The winners of the 2010 TNS Points Series are below. As you may be aware, there are four categoroes. In the overall category any event counts, then there are self-expalnatory Sprint, Olympic and Duathlon categories. The rules for inclusion are quite simple; be a full member in good standing, complete three events in the relevant category and have volunteered in some capacity in the 2010 season.
The Points Series used the same formula as years past. For those of you new to this, points are pro rata based on the winners time, rather than a set tariff for first, second, third and so on. Your best three events contribute to your total. By restricting it to three events we recognize those who race well, not those who race often. We believe this makes the Points Series more athletically meaningful than one based on mere point accumulation.
A huge thanks to Shane McLeod who complied the Points Series this year. It was a thankless task and people were only to happy to complain it was not done or that their points were incorrect, but not so eager to thank him for doing it on the first place. So let us here at the TurnAround be the first to thank, and congratulate, Shane on getting the job done. Thanks Shane; you deserve a relaxing afternoon in your favorite coffee-shop.
Without further ado, the winners.
Overall
Overall Female
1) Heather Doucette
2) Julie Curwin
3) Virginia Soehl
Overall Male
1) Chris MacKenzie
2) Darryl Ward
3) Shawn Amirault
Participation
Moka Case and Jody Nickerson with 9 events
Duathlon
Female Overall Duathlon
1) Marie-Claude Gregoire
Male Overall Duathlon
1) Shawn Amirault
2) Alan Miner
3) Steven Murray
Age Group Female Duathlon
35-39 Marie-Claude Gregoire
Age-Group Male Duathlon
30-34 Dan Thompson, Aaron Neaves, Shane Hawkins
35-39 Shawn Amirault, Edward Parker, Ian Loughead
40-44 Andrew Dacanay, Ron MacDougall
45-49 Alan Miner, Steven Murray
50-54 Kevin Conley, Donald MacDonald
Sprint
Female Overall Sprint
1) Virginia Soehl
2) Janelle Knickle
3) Marie Soehl
Male Overall Sprint
1) Darryl Ward
2) Tim Brooks
3) Brigham Poole
Age Group Female Sprint
16-19 Marie Soehl, Myriska Caulier
20-24 Jessica Tatlock
25-29 Janelle Knickle
30-34 Nikki Richards, Erin Thibault
35-39 Amy Crowley
40-44 d Krista Campbell, Colette Smith
45-49 Moka Case
50-54 Helen Burns
Age-Group Male Sprint
16-19 Brigham Poole, Liam McInerney
25-29 Michael Organ
30-34 Gary Basso, Jody Nickerson
35-39 Tim Brooks, Sean Margueratt
40-44 Darryl Ward
50-54 Greg Young, Donald MacDonald
Olympic
Female overall Olympic
1) Julie Curwin
2) Heather Goodfellow
3) Ellen Klein
Age Group Female Olympic
25-29 Ellen Klein
35-39 Heather Goodfellow
45-49 Julie Curwin
60-64 Beverley Richardson
70-74 Ralph Davis
Male Overall Olympic
1) Chris Milburn
2) Shawn Amirault
3) Kevin Conley
Age Group Male Olympic
30-34 Jody Nickerson
35-39 Shawn Amirault, Edward Parker, Cory Tetford
40-44 Chris Milburn, Doran Donovan, Ron MacDougall
45-49 Steven Allen, Paul Shaw
50-54 Kevin Conley
55-59 Stephen Saunders
60-64 Allan Rodger ,
70-74 Ralph Davis
Age-Group Provincial Team
Heather Doucette
Julie Curwin
Virginia Soehl
Chris MacKenzie
Darryl Ward
Shawn Amirault
Marie Soehl
Jessica Tatlock
Janelle Knickle
Nikki Richards
Amy Crowley
Krista Campbell
Jean McKeough
Helen Burns
Brigham Poole
Michael Organ
Gary Basso
Tim Brooks
Greg Young
Pat Kennedy
Jon MacDonald
Ellen Klein
Heather Goodfellow
Beverley Richardson
Jody Nicerson
Chris Milburn
Steven Allen
Kevin Conley
Stephen Saunders
Allan Rodger
Ralph Davis
Parker Vaughn
Conor Gillespie-Friesen
Liam McInerney
Suzanne Ferrier
Karalynn Burke
If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact us either below, on FB or by email. If you're on the list, you need to have volunteered, so drop us a line and let us know what you did and when.
