Saturday October 7, 2017
Coolangatta Gold Short Course Race Day

Nerves, nerves and more nerves. The weather and conditions have improved but still a strong southerly blowing making conditions a bit messy and a struggle on the way back for each leg. Oh well. What will be will be.

The race started for us at 8.10am in the 5th wave. After the elite men, then elite women, 19 men and women, 35-49 men and women who started at 7:30am. We were followed by 2 more waves. Open teams, and then masters teams 20 mins after us. My aim was to try and get home before the last of the teams. It was a tough ski paddle. A bit messy and a very strong wind on the return leg. 36mins up 54 mins back. I was passed by many teams but finished the ski leg ahead of 2 of the 50+ men. Then for a 200m soft sand run and then what was supposed to be a 2km swim (ended up being 3km-not nice). This took me 1:06hrs – a very long time. The 3km board paddle was ok and then the 5.5km run was not that great. Starting with 200m soft sand and finishing with 200m soft sand. I ran most if the way. walked about1.5km I think. Very slow 51mins. Anyway I made it and came 2nd in 4:12 hours. The only other 50+ female beat me by an hour. I also beat a 50+ male by 25mins. Yay I didn’t came last.  DB came 3rd in a time of 2:53hrs. Great result.

Sunday October 8, 2017
Coolangatta Gold Long Course Race Day
Great conditions for today’s race.

Guy Andrews 1st 40+
Paul Lemmon 1st 50+

Combined Avocas 3rd 190+ Steve Hudson, Tony Curran, Mark Felton and Jeff Smith.  Another great day.