Ocean Lava Rhodes triathlon 2016 Olympic Distance race report.
Friday Oct 28, 2016
09:00 am. Blue Star 1 is docking at Rhodes port. At last, I am in one of the most famous Greek islands for the first time in my 36 years of existence.(Videoclip from race on the end of this race report)
"Follow the plan". Those were the three words that I had in my mind the last weeks while preparing for the race. Nutrition, training and sleeping enough hours was set to achieve a delicate balance aiming for good results. So while my initial plan was to have some last quick training in swimming, cycling and running in order to be ideally prepared for the race, I quickly changed my mind as I walked from Rhodes port to the hotel.
Sunday Oct 30, 2016
06:00 am. Alarm. Unwilling eyelid opens. With one open eye I extend my hand towards my mobile phone. I press Snooze. 06:05 am. Snooze again. 06:10 am. That's it; I can't stay under the blankets any more. I have to get up and prepare. My head is buzzing as I lack some good sleep. It's been two days since my arrival in Rhodes and yet I have managed somehow to exhaust myself. Driving to remote sites and beaches, visiting Lindos village and its imposing Acropolis, wandering around medieval town of Rhodes, having some wonderful lunches at Koukos traditional tavern with local Greek food in a flavour seduction mission, a late night out at Rock Bar Legends searching for classic rock sounds. To our great surprise, around midnight, a Metal Rock Band called Bare Knuckles started their live performance and we were thrilled to listen to them for the next three hours. Ιt was my chance to make a personal record in Drambuie consumption. (How dare a so-called athlete to get drunk! Shame!) :P
On the next day, Saturday Oct 29, all initial plans had to be rescheduled due to the charm of Island attractions and must-see sites, so we got to the Aquarium at the Northern part of Rhodes. We explored the medieval old town and the castle that surround it, and finally got time to spare for a more detailed visit at the Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes. Describing the Palace in one word: Amazing! A place that looks like it popped out of childhood fairytales my grandmother used to tell me. Walking inside those walls is like a real travel back in time. Later that evening I went to the Race Briefing at Plaza hotel and just after that it was time for a pasta party. Instead of going to sleep early, we walked at the old city with Kathrin and let sounds of the city drift us away to the beating heart of Rhodes. Soon we were walking outside a public open theater and got in for a quick look. A Greek - Russian dance and music festival kept us occupied for an hour.
Afterwards some more wandering around led us to the buzzing clubs and after about two kilometers of exploring the old town; we ended up in a Latin party that had just started. I had a margarita cocktail and some of Kathrin's drink when she was looking away. ;-)
That night, she commented my nutrition, hours of sleep I was sacrificing in order to explore Rhodes and the alcohol I was having instead of sports drinks.
"What kind of athlete behaves like this the on the eve of a race?" she kept wondering looking for answers. "I am here for the Journey”, was my reply to her. “I am not here just to race”.
It makes me wonder. Why is it commonly believed that athletes have to live always like serving some kind of monastery sentences? What the heck? How many of us can be placed on that podium? Maximum three every time? So be it, hey can I have one more cocktail please?
Back to reality on Sunday morning. Despite my wise big words I was reciting last night, inspired of course by alcohol, and bragging that I can do it, that I can handle lack of sleep and can have one more night out with alcohol, my condition was summarized into three results. Headache, buzzing ears and a significant lack of sleep. And I have a race to run. Damn, I am doomed!
So I rush my morning preparations thinking of last night’s decision to attend that late night Latin dance party and having had that cocktail drink. No time to lose on regrets. I am grabbing my Bianchi bike, my backpack with all triathlon equipment and I am heading down to the breakfast room. A toast, two slices of bread with honey and a strawberry marmalade croissant is what I needed that moment. And a double espresso.
It is a distance of just five minute walk to get to the Transition area of the race starting from hotel and I prefer to walk there in order to warm up. The wind that is blowing from north – north/west since morning is at about 5 of the Beaufort scale. Breezy enough, and seeing crests formed on small waves wasn't too inspiring to have a swim in open sea. It is end of October and it was mentioned on race briefing that swimming was going to be tricky and cycling would not be easy with all that northern wind.
Transition zone. A light blue carpet is paved between bike racks and towards the exits of transition zone. Numbers are attached to baskets and racks so you could easily find your spot during transitions. There is plenty room to fit even three hundred bikes in that zone. Everything is ready.
I am leaving my bike and backpack on the rack. Time to blend in. I finally meet my co-athletes with whom I talking to through internet this last period but didn't had any chance to meet in person till now. There is such a great atmosphere between local triathletes of Rhodes and that is something that boosts my psychology as I am here for the first time.
Time passes by and I decide to go outside the water exit inflatable arch. I am looking at the sea and thoughts of doubt are beginning to trouble my mind. On the beach of Elli, where the part of the swimming race is taking place, the waters are calm for now. But just 150 meters out in open sea you can see the short waves breaks.
I am getting back to transition zone and there is some time to take pictures with John Kalogeropoulos and Mania Bhikoff, the known Greek Ironman triathlete mother of four that finds the time to run the house, work, take after the kids, train for triathlons and doesn't let time to slip away. She is a true inspiration.
Last equipment check. Wetsuit check, swimming cap check, swimming glasses and shoes check. Bike, oh bummer. Air pressure on rear tyre is low. Oh bummer! And now? Now what? Luckily the organizers were caring and I got support from "Sakelarris Bikes". There was a tent of this bike shop just next to the transition zone. One quick visit there and the guy from the shop helped me with the air issue and also had some time to put lubricant in the bike chain that I forgot to do back in Athens. Amazing? Absolutely!
Clock is ticking. 08:30 am. I am almost ready. Time to wear my Orca neoprene wetsuit. One of those you wear and you look like a superhero as it squeezes you, makes you look like a macho man and hides all reality and that is you being a donut shaped wannabe real athlete! Excellent costume for Halloween that is coming in case I successfully fail on my athletic career.
