I started the swim off really well and managed to pull quite a lead over the rest of the swimmers. Upon exiting the dam I ended up standing on a broken glass bottle. My race was over! Paramedics quickly rushed to my side, on the embankment next to the dam and started applying pressure to the wound. Blood was flowing like a waterfall and this was a deep wound. I ended up hobbling through transition and jumped on a quad bike which took me to the medics tent for stitches. A couple of stitches and pain killers later I was supporting my friends and team mates on the side of the road. I really wanted to podium at this race and after checking the results that night I noticed that I had managed to gain a 6 minute lead in the swim over the podium finishers. Well anyway, we live on to race another day.
 
While I was waiting impatiently for my foot wound to heal and seeing though I couldn’t do any training, I thought I should go get a mole checked out at the Dermatologist.
 
The Dermatologist immediately cut out the mole and sent it off for testing. More stitches can you believe it!
 
A week or so later I got the call from the Doc to say that the mole was malignant (cancerous) and I would need surgery and further testing. This was a pretty scary moment and right up until that moment you always think you will be ok but from that moment on some doubt and worry creeps in. My grandfather had died within a year after they had found a malignant mole in the same place as I had.  
 
A few appointments at the doc later I was operated on and a large piece of skin tissue was removed from my shoulder blade and a gland under my arm. This tissue and gland was sent for testing and a 2 week wait began.
 
The constant worry is on your back of your mind at this time and you start to think what if I do have advanced stages of cancer? what if I have to do chemo ? I won’t lie it’s not a great time of your life, there is also no way of releasing the stress with a run, swim or bike ride, it just sucks to be honest.
 
Luckily, the test results came back ok and I wouldn’t need chemo which was a relief. I still need to go back to the doctor for blood tests every few months just to be sure I’m ok. The weeks that followed were miserable, I started swelling under my arm from the operation and needed to drain the fluids every 2 days. This went on for a weeks until I put in a permanent drain under my arm. Not the most comfy thing to carry with you.
 
At the beginning of Jan, the swelling stopped and I could start my training again. I hadn’t trained in 3 months and was now a little plumper (happier) than my 74kg Ironman race weight.
 
A few weeks on now it’s been great to be back with the Trifactri gang. After riding countless hours in the Cradle in preparation for Ironman the year before, I never thought I would say it, but I had missed our cycling home (The Cradle). The Trifactri peeps have all really become great friends, I suppose that is what happens when you spend 20 hours a week with them, and I had missed them, big time!
 
So out of all the turmoil at the end of last year, some great news has finally come my way– I am going to be a Dad! Cands (my wife) is 4 months pregnant and we will be expecting a little Jan Frodreno or baby Daniela Ryf in the making.
 
So out of this experience what wisdom can I bestow upon you ? Don’t stop training ever! As it leads to having babies J
 
Regards
 
Ty

​SA Time trial champs, first time, new experience, new rules and new people. Thinking I can just
pack up my tri suit and my bike and arrive at the start line to ride a measly 24km. Boy was I wrong!
The day before the race we go to register and they ask me for my licence, and I proudly give them
my drivers licence. They look at me and say no, we need the your cycling licence. Fail #1.
Then I proudly present my Pinnarello Bolide to the official and he says ' you can not ride this. I
either have to move my saddle back 5cm or move my extensions back 2cm. After much debating,
pushing and pulling, one genius Mcgyver fixed my bike, moved my extensions back and fitted into
the 75cm range. Fail # 2.
I arrive at the race on race day to warm up. Set up the trainer, ready to go, warmup all goes well
and now I am ready torace. I zip up my beautiful pink tri suit, thinking I look like the bomb, walk to
the start box where the same official says to me "you cant ride like that". To which I Innocently
replied "why not?'. He replied "I can see your shoulders". (I wanted to say .. DONT LOOK!) He
said that I have to find something to cover my shoulders or I cannot race. PANIC !! Some
generous lady whom I had never met ran around all over to find me a cycling jersey, to put on
underneath my skin tight tri suit. SQUEEZE!! Fail # 3 .
By now I am in tears and my nerves are frazzled, my resting heart rate was 120bpm which should
have been 60bpm. I walk up into the race start box wanting to vomit and cry at the same time
thinking ...REALLY ??? Why am i doing this?. I get onto my bike with the same official now holding
me and all I can see are the sides of the ramp that I must not ride over. They count me down
5,4,3,2,1 and let me go. Oops - I should have checked my gears, I couldn't turn my pedals!!!!!
After some bobbing and weaving and nearly riding over the side of the ramp, I look up and see my
friends videoing this drama ....I am finally on my way. Fail # 4
I hit the tar get my momentum and was in my happy place. Now I could just ride my bike. The
course was tough starting with 12km's of undulating climbing during which I managed to catch two
girls that started ahead of me. That was good motivation to push hard, took the right turn on the
undulating flatter section and saw no-one ahead of me. This is where my mind started to play
games, wanting to back off the intensity just a little but knowing the girls were trying to chase me
down. I had to keep the power up and keep pushing.
From the 14km mark the race is quite fast and fun to ride, my adrenalin was pumping and I was
loving my life. That all ended with 2km's to go with a long uphill drag where every part of my body,
heart, lungs, legs and head were screaming at me to stop, I knew I was moments away from
finishing this race. I gave everything I had on that climb and was so relieved a couple of Minutes
later to cross the line.
It was hard but exhilirating, something completely different to anything I have done before, but I
absolutely loved it.
Quite happy with my effort I go to the officials to ask them my time and position where they inform
me that they have a glitch with the system and cannot find my time. Fail # 5. Panic .... Eventually
after about 2 hours of waiting around they had sorted out the system and we went off to prize
giving.
The first time at a SA Time Trial champs prize giving, it was quite exciting to be on the top step
and the officials stood on stage with me, gave me my SA Champs jersey and said "now we will
cover your shoulders for you".
Next time I promise I will read the race bible before rocking up ready to play!
I finished 43.05 . Gold . SA Champ. Very excited with my results and cant wait to do it again.

