RACE REPORT: Subaru Women’s Triathlon Festival & Cornwall Triathlon, Duathlon & 5km Run

Subaru Women’s Triathlon Festival & Cornwall Triathlon,
Duathlon & 5km Run
By Denise Pittuck

It’s been quite a season for me in the multisport world.  Let me preface this by telling you that I am what I would call a “Minimalist Age Grouper”.  I’m 73, don’t own a wetsuit, have a 10 year old Trek road bike, don’t clip in, have an old Schwinn manual winter trainer and I don’t own a fancy Triathlon watch. (In fact when I do my open water swims, I strap my basic Garmin Forerunner onto the shoulder strap of my bathing suit, set it to Run and press start.  It measures the distance and time which is all I want to know.

After competing in runs and a duathlon last year with a cracked rib and missing my triathlons, I decided to really give it a go this year now that I am fully recovered and retired.  I went back training only to take a nasty tumble last November messing up my face, shoulders and knees, not to mention a concussion.  So it was back to square one in January and I started over with a few 5 kms.  Training through the winter was tough but I was focused on my triathlon (my first in 2 years) and what I called my redemption duathlon in Cornwall.

The Women’s Triathlon Festival is held in Grimsby, Ontario.  It was extremely hot and the weather unsettled leading up to the event. They had been hit with a severe storm one week before and the beach where the swim was to take place was officially closed for safety.  The exit stairs for the event were gone and the water was disgustingly dirty.  No pre-event swims. Race day came and the storms they called for held off, although were in the area.  The water had cleared up nicely but the temperature had dropped to about 17 degrees (which can happen in a flash in Lake Ontario).  Once you’re in the water to warmup it’s was impossible to get out due to debris from the storm.  I was shaking by the time my wave started.  I ended up coming out of the water 1^st in my AG.  But I was shaking so bad I could hardly get my runners on.  

The bike is an out and back between the QEW and the vineyards and there is usually a crosswind. I had a good ride, passing some of the younger riders, but my bike was no match for the $5K+ triathlon bikes of my competitors.  I finished up 3^rd on the bike.  The air temperature was 32 degrees by the time we hit the pavement.  But I managed to make up a spot even with my Run/Walk technique.
I ended up in 2^nd place in my AG so I was quite proud of myself.  I know what I have to do for next year and am ready for the challenge.

After a week off, I headed off to Cornwall for the Sprint Duathlon. I was determined to prove to myself that last years’ time was due to the cracked rib and not just a bad event.  All week they had been calling for thunderstorms, and had alerted participants to their contingency plans.  But on arrival, it was just overcast.  I had a really good first run given that last year I wanted to turn around at the 100 metre mark.  When I got on my bike I felt really good.  My speed was where I was comfortable (I had broken down and bought an inexpensive bike speedometer/odometer).  For those who haven’t raced in Cornwall, you have to climb the long uphill driveway into the Nav Canada Training Institute.  I’ve never had a problem getting up (remember I don’t clip in so my seated climbs in spin class really help), but descending was a nightmare with a 90 degree turn at the bottom.  My first loop was ok, but then the rain came and kept coming.  By the second loop the climb was difficult but I made it up.  Coming down was one of the scariest things I’ve done.  My brakes just weren’t gripping and I was really afraid I wouldn’t make the turn at the bottom, but I made it through unscathed. Several others did not apparently.

Back to transition 2 after the bike and my shoes felt like they weighed 10lbs each, with water squishing out with every step. I’ve never been that wet in a race.  I had brought a second pair of shoes and socks but they were in my bag which we had to put against a fence at the end of transition.  I decided not to go find them because it was still raining at that point.  

The 2^nd run is always tough for me.  I know it is my weakness and that’s what I’m working on. But I did my Run/Walk with another older gentleman and actually enjoyed it.  I came in the finish feeling stronger that I thought I would and finished 1^st in my AG and almost 10 minutes quicker than last year (take that cracked rib!)

I had some good takeaways from these events:

• I’m not racing against the 20 & 30 years-olds, or the triathlon bikes, nor should I try.  Doing so is detrimental to my race.
• I race against myself with the intent to do better than I did last time.  And I race those in my AG regardless of the field size. I have no control over the number of competitors my age. 
• I compete because I can, not because I feel I have to and I set my own challenges.

I did another duathlon in September at Camp Tri and placed 1st in my age group and 3rd overall! I have a series of 9 road races culminating in my biggest challenge this year - the 10 km at the Niagara Marathon in October.  I haven’t done a 10km race in over 10 years so challenge accepted! 

Congratulations on an incredible race season thus far! 

Coach Julia 

Founder/Head Coach

Team Triumph Triathlon Club

Certified Exercise Physiologist & Triathlon Coach

Ironman U Coach

80/20 Coach

Training Peaks Accredited Coach