Magog olympic triathlon-AG National Champs

I had a pretty disappointing race put in Magog this past weekend for the AG national champs.  I couldn't bring myself to write about the race, so with inspiration from pro triathlete Trevor Wurtele I made an amusing video blog.  Enjoy!

Andy finally gets a win!! Huronia sprint triathlon

I was out racing the MSC Huronia sprint triathlon this past weekend.  For regular followers of my blog, you will know I have had quite a run of second place finishes (seven in a row to be exact).  This past weekend however, I finally broke the streak as I got my first overall win in a couple years (in my first ever sprint race).  It wasn't a particularly competitive race or an exceptional time, but considering I was training through the event, I am definitely pleased with the result.  Here are a few more details about the race (Triathlon Magazine Canada race recap)

Swim    

I didn't really see any swimmers I knew were fast at the race, so I figured I wouldn't have a problem leading out of the water.  Turns out I was wrong, and ended up getting smoked by super swimmer Brett Saunders.  I was back a bit further than I wanted to be (and didn't know if this guy was a fast cyclist or not).  

Bike

I saw super swimmer Brett up the road, and put in a bit of extra effort to catch up.  I got into the lead in only a few km, and just held my effort steady for the rest of the 20km.  I had ridden hard the day before the race, so I didn't know if my legs would be feeling great for the hilly and windy sections that made up the course.  I would say it was a solid effort...(medium effort...?)

Run

With a pretty good lead off the bike, I found a nice tempo pace and got into a good running rhythm.  My legs were feeling a bit fatigued at this point, but with only a 5km run, there were no issues.  Crossed the line first and got my first win of the season!

Number 1!

Conclusion

Funny thing this winning...I would probably say I feel a greater sense of accomplishment by pushing myself to the limit and finishing second than cruising to an easy win.  But nothing like a win to get things rolling in the right direction.  In a couple weeks I am off to Magog for the Age Group National Champs.  I'll be getting nice and tapered up for this one, so expect a good hard race.  Lets keep this win streak going!!

Thanks goes out to Multisport Canada, eLoad, and to my awesome coaches, friends and family!

Binbrook Triathlon 2014- 2nd Overall 1:20:21

It was a beautiful day this past Saturday, and what better way to spend it than by kicking off my 2014 triathlon season.  After a long lasting winter (that seemed to never end), it was great to finally get out and race (and get some sunburn)!  I have had a productive winter of training, and I was feeling fit, but I had no idea where I stood in regards to myself, or to anyone else.  The Binbrook field included some fast racers, including Lionel Sanders, so I knew I was going to have to put out a good effort. The title kinda gives it away (that doesn't mean you should stop reading), but here is some more info one how it went.

Pre-Race

With this race being the first one of the season, I was a little anxious in the week leading up (a little, but not too much).  I did reduce training a bit a few days before the race, but otherwise kept things pretty similar to regular training.  Obviously, I had to show up to the race cleanly shaven (for obvious aero benefits).  I also had to try on my new kit (which came the day before the race), so I did a bit of multi tasking...

Ya, that's a straight razor...

Swim

After a pretty routine race morning (which went nice and smooth), I jumped into the water for my first open water swim of the season.  The water was very comfortable, and my stroke felt good in warm up.  With the likes of Derek Quick in the race, I knew I would have to go out hard from the start to be in the front.  I swam hard from the horn, and was working hard to keep on Derek's (and another fast swimmer's) feet, but the effort I was putting out seemed above where I wanted to be.  I fell back a bit, and came out of the water in third position (with Mike Greenberg right behind me).  It was a long run to the transition (which I think was included into the swim time), and I was onto the bike soon after.

Don't we all look the same...?

Bike

Conditions on race day were absolutely amazing for throwing down a fast bike split.  The sun was shining, there was pretty much no wind, and the roads were nice and flat (with a few gentle hills).  After a bit of a hiccup getting into my cycling shoes, I was up to speed in no time.  I was in the lead before the 5km mark, and stayed there for the rest of the ride.  I don't have any numerical data to share from the ride (I race number free), but man I was cooking (at least thats what everyone said after).  I just rode where I felt comfortable, and held my effort, which just happened to give me the days fastest bike split ( I guess my winter bike commuting paid off).  

