World Age Group Olympic Distance Triathlon Championships, Vancouver, BC

When one considers competing in a World Championships, one imagines great conditions, great competition and, given the amount of thought and training I'd put in for this since December, a great race. Sometimes, though, the best laid plans don't exactly happen.

Vancouver would be a nice venue for this race - if the weather had cooperated. Unfortunately, it rained and was 55 degrees from the moment we all arrived, soaking the junior races and the sprint world championships on Thursday and Friday (the pro women also had a miserable morning on Sunday; the pro men had very good weather in the afternoon). We were also anxious about the 54-55 degree water, but most of us had swum in cold water and were prepared for our race in it on Saturday morning.

However, the ITU in its wisdom canceled the swim for just over half the age groupers, citing surf conditions that prevented boats from being able to pull people out if need be. Yes, they did pull about 13 people from the water in early races (womens races were first, and those pulled were likley in older age groups), but this is the World Championships! We laughed when we thought about Sunday's Alcatraz race, where 2000 people swim in EXACTLY the same conditions for a longer time.

Anyway, we were first told that our races would be delayed an hour and then told around 9:00 that the swim was cancelled and the race was being turned into a duathlon - 3K-40K-10K. Not what I wanted, despite being a former runner, since a fast 3K would not be kind to my recently healed achilles tendon. At any rate, I found some stuff to eat before my race was due to start at 11:15 (instead of 9:45).

I ended up racing to a 1:51:11. I was 4th after the first run coming into T1 (it wasn't 3K either - it was short - I ran about 7:40). I lost a few seconds as my bike pedal caught my bag, but got out. I biked a 1:02 - almost 3 minutes faster than I ever have before - but I don't think I drank enough as, surprisingly, the weather turned warm and sunny after 3 days of chill and rain. Got off the bike and ran. I did a 38:03 10K but was cramping a bit in the last of 3 laps we ran...drank gatorade and took GU and it helped, but I couldn't really fly like I wanted.

Unfortunately, I have no idea yet what actual place I did get as the results for the M40 group were officially still "incorrect" as of last night's awards. For instance, the guy in first place in the unofficial results is down for a 23 minute 10K run; there are athletes with 50 minute and 52 minute bike times; and people apparently missed laps on the run and/or the bike (bike was 4 loops of 10K; run was 3 loops with 5 180 degree turns). I heard they are going through video to try and sort it out.

I will say that the whole thing was very inspiring. Seeing the 60s, 70s and (yes) 80s athletes was pretty cool, not to mention being able to wear the TeamUSA gear (sorry, Rick) and represent the country. Except during the opening ceremonies, which were cancelled due to rain.

Multisport weekend results: Alabama, Alcatraz, Maryland and the World Championships in British Columbia

We'll get more color reporting from the racers but here is the skinny:

Pelham, Alabama Sunday June 8th. Southeast XTerra Championships. Olympic Distance, Off-Road. Dominic Gillen, TARGETRAINING's head of multisport, got 4th place, while Tyler Johnson, TARGETRAINING's newest full time addition to the multisport staff, got 9th. Dom was 5th out of the water and finished out of the third spot by just over 1 minute. Tyler had a pretty slow swim (finishing mid to back of pro pack) but had a solid bike and strong run to pass a bunch of competitors. They are both going to Virginia next week for the Xterra National Championships.

Alcatraz, San Francisco Bay, California. Olympic Distance. Meg Griffis and Greg Stewart flew across the country. Megan was well prepared and had a blistering water leg, finishing first amateur and 5th overall woman. But a combination of cold water and feet positioning during the swim and bike may have led to her dropping out due to severe cramping. Greg finished in 2:33:53 and in 22nd in the 35-39 age group.

Cambridge, Maryland. Eagleman 70.3 Ironman. Scott Feder and Bruce Koffsky braved the fuel prices and the heat and drove to Maryland. Scott went under 5:12 and finished around 30th in his age group. Of course, the timers appear to have thrown off the results. Bruce is reported officially to have finished 12th in his age group with a 5:06 but he seems to have benefited from timing problems. We'll see how it sorts out.

Vancouver, British Columbia, ITU World Championships. David Yockleson got 28th in the 40-44 with a sub 1:52 time. Seems blazing fast.

Please email in any corrections.

Where were the balloons?

Oh my goodness was it hot... Today [Saturday June 7th] was the Balloon Fest Road Race up in Cambridge, NY; home of the Battenkill Roubaix race and promoter. Well, this promoter was able to find the steepest hills and hottest sun I have ever seen. He also threw in a dirt road.

Seriously, it was 90 degrees and 85% humidity.

The Pro-12 race was an 84 mile contest. The U-25/Elite team brought up: locals No Nickname Nate & Justin, Leero, Stylin' Ben, Matt and Adam Bomb to race against a small but elite field of New England and Northeastern riders. Things started badly when Matt broke his chain soon after Leero went on a 20 mile solo attack. This move was brought back and Nate covered a super move while d' Bomb almost died of heat stroke.

Meanwhile, as the more than half the field was decimated by the heat, the hills and lots of crashes, a strong break sans Targetraining was up the road. Nate and Lee chased it down and Justin made the final move with a long lap to go. He was double teamed by Fiordifrutta and Roger Aspholm. Justin held on for an extremely respectable 5th place. He looked very strong and solid and everyone was proud. Nice!

This was a tough day of racing for everyone.

In other races, Ryan Storm stopped contesting the junior race with heat exhaustion, and I saw our good friend Joe in the 3 race, and he finished the entire 63 mile race riding for the final 10 miles with a front flat! Someone get him some good luck! The 63 mile racing masters field saw a strong and excited Max L. leading the chase against an early break (that stayed away) HH Bodin and the Badger covering the rest. I saw Rick in there too but man, was it hot! Scott got 6th and Max, despite flatting, got 7th.

Next week, the new and more painful Housatonic Hills Road Race. This years slogan: If you are not racin', you're driving! See you then. Remember to wish the lads well as they leave HHRR for the Tour of Ohio that same week. Cool! Thanks!

Kyle Wolfe Manager, TARGETRAINING Racing Teams
http://www.targetraining.com/

Why we ride..run..swim...

Look at this...

Mt. Ventoux. It is a spectacular view and if you don't want to take a car, something that requires being fit to get to...

Wednesday night ride...giggles and grins

Ah, it made me miss Bataan...

Last night was the weekly TARGETRAINING Wednesday night ride out of the Westport location. With traffic and pending rain keeping most away, a small but quick group headed out at 6:15pm.

Eneas gave us the directions and pretty boy Max Viega nodded his head. "yes" he says, " Iknow where to go". So, those two, me, client Dave, tri Dave, Frank and Lyn start riding. Max starts going fast and I had no choice but to cover him. it was my moral obligation.

Everyone had a lot of fun, and we decided to suffer too much. Soon, client Dave, Tri-Dave, Frank and Lyn were happy to let us do hill repeats (by the second time up Old Redding Road hill Frank and Lyn were concerned for our sanity). We were going fast...

We kept riding side by side. Max and Kyle. Mano a mano. Shark and Quinn. It was gruesome. This was no half wheel session, this was an all out macho fight. Who could inflict and suffer pain.

Well, we were both pretty tired. And around 8pm when we re-crossed the Trumbull town line, pretty scared. I was lost. Maximus kept talking how he recognized this road and how he does repeats on this hill. Blah blah blah.

THREE HOURS LATER, we make it back to Westport. Ugh. No one was waiting. Nice, we deserved it. I headed South back to my car at the office and Max went home. Until next week...