Edmonton ITU

Just one week later and another race (with just a squeak of rest in between)!

The day before prep was almost discouraging because of all the rain and cold...but I just went through a cold and rainy Abbotsford winter of training so no complaints here!! (Just from the cheer team I brought, haha)  So I checked out the 'steep hill' on the bike route and (haha) the things that we Albertans call hills), it was a good course though and the short 10K lap was a nice figure-eight type of loop which kept it interesting.

Sunday morning was still wet and FULL OF MOSQUITOES!  We were only allowed a small dip in the water before the race began which was too bad because I wanted to get a good feel of the water and swim before the race.  Each age group of athletes were escorted to the water's edge by bagpipes (that is how important we are)!

Fiance Alex said I had a very hesitant swim start - like I just let the girls go because they were faster - which is really too bad because I swam the whole race on my own!  No feet to tickle :(  I came 10th out of the water but that is more than 4minutes behind the lead girls!

Transitions were fast, and my cycle faster!  I really am good at hills (that little steep one and the long gradual one).  Each lap I could tell that I was gaining on the girls in front.  I had my eye on Racheal Edwards from Saskatoon, SK, (who beat me in the Saskatoon Sprint earlier this year) and just before coming into transition I passed her.  She (and another girl) beat me out of T2 but I came up and passed them right away and continued to pull away during the 3 lap run.

The run course was flat and fast.  Again, at each turn around I could see four or five women in front of me and pushed to catch and pass.  I wasn't sure if I was going to get all of them...and I guess I didn't because I came in second overall.  Marcy Edgecumbe from Sherwood Park, AB, beat me by just 44 sec in the end (and it was all in the swim!) (Note for Brian: We've got some work to do!).

2:13:31
2nd Female Overall
1st Female 20-24
Fastest Female Bike AND Run Time for the day
...and Another Qualifying Spot for Worlds...so I think we'll go!
Swim   24:27  1:38/100m
Bike  1:09:19  34.6 kph
Run     39:45   3:59/Km
Full Results at resultscanada.com