Up at 5am to eat and drink plenty of black coffee.
Racing outfit change-1 on and off to catch bus to race site. Once there will see what next move regarding clothing will be.
Thanks for all the support. Will chat later.
Friday, 31 May 2013
Red Red Wine and a little Blue pill
Nothing left to do but prepare for sleep.
A glass of red because our little corkscrew couldn't deal with the full size bottle of white.
Followed with a little baby blue pill to put me to sleep, contrary to what many of you are thinking about the other blue pill.
Will try to provide an update before we head to race site, likely around 8pm Victoria time.
A glass of red because our little corkscrew couldn't deal with the full size bottle of white.
Followed with a little baby blue pill to put me to sleep, contrary to what many of you are thinking about the other blue pill.
Will try to provide an update before we head to race site, likely around 8pm Victoria time.
Race day -1
Woke up to pretty much same weather as Victoria the past couple of days. Cold, cloudy and damp.
Found a mall with a huge store very similar to our SuperStore. Loaded up with groceries for our meal tonight and my modified race morning meal. We also picked up a package of large garbage bags so we can use them as ponchos while waiting for race to start.
Set up the bike for racing, and packed all my gear bags with extra everything. What I wear, how many times I will change will all be determined as the day progresses. We have a gear/clothing change opportunity after the run before we get on our bikes and again when we get off our bikes before the final run leg.
The key will be staying warm on the bike. The run should be ok at maybe 10-12degrees so thinking of just putting on a fresh top and go.
Dropping everything off was a little confusing as it appears things were a little behind at race site. In the end, got my bike racked and covered with plastic the race provided us. Then we hauled our gear bags we packed and brought with us back to bus and hotel as they decided leaving our bangs hanging overnight in pouring rain was not the thing to do.
Got pretty wet and cold by the time bus returned us to our hotel so ran a hot bath and warmed up while Sharon set up our buffet dinner (fantastic rustic bread, rotisserie pork, tomato and cheese).
Writing out how I will address each transition tomorrow and plan-a and plan-b clothing options. Likely won't matter because we expect to be drenched and it ain't going to really matter.
Found a mall with a huge store very similar to our SuperStore. Loaded up with groceries for our meal tonight and my modified race morning meal. We also picked up a package of large garbage bags so we can use them as ponchos while waiting for race to start.
Set up the bike for racing, and packed all my gear bags with extra everything. What I wear, how many times I will change will all be determined as the day progresses. We have a gear/clothing change opportunity after the run before we get on our bikes and again when we get off our bikes before the final run leg.
The key will be staying warm on the bike. The run should be ok at maybe 10-12degrees so thinking of just putting on a fresh top and go.
Dropping everything off was a little confusing as it appears things were a little behind at race site. In the end, got my bike racked and covered with plastic the race provided us. Then we hauled our gear bags we packed and brought with us back to bus and hotel as they decided leaving our bangs hanging overnight in pouring rain was not the thing to do.
Got pretty wet and cold by the time bus returned us to our hotel so ran a hot bath and warmed up while Sharon set up our buffet dinner (fantastic rustic bread, rotisserie pork, tomato and cheese).
Writing out how I will address each transition tomorrow and plan-a and plan-b clothing options. Likely won't matter because we expect to be drenched and it ain't going to really matter.
Thursday, 30 May 2013
And then, there was no swim.
This was the news we received at the athlete briefing:
Given
the extreme weather conditions that we face, ITU and FFTRI communicated
their decisions on the content of events for athletes during the
technical briefing this afternoon. Regarding the World Championship , given the air / water and bad weather temperatures, it was decided to cancel the swim. The race will take place on the following format: - 9.5 km Running - 87km bike - 20km Running " Please
Note That due to current temperatures and bad weather forecasts, in
Accordance with ITU rules to be able to Ensure athlete's safety, the race
Have Been changed to a duathlon event 9.5km run / 87km bike / 20km run " said tonight delegated ITU. Full details of the journey, the planning ... can be downloaded at the following link: www.triathlon.org / about / downloads / category / race_briefings
So, very interesting. I really wanted a swim of minimum 1500m to even out the field. So they eliminate the swim out right, move the 1st loop of the 3 loop 30km run in its place and shorten the bike from 112km to 87km. Word for the bike shortening is to take-away some advantage of the stronger bikers (so I as a middle of the pack swimmer get penalized for being front of the pack cyclist) So the pure runners gain all the advantage.
