Background: Years ago, when I first started to dabble in triathlon, I heard of a race around the Thredbo and Jindabyne area and thought I would prefer that to the more clinical road based events. I think it was run only once or twice though and I had to wait until this event was staged to have an opportunity to test myself in a longer off-road event as a soloist.
In the meantime I gained a wife, mortgage, two kids and a bigger workload at the office. Having read winner Jody Zerbst's 2005 race report, I thought my story, told from the position of tail end of the field of the 2006 race, might balance the perspective. Lead up I only entered the event on the cut-off date as I was really unsure if I could finish and didn't want to look like a basket case on the day. I rang Prachar who said some of the individuals would be slow and even some of the teams were really not serious athletes and I should be fine.
I found out at registration that there would be only three solo open males, one woman and one 50+ male. This was well down last year 20+ solos and made me wonder why people weren't backing up again this year. It meant I could stand on the podium for the first time in my life if I finished.
Preparation
Having done an Ironman race 12 years ago, I knew a nutrition plan would be wise but I just never got around to it. I never found the time to test different foods on training days. The other shortcoming was not training with any form of electrolyte drink. On race day I set up one hydration backpack for the kayak with Gatorade and one for the run/bike with water and with a standby supply of gels and bars. Also made up some jam and peanut butter sandwiches the night before. A spare tube and tool kit would be added to the backpack for the bike legs.
Swim 1
All solo competitors met and shook hands before the race started. This felt strange, but as there were only 5 all up it made sense. The five soloists had roughly a 10 minute head start. The sun had yet to crest the hill East of Jindabyne, but the first marker was visible off in the distance. The water felt warm enough in my wetsuit that had not been used in two years. It was an uneventful casual swim for me, unlike that of the two team swimmers who came steaming past me near the finish, who were competing for the win and did a 18:30 for the 1.5k. Warning lightswhen on when my calves cramped getting wetsuit off.
Paddle 1
Afterwards my helper Adam commented that he thought I looked drunk as I struggled to get positioned into my kayak. I then proceeded to carve a semi circle with the rudder stuck in full right lock. Once these things were sorted I headed out into tranquil waters in what was the easiest leg of the day. Actually able to overtake a couple of people as well as being overtaken myself. Drink a bit of Gatorade. When Buzz from Cruising Studs came past at about halfway I was able to sit on her wake for 5-10 min and use her as a gauge until a decision had to be made about going around a sand spit or to portage. The portage looked more popular and direct (no faster in the end). No chair or towel or real transition planning meant wiping my sandy feet off on my running shirt. Ate a banana and headed out.
Run 1
Conditions were great for running. With a single digit race number on my back (#2) I started to receive encouragement from other competitors, a trend that really did make a difference throughout the day. Managed to overtake one team person and was overtaken by half a dozen. The course was hillier than I thought it would be and running past the finish to do the extra loop down along the lakeshore was dispiriting. Drank water and had an energy bar.
Ride 1
Having ridden this section in January, I thought a bike with more travel would be quicker over the more technical sections. The Kona Stinky felt a bit heavy riding up the first hill, but I tried to have a bit of fun with a couple the little ramps and ledges on the course. Had a banana and 1.5 gels, with .5 of one ending 
up all over brake lever. Overtook two team riders but was overtaken by half a dozen, many of which had encouraging comments to give. Again transitioned in dirt, tried to choke down a jam sandwich and only managed a few bites. Not really hungry- more like a bit queasy.
Swim 2
Ran the 200 metres barefoot to the water edge and noticed people coming down to collect their swimmer's shoes and thought gee that was good thinking. I forgot to zip my wettie and was helped by the wife of another soloist who had just departed. I had meant to buy some new goggles in the weeks leading up to the race and never got around to it. My 2yr had taken the clips off mine- meaning I had to tie them together. Leaking goggles meant stopping to clear the water out every 5 minutes. Started to experience toe cramps, and my arms and felt cold even though the water was warm enough. Strange. Tried to relax legs as much as possible and cramps went away. Once on shore the shivers and chattering teeth started. Try to eat sandwich- manage a few bites before it falls in the dirt. A woman waiting for her team's swimmer to come in said it was OK and that"Egyptians teeth were ground down from eating so much sand". Crowds noticeably smaller now.
Paddle 2
I count 5 swimmers behind me as I began the paddle, which was uneventful with smooth conditions. Look longingly at the water skiers and thinking that might be a more fun thing to do today. Able to drink a bit of Gatorade. Get overtaken by two kayaks and a ski. Not sure where to go? I can see the flash of sunlight off paddles in the distance. Some seem to be heading right, some left. Eventually I can see people veering more left to what I am told later is a slightly different transition point from the year before. This lake is hard to navigate as the foreshore is all sand and boulders without much in the way of landmarks. Adam has set up 100m away from finish chute and scrambles over with the bike and other gear when I ask nicely upon approach to"bring the #@*# over here".
