Race 4 - Sandy Edition

Race #4 of the 2XU Triathlon Series delivered an unforgettable day at Sandringham, testing athletes with its challenging course and unpredictable conditions. Known as a venue that keeps competitors honest, Sandringham didn’t disappoint – and with this race doubling as an official AusTriathlon Age Group Team Qualifying Race for the 2025 Wollongong World Triathlon Championships, the stakes were high.

With a full schedule of events, from the Kids Tri to the Fun, Sprint, Olympic, and Aquabike races, there was something for everyone. Some of these even sold out, proving just how popular this race is on the calendar. But while the competition was fierce, Mother Nature had plans of her own...

Race morning threw a curveball, with unexpectedly strong winds catching many off guard. Not in 30 years of events has Ollie seen a weekend where our marquees were completely destroyed! Cement blocks designed to hold them down weren’t enough to stop the wind from turning them into kites, leading to a 4:30am on-site cleanup and the tough decision to salvage what we could and pack down before the sun came up.

The course itself was no easy feat:

• Swim: Choppy, unpredictable waves and strong currents led to many swimmers struggling to stay on course, with more than a few gulping down water along the way.
• Bike: A brutal ride where athletes were thrown around by the wind, forcing most to stay off their tri bars. But at least the return leg was lightning fast with a massive tailwind pushing riders home.
• Run: A true test of resilience, featuring tailwinds, headwinds, and gusts from all angles (fart jokes encouraged).

The Kids Race was unfortunately cancelled due to the conditions, and some competitors chose to opt out altogether. But for those who did take on the challenge and cross the finish line – your effort deserves an extra round of applause!

Top Finishers

Let’s give a huge shoutout to those who finished in the top 10 across each race distance.

Sprint Distance (750m/20km/5km)

🏆 1st Place: Jules, Michael
🥈 2nd Place: Doug, Andrea, Narelle
🥉 3rd Place: Johnny, Brona, Sue, Tanya
Top 10 Finishers: Mario, Luca, Ally, Emma, Janine

Olympic Distance (1.5km/40km/10km)

🥈 2nd Place: Tegan
🥉 3rd Place: Angus
Top 10 Finishers: Paul, Dicko

Olympic Distance (1.5km/40km/10km)
🥈 2nd Place: Anto

Fun Tri (250m/8km/3km)
🥈 2nd Place: James
🥉 3rd Place: Erin, Maria
Top 10 Finishers: Natalie, Jen

Sandringham threw everything at us – the wind, the waves, the hills – but the Tri-Alliance squad stood strong. A massive congratulations to everyone who braved the elements and finished what was undoubtedly one of the toughest races of the season so far.

As we recover from the chaos (and maybe invest in some new marquees), let’s look ahead to Race #5 and cross our fingers for a calm one!

A Massive Thank You to Our Community

Race morning at Sandringham was one for the books - and not in the way we expected! The forecast had us prepping for rain, but what we got instead was an absolute masterclass in wind. Not just strong gusts, but relentless, unpredictable, tent-lifting, marquee-mangling chaos. In 30 years of events, Ollie has never seen a weekend where our marquees were destroyed beyond repair! Cement blocks? Useless. Tents? Gone with the wind (literally). The 4:30am onsite clean-up began, and for safety reasons, we had to go without any tents at all.

In moments like these, the true spirit of the TA squad shines. A huge thank you to everyone who jumped in without hesitation when things were looking a little… well, dire. No one stood out more than Alissa, who was absolutely instrumental in helping secure what we could of the TA tent and infrastructure. A massive shout-out to Les for his expert hands and problem-solving under pressure.

The O2 Events team and Technical Officials (including Pammy, Sammy, Greg, Simon, Brian, etc) were also on deck early and played a crucial role in helping to secure TriShop tents and merchandise - thank you for your extra set of hands! Big thanks to Andy and Jo for assisting with this as well.

As the morning unfolded, countless squad members stepped in to keep things running smoothly. Jimmy, your work helping Ollie dismantle what was left of our marquees was invaluable. And a special mention to Andrea, Mario, Holly, Tanya and the usual suspects who made sure the trailer pack was sorted.

