Race: Bracebridge Half Iron Triathlon
Date: Sunday August 9, 2009.
Location: Annie Williams Park – Bracebridge, Ontario
Description: 2 km swim, 90 km bike, 21.1 km run
Sport: Triathlon
Website: www.hsbctriathlon.com
There are two ways to deal with a flat:
1. Pull a Normann Stadler – chuck your bike 20 feet and cry at the side of the road.
2. Pull over, put in a new tube, pump it up, and finish what you started.
I opted for option two at this race. However, the problem was I had to do it three times, finally calling an end to my day after discovering my tire was sliced up in four different places after flat number three. My first legit DNF (the other happened at a race where me and a bunch of other racers got lost on a poorly marked run course-we decided not to continue)
Let me discuss what went well and offer some impressions and advice for those considering doing this race.
I wanted to do the swim in 37-40 minutes so my swim seemed slow at first (42-43 min) but the river does have a current so all things considered, not so bad after all. Plus, I was amazed that I was ahead of some of my Markham Masters pals who are faster than me in the pool. Tip for the swim: If you can find some feet to swim on when heading back upstream then do so. It will surely make going against the current a much easier task. I found someone but he kept zig zagging all over the place. I decided to swim a shorter distance and battle the current myself.
The bike is challenging for sure. I was on pace to do 2:50 (plus or minus 2 minutes but we know what happened). There are lots of rollers, long steady grades, etc. So you better get in a lot of hill training or else you will be in for a big surprise, a lot of pain, a long day and a less than enjoyable run. You should also inspect your equipment (I did but I guess it was just my day for flatting), have some spare tubes, and ensure your nutrition is secure. Some of the terrain is rough (winter frost damage) and many racers were losing their bottles (including me but I went back to get it – something everyone is supposed to do by the way because it is a rule violation for littering), gels, sandwiches, etc.
Despite the hilly terrain, you can move fairly quickly on this course. But how hard you push on the bike will likely come back to haunt you on the run (which is also hilly – told to me by several racers since I did not get out there myself). For anyone racing Ironman Wisconsin, this type of course is a perfect type of course to test yourself on. For a bit of perspective of what the top pros do, Tyler Lord, the overall winner, averaged 284 watts for the entire course. Fairly incredible considering the terrain, heavy rain, and the fact that he considered this a steady maintainable pace for him to get off the bike and run at a good pace.
Now for the thank you shout outs. Thanks to Wayne, the spectator who saw me at the 80km mark (my last flat) and drove my sweaty carcass back to the race site. Thanks to all of the athletes who offered help and inquired if I was ok. Virtually every single person who came by me offered help and that is one of the unique qualities about racing in the family and community atmosphere of HSBC series. Thanks to Ian Dawes of the Ecclestone Cycle Company of Bracebridge (http://www.ecclestonecycle.com/index.htm). As the owner of the shop, he was out on the course as tech support and used up two tubes on me to get me back in the race. I will have to pay his shop a visit someday to show my gratitude. And a final thanks to John Salt and crew for putting on another kick butt race. The course kicked me and everyone else around but it hurt so good, at least for the time I managed to be on it.
Congrats to all Team RF members, I could be wrong but all were age group winners. Mark Cairns, Karen Gamble, Peter Geering, and Landon French. Apologies if I missed anyone. See you at Toronto Island next weekend. Redemption time for me I hope.
By the way, it takes about 1 hr 50 min to get to race from Markham. I took the eastern route around Lake Simcoe. Up Hwy 48, to Hwy 12, to 169 and to 11.
Hey Roger,
Nice try, but I did beat you out of the pool by a minute. Maybe you should have drafted off my feet! Someone was on them for the whole second loop, & I thought that it might be you. Too bad about the bike. Good Luck in your next race.
Karen
I wish I could have drafted you. And yes, it should be “some” of my MMSC members (missed it when writing this version). No slight intended. You guys are still way faster than me in the water. I was shocked to be ahead of anyone. For a while I thought I was swimming with Clare. I thought I may have been close to you too. Hard to determine though. Congrats on your great race.
Dude, apparently bracebridge was not kind to RF ers. I had my first dnf on sat in the sprint. Flatted as well. Although I had the wrong tube (without the extended valve).
I was wondering what happened to you when I saw the results. It certainly sucks to lose the chance do the whole race. I felt so helpless but surprisingly calm. Good luck in your next race.