Two races, two weeks

I often think back to a time several years ago when Margreet and I competed at six or seven races in a eight week period. It was a mix of running and triathlon events. Short and high intensity.

There's a reason why athletes like to 'compete' a lot. It keeps you race fit and race sharp.

So I was looking forward to the Squamish Triathlon this year. One week after the Vancouver half iron. While I haven't done the volume of training that I have the past two seasons, I still fit.

Leading into the Squamish Tri a year ago, I did a big day of cycling - 150km or so. And yet I had a good day.

Today I was relaxed and rested. My strategy was to go hard from the start. As the announcer counted down the start, I bolted into the water and I simply hammered it. I gave it everything that I had. It felt good for about 200 or 300 metres.

Then I had to shift gears.

Not into survival mode but I had to slow. My short swim speed has improved a lot this past year. What I lack though is endurance. I wasn't going to have it today. It takes months of work to get and then keep.

In the end, I swam a bit slower than a year ago. I'd be lying if I said I was happy with that. I was confident that I'd go faster. But I didn't know it at the time as I wasn't wearing a watch.

As I got out onto the bike, I was determined to ride stronger than a year ago. I wanted a bit more even pace. I took my time on the first lap, found a rhythm and settled in. I then pushed my effort a bit on the second lap and then one guy in my age group shot past me on the uphill. I'm not sure where my uphill legs have gone but I haven't found them yet this season!

My downhill legs though are working relatively well and I smashed the downhill and flat sections to catch and then pass this one athlete. We repeated this catch and drop the next two laps. It was perfect for me because it helped keep my head in the game.

I had a fast transition and started the run near top speed. A key objective was to podium. I had taken third a year ago and I was keen to at least do the same this year. Ha!

But I felt strong as I was running. Then one guy in my age group flew past, then a second. Hmmm.

Third. Third is good. But there was at least 6-7km to go.

At the out and back on the road, I saw the guy who I had to chase on the bike. He was a bit too close. So I sped up. I ran steady. And when I could I pushed myself. I never caught the other two guys though they didn't put in as much time to me as I anticipated.

I crossed the line thinking, well, at least I made the podium. I did so because looking at the two guys who past me on the run, I thought both looked super fit and so concluded that they were one and two. Ha!

Final result: I was seventh in my age group. Geez. Oh well. I take home that I was about a minute faster overall. A bit slower in the swim, a tad faster on the bike and faster on the run. And I was 19th overall.

It was a good day. Now, when can I race again?

2011 19th overall, 7th age group

Swim 26.20 avg speed 1:46/100m
Bike 1:06:16 avg speed 33.5km/hr
Run 45.57 avg speed 4:36/km

Total time: 2:19:03



2010 24th overall, 3rd age group

Swim 25:56 avg speed 1:44/100m
Bike 1:06:43 avg speed 33.3km/hr
Run 47:22 avg speed 4:45/km

Total time: 2:20:00