Organisers instruct us to get ready and move to the beach. We hear Mr Hatzinikolas’s last race instructions about the swimming course and the buoys that we have to pass around in a circular route of 750m two times. There are 10 minutes left till race starts. What should I do to warm up, I wonder? Jog at the Beach?
I decide it’s best to enter the water to adjust to its temperature. And so I do. So I dive and I feel the warmth of the sea. I could swim without the wetsuit easily but it doesn't matter, I am sure I can benefit from the buoyancy that offers neoprene material and aids my swimming pace with better gliding on water.
There are announcements every minute as the race is about to start any minute now, and Mr Hatzinikolas’s humorous threats that any swimmer that dares to pass him will be instantly disqualified, removes the tension of the moment and shows that I am in a family type of race that having fun is the most important part.
Last moments before race starts and I observe once more the swimming route and the buoys, and I mentally prepare to swim this entire route. As Mr. Christos Garefis was saying in the race briefing in his race speech "Our mind can return and think about the past but also imagine the future and dream of a possible version of it. But the body is convicted to live in the present and it is limited by the time flow"
And time flows. The clock is ticking all the time.
And it's about time!
3...2..1
Action!
I press the button on my Polar V800 to record the race and I dive into the water! Not sure how to explain it but with some strokes I am already in the first buoy, almost on the head of the race, and I am turning towards the next one. And that without doing any tremendous sprints. And yes, that "sprint" does happen once per race. As I am not a devoted athlete I have just one “turbo-boost card” that I use in some parts of the race. I turn my head and have a quick look behind. A massive wave of athletes follows behind me, not in the friendliest mood. It's a race, everybody is in a hurry.
I am swimming to the right moving away of the path of the main “mass” of athletes, as they won't be careful with their moves as they pass by. It makes sense that when someone is in a hurry, they won’t ask permission to pass by you. And despite the fact there is plenty of space in the sea to move towards the next buoy, the routes of the athletes cross their paths and makes “underwater” encounters inevitable.
Just ahead there are two athletes really close to me. I follow them till the next buoy keeping my face in the water. But something doesn’t go as expected. The Race heat is on and suddenly someone hits me hard on my back. I pull on the side and try to see who hit me. The swimmer continues his unstoppable swim as if nothing has happened. He swims completely vertically out of the path to next buoy being completely disoriented. I still wonder whether he got off water to Rhodes or swum directly to Turkey. I get back to race towards second buoy.
On the next day, Saturday Oct 29, all initial plans had to be rescheduled due to the charm of Island attractions and must-see sites, so we got to the Aquarium at the Northern part of Rhodes. We explored the medieval old town and the castle that surround it, and finally got time to spare for a more detailed visit at the Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes. Describing the Palace in one word: Amazing! A place that looks like it popped out of childhood fairytales my grandmother used to tell me. Walking inside those walls is like a real travel back in time. Later that evening I went to the Race Briefing at Plaza hotel and just after that it was time for a pasta party. Instead of going to sleep early, we walked at the old city with Kathrin and let sounds of the city drift us away to the beating heart of Rhodes. Soon we were walking outside a public open theater and got in for a quick look. A Greek - Russian dance and music festival kept us occupied for an hour.
Afterwards some more wandering around led us to the buzzing clubs and after about two kilometers of exploring the old town; we ended up in a Latin party that had just started. I had a margarita cocktail and some of Kathrin's drink when she was looking away. ;-)
That night, she commented my nutrition, hours of sleep I was sacrificing in order to explore Rhodes and the alcohol I was having instead of sports drinks.
"What kind of athlete behaves like this the on the eve of a race?" she kept wondering looking for answers. "I am here for the Journey”, was my reply to her. “I am not here just to race”.
It makes me wonder. Why is it commonly believed that athletes have to live always like serving some kind of monastery sentences? What the heck? How many of us can be placed on that podium? Maximum three every time? So be it, hey can I have one more cocktail please?
Back to reality on Sunday morning. Despite my wise big words I was reciting last night, inspired of course by alcohol, and bragging that I can do it, that I can handle lack of sleep and can have one more night out with alcohol, my condition was summarized into three results. Headache, buzzing ears and a significant lack of sleep. And I have a race to run. Damn, I am doomed!
So I rush my morning preparations thinking of last night’s decision to attend that late night Latin dance party and having had that cocktail drink. No time to lose on regrets. I am grabbing my Bianchi bike, my backpack with all triathlon equipment and I am heading down to the breakfast room. A toast, two slices of bread with honey and a strawberry marmalade croissant is what I needed that moment. And a double espresso.
It is a distance of just five minute walk to get to the Transition area of the race starting from hotel and I prefer to walk there in order to warm up. The wind that is blowing from north – north/west since morning is at about 5 of the Beaufort scale. Breezy enough, and seeing crests formed on small waves wasn't too inspiring to have a swim in open sea. It is end of October and it was mentioned on race briefing that swimming was going to be tricky and cycling would not be easy with all that northern wind.
Transition zone. A light blue carpet is paved between bike racks and towards the exits of transition zone. Numbers are attached to baskets and racks so you could easily find your spot during transitions. There is plenty room to fit even three hundred bikes in that zone. Everything is ready.
I am leaving my bike and backpack on the rack. Time to blend in. I finally meet my co-athletes with whom I talking to through internet this last period but didn't had any chance to meet in person till now. There is such a great atmosphere between local triathletes of Rhodes and that is something that boosts my psychology as I am here for the first time.
Time passes by and I decide to go outside the water exit inflatable arch. I am looking at the sea and thoughts of doubt are beginning to trouble my mind. On the beach of Elli, where the part of the swimming race is taking place, the waters are calm for now. But just 150 meters out in open sea you can see the short waves breaks.
I am getting back to transition zone and there is some time to take pictures with John Kalogeropoulos and Mania Bhikoff, the known Greek Ironman triathlete mother of four that finds the time to run the house, work, take after the kids, train for triathlons and doesn't let time to slip away. She is a true inspiration.
