After completing Xterra Lite on the Saturday I managed to get an entry from Andre Gerber who were not able to compete and Stillwater Sport were more than happy to do the substitute right there and then.
The pre-race nerves were running high with every athlete waiting to find out if it’s a wetsuit legal race for the 1.5km swim.
As the announcement was made you could feel the tension drop around the race village at Elgin Country Club as everyone started making their way down to the swim start.
I had a very different attitude on the race today with having fun being the only priority which started right from the beginning of the swim, starting at the back and to the way right was my game plan and it paid off as I had a very easy and comfortable swim with no fighting and near-drowning moments.
Into T1 in a time off 00:28:35 and keen to get onto the so called bas-ass mountain bike route. The 28km of grueling terrain was all and more than I was hoping for with some new lessons learned and moments where I couldn’t believe how I stayed on my bike. The terrain and race organisers really wanted to test our machines as the route itself wasn’t as tough as the terrain was for the bikes.
Making sure my intake of race fuel, 32Gi was constant with the weather playing its part and still a tough 12km run to follow.
I raced into T2 in 01:46:32 after some very fast single-track and close calls knowing that the hard work is about to start.
Out onto the run I started very slow and with my race belt with water and 32Gi chews and tabs I was ready for action. Must complement the route, water points and atmosphere out in the heat and mountains was sublime. After a long and slow 01:11:39 of running I was pushed to the max and soooo happy with the way my ankles held up with the challenge.
As I crossed the finish line in 03:29:52, 12th in my age category I jumped straight into the ice bath followed by a rubdown free of charge from the massage therapists.
I had so many good to take way from this very tough but successful weekend that my spirit was running high and it was confirmed that my gamble I took with the operation paid off in all aspects.
Special thanks to my family, friends and sponsors.
32Gi, Cape Auto Centre, Power Protection Testing, Glider Eyewear and Tuna Brands.
Results:
P_Dist P_Cat P_Sex FinishTime Surname Name Sex Category Chip# Race# - TeamName Swim T1 Bike T2
145 12 95 03:29:52 Pretorius Tiaan M 30-34 M 290 196 00:28:35 00:03:05 01:46:32 - 01:11:39
The pre-race nerves were running high with every athlete waiting to find out if it’s a wetsuit legal race for the 1.5km swim.
As the announcement was made you could feel the tension drop around the race village at Elgin Country Club as everyone started making their way down to the swim start.
I had a very different attitude on the race today with having fun being the only priority which started right from the beginning of the swim, starting at the back and to the way right was my game plan and it paid off as I had a very easy and comfortable swim with no fighting and near-drowning moments.
Into T1 in a time off 00:28:35 and keen to get onto the so called bas-ass mountain bike route. The 28km of grueling terrain was all and more than I was hoping for with some new lessons learned and moments where I couldn’t believe how I stayed on my bike. The terrain and race organisers really wanted to test our machines as the route itself wasn’t as tough as the terrain was for the bikes.
Making sure my intake of race fuel, 32Gi was constant with the weather playing its part and still a tough 12km run to follow.
I raced into T2 in 01:46:32 after some very fast single-track and close calls knowing that the hard work is about to start.
Out onto the run I started very slow and with my race belt with water and 32Gi chews and tabs I was ready for action. Must complement the route, water points and atmosphere out in the heat and mountains was sublime. After a long and slow 01:11:39 of running I was pushed to the max and soooo happy with the way my ankles held up with the challenge.
As I crossed the finish line in 03:29:52, 12th in my age category I jumped straight into the ice bath followed by a rubdown free of charge from the massage therapists.
I had so many good to take way from this very tough but successful weekend that my spirit was running high and it was confirmed that my gamble I took with the operation paid off in all aspects.
Special thanks to my family, friends and sponsors.
32Gi, Cape Auto Centre, Power Protection Testing, Glider Eyewear and Tuna Brands.
Results:
P_Dist P_Cat P_Sex FinishTime Surname Name Sex Category Chip# Race# - TeamName Swim T1 Bike T2
145 12 95 03:29:52 Pretorius Tiaan M 30-34 M 290 196 00:28:35 00:03:05 01:46:32 - 01:11:39