For starters, I almost didn't get to race but my good friend Meyrick worked his magic and got us both in (he was a late registration too). Its good to know Meyrick, not only for getting me late entry into races, but he's very good at motivating people.
Stacey, the kids, and I, spent most of the week in Salmon Arm with my parents and celebrated Taggy's 7th birthday at a fun park in Scotch Creek. I had not been there in at least 15 years and it has changed a lot. So, I trained, did a little water sliding, a little lake swimming, and had a few cold beers between Tuesday and Friday.
On Saturday AM, we got up early, sent the kids out fishing with Grandpa, and set out for Kelowna, a mere 90km away (or maybe 100km, I don't recall). After stopping in Vernon and eating at one of the worst choices for restaurants we could find (The Pantry), we made it to our destination. I had forgotten to look up the details of the check in etc and we had to wait a couple of hours before packet pick up was open. In the meantime, I rode part of the course with Meyrick, Ashley, and Chelsea, some Innovative Fitness athletes from Vancouver. About 4 km into the lap, Meyrick blew a tire. I'm talking a huge gaping hole in the sidewall of his spendy Specialized tire as well. Of course, a little flat turned out to be an ordeal as Meyrick had misplaced the extender for the valve, a very critical component for the type of rims he has. Thankfully, Ashley had a patch kit, something I haven't carried for years (but will start), and he patched the tube and the tire. It took three times but he finally got it right.
We finished the bike course, got to packet pick up, got our stuff, and Stacey and I went to our host's house. Marni was a professional cyclist for years and I worked with her team last year. She retired this season but her and her boyfriend, Corey, are part of Total Restoration Cycling. Actually, Corey is the director for the team. They usually do local BC races but have come to the Pacific NW for some as well. Their garage makes mine look empty, of bikes that is.
We got settled then went out to eat at the Pheasant and Quail, a little pub near the lake. After that, I dropped my bike off at the TZ and we went back to our house for a rest. It was very strange to have the quiet. No dogs, no kids, just us, our books, and a fan.
Had some pasta for dinner at Mama Rosa's then back to prep my bottles for race day. I tried to go to sleep at 10pm but it was hot and the fan we had in the room didn't seem to work all that well.
Had some pasta for dinner at Mama Rosa's then back to prep my bottles for race day. I tried to go to sleep at 10pm but it was hot and the fan we had in the room didn't seem to work all that well.
Alarm went off at 5am, I drank my usual 700 or so calories and ate a banana. I didn't have my usual race day GI upset which was strange. I was very relaxed for this race I guess.
Got to the TZ around 6:15am, stood in line for about 15 minutes to get body marked, then set out my gear. The TZ for the paratriathletes is separate from all the other athletes. I kind of like this and kind of don't. I like that we have so much room and we get chairs and helpers, I don't like that we stand out I suppose is the easiest way to describe it.
Anyway, our coordinator, Tabitha, met us in the TZ and she explained the Tri Canada rules to Stacey regarding what she can do for me. Mainly I wanted her there to help me on the boardwalk so I don't fall down like I did last year but she was told she could help me on the entire run and help me pull my wetsuit off, pretty sweet deal as that part can sometimes give me troubles.
We were off at 740am. The water was perfect for a short sleeve but the wind was about 20kph at least which made for a choppy swim. The course was two laps of 750m. Last year I did it in 26 and change, this year, 31 min. I didn't think I was that much slower but then again, last year i was swimming a lot more in preparation for Ironman Canada. I swallowed a lot of water and got swam over a few times after some of the age groupers caught up with us but I survived.
T1 was pretty typical except I didn't have trouble getting my wetsuit off since Stacey helped pull it off. I think it was almost exactly the same as last year, around 3 minutes.
Unlike at XTERRA the week before, I felt great when I first got on the bike. Right as I got into aero position, I passed Marni and Corey and it was great to hear them cheering for me. Around 1km into it, you hit Knox Mountain. Its not that steep but its challenging. I think its a little less than 750m long around 6-7% grade but I could be wrong. This year they had timing mats on the hill to stop cheaters I guess. I had a few people pass me on the hill but I passed my share of the sprint racers that had started around 25 minutes before us. I don't care that they were on MTB's, I passed someone dammit!!
The bike course was the same as last year and on each successive lap, the wind gradually died down and I made around the same time for each lap. I was aiming for 25 min or less and I got 25:20, 25:15, and 25:04, for a faster bike split than last year. I ave 31.2 kph, almost 1k faster/hr than last year. Marni and Corey were on Knox Mountain for my last lap, the cocky kids had ridden their cruiser bikes up the hill. I would be lucky to get half way up to where they were but anyway, it was very cool again to have someone cheer me on personally.
T2 was faster than last year and I had motivation this year. Stacey was running with me. We had talked the day before about my run strategy and discussed run/walking. I wanted to run the first 20-25 min then walk if I needed it. She pointed out all the obstacles and although I already saw most of them, I appreciated the heads up. Just before we got to the board walk where I fell the year before, there was a ramp which Stacey said she would run around it, making a joke about not wanting to be on it at the same time as me (guess it didn't look stable), and she almost bit it, catching her toe on the lip of the stair. Being a good husband, I didn't laugh...hard.
We got to the board walk and I grabbed her left arm. I guess people must have thought I was blind, they cheered our "team" a little more than the other athletes. I hope I was inspiring to them regardless. I ran around 37 minutes for that lap, felt pretty good. We ran past the transition area and back on the course for lap 2.
Around 1.5 km into it, we started walking and some guy from behind us, asked if we were both in the race. I said I was and Stacey was my helper. He said she couldn't do that and I would be disqualified. As he passed us, I said, yes she could, he said no you cant, its against the rules, and to this Stacey held up the badge she was given and yelled, "Paratriathlete Assistant, YES I CAN!!". Of course, he kept running but he turned around and very sheepishly said sorry. I wanted to run after him and call him a few names and tell him to mind his own freaking business but I was polite. It did however give me a little more energy to begin running again, sooner than I was planning.
