Vancouver Triathlon 2010 Race Report.

First, thank you to the volunteers, friends and family who braved the morning of cold, wet and windiness cheering and supporting us along the way. Sadly summer looks to be over!

Well, it was a tough day at the ‘office’, but I’ll get into that later….

The last time I raced the Vancouver Triathlon race was in 2004 and it was actually my very, very first triathlon race ever. It was a year or two after I finished swimming with UBC and it was during a phase where I wanted to do any sport I could because swimming didn’t really allow me to do that having to train ~20hrs a week on top of a full load of engineering classes.

Anyway, how hard could a ‘triathlon’ be? I swam for about 10 years, did a few Sun Runs, even a half marathon the year before and I commuted to my summer work regularly, which was about 15km that included going over Lions Gate Bridge!  So, I signed up for the 2004 Vancouver Triathlon Race, young and a little cocky thinking this’ll be ‘easy’ and now I can cross triathlons off my list of things to try!

Who knew that swimming in the ocean is way tougher than a pool (sadly I still really struggle with this J) and that lane ropes and a black line really helps swimming straight and allow for proper sharing etiquette.  I think I probably did as much breastroke as I did freestyle that day and looking at my split now, it was rough! But I survived and off onto the bike.

All I could remember on the bike was how many people complimented my bike (it was a vintage teal Bianchi with shifters on the downtube and all). It definitely wasn’t for my biking skills as who knew that the ‘hill’ on lions gate bridge is not really a hill, because the one in Stanley park was way tougher and doing it 4 times was hard!

However, I survived that as well and got onto the run thinking I’ve ran a half-marathon before which is double this distance so this should be fine, right?  Well, my legs were like lead and they did not want to run!  My only thought was, I can’t walk, there’s no way I’m walking I can’t wimp out and walk  … and to be honest I don’t remember if I did or not, but I finally ended the misery and finished.  I won’t even talk about my transitions then:

Anyway, as I finished I remembered seeing the sympathetic look on my parents face who were probably thinking, ‘well, she finished and survived at least … poor girl!’.

Despite barely surviving I remember just really enjoying that feeling when I crossed the line.  Something about pushing through when I didn’t think I could. Getting through the swim, bike and run felt like three cruel punishments in one, but I got through it and I liked it. I don’t know why but I did.  And for some reason I remember looking at the results and was somewhat satisfied as I was 31st/112. I was above average, but then I immediately looked at who was first place and wanted to be her.  I looked at her times and for some reason with some weird logic I thought I could do that.

Yes, I know I was 40min off her time, but like I said before for some reason I believed I could do that.  I remember telling my parents that one day I will win … and I could tell they were probably thinking ‘ok, good luck, she barely survived and this must just be just another crazy idea/phase Martina is in … it’ll pass’ but nodded like all supportive parents do!

Anyway, I looked at those results last night and smiled as I saw who the first place winner was … it was eventual 2008 Olympian Lauren Groves (now Lauren Campbell)! She went 2:13:08 … and Super mom Steph was 10th!

So, this time around I was going to do what seemed impossible 6 years ago and win… and I wanted to beat Lauren’s time, J I can’t help it I am competitive J

Anyway, soon into the race I realized that it wasn’t going to be easy! It was cold, wet and windy, and with a delay in the start, which is normally fine when its warm out, but made it a really, really cold and shivering wait when I was trying to be keen and actually braved the cold water to do a good warm up. Oh well, can’t get worse right?

Well, as I was running into the water I slipped on some rocks and got my feet cut up pretty bad on some shells and rocks, as did many others, and realized that it was not going to be very comfortable for the next 2 hrs. Other than that the swim was ok and I had a good start to the bike.  With not many others on the course it made it nice to get into somewhat a rhythm. The hill on the loop wasn’t so bad this time around as well.

I then I decided to hammer my last lap of the park.  Trying to avoid other riders and going a little too hard into a corner I skidded and bailed onto the pavement as the roads were pretty slippery and wet.

The funny thing (or I should say lucky, as I wasn’t hurt badly) was that my immediate first thought was thatI needed to get back on my bike and try not to lose too much time while struggling to get my chain back on my bike.  Eventually I did, and had to take a deep breath and do a quick check first ‘head ok, arms and hands ok, legs and feet ok, blood, not good, but hands and arm are not tingly so I’m probably ok. Bike ok, I think) and got back on the bike and didn’t look back.

Onto the run I heard the 2nd place women was fairly close, so I needed to run faster despite feeling quite stiff and cold! I tried my best and then my next thought was I need to go faster because I need to beat Lauren’s time, J It wasn’t pretty, but I finished and crossed the line 1st overall in a time of 2:12 … (that’s what Steve King said and that’s what the results they had there said, but I know it ain’t official until its on the internet …

I did it.  I knew I could do it. It’s been a tough road getting here, but I did it.

Moral of the story. Anything is possible. It ain’t going to be easy and sometimes it ain’t very pretty, but it is possible so go for it!

That was my last triathlon race of this year.  I decided to end my season earlier than anticipated (no Mexico for me this year) and go back to the drawing board and start getting ready for next year : )

Cheers!

Martina

So, what to write for this mornings race report?

It has been strange to contemplate doing this race. I almost never did an event as a participant it was always a race. Knowing that my run fitness was very weak, I had to approach this as a participant and do the best I can for my first one and enjoy the experience. Thanks to Coach Andrew for trying to teach me patience to learn how to swim and deal with injuries and other obstacles as they have arisen.

I was up at 1:00AM then again at 2:00AM. Went for a coffee, napped a bit more and was at the race course at around 5:00AM! Did get a great parking spot.