Last equipment check. Wetsuit check, swimming cap check, swimming glasses and shoes check. Bike, oh bummer. Air pressure on rear tyre is low. Oh bummer! And now? Now what? Luckily the organizers were caring and I got support from "Sakelarris Bikes". There was a tent of this bike shop just next to the transition zone. One quick visit there and the guy from the shop helped me with the air issue and also had some time to put lubricant in the bike chain that I forgot to do back in Athens. Amazing? Absolutely!
Clock is ticking. 08:30 am. I am almost ready. Time to wear my Orca neoprene wetsuit. One of those you wear and you look like a superhero as it squeezes you, makes you look like a macho man and hides all reality and that is you being a donut shaped wannabe real athlete! Excellent costume for Halloween that is coming in case I successfully fail on my athletic career.
Organisers instruct us to get ready and move to the beach. We hear Mr Hatzinikolas’s last race instructions about the swimming course and the buoys that we have to pass around in a circular route of 750m two times. There are 10 minutes left till race starts. What should I do to warm up, I wonder? Jog at the Beach?
I decide it’s best to enter the water to adjust to its temperature. And so I do. So I dive and I feel the warmth of the sea. I could swim without the wetsuit easily but it doesn't matter, I am sure I can benefit from the buoyancy that offers neoprene material and aids my swimming pace with better gliding on water.
There are announcements every minute as the race is about to start any minute now, and Mr Hatzinikolas’s humorous threats that any swimmer that dares to pass him will be instantly disqualified, removes the tension of the moment and shows that I am in a family type of race that having fun is the most important part.
Last moments before race starts and I observe once more the swimming route and the buoys, and I mentally prepare to swim this entire route. As Mr. Christos Garefis was saying in the race briefing in his race speech "Our mind can return and think about the past but also imagine the future and dream of a possible version of it. But the body is convicted to live in the present and it is limited by the time flow"
And time flows. The clock is ticking all the time.
And it's about time!
3...2..1
Action!
I press the button on my Polar V800 to record the race and I dive into the water! Not sure how to explain it but with some strokes I am already in the first buoy, almost on the head of the race, and I am turning towards the next one. And that without doing any tremendous sprints. And yes, that "sprint" does happen once per race. As I am not a devoted athlete I have just one “turbo-boost card” that I use in some parts of the race. I turn my head and have a quick look behind. A massive wave of athletes follows behind me, not in the friendliest mood. It's a race, everybody is in a hurry.
I am swimming to the right moving away of the path of the main “mass” of athletes, as they won't be careful with their moves as they pass by. It makes sense that when someone is in a hurry, they won’t ask permission to pass by you. And despite the fact there is plenty of space in the sea to move towards the next buoy, the routes of the athletes cross their paths and makes “underwater” encounters inevitable.
Just ahead there are two athletes really close to me. I follow them till the next buoy keeping my face in the water. But something doesn’t go as expected. The Race heat is on and suddenly someone hits me hard on my back. I pull on the side and try to see who hit me. The swimmer continues his unstoppable swim as if nothing has happened. He swims completely vertically out of the path to next buoy being completely disoriented. I still wonder whether he got off water to Rhodes or swum directly to Turkey. I get back to race towards second buoy.
After a few quick hand strokes I find two athletes and I follow them. I stay on periscope depth and try not to pull my head out of the sea a lot to see the buoy instead I rely on them. I try to focus on technique and breathing mostly, and benefit from their draft.
But hey, something is looking weird. The seabed, rocks and seaweeds don't seem to move as fast as it should. Damn! There is a current and I am swimming against it. I am trying to stay behind the two athletes. Getting to the second buoy seems endless but I finally get to it and I am cornering towards the third. It got easier swimming with the current on the side. But as I pass the third one the part till 4th seems amazingly quick. Makes sense, I am having the current behind pushing me.
And that is the first circle, the first 750m. In order to register that first half we were instructed to swim out of water, yell our number and get back into the water for another round. And so I did. That's my first race that swimming part is interrupted by stepping outside on the beach. And yes, it was good for psychology to be able to get a good breath standing on land before going in to the water for the second round.
As I am trying to swim towards first buoy again, something surprised me. A scuba diver is looking at me behind his mask. And guess what! He is holding a GoPro camera! Damn! These organisers do some serious work covering the race as somebody would expect a large scale Ironman event.
Unbelievable!!! So I couldn't do otherwise but wave and salute at the camera guy! (After the race I asked for that footage in order to make my video clip and the photo-shooting company handed it to me at no cost, amazing)
The race is in the 16th minute after its start and it seems that the wind has turned completely, blowing from north, bringing more cutter waves from the open sea towards the swimmers. I got to the first buoy and turned left facing towards the second buoy again against the current. As if this were not enough, the sharp waves now are coming from my right side. So it was just a matter of time and wrong synchronization in order to drink water instead of breathing air (I usually breathe from the right side when swimming)
I am nauseated. Spontaneously I throw up the salty water and I stop swimming. (I really hope that all that experiential description will not discourage anyone from trying out a triathlon. These setbacks can happen to anyone with small experience in open water swimming I guess)
I change my style into breaststroke and start again. After one minute I still haven't tuned in with the waves and I drink some water again. So I decide to stop. Frustration of the moment can be delivered only with special string characters used in the texts of journals like Asterix and Lucky Luke (“Pistol, Grenade, gallows, explosion, knife, nuclear, skull ...”)
The thought that crossed my mind about quitting or having a two minute break in order to recover is cancelled by an godsend creature. It must have been a Neared send by the god of the seas, Poseidon. A Neared wearing a red swimsuit. Red like the colour of the fire. Girls should move to the next paragraph, this paragraph is for the eyes of boys only. So, as I was saying boys, she was wearing a red swimsuit and had one of them sport alabaster bodies you see in Ancient Greek statues in museums. But she was all flesh and bones rather than marble. I can't be more polite with this description. It was just that I needed to go swimming again. Any dissatisfaction and irritation from water swallowing disappears with a magic Puff sound. I am following the swimmer; this perfect mind distraction sent by Poseidon.