Just starting off the bike

A funny side story here.  My Dad was volunteering at the race (mount/dismount line), and as people were waiting for the first cyclists to return, he overhead a guy (Mike from Guelph) making bets that Lionel Sanders would be the first back from the bike (Mike was betting beer on this).  My Dad (who is a rare gambler and non-drinker) decided to bet Mike that Andrew Bolton would in fact be the first cyclist to return.  Well we all know how that turned out....I wonder what type of beer Mike will be bringing my Dad...?

First off the bike

Run

I had seen where everyone was at the bike turnaround, so I knew that Lionel was going to be on my heels in no time.  My running has been getting stronger after a lot of work in the off-season, but I knew my lead on Lionel would probably not be enough to stay in the front.  I seemed to be holding pretty good times per km, but by the halfway turnaround on the run, I saw Lionel quickly approaching.  I held him off until the 5km mark, at which point he took over, and kept the lead.  I didn't slow up, and ran strong to the line, for a second place overall finish.

Finish for 2nd OA

Post Race/Concluding Remarks

I am pretty happy with my first race of the season (for those who know me, the race went very medium...).  My times shaped up pretty nicely, and I was less than a minute back from Lionel (my time this year would have actually beaten Lionel's winning time from last year...).

After the race (as part of the Multisport Canada Ambassador Team), I was given the opportunity to present the "racer of the day award", which was nice for me and hopefully likewise for the recipient. Post race interview can be found here.   

Congratulations Lori!

As usual, a big thanks goes out to Multisport Canada for putting on a great race, and also to eLoad for their continued support.  Can't forget the coaches and family members either...Thanks!!!

So thats it from me for now.  Watch for me a little later in the season at the Huronia sprint race, and also as I contest for the Triathlon Ontario "Triple Crown" (which includes: Magog, Bracebridge, and Edmonton).  

Thanks for stopping by.  Feel free to leave me your comments (positive comments preferred) or connect with social media (Twitter/Facebook).  

My Experience As A Die-Hard Bicycle Commuter

There are only two seasons in Canada: Winter and July.  With a ton of snow this winter and what seems like an endless cold spell (must be that polar vortex thing), winter seems like it will never end.  Now don't get the idea that I'm complaining (although it is quite understandable that most triathletes dislike winter)...this winter thing is really starting to grow on me.  Maybe it's my inner Canadian talking here, but winter is not all that bad (and if you disagree, I understand if you stop reading here).  Now I can see where triathletes are coming from.  The endless hours on the treadmill or even worse...the bike trainer, can really test ones motivation to train (trust me a couple hours on the trainer in the basement 3-4 times a week all winter gets to you).  So how do I combat this?  I ride outside!!

A typical winter commuting day

As most of you know, I study at York University, which is a convenient 15km or so from my house. Now call me a poor student or a crazy cyclist (don't call me anything else though), but I just can't bring myself to take the bus over my bike.  I have saved literally thousands of dollars by commuting by bike, and even saved time (commuting by bus is about half an hour slower than by bike).  Winter conditions: no problem, just bundle up and you're good right?  Well sort of....Here is my experience as a die hard bicycle commuter.

The Ride

My ride starts north of Toronto in the suburbs of Richmond Hill.  From my house (or rather my parents' house that I still live in), I initially travel along quiet side roads, and then make my way onto main roads with bike lanes (except Steeles, which has no bike lane).
I like to say the ride is about 15 km (in reality it might be a bit less), but I do bike around campus to justify the mileage claim.  My commute time ranges from 30 minutes (late for class, hammering, and getting all the lights) to as long as 55 minutes (riding home late at night with a headwind in the winter).
I ride to York 5 times a week, often in the early morning (for 6am swim practice).  My rides home are usually in the dark, although I am starting to get some light on the return trips.

The Bike

I really like my commuter bike.  It's not new or fancy, and is in fact quite heavy (probably 35 lb range). The bike used to be my grandfathers, and it has lasted me quite well. I have had to replace the usual parts because of wear, and had to add a few things like fenders (this has been a lifesaver for winter riding), and new lights (the vintage light that it used to have just wasn't cutting it).  I have kept my regular road tires on the bike, as they don't seem to make grippy 27' tires.  This hasn't proved to be a problem yet...