Note; the age-group provinicial team is for non-draft-legal, age-group competition only, not draft-legal events such as Teck National Junior Series, Coupe de Quebec or Canada Games.
Awards will be given out at the banquet. we think they're breakable, so if you're there to pick yours up then so much the better.
Thanks to Andrew Armstrong at OAT for that, he asked "are there any good Nova Scotian 'cross songs, 'cos I found this one from Belgium". We think it means "Cyclocross Goes Through" but it might also means "Cyclocross through your arse". Given my Dutch extends to "hello", "that's nice", "you're an arse", "do you understand" and "goodbye" (which is a pretty coherent, if short, conversation in it's own right) then perhaps we're not the best authority!
We were as surprised as you were to find it was country. Instead of getting all pumped up to hard indie rock it just makes it all seem vaguely comical; but hey, that's Belgium for you.
You can just imagine them rocking out to that in Oostcamp. Then again, there has to be a reason that Duvel is 8.5% ABV and we think we just found it.
So, no good Bluenoser 'cross songs but Java Jim Diakos did put some images of '08 Provincials to Johnny Cash's Hurt.
That gravelly noise, that's my knees (hubs/headset/bottom-bracket/bottom - delete as appropriate).
What is 'cross? It's modified road bikes on mud. It's huge in Belgium. Of course, mullets are still considered cutting-edge coiffeury in Belguim and they cut montages of Sven Nys to specially-written country songs, but don't let that put you off. Hipsters all over North America are itching to do it, which tells you it's where it's at.
I think for triathletes we're well positioned for cyclocross. Sure, it requires bike handling skills we notoriously don't have; if there's one thing missing from a 'cross course it will be a nice flat, straight section where you can get into your tuck and carefully meter out your effort.
However, 'cross is a balls-out (sorry ladies, but ladies are more than welcome here) effort more akin to your 10k effort. If your lungs and legs are burning and there's an uncomfortable taste of blood in the back of your throat, then you're doing it right. We have heard roadies say "I can rode at 32 kph all day but I can't do a 45 minute cross race without puking". So as triathletes who have been ripping up the 10 k and half-marathon circuit since the season finished a month ago, a 45 minute all-out, up-chucking effort is right up our collective street.
What, exactly, is an all out effort. Here is a for-real graph of the TA at a 'cross race.
Yup, 181 average hr.
As a 40 y.o.,technically our max hr should be 180. So much for rules of thumb! It's not just me; everyone we know who has ever taken a hr monitor has been initially shocked at the effort it took, and are then perversely proud. Consider it a free (or reasonably inexpensive) VO2Max/maxHR test When was the last time you were red-lined at >180 av for 45 minutes? Probably at a 10K. At least you can tackle most of the 'cross sitting down.
For equipment? It's more fun on a cross-bike (boing is for wussies) but you can use an MTB if you wish, just take the bar-ends off first (this is a mass-start event). Unless you're Antar, don't bother dressing up; we've raced at 0C in essentially summer kit. What makes 'cross different from, say, the short-track MTB races is the requirement to lift and carry your bike over obstacles. In order to keep your momentum up, then you also have to do flying dismounts, flying mounts and run with the bike. These are skills we have as triathletes that your average roadie might not have. So we might be sketchy on the mud, gravel, roots, rocks and grass but we can make up for this deficiency with our own sport's bike-handling skills, not to mention the ability to red-line for 45 minutes without puking (too profusely). Trust us here, you will reap what you have sowed.
