Rottnest Long Course

Just a quick one because it is late and I am shattered.

Rottnest Long Course Triathlon was on today. Was a good measured day in the end and I was lucky enough to come away with the win.

I am stoked with the win obviously, but also very happy with how the race went. I feel it was a well put together balanced race, probably the first time I can say that in a long time. I went into this race with that as a goal and so am happy that I can finish the day and say I feel the goal was met. Mostly anyway.

The event was a cool one. One of those unique events that you come across from time to time. Cool location racing around Rottnest Island, around the day to day hubbub that the island has. Through the holiday village on the run leg. Had an exciting, but also laid back feel, which is really perfect for Rottnest because it is an exciting and laid back sort of place.

Not a perfect race my any means, swim course was very poorly marked (and measured I suspect). Six small cans over a 1km loop just doesn't cut it in choppy conditions. Sighting was almost impossible. I was first out of the water with a swim time just under 30 minutes for 2km. I know my navigation was terrible, but I doubt even that could account for a 30 minute 2km swim. Similar issues on the bike, where small signs caused many a course over run. I missed one turn and I spoke to a number of people who did the same. At least with a lapped course, you only did it once. Run course was pretty sweet though.

Really though, those issues are minor ones and things that are easily fixed for next year. The basics were solid. The race was well run, the volunteers spot on, the event atmosphere great. It simply was a fun day out.

We have unfortunately lost the Albany Half Ironman from our local race calender which was an event I had a real soft spot for due to its fun attitude, relaxed nature, good organisers and interesting course. It is a pity to see that race go, but the Rottnest Long Course shares a lot of the same attributes and it would be great if it became a permanent fixture in the WA calendar.

I will put a proper race report together in the coming days, but in short my day out was a tough one. Well it was a tough one for everyone really. The course looked so benign on paper, only about 350m of elevation on the bike course, fast and flat. Same for the swim and run. The only problem is that none of that is the case. The thing with Rottnest is that it gets windy. It sits out there in the middle of the ocean feeling the full brunt of whatever wind is blowing. And today it was BLOWING. Big Westerlies, all day. The swim was protected, but that didn't stop it being choppy. Half of every bike lap was spent fighting the wind, same on the run. On top of that, with the ride, there might be less than a 100m of elevation gain per lap, but those little hills are constant. Up, down, up again. I swear there was almost no flat spots. It made finding a rhythm difficult and racing by power almost impossible. In comparison the run was easy, two and a half mostly flat laps. Just the small problem of a the head wind and a nasty hill just before the turn around of each lap. Up and over and then turn and back over it again, every lap. Really zapped the legs. Put it all together and you get a solid day out. Not a fast course in the end, not by any measure. A scenic, honest and testing course though, and a fun one. And in the end that goes a long way.

Now, time for sleep.