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Canadian Olympic Triathlon - Ottawa

Brenda RossBrenda Ross
in Races & Places 🏁⛺

 We have this local triathlon race director by the name of Somersault Promotions, that puts on triathlons all summer long and when Steven and I started we used to race at them, but over the years we have moved away to other organizing bodies like Subaru and Multisport and we often do at least one if not two races a year in the states, but we decided this long weekend that we were going to take part in the Olympic Triathlon taking place a mere 2km away from the house.

We signed up the night before the race ($120.00) although the price point did not fall within the Steve Ross rule book (what is his rule?  he will pay 1.00 for every minute he is on the course. If the price of the event is more, than he will not race, so we would need to be done the race before 120.00 minutes was up, which in this case was 2 hours). Now, we have improved by working with EN, but not that much. We really wanted to race, so we paid the price.  If we would of paid as soon as the race came up in January, we would of came within the price pint that Steve is usualy willing to pay.  

The day was beautiful.  Sunny, slight wind, coolish temps.  Our race did not start until....wait for it.....10:20am, so we were able to get up, have a leisurly breakfast and ride down to the race course with plenty of time to spare.  Our friends the Pilon's were doing the sprint relay and the night before the race Brent Pilon decided that he was also going to do the Oli, so when we arrived at the transition sight, they were there to great us.  There daugher Chloe had also participated in one of the kids events.  Family affair.  

After looking for what seemed like an eternity for a bike spot (there were over 21 events going on that day, so space was limited), I found a spot beside a good friend and coach for the local triathlon club and set up shop. Transition set up was weird. They had body marking in the transition area, but chip pick up was out of transition, around the track and out the gate to where the vendures were for the trade show. Ugh - a reminder of why we do not choose these events anymore. Anyway, after we got body marked and chipped, we did one more look over and off we went to the water, to arrive just in time to hear local coach Geordie McConnell tells us what the swim course was.  Gave hugs to friends watching, suited up and in the water Steve and I went. OMGosh, weeds, weeds and more weeds. Luckily I do not get weirded out by those things.  Warmed up, and before you know it the gun went off and I was in the mix. There were a mere 100 athletes taking part in the Olympic, but it might as well have been 2,700. Can you say eeekkk.  After crawling over a couple of people, I found my rhythm (stay calm, find your rhythm was what I was saying in my head) and I was on my way. My googles were fogging up and the sun was in our faces and I had a hard time seeing the buoys. For the distance that they were apart, I feel they needed to be bigger, so we could see them better. Anyway, they were marked A, B, C etc.. so I at least knew where I was when I got to the buoy.  I had this great guy (new it was a guy because they had a purple caps) who was doing a nice job of following my every move. I would move to the right and then he would cut across my path and then he would do whip kick and almost knock me out. This carried on until I got out of the water, to be greated by a very happy Natalie Pilon who promptly told me that I killed it.  (i thought she was just being nice.) Stats to follow.

The run up to transition is a long one (400 meters) so once I hit some grass, I pulled off to the side and took my wetsuit off. Carried it over my shoulder like a screaming child.  Once in transition things went smoothly and I was on the road.  The cycle for this Oly was 45km, so 3 x 15km loops along the scenic Ottawa canal.  The way out was windy and the way back was fast.  I did my first 30km in 55minutes, so I was happy with how things were shaping up and I was able to see that I was not that far behind Steve and Brent.  That also pumped me up and got me going.  Once finished my last loop I had about a 200 meter run into transition and then the run was a 2 x 2.5km loop, through the park, along the water and into a neighbourhood. I thought I was hate the loop, but I actually liked it alot.  I have not been running well since my injury so I did not wear a garmin (frustrates me) and just ran by feel. I had no big expectations on the run. Things got a bit hotter once the run started, but they had four aid stations per loop with water and gatorade, so there were plenty of opporunity to cool off. 

I had a really fun time and not once did I feel like I did not want to be there, well maybe in the swim, that is always how I feel.

Last time I did a Oly was the summer before I stared with EN. Here are those results (note, all results include transition)

1.5km swim: 45:52 (yes, that is how bad of a swimmer I was, and am still)

40km bike: 1:18:39 (30km a hour avg)

10km run: 56:55

 

This year's Oly results. Drumroll please........

1.5km swim: 39:25

45km bike: 1:24:08 (33km a hour avg)

10km run: 53:32

I came in 4th in my age category and was 9th women overall in the race.  Overall time was 3hr44sec

 

I'd say that these are pretty good results, considering I have been training for long course and did not taper, unlike my previous race. Just motivates me to continue to work harder and harder. 

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