Meech Lake Triathlon - TriathlonShort Course

I was fine until the first buoy - about 200 m out - breathing bilaterally, catching a good draft etc. After that however, I started to swim to the outside and ended up 25-50 m off the corner buoy. I tried to compensate, but never really made it back on course. I figure I put in at least an extra 100 m. Between that and the minute to get my wetsuit off and running shoes on, I was pretty close to my 24 min for 1200 m estimate.

This was the longest transition I have ever done. We got out of the water and they made us remove our wetsuits immediately, and then we had to put on our shoes for the 400 m run to T1. We crossed the timing mat right after donning the shoes. The run to transition was up a fairly steep hill. I came out of the water with a rather high HR and ended up having to walk the hill to get it under control (it didn't work).

Try to slow down for the last 100 m of the swim. Other than that I just need to improve my swim endurance.

I came out of T1 fast on the rollers before the Fortune Hill climb, but just choked when I hit the hill. My HR was too high, I was feeling sick, and my arms were shaking and felt like jelly. Once on the flat section up top I was able to get some better speed going and I pedalled into the descents but was still only able to get my speed up to about 65 km/h. By the time I hit the North loop I was just about out of steam. Came into T2 and passed my bike to the handler (nice!).

More hill practise - I have been out on the parkway several times this year but obviously not enough. I also need to drink more. I might also consider using by road bike next year. I was hardly in my aero bars at all - the course is just too hilly.

T2 is about 2 km down the road from T1 (the 2 km stretch of road can't be closed to traffic). They had bike handlers, so I just unclipped my Garmin, handed them my bike and helmet, and went to find my shoes.

Not much, although I did sit down to get my shoes on, probably lost a few seconds there. With good orientation I'm sure that transition could be done in less than a minute. Hopefully by next year I will be O.K. to just leave my shoes on the pedals and hop off. I lost a bit of time messing with my shoes too.

There was just nothing left in the tank by the time I headed out on the run. I walked the last water station and saw a guy with 42 written on his calf. Sure enough the second last runner in my age group had just put me in last place.

I underestimated the difficulty of the course - even though this area is very familiar to me. I didn't eat until I took a gel on the back leg of the run - too late to do any good. I knew I should eat on the bike, but I was really pushing the last few km to try and reach my goal time.

Walked, Ate, Stretched. Stayed for the awards, but missed out on the draw prizes.


Next time I need some gels on the bike so I have energy left for the run.


This is a very low-key local race - no finishers' medals (just for top 3 in each cat) or activities after the race - just the race. The location in the Gatineau Park is just gorgeous and can't be beat. It is probably the best organized race I have ever done. Numbered bike racks, bike handlers in T2, volunteers in T1 packing wetsuits for transport to the finish line etc... I'll be back for more punishment next year :)