The Gear

The trick I have found to staying warm in cold temperatures is to layer correctly.  My go to items are my Nike Vapor Flash jacket (great visibility for morning/evening commutes), my Icebreaker Sierra hoodie (super warm), my Sugoi waterproof pants, my Icebreaker balaclava, and my Bontrager waterproof booties (that fit over my running shoes).  I also have a variety of Icebreaker base layers to adjust with depending on the conditions.  Most days I can wear sunglasses, but on a couple of those -40C days, I found ski goggles were the only thing I could wear.

The Workout

The majority of my riding this winter has come from commuting to school.  In a typical week, I am outside riding for approximately 7.5 hours, and am really only putting in 2 hard indoor sessions on the rollers (sometimes a third).  This formula seems to be working well for my riding, as I am riding pretty strong on my hard sessions and feeling good.   

The real workout with outdoor commuting seems to be more of a mental challenge.  My commutes are often early morning (like 5am) or in the evening (after a long day at school and other training), and there are days when I really don't want to be riding my bike.  Other days,  conditions will be poor, with temperatures like -40 C or a freezing 50 km/h headwind that can really have me questioning why I am out there freezing my face off.  When this starts to happen, I just tell myself that however hard this feels, it will just make summer races feel all the easier (which I can definitely see being true).       

The Conclusion

When I tell most people I ride my bike all winter, I usually get a blank stare, and a comment like "It's too cold out to be riding your bike" (a lady told me this the other day, and then promptly went out the door to smoke a cigarette in her hoodie).  In all truth, it probably is too cold on some days, or too snowy to be out riding.  But for the majority of the winter season, the roads are relatively clear, and all that is required is that you dress for the weather.  I don't take any risks when out riding, and I have found the roads the be relatively safe (with drivers respecting me on the road) .  I have taken the occasional drive or bus ride to school (you could probably count those on one hand though), and probably another couple days where I should have not been out riding my bike.  Overall though, it has been great to be outdoors for so much of the winter, although I too am eager for spring.  

Final Tri's of 2013: Wasaga and Lakeside

I feel really encouraged after having some great races this year, and I am looking foreword to some new and exciting challenges next year.  After 6 months off running from an injury last fall, I was able to build back this past spring, and hit some personal best times this year (yay Andy)!  I also won the 20-24 AG in the National AG Championships, and racked up some serious points in the MSC overall standings (I'm in the $$)!  I got some new and awesome sponsors, and also got some great direction from my fantastic coaches (you guys all rock)!
Ok, so it was a good year...well except for those last 2 weeks..those were kind of rough.  I was really hoping to walk away with a win this year, and I really felt it could happen in either Wasaga or Lakeside.  Things were really looking good, but then it hit...with only 2 weeks left in the season!  My stomach rebelled, I lost my appetite, weight dropped, and my energy levels crashed (a bad combination for peak performance).  I still decided to race, but I knew what it would be.  I still tried hard though...here's some more details.  

Wasaga Beach 
I was really hoping to get my first overall win for 2013 in Wasaga, but after a couple days of feeling sick and dropping weight, I was starting to feel the energy levels diminish.  Unfortunately, I didn't get the win...but there are a lot of redeeming factors about this race.

I still finished second (third was a very close reality) with the top swim and bike splits, and it wasn't raining (unlike last year's monsoon)!  I had a good swim, in which I led  out of the water and secured the swim bonus points.  I also led off the bike, but my legs were not their usual selves, and I was not able to get much of a lead heading into the run.  I was passed by Alex VanderLinden at about 5km into the run, and also saw another runner (Mikael Staer Nathan) closing in.  I kept running hard (I did hit a season best run split), and just finished second behind Alex.  Another second place, but still a decent race considering...

Extra points here I come!

  Wasaga was also a big day for my Dad (this is your moment of glory pops), who built up over the past 5 months to race the Olympic distance triathlon.  My dad was not coming into this race with a lot of experience (he likes to tell me he is not a runner...I just tell him to stop limiting himself...) and this was his first ever race!  He did a great job and finished under his predicted finishing time (whoever was coaching this guy must have been doing a pretty good job...).  Congratulations!