Finally I reach the fourth buoy and I am ready to step on the beach! At last I am out of the water. A volunteer helps me stabilise and unzip my wetsuit.
And yes, another surprise. Volunteer girls offer cups of water which surprises me as it was not expected. A perfect way to rinse the salt out of the mouth and drink a sip of water before entering the transition zone. A shower is available for the athletes and I guess it is worth spending some seconds before continuing the race without too much salt on head and body.
I enter the transition zone running to my bike. First move is to get rid of the wetsuit that has stuck on my legs. That is always a big waste of time for me as I haven't practiced wetsuit removal yet.
I turn on my GoPro camera on the bike in order to capture the bike leg, wear my helmet and my cycling glasses and I am getting the bike off the rack. It's cycling time!
I push my bike off the transition zone through the yellow Ocean Lava arch and I am off to the cycling part of the triathlon. The first hundred meters seem fine. Until I get in front of the Aquarium of Rhodes. There is a strong headwind coming against me from the South that slows me down.
With all that wind today, each kilometre I ride I get more assured that for today my aerobars on my Bianchi will be more of a nice stable anchor point for the GoPro camera, than serve its purpose and helps me ride more aerodynamically. Side winds now are pushing me making it hard to keep the handlebars and the bike into a straight line. Kind of frustrating sometimes when big side wind blows. But that is the magic of the races. There is always a new challenge to overcome. Different conditions require all your attention, being able to adapt, grit my teeth in each difficulty and carry on. And this is what I do today.
I reach the first turnover, I have cycled 5 km and I have another 5 to cycle back. And his has to be repeated 3 more times. I start to cycle back and the moment that Mr Garefis and Mrs Sitzanaki pass by me is near. It feels as if I am not moving. Stronger athletes like them are logically on their second or even third round. I try to follow them for a while, mostly to observe them. It seems they cycle without any major effort and with total control over the bike.
It is something I enjoy about this race of the four circles of 10 km each, to have the chance to meet (either on the same way or the opposite to me) the rest of the athletes. Something I wouldn’t be able to do if it was a straight line 40 km race. Otherwise the faster athletes would move forward and would not meet with them again.
Next is the return to city of Rhodes and cycling up the hill. Short and not too steep. Cycling down the hill is something that had been pointed out at the briefing. Indeed, an open zig zag at the part of the route where once was a traffic policeman and a bump, could easily create chances of an accident to those who will not be careful with it.
As it was pointed out at the briefing by Mr Hatzinikolas,our aim is to return to our families and jobs in one piece on Monday, with nice memories and smiles. This is what I keep in mind the whole time I am cycling. To go on cycling without taking any chances either in slops or in parts with strong side winds. And this is the reason I am now staying for a long time at the aerobars of the bike as it makes me a bit insecure not to hold my breaks.
I reach the beach of Elli where plenty of people is gathered. They cheer and at this point the first circle comes to an end. The second round rolls without any surprises other than that I am getting closer to people who had created a distance between me and them because they were faster swimmers than me. This happens always to me. I come in the last places of the swimming part but I win some positions in the cycling part and then I have to run faster to maintain these won positions.
Another thing I see and surprise me is the ones who guard the routes. I was expecting volunteers, police officers, boy scouts, private security services but I did not expect to see any people on army suits. What happened here? All the public bodies in the service of the Organization? Big thanks to them for the support.
How a cycling route looks like? Here is how it looks like. By the way, the clip has 4 circles that each last about 22 minutes. Whoever watches the first clip they can see how the whole route was like.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EI5g_H1u6oQ
At the 3rd circle of the cycling race I decide to make a stop at the uphill for replenishment. I ask for the girls at the station to give me some isotonic drink with which I fill my flask. I take a banana and I go on. I chew the banana fast until I reach the hilltop and before I start to roll on the downhill. I get suck with the banana peel in my hand. And now, where do I throw it?
I look but can’t see any trash bins as far as my sight can reach. But I saw trash thrown here and there after the replenishment. Their point of view to throw trash here and there is a bit sad and anarchistic.
But why? The scenery is so beautiful, the roads so clean, how can they just throw trash on the ground?
I am not at Mario Kart so I put the banana peel in my thigh under my suit and as I am reaching a curve, 2 km later, I play some basketball and throw the banana peel into the green trash bin. Bull’s eye! And I have witnesses, the people standing at the curve and recorded the cycling laps.
Round 3rd and I am getting used to the dance of the wind. I know it is not easy to improve my cycling time but I try to catch the aerobars for as much as possible and hit the breaks only where it is needed. The 3rd round has fewer athletes as many of them have completed their rounds and have started running.
I reach the zone of change and I cycle parallel to the running lane in Sachtouri Coast. One more round left. It’s nothing. I calculate I need another 22 minutes. I got this. Or not? Cramps start to appear. I am working the same muscles for a long time, and the muscles start to complain.
It’s time I pulled out of the chest the useful words of Ch. Garefi during our personal chat last September at the Bike Exhibition at Gazi. There, at the kiosk of the Gram Bikes, he showed me 2 alternative ways to paddle so I can keep a good speed for more amount of time at endurance cycling and Triathlon. And this is what I try to do. And I am sharing it with you, free of charge. Good knowledge should be share, right?
Trick number 1: While on saddle, I pull my body back and I don’t put pressure in the pedals, instead I pull my feet upwards. I cycle on and I am reaching the turning point. Time to practice trick number 2. I sit at the front of the saddle and I close my thighs completely until they almost touch the vertical bar of the bike at each paddle. I put all my strength at the big toes of my feet and not the whole front of the foot. I cannot explain it anatomically, which muscles of the feet start to work but it doesn’t matter. What it matters is that it works. It’s a kind of magic and Ch. Garefis is a wizard (Merlin) at that.
And now trick number 3. This one needs more concentration because it requires coordination of the upper body. This is cycling pulling your whole body back and with the opposite hand from the foot that pushes the pedal down-and the then the other way around. It is something we do instinctively to hold on to the bike when we try to get up an uphill with our body standing in the bike.
