Guelph Lake Sprint Tri report by Murray Barnes

Jun 22, 2009

Hey Brian, had a great day up in Guelph...a quick report!

Pulling into the grass parking lot a Guelph was quite a lie. There was no grass just mud. Uh oh. Rain and plenty of it for my first sprint of the year!

Oh well, swimming with the FMCT squad under Hans during the winter and riding with the FMCT big boys in Gateneau and Ottawa recently had my confidence high. The run, well I will have to deal with that when I get there! The plan was to go under 1 hr 30 min!

Off on time in the second wave with my FMCT and aussie mate Andrew Hansen, we swam in relatively smooth water till we hit the tail of the first wave! All the advice from Hans running through my mind made the swim relatively quick - out in 13:08 but the dreaded Guelph hill loomed after the beach.

A much too long transition and off on my bike. Visions of chasing Bill, Jim, Brian and Klaus in Ottawa had me working hard. Though those bloody tri bikes seem so much faster as a few cruised by me! (only a few!) Gotta get me one... Off in 35min 28sec so thank you to the boys for making me stronger!

Into transition and a quick look at my watch had me well on time. Shoes on - check. Hat on - check. Handbag - check. Off I went trying to convince myself it'd only be half an hour or so!

Damn Hansen passed me at the 2km mark and had the hide to talk to me. TALK? I couldn't spit! The turn-a-round came at last so I figured I'd give er a good go back. Good plan. Bad execution. I had stitches in parts of my body I didnt think possible. Damn. Hang in there. I hate being passed! Least they were MOSTLY younger folk! Finished with a run of 26:58, definitely something to work on!

Highlight of my day was having my 5 year old join me 50 m from the finish and he beat me in! Awesome. Quick watch check, 1 hr 19min 50 sec. Not too shabby for this 205lb bloke!

And yes Bill/Jim/Brian, I did win my Clydesdale class and got a first place plaque! Now just wondering where that skull and crossbones tattoo should go!!

Hope my time helped the FMCT club championship tally, good luck to all tomorrow for the big Olympic Tri! See you all soon!

Murray Barnes
98 MURRAY BARNES ETOBICOKE 170 1:19:50 M40-44 8/26 3 39 swim 14:41 1:58 19 271 run 26:56 5:247 75 bike 35:28 32.11:361:12