A group of us from Hong Kong set off for the sunny shores of Saipan to race in the 13 th Annual Tagaman Triathlon on 18 May.  It is run over a course of 2/60/15km and has to go down as the most friendly race Cookie and I have ever been to.  We raced here 2yrs ago and vowed to come back with two goals, Cookie to enjoy the post race party atmosphere after a solid race and me in the quest for a wooden Tagaman.  What is so special about this wooden Tagaman thing, I hear you ask?  Well, firstly they are so unusual for a trophy and secondly they are huge especially if you win although I am told they used to be even larger!  I think the race sponsor, Continental Airlines must have started complaining about the excess luggage caused by people trying to get these things back home!

Jacqui Saffery, Audrey Lewis, Zeke Garrod, Cookie and I were all set to race with Louise Cuzner (a friend of Jacqui’s from Korea).  Wan Shu Wah was also bringing Tania Mak & Ricco Chan (HK junior’s) down to race in the Tagakids race which was held on the Sunday.  Due to the flight schedules, we had to suffer with the hardship of arriving in Saipan on Wednesday morning, a whole 3days before the race! This meant plenty of time for some R&R, light training, sunbathing and enjoying some amazing fresh fish over dinners sitting on the beach watching the sun go down.  This racing lark can be really tough at times like this!  The girls (& Cookie) all spent the first couple of days enjoying the spa, after we managed to negotiate a huge bulk discount.  What you have to do to avoid the temptation of over-training in race week.... 

Cookie and I rode over some of the course on Thursday morning, as it had changed since our last trip and it is always a good idea to know exactly where you are going.  The new course was much better with a flat ride through town before heading out over some undulating hills passing by Suicide Cliff and then some short tougher climbs to the turnaround at Bird Island.  The run was almost the same as previous years, following a flat course through town, along the waterfront.  We had been told to expect a 1km loop as you returned to the finish area through the Memorial Park before we would finally be allowed to go into the finish shoot.  

We all registered on Friday and I did my customary brick session to wake my body up after all the relaxation of the week.  I had been really tired the week before from lots of training and back-to-back racing, so I had taken plenty of time off this week with my biggest hours logged doing yoga!  My brick session told me I was feeling recovered and itching to race the next day.  The pasta party was held on the beach after the race briefing and the food was amazing.  There was handmade sushi, salads galore and a fresh pasta station where you could request almost any type of fresh pasta and topping.  I had a job to hold back and not stuff my face!  I never like to eat plate after plate of food the night before a race like most of the guys or I feel like someone who resembles a sumo wrestler rather than triathlete standing on the start line the following morning.  

It was great to catch up with everyone we met last time.  Mike Tress from the UK, a regular Tagaman was there even though he is in the process of moving back to Japan.  Stephen Farrell (NZ) and the Aussie crowd from Cairns were also back together with large numbers of Japanese and Korean athletes. Jason Metters from Australia was here to defend his title and was going to be hard to beat after the summer training with Chris Macormak.  The defending women’s champion, Susan Burr of Hawaii had also returned, as had last year’s third placed female, Colleen Burke from Australia.  The women’s field was completed by a number of Japanese & Korean athletes plus Micronesia’s top contenders.

I went to bed full of anticipation and was already awake ready for the race when the alarm went off at 3am the next morning.  This is always a good sign that I am well rested and after a bowl of fruit and rice pudding, Cookie and I set off for transition.  After a great warm-up, my race went almost perfectly. I was able to stay with the main pack in the swim and come out of the water with Susan and one of the Japanese women.  I am sure the likes of Steve & Mike were not too impressed to see the likes of us girls still with them but this was to be short-lived!  I managed to be first out of transition but Susan soon came flying past as I was fumbling with a troublesome shoe.  After about 1km, I had managed to catch her again and decided to make a pass as things were feeling good.  Shortly afterwards Zeke pulled alongside to offer some encouragement, he had also had a good swim and came out in the same group as me.  After a couple of seconds, he sped off after the guys but not before telling me that Colleen was ahead of me.  Damn, I thought I was in the lead – oh well I’d have to put my head down and try to catch her.  

I really enjoyed the bike and was able to get into a good rhythm and focus on my race as I hardly saw anyone else.  I was still feeling good on the rollers the other side of town but was holding a little something back as I had been told there was a real killer hill just before the turnaround.  I had my 21/11 cassette on having been told it was a flat course and hadn’t been able to ride the last bit of the course so didn’t know quite what to expect there.  The boys had been trying to put the wind up me saying they had to stand to get up this hill in the same gearing as mine – surely this couldn’t been anything on Route Twisk in HK?  As it turned out, it was only really steep for about 10m on a corner and this was nothing compared to some of the hill sessions I had been put through!  I ushered a little thank you to Ingrid, there was a point to some of those hill sessions from hell.

