Nick's Triathlon Day

Swim start I am way in the back
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For those of you that are not up to speed on triathlons they are basically a swim, bike and run combination event of varying length. Yesterday I went over to the Four Season’s Hotel to check out the First Annual Bali International Distance Triathlon. This tri has approximately a 1 mile swim, 25 mile bike, and a 6.3 mile run. Told them I was out of luck with no bike- so the race director came through and donated the Cliff Bar Rep’s $ 6000 bike. Bingo I am in. Wait a second, I haven’t trained in three weeks and Christa nailed me with a killer head cold. What the hell. Out goes $125 and now I have to do it.

Told you
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At dinner the girls decide to run the 5 k run so we call it an early night. Six AM came early and I was off to the race. Setup went well until I tried to ride the bike and found the seat about six inches too high. The guy next to me was cool, Korean Air Pilot from Hawaii, who had the tools to lower it. Off we went into the swim about 200 strong. The swim was fabulous. First salt water open water swim where I could see the bottom. The first one third was tough – straight out into the waves. On the second leg the current was with us so I felt like Mark Spitz seeing the ocean floor fly by beneath me. Finished in about 30 minutes and off to the bike.

One swimmer out quick
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This bike course was very unique. From the previous posts you know how crazy the traffic is here. The race director reported they had over 500 police directing traffic. They needed every one of them to keep the locals off of us. Passing the busy streets with wild dogs chasing you , sucking exhaust of trucks and scooters, locals looking at you like aliens – great fun. The bike did not fit to well so I backed off and enjoyed the scenery. Passed a few “Holy Cows” and Hindu burning blessings on the road. All going peachy until the hills started. I though this was a flat island and the next thing I know I am in my “Granny gear” grinding out of the saddle to make it up the hills. That pretty well shot the legs so I knew my race was hurting. Coming in I ran out of water. The aid station volunteers were new to the sport. As I slowed down and asked for water. This guy filled up a one gallon of water in a cooking pot with handle. The next thing I know he slings this pot at me like Berry Bonds. The water hit me in the stomach like a rock – damn near fell of the bike.

C finishing the five k
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The run was trough the village. Smoke burning every where, I guess it complimented the vehicle exhaust. The kids were fabulous. Every ¼ mile a group would run up to you and say hello running along with you. Finished exhausted after about three hours. Cinda kept asking if I was all right. Guess I looked a little rough. Grabbed second place in my age group. Thank God there were only two of us in the age class.

Lauren finished third in here age group and Christa finished fifth. Sure they will fill you in.

L coming in
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Came home to hit the pool and massage to recover.

Off to dinner and shopping now.