2nuksabroad: What a triathlon in +40C feels like

Don't worry, I'm not about to say we did an Ironman in +40C. Nope, that would just be crazy! A sprint is more than enough...

Last weekend was the grand finale of tris before summer holidays. Again, as with every Friday morning start, we strongly debated sleeping in...or rolling out of the bed to get in some miles before it gets too hot. Luckily the start time was bumped up to 6 AM. Good for minimizing time in the sun, but bad for trying to be alive at 4:30 am.
It was a smaller group, which is expected in the midst of the summer months, maybe 20 people with a mix of individuals and teams. However small, the level of diversity is quite unique - we have a former Oman national team member(who beats everybody by at least 5 min), rusty ironman competitors (if I don't say so myself ), tri newbies that haven't gone further than a sprint, and junior athletes <12 yrs (but are super fast swimmers!).

The best way to describe the race is like a game of 'pickup triathlon'. And it really is a compliment to the race. It's pretty unique that you can run a triathlon with minimal planning and resources. The ocean is very likely to be calm, and give the Friday morning start (on holy day) the roads are quiet so road closures and traffic control isn't needed. Plus the weather never changes, its guaranteed to be hot!

This was our 2nd Azaiba beach triathlon and the rundown goes as such: You show up with your stuff, and there's a quick race briefing (in case there is a newbie) - swim around the buoy, then the boat, making a triangle. It may be 750 or 650m depending on the tides. Then transition is a quick rinse of the salt water from the mouth and eyes... and onto the bike. But be sure not to mount until clear of the 'mount line', the invisible line where the parking lot turns into a road. And then onto the road for a 20 km loop to The Wave roundabout and back. Of course minding traffic and stop lights - proceeding at your own risk. The wind feels like a convection oven, so by the time you hit the run, and you are medium rare to well-done. The run course is a flat, straight out and back ( Al Humdilillah). I don't think anyone could bear a slight undulation by ~ 7am as it's already close to 40C with the humidity. The water station is at the turnaround, which literally saves people from heat stoke and dehydration. 5km isn't far, but in this heat, it feels unbelievably far! Afterwards we all jump back into the ocean, for a semi-cool down (the ocean is hot too).

What makes it all worth the effort is the trip to Darcy's Kitchen afterwards with the group for breakfast and race recaps.