by Mark Lucas

I had a torrid few weeks at work (2 in which I wasn't able to train at all) up until 2 weeks before the event, so I wasn't expecting great things.

I ended up having a pretty good swim, even though I didn't quite time the 'curve' of the tide right (if you see the footage, you have to aim way left and the current swings you in a big curve - I went a bit straight and alcatraz swimdidn't utilize the current correctly). There was a fair swell out there and quite choppy, but I actually enjoyed the open water and finished the swim in 39 min.

At the first transition, you leave a spare pair of runners and change out of your wetsuit and into the runners, as there is a 1.5km run to the T1 area. I felt OK at this point and did the 1.5km in around 5min30.

I hopped on the bike. The first 2 miles of the cycle course are dead flat, before the hills, although there was a fair breeze and I wasn't able to get a good breather, as I was trying to keep it going into the wind. Then the hills started....the first one is about a km long and cuts back on itself - not the steepest, but pretty decent. Then there is a long steep winding downhill, then the first brutal hill of about 2km in length, then a long decent into a 90 degree turn, where you need to go really wide to generate speed into the next long steady climb. After that, it's all downhill for about 5km. This is a seriously fast section - I was doing about 70km/hr on to the flat, then into the GG park, which is all uphill in and then downhill out. I was feeling ok at this stage and pushing pretty hard coming back out downhill. Back onto the flat and into the wind again, then I hit the toughest hill section (back up the 5km downhill). By this stage, the air was thick with the smell of burning brake pads as people came past in the other direction. The ride back was ok and I felt ok as I entered transition (58 mins).

I had a good T2, but, as I started running, I felt off in the guts and had no spring, so I knew it was going to be tough. The run goes out in the same direction as the ride, so the first 2 miles are flat, then you hit the first sand ladder. When I tried to run up, I had nothing, so basically walked fast up them. The climb continues for about 2km up, then there is the downhill section for another 2km on to the beach for some soft sand running for another km to the 4mile turnaround, then back to the famous 400step sand ladder. I was absolutely shot at this stage and walked it, pulling myself up the fence cable. The climb continues for another km after the ladder - I was seriously struggling to run, and, even when the downhill came, wasn't going fast. I hit the flat with 2 miles to go and was getting passed by a lot of people.

I finished, not strong, but I finished. I think I need to get some more miles in my legs! Awesome race, particularly the start where they open the doors of the ferry and you just pile into the water like lemmings on top of each other! Without a doubt, the combination of the long swim in rough water, hilly ride and ridiculous run makes this event one of the toughest around.

On to NYC Tri and, hopefully, a better result!