www.multisportcanada.com
Distance: Swim: 1.5k Bike: 40k Run: 10k
My friend asked me to do this race with her, as a prep for the Bracebridge Half Ironman. We figured that it would be a hilly ride & a hilly run, which would be a good brick workout. Also was the attraction of the Steamship start for the swim.
We got to the race just after 7:00. The race was starting at 8:45, but we had been told we had to be on the steamship by 8:00 for the ride out to the start. Got everything set up in transition. Weather had called for hot & humid, so had prepared extra drinks for the run & wanted to see how I felt carrying my fuel belt as a trial run for Bracebridge. We headed down to the water to check out the steamships. The under 39 men & relays got on the smaller steamship & everyone else got on the larger steamship.
Swim: We got dropped out in the water & then swam back into shore along an L shape course. The first wave of under 39 men got dropped off very close to the start line. Once at the start line you were to wait for the steamship whistle to blow for the start. Our steamship seemed to be very far away from the start line, I thought at least 200 meters. Each wave of swimmers jumped off in pairs & swam to the start line, then treaded water waiting for the steamship whistle to blow. I was in the last wave of swimmers, so I watched alot of people jump off the steamship. It was my turn to go & I thought I wouldn’t be able to jump. I felt almost sick just looking down into the water. I asked if there was a ladder, but no, I had to jump. How come the young guys got to jump off the smaller steamship? I finally jumped in & made my way over to the start line. Boy, it was a long way to swim, just to get to the start. Made it to the start line & checked my watch. Less then 2 minutes to the start. I looked back to see more then half of my wave still swimming towards the start line. I started treading water & waited & waited. We kept getting blown out away from the start line. Still everyone had not reached the starting line. We started more then 2 minutes late. Finally the steamship whistle goes & we are off. Found out very quickly that I would not be able to breathe towards the buoys, because I kept swallowing water. I guess I will just have to sight more often. Swam the 500 meters across & made the turn towards shore. I could not for the life of me, see the buoy along the shore. Hopefully, everyone in front of me, is swimming in a straight line. Finally made it to the dock & you had to exit the water up wooden stairs. 2 guys helped you up the stairs because there were no railings to hang on to. Up onto the dock & then a left to run the rest of the dock up to the road. We were told to be careful, because the dock was now very slippery, being covered in water from all the other swimmers. Another long run up to transition, along the dock, across the road, along the side of transition & then in to our bikes. Time 35:19, about 5 minutes slower then I expected.
Bike: Got onto my bike & started out up a hill. I felt a couple of drops of water & thought that my hair was dripping. Got to about 2k & it started raining. They had told us that 4k-7k was some rough road so to be careful. By the time I got here, it was pouring down rain. I could barely see through my glasses, but could see lots of water bottles on the road. This road was really rough, & I found it difficult to just hang on with the rain pelting down. Got to the turnaround at 7k & couldn’t see the road for all the water & mud. Touched down to make sure I made the turn & then headed the 3k back on the same rough road. I was finally glad to make it back to the main road & debated on whether or not to take off my glasses. I felt that things were just a bit crisper with them on, so decided to just keep plugging along. They had said that it would be one of the most scenic rides & it certainly was, from what I could see. Lots of hills & windy roads. There was lots of water on the road, so decided that I would be safe & slow down on the downhill corners. Got to the second turnaround & had to touch down again, because the woman 2 ahead of me had fallen off & was still trying to get up out of the mud. I kept thinking that I had to ride all the hills I had just ridden & was glad that the rain had slowed down. Hit the 3rd turnaround & was finally able to make the turnaround without touching down. Finally headed back to transition & my husband told me that my friend was about 10 minutes ahead. She had started at least 8 minutes ahead at the start, so I had a lot of work to do to try to catch her. Time 1:23:59
Run: Got into transition to put on my soggy shoes. Who knew they could hold so much water? Put on my fuel belt & out I went. I knew that it would be tough run for me. It was very hilly & I felt tired. My goal was to not walk on the run, so I put one foot in front of the other & got going. I got to 4k & saw my friend on her way back at 6k. Told her she was running well, & continued on up & down the hills. Was thankful to see the turnaround & headed back. I desperately wanted to walk & was dragging my feet. I came up behind a 27yr old woman & she turned around & said “I really hate to say this, but you need to pick up your feet.” I told her that these old legs were just too tired to pick my feet up. I really wanted to say that I was tired from making up the 8 minutes that I started behind her, but I bit my tongue. I knew my feet were dragging. I kept looking for my friend & wondered why I had not yet caught her. I knew that she had been working on her running, but where was she? I wanted to walk, but I had not caught her yet. Finally, I see her ahead. I pass her after 9k & cheer her on as we push on into the finish. Time 57:36 Not a great run time, but good, considering how tired I felt.
Overall: 3:00:23 Not great, but I had gone into the race telling my husband 3 hours, so I was close.
This was a beautiful venue & it would have been a great day without the rain. I finished 3/13, so still made it to the podium.
Also finishing 1st in their age groups were Angus Kim & Scott Robinson. Good race guys!
Congrats Karen on a podium on a really tough day.