First a huge thanks to all the volunteers, it’s not easy standing there for hours in the rain. Thanks Mary for handling the tough bike mount area; this was a difficult job to ensure that people getting onto the bike course did not run into those coming down fast towards the turn and onto another loop. Don’t let her diminutive size fool you; she was in charge there!

Weather was ok, a bit drizzly at this point, but nothing difficult. Watching the Olympic distance race was quite funny. Due to low tides, it seems that those swimmers spent as much time walking as swimming. It was almost like a religious procession towards and around the turnaround buoy.

Before the swim, met Amy Saari Roth, who was a GREAT calming influence on me. Thanks Amy!

Our wave started a bit later, and the tides had come in a bit, so we did not have to walk/run as much. I tried to start just a bit behind the front. Nevertheless, in the early going, could not move much due to the mass of people, some doing breast stroke! Did eventually get going, and swim felt great the whole way, and I was passing people the whole time. Again thanks to my open water swim crew, Alison, Teresa, Valencia for your support this season. No whales were spotted during the swim.

With a somewhat long run out to transition, I was quite relaxed. Put on arm warmers, socks and bike shoes. By this time it was raining harder. Realized that despite getting there so early, I had forgotten to start my bike computer. No matter, I knew that it was just a matter of going hard, but carefully as there were lots of people on the course and it was wet. Knowing the loop well helps. I went strong on the loop but pushed hard on Prospect Point Hills. Passed a lot of people. It actually was not as congested as I expected, but was cautious due to conditions, and learned later that people had crashed. Avoided going into aero bars much, wanted to balance speed with caution.

In transition again, changed socks and into running shoes and out we go.

I was worried about the run, as I had not been able to run for a month, and in general this has been a weak point all year. However, it felt good and I kept it steady during the run. Again, did not hammer it, as I was not sure how the legs would hold up, but was pleasantly surprised. Time was slow, but effort was good.

Ended up 4th in my Age Group 55-59, 3rd was a guy from Calgary whose bike was on my rack and had done numerous triathlons.

So, for the first one, it was actually a very good experience.

Congrats to all, and commiserations to you, Rick–been there and done that, right down to the race revenge plan.

My swim went well, although I have to apologize to Brian for being on his feet for the first couple of hundred meters (not drafting–on his feet in the sardine-like press of the start) until there was some open water to get by.  Then, of course, the best part of my day was over and the world started passing me by, although that was expected.

I surprised Coach Drew at his lookout spot, then saw Gabriela Speck a couple of times early on the bike (but no Esther), Jeff passed like a bullet on the way to Osoyoos, I think I saw Brian on Richter, Allie flew past on the way to Keremeos (hard to miss the coordinated jersey and helmet!) and I think I passed Amanda on the way down from Twin Lakes (the advantage of hauling all that extra mass up the bloody hill), although she got by me in T2 and smoked the run.  Then saw Dave on the Lakeshore out-and-back.

My run was, well, pedestrian.  The first half was pretty well on pace, but the bottom dropped out on the second half and “walking the aid stations” became “walking to the aid station, then walking away from it.”  Notes to self: 1) Never do this again; 2) If you do, work on run pacing.

The lowest point of the event for me was the ride up to Yellow Lake, or more correctly the bit before the climb, just after the out-and-back at Keremeos;  I was slow enough to miss the worst of the rain (three cheers for sloth!) but still hit the headwind–it was pretty demoralizing to be in a climbing gear on the relatively flat bottom portions and still muster only 12km/h.  More notes to self: 1) Really never do this again; 2) If you do, don’t fret the weather cause there’s not a darn thing you can do about it.

In all a taxing, exciting and in the end fun event, and now that the pain is subsiding and the memory grows fonder with the passage of time (i.e. I gloss over the nasty bits in my mind), I find myself thinking that, you know, it really wasn’t that bad.  Final notes to self: 1) Really, really never do this again, I mean it!; 2) If you do, smile for the camera.

See you at training next week and good luck to those going to the Worlds.  Have fun (and German beer)!

Cheers

Chris Manore

Sarah at Ironman Canada

Adjust your GPS to Jericho!

IMC and Nationals are over, with a few more tris and the fall season running season on deck.  If you have races coming up, make sure your coaches know your plans!

Not sure where a workout is located? Check the MAP and scan the legend for the workout location

Wednesday September 1: 6:30 PM Seymour Hill Climb workout!  Meet at Ron Andrews Rec Centre for easy roll out to the mountain.  Rain or shine- dress appropriately as it can get cold up there for the way down.  Interval or full ascent workout options

Thursday September 2: 6:30 PM run@UBC track.  Meet at Pacific Spirit Park HQ and warm up to track.  Super workout for tonight, ideal for those racing and those looking for a whole world of hurt!

Saturday September 4: 8:00 AM uncoached bike ride from Bean around the World on Cornwall

Sunday September 5: 8:00 AM @ Second Beach to preview Vancouver Tri course for Monday! This is an uncoached workout as it is a long weekend

Upcoming events

September 6- Vancouver Tri (Vancouver)

September 11- Whistler Gran Fondo (Vancouver to Whistler)

September 12-

• Cultus Lake (Cultus Lake)
• Mt Baker 542 hill climb (Glacier WA)

September 19- TriBC AGM @1:00 pm Dunbar CC in Vancouver

Yes, Time Trial is tough, but no one ever died during one. However, there have been several fatalities during the mountain portions of races. There were a lot of track cyclists who died back in the day, thats what riding without brakes will do. True, no one has died, literally, going up Cypress. So, how then do you settle this debate?

Well, when climbing, if you stop pedalling, you go backwards.

It’s well known that races are won in the mountains. When Cancellara or Zabriskie win the Tour, we can revisit this topic.

Fire away!