Tales in Triathlon
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Tales in Triathlon - George Papadakos
The darkness of a cool summer night has enveloped me. But yet I feel calm, maybe even in some sort of trance as I log some run miles on the streets that I call home.
There is no one around, and the only sounds that I hear are my own breath, the buzzing of my watch saying another kilometre is in the books, and the foot strike of my brand new Newtons.
My mind is racing another race that I long to compete in, the holy grail of triathlons. A race that has destroyed the best of the best, and summons demons from the very core of your soul.
My watch buzzes again, I check my pace time and see that I'm right on. I do a mental check of my hands, where are they? Am I clenching my fists? How's my posture?
They're all good, and that euphoric feeling of being in tune with oneself puts a snap in my step.
Of course I know I have a breaking point. I have been there before. Suffering. Asking myself questions (mostly with my inside voice), did I do enough training? What's happening? Is this all I've got? They say you can push through that barrier. But can you?
I have had great races, man have I had great races, only to blow up on the run. A smile comes to my face, and I laugh to myself. If only I could run that marathon with the speed of a marathoner.
Going down Concession hill now. What a pain in the butt! I put my head down and drive up the hill. Heart rate is rising rapidly. I focus on my hands and posture, and keeping those knees striding up the hill.
It hurts as I crest the top of the hill. A voice from within tells me to push. Where to? Before I can think, I have turned around and am bounding down the hill.
Gravity is cruel sometimes, and I am hanging on as I race towards the bottom.
As I feel the ground under my feet start to flatten out, I hammer it up to the top. There is no regard for the old ticker this time. I completely bury the needle.
One more time? I am barely hanging on to any semblance of what my running gait looks like. But before I turn to go back down I see a runner up the road.
He or she is up there about three blocks, and I set my sights on the new target.
I feel the buzz of my watch yet again, and I am close to my pre-run parameter of 12 kilometres. If I chase, I may be in for a longer run than I expected. My mind wants nothing of it.
I want to stop. That little voice telling me to sprint those hills, is now telling me it's okay, take a breather, you've earned it. I do. For a second I give in to a slow walk. I'm tired, and I start thinking of any excuse I can to just keep walking.
I've had a long day, work was busy, kids commitments, my legs ache. Suddenly that walk feels justified. I have earned this break.
Then some words from someone I know quite well pop into my head, "if you're going to be here you might as well give it all you got." It's so easy to fall prey to the negatives, that I missed all the positives.
I can run all night, I am fast, I am a triathlete, I do what others would never ever imagine doing, and I do it for fun.
A smirk comes across my face and I tell that little voice to beat it. The walk becomes a shuffle, shuffle turns into a jog and then that jog becomes my run. I love running. I am so free from everything. This time when the pain sets in I say "hello my good friend how are you, keep up with me if you can."
My watch is buzzing again. I don't look down. I know I'm running quick. Each stride has purpose. Knees are driving high, hands loose, head barely moving. I'll catch up.
I see the runner up ahead. Amazingly he or she hasn't put too much distance between us. I am a mere 50 meters behind now and I decided to move to the other side of the street so I don't startle him.
I glide past him with ease and it looks like he is battling some of his own voices. Dude I have been there. I flash out the peace sign and keep on going.
I'm on my street and wifey has left the front lights on, "thanks baby." I only have one thing that I think about when I finish a run, what its going to feel like when I qualify for the Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii.
But that's a story for another day, and I hope you will all join me again to listen.
Until I meet you at the start line, train smart and have fun.
ROSE CITY TRIATHLON RESULTS
Heather Cassidy had an amazing day at her first attempt at the 70.3 mile distance. It all started with a modest swim of 43:02 for the 2,000m loop. Heather then raced a 2:53 for the 90-km bike course which had her in great shape going into the run. Heather had explained that once she got to the run it was smooth sailing. She averaged 5:14 per kilometre for a 1:50 half marathon and a finish time of 5:35:16, smashing her pre-race goal finish time by 25 minutes, and finishing 6th in her age group.
Kathy Sinden was to be side by side with Heather during the race but was forced to change her race to accommodate a hamstring injury. Kathy raced a swim-bike race where she swam 2,000m, and then biked 90km. She would show her dominance in the water, and swim the 2,000m in 31:56 an average of 1:36 per kilometre. Once on the bike, Kathy kept the pressure on and had an exceptional bike of 2:52 averaging better than 31 km/h. Kathy placed 6th in her age group as well and will no doubt be back to challenge this distance again.