Germiston 5150

[ahmedbadat]

This was my first triathlon in a year. Been riding tandems socially with my wife so not that much cycling. Started swimming and running two and a half weeks before the race.

 

The swim was challenging on little training but managed a respectable 32m30s. Rode with a disk, what a wild ride but lots of fun. Got quite tough on the way back but was very pleased with 1h12m. The run was but a slow jog. Ended on 2h54 which I was quite happy with all thing considered.

 

Race was very well organised. Would have liked some sponges given the heat wave.

 

I was seriously miffed with Paul Wolff. One minute before our old farts start he zooms up on the jet ski and shouts that "anyone that is not a proficient swimmer should not start" because the conditions are quite choppy. Swimming is such a confidence game for those who are not that experienced, he immediately undermined a lot of peoples confidence. Everyone still started but at least 25 people from our wave were pulled out of the water. Some may well have needed rescuing but I would not be surprised that some also probably panicked because of this stupid warning.

 

It would have been far better to say something on the lines of "it is choppy out there, take your time and pace yourself". Genuine advice to boost confidence rather than scaremongering.

spoke to paul wolff after the race he said they pulled 55 guys out of the water, all before the first bouy, shame i saw one guy getting pulled from the swim about 400m from the swim exit dont know what happened to him looks like he had a panic attack.

[IceCreamMan]

spoke to paul wolff after the race he said they pulled 55 guys out of the water, all before the first bouy, shame i saw one guy getting pulled from the swim about 400m from the swim exit dont know what happened to him looks like he had a panic attack.

 

Water was rough without a doubt and i can understand how daunting it must be for first time tri athletes and even seasoned swimmers. I was in wave 4 and while waiting to start the jet skis were bringing guys in.

 

When i got the first buoy there were 3 guys from red wave holding on waiting to be hauled back to start. tried to tell em to take it easy but hard sell.

 

Toughest open water swim i have done to date...worse than Durban or PE because it was so choppy

[clivem]

Water was rough without a doubt and i can understand how daunting it must be for first time tri athletes and even seasoned swimmers. I was in wave 4 and while waiting to start the jet skis were bringing guys in.

 

When i got the first buoy there were 3 guys from red wave holding on waiting to be hauled back to start. tried to tell em to take it easy but hard sell.

 

Toughest open water swim i have done to date...worse than Durban or PE because it was so choppy

PE?  That's encouraging !

[ScottCM]

Water was rough without a doubt and i can understand how daunting it must be for first time tri athletes and even seasoned swimmers. I was in wave 4 and while waiting to start the jet skis were bringing guys in.

 

When i got the first buoy there were 3 guys from red wave holding on waiting to be hauled back to start. tried to tell em to take it easy but hard sell.

 

Toughest open water swim i have done to date...worse than Durban or PE because it was so choppy

 

That makes me feel better about my 33:16 swim. Thought it was terrible and I really suck at swimming. Maybe a 70.3 will be on the cards then for me next year.

[IceCreamMan]

PE?  That's encouraging !

 

I have done maybe 15 open water swims in the PE bay including IM PE swim and the sea has always been "calmer" than germiston lake. Ocean has swells for sure but its more "predictable" than what germiston lake was. I drank more water on sunday than at any other event ever.

[IceCreamMan]

That makes me feel better about my 33:16 swim. Thought it was terrible and I really suck at swimming. Maybe a 70.3 will be on the cards then for me next year.

 

The Durban 70.3 swim was just difficult to get out and back in but once behind the backline it was easy going... and if you wear a wet suit you have no issues as you can always just float if need be.

 

Seriously , the swim of any tri is by far the easiest part.

[clivem]

I have done maybe 15 open water swims in the PE bay including IM PE swim and the sea has always been "calmer" than germiston lake. Ocean has swells for sure but its more "predictable" than what germiston lake was. I drank more water on sunday than at any other event ever.

Brilliant  .  I coped with Germiston doing my normal swim speed and ended with a 30 min swim.  I also took a few gulps going out in those waves, probably largely due to inexperience.  Luckily the water was clean on Sunday.  I was worried about the PE water if it's very choppy.  Guess it's the distance that's the challenge to be conquered. 

[New2tri]

That makes me feel better about my 33:16 swim. Thought it was terrible and I really suck at swimming. Maybe a 70.3 will be on the cards then for me next year.

hahaha you guys have nothing to worry about, took me something like 35 min. Have to say first 500m wasn't fun, but as you all mentioned, it's mostly because of it being my first tri race. Bike went well, but wasn't too happy with the run...was sooo freaken hot. Ended with 2:42. But will def be back for more.

[IceCreamMan]

hahaha you guys have nothing to worry about, took me something like 35 min. Have to say first 500m wasn't fun, but as you all mentioned, it's mostly because of it being my first tri race. Bike went well, but wasn't too happy with the run...was sooo freaken hot. Ended with 2:42. But will def be back for more.

