The Race Report

First things first. I want to thank everyone who took the time to make a donation. The total for my fund raising effort was $805.00. The online site will still be open for the rest of the week, if you had wanted to make a contribution, but were unable to.

The race itself went really well. As mentioned in a previous post, I did not get a lot of time to train recently, and I was expecting a relatively mediocre performance - especially in the pool.

However, it all went great. My target swim time when I registered for the race was 10 minutes, and was based on me training a fair bit. Last year I swam in 11:36 with quite a bit of time in the pool. This year I was testing my lung capacity quite fully, but I managed a 10:36. So, I think swim club paid off with some technique improvement - I just have to get to the pool more often.

I joked that last year I actually raced a quadrathon, because my transition took so long it was almost its own event. This year it was smooth and organized.

The bike was a huge difference this year. Last year I used my hydrid, and this year I used my new road bike. It was a blast. I actually felt like I was going quite fast. I passed a number of people, and was only passed by 2 other cyclists.

I entered the bike with a guy from my swim heat just in front of me (orange shirt guy). So, my eyes were on his back, and I was trying to make sure he didn't lose me. The first loop around I was right there with him the whole way, and a good portion of the second loop. Then I made a major mistake with my gears and ended up coasting to a near halt at the bottom of a hill - I lost him.

The run felt okay. Last year's route was super steep, but the new route is much more level. It actually went to a part of Esquimalt that I did not even know existed, and there were some beautiful views. The route went out to a point did a short loop, and then came back.

As I started my return trip I noticed that I had gotten orange shirt guy back in my sights, and I started to close the gap. The last eight blocks or so were a steady soft incline, which is probably my strength in running.
I closed in on him block by block, and then with about two blocks to go I managed to increase the speed a bit more, and passed him. The rest of the run was smooth sailing.

A great event, and I am looking forward to Sri Chimnoy.

Tri: 0%, Fundraising 69%

Well, I went for a run this morning, and it did not feel terrible. My runs lately have been a bit like swimming in cement - I can't believe how easy it used to feel. I am actually still suffering from my back injury last year. I think the key is more Yoga and less beer. We'll see.

So, the fund raising total is $690.00 (69% of my goal). I have got some really charitable friends.

You can still donate online through Saturday at http://www.givemeaning.com/thon/Thon2419

Thanks

Training? Not so much.

Well, between moving, laminate floors, painting, new job and some key projects - I haven't really trained. So, I am not holding out for a dramatic improvement this time out.

My time with masters swim club improved my technique, my lung capacity, my speed and my endurance in the pool. Strangely, that doesn't seem to maintain itself if you stop going to the pool.

I am looking forward to the race anyway, and I am really happy with the response I have received for donations. We are currently sitting at a grand total of $570.00! I really appreciate the support everyone has given to the VWSAC.

Let's focus on the giving, and not my performance.

You can continue to donate up until Saturday on the Give Meaning site. In addition to supporting a great cause, donations of $10.00 oor more are eligible for a tax recipt.

Half Ironman? Easy.

Well, easy to watch anyway. I managed to get up before 6:00am on Sunday, and rode out to Elk Lake to take in the New Balance Half Iron Man.

• Swim 1.9km
• Bike 86.5km
• Run 20km
  

There were 3 competitors in the men's 70 - 99 years old category. None of them came last - in fact, out of a total number of 496 competitors they came 424, 454 and 469. There is no can't.

The ride out was great, and was actually my longest ride since last year's tri. I am fairly convinced that my bike is going to seriously improve this year. Not just because of my bike, but also because I hadn't actually trained the full distance (19km). The ride to Elk Lake was 22km each way - so, I am feeling more prepared.

Lots more to do.

Alex

Triathlon of Compassion

So, this will be my second Tri. In fact, this race was my first Tri last year, and I am really looking forward to it. It is a nice grassroots event with a fantastic feel, and it raises money for a wonderful cause.

The goal this year it to raise $25,000 dollars for the Women's Sexual Assault Centre, which provides support and services to those who have been directly and indirectly affected by sexualized violence.

So, I am asking you to lend a hand in this journey and sponsor me for the race. There are two ways that you can do so:

1. Provide me a Cheque made out to Victoria Women's Sexual Assault Centre
2. Make an online donation

I truly appreciate the generosity that people showed last year. I cannot remember the exact amount I raised, but I think it was in the range of $750.00. I would love to raise more than $1000.00 this year, and really help them meet and exceed their goal.

Thanks
Alex

The New Bike

Two things were blatantly clear after the last Triathlon

1. I was going to do more
2. I needed a new bike

So, I saved and scrimped, researched and waited. I think I was starting to freak out the employees at Fort Street Cycle because I finally found the bike I wanted, and I repeatedly came in to look at it.

Finally the stars aligned; I had enough money saved and the bike was on sale. So, I purchased my first Road Bike since I was twelve - the Trek 2100. We are not talking about a $5000.00 Cervelo here, but it is a great entry level bike for a guy like me. It is not like I could exploit the value of a $5000.00 bike anyway.

So, I haven't been riding as much as I like over the last few months, but I did get out twice this week. In fact, I went out his morning and did some hill training around Rockland. I am also thinking about going out to Elk lake on Sunday morning to watch the Half Iron - a good 22k each way.

I love my bike.

Almost a Year Later - Tha Race Part 2

So, I never finished the race story. I moved on to other things, and it is really hard to get back to the flow of writing a blog once you have lost it.

The short story on the race is that it went well. Almost better than I could have expected. Some high/low lights:

1. I forgot most of my water bottles
2. I didn't know where to put my bike when I arrived. The rack for my heat was full, and I did not know the etiquette. I walked around blindly for a while to find someone to ask, and was finally instructed to squeeze myself in.
3. The swim was fun, and I hit my target time
4. My first transition was terrible. In fact, it took so long that it could almost be considered another discipline. The first Quadrathon.
   
5. The bike was embarrassing. In fact, my bike was embarrassing. I did the race on my Giant Hybrid. Essentially the bike is nothing but suspension and all my energy output was lost in the shocks. Tonya and Ased still like to talk about how they could recognize me from some distance because I was bouncing up and down. However, I did manage to pass a couple of people.
6. The run was insanely steep. In fact it seemed to defy physics. Somehow the route starts and ends in the same place, but always goes up. Like an Escher race course.
7. Finishing

It was a wonderful experience overall. I had fun, felt great, raised a lot of money for a good cause and even won some door and fundraising prizes.

What happened next?