Belated Race Report – Sunshine Coast 70.3. September 2014 From the outset I would encourage anyone considering the range of options for 70.3 events to seriously have a look at the Sunshine Coast race for the following reasons: 

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Accessibility. Plenty of flights to Brisbane and a very efficient hourly shuttle bus service (ConneXion) that takes you right from the airport to your accommodation and picks you up again if necessary. The cost was $42/person + $6/bike each way and you need to book in advance. It took all the hassle out of getting from the airport to accommodation and back again. Accommodation: A good choice of accommodation, particularly in Mooloolaba, right in the heart of the course itself only minutes walk from transition and the beach and easy limping distance from the finish line. Eating: Plenty of restaurants and coffee shops and a Coles supermarket in case you want to prepare your own meals (and save a bit of money). The Surf Club is a good place for a meal. The Race: Well organised with a good fast course that starts and finishes on the Mooloolaba Esplanade. A really good atmosphere. The Weather: I can’t guarantee this but it was very pleasant for the six days we were there. A bit cooler than Darwin but we were never cold.

Having said all that, I have never been as apprehensive before a race as I was this time. I had really enjoyed the Hawaii 70.3 back in early June but my time was pretty ordinary due largely to a slow run. The conditions were tough but I had hoped to go a bit better. Then in August I spent a month in Adelaide with my parents. It was bitterly cold and while I got plenty of training done, the quality was inconsistent. To cap it off I caught a cold which was still lingering when I got back to Darwin. Added to that was the fact that I had gone up an age group to 60 - 64 and I was having a few personal doubts as to why I was still doing this. So I really wasn’t sure what condition, mentally or physically, I was in. In the week leading up to the race I drove Carlene nuts with obsessive compulsive checking, re-checking and triple checking all my gear and all our arrangements. However, once I had registered, had a bit of a ride, swim and run, picked up my race bag and checked the bike into transition, I was feeling much better and looking forward to the race. The Race The swim was one lap of a rectangular course. The sea had been fairly choppy in the previous few days but on race morning it was nice and flat. The water temperature was officially 19.6C so it was wet-suit optional. There were multiple waves and the 50 + men went off about 30 minutes after the pros. After getting through a small shore break, it was a really pleasant swim, not too congested initially, plenty of open water and didn’t feel cold. I felt that I was having a good swim and came out of the water in about 36 minutes which was near to what I had expected. Unfortunately, we learned after the race that a 39 year old competitor from Victoria had suffered a fatal heart attack in the swim. A reminder that these events are a challenge and we must always be sure that we are well prepared.

The bike leg took us out of Mooloolaba through Alexander Headlands, and then onto the very smooth Sunshine Motorway. The course was one lap of 50 kms and a second lap of 40 kms. After leaving Mooloolaba and on the way back in there are a couple of hills. Nothing too dramatic but a chance to get out of the saddle and stretch the legs. The road surface was excellent and there was a gentle tail wind on the way out so it was a good opportunity to get the average speed up. For once I really enjoyed the ride. Sometimes I experience stiffness in the lower back after a while on the aerobars and have to sit up for extended periods. No such problems this time and I was back in transition under 3 hours which is not spectacular for most but good for me. The run was two laps that took us out of Mooloolaba, up a hill then out to Maroochydore. This was a bit disappointing as given there is a magnificent coastline, we seemed to spend a lot of time in and around the backstreets. It wasn’t too hot and there were plenty of drink stations and time went quickly. I managed to maintain a steady pace and came in at around two hours. My final time was 5 hours 38:24 which I was really happy with. It was my second best time and 5 minutes faster than my first 70.3 5 years ago so I was pretty pleased with that. In retrospect I MIGHT have pushed a little harder on the bike and MAYBE pushed a bit harder in the mid-section of the run but you are always conscious of having a bit in reserve in case you get the wobbles. I felt really good as I crossed the line and recovered quickly which reflects the benefits of sticking rigorously to the program Daryl sets. So to recap, it was a really enjoyable event, made better by the presence of other Darwin Triathlon Club members. A pat on the back before the race, a wave on the bike and a “go Phil” on the run really lifts the spirits. As I said at the beginning, I would recommend this one.