MSC Lakeside - Final Triathlon for 2013

Well its almost autumn now, and it sure felt like it at the last triathlon of the season - MSC Lakeside on Sat, Sep 14.  The overnight low went down to 5C and the air temp was a chilly 10C at start time. It was definitely a wetsuit recommended swim. Despite the cold start, I finished strong. I had my second best tri time of the season at 1:31:55. 

Here’s the race breakdown: 750m swim 17:22 (T1 3:26), 20km bike 44:00 (T2 0:57), 5km run 26:12. 

I’ve been feeling really good with my performance over the last year, and I’m thinking of moving up to the olympic distance from the sprint distance category next season. So there will be no slacking off over the winter for me! You’ll find me in the gym as usual. 

I had an interesting experience during the run portion of the course that I’d like to share with you. Its an experience that highlights the largely mental component of the run.  I was about 4.5 km into the run and the end was just a little further down the road.  I was tired but still holding a strong pace coming into the finish, when I heard one of the spectators yelling at me from the sidelines. I didn’t know who he was, he must have noticed my name on my racers bib, and started cheering me on and told me that I could run just a little bit harder these last 200m.  He told me I could pass those girls in front of me on the homestretch. I don’t know why he told me this, and I don’t know why I listened to him, but his voice stirred something inseide of me and fueled me on.  I pushed it hard for those last 200m and I managed to pass 2 more women in my age category on my way to the finish line. Because of his encouragement I moved up from 16/24 to 14/24 in my age category. It felt awesome. I wish I could have found that guy after the race, as I would’ve liked to buy him a beer to thank him, but I lost him in the crowd.  

The reason I’m sharing this story is to highlight the mental component of the run.  You can always dig a little deeper and push a little harder than you realize, sometimes it takes a push from your trainer or teammate to get you going, but you can do it. Its all in your head, you just need to channel those thoughts down to your legs and get going!  

Anyway, here’s to even better run times in 2014!