Muskoka Chase Race
After a disappointing end to the 2007 season – one that was filled with injuries - I was excited to get back to racing. The winter had been filled with some very solid hours of training and I am finally feeling 100% healthy. I had contemplated going back to Ixtapa, but after last year’s misadventures I decided to take a pass. So first up on the schedule: Muskoka!
After a disappointing end to the 2007 season - one that was filled with injuries - I was excited to get back to racing. The winter had been filled with some very solid hours of training and I am finally feeling 100% healthy. I had contemplated going back to Ixtapa, but after last year’s misadventures I decided to take a pass. So first up on the schedule: Muskoka!
The lead up to the race was very typical. Ryan Grant and I shared a ride and a hotel room and he had me laughing the whole time. What a funny guy! As I finished my final race prep the night before, I was feeling good. Unfortunately during the night I had to deal with some stomach issues and was up in the bathroom several times. This left me feeling a little depleted the next morning but I was feeling good enough to toe the line.
The swim start was unusually calm. Usually at the start line guys are jostling for position and creeping up beyond the line in anticipation of the gun. Often the better swimmers are targeted and others crowd around, hoping to get on their feet. But this race was different – the start was surprisingly laid back. I guess it was the calm before the storm, for as soon as the gun went off the race took off at a torrent pace. Sean Bechtel took the early lead and set a pace that seemed impossibly fast. I was questioning weather or not I would be able to hold on! But I grit my teeth, dug in, and held on as best I could. Then, out of no where, Buddy Green came flying up on the right and took over the lead from Sean. Even though I suspect Sean is the better swimmer of the two, he seemed content to let Buddy take the lead. The quick pace continued until the first turn, then thankfully slowed down. There was a bit of confusion at the first turn as we went slightly off course. Sean, with his good sighting veered back in the right direction and I followed. Buddy worked hard to get back to our group and got right back in front.
The pace was steady most of the way until we got down the canal on the final 500m. I dont think Buddy realized that we could cut the tangent on the canal, so once again Sean took over and I followed. He took us in tight along the left hand shore to minimize the total distance. As soon as he took over the pace picked back up again and I thought I was going to get dropped. Buddy by this point was way off to the right and we were getting ahead. I dont know how he did it, but he picked up his pace, cut over towards us and promptly swam back up to the front to take over the lead again. I am guessing that at this point we were doing about 1:10 - 1:12 pace/100 as it felt very fast. So buddy must have been going about 67's or 68's to catch back up. He wanted that swim prime badly! His hard work paid off... Buddy was first out of the water, Sean finished right where he wanted (without expending very much energy) and I managed to hang on.
Sean looked comfortable and controlled on the bike. He seemed to start off easy at first, using the first 5-10km to build into his pace. I was able to stay within sight of him until about 15km, then he disappeared out of sight.
The rest of my bike was very boring and uneventful. I didnt see anyone else until 30km - when Dave Sharratt and Wolfgang Gumbel went breezing by. Wolf didnt go by me as soon or as fast as last year - maybe he was pacing for the run?
After these guys went by I was alone again until about 52km. At this point Ryan Grant went absolutely rocketing by me. I joked with him afterwards that it sounded like I got passed by an F15. He was moving VERY fast. (After we learned that he had the best split of the day). Coach Noel Harrington told Ryan to work the bike. Mission accomplished! Also catching me at the end was Nigel Gray.
On the run, Nigel and I started out together. We ran side by side until 4km. At that point he pulled ahead and I stayed right behind him for a while. Unfortunately for me I was dealing with stomach issues and was not feeling 100%. I had to slow the pace a little, even though it felt like I should have been running harder. I was surprised that we caught Dave around 6km. He was feeling even worse than I was - even though he looked unstoppable on the bike many miles earlier.
At the same time, on the other side of the road we saw Sean on his way back, about 5-10 seconds ahead of Cynthia. Wolfgang was a good distance behind both of them but he was running very well. At the time it looked like Sean would take the win and Cynthia would hold on for second in the chase.
As for my own race, I was still within range of Nigel at the turn around but was already losing steam. By 11km I was questioning if I would even be able to finish. I didnt want to look back because I knew that would give Ryan the signal that I was hurting badly. I just telling myself to put one foot in front of the other. It was very painful! With 2km to go I could feel Ryan coming and forced myself to pick it up. With 1km left I looked back and saw that I had only a small gap left, so I dug in and tried to give it everything I had left. To my surprise, I held on for 4th in our wave. To Ryan's credit though, he is normally a MUCH better runner than me but has been coming off an Achilles problem. When he is 100% the rest of the guys better take notice!
It was only at the finish line that I learned about the drama that had unfolded in the chase race. Somewhere around 11km Cynthia powered past Sean and held the lead until the very final hill. With the finish line in sight, a very determined Wolfgang caught and past Cynthia to steal the win in the final seconds.
I finished the race wishing that I could do it again (minus the stomach issues). Still, not a bad start to the year. I was slightly slower than last year but I know that I am in much better shape. So I am content to chalk it up to a tough day. Next time will be better!
