Plumstead Triathlon Club

“Oooh, oooh, sometimes, I get a good feeling….”

If you had to look up the term “Double Century” in the Oxford English Dictionary, you would find a picture of Albert Einstein holding 2 thumbs up with the caption “And they thought I was insane!”

For months I would tell my friends and family that I was going to do this race, and for months they just laughed and said “In your dreams”, to the point that at times even I doubted the logic behind all this. And yet, week in week out, we met up on a bitterly cold street corner at an hour the Sun doesn’t even know exists, and started putting time into the saddle. Slowly but surely we all started getting to know each other better as well;

• Flupper was a fair-weather cyclist;
• Muggles has the most illegal cycling style known to man;
• Louis had the longest-lasting throat infection of all time; and
• Martin was….well, nobody knew because he never rocked up

And so on and so on…Until eventually, a group of individuals who were once strangers to each other, had become a unit so strong, that even 202km’s on a bicycle seemed possible.

PTC Double Century

There is no doubt that an event of this magnitude must be a logistical nightmare to organise and co-ordinate, but we will never know because the 3 musketeers, Megan, Heather and Flupper, were beyond phenomenal in making sure that the only thing the rest of us had to do was get ready to ride, and ride hard! So a tremendous thank you from all of us for your exceptional effort, it will not be forgotten.

The day before “Race Day” had arrived. Some decided to release some nervous pre-race energy by throwing their shoulders out with a tennis ball, Michael carbo-loaded a 6 pack of Milk Stout, and the co-founder of the PTC, Brett Glen, hunted moles like an cat stalking a it’s prey….this caused raised eyebrows amongst the group and some under the breath “it’s a good thing he’s not driving our support vehicle” whispers were heard..

After that the team meeting commenced with Flupper laying down the rules necessary for us to have a successful race. In what seemed like a fitting occasion, the PTC co-founder, Dave Talbot arrived and had the honour of handing out our team jerseys which was a very nice touch! Supper and final checks followed before we all turned in for what would be the shortest night’s sleep of all time!

Before you can say “Where’s Louis?”, we were up and rushed our way to town, but through it all, we made it on time and took our position – PTC Dream, team number 6, chute F!

At 5:15am the gun went *whistle* and we were off, to music, whoops and fist pumps (?!?). We got off to a great start with Seb asserting his dominance up front; we settled into our rhythm quickly and at one point were even good enough to be the first team on the road! Tradouw’s pass came and went like yesterday’s news, and life was grand. This was it, the mesmerising sound of tyres tearing up the tar combined with Flupper’s “Eating and Drinking *SNORT*, Eating and Drinking *SNORT*”. We were no longer GOING to DC, we were IN DC!!!

Just when it seemed that everything was going perfectly well, Dan “thought” that it was too good to be true and almost simultaneously, a frightening *BANG* shook the bunch! Was it a dropped squirrel from a sphincter-knyping muggles? No, it was Strippa’s tyre that had just gone Hiroshima on our arses!! The first sign of trouble had arrived and for a split second chaos seemed to envelope us all….some stayed, some went, bettsy dived into the bush for yet another comfort break, but cool heads from senior members prevailed and we were able to survive the obstacle and push on over another climb and into the loving arms of our support crew, The Knipes in Shining Armour.

Sergeant Snort-alot had us on the clock, and it’s a good thing too, as the combination of coke and potatoes was like being punched in the mouth with flavour and a mid-morning siesta could easily have accompanied this feeding frenzy, but it wasn’t to be as we were on to greater heights this day!

For the next few hours things seemed to get a bit more serious, formation was the name of the game and other than a few slipped chains, dropped bottles and random “IN IT TO WIN IT” outbursts, the DC course kept us honest as the wind picked up, only to be matched by the mental toughness needed to get through!

At our 3^rd pit stop, it dawned on me what a special group of people I have been fortunate enough to meet – in a time when our energy levels were depleted and replaced with mood-swings and aching muscles, a young lass pulled up beside us, distraught. Before our eyes stood the poster-child for “hitting the wall”. Her team had dropped her, her support vehicle had abandoned her, and while it would’ve been so easy to look the other way, the complete opposite happened. Within seconds, Mr Knipe had her on a crème soda drip; Bettsy had the life-insurance policy drafted; and the maternal instincts of the ladies kicked in to take care of the poor girl. It was a truly special moment, and one which she obviously enjoyed so much as she ended up in the back of our car playing chubby bunny with the potatoes all the way home!

