A Tropical GetawayLocated on the east coast of Malaysia, the beach town of Desaru has long been an easily accessible getaway for vacationers living in Malaysia and Singapore. This tropical race features clear ocean waters, a smooth, undulating bike course, and shaded run. The race will with a 1.9 kilometre …
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A Tropical Getaway
Located on the east coast of Malaysia, the beach town of Desaru has long been an easily accessible getaway for vacationers living in Malaysia and Singapore. This tropical race features clear ocean waters, a smooth, undulating bike course, and shaded run.
The race will with a 1.9 kilometre swim on the beachfront of The Westin Desaru Coast Resort. Athletes will swim one lap in a clockwise direction under a rolling process. The swim will be a non-wetsuit swim with the water temperature hovering around 28C – 29C.
The 2 loop, undulating bike course will head out towards Desaru Coast Riverside and then turn right at Jalan Kampung Punggol to cycle straight through the Penawar Roundabout. At the Tanjung Balau roundabout, athletes will turn left into Jalan Ladang Siang through a beautiful canopy of trees before u-turning to head back towards the roundabout and left towards Sedili Kecil. From the far turnaround point at the northern end of the bike course, athletes will head back to the Tanjung Balau roundabout which will signify the lap turnaround point to their 2nd lap. At the end of the 2nd lap, athletes will head straight (instead of turning right) through the Penawar Roundabout and turn left into Jalan Desaru to return to transition.
The mostly flat 3 loop run course will circle around the perimeter of the The Els Club Desaru Coast – Ocean Course, offering some welcome shade in places. The lap turnaround point will be located outside the transition area at the beachfront of The Westin Desaru Coast Resort, where athletes will eventually finish their IRONMAN 70.3 journey.
Swim: OCEAN
Bike: ROLLING
Run: FLAT
Avg Air Temp: 82° F / 28° C
Avg Water Temp: 82° F / 28° C
Airport: JHB
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Those monkeys!
I did this race in 2003 when it was called the "Desaru International Long Distance Triathlon". It was in Desaru - Johor - Malaysia. I had to be in Singapore … MORE
I did this race in 2003 when it was called the “Desaru International Long Distance Triathlon”. It was in Desaru – Johor – Malaysia. I had to be in Singapore for work and ended up meeting a co-worker and friends and we traveled over the causeway to Malaysia.
I was concerned as I threw out my back – severely – about a month before. I couldn’t walk let alone swim, bike, or run. But I tried it anyway.
I got to Singapore and, of course as I was on business I didn’t have my tri bike with me. But my friends loaned me one. It was my carbon fiber Kestrel, but I was just happy to have one.
We went to the main hotel where the race headquarters were held: Desaru Golden Beach Resort. We checked in and had a bite to eat. As I was walking to my room, my foot went into a small hole and my back spasmed again. This was going to be a tough race.
The swim started in the South China Sea. The water route was marked with floating buoys but they kind of blended in with the water a bit – especially between swells when they were in the troughs. But I managed to finish the swim (probably around mid-pack).
Got out of the sea and rinsed the salt water off the off to teh bike. I was going pretty well for a w while, but it started getting more difficult. More than half-way through I glanced at the rear wheel and noticed the quick-release had come loose and the wheel was rubbing on the bike frame. I fixed this and continued the ride. It was interesting see monkeys all around the course – especially at water bottle stations. The monkeys appeared to enjoy stealing the water bottles and running away with them.
At the end of the bike leg, I transitioned to the run. The run is my specialty and where I usually make up spots in triathlons. But with my bum back and struggling with that rear wheel, I decided to just do my best and finish.
Finish I did. I was very pleased with completing my first Asia race – especially a half-Ironman distance triathlon at that.