HE described it as “a shock to the system”, but that did not stop Nick North from recording an impressive win in the opening round of the Bathurst Wallabies Triathlon Club season on Sunday.
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The talented triathlete was a clear winner in the long course event, leading by some three minutes after the opening leg 500 metre swim and increasing that gap as the race unfolded.
In fact, North was travelling so well that he came within 27 seconds of short course winner Tom Hanrahan at the mid-point of the final five kilometre run leg.
His good form is due to the hard work he has put into training as he works towards the November 26 Western Sydney Half Ironman.
“I’ve just come off the end off a two-week block, I’ve been training pretty hard now and this is the end of a massive block, so perfect little hit out,” North said.
“I’ve got Nepean next weekend then I’ve got my big race, Western Sydney Half in five weeks today. I’ve got a little bit of a recovery week this week thank God, then a bit of rest week after Nepean. Then I’ll build again with a taper week leading into Western Sydney.”
North, who also went for a run before the start of Sunday’s triathlon, was typically strong in the swim leg and was the first of the long course competitors to set off on the 16 kilometre cycle leg.
Though he did not find the bike the easiest, he was still well clear of his nearest rival when he set off for the 5km run.
North, who finished last season’s Bathurst series with a win in the short course race, pushed himself hard to the line to seal victory in a time of 49.51. It was an effort which drained him, but he was pleased.
“Today I didn’t think I was going to go that good, I’m very fatigued, I just tried to push myself all the way to the end, so I’m stoked with how I went,” he said.
“I went hard in the swim and it felt really, really good, but in the bike, it took me a little while to get things going. In the run I set off and I was like ‘This is harder than I thought, welcome back to tris.’
“But I managed to find my legs and finish strong. What a great atmosphere and turn up for the first race, it just gives you that added motivation to go harder.
“The shorter stuff is just getting harder and harder for me, I think I’d prefer the longer distance. It’s not as full on, I haven’t been doing any speed or intense work, so this is a shock to the system.”
North also paid tribute to fellow long course competitor Josh Stapley, who crossed the line just over 4½ minutes behind the victor. It was a top effort given his battles with injury and illness.
“It’s great to see Josh back out here competing, he did well today,” he said.