When I woke up on Sunday morning, the first thing I thought was why? Why have I done this to myself….
 
Got ready, wetsuit on and down to the beach…
 
Standing in the pen waiting to run into the sea with my training partner Castelli, we held hands, the volunteers in front of us allowing us into the water dropped their arms and off we went sprinting to the cold sea. The icy water hit our feet and we galloped over the waves till we were knee deep. I then stopped, cleaned my goggles, walked in slowly thinking, breathe, just breathe. Castelli turned and screamed to me, YEAH LETS DO THIS FRIEND!!
Goggles on, a butterfly dive into the shallow water and I though, YEAH LETS DO THIS!
 
The icy water was refreshing and I thought, I am making grrrreat time, made it past all the bouys and felt good.
 
Turned to start coming back and the sea changed, it was getting very choppy and the wind was picking up, I kept thinking, come on, swim is the best part, just keep swimming. Before I knew it I was swimming towards the beach. Out the water and pulling my wetsuit off like a pro I started running up the beach, crowds going mad and me cheering right back at them, YEAH BABY!! Up the stairs, through the water trays, boom boom boom, ok ok enough of that, time for a little walk.
 
Into the transition at last, that hill kills me every time, grabbed my bag, into the tent and wetsuit off, helmet on and cleats on. Off I went with my tiptoe run to my bike, got to the mounting line, spotted my hubby Kev, so stopped for a quick phot, I mean as one does, then off I went.
 
The roads were wet and the rain started spitting, flying down to the highway, left onto the highway and slowed down to a more respectable pace. Fellow team mates started to come past all shouting words of encouragement, it was great! Every time someone that I knew came past I pushed to keep up with them for as long as possible, then would slow down a bit catch my breath then carry on. Kept looking to the right for when the pros would come past, COME ON! The sooner the pros started going past the sooner I was to the turnaround point. At last they came, I screamed for all the ones I knew, remembering their trisuits. Racers my side prob thought I was a little crazy and thinking, they can’t hear you, but I was having such a good time trying to see who was in the lead. Before I knew it I was at the turn around point, great time!!
 
Now, as I went round I got into my resting bars, otherwise known as tribars. Off I went, I was flying, had a tail wind for the first time ever and was enjoying it. Past the water point, grabbed a high 5 juice, sang along and cheered with the crowds there and off I went. Next up, was the turn off the highway, did that and BAM there it was!!! That sneaky little 5km pull back to Buffalo city. 
Just keep peddling, don’t stop peddling, you so close, come on come on.
 
Then my best part of the cycle, coming into town. The whole town is bouncing, music playing, crowds cheering, friends running past, first thing I thought, I gotta get there, I’m missing out!!!
Back to transition, another tiptoe to the tent, takkies on, crack the red bull and off I went, Yeah baby the run, LETS DO THIS!

I had been training under another tri club for about 6 months and making good progress, and was pretty happy, when I saw an advert for a tri camp from Trifactri.
I knew one or two things about the club, but most importantly, I had once mailed Lucie and she gave me advice and nutrition tips just before my first triathlon.
I always thought that was  just awesome…

The first thing I thought was that this is going to be hectic and there is no ways I will ever keep up on the swims, let alone the bike and the runs.…I was tempted to just leave it, but then how would I know if I didn’t try…what’s the worst that can happen? 
Two names were available as a contact, Jess and Des.

I made contact and, of course, the first thing I explained was my inexperience.
They both made me feel so relaxed about the camp and assured me that they were catering for all levels and there was nothing to worry about.
Knowing what I know now, not making contact would have been such a mistake.
So I committed, wiped the weekend clean, cancelled a marathon run that I was to do on the Sunday and waited for the camp to start.