So, very interesting. I really wanted a swim of minimum 1500m to even out the field. So they eliminate the swim out right, move the 1st loop of the 3 loop 30km run in its place and shorten the bike from 112km to 87km. Word for the bike shortening is to take-away some advantage of the stronger bikers (so I as a middle of the pack swimmer get penalized for being front of the pack cyclist) So the pure runners gain all the advantage.
So the news left us re-thinking our hydration/nutrition plans, what our clothing will be, how most of us who swim-bike-run will figure out run-bike-run. We had to be educated about Duathlon rules and protocol.
They have lots of rules regarding what we can wear but left it in the hands of each athlete to ensure they feel safe and warm.
It will be wet and it will be cold (perhpas 4-5degrees when we start and 12degrees when we finish) and it will be interesting competition.
From the athlete briefing we suited up for opening ceremonies. Kind of big scale in a small venue. The musical entertainment seen a French celebrity who impersonates singers (of all genres and generations). Quite good, perhaps a little long. Then the teams were paraded by for pictures.
Vancouver Island gang
Stage
Team Canada
Team Japan was the biggest
Where are the bakeries?
Bonjour, plan for this morning is to bike out to race site and:
- recon swim course (beach, exit, bouys, where sun is, etc) and for the brave ones go in for a dip. It was about 9 degrees with threat of rain so only a couple of takers (me, I went for a 30min hard bike ride rather than get cold)
-recon run course, run the first 2k and the last 4k of the 10k loop, very much like elk lake mainly trail around the lake. the over-hanging tree branches will protect us from rain or sun.
- interesting doing a bike-run-bike I am not sued to that. so legs actually feel a little trashed even though the mileage and speed were minimal.
Back to hotel for quick bagged lunch then 4 of us (Sharon, myself and Rick Gammie and partner Chris from Courtney area) took their rented car and re-drove the bike course.
As we became peckish, we started to look for a place, specifically a bakery, as we went thru little village after little village. For 2 hours we found no bakeries, and when we found like a COOP grocery store, closed noon-3 as was the ice cream place. We stopped a guy, he said ya bakery like 10k down the road. Nope.
All morning we see the locals everywhere and they be carrying their baguette. Walking, biking, running, everywhere all with baguette yet we cannot find a bakery anywhere.
Finally we find an open bakery like back at the 1st village we went thru after leaving Belfort and our mind quickly forgot about baguettes and we had some fantastic quiche and a cheese filled eclair.
Next event is the team greet and meet followed by race briefing.
- recon swim course (beach, exit, bouys, where sun is, etc) and for the brave ones go in for a dip. It was about 9 degrees with threat of rain so only a couple of takers (me, I went for a 30min hard bike ride rather than get cold)
-recon run course, run the first 2k and the last 4k of the 10k loop, very much like elk lake mainly trail around the lake. the over-hanging tree branches will protect us from rain or sun.
- interesting doing a bike-run-bike I am not sued to that. so legs actually feel a little trashed even though the mileage and speed were minimal.
Back to hotel for quick bagged lunch then 4 of us (Sharon, myself and Rick Gammie and partner Chris from Courtney area) took their rented car and re-drove the bike course.
As we became peckish, we started to look for a place, specifically a bakery, as we went thru little village after little village. For 2 hours we found no bakeries, and when we found like a COOP grocery store, closed noon-3 as was the ice cream place. We stopped a guy, he said ya bakery like 10k down the road. Nope.
