Monday, July 13, 2009
Race Report
Here's a little more of the story from the race ...
I flew up to Toronto from Fredericton and spent a couple of days visiting with my buddy Dave P. We have been friends for more than 25 years now and throughout my adventures in running, triathlon and fundraising he has been one of my most vocal and generous supporters. We had a great time hanging out, did a nice 5k run at his local Running Room and he spent mucho time trying to indoctrinate me into his world of wholistic nutrition. Some of it has actually taken with me. (PS to Dave - I am still Diet Coke free - 5 1/2 days and counting!)
Early Friday morning I picked up my race partner Myra and another of the blind participants (Rozzina) and we headed 2 hours north to lake country - the Muskoka region. What a magnificent part of the country. Gorgeous lakes, beautiful rock outcroppings, forests, etc. Found our way to the CNIB (Canadian National Institute for the Blind) summer camp on Lake Joseph (aka Lake Jo). Great facility that was to be home base for the race and where we from the Blind Guys Tri Team would be staying. Both Myra and Rozzina have stayed at the camp in previous years but it was the first time for me to be there.
After lunch we headed to a spot where we could do a practise swim. The water was beautiful - clear and cold but perfect since we were wearing tri wetsuits. I think we did about 400-500 meters in practise and all went well. After the swim it was time to check into the camp and then we went for a practise bike ride on Myra's Cannondale tandem. It is a really great set of wheels.
By early evening the camp was a beehive of activity as the race crew got everything set up - timimg mats, transition areas, etc. Once they were ready we got our race packs (great swag - a couple of tech tees, a water bottle, some product giveaways, etc.) and then we racked our bike. Had a great race briefing, then a Blind Guys Tri Team meeting, a late dinner and finally off to bed.
The race itself is called the "Joe's Team Triathlon". It is the brainchild of Joe Finlay, a cottager on Lake Jo who was diagnosed with cancer several years ago. He started the race as a fundraiser for the Princess Margaret Hospital Cancer Research Unit. In only a couple of years the race has become huge - raising $1 million this year alone. $1 million!!! Amazing!!! The race is in fact the biggest charity fundraising triathlon in the country. There were over 400 participants in total, rounghly 300 in the sprint triathlon as individuals and then some relay teams and some duathlon (bike/run) individuals and relay teams. And because of where it takes place (Canada's rich and famous cottage in the Muskoka's) there are lots of very well to do individuals involved. For example, Paul Coffey, multiple Stanley Cup winner and Hall of Famer took part.
Weather forecast was quite ominous all week and sure enough at 5 a.m. on race day the thunder, lightening and rain were intense. We had been told that the rule was that in case of inclement weather race would be delayed until at least 20 minutes had passed since any audible thunder or visible lightening. My biggest worry was that they would outright cancel and that the trip would have been in vain. Happily, by 7 a.m. the rain let up and there was no more thunder/lightening. So, I got our gear laid out in the transition area, covered it with a plastic garbage bag just in case and then had some breakfast - coffee, bagels, fruit, etc. Then it was into our wetsuits and down to the water.
Race started right on time at 9:05. Myra and I were in the 5th of 6 waves (determined by participant age) so by the time we started it was almost 9:30. Not to worry though because it was all based on chip timing so the delay in the start is deducted from your overall time.
The first leg of the swim was proceeding fine but then Myra started to experience a racing heart beat. It's a condition that she sometimes gets and so she wasn't panicked. We just had to stop, tread water and wait for her pulse to slow. When it did we set off, rounding the first marker on a decent pace. Roughly halfway along the second leg of the swim Myra started to experience some dizziness. She felt like she was spinning in place. Wish I could've taped the confused conversation we had as I tried to understand what she was telling me about how she was feeling. Eventually I understood though and reassured her that we could rest as long as needed and if necessary there were lots of safety people on the water. She was determined though to finish and so after a minute or two of rest she was ready to set off again. The rest of the swim was uneventful.
Leaving the water we walked up to T1, stripped off the wetsuits, into our bike helmets and shoes, long walk to the mount line and then off we went. Lots of cheers from spectators who were all about. Great course marshalling and of course police at the key road intersections. Thank you volunteers for making it possible for us to race in safety!!!
