But I was too nervous until my throat was auto lock-down, I
can't swallow the bread and need to flush in with water. Drama begins! Final
check on our packed gears then we ride to the race venue together, anyway, it
was just 2km and can be a good warm up to start the day!
When we reach the
transition area, ready to check-in, the whole drama starts! Drama not because
of me, but from the organiser. During the briefing, we were told that
transition opens at 5.00AM and will be close at 7.00AM. So we decided not to be
so kiasu, we will check in at 5.30AM. But when we reach there, the transition
area is not fully ready, part of the bike rack was not tagged with bib number.
The barricades were not enough to seal the whole transition area, carpets and
baskets were not enough!!! There were no volunteer or staff checking on the
people who go in the transition area, since it is not fully closed, anyone can
just walk in and out anytime! WTF!!! This is so ridiculous! Come on, you are
not organizing for the first time, and we felt so insecure leaving ours stuffs
in the transition area. Even you have warned us about not to keep valuable
items, but I think any of the bikes in the transition area consider a
"valuable" item too!! Beside, telling us that you will make fewer
rows to get wider runway, but squeezing like 5 bikes in 1 bike rack was totally
unacceptable! Beside all of these, the “Ins and Outs” were not properly
labelled, we had to asked the timing chip company people to get to know which
is the proper in and out direction at the transition area.
Sleepy + nervous + fed-up face *can see there's
not barricades around, free bikes lelong!
Because we were too free
Gaodim, photo before leaving transition area
Anyway, we tried not to
get affect by the organizer mistake. Get to knows the participants around our
bike area, some are first timer like us some are joining for training. The
atmosphere is actually good apart from everyone shocking when they first
reached the transition area. Something I like about joining all these race
events were all about the atmosphere and surrounded by all positive high
energy. After we have arranged our stuff, we just walk around and chit chat
with friends, take photos. Then I tried to finish up another half of bread.
When you are with your friends! Photo before flag off! [Photo
credit: Scamsaja]
My heart starts pumping
faster after flag off of Elite. All people keep telling me to do a trial swim
at the side, but i was so reluctant to do so. I know once I touch the water, I
will panic, and then I will drama. So we just standby beside the starting line
to watch and cheer for Elite and OD participants. The waiting time pass so fast
and we are standing at the starting line ready to rock and roll! BUT!!! Just
before flag off, I notice my safety buoy was leaking, there’s a tiny opening at
the side panel! O.M.G!!! Luckily Shwuni was with me and we quickly swap our
safety buoy just to make sure the good one is attached to me. Otherwise I will
be DNS at the starting line.
Women participants for
Sprint category are way less that other category, less crowded and have more
space for us to breathe. We start at the back, not dashing into the sea once it
flag off, for not blocking other people way. Lol~ Due to less
participants for our wave, those kicking each other la, pulling legs la, swim
past on top of you la, nop, none of these happened to us.
The sea bed is really
shallow, we still able to stand on our toe even when we reach the first buoy.
Once I feel it is muddy instead on sandy, I started to swim. *yea, I
was “running” for the front part* The feeling is totally different
when you can’t see anything because of the muddy sea water. After just a few
strokes, I get panic, and when I hold my safety buoy I notice just a few
strokes I already drifted away from the safety rope. Lagi panic!!! Shwuni was
beside me and keep telling me to calm down, don’t worries just swim, I was
doing well. Take deep breath and grasp some air, put myself together and let go
my safety buoy. Our original plan was Shwuni will swim at my left, so she can
keep her eyes on me when we were swimming. But because I can’t do sighting
properly and keep drifting, she had to swim at my right to keep pushing me back
to the course. After passing the second buoy (which is turning-buoy), I heard a
lady was asking help from kayak, saying that she cannot liao, wanna give up.
The volunteer asking her where’s her safety buoy, and she doesn’t have one. I
really salute to those able to challenge themselves for open water swim without
buoy.
Ok, back to my swim,
continue my journey with A LOTS OF pause by holding to my safety buoy and
resume swim after a few breath and direction adjustment. Now I understand why
some people told me that using breaststroke has better sighting especially in
open water. Of course la, just for those beginners like us, not for elite who
trained for professional open water swim. After the third buoy (turning buoy),
I was switching between freestyle and breaststroke. I was once hated
breaststroke as I have been learning it but I can’t get the flow right and now
force to get it right. (After
that I able to swim breaststroke for 50m nonstop compare to before I need to
stop 1 or 2 times) I feel the temperature is different at different
part of the course, some places I feel cold and some is warm. According to
Shwuni, there was one time she saw my lips turned purple. Not sure is the cold
water or my panic attack, I think is the “synergy” of both! Everyone who swam
open water told me that will be more buoyant in sea and you will move easier,
but I was too occupied to feel that. Dragging myself pass the fourth buoy (finally!!) and
try to swim as much as possible because it was closing to the finish line
crowded with spectators. Tried our best to look good and not too embarrassed.
Once we get out from the
sea and start running, I am revived! Nothing can stop me from that moment!!
Running toward to get our bike and ready for the next challenge! Dried my feet,
socks on, cleat shoes on, helmet on, and gulped down N8 energy jelly while
waiting for my buddy.
