Desaru Pengerang Long Distance Triathlon - The Long Distance Race 18 Aug 07

Got up at 7, showered and had breakfast at the hotel's lobby. The hotel was really dirty and rundown i wonder how they fill their rooms on normal days. Had a plate filled with scrambled eggs, 2 slices of bread, a scoop of baked beans and sausages, a cup of coffee and a glass of orange juice.

I then headed down to the race expo and bought myself a saddle pouch and a handpump from the Polygon booth, knocking me back S$40. Went back to room and got ready for the race.

Put on my Elan blue bike-tights, Mizuno blue vest, NB735 and carried my Scott AFD and other stuffs to the transition area. Hooked the bike and helmet (using Ed's black Bell instead of my usual red Specialised), i arranged my Adidas shades and gloves on the dropbar. I planned to do a full transition so took off NB735 and socks before going for body marking. Our relay race number was 902.

Followed everyone to the beach for the swim start. The sea looked very rough. I started having second thoughts about competing in the sprint race the next day. Decided i had scared myself enough, i left for the hotel lobby for a pee-break.

The race started and i returned to the transition area, where many Mat-Bikerz were all dressed up, waiting for their swimmers to pass them the baton (in this case, a hairband). I then decided to abandon the full transition idea and put on NB735, black Bell, Adidas shades and gloves and waited for Eunice at near the transition entrance.

Eunice appeared right on the hour mark. Taking the hairband from her, i ran to Scott AFD and headed out to the mounting line. The route takes me left out of the hotel before U-turning about 2km away. Then will be straight out to the gantry before left to the mainroad, u-turning at the 12.5km mark. About 8-9 km before u-turning at the round-a-bout and the rest of the trip will be riding back to the startline, completing a 30km loop. LD race required us to do 3 of those loops.

I started slow, trying not to burn out prematurely. The beautiful weather turned into a slight storm by the time i got to the mainroad. Crosswinds nearly pushed me off the road a number of times. The undulating terrain surely posed a challenge to all. My chain gave way, due to frequent meddling with the crank, somewhere along the 20km mark. I continued on with Tigger overtaking before i completed my first loop in 1:15. Slow that i was, i counted at least 13 slopes per loop.

Second loop was uneventful, other than a rider in black scolding me for blocking his way. Swore i didn't hear him calling out. My chain gave way twice during this loop. Anyhow, someone passed me a banana, already halfway peeled, and i did a circus act balancing the bike to move forward while munching on the banana, at the start of the third lap.

Tri-Jon told me before the race that there is a steep slope just before we hit the main road. I went real slow up that slope on the first 2 laps, but for the third, i decided to dismount and push the bike up that slope. Many riders behind me did the same, including this other relay "brudder", who i paced throughout the last lap. Didn't catch his name, though we constantly overtook each other, waving as we passed.

Turning back at the last roundabout, i must have cycled for about 2km before seeing IMD, Sotong, Balasing and Roonz. At the last 3km, i started to feel tightness on my left thigh. The road was rather empty by then and i could cycle for a distance without meeting anyone on either direction. Afraid that i could get cramps, bearing in mind there wasn't anybody else nearby that could hear even if i screamed, i decided to slow down everytime i feel the cramp nearing. Thankfully, i hit the intersection where i needed to turn left towards the startline.

Within a few minutes, i was already back at the transition, where Fennel was all geared up to start her running leg. I passed her the hairband, and she started running. My cycling time was 3:54, well within my aim of 4hrs. I then led my bike to my transition area, hooked it up, and continued walking, so afraid that the cramp will set in. I went up to the Milo van, and took 2 cups. Milo never tasted so good before.

I then joined Charmane and Eunice at the Bike Boutique tent, to give out ice to the runners and tucking some inside my tights. Fennel, being the good runner that she is, finished her race within 1:50.

Excellent race this event, though i must say again that unless i do the main event, i will always feel like a second class citizen. Therefore, i will do the individual LD event next year, but first, the sprint race the next day.

Cycling Distance: 90km
Cycling Time: 3:54