To those who helped but may not be named here - we see you, we appreciate you, and we couldn’t have done it without you. It was a chaotic morning, and if we’ve missed anyone, please consider this a forward apology!

These race weekends don’t happen without the effort of the entire squad. Whether you’re racing, spectating, or just stopping by, your help makes a world of difference. Let’s bring that same squad spirit into Race #5 - hopefully with a little less wind and a few more tents! 💙💛

MSAC Pool Closures & What It Means for Our Squad

We wanted to take a moment to share some important updates regarding the upcoming maintenance at MSAC that will impact our squad swims in the coming months. If you haven’t already heard, MSAC will be closing both its 50m outdoor competition pool and multipurpose pool for essential maintenance starting April 1st.

• Outdoor pool closed: April – August
• Multipurpose pool closed: April – May

These works are vital to ensuring MSAC remains one of the premier swimming facilities in Melbourne, with upgraded flooring and waterproofing to improve accessibility and longevity.

What This Means for Our Squad

We know this isn’t the news anyone wanted to hear, and we understand it will cause disruptions to training. But after thorough research and careful consideration, we’ve made the decision not to move squad swims to an alternative venue during this closure.

We explored several options, but unfortunately, the only available pools offered limited 25m lanes at significantly higher costs—meaning an additional $20 per week on top of current membership fees. With cost-of-living pressures already front of mind, we do not believe this is a viable or fair option for our squad.

Membership Adjustments & Training Plan

Since we won’t have consistent access to squad swims during this period, we are recommending all athletes adjust their membership to a "without swim" option. This way, you won’t be paying for a service we can’t reliably provide.

However, swimming will remain a critical part of your training plan. Your programs will still include swim sets, and we strongly encourage you to complete them at your own convenience—covering the necessary distances, technique work, and race-specific preparation to keep progressing toward your goals.

Once the initial phase of MSAC’s project is complete, we will regain some access to lane hire, but this will be intermittent, and we’ll communicate those updates as they come.

Why We’re Sticking With MSAC

Tri-Alliance has had a long-standing partnership with MSAC, and we value this relationship immensely. They will be looking after us as best they can, and when the works are complete, we’ll have access to an improved, high-quality facility. Most importantly, our loyalty and partnership mean we will receive priority access once everything is back up and running.

We Understand This Will Be Frustrating

We know this is not ideal. We know it will be inconvenient. And we know not everyone is going to like it. For that, we truly apologise. We are making this decision with informed knowledge and the best interests of the squad in mind.

If you have any questions, concerns, or would like to discuss your options, please reach out to Ollie. We will continue to update you through the newsletter each week as we learn more about session availability.

Thank you for your understanding and support 💙💛

Staying Balanced After the Build Weeks

We’ve just wrapped up two solid build weeks, and if you've raced over the past couple of weeks, you might still be feeling a bit drained. That’s why Recovery Week isn’t just about backing off the workload - it’s also a prime time to dial in your nutrition and hydration. After all, nothing derails progress faster than running on empty.

First, think about quality over quantity when it comes to food. Lean proteins, whole grains, and plenty of fruits and veggies will help your body bounce back. Try sneaking in extra greens (spinach, broccoli, kale) to replenish key vitamins and minerals lost during tough sessions.

Next, hydrate smart. We’re still in the thick of summer, and even if you’re not pushing as hard this week, the heat can sneak up on you. Spread your water intake throughout the day instead of chugging right before or after a session. If you’re noticing a lot of sweat or cramping, consider adding electrolytes.

Lastly, a gentle reminder: less training doesn’t mean more junk food. Sure, you can enjoy the occasional treat (balance is key) but overdoing it on sweets or fast food will only make your next build block harder. Treat your body like it’s gearing up for the next race, because it is.

Use this lighter week to fine-tune your diet, listen to your hunger cues, and reestablish healthy habits. When the next training block hits, you’ll be fuelled, refreshed, and ready to roll.