WHEN Bathurst triathlete Nick North contests the Asia-Pacific Championship at the end of November he knows the competition will be stiff, but he will carry with him the confidence that comes with good form.
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A week after he won the season-opening Bathurst Wallabies Triathlon Club long course race, North blitzed the course at the Nepean Triathlon to place second in his 25-29 years male age group and rank 21st outright.
He covered the one kilometre swim, 30km cycle and 10km run in a time of one hour, 37 minutes and 23 seconds on the back of personal best splits.
“I didn’t really know who was racing, they didn’t bring out an entry list for this race, so I was pretty much going in blind,” North said.
“So I didn’t go in with any expectations, I was using it as a bit of a training run to see where I was at for Western Sydney [Asia-Pacific Championships] in four weeks. That is pretty much going to be on the same course, so it was a good hit out to get a feel for the course.
“To get second in my age was great and I only got run down with about a kay and a half to go, that part was a little disappointing.
“I had a bit of a plan to swim my heart out and ride as hard as I could. To be honest, I rode the best power I’ve ever ridden and ran my fastest time ever, so for that guy to beat me, I take my hat off to him because I put it all out there on the course.”
The swim was held in the main lake of the Regatta Centre in Penrith, with North clocking the fastest split in his age group and 17th quickest on the day – a 13.52 – despite being held up by some other competitors.
North was in the fourth wave of athletes to set off, with the pro men and women, plus a mates and sponsors group ahead of him. It was that last wave which North quickly caught.
“Generally at this time of year it’s 50-50 if it’s a wetsuit swim and I’m not really the best at that,” North said.
“I was in two minds whether to wear one or not, but walking over to the race, they said it was a non-wetsuit swim for everyone and I just lit up, I was ecstatic, that pretty much made my day. I knew I was in for a good swim them.
“It was two-lap bike course and they changed it this year. You ride into an industrial area and it’s turn after turn after turn and u-turns. The first lap wasn’t too bad, but the second lap – there was over 1,000 people competing so there were people galore which made it a bit harder.
“But I was relaxed and comfortable and enjoyed the race and pretty much PB’d everything.”
North was again the quickest in his age group for the cycle, averaging 40.24 kilometres an hour for the leg.
His split for the run was impressive – a 36.39 – while his times also stacked up well compared to a number of the professionals who competed.
“There were a few guys in there that are pro long course athletes and I sort of based myself on them. There’s a guy called Tim Berkel, who is renowned for long course stuff, and I was less than two minutes behind him,” North said.
“I actually out swam him and was just behind his times in the bike and the run. So going into Western Sydney in four weeks, that gives me really good motivation.”
Western Sydney will be held on November 26.
