When I originally registered for this race back in February, it was a high priority. Things changed though, when I was offered a new job with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team In Training. I was assigned to be on staff support in Muskoka for the event weekend, and was told I could still race on Sunday, providing I didn’t mind running around all day on Saturday, and getting a less-than-ideal amount of sleep on both Friday and Saturday night.
For the last two months, I’ve been commuting downtown each day, and have had to significantly reduce my training load. In fact, I stopped logging any training at all, because I knew that I’d be a bit disapointed with the numbers. Training volume had to take a back seat for a little while. I’m happy to say, that will be over in just one week from now. I’ll be living just a few miles from work; nice and close to the pool and some great cycling and running terrain.
All things considered, I decided to adjust my goal time to the 3:20 mark. Something I figured would be easily attainable providing I didn’t swim off course, or completely fry my legs during the ride.
It was probably about 12-15 minutes into the swim when I realized that I was way off course… With a pack of swimmers visible about 60 feet to the left of me, and no one on my right side, I decided that I should be sighting the buoys a little more often. I came out of the water in 32 minutes and change, at least a few minutes slower than I should have been.
The ride was a challenging one to say the least… there were plenty of climbs along the way… each one leaving my legs feeling a bit heavier. I was careful not to spend too much time out of the saddle and probably spent a majority of the course on the small ring. Nonetheless, my legs were indeed fried at the dismount line.
Running into T2, I was doing some quick math… and decided I would need a 4:15/km pace for the 15km run to hang onto 3:20. I eased into the run with a 4:30 for kilometre number one, and then settled into the 4:15’s, not knowing how long they would last. Somehow they lasted for the remaining 14km. I was happy to realize I’d been able to accurately calculate a required run pace in my disoriented T2 state of mind.
After the course, I caught up with a few people who seemed to be a bit disapointed with the race. Most of them talked about changes in the course and transition, or rough road conditions. Being there for a first time, I had nothing to compare it to.
First and foremost though, I was in Muskoka this weekend to support some dedicated and commited triathletes doing a remarkable thing. Getting a chance to race myself was a bonus. Together, they managed to raise over $100,000 dollars to fund blood cancer research. Goal times aside, it was a reason to celebrate.
Happy training.