Lakeside 
After Wasaga is when my condition began to go downhill.  Abdominal pain and gastric discomfort began to become more persistent, and I was losing energy and weight at an alarming rate.  We tried all of the natural remedies, but nothing was working.  On the monday, my mom insisted I go to the hospital, where the end result was them uhh...taking a stool sample (ya..kinda gross).  I could do nothing but wait for the results.  It wasn't until the night before the race when they finally got the results of the test, and here's what they found:  

We finally apprehended the culprit...Giardia (gasp)

I debated if I still wanted to go through with the race (I knew I wouldn't be close to 100%), but ultimately I decided that I would go for it (it was the last race of the season after all).  We were already in the area anyway since my super awesome amazing brother Daniel had just raced in his first Kids of Steel Triathlon (way to go Dan)!  His gutsy performance and relentless encouragement only added to my desire to race.  We stayed over in a small hotel in Woodstock the night before and were surprised to find they had an awesome water slide (which made for the best pre-race ever)!  So after some fun, it was time to sleep, and then head to the race.

My race started out with a pretty decent swim.  I saw one mystery super swimmer waaaay out in front, and figured I would be better to sit in then to chase.  I swam with (and by "with" I mean behind) Angela Quick, and finished the swim with a pretty solid time.  Cody Beals was ahead after the swim, but I caught up on the bike after he took a wrong turn.  I was biking pretty well until about half way through, when things started to go downhill.  As I started to fade, Cody passed me back, and I knew he was making a move to try and get the fastest bike split (which would give him another 10 bonus points).  I put my remaining energy into staying with him on the bike and was just able to edge him out in the overall bike times.  I wasn't feeling too hot when I rolled into T2, and lets just say that feeling didn't improve.

Keep going Andy!

There was no way I was catching Cody, but there was also no way I was going to drop out of the race.  I just kept my legs moving, and put in what was left (not much at this point).  Luckily, no one was even close to Cody and I after the bike, so I still finished second (6'th second place of the year).

Way to stick it out!  (Not sure why I'm listed as a pro)

So that is it for the 2013 triathlon season.  Another big thank you to my amazing Sponsors (Multisport Canada, eLoad, and Nineteen wetsuits) and coaches (Brent and Derek).  And thank you to all my blog readers (especially those who made it this far)!  I would encourage you to continue to check in through the fall and winter months for some updates on some off season run and swim races.  Also, if you are in the mood for a bit more reading, you can also check out the new "about me" section on the tab above.

Onward and upward to 2014!

Andrew

MSC Bracebridge Post Race Report-2'nd Overall, 1:56:01

It was time to get back to some serious racing this past weekend at the MSC Bracebridge Olympic distance Triathlon.  After breaking out a retro speedo two weeks ago for the Bala retro race, I was happy to be back in my wetsuit and regular race attire (although the speedo was quite liberating...).  Going into the race, I was feeling strong (I am a national champion after all), and I was really hoping for a good fast race with the possibility of getting my first overall win for the season (this 2'nd place thing is getting a bit repetitive...).  Well, despite a solid effort (and even a swim PB), I walked away with another second place, this time to the speedy Cody Beals (perhaps we could call him my arch rival...perhaps...).   

Top 5 Overall

But to be honest, another second place doesn't sit too negatively with me.  This is partly due to the fact that I like to be optimistic (a pessimist might say I was the first loser...), but is also due to the fact that this was NOT a slow race!  Lets break it down and see how it went.

Swim

I have always managed to have a good swim in Bracebridge in my three years doing the race, and this year was no exception.  With the water as smooth as glass, and a course that is outlined by the shore, a fast time was just asking to be had.  

Yes folks, that is one fine looking Nineteen Frequency

This event has the unique feature of a time trial start, which means it is everyone for themselves (no packs, and no real drafting).  I knew the course, and was feeling good in the water, so I knew I was going to have a fast swim.  How fast of a swim I actually had however, still surprised me, as I was just able to duck under the 19 minute mark and finish with a big PB of 18:59 for the 1500m (2 seconds off the best swim of the day)!  Can't complain about that...

