Race Report: Totalsports Challenge 2011

TSC Kleinmond, South Africa

1st

7h0’15″ – 13km Surfski, 1.5km swim, 50km road bike, 13km road run, 12km K1, 25km mtb, 9km beach run

I realised not much beyond this first photo that I was mistaken. My coffee flask containing three double shots of espresso and affectionately foamed milk was still full and on the car seat. It’s the kind of sin you dare not commit on a lengthy day such as the Totalsports Challenge. But I digress, as first there was a blissful and exciting start to my fifth TSC where Dylan had me smiling for popping a cherry with his trademark overambitious starts. I’d begged him to risk a little and go out too hard, told him that I’d celebrate blowing up, for having tried. I just meant that for the first 3h of the race and lesser so the first 3minutes of it.

(Honestly my favourite photo of the day – A glimpse back at Dylan)

I have Custom Kayaks and Barry Lewin to thank for the ski I paddled. It treated me well through the first quarter of the surfski leg and less so towards the end. Which may have more to do with my lack of paddling form or the fact that the surfski leg was 25% longer at 15km, than the hull design and carbon layup.

All paddlers were spoilt for choice this year on calm seas and a fine morning fog. The art to this event is judging your pacing correctly yet tapping into the pairs, triple and teams. I did over commit to a bunch on the first lap and had to let go and slow on the second. It was a pleasure to go after a few tactical maneuvers but I paid too dearly. My arms were honestly non compliant towards the end.

My older sister Helen started for an all girls team and paddled real well. Evidently with some brother hand-me-downs. The youngest sister was going to swim but fell ill and supported with camera in hand instead. The middle sister did the filming and will hopefully compose a video clip soonest. The folks were the more official support crew, in two separate vehicles and were cool calm and collected throughout the Challenge. It meant a lot to me, sharing the day with them. A godfather and three cousins were on the cheering committee, with Kath tweeting live feeds.

(Helen finishing her surfski)

(Stage one done – start transition to swim)

Ideal would be a sleeveless wetsuit as my arms were too spent to easily get the wet upper body on for 1.5km swim. With the uncanny warmer False Bay water I’d have dehydrated less on the long ski and been faster from transition to swim end without the suit, but then I honestly didnt expect my arms to be quite so useless after the paddle. My godfather and mother had to ‘dress’ me like  a kid… I should and could have had more liquid and calories on the ski too. I started with 1000ml and two Enduren scoops.

(About to drop and grab a bottle)

It was a homely feeling once on the Shiv. That after two cups of delicious coffee in the bike transition. I’d hoped to have a hit on the road bike / road run legs, which were 45km and 13km and therefore an ideal mini half ironman. Without power excersion was gauged by heart rate, which hovered around 159bpm.

(My youngest sister Clare shouting roadside encouragement)

Despite not many run off’s over the past month of base work and not feeling enthused to run on the Kleinmond approach, I went out feeling with more comfort than previous years. Especially my lower back allowed more mobility but ultimately a few months from now I need to be running a lot quicker than the 3:55/km pace the 310XT was hinging on.

Having the Terra Firma individual and teams along the road run helped share the heat but that straight asphalt remains the most demoralizing portion of the Challenge. Motivation for the 70.3 did help, and before I had decided to back down on the last three stages of paddle, mtb and beach run so had the road run end as somewhat of a finish line.

(My 310XT companion seemed to get fatigued too and napped, like its owner wanted to)

Hunger was the my song towards the K1 end. Somehow the fittest lads always have it the easiest. Glassy waters and a tail breeze vs choppy and long head wind for those reaching the water an hour after I did. Alas.

(The middle sister Nici must have found the day too long?)

After a numerous buttered and salt roasted baby potatoes, almonds, plenty Enduren and a fresh coating of sunblock I had 25km mountain biking and 9km of beach running remaining. The plan to spin through the mtb course was impossible to execute as the gradient and sand made traction at anything less then pushing so tricky you’d be walking in a hurry. So push I did, and it felt good. It’s a tough ride the way the course has been over the past two years, not to be underestimated for elevation gain and stagnant heat. Rugged and washed in spots too for a dual suspension advantage.

I had such an odd mix of awe and sympathy for the brave and naive of the Terra Firma who were battling on the mountain bike leg. I for one was happy to get off the legs after the road run, and reckon the Terra Firma is a tough ask. Big respect to all who ventured there.

Mother dearest made me exceedingly happy with three frozen Barone’s in the final transition. It was sweltering. That said, the spring low tide made the beach run firmer and flatter underfoot than any of the previous four years I’ve been on it. I think it was the reason for more my delayed muscle soreness 48hours after being worse than ever. Pounding was a little more.

(Feet burned like wasabi on this bridge – Photo by John Hishin)

Happy days. A reminder of why the Totalsports Challenge is one of my favourite events. When the weather is good its hard to cap it for terrain, variation, views, or energy from the relays. Another classy event from Stillwater Sports. 2012 is the centenary TSC and if you’ve ever considered racing it solo, why not, I promise it is do-able, gentle on the body, rewarding in an adventure sense, and time a plenty to take up and master a new sport.

Roll on 2011. 70.3 East London for a learning experience in 10days time. Xterra Buffelspoort the weekend after to support the wave of Xterra passion in South Africa. Garmin Westcoast Warmwater Weekend mid February to support lifestyle before ending early season racing at Grabouw with the national Xterra on February 26th.