As the turnaround draw close, I realized I was the lead women and Zeke had confused Colleen’s red suit with that of her boyfriend, Scott Penny up ahead – just as well we didn’t tell him that!  The question was now, how far back were the other women, I would have the answer soon enough and put on my best “I am looking really strong and fresh face on.”  I worked out I had about 2minutes on Susan after the turn with about 15km to go so I put the hammer down to try and pull it out a bit further as I wasn’t sure how strong she would be on the run.  On my way back towards town, I saw Cookie and then Lou, who looked like she was having the time of her life.

One of the great things about this race is they have bike catchers and people to pass you your bag and help you in transition just like Ironman. As I flew into transition, my sister who had traveled down from Japan to watch the race and Audrey were both screaming and jumping up and down which got me all fired up ready for the run.  It makes such a difference having friends and family at a race to support.  As I headed out onto the run the early signs were good and my legs felt surprisingly fresh.  I focused my mind on trying to catch up to Zeke and thought about my technique, which I have been working on.  It seemed to work and the km’s were clicking by until I suddenly spotted Jason Metters coming the other way. Then it was Mike making it look so effortless & Steve, surely not already?  I hadn’t thought I was that far behind the men but maybe I had really slowed in the last section of the bike.  I still felt good and pushed ahead and soon the turnaround came into site, I couldn’t believe I was there already.  I started to count the seconds as I headed back towards the finish area as I didn’t know how far the girls were behind me were.  As the seconds ticked by I was feeling happier, my lead had grown to 3minutes so I was running well.  I could now look forward to seeing Cookie heading out on the run, which always gives me a big boost.  He was looking really good especially considering he hadn’t been able to put too much training in before the race. I must confess, I wasn’t expecting to see him so soon so he must have had a good bike split.  Before long the Hard Rock Café came into sight which meant the finish wasn’t far so just the extra loop to do.  By this point, I had started to think that the loop might be longer than the 1km we had been told due to the time so I was mentally preparing myself for 2km.  It was great to run down towards the finish as there were loads of spectators cheering and I got to see my sister and Audrey again.  As I headed out through Memorial Park, I asked a few of the volunteers on the aid station how far and no-one knew.  I started to pick out the red suit of Scott through the trees and tried to focus on catching him to keep my mind off the pain I was now feeling.  Finally I spotted the turn and managed to claw Scott in, he was obviously suffering but managed to mutter “Go for it.”  So much for 1km, it must have been more like 3-4km but luckily I had enough in the tank but it took it’s toll both mentally and physically on many of the other competitors.

I came through the line full of smiles and couldn’t believe my quest for the Tagaman was over……..well for this year, I now need another one so we have matching footrests at home!  The atmosphere at the finish was great with lots of music and refreshments, the top guys were already plugged into their IV’s so they would all be partying the night away.  I soon found Zeke who had had an awesome race and came 10 th overall, winning his age-group.  Cookie was the next one over the line in 4hrs16 having suffered a bit on the run after a blistering bike split.  Unfortunately, Jacqui had to pull out after the swim as she couldn’t breathe properly, which we later discovered was due to bronchitus!  She left transition in style in the back of an ambulance but we later managed to rescue her from hospital in time for the night’s festivities.  Lou also had a great race especially considering this was only her second triathlon and came third in her age-group – watch out you girls in Phuket!

The trip finished well with an excellent post race party on the beach where the champagne never stopped flowing on our table thanks to Jacqui.  Most people then headed down to Sam’s to party the night away – thanks Zeke the 2.30am bang on the door was appreciated!  The highlight of the trip for the girls was the fact the Ireland football team had just arrived for a training camp before the World Cup.  Early nights were certainly not on their agenda and they were more than happy to join the Tagaman party!  

Hong Kong finished off an excellent weekend of results with Ricco and Tania winning the Tagakids race on Sunday morning.  This was Tania’s first triathlon, which is especially impressive and a good sign for the future of Triathlon in Hong Kong.  Cookie, Audrey and I managed to get up early enough to watch the race and were in awe at the competence some of the tiny tots displayed out on the course in the 6-8yr category.    Great trip, we are all planning a return visit next year and suggest you put this race to the top of the MUST DO TRI’s for 2003 list.  (The Race Director has tentatively set the date for 17 May 2003).

Overall:

1. Jason Metters (AUS) 2:49:55 (28:56/1:24:01/56:58)

2. Mike Trees (UK) 2:55:20 (32:32/1:27:11/55:37)

3. Stephen Farrell (NZ) 2:57:21 (32:24/1:27:07/57:50)

1. Claire Murray (HKG) 3:19:52 (32:27/1:41:41/1:05:44)

2. Susan Burr (USA) 3:24:55 (32:09/1:44:54/1:07:52)

3. Colleen Bourke (AUS) 3:38:19 (36:11/1:47:25/1:14:43)

25-29 Male:  

1. Zeke Garrod (HKG) 3:15:16 (32:20/1:34:08/1:08:48)

35-39 Male:

10. Richard Cooke (HKG) 4:16:03 (44:38/1:49:08/1:42:17)

35-39 Female:

1. Louise West (KOR) 4:38:37 (47:31/2:16:53/1:34:13)