This was a fantastic weekend at Guelph. I did this Olympic Distance Triathlon last year. A few reasons to be happy about:
- My Total Immersion style wasn't fast but I was fresh after 1500 meters.
- I did Muskoka 70.3 course four times for the four consecutive days starting last Saturday, total 400 km and added 100 km ride on Thursday, despite tired legs I had a solid bike ride today - 36.8 km/h average, faster than last year (34.4 km/h) although on a different bike.
- Improved my total time by almost two minutes. Last year: 2:41:04 this year: 2:39:25
- 5 km from the finish of the run I saw Joe Hewitt he was running in opposite direction towards the first turning point. He was approximately 2 minutes behind me with 6 km to go. We said hi and I knew from the look on his face that Joe wants to beat me. For me the small mini race started.
I swim with Joe for more than a year in the same pool. He used to be a swimming coach and is a very experienced triathlete. Last year we were running together for a while at ITT 32 km run, than I accelerated to the front but he passed me in the last few km. I wanted to beat him today. I had a better swim time and bike time, I lost some time in transitions ( this is my weakest point), but I was still in front with 5 km to go. I did quick calculations and determined that if I push hard on this hot day I should reach the finish first. I had to recalculate when I saw him after the second turn around - he was closing the distance fast, but I started to push hard.
It wasn't enough... 500 meters to finish Joe passed me with a smile, while saying 'hi' with distinct tone of a voice meaning 'I am a winner again today'. He saw me for the last few hundred meters as he was closing on me, moving slowly like molasses and thinking that I am beaten, but I wasn't. I was able to hold on for a few hundred meters, I have matched Joe's speed and I was able to accelerate in the last 50 meters passing surprised Joe, and reaching the finish first
(3 seconds ahead of Joe)
* note - Joe competes in 55-59 age category and placed 3rd
( I am in 45-49 and placed 24th 
)
- for the firs time in my racing history I won random award. It was just a concentrated lemon juice in a wine bottle, I had a choice but not much was left when my name came - watter bottle and socks.
So this what supposed to be just a training event turned into a race, shows me that I have to change a few things:
- speed up transitions
- I had my water in the front of the bike but I couldn't use the fuel bottle with Infinit, as it was stuck really hard in the new holder on the frame. Actually after a fight, I removed the bottle once for a moment but put it back in as I reached the top of the hill and wanted to go fast on the downhill.
Some pictures:
I am there:
run before the second loop:
no RM orange suit but at least orange helmet:
run course map:
pizza after the race:
