Go Troppo Townsville Triathlon

Last weekend I travelled to Townsville for a little hit out to see how my training was going. I didn't have any expectations on myself expect to potentially take out the under 19 category. The conditions on Sunday morning were almost perfect despite the easterly winds coming off the coast. I thought I looked like a little bit of a try hard when I rocked up with my time trial bike and aero helmet but those thoughts soon changed for me.

The announcement of the event having a wetsuit legal swim made me feel super confident because all of the swim training I'd done, I'd been in the wetsuit due to the cold. I got to the start line feeling ready to race along with the other 47 males in the sprint distance. As the hooter went off I aimed to go as hard as I could to the first buoy before settling into my rhythm. The surprising thing was when I got to the first buoy I was in the lead and it didn't feel too hard. I continued pushing the pace at the front and when I came out of the water to go into the second lap I noticed there was a guy on my feet. I jumped back into the water in the lead and managed to stay at the front for the remainder 375m and for the first time ever I exited the water in the lead.

Going on to the bike gave me confidence because it would be my strongest leg although because it's been used as my recovery fort the last few weeks the lack of cycling training made a little worried. I held my lead on the first lap and averaged around the 40km/h mark. I could see that second place was still not gaining nor losing any time so I was hoping that my run could hold him off. The second lap of the bike really hurt and I felt the lack of training starting to kick in. With 5km to go I still had a lead but this is when I started to struggle. I pushed as hard as I could and managed to have a small gap coming off the bike into T2. 

I got through transition quickly and got onto the run. The first 1.25km hurt as I had a stitch but I had opened up the lead again and I could see that 2nd was struggling. I pushed for the remainder of the race continuing to increase my lead was able to finish the race off with a commanding lead taking the overall win.

That would have to be one of my best races that I've ever had leading from start to finish and getting $300 prize money for the win. I took the win with a lead of just under 3mins. I'm still amazed at the fact that I was able to lead out of the water with the swim being my weakest leg. 

Photos from the Go Troppo Triathlon in Townsville

Finish of the race