100 Hundreds - Are you serious?

“The path to paradise begins in hell.” 
― Dante Alighieri

"Just keep swimming."
― Dory

Who remembers the hundred hundreds from last Christmas? Who wants to?

Actually I don't remember it being that bad. Trent was there like Beatrice every 20-30 laps with the comfort of some snakes. It's all a distant memory and the red has cleaned up nicely from the bottom of the pool!

Thanks to Kylie for providing these awesome photos.

Noosa Ultimate Sports weekend: 27-28 April 2013

The Noosa SWIM – a day of conquering and some controversy! The day dawned with perfect conditions, no wind, small swell, sunshine. But not without nerves, as we squaddies gathered in the early morning: 

 

Phil Wheeler (2k)

Jen Woodward (3.8k)

Kris Brooke (3.8k) and her husband Phil (2k)

Alyssa Coe (3.8k)

Reiks VanKlinken (3.8k)

and our illustrious leader ... Trent Grimsey (2k)
 

Plus Nic’s squaddies:

Tess Woodward (3.8k)

Max Van Dijk (3.8k)

and HealthstreamQUT Mark - surname Tanner ? (1k)

even Nic Campbell himself (1k); and Kath in for the 500m
 

It was a mass start for the 3.8k which was quite daunting, I even heard Reiks squeak that he was quite nervous! But not Kris, up the front to get a good start, and with Tess and Max, led the mass out to the water.
 

But what a great swim! For me it was a true ocean swim - it was very deep out there, but beautiful. And after the first 500m, it was a case of relax, try to stay in-line with the bouys, remember Trents hints (drafting) and do the job!
 

In the 3.8k, 300+ swimmers - out of all of us, Max powered in first in 37 place overall (4^th in his age/gender), with Tess close behind in 47 place overall, 9^th out of all women (4^th in her age/gender), both on the 1 hour.
 

Kris took out the squaddies with a 1hr9mins (6^th age group/gender); then Jen in 1hr12mins (8^th age/gender) with Alyssa 1hr17mins (wetsuit) and Reiks (1hr23) close on the heels! We all finished in the top half of the field – not bad huh!
 

There is rumour and some controversy about the length of the course, apparently one of the buoys got away so at some stage lengthened the course out to 4.2-4.5k ? Plus there were not many buoys overall to guide the swim OR officials watching for “cheaters” not going around buoys full-stop! ... so there are some disgruntled swimmers. Fair enough!
 

Phil Wheeler SMASHED his 2k swim, 32 mins and coming in 35^th place overall out of 400+swimmers and 1^st in his age group/gender!! .... BUT this is where the controversy really starts as apparently the records show another male crossed the line before him, in an incredible 23.3mins – ahh... don’t think so! So watch this space, we hope Phil receives his 1^st place dues.
 

Trent romped it in, did us all v.proud in 2k – 25.2mins!! Wow - 3^rd overall in the 2k race, and nudging out his brother Ridge, over the line!

In the 1k, official results show that Nic raced in ahead of Mark ... ahh but witnesses and photographic evidence showed Mark smashed it in ahead of Nic! Again controversy as there was no time recorded for Mark which is very unfortunate for him as we reckon he was either first or second in his age group!!
 

It is a great event, despite the massive timing issues USM have ... and a great swim to finish off the season (unless you are doing the Byron Winter Whales swim next weekend – the last one) so put it in the calendar for next year.
 

See you back at the pool!

 

 

Tangalooma 2013

Beautiful blue sky and picturesque views, BUT we could have done without the south-westerly wind as the waves and chop it whipped up did spoil the “race pace” for some of us!

Smaller numbers this year, only about 170 in the 2.4k swim, but thankgoodness really as the waves made it hard enough to battle on let alone the crowd.

Reality check for us all – Nic’s squaddies Tess Woodward (14) and Max Van Dijk (15) flogged us!  Out of the 167 swimmer, Max came in 13^th 37.13 and Tess 18^th 39.14 (and 3^rd female overall!!)  It is true that the competition was tougher (read: fast as) for Max in the Youth Male; he placed 5^th in his category and Tess placed 2^nd.  Well done Young Guns!!

Then came the REAL battle. No time to admire the starfish, it was neck and neck, gender battling gender as Kris and Matt raced side by side the whole way.  Kris used her new drafting skills learnt while in clinic with Codie and Trent recently, so drafted as much as she could off Matt, and she rounded the final bouy first.  But the power and gritty determination of Matt prevailed as he strode past Kris in the run up the beach to the finish, with a very nice 34^th place in 41.11 and Kris 36^th place 41.14.  Someone crept in between them!!

There were other battles .... apart from the waves and current spoiling my cruisey race plan, I had my own drafter hanging off me the WHOLE way, but nipped her in the bud at the end too and beat her by half a second over the line, coming in 47^th in 43.51.

Reiks, Alexandra, then Kris’s husband Phil followed close behind, with everyone finished well under the 55 mins, all very pleased to finish the swim with a grin!

There was the occasional jelly fish apparently, some seaweed, but we all saw the starfish (except Kris ... she IS focussed) and agreed we’ll be back again next year and hopefully NO WAVES/CHOP!

(Posted by Jen)