So, this what I try to do but sat on my saddle. It works. At least I don’t exhaust my muscles the way I did the last 10 km.
The fourth round ends faster as I had all these things to keep my mind busy with. It is not time to work on that much but at the end I felt more comfortable to run.
I enter the Change Zone having a time of 1h30m at the cycling round, having the ups and downs at the hill to gold me back, and the strong side winds not to help me at all. I enter the Zone, I leave my bike, helmet and glasses, I change my shoes and I start to run.
Coming out of the Zone I run into a catering station, a bit further another one, the same after a while. There are stations with water and provisions all along the running route. Seeing so many of them confused me and I did not know what to take and from which one.
I decide top make a plan in my mind about the last 8,5 km that are left. I feel fine for now and I go on.
I run along Sachtouri Coast next to the sea and the Castle. Onmy right are the Castle Walls and a bit further some blue fish, fishing boats, and then small yachts docked in the marina. You people live in a nice place-I think to myself having the people of the area in mind, and I force myself not to lose concentration and take off my cell phone and start taking pictures of seagulls, sailing boats in scenery suitable for post cards.
The route leads into the Old City and the turning is at the fountain. I try to choose between a big variety of sweet and salty at the catering stations. I am indifferent in front of the sweets, after 2h08m of race my eye falls on the chips. So I choose this, I need to fill in for the salts I have shed after all this sweating.
I exit at Sachtouri Coast again and I go near the photographer who stands there. My reflexes make wear my best smile even the sweat drips from all over. The pain will go but the photographs will remain, right?
The rest of the running route is carried out nicely. I try to focus on the beauties of the scenery and do high fives with friends I meet, smile to the applaud of people who are standing alongside the route to watch the event. I keep a pace of 05m:30sec per kilometer and continue like so. In my mind the original plan was to increase my speed as I would get closer t the end of the race. I decide not to proceed. Instead I decide to continue running to the end of the race in a steady pace.
I don’t feel any infestation, I feel strong enough but the only thing that keeps me from exaggeration is the 42 km Classic Marathon of Athens in which I tale part in two weeks. Gaining 2-3 positions higher today won’t matter as long I will not exhaust myself and at the end will need several days to recover.
I follow Ch. Garefis advice, which I have heard many times and it is a piece of wisdom in sports. And that is not to make an event your last but a linking bridge to the next one in which you will do a bit better, meaning not to exaggerate and exhaust or hurt yourself. And he is absolutely right.
I leave Sachtouri Coast and I am near the finishing line. People are applauding and cheer my name at the end. Perfect. 3…2…1 Cut.
I cross the finishing line and stop my watch from counting that shows me I had run for 55 minutes and a total of 3h:08m38sec during the whole race.
The total recording with the V800 is here (εδώ) and you can watch a "Re-Liveof the whole race in an auto-made activity clip from Flow site of Polar here. (εδώ)
Was it good? Yes! If I take into account my earlier way of life as far as my training season concerned that was consisted of more training in running than cycling, my extra weight and the two days of alcohol, I am completely satisfied.
A girl hangs my finishing medal and another one gives me the “finisher” t-shirt that has the badge of the Race and also the Club of the Triathlon of Rhodes. The Event gets extra points from me for this choice and I wear it voluntarily so I won’t be like a walking refreshment advertising.
The endorphins and a smile like Joker’s don’t leave me until I get to the hotel.
What can I say about the race?
The Race was sponsored by the Greek Federation of Modern Pentathlon, the Prefecture of South Aegean and of course the Municipality of Rhodes. The great cooperation of the carriers was shown in the results. Most of the credits go to the people from the Apollo pf Rhodes Triathlon Club for the coordination and personal efforts so we will have a nice Sunday, run and enjoy a Triathlon in Rhodes.
As for event in particular? What can I say first? That Mr Hatzinikolas’s presentation reminded me of a stand up comedy recital? It was indeed the most alternative presentation I have attended to and was hilarious. Needless to say that the important parts of the race such as the dangers we would face due to the strong winds, the downhill parts of the cycling etc, were pointed out with the seriousness it fits in such cases.
The most significant part of the race was achieved. We were all healthy by Monday and at the same time we had enjoyed our participation in the race. Some in a more athletic way,others, like me, in a more touristy way.
Among the strong points of the event was also the Pasta Party that took place in the Plaza Hotel with exceptional service, a big variety of choices and no limit in quantities which was a plus for us who like food and get full a bit more difficult.
The security of the athletes during the cycling part of the race was more than perfect, and when 2-3 cars got into the race line were removed with police escort. There was also plenty of “policing” within the race as experienced judges of PEPA were ready to fine any athlete that was showing a non fair play attitude.
During the swimming part the lifeguards in the sea and also the ones in coast guard boats or in Jet skis that were guarding the athletes were ready to intervene in case it was needed. Hopefully the won’t be ever needed but just in case something bad happens, every athletic event owes to have an experienced team to help.
The catering that was not based on pre made jell formulas but on local products such as melekouni, salty biscuits and other salty choices was satisfactory.
The announcement about the health insurance coverage was a pleasant surprise. We are humans; you never know what can happen in a 3 terrain race and under what conditions the race will take place at.
The 50% off in the prices of the tickets for the ferry boats and the notable discounts in selected hotels were a big felicitation for those who participated at the race.
Despite the announcement of the Race was done two months prior, the triathlon world supported the event and I am sure that the Race would have more participants if the event would had been announced at the beginning of the year. But it’s OK, the only thing think I keep in my mind is the next date of the event “Ocean Lava Rhodes” which I have already noted in my calendar.
October 8th 2017 at “Oceanlava Rhodes half ironman".
Is a Half too much?? Is a year of preparation enough? Well, I think it is!
But since some people enjoy short distances, no problem. I see that they have announced a sprint race for the same day, alongside the main event.
Ocean Lava Rhodes, douze points!