A quick word with the guys here; you ladies or those of a sensitive disposition go to the end and find out where the 'cross races are this year.
Are we alone? Great. So guys, sure you can do a flying mount. You do them at tris. You do, what, four, five tris a year? That's four or five flying mounts a year. In a 'cross race you'll be doing a flying mount every three or four minutes for 45 minutes. At some point the, ahem, boys are going to get a knock. And when I say knock, I mean leaping into the air and landing testicle-side up on a seat not known for it's padding. I'm not saying that ladies aren't immune to perineal ouchitide at the 'cross, but the TA can't speak to that from experience; this, we can! On the whole, this is ironic as we usually ride our bike to get away from the occasional shot to the gonads that life seems fit to throw our way, so to get them when riding seems to be an extra f.u. from life. Anyway, there's nothing you can do to prevent this inadvertent testicular squeezitude except practice and try to do that thing karate masters are reputed to be able to do. At least it will be cold out there!
Welcome back all. So, you want to tri it? Good for you. Well do a have good news for you. Our friends at Cyclesmith host Nova Scotia's only cross series, right here in Halifax. It'll look a bit like this vid from last years race.
Hey, you're one up on those hipsters already; you know now not to wear your skinny jeans and messenger bag. Right?
It's at Seaview Lookoff Park at 10 this Sunday for the next five Sundays. Go to the end of Novalea, ride under the bridge (down the steep hill, don't worry, you'll be coming back up here later!) and follow the caution tape/sound of cowbells/trail of vomit.
It looks like they sketched a course in there. All the usual crowd-pleasers; two climbs, a steep carry and a couple of suicidal descents. Yeah!
There's a kid's race too, but we think they will take the barriers out (seeing they are higher than your average child). Come for some lung-burning, leg-aching and (occasionally) eye-watering fun. The magazines will try to tell you this is an excellent way to maintain post-season form blah blah, but you know, don't drag the t-word into this. Come and do it for the hell of it, for the kicks of it. Yes, I know that 30 kph on the road seems pedestrian yet 30 kph off-road feels positively suicidal but, as the man said, do one thing each day that scares you.
You probably won't need the sunscreen this Sunday though.
This weekend the TA didn't have a race to run in, stand around in looking "official" in or be a human pylon in for the first time for, well, we don't know when. Just because we were feeling personally displaced, didn't mean there wasn't action elsewhere for others. Besides, you don't want to hear me whinging. Hey, maybe you do, but if you did you'd be over at Socksnob. Anyway, enough about us, where were we?
Oh yes, Moncton.
Last weekend saw the 10th Legs for Literacy marathon and associated events in Moncton. It used to be the same weekend as the TNS banquet, but they shuffled it up the calendar by a few weeks in a quest for better weather. This year at least the strategy paid off and race-morning was sunny and clear without a cloud in the sky. It might have been cold enough for the puddles on the trail to have a light rime of ice (yikes ice) and there was a bit of a breeze blowing down the Petitcodiac, but all-in-all it wasn't the '05 Bluenose!
Former Elite triathlete Colin Edwards won the 10K in 36:36. He said that he "used to be fast and goes out thinking that I'm fast but it doesn't stay" but by our reckoning, a 36 minute 10K would hold it's own against many of the current crop of runners in Nova Scotia. Thirty-six freakin' minutes. Hands up if you can (or ever have) run a 36? Yikes! Come to think of it, it was also the win and how many of us can say we ever won a 10K?
We didn't see any other TNSers in the 10K list, but the usual caveats about the TNS Member Tracking Software apply.
There was a bit more TNS action in the half-marathon, which was also the New Brunswick half-marathon championships. Stephane Boudreau, who used to work and train in NS but is now back in NB was 3rd overall and 2nd in his age-group with a 1:19:01. Stephane, as you might remember, was him of the excellent post-Lake Placid hair. Malheureusment, we think it's grown back/grown out! Heather Goodfellow, a runner who's been tri-ing out the dark-side this year (and liking it, we think, with some excellent age-group and overall placings) was first lady overall in the half and 7th overall with a 1:23:31. We also saw Marie-Claude Gregoire run a 1:40:15 seven days after a marathon.