Again on the boardwalk, I held onto her left arm, apparently I sweat all over it, and we made it to the finish area where I ran on my own across the line. Unlike last year, I didn't start to hyperventilate or become short of breath, I calmly walked straight out of the finishing chute across the the Athletes Village, and tore into a PBJ and a coke but not before giving my "handler" a big kiss and a thank you (had to do it before, shes allergic to peanut butter).
My run was almost 20 min faster than last year and I placed second behind Meyrick but since he is in a different category, I guess I won my division, Les Autre. My total time, 3:09....last year, 3:16. I'm hoping to break 3 hours next year. I couldn't stick around for awards which might have been a good thing because they couldn't find my results so I would have waited around for no medal or podium. They have the correct info now.
Its a fun race and I plan on doing it for as long as I can. I qualified again for World's in Hungary next year. Hope I can make that one. Right now, I have to concentrate on getting my MTB legs under me so the TT bike is put away until after XTERRA US Championships, Sept 26.
Got to the TZ around 6:15am, stood in line for about 15 minutes to get body marked, then set out my gear. The TZ for the paratriathletes is separate from all the other athletes. I kind of like this and kind of don't. I like that we have so much room and we get chairs and helpers, I don't like that we stand out I suppose is the easiest way to describe it.
Anyway, our coordinator, Tabitha, met us in the TZ and she explained the Tri Canada rules to Stacey regarding what she can do for me. Mainly I wanted her there to help me on the boardwalk so I don't fall down like I did last year but she was told she could help me on the entire run and help me pull my wetsuit off, pretty sweet deal as that part can sometimes give me troubles.
We were off at 740am. The water was perfect for a short sleeve but the wind was about 20kph at least which made for a choppy swim. The course was two laps of 750m. Last year I did it in 26 and change, this year, 31 min. I didn't think I was that much slower but then again, last year i was swimming a lot more in preparation for Ironman Canada. I swallowed a lot of water and got swam over a few times after some of the age groupers caught up with us but I survived.
T1 was pretty typical except I didn't have trouble getting my wetsuit off since Stacey helped pull it off. I think it was almost exactly the same as last year, around 3 minutes.
Unlike at XTERRA the week before, I felt great when I first got on the bike. Right as I got into aero position, I passed Marni and Corey and it was great to hear them cheering for me. Around 1km into it, you hit Knox Mountain. Its not that steep but its challenging. I think its a little less than 750m long around 6-7% grade but I could be wrong. This year they had timing mats on the hill to stop cheaters I guess. I had a few people pass me on the hill but I passed my share of the sprint racers that had started around 25 minutes before us. I don't care that they were on MTB's, I passed someone dammit!!
The bike course was the same as last year and on each successive lap, the wind gradually died down and I made around the same time for each lap. I was aiming for 25 min or less and I got 25:20, 25:15, and 25:04, for a faster bike split than last year. I ave 31.2 kph, almost 1k faster/hr than last year. Marni and Corey were on Knox Mountain for my last lap, the cocky kids had ridden their cruiser bikes up the hill. I would be lucky to get half way up to where they were but anyway, it was very cool again to have someone cheer me on personally.
T2 was faster than last year and I had motivation this year. Stacey was running with me. We had talked the day before about my run strategy and discussed run/walking. I wanted to run the first 20-25 min then walk if I needed it. She pointed out all the obstacles and although I already saw most of them, I appreciated the heads up. Just before we got to the board walk where I fell the year before, there was a ramp which Stacey said she would run around it, making a joke about not wanting to be on it at the same time as me (guess it didn't look stable), and she almost bit it, catching her toe on the lip of the stair. Being a good husband, I didn't laugh...hard.
We got to the board walk and I grabbed her left arm. I guess people must have thought I was blind, they cheered our "team" a little more than the other athletes. I hope I was inspiring to them regardless. I ran around 37 minutes for that lap, felt pretty good. We ran past the transition area and back on the course for lap 2.
Around 1.5 km into it, we started walking and some guy from behind us, asked if we were both in the race. I said I was and Stacey was my helper. He said she couldn't do that and I would be disqualified. As he passed us, I said, yes she could, he said no you cant, its against the rules, and to this Stacey held up the badge she was given and yelled, "Paratriathlete Assistant, YES I CAN!!". Of course, he kept running but he turned around and very sheepishly said sorry. I wanted to run after him and call him a few names and tell him to mind his own freaking business but I was polite. It did however give me a little more energy to begin running again, sooner than I was planning.
Again on the boardwalk, I held onto her left arm, apparently I sweat all over it, and we made it to the finish area where I ran on my own across the line. Unlike last year, I didn't start to hyperventilate or become short of breath, I calmly walked straight out of the finishing chute across the the Athletes Village, and tore into a PBJ and a coke but not before giving my "handler" a big kiss and a thank you (had to do it before, shes allergic to peanut butter).
My run was almost 20 min faster than last year and I placed second behind Meyrick but since he is in a different category, I guess I won my division, Les Autre. My total time, 3:09....last year, 3:16. I'm hoping to break 3 hours next year. I couldn't stick around for awards which might have been a good thing because they couldn't find my results so I would have waited around for no medal or podium. They have the correct info now.
Its a fun race and I plan on doing it for as long as I can. I qualified again for World's in Hungary next year. Hope I can make that one. Right now, I have to concentrate on getting my MTB legs under me so the TT bike is put away until after XTERRA US Championships, Sept 26.
1 comment:
Great race dude... as long as the times keep coming down you must be doing something right. Looking forward to the next one.
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