TRIPLE SPRINT
This Sunday’s club race is one that is sure to test the full range of triathlon skills, and is one that is always memorable for participants.

The race will consist of three short course laps of 250m swim, 6km cycle and 2km run. All female competitors will go off the gun at 6:30am. Males will follow 10 minutes later. This format is guaranteed to speed up transition times and bring on that certain discomfort and unfamiliar feeling of going from run to swim. You can do as many laps as you like, just be sure to notify the timekeepers when you finish. 

As always, those on duty are required to be there at 5:45am to set up and please don’t forget to sign on when you arrive. If you are unsure if you are on duty, you can check online at http://www.coffstri.com/duty-roster.html or contact Mark Griffiths at [email protected].

For those racing, please arrive early as registrations will close at 6:20am sharp and the gun will go off at 6:30am. 

You may also want to arrive early to take advantage of the 6 new fluoro HP bike pumps very generously donated by Daniel and the team from Rainbow Cycles. These are top of the line pumps, easy to fit and easy to measure your tyre pressure. From now on they will be will be placed at the end of each bike rack for all members to use. Please handle these with care and please place them back where they belong after you have used them. A big thanks to Rainbow Cycles for this generous donation.

KIDS FOUNDATION
Since 2008, Andrew Wellington and Paul Courtney have been raising money for the Kids Foundation. Their next fundraising event will be the Ride to Port Brad Foster Challenge. 

Taking in 450km of fantastic coastal scenery, the ride will start in Byron Bay on 28 April 2014 and finish in Port Macquarie on 1st May 2014. For more details, see the attached poster, or check the website at http://www.kidsfoundation.org.au/events2/2014-cycle-challenges/ride-to-port-2014/. To donate to Paul or Andrew’s fundraising appeal, you can contact Paul at [email protected] or Andrew on [email protected].

HOW I GAVE BIRTH TO A 70.3 FINISHERS MEDAL
Another Perspective - Port Mac 70.3 by Judy Chesney
It all began with what seemed like a good idea at the time. After all, how hard could it be? Lots of people do it.

20 weeks ago I registered for Port 70.3. It was nearby. I thought it might keep me fit over winter and keep the kilo-creep at bay.  At first it seemed OK. Training was not too tough. I worked through the program, booked the accommodation, bought the gear.

Then I started to hear the stories. The hills. How hard the course was. It was going to be hot. But I was already committed. I couldn’t back out.

Then the training got tougher, harder, longer. Consuming my life, my weekends, all conversation.

Practise, practise, practise. Eat, train, sleep.  Count the weeks. One day at a time.

Until I couldn’t wait for it all to be over.

Then all of a sudden it’s the day. But I’m not ready I hear my Butterflies say. I pray for a broken leg or pneumonia to give me a legitimate excuse to back out. But NO. Too bad it’s Time. At least I know some other people who will be there.

I make it through the swim OK.  I make it through the bike by walking up THE hill. OK. Then the run. Three hours is plenty of time.

Hard to get the legs going. Why can’t I run any faster? Keep going.  One lap down.  Gu making me feel nauseous. Familiar faces run by offering encouraging words. Walk through the aid station. Keep running. So slow. “Well it doesn’t matter if I don’t finish in time, does it” I say to myself. But I mind. Run the course now. It’s just as far back to the start. The field thins out and I look for other people. Aid stations are packing up.

Another runner comes past and is with me for a few strides. I hear a volunteer say “keep up that pace and you will make it in time”.

Almost instantly my calf muscle goes into a massive spasm and pulls me to a screaming halt. The volunteer comes over and asks if I can walk it out, but I am struggling to even put my foot flat on the ground. I curse and squeeze my leg, begin to hobble. And then I find it - my own mental toughness.

I will not let my body stop me. I can see the flags at the finish. I can do this. It’s possible.

BIG WEEKEND
It was a huge weekend for racing this weekend, with club members all over the place testing their mettle in some tough races.
 
First and foremost was our club race which saw around 100 members racing over both distances. It was yet another race held in perfect conditions. A big thanks to everyone for arriving early as it meant the race started at 6.30 am, which in turn made a big difference in terms of road traffic. Just a gentle reminder for those on duty to please remember to sign on when you arrive. 
 
There were lots of PBs on both courses.

KONA
Another Ironman World Championships is done and dusted, and Australia has come out on top once again. This time around it was the women’s time to shine with Mirinda Carfrae setting a new course record of 8:52:14 and taking out her second championship title. The men’s race was won by Belgium’s Frederik van Lierde who put in a consistent performance throughout all three legs to win in 8:12:29, overtaking Luke McKenzie 17km into the run and winning by a three minute margin.

By all accounts, the course was made more pleasant this year with cooler temperatures and milder wind conditions which resulted in better times across the board. 

ANOTHER PERFECT RACE DAY
The weather just keeps delivering almost perfect race conditions, and club members and day registrations are turning up in droves to take on the club course. 78 people took on the sprint distance and 39 made up the enticer course field.

While Richard Pearson was fastest on the day with 0:57:26, few could miss (even if they wanted to) Clint Rowlings in second place with his bright pink budgie smugglers. Times are on the improve for many club members with John Waites and Hadley Black just getting better with each race. Jo Magill, Isabella Bowes, Michelle Clarke and Anne Grundy are also showing steady improvement.

Aaron Stubbs took out the enticer race in 0:38:45 with Jai Lyons not far behind. It’s good to see the next generation appearing in the enticer race and we will keenly watch the development of these juniors. Name such as Bulloch, Jeff, Jacobs, Clarke and Abbott will definitely be ones to watch.

Things are just going to get better

THIRD RACE OF THE SEASON
From the President
Hi Everyone

Many will have noticed the increased traffic around the jetty area and we’re only two races into our calendar. As summer approaches we can only expect this to increase which is the primary reason we are starting our races as close to 6:30 am as possible. For this to work it is imperative that those on duty turn up at 5:45 am. The club hosts 13 races over the season and I don’t believe it’s unreasonable to do duty for just one. When you are rostered on, as well as your allocated area of responsibility you should be there for bringing gear out of the storage are and taking it back after the race. Also to state the obvious, you cannot compete in a race when you are rostered on duty.

We have had a few enquiries regarding junior members competing in club races. Attached to this newsletter you will find a TRI NSW participation policy regarding distances for juniors competing in triathlons. The distances for our enticer or short course race is 350/10/2.5 and long course 750/20/5.

September has been a busy month with two club races, the Coffs Harbour Running Festival and the Woopi Tri Festival. Interesting to note that the organisers of the events Mick Maley, Sinclair Black, Leeann Lloyd their families and band of assistants are all Coffs Tri Club members. Funds raised from these events go directly back into the community via charities, schools, volunteer