Race Report: Official (unoffical) club aquathon championships 2012

By Steven Moody.

The day had finally arrived – I was nervous as it had been a long time in coming – it seemed like months that the official (unofficial) Piranha aquathon championships were announced. I had adjusted my training completely and had shamelessly printed off pics of Piranhas I needed to beat on the day and would shout obscenities at them before going to bed for quite some time now.

The weather Gods were in good form on the day which boded well for me too as I like to race in the sunshine (makes for better pictures for me). The usual Piranha camaradie before races was noticeably muted as Gav Duffy simply stared at me, did a throat slitting gesture before returning to preen his hair.
The real surprise was that a number of the real Piranha thoroughbreds that had turned yellow and not chosen to take up the challenge. All the usual excuses of “Just after club championships”, “Need to race for NS points” and “I just don’t do the northside Steven” were trotted out but they unaffected my steely determination to take the prize.

So it was a small group of aquathon specialists from Piranha that made their way into the water at Bull island at a slightly later time of 2:15. The usual jostling to get good position started early with Duffy trying to stay on Jo’s feet and Jo determined to stay on Duffy feet – ah who really wears the trousers one has to wonder…

I decided to stay at the front and push hard from the start – as needed to erase the bad memories of my disappointing CK swim. The hooter sounded and it kicked off. This was literally the case for Jo – as I found out later I kicked off her goggles from the start. Well in fairness if I was to win the trophy I had to beat all girls and if that had to be achieved by means fair or foul – so be it.

I soon was to have my own goggle issues as things fogged up pretty badly and with my diminished visibility I was reduced to following closeby green hats. This proved to be an ill thought out strategy as I was obvious attracted to muppets with the same sense of direction as myself – as we ended up zig zaging our way through the course! Grrrrrr!! According to my Garmin, 950 metres rather than the 750 metres it should have been!!

This basically made me angry and I swam angrily for the last 250 metres into the exit from the turn around the last bouy. Other swimmers were having the same experience as some of them tried to cross my line – not a good idea when I am angry…. I unleashed the fists of fury on one lad who got too close – he backed off fairly quickly.
It was only when myself and my assault victim started to run up the steps together – I realised that it was none other than my main rival for the title – Gavin Duffy. Bonus! Although he did not seemed too dazed and confused as he sprinted up the steps mocking me that he had won the t1 prime – damn it!!!

A slow transition was to follow as I struggled with my wetsuit and got distracted by a couple of hot birds who had come out to watch me do my thing. After I completed a couple of autographs (mainly due to my new found fame that was always to follow my recent qualification for the 70.3 world champs in Vegas) I was out into my office … the run!
I spotted the slow lumbering shape of Duffy trying to escape the inevitable as I closed the gap on him with consummate ease. A brief high five exchange was completed at the passing point and it was on.

It is worth noting that I had already seen the welcome sight of Kev Leavy limping back to the finish –clearly his calf concern before the race had been warranted. By means by fair or foul had just been expanded to include by default….

With Duffy and Kev in the bag I started to stretch my legs and as such, my lead. At the turnaround I spotted Paul Boyle, Peter Coughlan, Jo Howlett, Tricia Duffy and Jonathon Hanley but must have been going too fast to count the rest of the huge Piranha turnout…

The run was tough and slower than I would have liked to be but will put that down to heat.

It was a mixture of elation and shock when I crossed the line knowing that I had won my first official (unofficial) Piranha aquathon championship. I choked back the tears as it would not have been fair on my other Piranhas to show such emotion. 

Jo Howlett overcame my shameless face kick manoeuvre to take the female title and was gracious enough to forgive me to share a joint trophy pic. The award ceremony was a quiet affair in Bay near the course but a very special moment. I better take those Piranha pics down from my wall … well maybe the male ones anyhow … next up #VEGAS70.3