Favorite Ontario Races
BY: mgalanter on 2009-10-13 8:36 PM

If you could only do 1 short race (Tri-a-Tri & Sprint), and 1 longer race (Oly, Long Course, HIM or IM) in Ontario which would they be?

For me the short would be Lakeside II Sprint
Long will be Muskoka 70.3

Oh man, its gonna feel like a long winter....

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Mark Galanter

RE: Favorite Ontario Races
BY: Silver_wlf on 2009-10-13 8:56 PM

My favourite race hands down is Leamington.  I love the town, I love the course and it's always a good time.  I've done it 4x now and I'm always impressed.

I've never done anything longer than a sprint in Ontario ... so I don't know.
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Steelhead Ironman 70.3 - July 31, 2010 - 5:39
Steelhead Ironman 70.3 - August 1, 2009 - 6:04
"What you do today is important because you are exchanging a day of your life for it."

RE: Favorite Ontario Races
BY: Jyles16 on 2009-10-13 9:10 PM

I like St. Joseph Island triathlon for the sprint distance! raced it two years in a row.... only been racing two years.... LOVE IT

I also enjoy my small town's double sprint triathlon.  Marathon Ontario's "Penn Lake Pursuit Triathlon". The first day being a sprint (shotgun start) triathlon and day two being a TT sprint triathlon. Best combined times win!!

I have only raced other races such as Parry sound, HSBC Toronto, + Lakeside II, and Subaru Orillia.

Im looking several Subaru Series races next year!! ..... ill keep an eye on this thread for some input on which to hit-up.

RE: Favorite Ontario Races
BY: kimmax on 2009-10-14 6:04 AM

Depends on the criterion - for me it's asthetics and being outdoors.  I've been using the tri's as opportunities to to mini TRI-cations so over the past two summers I've been getting around  
I find there's always one really nice aspect and another that's not so nice.  I've done nothing longer than Belwood.

Grimsby TAT - Riding the service roads next to the vineyards - beautiful.  Swimming on the pebbly shore with lots of waves... not so pretty.

Belwood Sprint - Again - loved biking through the country roads.  Running single file along a railroad track seeing everyone in the opposite direction... kind of boring.

Toronto Island - both sprint and TAT - beautiful swim, flat bike, pretty run - but it's all loops - the longer the race - the more loops.

Ottawa - by far the best run - loops but through the woods on a wood chip trail.  Bike is pretty too in the fall.  Pool swim though.

Neat thread!

RE: Favorite Ontario Races
BY: mgalanter on 2009-10-14 8:04 AM



I forgot about Belwood - I really enjoyed that one. The weather was crappy this year but I can see this race being fantastic when the weather is sunny. Swimming by that damn was a treat, the bike course was beautiful and a good mix of hills and flats. Yes - the run was kind of cramped, but I enjoyed running on a trail.
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Mark Galanter

RE: Favorite Ontario Races
BY: jspelay on 2009-10-14 9:17 AM

This ws my first year and I have only done 3.  Gravenhurst, Bracebridge, and Parry Sound.

I did the Tri-a-tri in Gravenhurst so I didnt get to start off of the Seguin steamship, aybe next year.   The Bracebridge tri-a-tri was awesome and I won my age group, so I really liked that one.  But the Parry Sound sprint was by far the most gruelling and hardest of the 3.  The bike course was very challenging and the run started out flat then got very hilly... I loved it... so Parry Sound was my favourite...

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'Enjoy the pain you are feeling now, its going to be way worse tomorrow.' - OMJ

RE: Favorite Ontario Races
BY: juniperjen on 2009-10-14 2:00 PM

I did Guelph lake, Toronto Island and the Milton Women's tri.

I liked them all - particularly the women's tri - but maybe that was because i had a great day. The course is hilly but it is pretty cool coming back in the shadow of the escarpment.

I also enjoyed toronto island - even though it was very hot and the race didn't go all that well for me.

Not a tri but I did like Victoria's Du - people are excited for the first event of the year and it's cool pass the mennonite kids sitting on fenceposts watching us.

RE: Favorite Ontario Races
BY: Bopper on 2009-10-14 2:10 PM

Hmmmm... interesting thread... I've only done a few races, but I do have my fav's.

Sprint... for flat and fast... I'll take Welland... TT swim start, Flat, flat, FLAT bike, and pretty run along the canal. For challenging... Milton... freezing water, MONSTER hill on the bike, and crazy hilly run.

Oly... Gravenhurst... bar none. The bike course is gorgeous, the run is challening but also beautiful and the swim... what can I say, jumping off the Seguin Ferry and swimming 1500m to shore... priceless.   Wasaga Beach is a close second.

HIM... I've only done one, but I really enjoyed it (except for the painful run) and that was Bracebridge. Smaller race, GREAT spirit shown by the town, and pretty locale. The ride is not nearly as nasty as Muskoka 70.3... and the run is flat.

I'd love to travel and try out other races too... maybe next year I'll try a few different ones. It IS going to be a long winter.

RE: Favorite Ontario Races
BY: DaveH on 2009-10-14 5:42 PM

I'd go for Milton for the sprint and Muskoka for the longer race.

RE: Favorite Ontario Races
BY: latestarter on 2009-10-15 11:33 AM

BOY, that's REALLY hard to answer, because I have so many favorites.   Hope it never comes to that! 

Short, TAT or Sprint - Lakeside
Long - Orillia - great swim, bike AND run!  

It would have been easier for me if you had asked which two I would NOT DO.  

RE: Favorite Ontario Races
BY: tabbs on 2009-10-15 11:44 AM

I don't have that much experience (only 2 years) but I really liked Leamington (early in the season and flat course) for the Sprint and Milton for the OLY (very nice scenery, end of season race and challenging hills).

RE: Favorite Ontario Races
BY: nickih on 2009-10-19 8:25 PM

I like the brand new sundridge triathlon this year. I did the tri a tri as im a newby. Beautifull clean lake for swim nice bike ride on the back roads and a trail run how can you beat that. Oh the best volunteers that cheered you on all the way.
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If you dont tri, it aint gonna happen