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Triathlon Chaos with Mistress K of Os!




Race Report Links:

First 5k race - March 2009
First 10k race - May 2009
First Triathlon - Try-a-Tri - June 2009
10k PR race for W25-29 - July 2009
First Sprint Triathlon - September 2009
First Trail Race - September 2009
First Half Marathon - October 2009
First Cyclocross Race - December 2009
First Duathlon - May 2010
Woodstock Give-It-A-Tri - June 2010
Welland Sprint Tri - June 2010
Belwood Fat Tire Try-a-Tri Relay w/Tanker - July 2010
Muskoka Long Course Tri - July 2010




In March 2008, I discovered that I had been attacked by the fat monster! I had two new tattoos done on my back, and when my husband Tanker took photos of them, I saw rolls of fat in between them! I resolved that would NEVER happen to me again..

I started doing some easy (well, I call them easy now!) workouts 6 days a week, alternating between yoga and Tae Bo, and trying to eat a little bit healthier and a little bit less. As the weeks and months went by, I kept increasing the intensity and duration of my workouts, and making small changes to the foods I'd eat, slowly dissolving away the extra pounds. By November of 2008, I had gone from 163lbs and ~34% body fat down to about 140lbs, and was feeling stronger and healthier than I had in years! I had more energy, and felt great about myself.


It's all about perseverence!

At that time, I had never been able to run for more than 5mins, and would suffer agonies from my bad back and bad knees. However, I wondered if, after spending 7 months strengthening my legs and core muscles to support the bad joints, I might be able to start running. I couldn't think of anything that would be a bigger help in losing the last 5lbs I wanted to be rid of, nor anything that would give me more of a sense of accomplishment.

I went out and bought a good pair of running shoes, and did my first run on November 10th, 2008. It was only about 1.5km (just under 1 mile), though I felt I could have done more. I decided to wait a couple of days and see if anything fell apart, and when nothing did, I went out again...and again...even as winter set in and began to do its worst.


Cold weather running gear - I am spiderman!


As I increased my distance and stamina, and lost those last pounds to arrive at my goal of 135lbs and about 17% body fat, just in time to visit my sister and brother in law for Christmas of 2008. Krista had been involved with triathlons for a couple of years, having completed half- and full Ironman distance events, but had taken a year off to have their beautiful new daughter Kasiah - my niece!

Visiting with Mike and Krista, as Mike was training for Ironman Canada, I thought about triathlons a lot. Swim, then bike, then run. Well, I had grown up swimming and cycling, and enjoyed both, and now it looked like I might just be able to run a bit. Hmm..

In January 2009, I signed up for a 5km running race in Hamilton, ON scheduled for March 14th, 2009. I hoped I'd be able to run it in under 30mins, which seemed like a realistic goal. I kept at it, and by the time the race rolled around, I felt ready! From my training runs, I knew that I was actually capable of finishing in 26:00, and a friend of mine bet me a pound of fine Kilimanjaro coffee conditional on me crossing the finish line in less than that. I ran for all I was worth, and finished with an official time of 25:51!


Almost to the finish of the 2009 Slainte St. Patrick's Day 5k


By this time, I had already decided to take a shot at triathlons. There was an event at Guelph Lake Conservation Area, only about 35mins from home, on the Labour Day weekend (we had been out to Guelph Lake for a picnic and hike while it was going on last year). I decided I would take a whack at the aptly named "Try-a-Triathlon", and to that end I had already been going to the pool twice a week since the end of January.


The day I bought my competition suit, swim cap and goggles


As the weather started to improve, I started riding my bicycle more, too. However, my poor 15 year old mountain bike wasn't in good shape! The cables were seized and the derailleurs were in bad shape, so I couldn't actually make it shift gears without a hammer; the wheels were a little bent (I tried truing them, but gave up after 4 seperate tries that really got me nowhere) and rubbed on the brakes with every revolution. I'd either have to rebuild it completely, or buy a new bike. Still, I rode it a fair bit, and my legs started to remember the days (many years ago) when I used to ride 50km/day!


My poor old 1994 Kona Hahanna. Still a good bike if I rebuild it!


I started researching triathlon bikes, despite the advice that many experienced triathletes give newcomers about doing their first race on whatever bike they can, just to see if they want to continue in the sport. I'm not one to give up something I set my mind on, and I had already decided by this point that the Try-a-Triathlon wasn't enough of a challenge - I was going to do the full Sprint distance (750m swim, 30k bike, 7k run) at Guelph Lake II on Labour Day weekend, but would do the Try-A-Tri at Guelph Lake I on June 20th, 2009 as a "practice race" so I would be better prepared for the sprint in the fall. To that end, I spent weeks comparing models, features, designs, and the whopping prices they want for these fantastic machines. I finally decided that the 2009 Cervelo P1, an "entry level" triathlon-specific bicycle that can make the impressive claim of having won world-class time trial stages, was the bike for me...and my income tax refund would just barely cover the excellent price I got on it and a set of clipless pedals from Tom at Way Past Fast in Edmonton, AB. The bike arrived in its shipping box on May 11th, 2009, was delivered to Mike at Grand River Cycle on May 14th to be built, and I picked it up on May 16th, 2009, a bare 13 days after having completed my first 10k road race - the Downtown Mudpuppy Chase in Kitchener, ON, which I finished in 57:39...well under my goal time of 60mins (read the race report here)!


Looks fast even standing still!


I got the bike set up to fit me as best I could for the time being, and took it for a spin. Man, that thing is scary fast! I didn't have much trouble getting used to the clipless pedals, but the twitchy handling and aero riding position remind me of a race-bred sport motorcycle!


Starting to get the hang of this!


With just over a month before my first triathlon, I still needed a few things: a triathlon-specific wetsuit, which not only keeps you warm, but helps you float (which makes you faster, and lets you expend less energy in the water), to swim in open water in said wetsuit to get used to both swimming in the suit and not having a pool wall to hang onto/push off of every 25m, and to get a LOT of time in the saddle of my new bike! Fortunately, I managed to get in a few open water swims after my wetsuit came in, and put about 260km on the Cervelo before my first race, including a full "dress rehearsal" at the Guelph Lake Conservation Area on June 13th, 2009...exactly one week before the Try-a-Tri!


My makeshift transition area


I only did about half of the distance of the actual swim


Trucking up the hill from the beach to my bike


Heading out to do the whole 10k bike route


Finished my run-through - went well!


Feeling fairly well-prepared, I did one final 50km ride on Sunday, June 14th, then began tapering to rest up for my first race. Having changed my saddle from the stock San Marco Ponza Trilon to a more comfortable Specialized Velo Pronto SL-WZ1, I had some tweaking to do to get my position dialled in again. I finally managed it the night before the race, in time to do a 10min easy ride and 10min easy run to make sure my legs were ready to go!


Fitted as best I can, according to F.I.S.T. protocol


I packed up my transition bag with all my gear, made a delicious pasta dinner, then tried to relax and get some sleep! To read my full race report, click here!

I've since done another 10k race, and set my all-time W25-29 PR for that distance, as it was the day before my 30th birthday! Read the race report here.

Updates: I've also since finished my first Sprint distance triathlon, which was my goal race for 2009. The full race report is here!

..and then Tanker and I did a cross-country trail race on a whim, with some great people! See the full race report with tons of photos here!