Binbrook Du & GT 12.9

Race:  Binbrook Duathlon & Triathlon (GT 12.9)

Date:  Sunday June 14, 2009.

Location:  Binbrook Conservation Area – Hamilton, Ontario

Description:  Duathlon (4.5 km, 27 km, 4.5 km) // GT12.9 (400 m swim, 10 km bike, 2.5 km run)

Sport:  Duathlon & Triathlon

Website:  www.hsbctriathlon.com

A busy workweek and sluggish training week leads to a sluggish race.

Many times we all have those cruddy training weeks and somehow pull off a great performance at a weekend race. I was hoping for that this past weekend but it didn’t happen. Things just didn’t feel right from the time I left home but hoped I’d come around by the race start.

Duathlon – Run 4.5 km, Bike 27 Km, Run 4.5 Km

14^th overall in 1:34:42. First in the men 40-44 category.

1^st run – 22:29

Bike – 46:53 (9^th best)

2^nd run – 23:39

It is very simple to describe this race. I felt like crud. Even though the uneven terrain of the run course did not suit my Achilles, I really like this run course. I estimate there is a total of 100-200m of pavement in the whole 4.5 km run. Trail runners would love it. Regardless, I played it safe with my footing and essentially ran steady. Got to the bike and I still felt sluggish throughout. I felt like I’d never ridden a bike before (I hadn’t ridden outside all week so maybe that contributed to that feeling). I managed to evade the Gord Avann Express but not the Gary Kennedy Blue Streak Machine as he came flying late in the bike course. With the wheels, that is one cool looking Gary. Nice! On the final run I realized I moved myself in the top 10 (how I don’t know), but I wasn’t planning on gunning the run to keep that position. It was starting to heat up and I don’t think I could muster up any extra speed anyway. Like the first run, I just ran steady to the finish. Upon finishing, I hustled over to transition to prepare for the GT 12.9. Congrats to Mark Cairns who placed 6^th overall, even though he battled some demons on that final run.

GT 12.9 – Swim 400m, Bike 10 Km, Run 2.5 Km

16^th overall in 45:10. Second in men 40-44.

Swim – 10:48 (long run from beach to transition)

Bike – 17:43 (9^th best)

2^nd run – 13:57

The start of the swim was a bit manic. Lots of contact but after a few minutes I found some space to myself. I felt great but not fast. I have got to break out of my comfortable Ironman speed for these short races. I still felt like a slug on the bike but managed to pass a lot of athletes. However, I surrendered too much time to the speedy Hamilton Hammerhead youngsters at the front to make any real inroads on them. Once on the run I did the best I could to push to the end. Halfway through, I felt something digging into the side of my left foot and the pain grew. After I crossed the finish line, I discovered that my left shoe did some minor surgery on my bare foot. Something on the inside created some chaffing and then made a nice little slice. I later noticed that the same thing happened on the right side, but it didn’t draw blood. This is a first time experience for me. I think I should claim my Zoot Ultra TT shoes (that I won as a draw prize last week as soon as possible). A highlight for me was seeing Chelsea Mackinnon race and fly by me on the run. Yes, it is Kevin Mackinnon’s kid and she definitely looks to be a future star in the sport – very polite and humble too.

I must thank Kent Parkinson for guarding my GT 12.9 transition area to make sure no one stole my spot while I was out on the duathlon ride. He really is one of the classy dudes in this sport. Thanks also go out to the MultiSport Canada race crew for their usual wicked job. Shout outs go all the athletes representing Team Running Free on the weekend: Gord Avann, Mark Cairns (6^th overall – 2^nd30-34), Ken Cheung, Peter Geering (1^st 60-64), and Gary Kennedy (2^nd40-44). Sorry if I left out anyone. Hope to see you in Welland.

By the way, I had some ice cream at the Marble Slab Creamery (there is one at Major Mackenzie just east of the 404) on the way home from the race. The stuff is pricey but a nice treat. Fresh ice cream and really interesting flavours. I can’t say I’ll pay them a visit every week but maybe I’ll use it as a reward every now and then. I also wanted to acknowledge and congratulate Larry Bradley. Larry kicked butt at Binbrook a few years ago, however, at the same time the Binbrook race was taking place, he won the Muskoka Long Course Du. A truly wicked accomplishment dude! Now if only they could spell your name correctly in the results. Get Sportstats to change that, you need full credit for this win. Way to go!

Check out this pic of Team RF being well represented at the start of the Du (Gord Avann, Mark Cairns and myself). It is also a rare photo because I am ahead of Mark. Minutes later Mark would be gone from my sights, only to be seen at certain turnaround points. As you can also see, the Gord Avann Express was not too far away. The photos are courtesy of Mike Cheliak.