PS1 Guys, this girl with the red swimsuit! I don’t want to know who she is, just bring her back next year as an inspiration to finish the Half Iron race next year!
PS2 Nadia Sitzanaki, the Greek Goddess of Triathlon was there, a very warm person and I managed to steal a handshake from her after the finish line, a short chat and two kisses that made me blush. What can I say? I enjoyed the encounter with her as she is incredible soft spoken and cannot be compared to some other athletes who are distant or snobbish.
Such a nice trip to Rhodes and the race the last day in tip really deserved something special. And that was a short videoclip from the traveler's perspective that covers all the great moments there.
I remember when I got off the ship I started shooting scenes and pictures without any idea of what to do with all that footage. There are lots of trips that all pics and videos I shot end up in a folder somewhere in a hard drive. But that wasn't the case with Rhodes. The whole atmosphere and Ocean Lava Rhodes triathlon experience gave me that push to make that clip.
Everything in that trip was ... AMAZING :-)
Enjoy the clip :-)
But hey, something is looking weird. The seabed, rocks and seaweeds don't seem to move as fast as it should. Damn! There is a current and I am swimming against it. I am trying to stay behind the two athletes. Getting to the second buoy seems endless but I finally get to it and I am cornering towards the third. It got easier swimming with the current on the side. But as I pass the third one the part till 4th seems amazingly quick. Makes sense, I am having the current behind pushing me.
And that is the first circle, the first 750m. In order to register that first half we were instructed to swim out of water, yell our number and get back into the water for another round. And so I did. That's my first race that swimming part is interrupted by stepping outside on the beach. And yes, it was good for psychology to be able to get a good breath standing on land before going in to the water for the second round.
As I am trying to swim towards first buoy again, something surprised me. A scuba diver is looking at me behind his mask. And guess what! He is holding a GoPro camera! Damn! These organisers do some serious work covering the race as somebody would expect a large scale Ironman event.
Unbelievable!!! So I couldn't do otherwise but wave and salute at the camera guy! (After the race I asked for that footage in order to make my video clip and the photo-shooting company handed it to me at no cost, amazing)
The race is in the 16th minute after its start and it seems that the wind has turned completely, blowing from north, bringing more cutter waves from the open sea towards the swimmers. I got to the first buoy and turned left facing towards the second buoy again against the current. As if this were not enough, the sharp waves now are coming from my right side. So it was just a matter of time and wrong synchronization in order to drink water instead of breathing air (I usually breathe from the right side when swimming)
I am nauseated. Spontaneously I throw up the salty water and I stop swimming. (I really hope that all that experiential description will not discourage anyone from trying out a triathlon. These setbacks can happen to anyone with small experience in open water swimming I guess)
I change my style into breaststroke and start again. After one minute I still haven't tuned in with the waves and I drink some water again. So I decide to stop. Frustration of the moment can be delivered only with special string characters used in the texts of journals like Asterix and Lucky Luke (“Pistol, Grenade, gallows, explosion, knife, nuclear, skull ...”)
The thought that crossed my mind about quitting or having a two minute break in order to recover is cancelled by an godsend creature. It must have been a Neared send by the god of the seas, Poseidon. A Neared wearing a red swimsuit. Red like the colour of the fire. Girls should move to the next paragraph, this paragraph is for the eyes of boys only. So, as I was saying boys, she was wearing a red swimsuit and had one of them sport alabaster bodies you see in Ancient Greek statues in museums. But she was all flesh and bones rather than marble. I can't be more polite with this description. It was just that I needed to go swimming again. Any dissatisfaction and irritation from water swallowing disappears with a magic Puff sound. I am following the swimmer; this perfect mind distraction sent by Poseidon.
Finally I reach the fourth buoy and I am ready to step on the beach! At last I am out of the water. A volunteer helps me stabilise and unzip my wetsuit.
And yes, another surprise. Volunteer girls offer cups of water which surprises me as it was not expected. A perfect way to rinse the salt out of the mouth and drink a sip of water before entering the transition zone. A shower is available for the athletes and I guess it is worth spending some seconds before continuing the race without too much salt on head and body.
I enter the transition zone running to my bike. First move is to get rid of the wetsuit that has stuck on my legs. That is always a big waste of time for me as I haven't practiced wetsuit removal yet.
I turn on my GoPro camera on the bike in order to capture the bike leg, wear my helmet and my cycling glasses and I am getting the bike off the rack. It's cycling time!
I push my bike off the transition zone through the yellow Ocean Lava arch and I am off to the cycling part of the triathlon. The first hundred meters seem fine. Until I get in front of the Aquarium of Rhodes. There is a strong headwind coming against me from the South that slows me down.
With all that wind today, each kilometre I ride I get more assured that for today my aerobars on my Bianchi will be more of a nice stable anchor point for the GoPro camera, than serve its purpose and helps me ride more aerodynamically. Side winds now are pushing me making it hard to keep the handlebars and the bike into a straight line. Kind of frustrating sometimes when big side wind blows. But that is the magic of the races. There is always a new challenge to overcome. Different conditions require all your attention, being able to adapt, grit my teeth in each difficulty and carry on. And this is what I do today.
I reach the first turnover, I have cycled 5 km and I have another 5 to cycle back. And his has to be repeated 3 more times. I start to cycle back and the moment that Mr Garefis and Mrs Sitzanaki pass by me is near. It feels as if I am not moving. Stronger athletes like them are logically on their second or even third round. I try to follow them for a while, mostly to observe them. It seems they cycle without any major effort and with total control over the bike.
It is something I enjoy about this race of the four circles of 10 km each, to have the chance to meet (either on the same way or the opposite to me) the rest of the athletes. Something I wouldn’t be able to do if it was a straight line 40 km race. Otherwise the faster athletes would move forward and would not meet with them again.
Next is the return to city of Rhodes and cycling up the hill. Short and not too steep. Cycling down the hill is something that had been pointed out at the briefing. Indeed, an open zig zag at the part of the route where once was a traffic policeman and a bump, could easily create chances of an accident to those who will not be careful with it.
