TreX Victorian Champs Race Report: Belinda Hadden

Contributor: Belinda Hadden, Aloha Racing

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This weekend we loaded up the car, along with the Swiss Miss (Renata Bucher) and Tony and we headed on a road trip to Bendigo for the Victorian Cross Triathlon Championships.  In true adventure spirit Robyn and Simon from In2Adventure also made this a weekend to remember by throwing in the challenge of the dirt master/mistress.  To take bragging rights of this title one must complete the main triathlon event, a 15km trail run and a sprint distance triathlon over the course of the weekend, how could I resist!!!!

 

The main race was a solid context with a 2 lap swim (1.5km), 3 lap rocky, mountain bike course (30km) with enjoyable singl12313789_1640907776153979_7544150130334356083_ne track segments with some punchy climbs and 2 laps of extreme off road running through the scrub, over logs and river crossings (10km).   The new addition of the run course raised the bar to presenting athletes with some extreme off road challenges and overall this race was both tough and enjoyable.  It is always a treat to trace against Renata and Jacqui not only for their exceptional sportsmanship but because they are the best in the sport and I always take something and learn a little more from these two girls each time I race with them.  So to finish 3rd elite on the podium with them was a proud moment for me.  Thankfully these two champs are international athletes and as the first Aussie elite to cross the finish line I was able to become the Victorian Cross Triathlon Champion for 2015.

 

This was a positive step towards my goad for 2016 of earning a spot on the Australian team for the ITU Cross Triathlon World Champs in the Snowy Mountains next year.  Wearing the green and gold and representing the Aloha Racing Team in true Aloha spirit would be a special and rewarding moment for me.  Plenty of hard work ahead in the lead up to the TreX Aussie Cross Triathlon Champs in the Snowy Mountains in February next year.  See you all there!!!!  Back to the racing….

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That afternoon I raced the 15km trail run, 3 laps of the same challenging run course we raced on earlier in the morning.  I finished 5th female overall in the run and thoroughly enjoyed this run course again.  Keen to earn that dirt mistress title I lined up Sunday morning to race the sprint triathlon 400/14km/5km.  The legs were not impressed by this stage and although the distance was much shorter the pace was hard and fast.  In just over an hour the pain was over and I was so happy to have finished 3rd elite female again.  What a great weekend of racing.

 

Many thanks to Robyn and Simon and the In2Adventure crew for putting on another great event and inflicting plenty of pain on the athletes!!! ??

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