Sri Chinmoy Triple-Triathlon 2005 Race Report
The Sri Chinmoy Triple-Triathlon is an event like no other. The raw challenges, the human bonds, the epic struggles, the soaring highs and searing lows, the inner courage, the adamantine enduring, the sheer joy of completion- it is as much a spiritual quest and metaphor for life's journey as it is an athletic event or a scenic tour of a splendid city.
The Triple-Tri family brings together devotees of several sports and diverse interests and backgrounds. It embraces the huffers, plodders and splashers as readily as the gliders, swooshers and dashers. Aspiring kids, mums and dads and weekend warriors share the tracks with gifted athletes, focused enthusiasts and full-time fitness freaks.
The 2005 Sri Chinmoy Triple-Triathlon was notable for a thousand personal stories of courage, sacrifice, love, joy and triumph. Please share your own impressions of the day! Whether it's a comprehensive race report like that of outright men's solo winner Trevor Fairhurst, or an amusing or touching anecdote, please send your story, with photos if you have any, to [email protected] for inclusion in the Triple-Tri Archive.
Headline performance of the day came from Julie Quinn, who astonished herself by shattering the long-standing course record for Solo Women. She clearly got out of the right side of the bed, turning in a ‘blinder' right from the starter's call, finishing second outright of all the Solo competitors after the Solo Men's winner, Trevor Fairhurst. En route she also broke the course records for Solo Women for 4 of the 9 legs.
David Baldwin also wrested Paul Smith's long-standing record for Solo Men for the 3rd run course by 18 seconds.
Mighty were the battles fought amongst the leading Teams, particularly the 9-hour arm-wrestle at the front of the Open Teams of 3 between"The Puffy Puffed Puffcakes" and"Stuff the Puffs.""Puffcakes" ended up with cream on top this time, with"Stuff" vowing to return for another crack at the crown next year. The rivalry between these leading teams, intense as it is friendly, weaved a compelling sub-plot through the day's drama.
Among the Teams, the stellar individual performance came from rising star Emma Murray, who obliterated the women's course records for each and every run course in decisive manner, slicing 9 minutes from the 1st run course record, 3 minutes from the 2nd and half a minute from the 3rd. The other individual leg record to tumble was Haydn Marsh' performance of 36:27 in the second (3.5 km ) swim.
Such a grand event cannot take place without the services and cooperation of many groups and individuals. The organisers are indebted to the Gungahlin Volunteer Brigade for manning so many checkpoints throughout the course and assisting with communications; to Sports Medicine Australia for providing first-aid support across the whole course and the many hours of a long day; to Russell Baker, timing systems sleepless supremo; and to Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team members from as far afield as Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth and Christchurch. Our thanks also to the staff of Canberra Nature Parks, ACT Forests, NCA, ACT Traffic and Roads and City Places for their kind assistance and advice.
The Sri Chinmoy Triple-Triathlon will be staged one week earlier than usual next year, due to the World Long-Distance Triathlon Championships being held in Canberra on our usual date. So set down Sunday 12 November 2006 in your diaries, get your team settled and start dreaming. again.
“There is only one dream
That will always be perfect
In your lifetime,
And that is the dream
Of self-transcendence."
- Sri Chinmoy
Little wind meant still waters on all 3 lakes, yielding perfect swimming conditions and fast swim times. Recent rains saw the natural Canberra at its vibrant and inviting best. Mountain bike tracks were firm from the rain, with no dust, but never muddy or sloppy. Mild to warm temperatures in the low 20s with reasonable cloud cover were appreciated by cyclists and runners producing uniformly fast times and several course records.
The mood at the transitions and the finish line was up-beat. Ideal conditions, a challenging and scenic course, great camaraderie amongst competitors and fast personal times led to smiles and a festive atmosphere all round. No-one even got seriously lost.
