Two Weekends of Racing

This past Saturday I took the ferry over to the mainland to attend the Delta Triathlon. It was the 10th year and is a very well run race. 700m swim with 9 persons per lane which is actually 2 lanes wide. The first time I did this race I was unsure of the swim, but liked it right away and still do like it. Seems to be more like a lake swim, with more room and easier to pass,,, or be passed!! The bike is two 10k loops and very flat. One overpass is the only hill and not very many vehicles on the road. The 5k run is through mostly residential streets with fruit trees in blossoms at this time of year. Even if you are concentrating on form you can not miss them!!

This year was a good year for me taking about 6 minutes off my previous time. Not sure I can do that again!!


My friend Bob from Vancouver. We have done this race to gather a few times now. We met years ago in high school and both were in a Marathon class for grade 12. We both had a bit of a hiatus, but are back into the running again, and even learned to swim!!

The previous week was a race back here on the Island. Snow to Surf, an annual event. I started the race off running about 400-500 meters up a ski run in ski boots with 170 others, and then put on skis and races a few km to the bottom of the run. A skate skier took over from there and after he was finished passed off to a runner who had to run downhill on the road. Ouch!! She passed off to another runner about 6km later who continued on the run. Being our team captain, she was going 100% and slipped on the downhill and fell,,, another ouch!! a big ouch!! Covered in dirt and some blood, she passed off to a mtn biker who went down some roads and trails to our team Kayaker who managed to keep the kayak upright as many teams capsized crossing Comox Lake. Once to the other side, a road biker headed down the second last leg of the race to the two canoers that paddled across Comox Bay, to the finish, which just happened to be the BEER GARDENS!!! Starting in snow on the mountain and ending up at the ocean. What a great way to spend the day!!

Happy 100th Birthday Grandma!!

This past Saturday I travelled down the Island to visit my grandma for her 100th Birthday. I feel very lucky to have someone I know live that long, and being my grandmother is even more special. When she was 65 and I would visit, she would be out running early in the morning before I even got out of bed. I was a teenager way back then :) Grandma survived sickness when she was young and became a vegetarian, which I believe the healthy eating and lifestyle led the way for her long life. She also loved going to Hawaii, and somehow has passed that on to me as well!!

A letter from the Governor General of Canada.

And would you believe, a letter from the Queen!!!

My Toughest Ride,,,,,, ever!!!

Kona Pier

Lavacamp, day three, getting ready before a big surprise,,,,, which was the ride!!

On the Queen K heading south from Waikoloa.

Is that Bree wondering why we are not keeping up !!!

Last chance for fuel and water,,, better top up.

A group photo before heading up the steepest hill I have ever attempted.

http://www.brentpoulsen112882.blogspot.com/ & http://breeweehawaii.blogspot.com/ were soon out of sight. On the ride down Brent was talking to me and making sure that I would pace myself on the way up as it is a long way (+10km) and steepest at the top. It would take me around 75 minutes or so after I get to the start of the main hill. The warm up hill took me 28 minutes and had only one spot that had a downhill section. By this time, more of the riders were so far ahead of me I could not see them!!

I see the street sign, Kaloko and turn right and go into my 25t gear on the rear. The hill started and I knew I was going to try and stay seated as much as possible and was told that my cadence would likely go as low as 30. 45 was my lowest before while training last year on Mt Washington. Coach Paul would drive past with Monica and offer words of encouragement, and Coach D'arcey was cheering and taking photos as we rode past. It was so nice to see people and having them hollering for us.

I kept looking at my legs and watched the sweat running down them like a small stream. I was taking salt tabs, gels and drinking water to keep my body fueled. For the ride up, I think I only got into 3rd gear once, and the rest was spent in 1st gear, there was nothing I remember that was flat, so anything close, just gave a chance to spin and get cadence up.

I knew Brent was going to the top, and coming back down part way, and then going up again. Not only did he get to the top, ride down past me, start heading up again, he beat me to the top!!! Amazing!!! The last stretch I could see one rider ahead of me zig zagging near the top. I had to do the same, going from side to side of the road, cadence only at 27 as I was checking out the shoulder for areas to fall over incase my legs gave out. There was a great group of people at the top to cheer us the last few meters/yards as we conquered the climb.

A quick photo at the top of "the climb" before we descend. It took me 1:27 to climb, :13 to descend, reaching 83.2kph!!! That is the reward :)

The ride is not over yet, once we reach the bottom, we still have ~35km to ride back. My legs are already fried and I attempt to keep up to Bree, Brent and the faster riders. I hang in the draft for awhile but opt for the next group coming up. The wind is getting worse and I am barely holding on. I can see how Coach Dan qualified for IM in Hawaii last year, he was pulling and I could not keep up. I appreciate that he held up a bit and that Sabrina and him pulled me back to Waikoloa.

I forgot my HRM back home but from what I can remember, that ride was harder than IMC last year for me.

Thanks to all the Lifesport Coaches, Pros and participants for a great camp!!! Good luck to everyone and have a great year :)

Less than 5 hours later I was on plane back to Canada, and now a week later I am accepting reality!! From what I learned in Lavacamp, I better get to the pool with my tempo trainer, go for a ride with my cadence @90, and then a run,,, hmmm,, elbows up or down???