Brad Brown

I was thinking about Thursday’s Prestige Ultra Triathlon at the Vaal last night. I forgot to mention in my race report about the organisation and I feel quite bad about it. I had a bit to say about the organisation of the last race I did and completely forgot to mention how great this one was. Even though the weather was shocking the race was an absolute pleasure to do. The marshals on the run and the folks manning the tables were out there all morning in the cold and rain and their support never waivered. The tables were superb. They were slightly closer together than normal (about two kays apart) which made a massive difference because I forgot my energy gels and other nutrition in transition so a pb on the run would not have been possible if it wasn’t for the folks out at the tables. I must say a huge thank you to each and every one of them. I will definitely be back for he next one and hopefully the weather doesn’t mess things up then.

I’m sitting watching the cricket this afternoon Mike Haysman just mentioned that we received 100mm of rain on the Highveld overnight last night. I think I was up for most of it! Today was the BSG Prestige Ultra Triathlon and the weather didn’t play ball.

I woke up a few times through the night last night. Some of it had to do with nerves but there was also the mother of all storms last night and the lightning and thunder woke me up a few times as well. Up at 4:00 for a 7am start. I packed the car, popped my bike on the bike rack and was soaked before I left! The drive down to Vanderbijlpark was Read more…

I can’t actually believe how fast this year is wrapping up. I looked at the triathlon racing after Comrades 2010 and plotted out what races I was planning on doing in the build up to Ironman 70.3 in East London in January and the Ironman in Port Elizabeth in April 2011. I only scheduled 3 before the end of 2010 and two have come and gone already. The next big triathlon on my racing calendar is the Prestige Ultra Triathlon in Vanderbijlpark on the 16th of December. 11 Days to go to my first half ironman triathlon. Just writing that scares me. I’m doing a half ironman having only done two triathlons up until now. My training has gone well and I am pretty sure I’ve done what is needed. I’ve got a couple of longish cycles planned for early next week but other than that it’s time to taper. I always get nervous when I start taking my body to places it has never been before. You never quite know how it is going to react to the stresses and strains you put on it. It was the same in he build up to Comrades this year every time I went up to a new distance I was nervous. The only time I attempted to double what I had done up until then was from an ultra marathon to Comrades. I am practically doubling what I have done to this point in triathlons. That is a huge step up and I think I’m understandably nervous. I’ve done more than the individual distances in training (except the run, I haven’t gone further than 15 since I picked up some ITB in August) but it is now a case of stringing it all together on the same day. I’m sure there is going to be pain on the day but I really hope I have a good race as this is my dress rehearsal for the 70.3 in East London which is just 6 weeks away. Now THAT is scary. 6 weeks away from my first surf swim. I’ll leave that for another post.

It is done. I can now officially say that I am a triathlete. I can also say that it was a lot tougher than I thought it was going to be.

My day started at 3am. Even though the start was only at 7am, I had a two hour drive to get to Sun City for the 11Global Triathlon. We arrived with enough time to spare that getting racked up and body marked was not rushed at all. My pre race preparation was as good as it could’ve been but in hindsight I probably should’ve eaten breakfast later than I did. Eating breakfast at 3:15am and only starting the race at 7:15am probably wasn’t the wisest decision I made on the day. I felt hungry on the start line which is not a great way to start your first triathlon.

Racking up in transition with my brother

Final Preperations

I got into the water a few minutes before the start. I had decided that I was going to try and stay out of the mad rush of the swim as much as could. I would hang back and Read more…