The full, as always, was a different matter. We saw Catherine Fitzsimmons run a 4:11:07, Brett Phillips with a 3:31:43 and Dana Phillips (below) in 4:19:26.
Of course, Ron McKilt MacDougall was there, in a kilt.
We don't think this picture above was much an intentional attempt to strike a beefcake pose (or be a scary Devil in Skirts) as it was an attempt to keep warm. As you know, the TA is no fan of knee-high socks, or indeed the colour grey, but Ron's efforts to stay warm are to be commended. The way the wind whistles up the pass!
This was his fourth marathon in twenty-two days (and 40th entry on the Tartan Tally). There had been an appreciable training effect over the last three outings, with his times improving from 4:09 to 3:45 and then 3:33 last week in PEI. He attributes this to assiduously not training during the intervening week, adhering instead to the "run three-k and feign an injury" model.
Unfortunately for Ron, three times was the proverbial charm (being only a few minutes off a PB) and his time in Moncton (3:42:56) was slightly off that in PEI. Still, he qualifies as a gold-level marathon maniac.
Cape Cod Dunkin' Donuts marathon this weekend anyone? Perfect accompaniment to your Tim Hortons Valley Marathon surely?
In personal news, the TA's eldest, Joshua, took on the 5K and posted a 23:44. Unfortunately, like his old man, he was in the age-group-of-death for this race and despite being 19th out of over 400 was only 7th in his age-group (0-19).
Still, not a bad result for a kid barely in Junior High, no? Still needs a hair-cut though!
A quick report from the latest poll; a good 60% of you have eschewed, or at least postponed, the notion of "the month off" and are continuing to race (or have fun as we would say) even though the TNS season is over and the points series finalised (there should be a copy on-line somewhere; if not nag me until there is).
Many people seem to be targeting the late-season marathons that are on offer. Most of you who replied on FB are taking on something at the PEI marathon this Sunday (Oct 16th), either the half or the full (Steve Sanders, Freda Cormier, Ron MacDougall). There's also the Nothing Runner Than A Dumber 10K trail run at Martock (Rob Chambers, Mark Campbell) this weekend and Run For Green 5K in Bridgewater (Tammy Slaunwhite). A few more are thinking about the Legs For Literacy event in Moncton the weekend after that (Marie-Claude Gregoire, Ron MacDougall and maybe Mark Campbell).
It may not surprise you to see Ron McKilt MacDougall will be running both marathons. The Valley last week was his second marathon in eight days, PEI will be the third in fifteen and Moncton, should he make it, will be the fourth in twenty-two.
The Tally/Counter has been revised too, as both the Mule and the Kilt did an orienteering race mid-week, bringing it to 37 vs 22. As well as the bragging rights ("I blew my knees out in one season; you?") there is a trophy on offer for the winner of the Tally/Counter smack-down and we can tell you it's a sweet piece of kit and is in no way tacky or annoying.
Intrigued? It'll be awarded at the banquet, which is on Saturday November 6th at Banook Canoe Club. Tickets are $25 and only available at Atlantic Chip. We are restricting ticket sales to 100, and over a quarter are gone already. You know what this means.
As far as we are aware, this doesn't clash with any race on Sunday 7th, apart from the Cyclesmith's Kona Kup-A-Soup Kross Series (brought to you by the letter 'C'), and that's in Halifax at late enough in the day so you can do both.
As well as the banquet, we're having a bit of a triathlon-themed weekend. During the day on Saturday 6th we'll be having a Level 2 Officials' Course; this will certify you to be an official at provincial level events and have cool jobs like TD, HR or Sector Chief. It's also a stepping-stone to National and International certification. All Race Directors need to be L2. Even if you are already an L2 there have been changes to the rule-book and it would be a useful refresher session for you. If you are interested, drop us a line at the usual address.
