The Great White North Triathlon - Triathlon1/2 Ironman


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Stony Plain, Alberta
Canada
The Great White North Triathlon
17C / 63F
Overcast
Total Time = 5h 27m 28s
Overall Rank = 236/646
Age Group = 35-39
Age Group Rank = 68/109
Pre-race routine:

Oh where to begin.... I got up to Stony Plain on Friday late afternoon. I drove the bike course and it looked to be relatively flat with the exception of the big hill into the river bottom, which we had to do twice as it was just before the turnaround point. Met up with the group for the carbo-load dinner. Sat with the team, and had a great time eating and chatting with everyone. This was my first real race hanging with ‘the team.’ After dinner, headed back into Edmonton to my sister’s place where I stayed up a wee bit too late. Saturday consisted of a great warmup swim/bike/run in the murky, smelly waters of Hubble Lake. The wind storm blowing in really helped calm the nerves. Lonestar 70.3 in April was my only other half so far. I had a race plan set a month in advance for that. I knew exactly what I was going to do and when. If you asked me during the week what time GWN started I had to no idea. I didn’t really feel prepared for it. Physically, I didn’t think I was as ready for it as Texas, and mentally I didn’t think I was there. After Chinook Oly 2 weeks ago, I was worried about the run after getting off the bike. So my only plan for this race was to take it easy on the bike. Well that didn’t happen of course.
Saturday afternoon consisted of alot of bumming around the campgrounds and searching for a Trevor-size jersey to wear. Got checked into the hotel too late in the afternoon, so I missed out on a super dinner with a couple teammates. I ended up eating a great prerace dinner – 2 junior roast beef sandwiches from Arby’s and some M&M’s. But I did have some Gatorade to wash it down.

Event warmup:

splashed around, and got ready among the masses
Swim
  • 37m 15s
  • 2000 meters
  • 01m 52s / 100 meters
Comments:

mass start in a tiny corral meant I didn’t get in the water for 30 seconds. I was about middle of the pack. Was quite a bit of contact on the way out to the first buoy. I got my first ever kick in the goggles. But I held my own. Got out the water for the first loop at 18:30! I don’t think I’ve ever swam 1k in 18minutes. Swam the second loop relatively strong, and got out of the water side by side with a teammate. Very happy with the swim
What would you do differently?:

not much. Maybe start further ahead in the pack?
Transition 1
  • 02m 35s
Comments:

Short run out of water to the nice stripper then socks,shoes, armwarmers, sunglasses, race belt – out!
What would you do differently?:

maybe learn to mount my bike better.
Bike
  • 2h 37m 58s
  • 90 kms
  • 34.18 km/hr
Comments:

felt really strong here. Passed a few people early on the bike. Was really tight on the road with this many people leaving at the same time. There were a few times that I got passed by what felt like 10 people at a time. Hit the big hill close to the turnaround point and tried to spin my way up it. Hit the turnaround point, and then it was back down and up the hill. The rest of the bike felt like cruise control. We had a bit of wind out there, but it wasn’t too significant. I was moving on the bike. The last 20k or so, I was passing alot of people. I looked at my time, and I was getting a bit worried that I may have hit the bike to hard. I caught up to a few guys I knew were strong bikers and thought I may be in trouble on the run! Was nice to see all the support on the bike from the volunteers and spectators.
What would you do differently?:

Not sure. if i took it easier could i have run better maybe?
Transition 2
  • 01m 22s
Comments:

boom!! Dismount volunteers took me to my rack. We had 2 different transition areas.
Shoes, visor, go run
What would you do differently?:

nadda.
Run
  • 2h 08m 19s
  • 21 kms
  • 06m 07s  min/km
Comments:

Is there where it was going to fall apart? I needed to run the ½ in about 2:40 to break 6 hrs! Unless my legs broke off, I was going to do this. Had planned on 3 gels on the run, 5k,10k 15k and then the rest I would go by feel. I came out of transition like a rocket, but then realized I can’t do that. Even though it felt great, I knew I would pay for it later on. So I slowed my pace to what felt comfortable.Got some light rain before I hit the turnaround, but I was feeling good. Wind in our face on the way back didn’t help. But after the turnaround is when I got to see most of my teammates. That totally kept me pushing. 4k from the finsh I saw 2 guys from the team. Thought maybe I could run them down. Umm no. But this guy asked me what time I had(dude didn’t have a watch? How do your race naked like that?) I told him and we both said if we can run these last 4k in under 25 minutes we could break 5:30?? 5:30 are you kidding me. So we pushed each other pretty good over those last few kms. Another teammate came running and I tried to run with her, but ya that wasn’t going to happen. For the first time in a race I dry-heaved. Yes me. If I had something in there it would have come out. I wasn’t feeling so hot, but damnit I was breaking 5:30. Came around the 2nd last corner and saw the team tent and everyone cheering- I couldn’t stop. Then my coach is standing on the corner yelling “ 6 hours??” And something else. I couldn’t hear. I was just praying that finish line was around the corner. And sure enough it was. I sprinted through it. I bent over as soon as I crossed. The finish line guy was trying to put the medal around my neck, and I really truly thought I was going to puke right there. I walked out of the finish area and went for a little walk by myself. I honestly did not know what to do. Or think. I broke 5:30. Damnit I broke 5:28 even. That wasn’t even a thought at the start of the day. My goal was 6 hrs. I spent a few minutes reflecting before I went to the tent and got some congrats and gave some congrats and watched other come in. What an inspiring day.
What would you do differently?:

not one friggin' thing.
Post race
Warm down:

Got congrats. Gave congrats. drove home to the family an hour after.

What limited your ability to perform faster:

My run still. But i nailed it today. My run didn't suffer due to my bike.

Event comments:

Will totally be back next year. great fast course. Lost of volunteers and the town really gets behind this race.




Last updated: 2009-09-16 12:00 AM
Swimming
00:37:15 | 2000 meters | 01m 52s / 100meters
Age Group: 0/109
Overall: 206/646
Performance: Good
Suit: nineteen
Course: 400m turn, 200m turn, 400m back, repeat
Start type: Plus: Shot
Water temp: 18C / 64F Current: Low
200M Perf. Remainder:
Breathing: Drafting:
Waves: Navigation:
Rounding:
T1
Time: 02:35
Performance: Good
Cap removal: Good Helmet on/
Suit off:
Wetsuit stuck? Run with bike:
Jump on bike:
Getting up to speed:
Biking
02:37:58 | 90 kms | 34.18 km/hr
Age Group: 0/109
Overall: 137/646
Performance: Good
Wind: Some
Course: out and back. One reasonable hill near the turn around.
Road:   Cadence:
Turns: Cornering:
Gear changes: Hills:
Race pace: Drinks:
T2
Time: 01:22
Overall: Good
Riding w/ feet on shoes
Jumping off bike
Running with bike
Racking bike
Shoe and helmet removal
Running
02:08:19 | 21 kms | 06m 07s  min/km
Age Group: 0/109
Overall: 345/646
Performance: Good
Course: out and back. pretty flat
Keeping cool Good Drinking Just right
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall:
Mental exertion [1-5]
Physical exertion [1-5]
Good race?
Evaluation
Course challenge Just right
Organized? Yes
Events on-time? Yes
Lots of volunteers? Yes
Plenty of drinks? Yes
Post race activities: Good
Race evaluation [1-5] 5