All morning we see the locals everywhere and they be carrying their baguette. Walking, biking, running, everywhere all with baguette yet we cannot find a bakery anywhere.
Finally we find an open bakery like back at the 1st village we went thru after leaving Belfort and our mind quickly forgot about baguettes and we had some fantastic quiche and a cheese filled eclair.
Next event is the team greet and meet followed by race briefing.
Wednesday, 29 May 2013
No ride the bike course
Managed to sleep until 7:40am local, so not too bad. Breakfast (which is included) was actually quite nice. Lots of familiar stuff and some solid french offerings. I suspect after 6 mornings we will tire and perhaps think it is then just OK.
Today had two key events:
1-race registration and package pickup
2-bike course familiarization
We assembled as team and walked over to the race registration site (which also will house the opening and closing ceremony galas. The line moved slow and after about 1.5 hrs we were done.
We stopped at a bakery on the way back to hotel and grabbed a couple of hot quiches for lunch as the team was to head for bike course tour soon.
Initially the bus was to take us and our bikes around the course and we could get out do the ballon d'Alsace climb and descent. The weather was not cooperating so we were informed no bike just bus tour. The climb is a good one. about a 4 mile stretch where it is relentless, drastic switch backs and narrow. This climb has been on the Tour de France multiple times. See links to the right for couple of clips. For the Victoria folks, it is like 3-4 observatory stacked onto one another. The descent takes a different path down. Road is wider and the switch backs less drastic but if wet extreme caution will be required. Today the summit was very foggy and wet, it did snow up there yesterday but we seen no traces.
I did not have Sharon's camera so you have to believe me.
Crepes for dinner. Yep, when in France. They were not what we expected, nothing was rolled up. They were brownish, flat and stuffed with toppings (grilled Mediterranean veggies for ex). And yes we had a desert one. And once again no camera.
Tomorrow up early to hopefully ride our bikes to race site (8km) then swim for the brave ones and run some of the run course). There remains significant risk of the swim being impacted as tonights low is forecasted for 4 degrees.
This video is one of a race up the climb. Not real exciting but will show that it is not easy.
Today had two key events:
1-race registration and package pickup
2-bike course familiarization
We assembled as team and walked over to the race registration site (which also will house the opening and closing ceremony galas. The line moved slow and after about 1.5 hrs we were done.
We stopped at a bakery on the way back to hotel and grabbed a couple of hot quiches for lunch as the team was to head for bike course tour soon.
Initially the bus was to take us and our bikes around the course and we could get out do the ballon d'Alsace climb and descent. The weather was not cooperating so we were informed no bike just bus tour. The climb is a good one. about a 4 mile stretch where it is relentless, drastic switch backs and narrow. This climb has been on the Tour de France multiple times. See links to the right for couple of clips. For the Victoria folks, it is like 3-4 observatory stacked onto one another. The descent takes a different path down. Road is wider and the switch backs less drastic but if wet extreme caution will be required. Today the summit was very foggy and wet, it did snow up there yesterday but we seen no traces.
I did not have Sharon's camera so you have to believe me.
Crepes for dinner. Yep, when in France. They were not what we expected, nothing was rolled up. They were brownish, flat and stuffed with toppings (grilled Mediterranean veggies for ex). And yes we had a desert one. And once again no camera.
Tomorrow up early to hopefully ride our bikes to race site (8km) then swim for the brave ones and run some of the run course). There remains significant risk of the swim being impacted as tonights low is forecasted for 4 degrees.
This video is one of a race up the climb. Not real exciting but will show that it is not easy.
TUE: Planes-Trains-More Trains-Taxi-Bed
First post to cover off yesterday's travel.
Vancouver flight to Munich just at about 10hrs went fine. About once every 20 flights I guess I get a poor seat and this was one of those flights. Struggled to keep comfortable, constant shifting and propping pillow and blanket to give some kind of lumbar support. Also we had the 2 middle seats of a group of 4 so we had someone on each side. Kind of felt blocked in as we resisted sleeping while our seat mates slept making it difficult to get up and visit toilet.
