Website: www.msctriathlon.com
Race: Woodstock Sprint Triathlon
Distance: 600m/20k/4k
Location: Pittock Lake Conservation Area, Woodstock, Ontario
This was the first year for this venue. It was a nice drive from Markham about 1:45 to get there. There were a lot of first timers at this race. Woodstock had sent alot of newbies from the Woodstock Triathlon Club, & the Goodlife Triathlon Clinic. There were lots of ladies in my age group who were doing this for the first time, & had lots of questions on setting up transition & where they needed to go & when. This was great to see!
Swim 600m
I have not done any swimming prior to this race. The one time I did try to swim my rotator cuff hurt the whole time, so I haven’t swum since. So, I wasn’t expecting anything fantastic. I just wanted to get through the swim without my arm aching! Being in the last wave, there is always lots of room to swim. The water was nice, & there weren’t any weeds, so that was nice. I passed alot of people in the swim, & came out in good time, then made the long run up to transition.
Swim time: 13:41 94/240 overall
T1: 1:40
Bike 20k
The bike course didn’t seem extremely hard. There were a few small rollers, but it was extremely windy! It seemed like you were working hard the entire bike. It didn’t seem to matter which direction you were heading, there was always wind. The last few Km, I was finally able to pick up speed, only to slow down again into the park & the ‘no passing zone’.
Bike time: 43:36 27.5kph 114/240 overall
T2: 1:06
Run 4k
The run course started on grass coming out of transition, then on to gravel in the parking lot, over the dam, then into a trail to a turnaround to run the same course back. I got to the aid station just over 1k & decided to take a drink. Unfortunately the new cups don’t squeeze together & I choked on the drink, & had to stop & walk, coughing trying to get my breath back. Once I could breathe again, I started running, & headed into the trail. This part of the race was very hot & humid. I am glad it was just a short run to the turnaround, & then back out the trail & over the dam. Luckily there was a bit of a breeze here that cooled us off a bit. Then onto the gravel of the parking lot, where I passed alot of people & back onto the grass into the finish.
Run time: 23:41 5:56/k 135/240
Finish time: 1:23:42 2/10 age group 111/240 overall
This is a great race venue! Multisport puts on a great race! I would definitely do this race again next year.
Congratulations to all of the Running Free athletes at the race!