I AM ABLE TO BREATH FREELY!! [Photo credit: Hannah Kamaruzaman]
Helmet is the first! [Photo credit: Laysan]
Transiton - Swim->Bike [Photo credit: Laysan]
This was a draft legal
race, so I told Shwuni I will be pulling her for the bike course and tries my
best to make up some time from the swim leg. Just after us getting out to the
main road, LeeLian pass us and she was on her second loop bike leg. So we pedal
hard to stick at her back draft for the first straight road. The power of
peloton, again! The beginning part of the bike course was ok, long flat
straight road. Then suddenly cars are zooming beside us. During the briefing
yesterday, RD was announcing that the road will be full closure. I remembered
we all cheer so loud for it. The reality, vehicles were coming into the bike
course and without any road signage to indicate that it was a cycling route for
events. Luckily some part of the road has wide road shoulder which we can ride
on the side of 2-lanes road. Without traffic corns or any mobile marshal, other
vehicles driving fast and even take up both lanes. We had to slow down at
junction to make sure the traffic police and volunteer really doing their job
to stop the vehicles and let us thru. I am sorry that at one point I shouted to
one of the volunteer cars are coming into the bike course as I do not see any
action taken to protect our participants’ safety. It is more reasonable if this
is a RM20 taman charity ride. I felt my safety was neglected by the organiser,
me and my friend have to keep watching out for traffic. No matter fast or slow
rider, if it was meant to be a “closed bike course” please ensure it stays the
way until the last rider finish (within COT). Nothing much other
than complaint about the safety, the bike course supposed to be a very
enjoyable one. Fortunate enough that we were doing sprint, so just one loop and
not going to another “scary” loop.
Back to transition, and
the last leg to go! When we were back to the ground, I was all ok, and Shwuni
is the one who suffering. I told her that just 5km, we will able to finish it
even if we just walk. Starting with slow jog to keep the heart rate steady, not
spiking too early. Once we were out to the main road, slowly picking up the
pace. During swim leg, Shwuni was the one taking care of me, now is my time to
take care for her. To avoid slowing down, she just have to keep running and I
will grab water/isotonic from water station to pass to her, no delay. Since
this is our first triathlon, we are going to do it together and finish
together! So we do not rush for the timing, just to make sure finish it in one
piece with no bonks face at the finish line. For me, after that open water
swim, 5km just a blink of eyes, and then we are approaching the finish line!
"Why you are here?!" Lol~ [Photo
credit: Michael Wong]
Buddy! We do it together! [Photo credit: Alvin Tew]
Remind each other about
the look tidy up and run upright. Here we go, our first triathlon! Completed!
Approaching finish line, sure sprinting la!
[Photo credit: Hannah Kamaruzaman]
We did it!!! [Photo credit: Michael Wong]
When we cross the finish
line, the sense of accomplishment is so great! A non-swimmer (or
hydrophobic person) like me, and a non-runner (who hates
running, self-claimed mermaid) like Shwuni, this is a milestone for
both of us. We are now officially a baby triathlete! (Sprint only ma,
that’s why a baby, baby steps, ok?)
Post-race
Volunteers are very
helpful and they distribute cold water and isotonic bottle at the finish line
area, which is something we need it the most! But, the most important item was
nowhere to be seen, instead there’re long queue, so without asking we just
start queuing too. While in the queue we start to ask around where to collect
medal, and to our surprise, the queue is for medal, not collection but to put
your address for posting. What?! We were informed by the volunteer that the
medals not reach yet, hence they will post to us after they received it. When
you think the event won’t get worse, it will break its own record!
So, all the post-race
photos were without finisher medal (that’s another story about the medal). Anyway, we were so high that time and keep
taking photos with others do not bother much about the medal. We should not let
this lousy organiser jeopardize our post-race mood especially this is our first
ever triathlon and there’s so many friends with us. The environment did
compensate the disappointment from the organiser.
After lots and lots of
photos, chit chats session and hi-bye with friends, finally we rode back to our
resort room. By the way, the transition area was all open, anyone can go in and
take stuff and bike, no id band verification or at least bib
checking. I am truly proud of all the participants, spectators and supports,
even passer-by on that day. So far I did not hear any news about anything got
stolen or loss on that day. (Maybe just not happening to people that I
know)
All the representatives! [Photo credit: Laysan]
The "sticky number" show off!
We waited under hot sun for this!
We crossed the finish line!
Repping the team, Team Real Steel! #MakeTeamProud
We had a good race, because of each others!
I must give a big kudos
to all the volunteers! All the volunteers I encountered on race day or even
race kit collection day were friendly and helpful. I am sorry that during bike
course I have to shout at one of the volunteer because cars are keeping coming
into the road. Even for the medal issue, they did it patiently, explain to all
participants who pressuring them, and sit under the tent just to verify
address. The fault from organiser should not be put on them, some of them look
really young and I hope that they would continue to helping in other race by
better organiser. I have seen volunteer sit aside playing phone from other race
which they supposed to jaga the road or signalling traffic. So yes, volunteers
in this event were way much better, especially those at water station cheering
for participants too. A big “thank you” to those volunteers who I missed to say
it on the day.
Ok, time to do some
post-race self-reflect, definitely is my swim, a lot more training needed. I
was the last from my category, and Shwuni was force to be swimming slowly with
me. Apart from the swim, there’s room for improvement at the transition. Maybe
I was thinking to do it slowly but surely, so just to avoid any mistake, I did
not do it quick like my duathlon.
Like a worm in water, and revive on land! Lol~
It took me like 4 years
to finally done my first triathlon. I start with Obstacle Course Running (OCR),
into road and trail running, then to cycling. When I finally took the courage
to start swimming, the gap closed. So, excuse always excuse, if you want it,
you will find a way to complete it. I am grateful for all the running buddies
from Puma Night Running Club, Bike Elementz who always take care of my bike,
Yen who always jio me no matter how many times I FFK, Shwuni who keep
supporting me during my swim journey, and of course my swim coach Kiat, Vong
from Cycology that always said “You don’t wanna do it, you do it!”, and last
but not least, my bro who always nag me if I ever slack. All of above just
like catalyses to my tri-journey!
So, the top question
asked by almost everyone immediately after the race “When is your next race?”
- Most probably will have a Part 2 for this -
Sign up here with your email
ConversionConversion EmoticonEmoticon