Bike

With only Cody and Mike Greenberg ahead of me (due to the time trial start), I got to do some chasing on the bike before I caught up and passed both of them at maybe 7.5-10km into the bike.  Now in the lead position, I was able to get into a good rhythm and start putting some distance between me and my chasers.  I don't have much to report in the way of watts, speed, or other such numerical statistics (No computer for me), but I can tell you I was going pretty quick, rounding out the 40km in a solid 58 minutes and change.  Now, I did have a bit of a scare on the bike when what looked like a Pitbull ran into the middle of the road without a leash or owner in sight.  Luckily, there was no issue with the doggie, and I went by without an issue (he was probably realized how fast I was going).    

Heading into T2, and looking flashy with my new eLoad kit

Run

So, just like last years race, it was me in the lead with Cody chasing (except this year I had a time buffer due to the TT start).  I went out strong, and was able to settle into a good pace.  Just after the 5km turn around, Cody caught up, and put distance between us.  I knew I had the buffer to work with, so I tried my best to banish any negative thoughts that surfaced as I watched him gradually pull ahead.  I ran hard (and was happy with my effort) but in the end it was just shy of a first place, and I had to settle for another second place finish.

Crossing the line 

Post Race
Like I mentioned in the beginning, this was not a slow or easy race.  The pace for the swim was really cooking, and the bike had its fair share of hills.  Although the run was relatively flat, both of the previous efforts made for a tough run to finish off the race.  Second place is nothing to be ashamed of here.

Top 5 Overall M/F (showing off my MSC/eLoad gear)

  

I was really happy with my time.  My overall time for this years race was far superior to my last years time (and was even much faster than Cody's time from last year), so I know I put in a good effort and raced well (and am making progress).

And to top off a good day at the races, my family and I headed down the road to Santa's Village for some go-carting before the drive home (maybe a new tradition in Bracebridge...).    

Getting ready to rip it up

Concluding Remarks

A big thanks goes out to all the people who have helped me get to where I am.  Both my coaches Brent and Derek have been amazing teachers, knowledgable guides, and have really help me to learn and improve.  New support has also come with a sponsorship from eLoad, who have given me backing and supplied me with some fantastic sport nutrition to train and race with (and also a fancy new kit).  A big thanks also goes to Multisport Canada for putting on another great race, and for the opportunity to race as a member of the MSC Development Team.  Thanks is also extended to Nineteen Wetsuits, who helped me with the purchase of my frequency (which has been a fantastic suit for me).   

And lets not forget my amazing family, who woke up super early to come and watch me race (and take some great pictures).  Both my Mom and Dad are big supporters, and my brother Dan (who you should watch for in a few years)...well...we call him my most medium supporter...

Thats all for now everyone.  Look for me at both the Wasaga and Lakeside Olympic distance tri's in just under a months time.  An appearance at the Provincial Time Trial may also be a possibility.  

Thanks for reading

Bala Falls Retro Race-Post Race Report

Triathlon racing is one tough sport.  Us triathletes are super disciplined and focused individuals, and racing really brings out our strong competitive nature.  This was especially true for me in the Toronto Triathlon Festival a couple of weeks ago  (full report available here), where I was totally in my zone and focused on the race (sorry to all of those people cheering me on who I completely ignored...I used to hate when triathletes did that to me, but now I understand).  This is just the way things are for competitive racing, but is it truly the way to enjoy triathlon?
This past weekend, I decided it was time to inject  bit of fun into my race season with the Bala retro triathlon.  I had been thinking about this event for quite a while, and I knew I really wanted to give the retro triathlon thing a go.  This past weekend was the cumulation of many months of preparation, and it was finally time to showcase my collection of retro gear (mainly from value village and Running Free) and to have some fun!

The evening before the race, I was able to stay over with some very hospitable friends at their cottage (which was like 2 minutes from the race site), which made race morning a lot easier, and was very much appreciated.

