I feel like every post begins with me saying I am going to try to blog more often, but I am a busy guy so blogging sometimes falls on the back burner.
Since my last update not much has changed. Still training away and putting in hours at MultiSport Zone so I can pay for all my racing and equipment. Training has been going really well with one minor hiccup last week when my ankle/Achilles flared up after running on some gravel roads. Luckily Jenn Entwistle fixed me up and gave me the go ahead to race this past weekend at MultiSport Canada Huronia Olympic distance triathlon.
With nasty weather rolling in overnight we were in for an interesting race. Luckily I arrived early on Friday and was able to drive the course. I knew there would be some slick corners, and I would have to be a bit cautious.
With fear of thunderstorms rolling in the swim was shortened to two loops and when this was done the course went from 1500m to about 1400m. I wanted a proper 1500m so I made sure to swim all over the place. Really I just could not sight to save my life which is weird because usually I am pretty decent at swimming straight. I came out in 19:51 which is the slowest pace I have swam this year. However, I did not know the course was short until after so when I heard 19:50 I was like damn I am flying lets get rolling on the bike.
Coach Cliff wanted some power data from this race so he lent me his powertap disc with the instructions of staying around 220w. Racing with power is so much easier than RPE especially on a hilly course like this one. I was a bit below the goal of 220w as my average was 210w with a normalized power of 215w for a time of 1:05:23 for 40.6k. The first 5k of the course were pretty much uphill and struggled to get into a rhythm here. After that though I managed to lock in and push away. Managed to stay upright through the slick corners even though my rear wheel did start to slide out on one corner. Unfortunately not everyone was so lucky and there was quite a bit of road rash and stories after the race.
Coming into the run I was in a similar position being down approximately 3 minutes on the leaders. I did not panic just made sure to get out at a strong pace. I thought the run was tougher than the bike with some short steep rollers where you would go down, cross a slick wooden bridge, and then back up. If you have ever run a course like this you know how hard it can be to get in a rhythm and unlike the bike there is no power meter for running. At about 3k I passed fellow MultiSport Zone athlete Derek Quick, and he told me the others were just up the road. This was one of the more competitive run fields I have seen at an Ontario race with 8 of the top 10 running under 40 minutes. Unfortunately my 34:38 was only good enough to lose a sprint finish for 2nd.
Next up is my first ITU Continental Cup in Magog, Quebec in a week and a half. I am looking forward to racing some of the best young triathletes in Canada as this is the Canadian U23 National Championships.
I am off to the track to crush some intervals. I am going to try and post a couple more updates before Magog.
Glad to see the rollers on that run weren't just tough on us AG's Alex. Keep up the good work.
ReplyDeleteGreat recap — sounds like a tough but rewarding race! Training and racing on different surfaces (like gravel or slick corners) can really put stress on the ankles and Achilles. I’ve found that custom orthotics make a big difference in keeping my stride supported through long runs and tough courses
ReplyDeleteAwesome recap, Alex! Way to push through the tough swim and those slick bike corners—sounds like a seriously challenging course. That 34:38 run is super strong, especially in such a competitive field. Good luck in Magog at the ITU Continental Cup—you’ll crush it! Also, for long-distance racing, recovery tools like custom made orthotics can really help with performance and injury prevention
ReplyDeleteGreat recap! Love how you pushed through the tough conditions and still managed such strong results, especially on that challenging run course. It’s inspiring to see the discipline in tracking your power data and adapting your strategy. Also, with all the training load and that ankle flare-up, it might be worth looking into orthotics London Ontario to help with support and injury prevention during those long training blocks. Wishing you the best for Magog—go crush it
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ReplyDeleteGreat recap of your training and racing! The way you pushed through the ankle issue and tricky conditions shows real dedication. For athletes like you, protecting your feet and joints is crucial—sometimes supportive orthotics can help reduce strain and keep performance strong. Wishing you the best of luck at the ITU Continental Cup
ReplyDeleteGreat job pushing through tough conditions and staying consistent with your training! That kind of dedication really pays off—especially when you take care of the small details like recovery and proper support. I’ve found custom made orthotics make a big difference for runners and triathletes by helping reduce strain on the Achilles and improving overall performance. Keep crushing it out there!
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Alex! Your dedication to training and racing really shows — even with the challenges like the ankle flare-up and tricky weather conditions. It’s inspiring to see your determination and focus on improvement. For athletes like you in Ontario, staying injury-free is crucial, and proper orthotics London Ontario can make a big difference in preventing ankle and Achilles issues during training and races. Keep pushing hard and good luck at the ITU Continental Cup in Magog!
ReplyDeleteAwesome update — it’s always great to see your dedication to training and racing! 💪 Even with the ankle/Achilles flare-up, you pushed through smartly and performed strong. Injuries like that can be tricky, though — gettingorthotics near me for added foot and ankle support could really help prevent future strain and improve performance during long runs or hilly courses. Keep up the amazing work and best of luck at the ITU Continental Cup in Magog
ReplyDeleteAwesome update — love the dedication and insight into your training journey! 👏 It’s impressive how you pushed through despite the ankle setback. Staying injury-free is so key, especially with that kind of mileage and intensity. For athletes like you, custom orthotics can be a real game-changer — helping to support proper alignment, reduce strain on the Achilles, and keep you running strong. Wishing you the best at the Continental Cup
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Alex! Your dedication to training and racing really shows — even with the challenges like the ankle flare-up and tricky weather conditions. It’s inspiring to see your determination and focus on improvement. For athletes like you in Ontario, staying injury-free is crucial, and proper orthotics London Ontario can make a big difference in preventing ankle and Achilles issues during training and races.
ReplyDeleteWith all that intense training and racing, make sure your feet get the support they need — custom made orthoticscan really help improve balance, reduce strain, and keep you performing at your best through every run and ride.
ReplyDeleteIt’s inspiring to see your dedication to training and racing despite the challenges. Taking care of your feet and lower body is crucial for endurance athletes — orthotics can really help support performance and prevent injuries like Achilles or ankle pain. Keep pushing forward and stay strong!
ReplyDeleteIt’s awesome to see your dedication to training and recovery. If you’re dealing with ankle or Achilles issues, getting properly fitted orthotics near me can make a huge difference in comfort, stability, and performance. The right support helps prevent injuries and keeps you moving strong through every race! 🏃♂️💪
ReplyDeleteGreat read! Sounds like an intense race and amazing effort despite the tough conditions. With all that running and cycling, make sure to take care of those feet—orthotics can really help prevent flare-ups and support long-term performance. Keep crushing those intervals!
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