...and some follow up from my comments

From: jfraser@skylinc.net

Date: Sun, 20 Jun 2010 20:47:48 +0000

To:

ReplyTo: jfraser@skylinc.net

Subject: Re: General Comment

Thank you for your email. It was written very thoughtfully and we appreciate that. We have discussed these issues with OAT today as well. Its is also illegal to ride beside a rider and we also asked them to try to make riders aware of this as well. I will forward your email on to the OAT representatives as they will use it to teach future officials. As the race directors of the event its always good to hear from the athletes as we are never "out" on the course on race day. Thanks for bringing it to our attention and hope to see you out again!
Janet Fraser
Trisport Sent on the TELUS Mobility network with BlackBerry

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From: "Mark Steckel"

Date: Sun, 20 Jun 2010 18:55:07 +0000

To: Mitch Fraser; Janet Fraser

ReplyTo: doc@spinalhealth.net

Subject: Fw: General Comment

Sent on the TELUS Mobility network with BlackBerry

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From: "Brian Boake"

Date: Sat, 19 Jun 2010 23:11:09 -0400

To:

Subject: General Comment

Hello,

 

Raced my my first Subaru race today and it was very well organized.

 

Only one criticism...because it waws emaphasized that drafting will be penalized over the loudspeaker quite a few times it seems some riders were very apprhensive of reciveing this. This however caused another effect...riders riding four across the lane making it impossible and sometimes dangerous to make it by.

 

I was a victim of this (I can only guess as I was never told when) as I apparently crossed the centre line at some point. Only time I came close was on a downhill and swerve to avoid someone in a speed wobble. I would not know for sure as there are no centre of road markings.

 

Anyways C'est la vie. I am not a guy that is out for age cat wins anyways. I still had fun, I still had a result (not official but a result) and I think your races are very well run.

 

Cheers,

 

Brian Boake

Well That Was a Race...

So first tri in such a long and I felt it.

My swim - that I had such confidence in - was not where I would want it to be. I wasn't in the 30 at all. I was 128 out of the water...well not really out of the water as the time doesn't register until you are at transition - approximately 300m up a hill. I was just too wiped to run it. So I walked up and had probably 40 people pass me on the way. Being out of practice, I couldn't even undo my wetsuit zipper. One of the nice folks running past me grabbed it for me and unzipped me...man I love that about triathlons. One of the things I don't like is that the waves the do  causes quite a traffic jam at points. As some very weak swimmers - stopping and treading water, some doing elementary backstroke - were all over the place. Now for me I believe that non-secure should be in the race, just not at the front. It is dangerous for them. I saw at least one woman calling for the kayak and forfeiting her day because she got thumped hard by the third wave.

Bike was ok. I felt pretty good except for some cramping. My ice cold water was also basically a tea without the bag - yes hot water. This on a day that was supposed to be thunderstorms. It turned out to be warm and humid. Not perfect conditions but oh well. Anyways back on the bike. Lots of rolling hills. Only one was a 'hard' effort. Several riders were worried about drafting calls (I guess) and rode four across the lane. (I will explain why this is an issue after) I came into transition feeling pretty - not at all dead by any means. I came in with the 222nd best bike.

Run. I started strong. Running 4:35/km. This lasted all of about 1km and then I started walking...a lot. The run was hot and, for a windy day, there was no breeze at all. It was hot. So I finished at an average of about 5:45/km, with the 351st time on the run.

This all left me realizing my pre-race goal of a top half finish. I finished 228th out of 619. It left me well short of a top 30 in the water though. Guess I have to practice my strengths too.

Now back to riding four across. As I came down one of the hills - at a very decent clip in the aero - some folks were riding across the entire. I shouted (kindly) 'on your left' four times with no movement. I passed on the left, periously close to the centre of the road...or so I thought. There are no centre of the road markings on the roads during this race. Apparently someone thought I crossed over though as I was greeted with a DQ on the timing board. C'est la vie. No biggie as I am only there to have fun, apparently the officials are not. There was drafting everywhere not enforced but centre of the road I believe there was six. As I said oh well.

Anyways I will have to do another sprint  some time soon so I can have an 'official' result.

Cheers all and stay tuned to www.slow-triathlete.blogspot.com and don't forget to follow me on twitter @slow_triathlete

The Uber Poseur Bike

So yes I am slow.

Yes I haven't done a race in years.

Yes I am the uber tri poseur.

3 Days Out - 1st Race In a LONNNG Time

So it is only a sprint and I have done plenty of them, but this one feels different. It is the first triathlon I will have completed in 4+ and after back surgeries and a significant decline in physical activity.

So hear I am 3 days out and I am worried about the crap and/or hot/humid weather, whether or not I will be the slowest one there and several other worries. I have done significant training (on and off)and I have sweet new kit and I ready...and yet still worried. I have a cold so that will be an issue to deal with and of course two kids in a car over 5.5hrs or so.

No biggie though. I am hoping to place somewhere in the middle of the pack. Last year's race had 545 participants, so I hope to be under 200. Not a lofty goal by any stretch but a goal nonetheless. I would really love to finish 1h20m or less but if I don't reach it I won't be unhappy. I would like to be top 30 in the swim though...that'd be nice.

Anyhow next blog post @ www.slow-triathlete.blogspot.com will be a day or two after the race.

Follow me on Twtter @slow_triathlete

I Am Signed Up For My First Race In 4+ Years

So it is official.

I am in for the Guelph Lake 1 Sprint race on 19 June. I will be driving in the morning of the race from Ottawa, so fatigue could be a factor...and yet I don't care.

This is for fun and nothing but. Never been to the race course and know nothing about it.

I will be rocking some new race wheels for the race. I will post some pics once they come in. The wheels coupled with my current lack of speed and general non-racing for many years makes me - IMHO - an UBER POSEUR. I am looking for the title and no one can take it unless you hit the wind tunnel and personally employ John Cobb while going as slow as me.

For those unaware, a sprint triathlon consists of 750m swim, 20k bike, 5k run. Not long for certain but still a workout.

Just took a peak and I guess I just made it under the deadline as they are now sold out.

Anyways cheers for now.