CORPORATE TRIATHLON AT IRONMAN -- APRIL 2014

THE SWIMMERS ARE OFF ON THIS BEAUTIFUL PE MORNING. THE SEA IS WARM AND WE CAN ONLY PRAY FOR A DAY LIKE TODAY FOR THE MAIN IRONMAN EVENT ON SUNDAY.

ALLY IS IN JHB FOR A HOCKEY TOURNAMENT. HER SHE IS AT A PRE TOUR FUNCTION WITH THE MATRICS ON TOUR. EACH NEW GIRL MUST DO A PRESENTATION. ALLY IS PAIRED UP WITH ANJA THE GOALKEEPER.

CORPORATE IRONMAN AT HOBIE BEACH PORT ELIZABETH APRIL 2014

FRIDAY 4TH.
I bought a couple of tubes as the last time that I cycled was at the Herald Cycle earlier this year and I had given my Tube away to someone in need. I also took the wheel of the mountain bike which was giving me trouble each time I put in a new tube the valve section would end up punctured. I went to the Boardwalk to register. quick in and out of registration. Nicky and her friend Madri, were in Jeffreys for a function and came to visit us on their way home to the PE Airport. We had a short chat before they headed off home.

RACE BRIEFING. THIS IS A REAL FESTIVE AND PE COMMUNITY ACTIVITY

SATURDAY 5TH APRIL 2014
Up early -- the weather had not been good recently and I was half anticipating another day of rain and wind. Instead it was the most perfect day imaginable.
I had loaded my bike and packed all my stuff on Friday evening so after a wash and shave I was ready to leave.
The boys had stayed overnight and Barbara said that she would be at the beach a little later.
I drive to the Boardwalk and find my normal parking. Pack out the bike and my swim stuff. Walk to the transition and check through. I meet up with a chap who I had last seen at the River Mile Triathlon two years ago. He and I walked down to check the water. The temperature was perfect for a swim. Now I felt great as this is the only part that worries me. Race Briefing on the beach and then the Two Waves of Teams leave. Third is the individual men. I have met a whole lot of people on the beach. Viv Francis and his wife who often do the parkrun. Viv was one of the very oldest Ironmen in the early days and I ran the final loop of the run with him that year.
I meet up with Andrea Dyer and her friend Monique; Her Sister is Morgan who is at school with Ally and also friends with Jarryd. Andrea's mother is there and Ross Dyer. Natasha and Brett Holmes. Tommy Satchwell and Kevin Campbell. I see Lolo; Baron; Tracey; Michael; Kevin; Grumpy; Anneke -- All from the church. Allan and Elaine Verryne; Letitia; Tracey and Rolf; Steve Mc Donald; John Nelson; Samantha and Erin are in a team; John Nelson who is swiming for a team in the first wave and then jogs back to the swim to swim a second time for his own individual triathlon. Rob Elfick; Lisa and Michael who will be taking part in the main event on Sunday. Craig Wilson is also in the Ironman while Sharon joins me for the Baby event.

AND OFF THE SWIMMERS GO. THERE WERE FOUR WAVES OF SWIMMERS, STARTING WITH THE TWO SETS OF TEAMS; THEN THE MEN AND LASTLY THE LADIES.  MY OPINION IS THAT THE LADIES SHOULD HAVE GONE OFF BEFORE THE MEN.

There is this amazing Vibe of PE people just being outdoors and having fun.

The hooter goes off and our group of Men individuals takes off into the sea for a swim. The course looks really short. It hardly goes past the end of the pier and then across towards the pier and then back to shore. The only problem is the number of swimmers. It is a real bunfight getting out. Rounding the Buoy we are all mixed up. But the swim is short. I do not stop swimming once and press on to the shore.
As I run out and onto the beach, Natasha hands me my wallet with my Phone. I like to have it with me just in case I am find something worth taking photo's of. You just never know. John shouts his normal greeting of: "Uncle Peter"! Get on the bike and head out on the cycle route. I manage to climb onto some bunches. Indiviual Ladies are starting to pass me but I also cycle past a number of men so feel good about that. I jump onto a good little group on the way back. There are about Five of us and we alternate the lead. They are on Big Mountain Bikes and I am on my road bike. I battle to keep up on the slight ups and then take the lead on the straights and downs. I see a number of people that I know but it is not easy to shout greetings as we whizz past each other.

PETER COMING OUT OF THE SWIM. WEARING A SUMMIES COACHING TOP.