On the Sunday there will be a triathlon training day, host by TNS and Shane McLoed. This is open to all and will include both pool- and dry-land training. We're hearing words like "underwater camera" being bandied about. There will be a small cost associated with this (small as in a small-round-of-coffees-from-a-boutique-cafe, not pair-of-running-shoes or bicycle-related cost). See it as a way to get your winter base-training off on the right foot.
We should get both clinics up on Atlantic Chip soon.
The TA will be quiet for a few days now; we're heading off to do a marathon which is billed as "scenic", which we all know is a runners' euphemism for "hilly". Gulp!
The Tim Hortons Valley Marathon was last Sunday. It wasn't the only game on that weekend, what with Julie Curwin going 10:43 against the big dogs at Kona and Tracy Crowell and Tom Soehl's 3:49 and 3:02 at Chicago, but one thinks it was the most accessible by road. As an aside, we also saw Dan Smith (10:38) and Elizabeth Seiffert (11:15) in the Kona results (there's always a Cyclesmith connection!).
Due to it's close proximity by road to most of the major triathlon centres of Nova Scotia, there were many triathletes signed on for the various events on offer; full marathon (42.2 km), half-marathon (21.1 km) 10 K (er, 10 km) and 5 K (you see where we're going with this).
Someone's mascot at the sigh-in. Epi-pen anyone?
In point of fact, we couldn't find any names we recognised in the 5K list, but the usual caveat applies viz the list was 224 names long and the TNS Member Tracking Software (TM) is/ has been/forever will be on the fritz (why-ever we paid for this POS is beyond us; surely we can get a computer to do this for us) so if we missed you it was human fallibility, not malice, so leave us a comment below or on FB
The 10 K was a relatively easy course, setting out from the Acadia campus in Wolfville to Greenwich, hanging a right down over the train-tracks and the Cornwallis River to Port Williams, running a box around Port Williams before heading back to Acadia back the way you came and finishing on the Acadia track. The major difficulties were the hill climbing up to the lights at Greenwich on the way home with ca. 3 km to go and the turn. The turn was near-as-dammit at the Port Williams Bistro, who do a great plate of fish-and-chips, or maybe a lamb-burger all washed down with a locally brewed beer. Like we said, passing this without going in was a major difficulty!
The first familiar name we saw was Bridgetown KOS RD James Hayward, coming in 2nd overall in 38:23. Of course, with Soloman Tsenameskei winning in 32:13 despite going off course and dong more distance (according to our sources), James was really first real person! Charles Verge was next with a 42:24, Virginia Soehl was 5th lady overall in 45:32. We also saw Mike Pettipas (45:38), Dianne Chaisson (47:26 and 2nd AG), Candice Stapleton using her Worlds form for a 49:25 PB and Nancy Petrie, 3rd AG in 49:28. As always, we're too much of a gentleman to tell you what AG those actually are.
The marathon and half-marathon started in the same manner as the 10K, but 30 minutes earlier. A quick 500m square around Wolfville before heading out of town to Greenwich and taking the same right down to Port Williams. Instead of doing the box around town and heading back we all headed straight past the Port Williams Bistro (hmmm, lamb-burger) and into the lanes. The Half turned just after the Fox Hill Dairy (another major obstacle, as they have a great line in ice-cream and possibly the best cheese curds for poutine in the province). The marathon carried on across the Wellington Dyke and wended it's way through the lanes through Canning to Kingsport where they turned and came back. The course is rolling, with a few serious hills.
The wind was a major factor on Sunday, blowing in hard from the east; possibly gusting at over 50 kph! The winding nature of the course meant the runners were constantly tacking in and out of the wind, with a short headwind stretches followed by crosswinds, then tail-winds and so on. Whether this is better or worse than doing ten or twenty kilometers out into a headwind before ten or twenty wind assisted kilometres back will surely be a matter for debate. For the record, this was one of the windiest races we've ever done, and we were in the '05 Bluenose!
