One week ago I ended up not having a bike for this race and I was thinking maybe this was not meant to be but one person from my running club was kind enough to lend out her race bike to me.  Since I have prepared myself using my 24 gear city bike I was in chock when I picked it up Tuesday afternoon downtown and took my first “steps with it”. So I had a couple of days to get used to this very different bike.

4.30 this morning the alarm went off and it was time to eat breakfast without stress and pack the rest of things that I needed to be at Sövde for the day.

Suz and I would be the two people representing Coach K Runners and here we are prior to depart time 6.45. Both were going to do this for our first time.

On our way down it was talk about our expectations of this race

First it was time to get ready for the race by putting our bibs on our bikes and helmets. Take out the wet suit, our lovely white swim cap and swim goggles.

Now we are ready to check in our bikes.

Because we have to put everything that we needed for the bike ride and the run we had to be barefoot before the race started, which was just fine because the weather was perfect. I was a bit nervous because it is a lot to keep track of and also Think about what is best to do to decrease the total time.

It was time to go to “bajamajorna” to get the first nervousness out of the system.

After that it was time to put on the wet suit and head down to the lake Sövdesjön, the temperature was 19oC (66F), Suz was tough to swim only in trisuit and also her first time swimming outdoors. I pepped her to have no fear and just do it. At 9.00 heat 1 started and we were NOT in that, you had to be able to swim under 10 min to be in that heat, my fastest time in the pool was 11.01 so 9.05 it was time to run into the water and start swimming. I had this idea earlier this spring to crawl 200 m and then breaststroke for 200 m but when the total time gets longer and you also get dyspnea I decided that breaststroke it is. Around the buoy it was a bit of a chaose, the jungle law, everyone tried to get first around them so it was a lot of feet and arms flying around. First discipline almost done, time to run out of the water, start to get the wet suit down and run to the exchange area. Get out of the wet suit, put helmet on, sun glasses on, running watch on, running shoes on, decided not to have any socks. Run with the bike out of the exchange area to the magical yellow line where I could “gracefully” jump on the bike.

Now came the discipline that I was most nervous about, you were suppose to be 12 m behind the bike in front of you plus I had misunderstood and thought that it would be on a country road in the beginning because it was said it would be a very shaky bike path and did not look forward to this. Bike fast but with control was what I wanted to do since it is very easy to bike very fast with a race bike but you are not the only one out on the road. Plus the roads had not been closed for other traffice like cars. I realized that 12 m was not so important and was biking in a good tempo and then Suz passed me and said those magical Words. I do not remember what they were but they triggered me to bike much faster that I had expected. Actually this was the discipline I enjoyed the most. 2 laps (total of 20k) on the same bike path and then it was time to jump “gracefully” down from the bike and run with the bike into the exchange area again and get ready for the 5k run. When I had parked the bike I could take off the helmet and start running.

I had a very high tempo on the bike discipline because I was breathless when I started to run and tried to get down to a much more enjoyable breating but it was tough. Did not expect a good time here. The trail was fantastic, in the woods. It was such a joy to run throught the finish line and get a medal and a finisher t-shirt. I got some water and a banana.

After I was done I waited to see Suz come running and cheer her on. She ran Kullamannen 56k Ultra last weekend. And then I saw her and cheered her on.

Here Coach K Runners have received their medals and have now done our first Triathlon Sprint

And here we are with another Coach K Runner who was a competition official today.

Here come the results of Coach K Runners

Today I did my last combo before the race June 8th.

I had hoped that my wetsuit would have arrived this week so I could have tested it in the pool but that did not happen and when I got to the reception to pay for swimming I was there way too early. Did not open til 12.00, had not checked the open hours on Sundays So it was just to bike back home and get ready for biking to Lomma back and forth. it was perfect weather for biking in a t-shirt and capri sweat pants. Some upwind but not too bad. Total time 55.08.6 min.

Then it was time to change clothes for running a flat 5k run. Felt good with a breeze. Glad it was not as hot as it was Thursday, also perfect weather. Total time 30.11 min

So now it will be a couple more runs and then I will participate in my first sprint race which I am looking forward to a lot.

Today it was time for another combo.

Started with 400 m swimming. I was a bit late this morning so I was not alone in the pool but I am satisfied with the total time of 11.01.97 min despite obstacles.

Then biked home and changed clothes and it was time to bike 20.5k and forth to Lomma

Some upwind today to Lomma but was to bike as fast as I could and the total time was 53.53.6 min

Then the plan was to run to St Hans and run 4 laps on the new trail alignment. On the first lap I could have injured myself. Stumbled on something when I was running down a hill but got the balance back, lucky me it is not the best time to get injured. But I had some misfortune on the third lap. I am not injured, and took a decision to end the run there so the total time was 52.53.7 min. I was trying to run fast up some of the hills but felt tired in my legs after the biking so I just ran and the time would be what it would be.  The total k with the run to St Hans Extreme was approximately 9.5k.

Today it was time for another combo.

Started with 400 m in the pool. Saw when I was on my way to the locker room that Suz was the instructor at a boxing workout. It is interesting with these swimming goggles. I try to tighten them as much as I can each time but it does not seem to be tight enough. Swam 400 m and total time today was 11.16.63 min. Before I left I waved at Suz.

Biked home and changed. Today it was a nice temperature, 20oC (68F). It was noticable that it is carnival in town. City biking is always interesting, had to zigzag a lot more today. Not a lot of upwind on my way to Lomma. On my way to Lomma I passed a lot of bikers that I also passed when I got back to Lund. Total time today was the best so far 52.08 min.

Time to change again and run to St Hans hills and run 2 laps (St Hans Extreme light). Today it was time for shorts and t-shirt. I should have brought my water belt as well. It was warm and I also got some light dyspnea. Could have gotten a freesbee in my head today but was lucky it did not happen. There were also freesbee people and mountain board people where I ran. Total time today 33.57.9 min, cannot complain even it it was hot. Tried to run fast up the hills where I know I can. This was probably the last hilly run before St Hans Extreme race next week.

It is going to be one more combo before the race June 8th, next time I hope the wet suit has arrived that I am going to rent so I can test it to see if it fits me.

Today it was time for another combo: 400 m swimming, 20k biking and 5k running

Biked to the swimming pool and did my 400 m. It was very few people there today. So I had a lane for myself. The total time did not seem accurate.

After that I biked home to change and then I biked back and forth to Lomma.

It was a strong upwind to Lomma, there were times when my bike was hardly moving and I was hoping for no upwind on my way home and was lucky and the sun was even out. Total time today 1.01.44 h. I am satisfied with the time considering that I was running 10k hilly running yesterday and I felt that during the bike ride.

Time to change again and out and run 5k. Upwind is what I have experienced today even during the run. Total time of 32.20.3 min. I have done better.