At that same pit stop we realised that our fellow PTC Team had changed their name from “Sub 6 hours” to “Sub 6 team members”, as only 5 riders blew past us in a blaze of glory, but not before receiving a thunderous applause from the Dream Team who, although shattered themselves, gave such a rousing guard of honour to the lads that The Jack Russell’s tail wagged with adrenalin while Puffy’s tongue hung out with gay abandon…although the jury’s still out on whether that was from excitement or fatigue! With hopes of one-day reaching their level of awesomeness, the Dream Team pushed on with renewed vigour!

About 30k’s down the road and the roles were reversed – this time the Dream Team came puttering past the Sub 6 pitstop expecting the same pomp and circumstance….unfortunately it seems more enthusiasm comes from a burst-tyre than a Sub 6 team chomping on potatoes…so we were left to rely on our own grit and determination to make the final trek home!

The last stretch seemed to last longer than it takes Dan to pop his vitamin pills in the morning, with rolling hills so undulating it resembled the rev counter of Bettsy’s citi-golf…but credit must go to the whole team because there were no complaints, no serious tantrums, and besides Roberts’ near death-by-blinding experience and Kerry’s incessant “this is so good for my ass” sing-song, the Dream Team seemed to get stronger as the promised land drew nearer with each crank! The actual finish line may have appeared inconspicuous, but that did not deter Coleman from taking the glory (was this a M+L sanctioned event?!:) as joy and relief overpowered us and the celebrations could begin!

What would a massive race be without a massive celebration to go with it!? We headed home as conquerors, shattered but unbreakable! That evening we braai’d, we funnelled, and we danced; but not before a memorable fines meeting, where stories were told, laughs were shared, and urban legends proved wrong (underpants is a legit cycling accessory:). A fitting way to end a truly remarkable weekend!

A few months ago, we started out as individuals with very little known about each other. But by Saturday afternoon on a seemingly insignificant summer’s day, in a town about as famous for its dentists as it is for memory-making moments, we were united in a way that few people will understand. The Dream had become a reality.

They say that hindsight is a perception of the significance and nature of events after they have occurred, and in this case, it couldn’t be more appropriate. Because all of a sudden, that jersey hand-out ceremony the night before from the PTC co-founder was not just a “nice-touch”, it was the acceptance of being part of something bigger than ourselves; a promise to wear the colours with pride and show others that, no matter who you are, if you can bring a positive attitude and a willingness to try your heart out, you can be part of a truly special group of people. I know I will cherish this for the rest of my days.

Cheers to the Dream Team! Cheers to the PTC!

Simonstown Triathlon 2011: Race report

What a terrible venue for a triathlon! lol

Everytime i cycle through, or drive through Simonstown i think what a picturesque venue for an event! Then i remember… we have a triathlon, right here, the only winter triathlon in the Country.

Race Day

Perfect morning for a triathlon at Long Beach, Simonstown. Xterra gazebo up, Aca Joe banners embedded in the beach sand, Hammer Heed mixed up, lots of hung over marshalls and we are good to go. Carrie and Ndure sports management ensuring it all runs seamlessly.

The swim start saw the top racers sprint off the start line to get in the water first, with the rest of us taking it a bit more easy out to the first Xterra swim buoy. Im still not sure how Steve Atwell managed to convince his ‘Embark; guys that it was totally comfortable to swim in the sea in June without a wetsuit. But then again, we all believe him too when he tells us he is straight.

Once moving, the initial cold water didn’t seem so bad, and the swim was over for most in 10 minutes or so, except for the dude in the 10mm north pole diving suit, that took half the ocean out with him into transition. The navy boats in the harbour all sank a meter below their berths once he got out.

One of the features for me (cos i didn’t do the bike this year) is the climb up Red hill on the bike. Within the race its the real test on the day and starts to really separate the field. The climb saw the top guys keep pace with one another, together with the 1^st place team, but it was on the bottom of the downhill which saw the team rider from team Transact make use of his fresh legs and time trial-bike to break away from the rest of the field.

He entered transition first to set their runner SA duathelete Gilbert Lucas away for the run. Gilbert blitzed the run course with his fresh legs and finished 1^st overall for team Transact.

Brad Weiss and the American dude (sometimes also refered to as Niels) were next into transition, closely followed by Stu Mac, last years winner. Brad managed to break away on the run to claim the individual win, with Stu tracking down the yank and overtaking him on the turn down to the beach to take 2^rd place and relegating the USA to third.

On the ladies, Vicky was well ahead on the bike now, and held the run to claim the victory. Great to see the SA triathelete back in action after a year out due to injury. Keri Delport came in second, and Di Obree overtaking most of the field on the bike, to claim 3^rd place in the ladies.