Me with my gracious hosts, the Chisholm family

Swim

So here's where the fun begins.  When you really get down to it, there is only one thing to wear for the swim in a retro triathlon.  That would be the good old speedo folks.  Nothing like a tiny, black, European cut speedo to showcase that authentic retro look (and mine also had a chamois).  In the spirit of the race, I didn't even bring my wetsuit along, since it would take away from my retro look (water temperatures looked to be almost at the point of having a non-wetsuit race anyway...).  Turns out it decided to pour rain the night before the race, and the water temperature dropped a good 3 degrees Celsius, which made for a very cold swim (Seriously, I was freezing...and the only one without a wetsuit).

Just making sure my suit is still attached....

Bike

After a quick transition, it was onto the bike in full retro style.  My "speedo" was actually an authentic retro triathlon bottom, so it did have a chamois in it (which made for marginal comfort gains).  I also put on my retro sunglasses ($5 at Value Village) to complete my look.  I did opt to use my regular race bike for this years retro race, as my plans to get a vintage road bike were not able to come together.

leaving transition and looking good

I moved into the lead on the bike, and put in a decent TT effort for the 30km out and back course. Riding in the speedo was surprisingly comfortable, and even quite liberating (maybe a bit too liberating when I had to stand...).  

Rolling into T2 and getting ready to change into my run gear

Run

After a solid swim and bike in the speedo, it was time to showcase some more retro gear on the run.  I tried to change as efficiently as possible, but to be honest, this was not designed to be an ultra fast transition.  I quickly put on my vintage Running Free singlet and vintage Adidas shorts (Value Village), and topped off my outfit with a zebra strip hat (some have called this a pimp hat), which was from salvation army.  I decided to run in some neon nike shoes (which I use as regular trainers) opposed to my regular racing flats (which are blue, and not retro).

Running out of T2

   

Another shot of my run outfit

I just ran at a steady effort and tried to make sure my hat would stay on (which it actually did quite well).  I held the lead of the race until the closing km's, where I was passed by a speedy Chris Balestrini.  He put a bit of a gap on me, and ended up winning by 15 seconds (pretty solid racing by this guy). 

Taking a pose post race (one of many)

Post Race

Now here was the part of the event I was really looking foreword to; the judging of the retro outfits.  The best men's and women's outfits were walking away with a fancy Timex GPS watch (where the winner of the race only gets a handshake), so I was obviously exited at the chance for free gear (I definitely get this from my Dad).  The winner was determined by crowd applause, and as it turned out there was only three of us competing for the prize (I have to win now)!  I went up there, and put it all out there, willing the crowd to cheer for my outfit.  After a mediocre applause for my retro speedo look (I think there was some enthusiasm lacking), the guy beside me got a greater applause for his tie dye T-shirt (he must have paid some people off).  So for all my effort, I again walk away with a second place.  Allison (with her retro RNH suit) actually won the most retro outfit for the women, so a congratulations goes out to her.    

I am definitely the most retro, but the guy in the middle got the watch 

I was actually pretty disappointed about not winning the retro competition (much more disappointed than not winning the race), as I really did put in a lot of effort and planning into my look (and even lost the race because of my dedication to the retro look).  Luckily though, I didn't spend too long lingering on what could have been (only the whole ride home and the rest of the day) so I was able to get over it and start thinking about next year.

General Comments:

I was surprised at how few people actually got into the retro spirit, with only three guys and maybe 7 girls.  I was really hoping more people would go old school, and bring out some super cool vintage triathlon gear.  Even though I didn't win the race or the retro competition, I'm hoping my commitment to the retro look opened up some other triathletes to trying a race in something wacky and retro.

All the retro racers (like I said, not too many)

Maybe to grow the retro race, there could be a bit more of an incentive to coming out as a retro racer, like a discounted race fee or a special wave.  What might really be cool is if the race was made mandatory for all the members of the Multisport development team, and retro gear (including bikes) was also made mandatory (just a thought...).  Regardless, I am already making plans for next years retro race, in which I will be sure to top this years effort.

Thanks for having a read, and I hope you enjoyed the pictures (courtesy of Shaun Chisholm).  A big thanks also goes out to Multisport Canada for a putting on a fantastic race, and for hosting such a cool event.  The next race on the calendar is in Bracebridge for the olympic distance tri.  No crazy outfits are currently in the works, although a speedo would be ideal for a non wetsuit swim...