Port Dickson Triathlon 2018

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 14^th and 15^th 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. 

Port Dickson International Triathlon 2017

This year, the Port Dickson International Triathlon 2017 was brought forward this year to 22 April 2017.

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.

See you next year 2018!

The rush at the race start

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

PDIT 2015 - Swim Bike Run Repeated!

They say to do it once is a dream. To do it again, and again and again is reality.

Here I am again in the Port Dickson International Triathlon 2015 at the Admiral Marina Cove Resort hotel in the this beach town in Negeri Sembilan on 11 October 2015. Coming back to where I did my first triathlon event. Last year I was hit with a really bad food poisoning a day before the race and was suffering throughout the race. Very disappointing then after all that training.

BMC all set

This year, I trained hard but didn't put in as much time as I wanted in the pool due to the hazy weather. And with the haze, trainings were limited to indoors but never underestimate the work one can do on the stationary bicycle, treadmill, free weights and weight machines.

I had a simple goal. To break the 3 hours for the Olympics distance of 1.5km swim, 40km cycle and 10km run. Seems easy for strong runners but I crap at running. Nonetheless, I trained with this in mind and focused on my weakness.

The swim leg was good. Got in, everything in order but indeed I felt the lack of swim training compared to last year but arms and shoulders were ok, thanks to the weights work. Caught up with the earlier groups too. Pull strong and kick less and got out the water including T1 at 33:10. It's a good feeling when you see tons of bicycles at T1.

Cycling was nice and most importantly, had to make sure my bike works fine throughout. A good service before and testing all component to make sure it works. Of course, did a long ride before the event just to ensure all systems is a go. Never change something last minute! Completed the 40km in 1:18:18, slower than I expected but I had that in mind to save for the run.

Came the run and it was much better than I did before. Felt more comfortable. Started to cramp up in the beginning but that slowly went away and I could maintain my pace doing a 1:07:06

Started in group 5 mins after gun

And indeed I met my goal by 1.5 minutes. You see, common to most runners, we get bored after a while and the pace slows down. I saw my watch on the last 2 kms and I was coming close to 3 hours. Picked up the pace and mathematically counted that if I maintained 6+ min/km, I will reach my goal. And I came in at 2:58:34!

I was told that the run distance may have been shorter. Some recorded 10km, some 8.5km. But not forgetting that the back part of the run was on beach sand. Quite challenging but at least it did not have the mangrove run like what we had last year!

Already set my goal for PDIT next year. Doing both Sprint the day before and Olympics the next day.

Now, looking forward to the next race. A sprint duathalon event. Stay tuned.

Official race results can be found here.

**Picture taken by various photographers and all rights belong to them respectively.