As it was pointed out at the briefing by Mr Hatzinikolas,our aim is to return to our families and jobs in one piece on Monday, with nice memories and smiles. This is what I keep in mind the whole time I am cycling. To go on cycling without taking any chances either in slops or in parts with strong side winds. And this is the reason I am now staying for a long time at the aerobars of the bike as it makes me a bit insecure not to hold my breaks.
I reach the beach of Elli where plenty of people is gathered. They cheer and at this point the first circle comes to an end. The second round rolls without any surprises other than that I am getting closer to people who had created a distance between me and them because they were faster swimmers than me. This happens always to me. I come in the last places of the swimming part but I win some positions in the cycling part and then I have to run faster to maintain these won positions.
Another thing I see and surprise me is the ones who guard the routes. I was expecting volunteers, police officers, boy scouts, private security services but I did not expect to see any people on army suits. What happened here? All the public bodies in the service of the Organization? Big thanks to them for the support.
How a cycling route looks like? Here is how it looks like. By the way, the clip has 4 circles that each last about 22 minutes. Whoever watches the first clip they can see how the whole route was like.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EI5g_H1u6oQ
At the 3rd circle of the cycling race I decide to make a stop at the uphill for replenishment. I ask for the girls at the station to give me some isotonic drink with which I fill my flask. I take a banana and I go on. I chew the banana fast until I reach the hilltop and before I start to roll on the downhill. I get suck with the banana peel in my hand. And now, where do I throw it?
I look but can’t see any trash bins as far as my sight can reach. But I saw trash thrown here and there after the replenishment. Their point of view to throw trash here and there is a bit sad and anarchistic.
But why? The scenery is so beautiful, the roads so clean, how can they just throw trash on the ground?
I am not at Mario Kart so I put the banana peel in my thigh under my suit and as I am reaching a curve, 2 km later, I play some basketball and throw the banana peel into the green trash bin. Bull’s eye! And I have witnesses, the people standing at the curve and recorded the cycling laps.
Round 3rd and I am getting used to the dance of the wind. I know it is not easy to improve my cycling time but I try to catch the aerobars for as much as possible and hit the breaks only where it is needed. The 3rd round has fewer athletes as many of them have completed their rounds and have started running.
I reach the zone of change and I cycle parallel to the running lane in Sachtouri Coast. One more round left. It’s nothing. I calculate I need another 22 minutes. I got this. Or not? Cramps start to appear. I am working the same muscles for a long time, and the muscles start to complain.
It’s time I pulled out of the chest the useful words of Ch. Garefi during our personal chat last September at the Bike Exhibition at Gazi. There, at the kiosk of the Gram Bikes, he showed me 2 alternative ways to paddle so I can keep a good speed for more amount of time at endurance cycling and Triathlon. And this is what I try to do. And I am sharing it with you, free of charge. Good knowledge should be share, right?
Trick number 1: While on saddle, I pull my body back and I don’t put pressure in the pedals, instead I pull my feet upwards. I cycle on and I am reaching the turning point. Time to practice trick number 2. I sit at the front of the saddle and I close my thighs completely until they almost touch the vertical bar of the bike at each paddle. I put all my strength at the big toes of my feet and not the whole front of the foot. I cannot explain it anatomically, which muscles of the feet start to work but it doesn’t matter. What it matters is that it works. It’s a kind of magic and Ch. Garefis is a wizard (Merlin) at that.
And now trick number 3. This one needs more concentration because it requires coordination of the upper body. This is cycling pulling your whole body back and with the opposite hand from the foot that pushes the pedal down-and the then the other way around. It is something we do instinctively to hold on to the bike when we try to get up an uphill with our body standing in the bike.
So, this what I try to do but sat on my saddle. It works. At least I don’t exhaust my muscles the way I did the last 10 km.
The fourth round ends faster as I had all these things to keep my mind busy with. It is not time to work on that much but at the end I felt more comfortable to run.
I enter the Change Zone having a time of 1h30m at the cycling round, having the ups and downs at the hill to gold me back, and the strong side winds not to help me at all. I enter the Zone, I leave my bike, helmet and glasses, I change my shoes and I start to run.
Coming out of the Zone I run into a catering station, a bit further another one, the same after a while. There are stations with water and provisions all along the running route. Seeing so many of them confused me and I did not know what to take and from which one.
I decide top make a plan in my mind about the last 8,5 km that are left. I feel fine for now and I go on.
I run along Sachtouri Coast next to the sea and the Castle. Onmy right are the Castle Walls and a bit further some blue fish, fishing boats, and then small yachts docked in the marina. You people live in a nice place-I think to myself having the people of the area in mind, and I force myself not to lose concentration and take off my cell phone and start taking pictures of seagulls, sailing boats in scenery suitable for post cards.
The route leads into the Old City and the turning is at the fountain. I try to choose between a big variety of sweet and salty at the catering stations. I am indifferent in front of the sweets, after 2h08m of race my eye falls on the chips. So I choose this, I need to fill in for the salts I have shed after all this sweating.
I exit at Sachtouri Coast again and I go near the photographer who stands there. My reflexes make wear my best smile even the sweat drips from all over. The pain will go but the photographs will remain, right?
The rest of the running route is carried out nicely. I try to focus on the beauties of the scenery and do high fives with friends I meet, smile to the applaud of people who are standing alongside the route to watch the event. I keep a pace of 05m:30sec per kilometer and continue like so. In my mind the original plan was to increase my speed as I would get closer t the end of the race. I decide not to proceed. Instead I decide to continue running to the end of the race in a steady pace.
I don’t feel any infestation, I feel strong enough but the only thing that keeps me from exaggeration is the 42 km Classic Marathon of Athens in which I tale part in two weeks. Gaining 2-3 positions higher today won’t matter as long I will not exhaust myself and at the end will need several days to recover.