Riverport RD Tom Rogers at the sign-in with forty-five minutes
and counting to his first half-marathon, ever!
The first triathlete, well duathlete, back in the half was Matt White's fine 7th place in 1:21:02, a full second faster than his time in the 2007 event, which was neither windy or hilly (being on the old Kentville course). Matt claims that this was his first long run "in months", but sub-4 minute kilometre pace surely begs to differ. Next in was yours truly. We pace-bunnied a friend, Matt C., in the full out to the turn at 12 km before booting it for the remaining 9 km home. We picked off a fair few people on the way back, including one guy who actually said to us "no you're not" when he was passed and upped the pace. We thought not too, held his heels, successfully counter-attacked at the farmers market with 2 K to go and didn't see him again!
As an aside, the whole reason for bunnying Matt C. (Matt W didn't need bunnying, much less by us) was to help him qualify for Boston by not going out like gang-busters and saving something for the last 10 K. So we're dead chuffed that he made his qualifying time by a full five minutes. Way to go Matt, see you in Hopkington next Patriots Day.
The next triathlete back after us was a newcomer to Nova Scotia; Brooke Brown, whose 1:28:03 got her first lady. Brooke recently moved her from Toronto for her graduate work. We actually met her for the first time at World Du's in Edinburgh, where she did a 39' ten-K in R1. Welcome Brooke.
Next we see Dan Thompson (1:29:47) closely followed by Kelly Amirault (as in Shawn), who was second lady with 1:30:28. We think that Rob Welsh in 1:33:24 is Brooke's partner. We checked him out on Sportstats and found his results included several half-Ironman distance dus. Stacy Juckett-Chestnutt (1:36:53) was probably finding Wolfville colder than the Greek islands! Then we see Shane Hawkins (1:38:44), Caryn Small Legs-Nagge (1st AG), Gayland Goodwin (1:39:00), Terry Curley (1:45), Tammy Slaunwhite (1:52:54), Tina White (1:53:52), Patsy Langille (1:55:40), Kari-Ellen Graham (1:55:50), Louis Dionne (1:55:50), Moka Case (1:56:18), Mike Kennedy (1:57:56) and Riverport RD Tom Rogers (2:09:56) in his first half-marathon ever.
The marathon was exciting, with only 85 seconds separating the first four runners. In Nova Scotia, marathons are usually decided by minutes, not seconds. Chris Mackenzie, in his annual marathon, clamined 4th in 3:01:54, which might also be a PB.
That includes a couple of outings on the much flatter Kentville course too. Then there's the cold Chris has been nursing for a couple of weeks. Chuck in the hills and the wind and that was quite a performance. Then we see Stephen Abbott (3:24) closely followed by first lady Sherri Goodwin (3:28). Garth Spinney also ran 3:28, 8 minutes faster than Barrington earlier this year and a full 18 minutes faster than Valley last year! Next up was Rachel Fox (3:25), winner of her AG at '05 Investors, Rhonda Cook (3:39 and 1st AG), Nancy Neatt (3:40), the Mark Campell-Ron MacDougall tandem (3:46), Elizabeth Corkum (3:50), Janet Salo (4:25) and Aaron Thibault (4:50).
A word or two on the Campbell-MacDougal tandem. They'd teamed up by the time we caught up to them at 27 kms (we hopped on our bike straight after our finish and rode out, dropping a gel off to Matt C on the way). The results suggest that Ron was the pilot and Mark the rear-gunner and this picture to the contrary, was not always the case.
