Review of Cradle Rock - 14 February 2015

Sport Triathlon
Event Cradle Rock
Date 14 February 2015
Where Muldersdrift, South Africa
Distance 21.6 Km
Finishing Time 01:26:26
Race Number 687
Result 18/60
Top % 30%
Pace 4:00 m/km
Speed 14.99 km/h
Click here for details about Cradle Rock
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My experience at the event:

Having a traithlon scheduled on Valentine's wasn't great planning on my side. But Lindsey initially was supposed to work that morning, so it made sense to me to find something to do.

I love Heia Safari, so close (30 minutes) from home and yet so isolated from the usual traffic, nested in a valley with a fantastic lake (Heritage Lake, I did few races alread there) with plenty of opportunity for mountain biking and trail running. This time, with the tri-rock branding taking over the weekend (the same one that organised the Durban half iron man), it was a chance to run a road triathlon around the safari, on roads normally used by riders during the weekend (the infamous "loop" in the Cradle).

My race was an overall good experience. As usual I came out of the water in the last group (but not last) and I recovered with a nice split on the hills on my bicycle, even with a broken spoke that made my wheel just enough skew to touch the rear brake. The final run was very fast, and I managed to finish a good 18th place.

Sure, as a first edition, the problems were a lot: no water on the run, wrong measurement on swim and cycle (5km short!) and no medals! The next day, on the actual Half Iron Man, the problems were even worse, but luckily running the short distance was enough for me.

The day was ideal for taking part in a triathlon, and my general fitness level, after few terrible months (at least by my normal standards) seems to have improved. Must be the Comrades training...

Some pictures from the event:

All ready
Transition area ready

Almost time to swim
Ready to swim

Let's get to the bike

Out of the water!

Running at Heia Safari, with giraffes in the background
Running within Heia Safari

By the Heritage Lake
By the lake

Final sprint
Final sprint

With Lindsey at the end
Happy Valentine!

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