I thought I would have a chance to write a full report for my favourite race category, the OD Triathlon. Alas, it was not meant to be. Anyway...
It was a fun 2 day race weekend.
Saturday, I helped in the Oracle team relay, doing the swim leg. The sea was choppy and with gusty winds. Breaststrokers like me will have little trouble, though I did gulp down twice sea-water. Exited the swim and handed off to my biker mate in about 7-8 mins (I think)! Pleasantly surprised.
No pressure, no expectations. It was fun!
Sunday. My main event, the Standard Distance aka Olympic Distance (OD). Breakfast checked; Tri-suit checked; Race belt with Bib checked; Water bottle checked; Bike and helmet checked...
As per somewhat usual, I arrive at the race site having just enough time to checked in my bike, layout my transition items, orientate the area, body mark, and proceed to the swim start. Dropped by the Oracle tent to say hi and still had some time to warm up a little in the water. The sea was equally choppy as yesterday. But no worries, it'll be fine, just pace myself and I'll exit the swim comfortably.
It starts. A typical swim start. Bodies crashing in the water and each jostling for a space. And the orgy ends as we turned at the buoy. The current is against us and it's strong, but I found a free-stylist to draft. He doesn't seemed fast, but it's better to draft and save energy than to work against the current on my own. Round the U-turn, now with the benefit of the current, I worked my stroke slicing and diving through the waves.
2nd lap. There was just one other starting with me. I decided to go on my own till the first buoy. And I think I caught up with 2 others by the turn. Back to the stretch that was against the current. The current seems stronger now; I didn't move much with the first 10 strokes! Got to draft, got to draft. Found a fellow breaststroker. Better than nothing. Several times, I swam out of his draft zone and wanted to just overtake him, but found that at best I can only maintain at his speed. *Sigh*, let's get back to drafting. I bet he knows I'm making use of him.
U-turned. If the current was strong against us earlier, it meant it's strong for us now. Making my strokes as efficient as possible by diving into the water, I was making good time (at least I think so) by overtaking a few freestylists.
T1. Most of the bikes in my wave are still around, though my neighbours' were all gone. Perhaps they are the faster ones, or I'm indeed slow. Don't know and don't care. I'm racing against myself and having fun.
No pedal cleats today, so I can run normally in my running shoes to Bike Out pushing my bike along. Mounted, and off I went. After 1km, it was time to hydrate and also to wash down the gel I've taken during transition. Saw that my bike computer is not working again. Well, I'll just have to trust myself not to be too slow and taking my own sweet time.
Same tactic as the swim, pace myself and not tire myself out in the first 2 laps of the 4 lap bike route. I planned to make up any lost time during the run. Nearing the U-turn, I double-checked all blind spots to make sure there were no other cyclists nearby, so that I could negotiate the tight turn with as much room as I could allow.
Entering back into ECP, things were just going fine. Weather good, I felt good.
Disaster stroked. At the bend after the bike shop in Area G, someone overtook me as I negotiate the right bend. I didn't see him coming. I was on the left, on the outside of the curve. He came in fast on my right, on the inside of the curve. Then, the next thing I knew he was right in front of me, his rear wheel near to my front wheel. Could not remember how I had reacted, only remember that my front wheel was soon clipped. I tried to regain balance but lost.
Flew off my bike onto the road. My 2nd superman feat. Super duper state of shock. I felt blood everywhere. My body went into a slight spasm, trying frantically to catch my breath.
Alright, I shall not go into the details of the next several hours. After 7 stitches to my chin and now pending specialist review of my fractured left humeral neck, it is an unique experience which I hope no one will have to go through. Although I don't know many of your names, and had I asked I know I will not have remembered, I want to sincerely thank the following folks who helped me through the day.
1. The 2 marshallers near the bend.
2. The cycle leg coordinator and his buddy.
3. The medic who attended to me.
4. The many fellow triathletes who called out asking if I'm ok. Some even stopped.
5. The guy who overtook me stopped too on his next lap. I think he was shocked too. The only thing that I kept saying was, "Please complete the race. I'm ok. Please continue on." I hope he gets a PB on my behalf.
6. The ambulance folks who drove me back to the race site.
7. The doctor and medics who attended to me at the medical tent.
8. Dr Lim, the nurses and radiologists at CGH A&E.
9. All my Oracle colleagues, Annie, Johnny, Leslie, Mehdi etc, for taking good care of my barang barang and logistics. Apologies for not leaving at least a note and making you guys so worried for much of the afternoon.
10. My neighbours who fetched my father to CGH.
11. Last but not least, my training buddy David.
I'm not sure if I'll get back onto my bike. You know, the fear and phobia will be there even after full recovery. Well, let's see what happens. I know I will beat pain to this FINISH.