The conversation was varied, admittedly much of it scatological in nature, but it also touched on how many people could fit on the TA's bike, a novel interpretation of embryology to support one's Boston entry, clan squabbles ("the Campbells are coming") and dairy products. Mark took especial exception to Ron's use of the kilt as a sail during the tail-wind sections, often asking Ron to "take in his spanker", to which Ron would usually reply that he was trying but he was having problems with his bowsprit. On the downhill sections Ron would often make reference to his "highland charge" which, to this displaced Brit, could only bring to mind Kenneth Williams description in Carry On Up The Khyber "you have not made war, but think how frightening it would be to have such a man charging at you with his skirts flying in the air and flashing his great big bayonet at you"
So frightening it could be, at least one of the RCMP staffing the route gave Ron a verbal warning that a ticket would be forthcoming should he have a wardrobe malfunction and do a Marilyn in the headwinds! We're not sure what section of the criminal code this may come under, but he may have been referring to Captain Keane's lecture to Private Widdle in Carry On.... "there are two specific occasions when wearing of underpants is permissible; one - church parade and two - gymnastics display, and only then when ladies are to be present"
Fakir, off! indeed!
This weekend marked McScotch's second marathon in eight days and brought the Tartan Tally to 36 with Mark chalking up event 21 on the Counter, leaving it looking like this
Both still have a full schedule of events coming up too. Let us know if you've hung up your wheels for the season or if you're going to carry on racing until the calendar runs out of events.
I'm sending this report to a few of you who might be interested. It's the day after the race here in Hawaii. Meant to email last night, but I was just too bagged to be coherent. After spectating my first Ironman, I have to say that I think it's less tiring to race.
The pro race was interesting yesterday with the late withdrawal of Chrissie Wellington (the overwhelming woman's favourite) due to illness, and an unexpected men's win by the controversial and brash Chris MacCormack.
The day was hot by Cape Breton standards, although normal by Hawaii standards (85 degrees - whatever the hell that means. Why can't these Americans join the 20th century and go metric!) and windy, making for a tough bike ride. The course is surprisingly hilly, and the times are much slower than other Ironman courses.
Wow - it's an amazing field here. For instance, in my age group alone there were 80 people under 10 hours, on this very tough course.
Julie had a solid race. She felt she was not as mentally pumped for it as she should have been, and as most of the other racers were, but all in all things went well. The race start is REALLY rough, as most of the field are good swimmers and very aggressive. Add an ocean swell and no wetsuits and it makes for a real challenge. The bike course was very windy, hilly, and hot. The run is reasonably hilly, with no shade at all anywhere, and with the bonus of the increased temperatures in the lava fields from the sun baking the black rocks.
Julie came in at 10:43. Last year (and most years) that would have won her age division by a fair margin. This year, she was only in 6th place (originally it had said 7th but there was an error in the results) out of 66 people. The course record in this division had been 10:26, but was smashed by 25 MINUTES!! this year, and 2nd place broke it by 17 minutes. Karen Smyers time this year (former Hawaii winner and still racing pro at 49 yrs old) would only have put her 4th in this age group. So I think Julie did well at 6th place! Sadly, the prizes (which were quite nice) only went 5-deep in each age group, so she just missed her chance to stand on the podium at the big show. She was a bit bummed.
Today we spent driving around Hawaii's Big Island. Wow - amazing place. From deserts to lush tropical rainforests, 13000 ft mountains, active volcanoes, and more. All on an Island only about 80K in circumference.
The awards ceremony today was a bit of a denouement. Neither Chris MacCormack or Mirinda Carfrae was a good speaker, and the whole thing was LONG. The only highlight was watching 80-yr-old Lou Hollander take his crown as the 80+ champion and oldest finisher. (BTW - he was only 1 minute slower than at age 55!).
I posted some photos if you want to check them out. Julie insisted I post the underpants run shots. I have to defend myself by saying that everyone as doing it, I swear (the last time I ran down the street in underpants I was drunk and ended up in jail overnight, although I have to say the charges were later dropped)! Back tomorrow.
It'll be a challenge to readjust to CB October temperatures.
Night before the race. Julie is in bed, with the gentle reminder that "If you wake me up I'll kill you". Ah - true love!
Today was bike/gear check in. Very smooth and well organized. While Julie checked in I had a chance to chat with some German racers, on of whom qualified at Regensburg.
