peakbagger
07-23-2007, 09:52 AM
This is a brand new race that I was looking forward too. I'm not sure why they called it an international race since I was the only foreigner in the field. It was held up in Sooke on West Vancouver Island and the venue was spectacular. My wife, the dogs and I caught 2 ferries after work on Friday and arrived at our B&B on a small lake at 12:30 in the morning. Saturday was a relaxing day, breakfast, drove the bike and run courses, a walk on the beach, a swim in the lake we were staying on, a trip to a day spa, dinner and early to bed. It rained hard all night and I was concerned that it may be a wet race. It stopped raining about a 1/2 hour before the race start. The course was wet but it was not raining.
They had the race meeting right at the swim start. I was still pulling my wetsuit on during the meeting. There were only 60 competitors. I could tell there were some fast racers around me and then I noticed Jasper Blake, the 2006 IMC winner in the water. The swim was a 3 loops in a small lake. I was less then 1/2 through the 2nd lap and I saw lead kayak so I new I was getting lapped by Jasper. It ended up being a pretty smooth swim for me although I wasn't feeling the best. Swim time 45:15. PR for me at this distance.
I was feeling nauseous and dizzy after leaving the lake so I took my time in T1. The bike was a 4 loop course. It started out really fast with rolling hills. Driving the course I thought is was going to be an easy bike. That changed quickly when turned to the back side of the loop. There was a big 2 stage climb. I took my time up it and wondered how I was going to do this 4 times and run a 1/2 marathon. When I got this climb on the 2nd loop, the people doing the sprint race were on this part of the course and I saw several of them walking there bikes. I was finishing the second loop and had noticed I had a flat front tire. This was a first in a race. I fixed the flat and got back on my bike. I think the delay made me ride too hard the rest of the way which would cost me on the run. Bike time 2:47:39. Average speed 19.14 MPH. I was a little disappointed until I saw that the winner only averaged 21.99 MPH.
The went through town and out a spit into the Straight of Juan De Fuca. It started with a big hill and the I realized there were more to come. The run on the spit was nice and flat and very scenic as well. I really struggled to keep moving in the run. I had to walk the last hill at the end. Run time 2:18:35. I was thinking I could do the run in about 2 hours based on my training this year.
Overall time was 5:59:27. I finished this race wondering how I'm going to double this distance for IMC in 5 weeks. My plan is to try and ride a little easier and save something for the run. Easier said then done.
They had the race meeting right at the swim start. I was still pulling my wetsuit on during the meeting. There were only 60 competitors. I could tell there were some fast racers around me and then I noticed Jasper Blake, the 2006 IMC winner in the water. The swim was a 3 loops in a small lake. I was less then 1/2 through the 2nd lap and I saw lead kayak so I new I was getting lapped by Jasper. It ended up being a pretty smooth swim for me although I wasn't feeling the best. Swim time 45:15. PR for me at this distance.
I was feeling nauseous and dizzy after leaving the lake so I took my time in T1. The bike was a 4 loop course. It started out really fast with rolling hills. Driving the course I thought is was going to be an easy bike. That changed quickly when turned to the back side of the loop. There was a big 2 stage climb. I took my time up it and wondered how I was going to do this 4 times and run a 1/2 marathon. When I got this climb on the 2nd loop, the people doing the sprint race were on this part of the course and I saw several of them walking there bikes. I was finishing the second loop and had noticed I had a flat front tire. This was a first in a race. I fixed the flat and got back on my bike. I think the delay made me ride too hard the rest of the way which would cost me on the run. Bike time 2:47:39. Average speed 19.14 MPH. I was a little disappointed until I saw that the winner only averaged 21.99 MPH.
The went through town and out a spit into the Straight of Juan De Fuca. It started with a big hill and the I realized there were more to come. The run on the spit was nice and flat and very scenic as well. I really struggled to keep moving in the run. I had to walk the last hill at the end. Run time 2:18:35. I was thinking I could do the run in about 2 hours based on my training this year.
Overall time was 5:59:27. I finished this race wondering how I'm going to double this distance for IMC in 5 weeks. My plan is to try and ride a little easier and save something for the run. Easier said then done.