My next go at triathlon was during school where I placed second, bringing me up to date with last year’s Contact Tri at Whangamata. My uncle Andre had wanted us to put in a team so he entered us and off we went. I led the team off with the swim, getting out of the water ninth, tagged uncle Andre and he took off on the bike. He got back in at somewhere between 9-12th and tagged Scott, who took off like a thoroughbred and brought us home in fourth.
Andre’s previous team had not been a family one and hadn’t finished so well, so we were all stoked with our fourth place. With Scott being such a good runner, we were worried he would be approached to run for an ‘elite’ team of Matamata athletes consisting of Matt Stanley, Louis Wright and Scott, however blood is thicker than glory and we are again putting in a ‘family team’ this year hoping to go one better this time.
I like competing as part of our team, as we are family, and I don’t have to train so hard to do all the disciplines myself. I just do the swim, which comes naturally to me, uncle Andre cycles on his home turf and Scott runs, which is natural to him. We therefore all work well and contribute our best to make up a fairly good team. Team training however does not exist for us, as Andre lives in Whangamata, Scott trains in Hamilton and I no longer train at all.
Last year I think I swam a total of four times leading up to the race, though this year if we want to have a podium finish the pressure is on and I will have to put in more time in the pool. We would all like to improve our individual placings this time, so I have just today had my first swim since last year, Scott trains regularly, and I think uncle Andre is going to do a bit more work on the flat this year.
Needless to say, of all the team as far as training goes, I do by far the least, so was very pleased to get out where I did (no wetsuit either, just my old togs). Having not done much training and gone so hard in the swim, I just about passed out when I had to run to tag Andre, so have been told to work on swimming hard and fast then getting up and going for a quick run. I think it has something to do with your body being flat in the water, so when you stand up all the blood rushes to your feet - not a pleasant experience! Anything I can do to avoid that again will be great.
As far as competing as a team goes, I love it. Firstly we get to do the discipline of our individual strengths, and secondly any triumph is shared among us all. Compete together, celebrate together! Doing this as a family makes it all the more special. I don’t know if I’ll ever do a tri by myself.
If anything, the new short version would be a good way to give it a go as I can swim well, anyone can ride a bike, and then the run. I would love to, and have tried to get other Matamata families to put in teams, as it’s a great day and as I’ve said success is shared among the whole family, supporters and all. When all is said and done ‘we are all in this together’!