Drove the bike course today. Not easy. Windy like crazy (hugs the coast), and hilly too. Temp in the mid to high 80's and humid. Had a little mishap at the coffee shop when I tried to throw the car keys out in the garbage with my banana peel. Thanks to Julie for sorting that out (I blame my splint).
We had a false Magali Tissyere sighting today, but I should note that the woman I approached was a reasonable facsimile ("Tara", it turns out, with no trace of a French accent). Ah well, it gave me an excuse to talk to her.
Got out for a run, followed by a beautiful evening swim in the ocean near our condo. I stayed close to shore though after reading "snorkeling at dusk is not recommended". They didn't say why, but suffice it to say that I watched 'Jaws' at a very formative age, and came up with my own reasoning as to why.
Up at 4AM tomorrow (mercifully only 11AM Cape Breton time!), and excited to watch the best in the world give'r. Will send another report tomorrow night.
Hi from Kona Hawaii. Thought I'd send a wee report.
Got here yesterday after about 19 hrs of travel, but through the wonders of time zone change it was only 6PM. The trip was good, better, and bad. Good was sitting next to a really cool native Hawaiian guy on the last leg of the trip who told me all about the history of the Islands, etc. Better was that he happened to have free beer tickets (maybe the best thing ever in my life!). Bad was that the security guard in LA airport dropped my laptop onto a cement floor (turns out it's not good for them).
It's beautiful here. Remember the pictures or movies you've seen of tropical paradises in the Pacific? This really is one. Although it makes me a little nervous that it's so volcanically active. Every time my bowels gurgle I do a double-take.
Today we spent wandering around the HUGE race expo. My god there are a lot of beautiful bikes (and other gear). It was impossible to resist buying some (not a bike though). The Kona Coffee is great, as are the smoothies (fresh tropical fruit - nice!)
The highlight of my day was participating in the Kona Underpants run (not making this up - check out http://www.slowtwitch.com/photos/Detailed/161.html ). I'm in the photos, although hard to pick out. Julie was, predictably, too prudish to participate (Baptist family, what are ya gonna do) but did enjoy chortling at me and watching a thousand fit men cavort in their underpants. There were fit women too but of course I did not notice them.
One thing that became immediately obvious today is that I'm currently the most homely and out of shape person in town. Once I leave it will be Joe the homeless alcoholic guy (who happens to run a 2:42 marathon and won his age group on the Ironman last year). But seriously, it's a crazy-fit bunch of people walking around town. Wowsa. As Vince would say, "It's a target-rich environment".
We swam in the ocean here today, which gave me a chance to practice my butterfly where nobody (but Julie) was there to watch and snicker (to answer your question - it still sucks). It is possible to swim with a plastic arm brace (although not well), and I figure I'll come home with a unique tan. It was wicked to swim in water so warm I have no desire for a wetsuit (even Julie doesn't need a wetsuit!)
Tomorrow is check-in day for Julie (this race is Saturday, not Sunday), so we're back into town for that. Will send another report tomorrow evening (Hawaii time, that would be middle-of-the-night for you all)
It is almost the end of the season... Only one more race tomorrow!
(more than 120 registered @ Riverport Du! Yeah!)
Some TNS members are taking a few green initiatives:
- recycling of timing chips
- donation of used running shoes
- re-using of safety pins!
If you have any of those items (which I know you all do), please bring them to the banquet, on Nov 6. If for any reasons you can't make it to the banquet, please bring them to the race tomorrow. I will collect chips, pins and shoes.
What will happen with those items?
Chips: Will be send back to Atlantic Chip Timing, who will then send them to a recycling program
Pins: Will be used at races next year! (No reason why each RD should buy new pins after all)
Shoes: Will be donated to Luke MacDonald @ Aerobic First. The shoes will be distributed to people who unfortunately, at this point in their life, can't afford running shoes.
We are very lucky to be able to participate in multi-sport events, let's share our chance!