Lana Glen definitely takes the ‘best socks’ award again this year. Well done also to Terry from Xterra for putting his ‘money where his mouth is’ and taking part in the event himself. Well done to Aabri from Aca Joe, next year we hope to see some more of your tribe at the start line.

Moments captured at http://www.paulnielsenimages.com and

https://picasaweb.google.com/Inetspace1/SimonstownTriathlonPTC?authkey=Gv1sRgCMnE76aK6OeSywE&feat=directlink

Look out for kick-ass race video coming soon, courtesy of refreshmedia. We will send you a link once its done.

Yours in Multisport

The PTC

An incredible Sunday morning and a beautiful race – thanks to all the entrants, supporters, helpers and organisers who made the Simonstown Triathlon a great success!

Race report to follow, but for now, some photos of the event:

It’s the Simonstown Triathlon! Sunday 12 June – limited entries available. Details below:

You better be there! Sunday 12 June, Simonstown.

A huge congrats to all competitors in Ironman South Africa 2011, held in Nelson Mandela Bay Port Elizabeth. What an awesome race, and lots of really amazing competitors. Huge support from a massive PE crowd and supporters from all over South Africa and abroad that come out to watch this phenomenon, South Africa’s ultimate ultra endurance triathlon.

I thought this year would be very different for me, being a spectator, rather than a competitior. I really wanted to be there to support some amazing atheletes, but also was really worried it would be pretty ‘kak’ watching from the sidelines and not competing.

I was however, very wrong. The atmosphere the whole weekend was totally consuming, and i felt the atheletes nerves. The anticipation on Friday at race briefing was tangible, as about 2000 atheletes, almost half of which were Ironman ‘virgins’ listened intently to Paul Wolf’s long slideshow of instructions and rules of what not to do in order to avoid disqualification and cut-offs. If that was my first time and i was at that briefing it would have freaked me out! However the intro to the 1 hour briefing was worth it, with the 2010 highlights video being played on 2 massive screen in a cold storage ‘hanger’ to thumping tunes’, gave me goosebumps.

Photo from Ironman Austria.

Saturday was all about the guys prepping early and then relaxing. I went for a late morning run along the PE promenade, but ended up walking through the transition area where the Pritt Ironkids race was taking place and atheletes were out on the swim course, just absorbing the atmosphere.

Boom# Sunday morning, Race day. I was seconding Lana and Brett, made sure i had all their necessary, and possibly not so necessary ‘emergency’ goddies packed, and felt like i was heading to do the race myself. Doing an Ironman for the first time is something very special. The fear of the unknown, the distance never covered before, the time out there that the body has never experienced, its really nerve racking and a test of oneself under pressure of the unknown, but at the same time really exciting, its one of the things i live for, the excitement of a new challenge, to put yourself out there and see how you respond and learn something about yourself. I could see it in Lana’s eyes, all happening at once, and i was genuinely envious but so excited for her at the same time. Big brother was going through the motions of an experienced Ironman campaigner, but no matter how experienced you are, all will tell you that in an Ultraendurace race like Ironman there are no givens, you always need to be on top of your game, and never stop being nervous because anything can happen out there.

The beached was packed with almost 2000 atheletes, African drums thundering, then the national anthem, then the cannon, #BOOM# were underway, no more nerves, relax and settle into your own race strategy.

It was awesome to see it from the sideline, perception altered by no race nerves and race strategy thundering through my head. I could take in the dolphins jumping out the water below the rising sun on the horizon. A beach full of orange swim caps splashing into the water like a shoal of sardines, all swimming over one another, 4000 elbows breaking the air and churning the sea into a washing machine.

Somewhere in that pack of sardines were my mates, your boyfriend, your girlfriend, your son, your daughter, your mate all racing to that buoy so far out at sea, i must say it looks alot worse standing on the sidelines than being in the shoal. Kim aaan!

The flatmate Stew ’does my bum look big in this’ Rew was the first face i recognised out the water, blistering the swim course in well under and hour, next was Brett ‘the man with 2 first names’ Glen, closely followed by Kevin ‘i cant believe Chrissie is staying with you’ Mutlow. Not too far behind was the first PTC lady Phillipa ‘Clutchie’ Baer.

