Saturday morning I did a slow, scenery-savouring run along the course before the racers got there, and at 8 in the morning with temperatures still low and a wee breeze off the lake, it was really pleasant. I can imagine how at high noon on a cloudless day it's a bit more of a burning-in-hell trial-by-fire.
Mile 1: cool lakeside
Mile 2: still cool lakeside
Mile 3: off the road, on the trail, but enjoy the lakeside temps while you still can
Mile 4: heading inland and uphill
Mile 5: in the middle of the godforsaken misery-inducing hills
Mile 6: back in the flats, bikes to the left
Mile 7: still roadside, bikes to the left
Mile 8: back into the wilds after winding through campsites
Mile 9: end of the road for this photog
The payback for enjoying the campsite was to be the runner for a relay entry in Sunday's Olympic distance triathlon in the team sponsored by my friend and host's bike shop, Front of the Pack. A strong swimmer and a flyin' Frenchman of a cyclist left me enough room to breathe out on the run...and we all got hats and shirts for our efforts. Pretty good for a weekend's holiday.
The positive effects of living for a couple days without permanent shelter and showering by swimming in a lake are not to be underestimated.
8 comments:
very cool.
i remember doing this tri back in the mid-90's.
sheesh.
mile 6: the world is drying up and turning brown again
oV: you can swim?
xb: Last year Mile 6 was obscured by chest-high greenery, thanks to that extra-wet winter.
btw, swimming is great training as we transition from the road to cyclocross season.
and ... when are we going to see you on za road competition, my canuckian friend?
we can't save you solely for the crossey-cross.
oV: I'm livin' the runner's life 'til the end of July. If there's any road-racing fun to be had in Aug/Sept, I may be there to pack-fill the cat 5's.
I like miles 1 and 2. I would saunter slowly along them and fuck miles 3 through 9.
hey, we raced wildflower!!! did I pass you on the bike?
doh! you were the runner.
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