The race simulation is finally over. It was a 2km swim, 64km ride and 16km run conducted in the UQ compound. The swim was in the UQ pool, luckily it was a 50 metres pool. The bike was four loops of 16km while the run was eight laps of 2km. We all had our weights recorded before the start of the simulation.
We had the privilege of using our wetsuit for the swim. I was in lane two with two others but it turned out quite well. Lost count in the middle of the swim and could not remember if I had finished or if there was 100m to go. Stopped to ask but no one seemed to be sure so I thought I’d go an extra 100m for good measure.
Came out of the swim, got out of the wetsuit and toweled-off before I was weigh-in and had my blood sample taken for testing. Off to transition, put on the bike gear and wheeled the bike out. Quickly discovered that I shouldn’t have put so much trust on the bike mechanic who had just serviced my bike afew days ago – the gears were not working well. Oh well, too late now but lesson learned and just had to deal with it.
One water bottle decided to catapult off the back of my bike on the second loop. Luckily it was clear and I was able to stop, made a u-turn and picked it up. Phew. The bike course was undulating and my legs really felt it by the last loop. I was not having a good time on the bike for some reason.
Completed the last lap on the bike, got off and then another weigh-in and another blood sample taken. Got changed into run gear and off I went on the run. Funny that I felt strong on the run considering I was not having such a good time on the bike. Four laps into the run was another weigh-in followed by another blood sample taken.
With two laps left to go on the run, I was starting to feel quite hot and my energy levels running low. I tried to concentrate on my running form and finish off the last two laps as strongly as possible. After the final lap, it was the final weigh-in and blood sample before officially concluding the simulation.
Wow, it was quite an experience and now I await the debrief in a week’s time.
