Here are a few pics I have taken during this past year as Mikaela has taken up triathlon. In August (I think) of 2014 she {and many talented juniors} did a time trial with Kieran Barry of Triathlon Australia. She was then selected for ACT Triathlon JDP (Junior Development Program). Unfortunately her profile is not up on the website, yet?
Mikaela then went on to join PTC Minis for a week long camp to get some technical skills up and then she joined the squad, training 3 - 4 times per week in addition to her 3 - 4 swim sessions with Steve Meredith at the AIS with CASC.
First Triathlon - November 2014
Oh what an awful day it was! So dark and cloudy and COLD! There was even lightening in the lake moments before the girls took off for their swim!
I felt so bad for them! Mikaela had a great swim leg, of course as its her strongest.
Her bike leg was good too, tho she did get her feet out of her shoes early... she passed the entrance with her feet resting atop her shoes and still had about 4kms to go. Her dismount was great and she was all smiles during this race.
The triathlon community is embracing and encouraging. Mikaela loved her first race and I think this is about where she became hooked.
She was interviewed both before her race and after, by Shane Rattenbury... which was super sweet!
I think it certainly helped that she came first in her age group, I think 8th female overall.
I'm not sure she believed me at the time, but I assured her that a triathlon in the rain is much better than scorching heat! But still, these conditions were certainly a baptism by fire!
Second Triathlon - 30 November 2014 - Females in Training WAGTri
Mikaela then competed in the Females in Training Womens and Girls (WAGTri) Triathlon on 30th November 2014, with her friend Sian. I was not there as we had a preplanned weekend to Sydney, and Mikaela opted out to do this triathlon. Good thing she did as she was earned first place in the short (novice) distance! Good job Miss M. Sadly I don't have any photos... and I missed out on this "first" for my girl... and being able to watch her run behind the course guide cyclist - lucky for me there would be other times during the season! I suspect this will be the last WAGTri held in Canberra, so a lucky one to win Mikaela xx
Third Triathlon - December 2014 - ACT Triathlon
I don't have many photos from this triathlon... I do have this one tho in her new competition Tri Suit. Mikaela worked hard for another 1st position, both in her age group and overall female in the novice distance.
The boys enjoyed the 100mtr sprint too! Its a great little event ACT Triathlon put on for under 6s.
Fourth Triathlon - January 2014 - ACT Triathlon
Mikaela came first in her age group, and first female overall.
Here she is with Jules, her PTC team mate.
Aquathons - January and February 2015 - ACT Triathlon
There were three Aquathons in the series and Mikaela found these to be very tough! Yes our girl can swim, but her run needs some work and without the buffer of a strong bike leg, she felt the pain!
Event 1 - here she is with Teija, her buddy and PTC team member. Teija won this event.
Go Mikki!
Of course I like it when Mikaela wins... but I can not be more proud of her as how gracious she is in defeat. This would have been her first real taste of defeat for the season, and she was so sweet in her genuine happiness for her team mate. Love this girl !! She even had a word with Tei after she made a little apology in her acceptance speech... and said no, no no..... NEVER apologise for beating me, you WON girl, you beat me and you should be proud of yourself!
For the 2nd event of the Aquathon Series Mikaela had a great sprint finish with Mitch (another of her PTC team mates) and this time finished in 1st Place.
And quite a few more of her PTC training buddies participated this week, which was fabulous!
Event 3 of the Aquathon and Mikaela came out of the water first, but was unable to hold onto the run. I think in the end she came 3rd behind Teija and Katie Slater.
The boys and I helped out at the drinks station. I have taken to volunteering at each event because I feel its best to give back to the sport and also to use my nervous Mumma energy productively!
Fifth Triathlon - February 2015 - Proximity Government & Business Triathlon
It was a thrill of her to have some of her PTC squad mates there to cheer her on during her race.
And to be able to have a post race chat with Coach Corey.
And what was thrilling to me was that she was awarded her 1st place as female overall in the novice race, by Robert DeCastella !! He was one of my main hero's at her age! He remains such an awesome guy! Especially with his Indigenous Marathon Project initiative!
Sixth Triathlon - March 2015 - ACT Triathlon
Her 6th race of the season and another first place finish for overall female in the novice event. A horrible day for it though, her swim was HARD!
Seventh Triathlon - March 2015 - Batemans Bay
It was a gorgeous sunrise... so splendid. That's one another thing that triathlon has on its side, besides all the healthy living.... its all the sunrises you get to see at early training sessions and events, that would otherwise be missed altogether.
Mikaela and Jack moments before race start.
Mikaela came out of the water first, but was soon overtaken by Griffin on the bike {hills that Mikaela had never ridden before!} and was just behind her to take third place, were second was taken by a 20-24year old in a later wave.
Here we have the JDP Crew in Lauren, Jack and Mikaela.
1st in her age group with 2nd and 3rd place getters. All in all Mikaela had a really great day... so great in fact that once she was home, she was able to meet her PTC group for Sunday afternoon lake swim training session!
Haha! She is not impressed, as it is quite cold. Welcome home to Canberra! its not the warm waters of the bay!
Eighth Triathlon - April 2015 - Australian Schools Championships
Mikaela got a bit of a wake up at this event. She had been sick with tonsillitis and basically done very little training in the previous month before the event (and since her last event). She had never experienced the kind of swim she had at this event - she was held under and that was a real shock to her to be stuck in the pack.
By far the best aspect of this week for Mikaela was the friendship and team spirit, and it is a main reason she enjoys triathlon so very much.
At the end of the season Triathlon ACT awarded her two trophies:
1st Place in her age group of 12-13 year old girls for Junior Series
1st Place - Overall Female - Novice Series of 2015 - this is such an achievement, coming in as #1 against all females who competed, in your first season! Well done Miss M, quite the effort for a young teenager.
Who knew as she turned up to that time trial in August last year, that in 6 months she would have achieved all of this? Well done Mikaela!! We are so proud of you. You are the bomb. B.O.M.B !!
And if you have read to here. Well done! I realise its a super long post, maybe this triathlon season coming up I'll do a blog post for each event.
Bx
