24-26March in MOOLOOLABA!

SATURDAY 24 MARCH 2007


Woke up to a rainy Saturday morning in Melb. We took a cab down to the airport to depart for Sunshine Coast! Here's me looking cool in my backpack.

Our bagpacks

In Jet Star
Sunshine Coast airport. Clem standing in front of the plane. It's DARN HOT here! 33deg?

Heeellooooo Sunshine Coast.
Shared a cab with a fellow triathlete stayin at the same backpackers as us--Mooloolaba Beach Backpackers. Here's the view of the (2blocks) backpackers when u first step into the compound.
Entrance
View from the 2nd floor. Not bad eh? There's a small pool for playing pool volleyball, a barbie, TV, sofas etc in the common area.
The 2nd floor common kitchen.
Across the road from the backpackers is a Lawn Bowling club! haha all old men playing.


We grabbed a large Domino's pizza for lunch, assembled our bikes and headed to the race registration. We walked through the carnival tents. There's my bike getting checked at the Avanti booth.


Bumped into Pam at the registration area.
Clem and me on the verandah on the beach. Picturesque. The beach is AWESOME. so is the heat.
One of the booths at the carnival was Chocolate Graphics. They sponsor Emma Snowsill and her beau Craig Walton.
The start of the Ryders Cycling Grand Prix. Many of Aussie's top cyclists took part. It was part of the Mooloolaba Triathlon Festival which had the 5km Asics Twilight Run, Peregian Springs Mooloolaba Ocean Swim and the Ryders GP.
Clem and I putting on all the goodies in our race goody bag. What do u call that..golf cap thingy and extremely RETRO singlets! We look like clowns but that's ok, we're in the safety of our dorms.

SUNDAY 25 MARCH 2007

Race Morning, at 5am.

We went to set up transition at 5.15am then walked like 1km on the beach to the start line. Our wave's start was at about 6.50am. Btw, the sun rose at 5am.

When we were waiting around the startline, very smart Clemmie decided to take a pee in the sea. So he walked in until the water was about waist high and was happily looking at me (I was standing on the beach). Then suddenly, a huge swell came up from behind him and the wave crashed down on his head. So the poor peeing boy got thrown onto the seabed and hit his big hips. HAHAHAHA. I burst out laughing hysterically coz it looked super funny. Until I worried he dropped his race cap and goggles. haha but he didn't. Anyway there are many signs by the beach warning people of Dumping Waves which can throw you forcefully onto the seabed and you might hurt yourself. Lesson #1, face the sea when u're peeing.

Right, the swim start was pretty choppy coz of the big waves. But the swim felt good. It was a one lap loop, water was clear. I was swimming pretty well and on course. anyway, it was a pretty long run down to T1.

OH Oh, i must say, the race organisers are chauvanistic. Guys have the prime racks while the females have our bike racks far off. So we have to run a long way with our bikes out of and into transition. Piss me off. Yea, and there were a zillion bikes I almost forgot where my bike was. haha.

Anyway, the bike leg was good. There was a fairly long steeeeeeeeep hill outta transition, then it was rolling hills. Damn i felt good the first 20km. It was a NON DRAFTING RACE. So obviously, i din draft, i was way too scared of getting caught and get a 3min penalty! That'll suck. But then I was getting tired, and I saw big packs going by, so i decided I'll draft the last 20km back. But at the turn ard where Penalty Box2 was, there were like 15ppl in there., and a big sign which read "DRAFTING IS CHEATING". Being my honest self, i slowly pedalled my way back. My lower back was damn painful and my left adductor was cramping. WTH.

Anyway, onto the run. I was gg pretty relax the first 5km. Until I reminded myself I was actually RACING. haha anyway, there was a steep uphill which we had to run twice. Yea, Aussies are damn good bikers. Coz i passed many ppl on the swim and run, but on the bike...i think i passed 5 and abt 200passed me. hahaha.

Well whatever, it was a fun race and I loved the course. Hilly.

THE WORLD CUP RACE

We went to shower then rushed back for the World Cup race. Women at 11.30am. Here are some pictures of the Women's cycling leg. Drafting races are actually quite boring. the women were basically in 3 large packs. oh ya, there were about 70 elite women and 80 men in the WC event.

All the big shots were there--Female: Emma Snowsill (Commonwealth Games Gold medallist), Erin Densham (World U23 Champ), Vanessa Fernendas (World Rank #1), Kate Allen (Athens Olympics Gold medallist), Annabel Luxford (Mooloolaba WC defending Champ), Kimberly Yap (SEA Games Gold medallist).

Male: Craig Walton, Brad Kahlefeldt (Commonwealth Games Gold medallist), Javier Gomez(World Rank #1), Bevan Docherty (Mooloolaba WC defending champ & Athens Olympics Silver medallist), Courtney Athkinson (World U23 Champ). Simon Whitfield (Sydeny Olympics Gold medallist) and Hamish Carter (Athens Olympics Gold medallist) gave commentry for the men's race.

Elite transition--luxurious, there's even enough space to set up a shower and bed in your transition box. It spoils you man.



Elite recovery area just after the finish line.
EMMA SNOWSILL AND ME!!!!!!!!

Swim start for men's WC race.
Just look at that! Hoards of beach-goers lying on the sand baking in the sun. Like the Hamptons!
Up the hill on the bike leg. They were basically in 3 big packs.
Up the hill on the run leg. Courtney Atkinson quickly took the lead in the first of 4 loops, but was overtaken by Gomez then Kahlefeldt. In the end, it was a tense sprint finish between Kahlefeldt and Gomez. Clem (Gomez) and I (Kahlefeldt) bet the winner on a buttslap. I got to kick clem's ass haha.
Tis us sitting at the curb watching the race. I was totally sunburnt.

that night, we treated ourselves to a dinner of fresh oysters, chicken with risotto and steak. And of course a double scoop of Gelato each.