Budapest Tri World Champs Race

An article by Debi Hazelden    No Comments

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It’s been amazing here in Budapest. So much fun meeting all these people from all over who are interested in triathlon. Or some people would say – are as crazy as me! Willing to put in the hours to train and sacrifice other comforts in life.

It’s been great to hear how everyone else trains, some train a lot longer than me. 23 hours a week, every week. So interesting to listen to how people fit it into their life with a full time job. Most don’t have time for much else. But their families support it’s amazing. Lots of people have their parents, girlfriends/wives/husbands here who aren’t into the sport. But it’s so great to see them support their partner with their goals and dreams. I can imagine how hard it is on a relationship. Lucky I have my darling Scott who is into ironman and understands! I am very lucky

Budapest has been a mission with the language barrier. Wooah but I’ve made it through and it’s been great. I’ve been rooming with Andrea Elvines from Dunedin. There are about 30 of us at the same hotel. So lucky to have spent the time rooming with Andrea. I was worried at first, being in such a small space with someone else over what could be a stressful time! But it’s been wonderful. She is absolutely great and I think we matched well. A little sad to be leaving for Venice now – but really happy at the same time. How could you be sad going to Venice?!

Andrea and I at the ITU Opening Ceremony

Race Day

Race day was absolutely pooring down. I was happy with my 13th placing. Each age group had different coloured swim caps. We started with a 5 min gap between each age group. Getting down to the race venue at 5:20am because that’s when the shuttle came to our hotel. Hanging out in the rain till the race start at 7:30 wasn’t the most fun. Then we were off.

Swim
I did the swim in 12:45 which I’m happy with. Last summer in NZ I was swimming 13:40 so I’ve picked up the pace, but I need to keep working to pick it up. I didn’t draft off anyone so really need to start doing that. It can make a minute or two difference catching a draft off a good swimmer.

Bike
The transition was long! With 1000 bikes up each row it was a long slog through the swampy grass out onto the bike.

A very wet and swampy bike transition area

I had a bit of trouble with paralympians bikers getting in the way. I wasn’t going to yell at them! So I tried to get around a few times without much success. Good bike mount and onto the fast and flat course. Was going about 40km/hr most of the way except the U turns which slowed me down a little.. Very pleased with my bike time. Although I feel I was a bit stuck in places. The non-drafting 10metres between competitors is hard with so many people on the course at one time. You have to pass within 15 seconds or drop back. I had a guy in front going slightly slower than me that I just couldn’t get passed so had to keep dropping back. But made the break past him after talking myself into it.

Run
I felt great on the run. Usually I have cramp problems but this time I felt perfect. Although I ran 22:30 for 5.5km. (the run was a bit longer than supposed to be).

The Chain Bridge - Across to the finish line!

Here are some times, the overall winner, the winner of my age group, and my time. I really need to work on the swim , run and also my transition times from looking at these. I came 13th and am very happy with that.

Closing Ceremony – Clothes Swap

At the closing ceremony everyone swaps their team gear with people from other countries. I only bought a Tri NZ jacket this year so wasn’t going to swap. But this gorgeous girl from USA asked, so I tried it on and now here I am with a Team USA jacket!. They definitely have one of the nicest uniforms.

Closing Ceremony - Me in my new Team USA jacket