From Munch we flew to Zurich, and got our walking in from one terminal to another. They did have nice chairs in the boarding lounge though.
The flight from Munich to Zurich was just an hour and yeah baby bike made it.
Than we started our train(s) adventure.
We in Canada, specifically western Canada, have little concept of European train stations and just how many people use them and how big and busy these places are. We were overwhelmed trying to clarify which track platform our train was. We hauled our stuff down to the correct track and waited for our train (to Bassel Switzerland). Well we suspected the train that eventually stopped in front of us was ours but there was no identification like previous trains that came by. We just stood there wondering how do we confirm this is our train. I walked down 10-15 meters and there was the digital display telling us yep that is our train just starting to take off. Missed it. Yikes. Went to ticket office, they were very cool, and re-did our tickets to grab another train. Did not miss that one.
However, now we were at the main Zurich station. Holy crap, bigger and busier. I went to find out what track and got lost for 15min trying to get back to track we came in on and where Sharon and luggage were. Some minor panic but with help found her. Then we went to track 10 and caught next train to Mulhouse. Misread that ticket and we missed our next train to Belfort. Exciting, yep, one last train scheduled and we DID not miss that one.
Finally arrived in Belfort 11pm local (only 1 hr really behind initial schedule which goes to say how many trains there are).
Next a taxi to hotel. No taxis. Eventually went to closest hotel and got the front desk to phone a car.
15 min later we were checking in and went directly to bed.
Vancouver flight to Munich just at about 10hrs went fine. About once every 20 flights I guess I get a poor seat and this was one of those flights. Struggled to keep comfortable, constant shifting and propping pillow and blanket to give some kind of lumbar support. Also we had the 2 middle seats of a group of 4 so we had someone on each side. Kind of felt blocked in as we resisted sleeping while our seat mates slept making it difficult to get up and visit toilet.
From Munch we flew to Zurich, and got our walking in from one terminal to another. They did have nice chairs in the boarding lounge though.
The flight from Munich to Zurich was just an hour and yeah baby bike made it.
Than we started our train(s) adventure.
We in Canada, specifically western Canada, have little concept of European train stations and just how many people use them and how big and busy these places are. We were overwhelmed trying to clarify which track platform our train was. We hauled our stuff down to the correct track and waited for our train (to Bassel Switzerland). Well we suspected the train that eventually stopped in front of us was ours but there was no identification like previous trains that came by. We just stood there wondering how do we confirm this is our train. I walked down 10-15 meters and there was the digital display telling us yep that is our train just starting to take off. Missed it. Yikes. Went to ticket office, they were very cool, and re-did our tickets to grab another train. Did not miss that one.
However, now we were at the main Zurich station. Holy crap, bigger and busier. I went to find out what track and got lost for 15min trying to get back to track we came in on and where Sharon and luggage were. Some minor panic but with help found her. Then we went to track 10 and caught next train to Mulhouse. Misread that ticket and we missed our next train to Belfort. Exciting, yep, one last train scheduled and we DID not miss that one.
Next a taxi to hotel. No taxis. Eventually went to closest hotel and got the front desk to phone a car.
15 min later we were checking in and went directly to bed.
Monday, 27 May 2013
Oh airCanada
Sunday went fast. The day started typically with a run at Elk Lake. Nice and quiet there as the Oak Bay 1/2 Marathon and Lake Shawnigan Triathlon were taking place so few runners.
For the most part Sunday was about packing. 1st "all things tri" which has become a big deal with the recent poor weather at race site in Belfort. It has been dropping to near zero in the mornings so getting out of the lake after more than an hour of swimming and getting onto a bike to ride 30+kph will be willy-chilly so I need to pack extra top, real gloves, rain booties, etc.
The forecast is looking better for race day however the cool temps the next few days will help officials decide what length the swim will be. It is a formula of the time in the water, the water temp and the air temp. if the water is too cold combined with a low air temp, the swim time will be reduced.