It was a fun 2 day race weekend.
Saturday, I helped in the Oracle team relay, doing the swim leg. The sea was choppy and with gusty winds. Breaststrokers like me will have little trouble, though I did gulp down twice sea-water. Exited the swim and handed off to my biker mate in about 7-8 mins (I think)! Pleasantly surprised.
No pressure, no expectations. It was fun!
Sunday. My main event, the Standard Distance aka Olympic Distance (OD). Breakfast checked; Tri-suit checked; Race belt with Bib checked; Water bottle checked; Bike and helmet checked...
As per somewhat usual, I arrive at the race site having just enough time to checked in my bike, layout my transition items, orientate the area, body mark, and proceed to the swim start. Dropped by the Oracle tent to say hi and still had some time to warm up a little in the water. The sea was equally choppy as yesterday. But no worries, it'll be fine, just pace myself and I'll exit the swim comfortably.
It starts. A typical swim start. Bodies crashing in the water and each jostling for a space. And the orgy ends as we turned at the buoy. The current is against us and it's strong, but I found a free-stylist to draft. He doesn't seemed fast, but it's better to draft and save energy than to work against the current on my own. Round the U-turn, now with the benefit of the current, I worked my stroke slicing and diving through the waves.
2nd lap. There was just one other starting with me. I decided to go on my own till the first buoy. And I think I caught up with 2 others by the turn. Back to the stretch that was against the current. The current seems stronger now; I didn't move much with the first 10 strokes! Got to draft, got to draft. Found a fellow breaststroker. Better than nothing. Several times, I swam out of his draft zone and wanted to just overtake him, but found that at best I can only maintain at his speed. *Sigh*, let's get back to drafting. I bet he knows I'm making use of him.
U-turned. If the current was strong against us earlier, it meant it's strong for us now. Making my strokes as efficient as possible by diving into the water, I was making good time (at least I think so) by overtaking a few freestylists.
T1. Most of the bikes in my wave are still around, though my neighbours' were all gone. Perhaps they are the faster ones, or I'm indeed slow. Don't know and don't care. I'm racing against myself and having fun.
No pedal cleats today, so I can run normally in my running shoes to Bike Out pushing my bike along. Mounted, and off I went. After 1km, it was time to hydrate and also to wash down the gel I've taken during transition. Saw that my bike computer is not working again. Well, I'll just have to trust myself not to be too slow and taking my own sweet time.
Same tactic as the swim, pace myself and not tire myself out in the first 2 laps of the 4 lap bike route. I planned to make up any lost time during the run. Nearing the U-turn, I double-checked all blind spots to make sure there were no other cyclists nearby, so that I could negotiate the tight turn with as much room as I could allow.
Entering back into ECP, things were just going fine. Weather good, I felt good.
Disaster stroked. At the bend after the bike shop in Area G, someone overtook me as I negotiate the right bend. I didn't see him coming. I was on the left, on the outside of the curve. He came in fast on my right, on the inside of the curve. Then, the next thing I knew he was right in front of me, his rear wheel near to my front wheel. Could not remember how I had reacted, only remember that my front wheel was soon clipped. I tried to regain balance but lost.
Flew off my bike onto the road. My 2nd superman feat. Super duper state of shock. I felt blood everywhere. My body went into a slight spasm, trying frantically to catch my breath.
Alright, I shall not go into the details of the next several hours. After 7 stitches to my chin and now pending specialist review of my fractured left humeral neck, it is an unique experience which I hope no one will have to go through. Although I don't know many of your names, and had I asked I know I will not have remembered, I want to sincerely thank the following folks who helped me through the day.
1. The 2 marshallers near the bend.
2. The cycle leg coordinator and his buddy.
3. The medic who attended to me.
4. The many fellow triathletes who called out asking if I'm ok. Some even stopped.
5. The guy who overtook me stopped too on his next lap. I think he was shocked too. The only thing that I kept saying was, "Please complete the race. I'm ok. Please continue on." I hope he gets a PB on my behalf.
6. The ambulance folks who drove me back to the race site.
7. The doctor and medics who attended to me at the medical tent.
8. Dr Lim, the nurses and radiologists at CGH A&E.
9. All my Oracle colleagues, Annie, Johnny, Leslie, Mehdi etc, for taking good care of my barang barang and logistics. Apologies for not leaving at least a note and making you guys so worried for much of the afternoon.
10. My neighbours who fetched my father to CGH.
11. Last but not least, my training buddy David.
I'm not sure if I'll get back onto my bike. You know, the fear and phobia will be there even after full recovery. Well, let's see what happens. I know I will beat pain to this FINISH.
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