Date: August 11, 2007
Description: 1500m swim/40km bike/10km run; 2008 Worlds Qualifier
Location: Cobourg, ON (Victoria Park)
Race Name: Cobourg Triathlon; HSBC Triathlon Series
Sport: Triathlon
Race Website: http://www.multisportcanada.com
Well, this was my first experience in an Olympic distance triathlon, with several concerns i.e.: hydration, pacing, etc to be addressed. I used this race as a “tester” for the Wasaga beach Olympic distance Triathlon which is my big goal race as a member of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society “Team in Training”.
I Finished feeling strong probably due to not proper pacing my run (too slow, 10K in over 52 min)
Venue:
Victoria Park at Cobourg happens to be an exceptional place, the beach was wide, white sand, and with amazingly clean Ontario Lake water, this was the best place I have swum so far.
Swim:
As I learned, from previous experience, start to the side of the pack swimming confident throughout the entire 1.5 k, I could see myself comfortable in open water swimming now.
For future races, I would probably push my pace right from the get go on the swim.
Bike:
The bike leg of the race, hills, hills, and more hills, I found it to be brutal I felt it harder than Milton triathlon, finished the ride pretty tired with a cramp on my left gluteus at the very last hill.
Run:
Never ran a 10K after almost 1:45 hr of intense exercise; consequently, I was already tired. Also, base on my previous triathlons, it was where the stitches would appear, luckily not this time. So, I think I would stick to my hydration plan light breakfast (coffee with milk and a toast), and no food up to 1 1\2 before the race. In the race just water and Gatorade over diluted in water.
Nice work Horacio: for the swim, find the line that has the shortest distance to the first buoy – look for the pros, they will be lined up there. Don’t be afraid to use your elbows to keep your line. Sometimes, going out a little harder for the first 100m (Esp in olympic distance) will help create some room to swim in. Most importantly, don’t forget to draft. It’s the best part of the swim!