Today (Mon) is go time. After a few quick chores, off to the airport early check in bags. We decided to check them in early to ensure we have no issues with Air Canada and my bike. Glad to say they waved the bike handling fee of $50 and just a $100 surcharge for extra bag.
Back to town for massage, then back home where Doug T picked us up and safely carted us the YYJ.
Got to fly the new Q400 Air Canada has started to use rather then the old DASHs that we have been puddle jumping to Vancouver the past 20 years. It is a pretty nice unit. Would I prefer it over the Canada regional jets used to get to Calgary/Saskatoon. Nope.
Just finished eating the snack we prepared and watching Detroit vs Chicago. Have 2 hrs before 10.5hr flight to Munch Germany where we will have a little over an hour wait for short flight to Zurich.
Once at Zurich airport, we get on train south to Bassel Switzerland, switch train and head west into France and Belfort. Expect to be in hotel Tue 10pm local time. So just under 20 hours total travel time. Dam, the hawks just scored.
For the most part Sunday was about packing. 1st "all things tri" which has become a big deal with the recent poor weather at race site in Belfort. It has been dropping to near zero in the mornings so getting out of the lake after more than an hour of swimming and getting onto a bike to ride 30+kph will be willy-chilly so I need to pack extra top, real gloves, rain booties, etc.
The forecast is looking better for race day however the cool temps the next few days will help officials decide what length the swim will be. It is a formula of the time in the water, the water temp and the air temp. if the water is too cold combined with a low air temp, the swim time will be reduced.
Today (Mon) is go time. After a few quick chores, off to the airport early check in bags. We decided to check them in early to ensure we have no issues with Air Canada and my bike. Glad to say they waved the bike handling fee of $50 and just a $100 surcharge for extra bag.
Back to town for massage, then back home where Doug T picked us up and safely carted us the YYJ.
Got to fly the new Q400 Air Canada has started to use rather then the old DASHs that we have been puddle jumping to Vancouver the past 20 years. It is a pretty nice unit. Would I prefer it over the Canada regional jets used to get to Calgary/Saskatoon. Nope.
Just finished eating the snack we prepared and watching Detroit vs Chicago. Have 2 hrs before 10.5hr flight to Munch Germany where we will have a little over an hour wait for short flight to Zurich.
Once at Zurich airport, we get on train south to Bassel Switzerland, switch train and head west into France and Belfort. Expect to be in hotel Tue 10pm local time. So just under 20 hours total travel time. Dam, the hawks just scored.
Saturday, 25 May 2013
1 week to race
Welcome to our blog. Hopefully keeping everyone interested plugged in to all things happening surrounding our adventure getting to France and the long distance triathlon world championships event itself.
Yesterday was quite busy as we tried to get many things done in preparation for packing and departure:
- up early for last pool-swim workout
- quick trip from pool to mountain equip coop to pick up fresh batteries for my powertap (computer in rear wheel which measures how much power in watts I am transferring from pedals to rear wheel).
- back home by 10, replaced batteries in hub, put wheel back on bike and headed out for last real training session (2.5 hrs) felt good as it was both short and low intensity.
- quick lunch then trip to bank, pickup supplies for the hot tub, returned to Victoria for one last visit with my sports-chiro-guy and get final tune-up.
- Back to west shore to pick up some body glide (anti-chaffing stuff), pizza slice then hair cut.
- Rushed home to grab all my lake swimming gear and headed to lake for a pre-dinner swim.
- It was cool so we warmed up at local pub with drinks and dinner.
- Home to bed.
Anyhow, today's primary mission is to pack the bike for travel:
Into my fancy soft bike bag:
A after a couple of hours cleaning, dis-mantling, watching youtube a few choice words now and again, mission accomplished:
And that brings us to the creation of this blog as my after dinner task. It will take shape over the weekend, hope you enjoy.
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