The bike section was great. Since we were amongst (but not) the last out of the water, there were lots of people out front of us to pass. I kept telling Myra that we would be the hunters and the others wouldn't even know we were out to get them. I would tell her when we had another "target" ahead and then when we would pass them I would say, "There, another victim". I think we passed more than a dozen people on the 20k ride. In fact, our bike split was faster than 20% of the competitors. Not bad, eh?
The bike course was a 20k course (ie. 10k out and 10k back). We arrived back at T2, changed into running gear and then headed out on the course. Most of the field was finishing and so as we passed we cheered for them and they cheered for us. The course was 2.5k out and 2.5k back so we got to see everyone at least once, including the people who were behind us in the race. I really like this because I think it makes for a much more "supportive" environment.
As we approached the finish the race announcer called out our names and we crossed in what has become our trademark style - smiling, holding hands and both arms up in the air as if we had won an Olympic medal.
After a shower, late lunch and a brief snooze it was time for the after-party. It was a wonderful event - steak BBQ, live band (Canadian rock stars Blue Rodeo led by Jim Cuddy who also took part in the tri), etc. Unfortunately, we had to be on the road by 6 a.m. so that I could get my flight home so I packed it in early but the music, dancing and partying went on till God knows when.
Return trip went well with only one exception. When we arrived home at Myra's place she was locked out of her house. Her husband is physically disabled and has a brain injury as a result of a fall off a ladder a decade ago but she managed to wake him and he came downstairs to unlock the deadbolt. Somehow he ended up falling in the hallway and usually he can't get up on his own. I had to watch through the mail slot in the door as Myra tried to coax him with her voice up to his feet. It was absolutely agonizing to see the pain that this man was experiencing but the determination was remarkable and he managed to get upright without me having to break in through a window or call 9-1-1.
Notwithstanding this last little incident, this was a truly fantastic experience for me and I am so grateful to Myra for inviting me to be her guide. While I'm looking forward to doing some individual races over the rest of the summer and fall, I am hopeful that I'll have future opportunities to serve as a guide as well. Try it - you'll like it!!!!
I flew up to Toronto from Fredericton and spent a couple of days visiting with my buddy Dave P. We have been friends for more than 25 years now and throughout my adventures in running, triathlon and fundraising he has been one of my most vocal and generous supporters. We had a great time hanging out, did a nice 5k run at his local Running Room and he spent mucho time trying to indoctrinate me into his world of wholistic nutrition. Some of it has actually taken with me. (PS to Dave - I am still Diet Coke free - 5 1/2 days and counting!)
Early Friday morning I picked up my race partner Myra and another of the blind participants (Rozzina) and we headed 2 hours north to lake country - the Muskoka region. What a magnificent part of the country. Gorgeous lakes, beautiful rock outcroppings, forests, etc. Found our way to the CNIB (Canadian National Institute for the Blind) summer camp on Lake Joseph (aka Lake Jo). Great facility that was to be home base for the race and where we from the Blind Guys Tri Team would be staying. Both Myra and Rozzina have stayed at the camp in previous years but it was the first time for me to be there.
After lunch we headed to a spot where we could do a practise swim. The water was beautiful - clear and cold but perfect since we were wearing tri wetsuits. I think we did about 400-500 meters in practise and all went well. After the swim it was time to check into the camp and then we went for a practise bike ride on Myra's Cannondale tandem. It is a really great set of wheels.
By early evening the camp was a beehive of activity as the race crew got everything set up - timimg mats, transition areas, etc. Once they were ready we got our race packs (great swag - a couple of tech tees, a water bottle, some product giveaways, etc.) and then we racked our bike. Had a great race briefing, then a Blind Guys Tri Team meeting, a late dinner and finally off to bed.
The race itself is called the "Joe's Team Triathlon". It is the brainchild of Joe Finlay, a cottager on Lake Jo who was diagnosed with cancer several years ago. He started the race as a fundraiser for the Princess Margaret Hospital Cancer Research Unit. In only a couple of years the race has become huge - raising $1 million this year alone. $1 million!!! Amazing!!! The race is in fact the biggest charity fundraising triathlon in the country. There were over 400 participants in total, rounghly 300 in the sprint triathlon as individuals and then some relay teams and some duathlon (bike/run) individuals and relay teams. And because of where it takes place (Canada's rich and famous cottage in the Muskoka's) there are lots of very well to do individuals involved. For example, Paul Coffey, multiple Stanley Cup winner and Hall of Famer took part.
