Plumstead Triathlon Club

World Endurance South Africa is excited to announce the entry of Spec-Savers IRONMAN South Africa veteran, Raynard Tissink into this year’s race taking place on Sunday 22 April 2012.

Tissink, the Spec-Savers IRONMAN South Africa defending champion and former Port Elizabeth resident, recently moved to Cape Town to start a new venture and had taken a short sabbatical from racing IRONMAN professionally.

Having raced all seven full IRONMAN South Africa races held in Port Elizabeth since 2005, as well as the inaugural half-IRONMAN event held in 2004, he returns to the starting line for the eighth edition of the event – this time with the pure intentions of participating, rather than racing for the podium.

It is confirmed that Tissink will be racing in the Professional field alongside the likes of the Spec-Savers IRONMAN South Africa 2011 second-place finisher, Andi Boecherer from Germany and Swiss athlete Mike Aigroz who placed sixth at the IRONMAN World Championship 2011.

Despite his relocation to Cape Town, Tissink is sure to draw an immense amount of crowd support from his former home-town as he has claimed victory at the Spec-Savers IRONMAN South Africa a record three times.

Article from www.ironmansouthafrica.com

” Some say he taught Strippa how to lunge and that he once beat The Glen in a 6km swim….some say he even has more Tiger print bloomers than Coleman….all we know is, they call him T-Bar!”

With Ironman 3 sleeps away and most of the PTC being at near climax for the weekend, I thought it appropriate to take this opportunity to wish all athletes well for Sunday, may the weather Gods be with you all, may you awake to a beautiful calm day. May you swim with the strength of a 1000 dolphins, may you bike with the strength of a pelotone, may you run with the legs of an Ethiopian marathon runner and may Louis remember to take spares!

Go out there and have fun, dig deep and draw from the energy of your supporters, remember to thank all the helpers on the day and most of all remember that you are a PTC’er and that you are part of a great family who will support you from start to finish!

You are already an Ironman based on all the hours of training and sacrifices that you’ve had to make over the last 12 months, this race is not what defines you, you are what defines this race!

“Race with your head till your body packs in, then race with your heart….”

T-Bar

Yours in Triathlon

The PTC

Race Report: STILBAAI TRIATHLON, 24 March 2012

By Nelius Oosthuizen

After a windy and rainy night the day broke for Stilbaai Triathlon. Transition was small, bikes racked for about 40 competitors, we waited for the bus to be taken to the start of the swim not even 10min drive.

The swim started at a jetty opposite the river, up stream with the strong out going current, so the swim was a blast. Wind pounding in my face and little swell didn’t matter. Water was real shallow to the right with rocks and nasty razor sharp mussels, got a bad cut on the leg.

Most of the field finished the 1km swim between 10 and 20 minutes. A quick transition to bike and onto tar for 4 km, then went off road. It was rocky with a manageable incline to start. After the incline the was a 8 km downhill clocking 57km/h on this after that straight into single track for 3 km. There where 2 food and water stations on the route, total bike route 32km.

The  10km run was a quick run down the beach to a boat to take you over the river, this was well organized. The run then took you along the beach for another kilometer for a quick run over tar into the bush onto the hiking trails, this continued for 4 km. Out of the bush straight onto tar next, to a river crossing, the point where the swim started. Past the launch pad onto tar over the bridge back on the route to the race village. Finishing in true off-road style on the beach.

PTC tri top fitted like a glove. Weather was a challenge but spirit off this was much warmer.

Nelius

swim – 15m38s

T1 –  8m32

bike – 1h36min

T 2 – 1m41s

run – 1h04min

Until next time,

Yours in Triathlon

The PTC

And yet another beauty from our new PTC CyclePleb author – keep lapping them up peeps!

Story Time: Part 2

Wake up at 4:30- with all kinds of “you have got to be kidding”!

TIRED!

The inability to find bibs nearly scuttled the whole plan. However my determination not to let Jaimo down led to “win” at the back of the lycra drawer.

SOOO TIRED

Arrive and wait for the troops.

Tired!

La arrives

No Ang (decent excuse)

Tired

No Jaimo  (despite all my efforts to arrange no wind)

Tired

Puncture (not mine)

Rest (phew)

Cold- taking off the jacket was a bad choice

Tired

Ash and Peggles (the real one) join.. yay- more friends!

Tired

No Bonnie and Lynne

tired

Grant decided to bring a knife to a gunfight (unfortunately he still was dominating the gunslingers)

tired

Failed to muster a fart for Grant’s benefit (I am ashamed)

tired

Spotted Lyn-Bon on Suikerbossie

tired

Spotted Mike … what a legend!

Tired

No more Ash (or any off Ash’s snot)

tired

No more Peg (the real one nor “Peg”)

tired

Thank god for sunglasses (nearly lost an eye going down Suikerbossie)

Tired

Constantia Neck- kiss my chamois

tired

It dawned on me at this point that, out of this entire distribution list, the only person still with us was Lara, HERO! Actually I think Julia may still have also been with us but kit changes confuse me).

Hungry

Traffic on Rhodes drive is g@y!

Tired and Hungry!

Made it to my desk by 7:31… win!

Poor attempt at story this morning I know but 4 coffees later this was the I could muster.

Can I go to sleep now?!?!?

Thanks all for the great ride this morning (not you Princess… you are dead to me).

Until next time

PTC CYCLEPLEB