I found this picture by accident. I was looking for something in the LPT rules & regulations and found out that hey! I have 6 pictures in their collection even though I DNF-ed the whole thing for crashing in the bike leg. I am very, very, very, very proud of this picture. This is when I came out of the lake after the sea.
Firstly, I am proud that I survived swimming in the sea albeit it took me like 46 mins to stop zig zagging and get out of the sea route. There were only 6 buoys in the whole sea route and when you turn back, the sun is in your eye. Thereafter I'm proud to have survived the lake, as the total cut off was 1 hour 10mins to finish swimming BOTH the sea and the lake. I finished both in 1 hour 5mins. Yes. The sun was still in my eye and there were only 3 buoys in the lake. Yes. I am always scraping through. For the record, I wasn't the last swimmer. There were still 10 more bikes left at transition when I counted. Of course my timing for swimming is nothing to others and to you. But it is everything to me. For me, I am damn happy to finish it within the cut off time at all. And that I swam entirely alone. From when we transferred from the mainland to the front of the sea, I didn't know anyone in the crowd anymore. I was entirely alone. And I made it. Especially when I never had a chance to swim in the sea and lake to get a 'feel' of the water. I just jumped in on race day. (Which is a contributing factor to my entire failure in LPT.... but oh well)
Remember, I only started to learn how to swim when? And start to swim laps when? I REALLY REALLY REALLY only started to swim laps in June this year. (Hoohathlon Tri attempt in June, PD Tri attempt in July, HSBC UK Tri attempt in Sept, Desaru Tri - LD and Sprint attempts in Sept, Miri Tri attempts -both Sprint and OD in Oct and Laguna Phuket Tri attempt in Nov. There was supposed to be an IM70.3 attempt in Dec as well... but .... oh well...)
The first wave to go were the elites and professionals, then the second wave were the err.. other age groupers then I was in the third and last wave. Phew. I was abit shocked that there were only 6 buoys in the sea. Makes me feel that the triathlons we do in Malaysia..... WE ARE SO DAMN SPOILT!!! We have more buoys in the tri's we do here. Therefore anytime I panic, I can catch one. But in Phuket? You better know how to sight, or you'd end up like me, zig zagging ALL OVER THE PLACE and losing time since I didn't know where the heck was I swimming to.
When I exited the sea, I remember panicking since my sea time was already 46 mins. I know they said the lake is only 620meters, but that's if you're swimming straight and on course. Yours truly was zig zagging in the lake too! There were only 3 buoys for the whole lake! And there were weird plants down there, the algae and stuff were "catching" my face, my hands, my legs! I know I didn't swim straight to the arch. I know I was away from the exit arch. But when I finally finished swimming, the feeling was just incredible. I finally am independent. I made it on my own without anyone. YES! Sifu Richard Tang's idea of me swimming alone in Miri for both OD and Sprint worked. I no longer fear swimming open water. :D
I am also familiar with Laguna Phuket by now. Having finished the full marathon in June and then attempted the triathlons at the end of the same year. It is really a nice, self contained resort. Do the Laguna Phuket marathon if you're contemplating. It is hilly and hot. But it is worth it.
But what's up with today's date? It's my last physical day with HSBC. I have to leave. I'm not going into details. But damn. That fateful day was really the last time I got to wear their Tri-suit. It tore when I crashed in the bike leg. And since I have resigned, I cannot wear it anymore in competitions. :( I really believed in the branding. I was really proud of it. I think we're like the only bank to hold our own triathlons in the UK for the past 4 years. I knew when I was in UK that I had to go all out, but I still didn't make it in the second lap of the swim. I cycled and ran. But the feeling is just not the same. If I can save some money, maybe I'd go back to UK next year and finish it this time. I had the best boss. The most supportive team mates. :( Good things just don't last forever, huh.
Sokaylah. I did most of the things I wanted to do this year already.... Well.... Most. Next year is a whole new ball game. 2012!!! Bring it on!!! nuninuninuninu......
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