I’m back! First triathlon event since I stopped for the whole daddyathlon thing. Good to be back and decided to just do a Sprint event just like last year in the Port Dickson International Triathlon 2018. The race held on the 14th and 15th of July (Sprint and Olympic distances respectively) at the Admiral Marina & Leisure Club Hotel in Port Dickson.
The morning was nice cool weather. Just after a heavy rain earlier in the morning. Was cloudy and rather dark when the race started at 7:10am. Strong and high waves that morning too and felt I was swimming backwards and you climb the waves. Overall, the swim was much slower than last year.
Onto the bike leg and rode most way with this young man, Tri Sibling, who certainly have a very bring future in triathlons. We ended up running together too.
Overall, the bike and run was much faster than I did a year ago. Although feeling sleepy due to the lack of sleep running up to the weekend race, the run certainly felt better and much stronger as I was training for pace. Satisfied with a time of 1:24:00 (11th place in AG, 48th overall). Could have been better but that was indeed a tough swim. Full results can be found here.
Unfortunately, the race had a tragedy with 2 deaths during the Olympic distance on Sunday. Condolences to the family and friends of the victims. One should never underestimate the dangers of open water swimming in the rough waters and the precaution the organizers should always take to ensure a safe race including but not limited to having enough lifeguards, support crew and a safer swim route (like swimming into the marina during the past) or cancel the swim entirely. May the victims rest in peace.
Unfortunately, it clashes with the same weekend as Penang International Triathlon and Duathlon 2017. So some of the friends have to split between the events depending what some have signed up for earlier.
I choose this event so I could just drive down first thing in the morning at 4am, pick up the race pack at 6am, setup and to get to the race on time at 7am.
It was my first time doing the Sprint triathlon event. Never have I tried the shorter distance and I must say it is really exciting to be racing at almost max heart rate throughout the race.
Completed the event with a time of 1:18, split of swim (750m) @ 12:33, bike (20km) @ 38.36, run (5km) @ 27:04. Ranked 11th in the age group and 45th overall.
Was a great race and would certainly want to do the sprint event again. Maybe to include the olympic distance the following day as back to back events.