Melbourne 70.3 and Covid

this race i deferred to from geelong 70.3 and was a bit of a risk considering it was only three weeks out from busselton ironman.  my training had not been great.  bike was okay but i really started to hate swimming and running was barely happening.  i didnt taper but just went straight into it.  

found a great bnb right in the middle of st kilda and five minutes from the race start.  only negative it was a bit noisy.  built my bike up and then took it into the bike shop down the road the day after arriving.  usual weather in melbourne.  sunny one minute then raining in the afternoon.  did the usual of hitting woolworths for supplies which was two minutes from my little pad.  back to pick up the bike which looked great and by all accounts ready to go.

thursday i decided to go for a run and explore the neighbourhood.  headed down to the beach and then towards the city.  cut through and past some beautiful terrace houses to albert park.  then back around to home.  i think about 8k and it actually felt okay.  walked back down to the race location and checked in - picking up another blue shirt and not much else.  afterwards walked down past the old luna park and acland street.  picked up some supplies and back for another early night.

friday i caught up with my cousin lee and we headed back down to ackland markets and a nice little italian place for lunch.  

saturday i got out on the bike and headed down the infamous beach road and race course with thousands of others.  something was wrong with my tri bars and they seemed to be at a different level.  i looked and tried to correct but i didnt want to screw around with things too much so i left it.  i would have to ride while feeling like i was leaning forward.  did final checks and then took the bike down to check in then home to rest, organise gear, pasta and an early night.

The finish line

the weather looked okay if a little windy.  up early and walked down.  set up my transition, got the wetsuit on and then dropped off bag.  then heard the news that due to the swell and wind the swim would be reduced to a 900m swim.  okay with me.  the beach did look pretty rough and quite a few waves and swell.  i should of been worried but didnt really give it a second thought which was really strange.  as my turn came i ran out and dived through the waves and started heading out.  that was the hard part.  after turning the first buoy it was a bit nasty as i had to breathe to my least favourite side so had to be careful to stay on course.  a few people got in my way as usual.  i felt okay swimming which again was surprising.  once i turned the last buoy things were good as we swam with the swell and waves.  a 20 minute swim which wasnt great but not terrible either.

the run/walk up to transition was very long and very painful.  they had the odd bit of carpet but most of it was bitumen and rocks. ouch on the feet.  so then i was on the bike and facing a windy two lap ride on weird feeling tri bars.  it is a nice course with a few lumpy bits and decent roads.  few too many newbies drafting and doing stupid shit though.  i was as bit disappointed with how i felt and my bike.  road just over 3 hours and glad to get it over with.  back in transition i spotted lee who had come out to cheer me on which was really nice.  the run felt like it was going to be a real bitch but in fact it was the part i enjoyed the most.  i ran the whole way except for the aid stations.  jogged really but it wasnt walking.  so i was super happy with this effort considering i hadnt even run 10k after cairns.  

another finish line crossed and collected another towel and a very pretty medal.  garmin had the cheek to tell me my effort was unproductive.  how rude.  lee helped me carry my gear back to the bnb and then headed off after giving me a bag of goodies.  too generous and i couldnt believe she stayed the whole time.  

so a bit of rest and then started packing the bike up as having to fly out the next day.  it was actually a late flight and should have organised a late check out.  felt okay the next day and not too bad considering.  legs a bit sore but otherwise all good.

arrived back in perth to discover my bike had gone to brisbane.  so major stress and freak out.  in the end they dropped it off the next morning all in one piece.  picked cooper up from the holiday doggie camp.  he had a great time having a couple of swims in the dog pool.  also picked up sylvester from kitty prison.  back to work and caught up with the JV swim squad.  felt okay too.  wednesday still feeling alright but didnt train.  as soon as i woke thursday i knew something wasnt right.  still got dressed and went into work and did a rat test. boom.  positive for covid.  back in the car and home for what turned out to be 10 days.  damn plane and feral people.