2:42 is brilliant man. Well done ... 

[TYWALK]

Try my luck.

 

Stood on a glass bottle in the water at the swim exit after having a minute lead over 2nd place

 

A trip to the emergency clinic and few stitches later, not a happy camper. 

[New2tri]

Try my luck.

 

Stood on a glass bottle in the water at the swim exit after having a minute lead over 2nd place

 

A trip to the emergency clinic and few stitches later, not a happy camper. 

Was that you?...great swim dude. Heard what happened, that is the worst kind of luck. Hope you heal up well. All the best.

[New2tri]

A Quick question to the more experienced tri athletes. I bought a tri bike as it is my intention to do the iron man so thought it would assist with the distance. Rode it once or twice before the race this weekend to test setup. Bike ride was great, no real pain, did a good ride and everything felt ok coming off the bike. BUT when I got onto the run my feet felt pretty numb. On the bike I had my MTB peddles with my MTB shoes (same shoes I use for road bike as well), didn't want new bike + new shoes etc all in one go.

My question is do you think my feet felt this way because of the bike, or may it be related to my shoes being too tight and reducing circulation (feet were a bit swollen because of the heat)?

[travisza]

A Quick question to the more experienced tri athletes. I bought a tri bike as it is my intention to do the iron man so thought it would assist with the distance. Rode it once or twice before the race this weekend to test setup. Bike ride was great, no real pain, did a good ride and everything felt ok coming off the bike. BUT when I got onto the run my feet felt pretty numb. On the bike I had my MTB peddles with my MTB shoes (same shoes I use for road bike as well), didn't want new bike + new shoes etc all in one go.

 

My question is do you think my feet felt this way because of the bike, or may it be related to my shoes being too tight and reducing circulation (feet were a bit swollen because of the heat)?

Very unlikely its because of the bike.

 

The only issue the bike might give you is tight hips as the angle of your hips when in the aero position is different from what you are used to (more closed than a road or mtb).

 

Your feet sounds more like a shoe issue.

 

Edited to add - the only thing I can actually think of which might be the bike is if your tri fit caused you to tense up your legs below the knee alot more than usual and this lead to tightness in your calves and shins which then meant numb feet. But I'm stretching here to connect all that

[Robert07]

Try my luck.

 

Stood on a glass bottle in the water at the swim exit after having a minute lead over 2nd place

 

A trip to the emergency clinic and few stitches later, not a happy camper. 

I also cut my heel open from a glass bottle, luckily not too bad, but I have been unable to walk on the heel since Sunday as seems a bit deep

[Crossmonster]

We'll I guess I should tell my story as well. What a tough tough day!

I must be honest though, I generally try to enjoy every race I enter, but I really didn't enjoy this one.

 

Firstly, that swim, wow. I really prepared hard, made sure I got some open water swimming sessions in and comfortably got rid of that hyperventilation that attacked me in every race. But on raceday 300m into the swim I wasn't hyperventilating due to nerves or cold water, just pure exhaustion, I just couldn't breath, kept on letting cold water into the neck of the wetsuit just to cool and calm down. I suffered to such an extent that at some points I was swimming on my back just to catch my breath. Luckily I kept pushing on, and about 100m from that first buoy I recomposed myself and started getting into a rhythm. I'm happy with 34mins considering the amount of time I wasted or lost after the first 300m.

 

Then onto the bike (keep in mind I did this on a mountain bike)  I felt really comfortable going out, thought the wind was coming from the side until I turned at the tollgate... geeezzzzz full blown in your face, to add to my misery the green colours were just passing me non stop, I'm falling further and further behind until there were no more green colours, just red red red from the wave after us and I was certain I was last in our wave - very demotivating. Then came that last 4km uphill and dead straight into the wind, I had nothing left in the tank and knew the run was going to be tough after I almost fell demounting the bike and my legs sorta gave way.

 

Onto the run, usually it takes me about 2km's to get into rhythm but I was kaput... I walked allot - against my inner will my body just didn't want to anymore. Then the last waterpoint to the finish line I put everything in and I've never felt more relieved, and pain, in my life when I crossed that finish line. It's over!!! Finally... 3hrs25m48s

 

To put my time into perspective on how tough I had this race, Bela Bela I finished in 3hrs23m32s (also on the mountain bike) however I came 76th out of 120 guys in my age category. This time round I came 100th out of 130 people. Considering Germiston had allot smooter road surface on the bike.

 

Just to prove to myself that it wasn't my training that was lacking on raceday, I ran the Kaapsehoop 21km half marathon Saturday morning in under 2hrs - very confident after that result.

 

As for next year, Bela Bela definitely on the cards again, I'm however still contemplating over Germiston. Until I've acquired a road bike of-course.