Out onto the bike course i positioned myself in the centre island of the road just outside transition. While Lana ‘where’s my cute dress‘ Glen and Megan ‘yes those calves are real‘ Knipe were looking for the GHD hair straightener in transition, most of the field were heading out for their first of 3 x 60km bike loops. Malcom ‘my mom cuts my hair’ Voster and Brad ‘he looks fast, but he;s not’ Wentzel were soon into a rhythm, Brad looking to come from behind, something he has alot of experience at. Rambo was also in the mix, looking to hammer out a faaast bike time out there and catch the swimmers, before he hit the run. Lauren ‘i use facewipes in trasition’ Coleman and Danielle ‘where is my GHD’ Smart were not too far behing the rest. Its was great to be able to see everyone and where they were in realtion to each other, which you don’t get to do when youre competing yourself

Photo from Feedage.com

Local race favourite Raynard Tissink, together with previous race winner, Belguims Marino van Hoenhacker soon established themselves at the front of the field on the bike hammering a 40km/h pace out of their race machines and setting themselves apart from the rest of the field. It really was something to behold watching these guys pushing their full-time professionally trained bodies around the race course.

Some 6 and hours after race start it was Mutlow who was the first PTC athelete off the bike to start the 42km run. Lana’s strategy of opting to target the 4^th leg of the course and shopping for ‘cute dresses’, rather than getting bike spares before race day proving a problem, in dealing with her punctures out on the bike course, but nothing a bit of bending over in tight tri-pants to get a boy to help couldn’t sort out (PTC race tip #68, usually followed by PTC race tip #69…).

The bright green PTC race peak caps were now all over the run course, Shaun ‘the track is my office’ Tim, Louis ‘all the gear’ Sueltz, Johnnie ‘the greek’ Karantges pushing the pace up front, with our Knipes calves chasing from behind, Heather ‘can i sell a Pronutro bar’ Paton and Robyn ‘i need prescription glasses also battling it out in the now fading light. – have you seen my boyfriend’ Ray. Chris ‘have you seen my wheels‘ Fourie looked like a steam train on rails, not stopping until he reches the station at the end of the line. Jody ‘can you see my GREEN cap‘ Baumgarten was forging along steady. Andrew ‘i promise i cant run’ Hart was clocking up the mileage, but always stopping for a chat with spectators, much to his running partner Bernards dismay, having to stop and wait for him. Darren ‘secret training outside of PE‘ Clarke was chasing them all down with a steely focus in his eyes and a clenched jaw (too many Roctanes). Kurt ‘where my fags and pizza’ Griffith was for obvious reasons haning in for the finish, and the Primi, tent (sorry no Peter Stuyvesant tent Kurt).

Photo from Triathlon Competitor.

Out at the front of the race, local PE boy Raynard Tissink who was 3^rd off the bike and onto the run, had, with the screams and thunderous support, worked his way into the 1^st position, his face showing how hard he was pushing his body to stay out there and maintain a lead from the German now in second. On the last loop the 2 went out of sight around the university, the whole of Germany catching Raynard, now with only a 1 minute lead…, we waited with baited breath to see who would emerge first… it was Ray, the crowd at the finish line erupted. I was at the finish in the stand and can tell you that crowd was electric, he finished in a new course record holding off an international field of world class Ironman elite atheletes. He acknowledged the crowd, running back down the finishing chute pointing at us, and i felt like i was part of that victory with him and the whole of PE, it was incredible.

Another huge highlight for me was getting to see Chrissie Wellington from the UK race. I have been following her since she first won the Mecca race of Ironman, Kona in Hawai 3 years ago, on debut, finishing amongst the top men. I watched the youtube DVD of her i cant tell you how many times, of her smiling and the bike, and her chesire cat like grin was inspiring. After her usual modest start she held her bike position in the top 20 men. She then obliterated the run course in the fastest run of the day!! Faster than all the elite men too! And in doing so and running herself into 8^th position OVERALL in a time of 8hrs 33mins, set a new World record in the Ladies category for official Ironman distance triathlon racing. It was great to witness this from the stands and difficult contain the emotion of such a unique all time world class performance. After all that excitement i was in desperate need of a beer! Then back out onto the run course to support and second.

Photo from Terrence Lowe.

I’d been supporting Lana, and Meegs through the arduous training and ups and downs one goes through when you load your body with as much training as is required for an Ultra endurance event like this. It made me proud to see them on the race course, looking so comfortable and mixing it up out there with all the other seasoned campaigners. The physical adaptations that are required to compete in this race often create some interesting mental reactions too and managing these is the key to getting through the training and having a realistic and measured approach to your race day. Both were in a very good place, and despite some cramping, and punctures, stayed switched on and completed a massive sporting achievement. Well done girls!

A huge thanks to my fellow PTC supporters on the day; Bronwyn, Andrea, Sally, Martin, Michael Pasio, Karin, Nicky and Glynis, Noogie, Mr and Mrs Rambo and The Glens.

Congrats again to all those competitors, from a very humbled supporter, Ironman yet again proved a huge source of motivation for me, from a very different perspective this time, and i cant wait for the next one

CHALLENGE!!!

Dave

for the PTC