HSBC Series Lakeside II Duathlon

Event: Lakeside II Sprint Duathlon Distance: 5km run, 30km bike, 5km run

Date: Sunday September 21st, 2008

Where: Lakeside Resort

Website: www.multisportcanada.com

This year the HSBC triathlon series decided to hold a second race up in Lakeside Ontario on the beautiful Lake Sunova.  I was excited about this race being held a second time as it’s a beautiful venue (that and I really duffed the first Lakeside race in June!).  My overall goal going into the race was to not get passed by fellow Running Free teammate Gary Kennedy and make it to the finish before him – this may seem odd as I was doing the Duathlon and he was doing the Triathlon, but I didn’t care… it was on (although to his defense he didn’t really know!). You see, Gary can run like a madman after a lengthy bike ride, where I on the other hand struggle with the second run.  In fact – at the first Lakeside race in June on the final running leg, Gary passed me… twice.  It doesn’t even seem possible when you think about it, there weren’t any laps you had to do… it was an out and back course.  But it happened.  It was bad enough that he passed me within the first kilometer this particular run, but my Duathlon run was only an out and back 5km route where his Triathlon was 7.5km route (same 2.5km I had to run plus an additional 1.25km’s and then back) – he ended up passing me a second time on the way back to the finish line!!  That sucked.  It was my first race as part of a team and I was running as well as a geriatric garden gnome would have… it certainly wasn’t about to happen again this race. 

I’ve actually noticed in my first year with a sponsor that it can actually be somewhat stressful being a part of a team, you feel as though you have to do well to best represent the team… That and you are in for a whole lot of “and you’re a sponsored athlete?”  For example, get a flat tire and DNF at a Mountain Bike race and you’ll get a “And you’re a sponsored athlete?”  Ask someone how the Flashpoint brand wheels actually compare to the Zipp brand and you’ll get a “You don’t know this, and you’re a sponsored athlete?  Forget just once that your underwear is supposed to go on the inside of your cycling shorts and you’ll get a “And you’re a sponsored athlete?” 

Anyway, I digress. 

Duathlon Run #1 – 5km’s

The weather for this particular event started out foggy & grey, but brightened up before the race had begun.  The run was on a combination of loose gravel and asphalt and had a small climb between the 2km mark and the 2.5km turnaround point.  The first run was decent for me but somewhat uneventful.  I found someone doing a nice rhythm right off the bat and I matched it for the majority of the race (thanks Brian Fitz!!).  I ended up finishing the first run in 20:18 averaging 4:04 per kilometer 

T1

This was the first time I tried keeping my shoes attached to the bike, perhaps I need to try it again but I really didn’t see the benefits of it.  I’m thinking it might be more beneficial for Triathletes as they more than often aren’t wearing socks, not only did I feel like a hoser running in my socks through transition – but the grass was wet & I ended up having soggy feet for the beginning of the bike!!  “… And you’re a sponsored athlete?” 

Duathlon Bike – 30km’s

This bike leg differed from the course set in the first Lakeside race; it was more of a “T” shape as opposed to a looped course.  Once I hopped on my bike I was off and going as fast as I could for the most part, which probably wasn’t the best of ideas – but it certainly seemed like the right thing to do at the time.  There were head winds that slowed me down for a portion of the course, but overall I felt okay.  Right off the start I was able to pass a good number of people and catch up to some of the leaders of the race, which is awesome considering I was very mellow this year with the bike training.  I really only relied on my weekly Mountain Bike league to stay in shape – so being able to still average in the 36km/hr area is pretty good all things considered.  The leading folk eventually dropped me in the head winds,  but it still doesn’t take away the fact that I caught you ahaahaa!!!  In and around the 22km mark on the bike (shortly after the second turn around), Gary Kennedy crossed my path… damn him, he was catching up.  With this particular race the 30 kilometers seemed to fly by, next thing I knew I was dismounting and trying to find my legs for the second of two 5 kilometer runs. 

T2

Walked to the bike rack, pretty spent at this point (as I usually am).  I was in and out in 1:01, not too shabby. 

Duathlon Run #2 – 5km’s

I left transition, and my body already hated me.  After convincing it to run another 5 kilometers, I soldiered on – focused on putting one foot in front of the other.  In and around the 1.5km mark the leader of the race was already passing me on his way back, frig man – that fellow was flying!!!  I had made it to the turnaround in what I predict was 9^th place, but it was hard to count the bib’s as some people still had them facing backwards.  I was passed by a few people, but still no sign of Gary Kennedy… I had made it through the first leg of the run without getting passed!!!  Mission accomplished!!!  I continued at a slower pace than usual for the remainder of the race (no choice of my own). I happened to be looking ahead at the finish line entry – it was probably only a few hundred meters away when someone in my age category passed me.  I hopped on his shoulder but there was no hope, I folded like a cheap shirt and went back to my slower pace letting him go.  That particular fellow ended up stealing the podium spot by 7 seconds.  7 BLOODY SECONDS.  That hurt. 

In the end I came 12^th overall, 3^rd in my age group (30-34), and 4^th in the age group 30-39 which is what awards are based on in Duathlon.  I must say, my finish line photo is probably the worst one I’ve ever seen!!  It’s not the photographers fault whatsoever, it’s me… I look like a ruptured moose with a affro coming into the finishing stretch!!!  Brutal!! 

I learned a lot from this particular race, both about myself and the sport.  In Duathlon/Triathlon you have to fight for every second of the race.  No one is going to give you any time for free, it’s up to you to earn it.  To be truthful it took me quite a while to get over the 7 second loss for the podium spot, but I didn’t deserve it this race – I didn’t fight hard enough for it.  I once read that if you can’t accept losing, then clearly you aren’t ready to win.You may think it was odd that my benchmark for this particular race was to beat someone not even competing in the same race as me, and I’d have to agree with you – it is odd. But Gary is a tremendous athlete which prompted me to push it a bit harder this race, and by setting this benchmark I was able to beat the time I got on this course in June by almost 5 minutes.  With that being said I was able to beat my 2007 time by 13 minutes.  I never really had a focus in those previous races other than to do well, this little challenge I made with myself made all the difference for me. Unfortunately this was my last race of the year, and as always I enjoyed another great season.  Finishing 3^rd at Lakeside II clinched me 1^st place in my age group for the HSBC Duathlon series… not too shabby for a Mountain Biker!!!  I’m planning on expanding my wings a little bit in 2009 by focusing on competing in some Triathlons.  I have to figure out a way to transform my doggy paddle into a front crawl, but other than that I am looking forward to the challenge.  Muskoka 70.3 is my feature race, I have already registered for it and am looking forward to it.Now for the long off season, happy training!!

Keep’er in the big ring.

Mark Cairns