I follow Ch. Garefis advice, which I have heard many times and it is a piece of wisdom in sports. And that is not to make an event your last but a linking bridge to the next one in which you will do a bit better, meaning not to exaggerate and exhaust or hurt yourself. And he is absolutely right.
I leave Sachtouri Coast and I am near the finishing line. People are applauding and cheer my name at the end. Perfect. 3…2…1 Cut.
I cross the finishing line and stop my watch from counting that shows me I had run for 55 minutes and a total of 3h:08m38sec during the whole race.
The total recording with the V800 is here (εδώ) and you can watch a "Re-Liveof the whole race in an auto-made activity clip from Flow site of Polar here. (εδώ)
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| Looks frightening. Activity got to 438% this day |
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| Polar V800 - Training Load Extreme - Load from this session : Over 8 days |
Was it good? Yes! If I take into account my earlier way of life as far as my training season concerned that was consisted of more training in running than cycling, my extra weight and the two days of alcohol, I am completely satisfied.
A girl hangs my finishing medal and another one gives me the “finisher” t-shirt that has the badge of the Race and also the Club of the Triathlon of Rhodes. The Event gets extra points from me for this choice and I wear it voluntarily so I won’t be like a walking refreshment advertising.
The endorphins and a smile like Joker’s don’t leave me until I get to the hotel.
What can I say about the race?
The Race was sponsored by the Greek Federation of Modern Pentathlon, the Prefecture of South Aegean and of course the Municipality of Rhodes. The great cooperation of the carriers was shown in the results. Most of the credits go to the people from the Apollo pf Rhodes Triathlon Club for the coordination and personal efforts so we will have a nice Sunday, run and enjoy a Triathlon in Rhodes.
As for event in particular? What can I say first? That Mr Hatzinikolas’s presentation reminded me of a stand up comedy recital? It was indeed the most alternative presentation I have attended to and was hilarious. Needless to say that the important parts of the race such as the dangers we would face due to the strong winds, the downhill parts of the cycling etc, were pointed out with the seriousness it fits in such cases.
The most significant part of the race was achieved. We were all healthy by Monday and at the same time we had enjoyed our participation in the race. Some in a more athletic way,others, like me, in a more touristy way.
Among the strong points of the event was also the Pasta Party that took place in the Plaza Hotel with exceptional service, a big variety of choices and no limit in quantities which was a plus for us who like food and get full a bit more difficult.
The security of the athletes during the cycling part of the race was more than perfect, and when 2-3 cars got into the race line were removed with police escort. There was also plenty of “policing” within the race as experienced judges of PEPA were ready to fine any athlete that was showing a non fair play attitude.
During the swimming part the lifeguards in the sea and also the ones in coast guard boats or in Jet skis that were guarding the athletes were ready to intervene in case it was needed. Hopefully the won’t be ever needed but just in case something bad happens, every athletic event owes to have an experienced team to help.
The catering that was not based on pre made jell formulas but on local products such as melekouni, salty biscuits and other salty choices was satisfactory.
The announcement about the health insurance coverage was a pleasant surprise. We are humans; you never know what can happen in a 3 terrain race and under what conditions the race will take place at.
The 50% off in the prices of the tickets for the ferry boats and the notable discounts in selected hotels were a big felicitation for those who participated at the race.
Despite the announcement of the Race was done two months prior, the triathlon world supported the event and I am sure that the Race would have more participants if the event would had been announced at the beginning of the year. But it’s OK, the only thing think I keep in my mind is the next date of the event “Ocean Lava Rhodes” which I have already noted in my calendar.
October 8th 2017 at “Oceanlava Rhodes half ironman".
Is a Half too much?? Is a year of preparation enough? Well, I think it is!
But since some people enjoy short distances, no problem. I see that they have announced a sprint race for the same day, alongside the main event.
Ocean Lava Rhodes, douze points!
PS1 Guys, this girl with the red swimsuit! I don’t want to know who she is, just bring her back next year as an inspiration to finish the Half Iron race next year!
PS2 Nadia Sitzanaki, the Greek Goddess of Triathlon was there, a very warm person and I managed to steal a handshake from her after the finish line, a short chat and two kisses that made me blush. What can I say? I enjoyed the encounter with her as she is incredible soft spoken and cannot be compared to some other athletes who are distant or snobbish.
Such a nice trip to Rhodes and the race the last day in tip really deserved something special. And that was a short videoclip from the traveler's perspective that covers all the great moments there.
I remember when I got off the ship I started shooting scenes and pictures without any idea of what to do with all that footage. There are lots of trips that all pics and videos I shot end up in a folder somewhere in a hard drive. But that wasn't the case with Rhodes. The whole atmosphere and Ocean Lava Rhodes triathlon experience gave me that push to make that clip.
Sight seeing of ancient Greek temples, visit in Lindos Acropolis and village, swimming in warm sand beaches, exploring Rhodes Medieval Castle and Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes, Aquarium, Greek taverns, a Greek-Russian music and dance festival, a Live rock performance in Legends Rock Bar, a Latin dance party in Old Town.
And finally Ocean Lava Rhodes Triathlon 2016 that used my GoPro camera to capture scenes of the bike leg of race, under water footage, video from the race and lots of pictures day and night in the Rhodes.
Everything in that trip was ... AMAZING :-)
Enjoy the clip :-)
A huge thank you to triathlete Tasos Kaloudis who participated in the race for offering a free stay in his hotel Parthenon, just 5 minutes walking distance away from the center of Rhodes and the race area, a nice, warm, clean hotel with helpful personnel that guided me to see the top sites of the island and not waste any time.
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| Parhenon Hotel in Rhodes |
If you are thinking of traveling to Rhodes for a triathlon or just vacation, have a look in the following Booking.com search box to see available hotel rooms and check the prices.
🇬🇷Father of three 👫🙆 Marathoner 🏃🏼 Triathlete🏊🚴🏼🏃🏼 AlmiraMan💪🏻 Trumpeteer🎺 Novel Writer 📝 Life is too short to wait. Live today! ✨✨✨ apogeiwsh.blogspot.com
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