 JIM BRUNKER Member - 8 months THE RACE Raced: Husky Long Course (2km/83km/20km) Age Group: 35-39 Male Why triathlon? I’m not sure why yet. It’s not sensible to physically punish yourself for no apparent reason except you can. But it is oh so addictive and I am well and truly hooked. Triathlon goal for 2015: Port Mac is my first full distance. I hope I enjoy it because I have already registered for Busselton in December. Why this race? Everyone seems to rave about it and it was a good distance out from Port Maquarie as a fitness test. Summarise the course: Amazing swim in Jervis bay followed by T1 at the top of the longest set of steps known to man. Seriously, it’s like climbing centre point tower. The bike course was great. Flat to undulating with no pinch climbs. The run is brilliant. Great track, lots of support and people with hoses blasting away like we were a bunch of pesky kids playing knock and run. Favourite part of the race: Definitely the run. Every corner was an awesome new view and I was feeling good off the bike. And the WTC support tent. Best on course. Nothing encourages you to dig deep like the desire to look like you’ve got it all under control in front of your team mates. How did your race pan out? Really happy with my race. Middle pack swim which is good for me considering I suck at swimming. Raced with a power meter for the first time and felt really fresh off the bike, maybe I just need to ride faster? Had a really good run and especially enjoyed passing a guy at about the 10k mark who had blasted past me on the bike course. Beat my time goal by 15 minutes so very pleased. Lowlight/take away from the experience: I had massive goggle fog and I got a good punch in the face during the swim, still have bruise under my eye from it now. I was filled with instant rage when it happened, took me a minute to calm down!!  THE PLACE Location: Huskisson, Jervis Bay, NSW How did you get there from Sydney? How long to get there. Got a ride down with my new mate Bryan J Rollins. He is a man with an endless supply of stories, and some of them are entertaining. Takes about 3 ½ hrs. Where did you stay and what was it like? Would you return or what other accommodation options would you recommend? Shared a house with Warren and Laura, Ori, Sherrie and Bryan. Incredibly I was not the worst snorer (congratulations Bryan). I will take the Family down next year and avoid the Saturday 5am smoke alarm shenanigans of Bryan and Sherrie. Favourite place to eat: In Husky the café on the corner near bike transition was like food Mecca after the race. They could have served dry weetbix and I would give them 10/10. Fortunately they did a great beer battered flathead and salad, fruit smoothie, coffee and coke. Pittwater RSL is good too. Great Pizza and chocolate machine claw bingo for the kids after dinner. Other things to do in this location (apart from the race): Jervis bay is amazing. I grew up down the coast but haven’t been back for about 20 years so it was like visiting for the first time. Just stunning. Highlight of the race and the event overall: The fruit salad and ice cream at the recovery buffet. The massage tent. The Warringah crew are also amazing. I have only been in the club a short time but the sense of comraderie and support is great to be a part of. It really is like a big family. There are crazy uncles, siblings to squabble with and everybody watching out for one another. Everyone is really stoked for you to try to reach, to meet and exceed your goals. Advice is willingly and enthusiastically given, whether you actually ask for it or not. And it is a lifestyle sport that you can carry, or can carry you, into your old age (Smithy?). And I do get a real lift when I see another Warringah jersey going around. Would you return? Absolutely. I will be there next year for sure!
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