Number Six with a Bullet - The Guelph Lake II Sprint Triathlon Race Report

This race wasn't part of my original schedule of the season, but with a friend considering making this his triathlon debut, I figured I could go cheer, or I could go and race. Being the obsessively competitive type, I raced. So I had to get the early wake-up call, and hit the road to get to the Guelph Lake Conservation Area.

The turn-out for this race was huge. Last year was around 500 people, this year was closer to 700. It's the last race of the season, so lots of people were wanting to put on one last good show. There was a delay of the start due to some traffic congestion into the park, but we got underway at about 9:15. My wave got called to the start, and the horn sounded at 9:21. The race was on.

For the first time since Milton, I lined up near the front for the swim. I might not be able to go with the best, but based on Niagara, I can hang in the front/middle of the group. With this seeding, I gave a good push right from the gun, found some good feet, and started to cruise around the lake. I did a good job of drafting when I had the chance, and once I was rested, I would try to pass and move up to some other, quicker feet. I was a little over-excited, and didn't concentrate enough on "finish my stroke" or "flat wide foot", but when I did clue in, my pace kept up. I got a little off-course on the stretch back to the beach, because the sun was to our right, and so I was doing all my breathing to the left. This pulled me to the left, and I almost went inside a buoy, but I corrected, and hammered to the exit. I checked my watch as I stood up, and shooting for sub-15, was happy to see 14:20. After another mediocre T1, it was off on the bike course.

The ride was mostly uneventful. It was beautiful rolling terrain, nothing too steep or long, with most of the "out" into a bit of a headwind. Once through the turnaround, the hammer was dropped. There was a great stretch of new pavement where I was cruising at 52 km/h and my heart rate was dropping. Nothing wrong with that, eh? I know I got passed by one person in my AG, but I was pretty sure I got a few in the first miles, as I hadn't seen anyone for almost the entire ride. Another mediocre T2, and it was off on the run course.

The run was an interesting experience. I was giving a good push, but I knew I had more in the tank. Since I didn't think I had any close chasers, and I couldn't see anyone close by in my AG, it was hard to get mentally "in the race". I found myself pacing myself off whoever passed me, and just cruising along. It wasn't a jog, I was definitely running hard, but I think I may have been banking something for the half-marathon on Monday. I happened to reel in two from my AG in the second half, and put a good gap in before the end. I did sprint to the finish with a guy I had been racing over the last few kilometres. I thought I had dropped him, but right on the last corner he appeared on my shoulder, and it was on. Which is to say, I got crushed in the sprint. But I was actually six minutes ahead, so I won the war.

After cooling down and cheering in Mark (who accomplished every goal set for the day, and will be a force next year), I took a look at the results, and somehow I ended up in sixth place in my age-group. I'm still kind of boggled by that. I figured I could make the top 15 for sure, maybe edge into the top 10. But sixth? No way. The guy in fifth beat me out of T2 by 30 seconds, and outran me by another 45. If I could have been on his hip, I'm sure the gap would have been a lot smaller. I'm in kind of gatekeeper position: I'm the fastest of the sub-elite. Another year of swim practice to get out even closer to the front, and some more run miles, and I'll be right on their heels. They've got 8 months to get ready for me.

Official results:
Swim+T1: 15:39 (2:06/100m*), 14/76 AG
Bike: 48:28 (37.1 km/h), 6/76 AG
T2: 1:10
Run: 29:48 (4:16/km), 9/76 AG
Total: 1:35:03, 38/579 overall, 6/76 AG

OTS Points: 50, Series Points: 70
OSS Points: 50, Series Points: 77.5

I set a goal (that I didn't tell anyone about) at the start of the season of accumulating 30 points (the equivalent of a 10th place) over the course of the season. Going into today, a 13th or better would have clinched it (another reason to do this race). Little did I expect to get all the points I need, and change, in one go. If I weren't so tired, and so amazed that I pulled that off, I'd be grinning like an idiot for the next week. Instead, I need to rest, and get ready for a race/test workout on Monday. Then it's two weeks until the big goal of the season. Here's a reason to think I may have picked up another couple of spots on the ledger.

* Pace includes T1. Based on my 14:20, pace was 1:55/100m