Ride 2
This ride was supposed to be about 25 minutes according to people who had done it before. The first few hundred meters of sand at the start seemed to be eating big chunks out of this time for me, particularly after a minor stack in the soft stuff. I look back up the paddle course and think I make it four paddlers still coming in. This leg is on private property and I had not attempted it in practice. It was marked well however, and easy to follow. Overtaken by one rider just as I started to talk to the cows on the track. Understood better what it was to have a"tough hide" when riding up the cow track through waist high thistles that mustn't worry the cows but were annoying my skinny little legs.
Run 2
Had a cup of coke, a top up of water bladder, a banana, and a smear of Vaseline under the armpits before heading down to the Thredbo River. Ihad walked a couple of the switchbacks when running this track in practice and fully intended on doing the same today. Legs feel fine, but pulse seems too high for the effort and end up walking every hill section. Energy starting to flag. Low point of the day, feeling dehydrated and nauseous and getting cramps in my jaw of all places. Overtaken by two team runners, the second points out a red bellied black snake and we chat for awhile waiting for it to cross the track. He is complaining about cramps but I am just wishing I could eat something substantial. My practice of this run leg took 40min up to Sawpit Creek and 36min for the loop. Today I was at over an hour and counting and was still looking for the transition. Once there, at first I wonder why nobody is in compound and then remember it has moved down the road. Luckily there is a water stop so I fill my bladder and head up the 6k loop. Overtaken by two more team runners. The loop takes :50, not :36 when I jogged it before. Have a couple of cups of warm tropical Pepsi and speak to wife on phone."Yes, taking it easy, yes, will pull out if I feel sick. Don't worry so much. It is almost over anyway"
Ride 3
The night before the race I saw an interview with a Commonwealth Games swimmer who repeated her mantra"focus on the process, not the results". I was at a point in the race (8 hrs) where to finish, I couldn't think of how much still had to be done and adopted this for myself. This ride was therefore broken down into the climb, the descent, and the undulations. I met the hastily derived goal to never stop turning over the legs on the climb, enjoyed the descent on the bitumen and really felt through the shoulders the descent on the corrugated section. Overtaken by the last team rider. I was now on my own. Tried to ride in a very conservative way in case I end up injured down an embankment. Had to push up a few of the hills. Near the end of the track, the sweep came up behind me, stopped, and took a few photos.
Swim 3
As I donned my wetsuit, two team swimmers were about to come out of water, but only a handful of people around. One of the volunteers fed me some seaweed in little packets and Endura, saying it was much better than Gatorade. Decide to break the swim down to 1 marker at a time. Get toe cramps between 1st and 2nd markers (ignore). Hamstring cramps at 2nd marker I can't ignore and need to hang on to second marker's ropes as Adam spins around the Kayak and paddles closer for the rest of the swim. Need to hang on to kayak twice more with cramps.
Paddle 3
Thankful for the decision to bring a slower plastic sit on kayak for this leg. During the practice paddle of this leg in January I learned that the wind and waves were more than my limited paddling experience could handle in a tippy fast kayak. The downside of this craft was that it was heavy and slow. I looked over to the SES boat who was shadowing me to see spray flying off its bow. It was a full on headwind. The distant East Jindabyne is not gettingcloser. Shoreline not changing. Use an anchored fishing boat as a beacon, who as I pass asks"bout time we head in don't you think". Yes, that is what I have been trying to do for the last hour. I start to wonder if the organisers will pull the pin on my day, can't remember what the cut off times were. Getting dark and I start to feel the cold. The waves coming over the bow warm me up momentarily, but then the wind cuts deeper after each drenching. These are the times that set up the situation I think people get into endurance racing. This is the pointy end of the day that one must struggle with the temptation to quit and to overcome the"why am I doing this?" type questions. The answer today is"because you started and besides, it would be embarrassing to ask the SES guys to give you a lift to the finish". Manage to drink quite a bit of Gatorade but my newly acquired seaweed packets are floating, bloated, in the footrest of the kayak. To fearful to stop (even for 5 sec) paddling for the entire journey, lest the wind blow me backwards. Finally round a point and the wind and waves start to subside. The SES guys motor up and point me to the right bay, and then ring somebody on their mobile to find out precisely where to go. I see a dunny being driven away on a trailer and figure I must be close.
Run 3
Shivering and with teeth chattering, I put on some dry clothes and start to walk to the finish as volunteer Nigel helps Adam put the kayak on the roof. I am told that one of the other soloists have pulled out with cramps. All I need to do is finish for 2nd place. It is now dark, though I can see the orange ribbons for the track. Nigel catches up and we start to run towards the finish. It is a level run and we seem to be going at a good pace. Glad to have him there to talk to and find our way through the campground. Legs still feel fine on the flat and seems like we reach town in no time. The finish is anti-climatic as there are only about 8 people there, most of which are volunteers eager to pack up. I am handed a trophy as I cross the line, walk a few strides to the car, chuck my things in and leave.
Mark Davis
