I got up at 04:30am on Sunday, which was entirely shit. I mumbled to Cindy about how we should have started at 06:30. Remember that 😉 We got into my car and made my way to Emmarentia dam. Arrived at 06:00 to realise the sun was not yet properly up but feeling excited I hopped in the water for a 1.2km loop.
The water was so clean courtesy of the heavy rain the night before and as i flapped through the water i realised a flock of sparrows were flying just above me – i was disturbing the miggies and they were cashing in. Behind them the sun was rising and by the time i got to the top of the dam the mist was lifting from the water – THIS IS WHY I TRI! I got out in 24 minutes flat but just admit the last 100m I felt the arms taking strain from being restricted in the wetsuit.
We had 2 support cars (Cindy & Marty) for the cycle because Mike, Brett & Matty were riding with me. Transition took 7 minutes and we were off again. Brett fell away within 1km because the silly bastard was on a mountain bike. Matty stopped about 10km later with a continuous flat tyre problem so I rode into the cradle with Mike. Solid 28km/h ride throughout.
Once we reached the Cradle of Humankind i put down the hammer for a 50km loop riding alone but with Marty occasionally shouting cricket scores for me for the Proteas thrashing at the hands of India. Finished my liquids and foods by the run transition after an 80km cycle. Rad.
I put a handful of peanuts and biltong in my running shorts pocket AND WOULD YOU BELIEVE IT, Brett had finished the 50km (no loop route) cycle on the MTB and was ready to run me into Tarlton. 5 minute transition and we were off.
IT WAS SO HOT!!! There were no clouds and even less breeze. It was proper. And to make it even sexier, the entire 10km run was an incline. Marty, the only support vehicle left, went and got us 750ml waters which literally made the run possible. I kept thinking “What an asshole, i wanted to start 30 minutes later when i left home this morning!”
I asked Brett to run me in at 6 minutes p/km but i held him back and we ended up running in a 6:30 p/km I reckon… and while we’re doing the math MIKEY comes cycling past with 2km left on his 85km ride. He rode of leaving us to finish the run to Chris’ house where food, and more importantly, a swimming pool did await.
I came in at 04:46:25 for the 1.2km Swim, 80km cycle & 10km run. But the most important thing was that I had that moment in the water where i fell in love with this sport all over again. I hadn’t used strava or Nike+ (agreed, they are important tools) which was refreshing for a change, and lastly I had been surrounded by these fantastic people all day.
