Victoria’s Sprint Duathlon – 2013

Victoria’s Sprint Duathlon (4-30-4)

May 20^th, 2013.

The Victoria Sprint Duathlon would be my first ever ‘intentional’ Duathlon event (2012 Wasaga Olympic Triathlon was turned into a duathlon due to horrendous rain and wind conditions). The event is part of the Subaru Triathlon Series and is their season opener. It is held just outside of the Laurel Creek Conservation Area in Waterloo, Ontario. Creekside Church is the host site for the race and boasts a great indoor facility for race registration, sponsor kiosks and awards ceremony.

The race consists of a 4km run, 30km bike and another 4km run. The first wave began at 10am with each subsequent wave going out in 3 minute intervals. I began in the second wave of the day. The weather was beautiful at race start, clear skies, cool morning, you couldn’t have asked for better. The run consisted of a simple out and back. Heading out of Creekside Church turning East on Conservation Drive you encounter the first hill of the run section before turning south onto Beaver Creek Road. Just as you pass the bridge traversing Laurel Creek Reservoir you make the turn and head back to Creekside Church. I completed the first 4km run section in 17:35, I was happy with how I was feeling, energy levels were high!

The bike course is also a simple out and back style. Taking Erbsville Road to Kressler Road North you encounter the first of many reasonably sized hills. The majority of the bike course is spent on Hessen Strasse road, which consists primarily of consistently rolling hills. There were no major hills, but it seemed these were enough to keep you constantly in your gears, struggling to find a consistent rhythm. There were plenty of Mennonite spectators sitting on their property fence lines cheering us on, it made for a welcoming atmosphere. I completed the 30km bike section in a reasonable 1:02:52, I was happy with the time given the consistent hills encountered, but found that the bike section was very draining on my energy levels.

Another quick transition and I headed out on the same 4km out-and-back course as before. It was now approximately 11:23 am and the wonderful cool morning had turned into a bit of a ‘scorcher’. The heat and humidity were rising quickly and it was noticeable in everyone’s energy levels. I managed to set a good pace on my final run section and was able to finish the second run in 20:13. I had hoped for more on my final run, but the hills, heat and humidity had other plans. My finishing time was 1:42:58 and represents a baseline for my future duathlon events.

As always the organisation, course marshaling, transition area, and volunteers were great! It was great to see so many Running Free athletes at the event all pulling for one another, it really gave me a psychological lift!