Back to the transition and I put on my running shoes and head out towards Kings Beach. We run along the road heading out past McArthur Baths and around the car park. A water table is welcome as I had only taken a short sip of water on the bike. In fact this is really just one table too little. We should have had a table just as we exitted the transition. Andrea and her friend Monique pass me as they are on their way to the finish. I see Elaine Vereyne, Sharon Wilson and Anneke. I press on as hard as I can go. The final section I run with Justin who I met on the run. My time is around 1.30. I must look at the official results to see exactly the time. I look for Barbara but it is only when I phone her that we meet up. She missed me at the swim; the cycle and the run. Lene and the boys are there and are all keen to go home. I have to wait to be allowed to fetch the bike so I wander around. I need another coke so go back to the finish area and find someone to scrounge from.

Finally we collect our Bikes and I pack up for home. I had left one of our Wheels at the bike shop a collect it with a new tube. The rest of the afternoon is spent relaxing at home.

MONIQUE; KEEGAN COOKE; ANDREA

ANDREA AND PETER AT CORPORATE IRONMAN PE APRIL 2014

MONIQUE AND ANDREA.  BOTH FIRST TIME TRIATHLETES

STEVE AND PETER. WE SEEM TO MEET HERE EACH YEAR.

RACE BRIEFING. THIS IS A REAL FESTIVE AND PE COMMUNITY ACTIVITY

ANDREA AND MONIQUE FINISHING THEIR FIRST EVER TRIATHLON.AND WEARING MEDALS TO PROVE THAT THEY ARE FINISHERS.

ANDREA WAS AT UNIVERSITY WITH JAQUI AND MICHAEL ZIVOR. SHE NOW RUNS WITH THE MPRG IN THE MORNINGS. HER FAMILY ALSO GO TO WMC.

AND OFF THE SWIMMERS GO. THERE WERE FOUR WAVES OF SWIMMERS, STARTING WITH THE TWO SETS OF TEAMS; THEN THE MEN AND LASTLY THE LADIES.  MY OPINION IS THAT THE LADIES SHOULD HAVE GONE OFF BEFORE THE MEN.

REALLY! WET SUITES WERE NOT NECCESSARY ON THIS WARM MORNING AND THE SEA WAS AMAZING.

HAPPY PETER AND ANDREA. THIS IS A REALLY DOABLE EVENT WITH A SHORT SWIM, EASY 18K BIKE RIDE ON A FLAT COURSE ALONG THE MARINE DRIVE AND BACK AND THE RUN IS JUST 4K TO KINGS BEACH AND BACK.

PETER COMING OUT OF THE SWIM. WEARING A SUMMIES COACHING TOP.

ANDREA DYER FINISHING THE CORPORATE IRONMAN

SATURDAY AFTERNOON
While we are relaxing at home, Ally is still in JHB at a Hockey tournament at St Mary;s school. She left on Wednesday morning. Played her first games on Thursday. Was clobbered in the eye with a ball and then later in the day was hit on the finger. This caused her to have to go to Hospital and then to not play for the rest of the tournament. A bit upsetting for her. She tells us that Megan Derry is also there and also not able to play due to injury.
Barbara has swapped horses. Her previous horse has become wild and is just too big and strong. She now has this horse which is a lot more easy to handle.

BARBARA AND HER HORSE -- STELLA

TODAY BARBARA IS JUST GETTING THE HORSE USED TO BEING AROUND HER.

I check my results over the past two years. 2013 pos 266 of 390. 1:26. Swim 11min. Cycle 47 min nd run 27.
2012 pos 226 of 380. 1:25. Swim 9 min. Cycle 54. Min. And run 21 min.

INTO TRANSITION AFTER THE SWIM

PETER IS ON THE BIKE LOOKING QUITE DETERMINED.

I checked on my results (and some of the people I know in PE) and found the following
2011 -- I must have missed this year for some reason.
2012; overall time 1;25; swim 9.56; cycle 52 minl run 23 min. placed 226 of 382 finishers
2013: overall time 1;26; swim 11.52; cycle 47 min. run 27 min. placed 233 of 392 finishers
2014: overall time 1:14; swim 8:33; cycle 45min; run. 21min. Placed 136 of 399 finishers
Andrea Dyer; 266th; 1:25 -- swim 8.14; cycle 53 and run 22min
Monique Williams. 304th; 1:28
Kevin Campbell. 241st; 1.22
Paul Johnson.317th; 1.30
Ashleigh Johnson; 267th; 1.25
John Nelson 63rd; 1.08.54.
Jamie Riddle 2nd; 53.02
Tommy SATCHWELL -- must have been part of a team.
Brett Holmes 15th; 59.48
Keegan Cooke 6th; 56.29
Dale Watson 83rd; 1.10.13
Rob Elfick 149th; 1.16
Letitia Straus 173rd; 1.17
Viv Bullock 239th; 1.22
Ronel Botha; 249th; 1.23
Sharon Wilson; 283rd; 1.26
Steve McDonald; 97th' 1.11.
Denise Darlow; 225th; 1.21

the first person came in at 51min and the last in 2.37Min.