Here is the story of my second triathlon (keep in mind that in the first one I swam in the port near car factory !).

So I was looking for Mother Nature. My friend told me the Murakami tri is great to set a good time : it’s flat, it’s cool.

So I signed up with a bunch of friends. We ended up being about a dozen foreigners among the 270 individual participants.

We arrived the day before. I took the opportunity after lunch to use for the second time – ever – my wetsuit (a non specific design). Being a little tight in the shoulders I tried to stretch it all week long on the ironing board. But the result was not good. It was still tight & the stroke limited.
We then went to check in and get our numbers and stuff. There were a couple stands including one for the bikes. I went to check it out and we ended up talking to a very nice gentleman, Tanaka San who is the President of CEEPO. If you don’t know the brand, it’s too bad ‘cause he makes great stuff. A lot of the Japanese who are riding carbon bikes are on CEEPO. His latest frame design is less than 1 kg. A prototype was on display. Mega cool !
We then went for a tiny spin, it was getting late & would be dark soon. Bikes & chains were cleaned and we went to climb the one hill of the race. But to me, the slightest slope is like the Alps ! So I didn’t feel it was THAT flat.
Anyway the ride was good. My knee was ok & no sign of sciatic nerve (both have been troubling my taper in the last weeks).

Of course, on race day, it’s raining. No big deal for the swimming – we’ll get wet anyway. But for the rest… I never rode in the rain ! I pull out my raincoat & decided to wear my sunglasses.

After being a little late for the gathering before the start, I smuck in the front to be sure to have a good spot on the start. As a former swimmer, I want to catch a good fish & drag off during 20 min. So I go for the shortest distance.

That’s it, the start is given. I swim along the line & start watching for the proper prey. But as I start of fairly easy, no one seems to move forward (they actually are all fighting in the middle it seems like). So I realize after a couple of minutes that I won’t have to drag off. So here I go – doing the job right. Well trying at least and you better not be dragging off me !
After the first turn, I look back – I have a 10 yd lead. So I keep cruising. After the first lap, I have increased the lead so I decide to push a little the 3 third leg to secure a comfortable advantage. That’s when my very cool wetsuit started to irritate my arms. I could feel the burn growing !
I start catching up with the other groups (relay & more respectful athletes). I fear about struggling but I easily find my way. I even manage to recognize my friend Vincent in the water. We cheer each other on & I pull forward to get out of the swim in the lead.
I check my time : 21:12 – terrible, for an ex swimmer.

But now the serious stuff begins : biking !
It’s still raining so I decide to wear my raincoat. Don’t wanna be cold !
I try to be fast but soon my wife Sandy screams “hurry, they’re coming�. I know, I know.

Ready to go, I rush to the bike park exit : sorry, wrong way. Gotta go on the OTHER side (I wonder if the pro had the same path). I lost AT LEAST a few hundredths of second…
20 km & a turn around.
I lead off the bike. I am panicking a little. I want to remain calm (heart & breath are going strong) so I decide to go up in good cadence so I don’t force too much right away. But within a few km, 2 guys pass me like the wind. That’s hard.
Then comes the hill (I ignore the fact I almost crashed in the first turn), I’m stiff & can’t get up from the saddle… But I climb surely.
Now we’re on the flat part. But again, it doesn’t feel flat to me. With the wind in the face, the rain, the water projection from the riders (fortunately they pass me so fast it doesn’t matter), I start wondering what I’m doing here… Fortunately, people are cheering all along. That’s good, I thank the old Grand Ma in the wheelchair, waving her hand. It’s nice.
David, a very good rider passes me at Km 12. That’s good. He took longer than I thought he would ! I start seeing the return packs of pros and after a while the guys who passed me earlier. There’s David again.
I’m surprised to see the 20 km already. He didn’t gain so much on me (don’t worry I don’t catch up – it’s just a feeling I had).
I look at my time : 36 mn and seconds. Great news ! With the wind on my back, I should be good for my 32.5 km/h target.
So I try to push up my gear, I can now even stand up on the pedal to give more in the “hills�.
But after a while, more guys pass by, and I start wondering if the wind didn’t change direction !
The good thing is that less people pass me and I can even keep close for a (little) while.
Km 35 – almost there ! I have the big hill (the Alps) to go and then and I can start focusing on the run.
I feel better than at the start of the cycling and I climb steadily (can be read as “slowly�). On the way down, in spite of the water, I give it all and end up screaming on the bike for no reason (beside losing my mind maybe).
High RPM to finish, I’m slow to get off the bike. Ouch, running hurts : I’m all stiff.

I throw down everything. It isn’t raining anymore & I take the time to change socks. My feet are SO wet. I don’t like to have blisters during the run. I can’t find my hat. It doesn’t matter there is no sun. And Off I go.

Up the hill, with baby steps – high cadence, smile for the picture & 10 km to go.
I’m very happy with my sock change. Dry feet are nice, very nice.
Then Godzilla starts catching with me. I can hear his heavy feet coming closer and closer – thump, thump …
Good news, it’s not Godzilla ! It’s a Martian ! Fluo green ! The heavy footed guy can sure run though. I try his pace, but it’s too early to push hard. I let him go.
A little slope up, and then down (I don’t like going down). Km 2 comes around quickly. Cool.
I record my laps every km but I don’t look yet. A couple km further a good runner catches up with me. It’s hard at first but then he slows down so we trail together another 2 km nicely. I’m in front, starting to push (less than 5 km to go) but I get confuse when we come out of a tunnel, not knowing where to go. Then a guy behind us indicates the way. They manage to make a little break. I try to make contact but that’s when my sciatic nerve kicks in. Nailing a long needle in my butt cheek, down through my leg.
Being “distracted� by the pain, running past the arrival area with 3 km to go, I can’t keep up. I’m actually starting hurting bad and I feel like limping. Again, kids & people are cheering.
At Km 8, I get my head together : stand straight, look forward and push again.
Km 9, that’s it, it’s almost finished. I look back – clear. We arrive on a shopping street : food smell, dried fish smell, smoking smell (yuk). Stands of stuff – I gotta tell Sandy I thought. Last turn, 2 or 300 m to go – awesome. I check behind again : AHHHHHHHHHHHH. :eek: They’re coming !!!! Sprint sprint, head up, knees higher, all out !
Yes, I made it.

It’s nice. I get a drink or 2, some food, an ice pack on my butt, a free towel (cool), and Sandy & the boys come to meet me. What a great feeling.
Then we all go cheer for the others – friends & participants in general.

Triathlon is sooo much fun. I just gotta learn how to ride for real… ;)