August 6, 2006
Bridgetown, Nova Scotia
Total Time: 2:45:55*
1500m Swim: 28:12 (1:53/100m)
42km Bike: 1:23:56 (28.6km/hr)
10km Run: 53:48 (5:23/km)
1st Place Age Group 25-29
3rd Place Overall Women
* The course was long and the times include transitions. Given the winning times, the swim was probably closer to 1700m and the run was probably almost 11km.
The Doctors Nova Scotia Provincial Championships was my second Provincials here in my new province. My goals for the race were to have a solid T2 and a strong run. I’m happy to report that I accomplished both of my goals. This race was special for me because my dad flew in from Ontario to watch me race. He arrived on Saturday afternoon, and after we picked up some groceries, it was off on the ~2hr drive to Bridgetown. We arrived at the race site around 6:30, picked up my race kit and checked into the motel. After a dinner of roast chicken, brie, goat cheese and bread, it was pretty much time for bed.
Race morning arrived quickly enough, I got up, showered, ate some breakfast (carnations instant breakfast and a banana, PH) and it was time to head over to the race. It was an absolutely beautiful morning. Crisp, cool, and sunny. We really couldn’t have asked for better weather. Dad managed to snap a surreptitious picture of me during the pre-race meeting, boy, do I look nervous!
After the meeting we were ushered over to the swim start to begin our warm-ups. I’ve always thought I look a bit like a Teletubbie when I’m in my wetsuit, I’m sure you’ll all agree:
The swim took place in the Annapolis River. I’ve never done a river swim before, and it was certainly an experience. First, they lined us up under the flags. I fit myself in just behind the “fast” swimmers, and hoped I’d be able to catch a draft.
And then we were off! Because we were swimming in a river, we had a current to deal with. Almost like dealing with the wind on the bike. On the way out the current was with us, so I felt like we were flying. Of course, when we started, the fish were off like a flash, and I was left somewhere halfway between them and the swimmers behind me. I tried in vain to catch up to the fast group, always making a bit of ground and then immediately falling back again. Fortunately, about 700m into the swim, I saw someone coming up on my left to pass. I tucked in behind his feet and went along for the ride. Tactically, this was the best thing I could have done, and I swam in the slipstream for the whole of the swim, and certainly was thankful for the draft when we turned around and the current of the river fought against us the whole way home. Thank you to the unnamed swimmer who pulled me along for the ride. As I came up the incline into T1, my dad shouted that I was the 2nd woman out of the water! How exciting! I knew Kerry was already out there on the bike course, and I was pretty excited to be not too far behind.
Out of T1 onto the bike course, which was a flat, 2 loop out and back, suited to powerful riders who can mash big gears. I don’t do well on flat courses like this, and I really felt like I was struggling through the bike. To make matters worse, my bike computer stopped working, so I had to ride by feel, with no idea how fast I was going! At least we had a tailwind on the way home, which made it a little more bearable.
Here I am going around the turnaround and back out onto the course for my second loop:
A little way into the bike, I was passed by Suzanne, the eventual winner of the Women’s overall, and an absolute machine on the bike. We continued to yell words of encouragement at each other when we’d pass at the turnarounds. I knew that I was racing for 3rd overall at this point. At about 1km to go, I was passed by a girl in my age group. She’s an incredibly strong cyclist. She breezed by me, and I knew I was going to have my work cut out for me on the run. We came into T2 seconds apart. – Racked the bike, bike shoes off, helmet off, running shoes on, grab hat and go – I think that was my fastest T2 yet. By the time we hit the run course, the sun was bearing down on us. The Olympic distance run course was also a 2 loop out and back. I just put my head down and one foot in front of the other as quickly as I could. I was really lucky on the run to have a chance to pace with a couple faster guys. I stayed with one gentleman for about 6 or 7 minutes as he came up to pass me, we had a nice chat, and then I couldn’t hold his pace anymore so I drifted back again. A nice guy named Jonathan came up behind me just before the second turnaround and gave me some sweet encouraging words. I told him I wouldn’t be able to run with him for long, but I’d try to hold on as long as I could. We ran together for quite a while, and it was really nice to have the company. About 2km from the finish I couldn’t hold his pace any longer and so as he disappeared off into the distance, I held onto the stride I had and just kept running. The beautiful oasis of the finish line appeared and I was through!
I was feeling pretty woozy from the heat, but I was finished! I drank a tonne of water and Gatorade and my dad and friend Rachel both gave me big congratulatory hugs. It is so amazing to finish a race and have your friends and loved ones there to take you up in their arms to congratulate you. I feel like the luckiest girl in the world. After the race, Andrew Dacanay, our fabulous TD told me that I was the 3rd woman through. And I had won my age group. Wow! I couldn’t really believe it. I’m pretty excited. The race was so well organized, everyone is so friendly in the triathlon community, and are so supportive, my dad was there, Rachel was there and it was just an awesome, awesome weekend.
Next stop, a “tune-up” race in New Glasgow on August 20th and then I’m off to Worlds!
Thanks for reading my long report (if you got this far), and thank you to Sugoi, Cyclesmith and Rudy Project for keeping me geared up!