Eventually Friday came and we met at a pool in  Randburg.
Now first of all, in my mind, my swim is terrible.
The fact that I think it is terrible, actually makes it so.
I only started swimming in September last year and my first attempt in the pool, proved that I could just about manage 2 lengths….completely useless.

Nothing more intimidating than knowing that your swim is dreadful and watching the others plunge into the water and swim lengths like they are pro’s.
This is where I met Jess and Lucie for the first time.
We spent a bit of time on preparation and it was time to show your swim.
Jess is just amazing and I am so going to spend some more time with her in the pool.

I also spent a fair amount of time with Lucie and probably learnt more from her in half an hour than what I did with a swim coach in 2 months.
She and Jess were just so patient and eager to help. It made me relax in the water and I  finished my laps.

I came out feeling so much better about my swim and for the first time, I knew what I needed to work on in order to improve.
Lucie then sent me videos of my swim that evening and gave me words of encouragement.
This is where I think I got to realize that this is not just a tri club. This was a club filled with people who had a genuine interest in helping you to improve.
They were proactive in assisting and giving advice and it made me realize that I am not as bad as I thought.
Cameron van der Burgh has nothing to worry about, but I’m certainly not the worst.

Saturday morning, we met at the Culinary Kitchen for a bike ride.
I am met by all these guys on TT bikes, all looking lean and fast and one of them started talking about riding out to the dam….I thought these guys are mad.
They either don’t own a car or they don’t know how far the dam is!!
I’m pretty much ready to pack my bike and go home.

I know no one, and I’m thinking….How will I ever ride with these guys?
Eventually, I see Chantelle, who I do know from work, and she introduces me to Des.
I didn’t know it then, but I would end up making it my mission to keep up with Des for the rest of the weekend….and probably for the rest of time.
So I joined the novice riders, led by Jess and Des and off we went. 
Cut the long story short, I loved every single second of it.
We had such a  great ride and just watching Jess and Des and their skill on the bike was amazing.

It turned out that we were not as novice as we thought and we rode at a decent speed and rode well.
That’s the great thing about attending a camp like this…you get to know where you are and where you need to be.
Turned out that I was pretty strong on the bike and held my own.
So my swim is okay and my riding is good…so far, things were looking up.
My ride would end with my first experience of hanging onto Des and her mindboggling strength, all the way back to Culinary.

That was the great thing..Des led two of us, who were somewhat stronger and Jess stayed with the slower group.
At no time did anyone feel left behind or lost.
70 odd Km’s later, we hit the road for a brick run.
I just happened to be with Des and we just happened to hit the same pace together, which just got faster and faster and faster and faster.

I was panting away, yet at no point did Des even look as if she was tired.
This was my second experience of holding my own with Des…by this time I had come to realize that Des was no ordinary athlete and I was just more than a little chuffed to have stayed with her on the bike and the run.
It was at this point that I realized how fit and how dedicated these athletes are and right then and there, I decided that I wanted to be part of this club.
I still don’t know if anyone actually rode out to the dam or not, but I did think about it for the rest of the day 

Following morning, we met at the Ruimsig track and hit the road for a short bike ride.
Jess lead the group for a great ride, out to the cradle and back.
We had just started to warm up on the track, when Lucie popped in to see how we were doing.

Now I am a fair runner and I have done my fair share of marathons, but no one has ever taken the time to point out flaws in my running style, which, if corrected, will make me more efficient…..and I have run with a lot of people.
Lucie pointed them out immediately, which was just awesome, as she watched me and she noted where I needed to improve.

By this time, I think Des had figured that I was a fair runner and we hit the track intervals together.
I should mention that this is the first time I have ever done track runs, so its completely new to me and I had no idea what to expect.
I just stuck with Des, as hard as what it was, I just stuck with her until I couldn’t anymore…and that is what this is all about…..being pushed to your limit and then just a little more.
I am so going to look for Des at the  track next time and I will stay with her until I can do it as easily as she does….sorry Des 

Jess finished the camp off with transition and nutrition tips and I went off home, feeling tired, but so motivated.
This was the best weekend I could ever have done in order to get to know the triathlon community, get to know my own abilities and weaknesses, and just know that this is a  sport that I can do.
What did I learn????

My swim is okay, my bike is good and I can run with Des…I’m going to be just fine.

To those who decided not join us, for whatever reason, I can tell you that you absolutely missed out.
Look out for the next one, as it is so worth it and then so much more.
I also felt nervous about participating, but you’ll soon realize that the coaches are so helpful and eager to teach, that you will be too busy learning and training, you will forget about being nervous.

So that’s my story. 
By the way, look out for me on the road, I’m officially Trifactri’ s newest member.
You’ll soon see me talking about riding out to the dam and back !!

Oh,  and Des…….I’ll be waiting for you at the track.