Sunset Triathlon 2016 - Putrajaya

The inaugural Sunset Triathlon 2016 is the first late evening (night) triathlon in the country. The event was held at the Kompleks Sukan Air Presint 6 in Putrajaya.

I initially planned the Port Dickson Triathlon to be the last triathlon event of the season for me. But this Sunset Triathlon was interesting to not give it one more for the year. Hence, extended the training further. However, didn't get much training in though as I had other activities and plans made. So I had to make the best of it.

Race start at 4:45pm. Early enough for a "safer" swim with some day light left. It was a little form especially during bike racking as the sun was shining full on. I think I got a little sunburn right there.

The start was a wave deep water start. Got to the front during the 3rd wave and started strong and kind of paced myself to a almost true 1.5km swim in the Putrajaya lake. The water felt "thick". Very dense and takes a lot more effort to swim through it (The next days, shoulders were hurting from the swim).

The transition was short and headed out on the bike in the usual 2016 Ironman 70.3 Putrajaya route which ended with a somewhat 2016 Powerman Duathlon exit back to the transition area. Managed to catch a few strong group in this draft legal race and manage to maintain a decent bike average speed. The 3T wheels work well as always keeping my rolling quick on the BMC TimeMachine.

Exited the transition really quick for the run. By now, it is already nightfall and much cooler. Started off with a pretty strong pace but slowly fell back to a more comfortable pace throughout. There was a 3 flights of stairs to climb in this run from the running path by the lake up the bridge and back to the lake.

Plenty of water stations along the way. Perhaps didn't need them all since it wasn't that hot but certainly good option to have.

Finished the race with a 2:57 in 24th (out of 107) place in my age group. Not my best timing but judging for the accurate distance, this would be my benchmark timing for this race.

Fueling strategy this race (wasn't quite sufficient as I was hungry at the end of the bike leg and wasn't enough water):

  Tea Time - 2 granola bars, 1/2 Clif Bar and electrolytes drink
  Before Swim - 1 Snickers bar and 1/2 a bottle of water
  Bike - 1 gel - 2 bottles water
  Run - 1 gel - water stations

Would certainly return again next year as I like the idea of accurate Olympic distance race to keep tab with the timing.

This ends this year of triathlon for me. A big run even coming up. Stay tuned.

Port Dickson International Triathlon 2016

Back to back triathlon weekend was something I've never done. And it turned out to be a good Port Dickson International Triathlon 2016 even after my first half distance triathlon the week before.

This is the 3rd year I'm taking part in this Olympic distance triathlon of 1.5km swim, 40km bike and 10km run. PD tri was my first triathlon 3 years ago, so got a bit sentimental value la, haha.. and it was Facebook pictures of friends doing PD triathlon that got me moving from just pure cycling races to triathlon.

Race morning was chill (lol!) and cold. Started at the front row of the swim but on the 3rd wave start. Was a clear water swim but only got crowded when I caught up with the back markers of the earlier wave. Waters were calm unlike what I heard about the waves the day before on the sprint triathlon event where a fellow triathlete drown. Rest in peace.

The cycle was rolling short hills, same route as the years before. Very fast pace and managed to work together with a few friends on this draft legal race. It poured heavily towards the last 3km and was a little scary braking on the 3T Cycling Orbis II carbon wheels but it still managed to stop well enough with minimal drama in the heavy rain. Was impressed. Read more about my review on the wheels here.

The run was cooling and wet with flooded sections on the road... read: steeplechase! And it's Malaysia, it had to flood after a heavy rain one. With the soggy shoes in steady pace under such gloomy and cold weather, I didn't have to zip down to show my cleavage. All good till the end.

Completed with a personal best of 2:43! All 3 swim, bike, run was improved with a total of 15 mins from last year's event (albeit slightly different run routes).

Thanks to all for the great fun and laughter at these events. This is the best part of it all.

*photo edited from the great work of photographers at the event. Pics credits and all rights reserved by the respective owners of the photos.

Fueling strategy this race:
  Breakfast - 1 coffee, 2 granola bars and 1/2 Clif Bar
  Before Swim - 1/2 Clif Bar
  Bike - 1 gel, 1 Clif Bar
  Run - 1 gel

Challenge Iskandar Puteri 2016 Half Distance Triathlon

Just 2 weeks ago I completed my first ever half marathon and was fairly pleased with my run progress as running has always been my nemesis. I'm a walker :P

And all that training was because just over the past weekend was another first. My first ever half distance triathlon (1.9km swim, 90km bike, 21km run) at the inaugural Challenge Family event, Challenge Iskandar Puteri.

Finally got to do a deep water start. Although never practised it, it has always been ok for me to thread water for long periods due to my water polo experience in the past.

Have done dive start, beach run start and this certainly was different. The swim felt long (2.2km reported by some) but had to keep telling myself to manage my pace, so as not to burn myself out for the other 2 disciplines next.

The bike leg was nice (and chill), with rain and strong winds throughout and on the 3rd loop setting the stage up for a cool run. But the 3T Orbis II carbon wheels held up very well in the wet. And I've over-fueled on the bike leg and was not hungry at all during the run, which is good to keep energy stored up.

Those energy bars I took by Clif Bar (Chocolate Chip flavor) are awesome... haha! There was one water station on the bike leg and provided PET bottles for me to refill my TorHans Aero 30 vertical BTA hydration bottle easily. I read online about the trick of biting the cover while using one hand to stuff the PET bottle in for refueling.

There were quite a lot of potholes and stones on the cycling road due to the construction on-going in Iskandar Puteri (formerly known as Nusajaya). Was a bit dangerous and a rider even lost his face in a bike crash.

However, the run leg next turned out to be absolutely brutal. The sun came out strong and evident after the race from my major sunburn.

Managed to maintained a steady pace up till 14km mark where I decided to do an alternate run-walk in the crazy heat, with simply not enough shade and water stations.

Many times I felt like I needed to stop just to sit under the shade but resisted the temptation!

Overall, am happy with my very first half distance triathlon time of 6 hours 51 mins.
Will I do it again? That's for sure!! :)

Official results can be found here.

*Note: Photos here were not taken by me. They belong to the respective photographers and all rights reserved by them.

Fueling strategy this race:
  Breakfast - 1 coffee, 2 granola bars and 1/2 Clif Bar
  Before Swim - 1/2 Clif Bar
  Bike - 2 gels, 2 Clif Bar
  Run - 2 gels