Weather forecast was quite ominous all week and sure enough at 5 a.m. on race day the thunder, lightening and rain were intense. We had been told that the rule was that in case of inclement weather race would be delayed until at least 20 minutes had passed since any audible thunder or visible lightening. My biggest worry was that they would outright cancel and that the trip would have been in vain. Happily, by 7 a.m. the rain let up and there was no more thunder/lightening. So, I got our gear laid out in the transition area, covered it with a plastic garbage bag just in case and then had some breakfast - coffee, bagels, fruit, etc. Then it was into our wetsuits and down to the water.
Race started right on time at 9:05. Myra and I were in the 5th of 6 waves (determined by participant age) so by the time we started it was almost 9:30. Not to worry though because it was all based on chip timing so the delay in the start is deducted from your overall time.
The first leg of the swim was proceeding fine but then Myra started to experience a racing heart beat. It's a condition that she sometimes gets and so she wasn't panicked. We just had to stop, tread water and wait for her pulse to slow. When it did we set off, rounding the first marker on a decent pace. Roughly halfway along the second leg of the swim Myra started to experience some dizziness. She felt like she was spinning in place. Wish I could've taped the confused conversation we had as I tried to understand what she was telling me about how she was feeling. Eventually I understood though and reassured her that we could rest as long as needed and if necessary there were lots of safety people on the water. She was determined though to finish and so after a minute or two of rest she was ready to set off again. The rest of the swim was uneventful.
Leaving the water we walked up to T1, stripped off the wetsuits, into our bike helmets and shoes, long walk to the mount line and then off we went. Lots of cheers from spectators who were all about. Great course marshalling and of course police at the key road intersections. Thank you volunteers for making it possible for us to race in safety!!!
The bike section was great. Since we were amongst (but not) the last out of the water, there were lots of people out front of us to pass. I kept telling Myra that we would be the hunters and the others wouldn't even know we were out to get them. I would tell her when we had another "target" ahead and then when we would pass them I would say, "There, another victim". I think we passed more than a dozen people on the 20k ride. In fact, our bike split was faster than 20% of the competitors. Not bad, eh?
The bike course was a 20k course (ie. 10k out and 10k back). We arrived back at T2, changed into running gear and then headed out on the course. Most of the field was finishing and so as we passed we cheered for them and they cheered for us. The course was 2.5k out and 2.5k back so we got to see everyone at least once, including the people who were behind us in the race. I really like this because I think it makes for a much more "supportive" environment.
As we approached the finish the race announcer called out our names and we crossed in what has become our trademark style - smiling, holding hands and both arms up in the air as if we had won an Olympic medal.
After a shower, late lunch and a brief snooze it was time for the after-party. It was a wonderful event - steak BBQ, live band (Canadian rock stars Blue Rodeo led by Jim Cuddy who also took part in the tri), etc. Unfortunately, we had to be on the road by 6 a.m. so that I could get my flight home so I packed it in early but the music, dancing and partying went on till God knows when.
Return trip went well with only one exception. When we arrived home at Myra's place she was locked out of her house. Her husband is physically disabled and has a brain injury as a result of a fall off a ladder a decade ago but she managed to wake him and he came downstairs to unlock the deadbolt. Somehow he ended up falling in the hallway and usually he can't get up on his own. I had to watch through the mail slot in the door as Myra tried to coax him with her voice up to his feet. It was absolutely agonizing to see the pain that this man was experiencing but the determination was remarkable and he managed to get upright without me having to break in through a window or call 9-1-1.
Notwithstanding this last little incident, this was a truly fantastic experience for me and I am so grateful to Myra for inviting me to be her guide. While I'm looking forward to doing some individual races over the rest of the summer and fall, I am hopeful that I'll have future opportunities to serve as a guide as well. Try it - you'll like it!!!!
# posted by FreddyBeachPete @ 1:10 PM 
