So last year I did this, and I reflected, I cannot always be a joke just do things for the sake of doing. Usually my bike leg is the greatest joke of all as I always rent the mountain bike from S lite company to do the race ( no road bikes for loan for me because of height issues).
So after taking over my brother’s road bike, I decided that this year, things should change. However, I also never really did much on cycling because I always find cycling very technical and troublesome. You have to bring out the bike, make sure it is in working order etc. So voice down I am a very lazy person. I rather swim and run but not really cycle.
selfie before swim
Signing up
The Tri factor series is organised by Orange Room. For 2018, event was at Carpark E2 ( ECP Food centre) and this year it was the same. So I presume that the routes for all 3 legs are the same. Signed up for it to make sure I get my ass moving and not just keep running and running.
Registration Web Site: https://www.trifactor.sg/#/
It is always good to set a target for yourself so you will work towards it. Kinda like the younger days where you know the exams are in which months and you will prepare for it.
Goodie bag
Cost for a standard distance 1.5km Swim, 36km Ride, 10 km Running is about 110 SGD. Coming with it is a mini goodie bag with an event tee, some Dove sample body wash, the bib,bicycle sticker, helmet sticker, event race timing ankle belt and of course, drinks and Gel support along the way.
Race Course
Race area in the morning
Transition zone
The race course is kinda of like the usual suspect. For the swim, it is from the shore line at out to the sea, making a triangular loop back, one loop is about 750m. Cycling wise, the look is 6km from Car Park E2 all the way back to the Sailing Centre and back. While running is from the Hawker centre out, pass the lagoon and seafood centre and all the way to around carpark C4 where you make a U turn back. One loop is about 5km.
Click here: Race course and Information
To the many more seasoned triathletes, this could be their usual training or something pretty manageable. But to me, I was nearly half dead.
Doing the Triathlon
At the body marking station
My main aim everytime I go for Swim Bike Run is just simply to complete. Since I am really not a diligent tri person. I can only wish that some of the so called base training can do help to bring me to the finish line.
Tri is very different from doing a normal marathon, for marathon, the only worry is that I go the wrong way and get disqualified for no reason. Or at most too dark you fell down and injure yourself.
But for Tri, there are too many safety concerns, swimming the wrong course, bad weather. Bike went wrong, the “fiercer” more competitive bikers collide into you. Run, get down the bike and cramp cannot run. There are really too many scenarios. But everytime, I manage to finish a leg , the more relieved I become. And you will feel more confident of finishing it.
2019 Race
This time I got a bicycle rack to bring the Treknology bike to the race site. Missed the bib collection end of June, I had to made another trip to ECP carpark E2 the day before just to collect the bib and stuff. It was very hot day and I prayed hard that the next day will not be as unforgiving.
Proper bike and the hellokitty bag
Although the race starts at 08:30am, I thought it is better to get there earlier. I drove out at around 6:40am slowly trotting to the carpark E2 around 7:20am. The car park was not really that crowded and there were still space around. Managed to get a slot nearer the transition ground. Actually, I was quite unglam, put all my stuffs inside one Hello Kitty recycling bag and there I made my way to the transition point.
You need to get all the stickers on your items first and wear the wrist tag before entering the transition zone. Only those with the tag are allowed to enter, so you can be quite sure that your valuables are not compromised. The transition area does give you quite and overwhelming feel especially for a noob like me. Flashy beautiful bikes, participants in professional tri suits. I am not so ready to invest so much as I am really not sure is a sport really going to cost you so much or its just a mindset that I should look like this when I pick up a sport.
Anyway, going to my spot 567, I realise that my neighbour is one of the very professional looking one and infact all around me are fully and nicely geared up except me! well, she was kinda surprised with my hello kitty bag, but glad she found it cute.
Changed to my swim attire. I set to do the body marking, usually at races, no one will volunteer to help me take pictures, but this time was different. At the body marking a veteran offered to take pictures for me. And at the sign board, another offered. Maybe it is a good sign I thought.
Tri ladies
SWIM
Before I set off at the waiting pen, I saw one of my running friend’s friend, her name was Jean Wong. I had seen her on Facebook participating in many sports. Kindly she offered some picture taking session for me , which then I had some pictures to show others.
The day was fine, and at the ladies open flag off, the sun was already starting to glare. It will be a hot day I guess. Luckily, there were not many ladies doing the standard, else I forsee some slamming. But along the way, I did get slammed and stuff but by the ultra distance males. Some of the male swimmers are really quite rough in the waters. The current was strong and I got drifted away in my second loop. But managed to keep in view the buoy and got back.
BIKE
This time round, managed to shave off nearly twenty minutes from the bike. I was quite happy, but I guess there are more techniques to pick up on and also the old injury on the left feet kept coming back making it a little bit difficult to ride. Overall, I was not the last, which makes me kinda relieved.
RUN
For the run, wearing a conventional shoes really made the timing suffer. But I had no choice due to the left feet pain. Had to change to the more bouncy and comfy for the legs shoes.
Overall
Medal with the bib
Looking back now at the results, I was surprised that my swim went below one hour, but the run was more than an hour, I could have been better. Maybe it is the heat , maybe it is some other reasons. But I was glad that when I finish people are not packing up, I could see some bikes around my rack.
Well, this race kinda gave me the confidence that it is possible for me to do triathlon properly. But with right gear and more training. Next year, I guess I will be back!