The Great White North Triathlon - Triathlon1/2 Ironman

I started roughly in the middle and, sure enough, it was quite crowded for the first 400m leg. I was taking a few kicks and blows but able to veer away from most of that. I pulled up a few times to let the determined swimmers crowding in from both sides get at each other while I went around them. I just tried to settle into a comfortable rythym and get through it. After the first turn, I started picking up and following well paced feet. I didn't seem to be able to stay behind anyone for more than a couple hundred meters, if that, but was usually able to cruise for a bit and find another pair. There were usually enough people around me that I didn't have to sight a lot, and still stayed reasonably close to the course. The time is a few minutes better than last year.

Start more to the outside.

Estimated time since the transitions were included in the bike split. T1 seemed remarkably smooth and methodical; I was not really hurrying. I discovered I had also forgotten to bring a towel, but the rain-washed grass and pavement left my feet clean enough to just brush off.

The volunteers make sure your stuff gets into your numbered swim bag and they transport it to your spot at T2 before the end of the race. I was quick enough out of the swim that no one else was changing nearby so a volunteer got in beside me and had finished packing my bag before I left. He was very careful not to get in my way though and we worked well together.

Not much. Maybe hurry a bit more but that might not be quicker. Bring a towel and all the bottles, though it didn't hurt me this time.

One nice thing about a little faster swim is getting passed by some pretty awesome looking bikes, and some of them were flying. I tried not to get too carried away, so I just let them go. It started raining as I got to town and came down pretty good for 15 or 20 minutes before tapering off again. There was a bit of a breeze sometimes but not much considering the storms. I usually just eat what I carry but since I forgot a mixed bottle I took a couple half bananas from the aid stations during the ride in addition to my power bar and two gels. Erin from Lethbridge was still outbound a little after the turn around and she called out that Janice, also from Lethbridge, was just ahead.

There was a quite a bit of bike traffic around me sometimes and I worried about draft penalties. I was usually pushing pretty good, passing lots and getting passed, so when a crowd would overtake me I just eased up a bit and let the group go ahead. Just after I dropped out of the back of one such pack, a draft marshal motorcycle passed me and pulled one of them over. It's too bad that one guy had to get singled out of the group but ... Whew!

I tried not to push as hard as last year on the bike. I felt better at T2 this year but still might be pacing the ride a bit fast. The training must be working though as my time was about 10 minutes faster this year.

The volunteers direct you to your rack spot and they had a moment of mis-communication before they got me headed down the right row. I don't know if there was a lot of drafting going on but, while I was changing, a volunteer mentioned that 'another pod of cyclists' were coming in. :/

T2 was similar to T1; smooth and methodical but not rushed.

I started off feeling good and for the first half of the run I used the garmin to aim for about a 5:40/km pace. I knew that might be too fast but if I could keep it up it would give a sub 2 hour run. A little way back from the far turn around the 2 hour run idea was abandoned and I just tried to maintain a steady run. I was walking to drink at the aid stations and running everything else, though I stretched a few extra meters into a couple aid stations. Besides the aid stations, I was determined to run the whole way, although it was a pretty pathetic shuffle for the last couple of kilometers. During the run the lead male went by to a sub 4 hour finish. I also saw several other guys from Lethbridge.

With the side trip on the run there are three places to see the others racing close to you. I really wasn't trying to catch Janice but I saw her a few minutes ahead of me at the first turn around near the start of the run. I missed her at the half way turn but again Erin called out that she was just ahead. On the final out and back Janice was just coming out of the turn around loop as I was getting there, a lead of barely more than a hundred meters but it included a slight hill and another aid station. At that point however, I wasn't worried about anything other than finishing without walking. Janice is a swimmer and came out of the water about 5 minutes ahead of me. I gained about a minute and a half on both the bike and run but got even closer at least once. It seems Erin was quite entertained watching us close the gap throughout the race.

I was shuffling in towards the finish line, looking at the banner stretched across, and I was thinking that this was the first time I had finished a race early enough that they were still holding up a banner. All of a sudden a lady came up beside me and started to pull ahead. Without thinking, I came up on my toes, started pumping my knees and elbows, and sprinted for the line, gaining three seconds on her before the end. As the race director put the finishers medal over my head he said that sprint looked like it hurt. It turns out that lady took second place in the female side of my age group.

My pacing on the both the bike and the start of the run was probably a little ambitious.

Not much cool down. I saw Leanne just past the finish area and joined her, grabbing some pretzels, fruit, and a drink. I was very happy, thrilled even, with my finishing time but also very weary, stiff, and uncomfortable. We walked around a little, talking to people and watching the finishers while I had more pretzels and drinks. There was another intense rainstorm later, before the last runners got in.


Not enough biking this spring and inconsistent training in general lately.

Still, it was a huge PB for me so I'm happy.


A well organized race, in spite of the separate transition areas. Good pre and post race meals too. Steve King was announcing at the start and finish.