Abbotsford Triathlon - TriathlonOlympic

I guess it would have been hard to simulate in training, the pirhana-type start that this was, even thinking I should have waited towards the rear of the pack, I ignored my better judgement. It was like swimming in jello. I felt like Pac-man with a bad joystick, everytime I'd get into my rhythm, someone would cut across my path or I'd get hemmed in between 2-3 swimmers. It was pretty brutal, I should have worn my bike helmet. Before I'd even reached the first buoy about 300m out, I had pulled to the outside and was stroking on my back, I was that freaked out. There was no way I was DNFing this bloody early in the swim! So with a combo of breaststroke and free I eventually finished the first lap. The field had spread out somewhat by then (mostly ahead of me), and I could get down to business. I was doing well, keeping buoyant, stroking efficiently, when this woman, doing backstroke perpendicular to the race route, cuts right across my line. I had to completely stop and bump her awake so she could correct her course. The rounding of the last buoy was more of a relief thank anything, and when my feet touched the rocky shore, it was like roadrunner...so much pent up frustration from a sub-standard swim.

1. Practice OWS more often, or in this case, at least once.
2. Improve stroke so I don't need to panic with the pack around me.
3. Spend the off-season with a team/coach.

The racks weren't entirely empty, but it was a little desolate for one's confidence. I took some time to rinse my feet, get my socks on correctly, to avoid issues later. Took a few swigs of Boost and some water, helmet and shades on, then threw my leg over the seat...stopped....threw it back, and ran to the mount area. Said hi to Jen who was playing official triathlon-cop and totally focused on nabbing folks for penalties. I was a good boy and behaved ;)

Work on this transition, as it is a tough one to do wet. I did make the change by wearing my shirt in the swim, thereby saving valuable time trying to struggle with a bunched up shirt on a wet and panicked bod. I'll see how it goes sockless, but I'm a little cautious of it.

Got a good head of steam up, and set my computer on the average speed setting, which was a good way for me to keep a constant pace. The route was quite winding with turns for the first 2-3km until we hit the Pile O Crap road. There was a bit of congestion as this was a narrow road and the corners were quite gravelly. Passing was a risk at best. Once I hit the straights it was 'open the throttle' time. Got to chat with some folks along the way which is always fun, everyone was quite friendly and laughed at my jokes. Par for the course for me, this monstrous rottweiler was just dawdling across the road - I thought the potholes were there to cause some danger - hitting this little pooch would have been like a Mack truck. Hammed it up for the camera on each pass through, so there could be some funny snaps.

AERO's - my lower back was like a twisted scrap of metal by the last 5k. I was digging deep to maintain cadence and speed. More intervals, I could totally crush this time next year.

There was an extra bike someone had thrown into my slot on the rack and I had to make room for mine. An organizational blunder at the checkin led to people just randomly throwing their bikes in any rack, spacing be damned. Could barely bend over to change shoes, took in some water, and staggered off on the run.

Put up barbed wire around my section of the rack. ;) More conditioning would have prevented my back from being so tight.

Took me 2 laps to loosen up, and watch all the folks on mountain bikes and training wheels that I'd blown by in the previous leg, canter past me on the run. After getting my hips reconnected and 2 shoelace mishaps in the first lap, I finally got into a decent rhythm, caught most of the buggers that had passed me earlier, and went on to the final sprint at the finish. Again with the obstacles, someone's german shepherd decides to take a wander down the trail, and runs alongside me for 20m and then cuts across in front of me...I felt cursed!

I had some issues with my bib. Because I was wearing my cycling/running shirt in the swim, I couldn't attach the bib until I was out of the water. I used a mass of duck tape to secure it quickly to the front of my jersey. By the time I'd reached the run, the sweat and 40km of cycle wind had weakened the tape somewhat, so that it was hanging by a thread during the run. I lost it altogether with 2 laps to go, and was handed it back on the final straight, dropped it, and had to stop and retrieve before hammering it home. Moral of the story...GET A FREAKIN RACE BELT!

Walked and hydrated. I was pretty delirious with fatigue and joy. My knee was zinging and I knew I was in for a world of hurt the next day. Stretched out - but not nearly enough, paranoia led me back to my bike to secure it.


The slow run start could have been remedied by better ab and back conditioning. Cramps in quads from the sprint at the end - under hydration. The swim, well that's just a monster learning experience in itself!


This was the first year this race had been run, and with all the sponsorship it generated, I would have assumed greater things. The race started 30mins late because a lot of folks had missed the briefing. The 4 portapotties was woefully inadequate for all in attendance in that area. Word has it they were near full before the race had even started! The access road is probably my biggest bitch, but I'll get over it. If I'd lost some equipment, or had some damage to my bike, there'd be hell to pay! The shirts are quite decent, although the word triathlon is printed in microscopic print in the graphics...so it looks like I am a finisher of a sponsor? The security inside transition was non-existent, athletes and spectators were wandering through the area all day, even during the race! I got a lot out of it personally, and would do it again next year.