Rob Eakin Triathlete

Race Report – Cranbrook (Provincials)

Let it first be said that Cranbrook is a long ways from Vancouver. It's one thing to drive to Penticton or Kelowna in the middle of BC and quite another to go all the way across the province to Cranbrook.

On the plus side though, it was nice to be reminded that the sun does shine outside of Vancouver. Perhaps it's just been the weather we've had here this June but it felt like being back in Hawaii when we got to Penticton and could sit outside in shorts and t-shirts to eat.

The race itself left me with mixed feelings which has been a reoccuring theme the past couple of races. I've come to realize it has to do with the quote from yesterday but more about that later.

The swim start was largest I have ever been in (over 450) and naturally was a bit of gong show to start. With a history of having problems in swim races I was thrilled to be able to push hard for the first 200 m or so until the first buoy where everyone strung out and things got a little calmer. Was feeling great throughout middle of the swim and even started passing a few people (a first) until about the 1 km mark when my technique slowly started to fall apart.

Came out of the water at 24:46, a personal best for a 1.5 km swim but not quite up to the standard I had hoped for. My transition was average and got out on the bike course.

The bike was a fairly flat out and back. The out portion was slightly uphill and into the wind (or at least it seemed) and obviously the other way around coming back. On the way out got passed by a couple of men who were flying on the bike but managed to stick behind one of them (doing some quasi drafting just outside of the drafting zone) all the way to the turn around at which point I picked it up a little and left him behind. Overall it was a good bike ride but I think I could have pushed it a little more out the way out.

Coming back into transition was another gong show as the sprint race had started behind us and were just getting into transition at the same time as we were which made things a little dicey. Had to slow down for the last 400 m with so much traffic and then had to jump over someone (while carrying my bike) who had decided to sit down in the middle of transition.

Negotiated my way through it though and hit the run course. I was still feeling the effects of racing the week before and after about the first kilometer started struggling to keep my pace up. It seemed like every muscle in my legs had its moment of pain over the course of the run but by the time I hit the turn around I started feeling a little better. I think it was the fact that at that point I had managed to pass 3 or 4 people and felt more confident.

So in the end I finished 31st overall in a time of 2:13:26. And so began the mixed feelings.

Yes, there was serious competition at the race. Fourteen men broke the two hour mark and you know you're in a high level race when the top 10 or so guys that go past you (going the other way) all have their names on their tri suits. But I still hate the sound of 31st. And 8th in my age-group doesn't make it any better.

And here lies the quote:

"Achievement is largely the product of steadily raising one's level of aspiration and expectation."

- Jack Nicklaus

There was a time I was happy to just finish a triathlon. And then there was a time that I was happy to be in the top half of finishers. And then there was a time when I was happy to just qualify for Worlds. It seems as though someone keeps sneaking around when I'm not looking and raising the bar on me. The worst part is I'm pretty sure it's me doing it.

To finish, the other side of those mixed feelings. The 2:13 is 9 minutes faster than my previous best at an olympic distance triathlon. A nice little reminder that while the bar is getting higher, I am jumping a whole lot higher too.

World Championships – Race Report

That was what the water looked like yesterday morning for Worlds. And apparently the women were tough enough to brave it but officials felt us men didn't have what it would take** so they cancelled the swim for the later heats.

So the race became a duathlon (3 km run, 40 km bike, 10 km run) and while it was a little disappointing not to get a full race, I immediately lost any anxiety I had about the race. My only worry going into the race was how I was going to react to the cold water and that had now been taken out of the equation.

I was completely loose heading to start line (for the second time as I had to run back to transition to grab my timing chip that I had forgotten). Before I got there though, two great moments. First, we each got ushered over the timing mats one by one to check our timing chips. As you crossed the mat though, on the computer screen there, your name filled the screen with your country and flag. Pretty proud moment to see my name with the maple leaf next to it.

Second, the person ushering us across was none other than my first triathlon coach. Miranda got me started in the sport three years ago with Reflexion and it was awesome to see her there. So after a big hug and well wishes I was ready to go.

Looking back now, I find it a little amusing but in lining up for the start I put myself right in the middle at the very front. In hind sight, considering my competition, I probably shouldn't have been so bold but that was just my mind set at the start line. I belonged there.

The first run went well but looking at my heart rate data after the race I probably pushed it a little too hard. Hit a heart rate of 178 (only seen it that high once or twice in training) five minutes into the race which was probably due to a combination of being well rested, being pumped up, and pushing too hard.

Had a smooth first transition (making sure to leave my shoes in order so they were ready for T2) despite it being extremely crowded with such a big pack together. Quickly got into a nice rhythm on the bike and picked off a couple of riders in my age group early on.

But at the bottom of the long hill at the end of the second lap the hard push on the first run came back to haunt me. My right calf completely cramped and seized up. Luckily I was still on the downhill so I was able to coast for 30 seconds while I stretched it out. Once I got pedalling again, it was still fairly tight so I had to turn the intensity down a little (hence the 15:30 lap 2 but just under 16 on 3 and 4).

Negotiated the rest of the bike without incident. Others weren't so fortunate as there were two nasty crashes coming down the hill from Prospect Point while I was out there.

Second transition went swimmingly (oh the irony) and I hit the run course. Felt smooth for about a kilometer or two until my quads started screaming at me anytime there was the slightest uphill (and there were a lot of them on the course). So the run became more of a mental test of will than anything else.

And that's where everyone's cheering was so important. It seemed there was someone I knew every 500 m or so shouting at me and each time they did I forgot about the pain for a few seconds. So thanks everyone!

Managed to "sprint" to the finish (how could I not with the blue carpet underfoot?) and finish in 1:54:28. As of right now (unofficial) that puts me 73rd in my age group.

To be honest, it's tough saying that I was 73rd (especially when I know those who are picking up medals). But then I have to remember that I just barely qualified for this race and rather than just hang on the back (as I would have in September), I've moved myself up into the middle pack in 8 months. That and both my bike (even extrapolated to a full 40 km) and my run (sub 40 minutes) were personal bests in a olympic distance triathlon. And I'm confident that had I swum I would have PB'd it too (I'll prove it this Sunday).

So personally, it was a very good race but I can't help comparing myself to best. Guess that comes with the territory of wanting to be the best. And I'll get my shot at proving myself again a year from now in Australia.

Today is going to be spent with the team watching the big boys and girls go after qualification spots for Beijing and then the closing ceremonies/awards at GM Place later on to see LETC's own World Champion Stephanie Kieffer get her gold and Martina get her bronze. Way to go ladies! You've both got a big target on your back now and you know who already has his sights set on it.

**In reality they just didn't have enough lifeguards and medics to deal the sheer number of people they were having to help out of the water.