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Le Championnat canadien de triathlon longue distance
J'ai entrepris le 2 km de nage avec force dans ma combinaison Aquaman. Je tentais de suivre le meneur; toutefois, il a fallu que je ralentisse le rythme. Je suis demeuré dans une sorte de «no man's land» durant une bonne partie de la nage jusqu'à ce que je sorte de l'eau au deuxième rang. Dans la zone de transition, j'affichais un retard de moins de une minute derrière le meneur. J'étais donc très confiant et satisfait de ma nage. J'ai
enfourché mon vélo OLMO et je me suis lancé tête
baissée dans cette épreuve. Il s'agissait en fait de ma
sortie la plus longue sur mon nouveau vélo de contre-la-montre.
Au début de la première montée, j'ai échappé
une de mes deux bouteilles d'eau. Je comptais utiliser une bouteille de
mélange par boucle (3 x 36,6 km). J'ai bu une bouteille durant
la première boucle en espérant pouvoir mettre la main sur
une bouteille à la fin. En approchant du poste de ravitaillement,
j'ai crié « Water for elites! » pour ensuite échapper
la bouteille! J'ai donc parcouru 36 km sans eau. Je n'avais plus de force
dans les jambes. Un concurrent m'a dépassé quelques kilomètres
avant la fin de la deuxième boucle. Après avoir attrapé
ma bouteille supplémentaire au poste de ravitaillement, j'ai tenté
de m'accrocher à Garrett McFadden. En vain. La déshydratation
avait fait son oeuvre. J'ai repris des forces seulement à 10 km
de la transition à la course. Page web : http://www.stgeorgetriathlon.ca/ Canadian Long Distance Triathlon Championship Results Elite
Males Elite
Females The Canadian Long Distance Championships were held in the historical town of St-Georges, NB on July 26. The first leg of the race (swim) was two loops of 1km in a clear/clean river. The hilly bike course was a 3x 36km format, and the run was a 20km composed with steep hills. The race was a qualifier for the 2004 World Long Distance Championships in Sweden. Three spots were allotted for elite athletes to represent Canada. I took upon the journey with my athletic director, James McMorran. After a long drive (10hrs) from Montreal, we finally arrived to what we believed to be St-Georges, New Brunswick. Why did I say: "We believed?" We could not see 10m in front of our nose. James and I left Montreal under the rain, traveled under the rain and fog, trained for 4 days under the rain and fog. We could not get our training gear dried... We watched a few (5) movies to fight the boredom caused by the weather. We eventually found out that we did not need the sun to appreciate the area... I had the warmest welcome and I met the nicest people. Our first meal was at a local diner. I had forgotten the race director's phone number. I needed to contact him for homestay. We did not know were to go (sleep) and we discussed our possible options until the person serving us at the restaurant said. "Are you here for the triathlon?" "Are you looking for Bill?" You don't have his number? I will give it to you. I know it by heart! Stunned, we realized that we did not look like locals and that everybody knows each other. The afternoon prior to the race, I was asked (and so did other pros) to look pretty for GLOBAL TV. We biked a little, ran a few strides, and swam in the river... I must say that I was very embarrassed by the fact that I found a way to swim head-to-head with the 2 other athletes from Quebec. I should start a new joke: "How many elite athletes from Quebec does it take to collide live on TV during an open water swim?" I guess it was not that bad. The TV appearance was presented twice that day on national TV. I than moved to the Pre-Race Pasta-Party, where I addressed my peers about my impressions of the course and what it means to represent your country at international events. The morning of the event, the sun came out and it was cooking. The small field of elite athlete was up for a hot and hilly day. We had one thing in mind: to qualify to represent Canada at the next world Long Distance Championships in Sweden. I started the 2km Aquaman wetsuit swim very hard. I was trying to follow the leader∑ I eventually had to drop the pace. I stayed in no man's land for most of the swim. I got out 2nd and ran in transition with less than 1min deficit on first place. I felt very confident and please with my swim. I jumped on my OLMO with my head down for what would be my longest ride on my new Time-Trial bike. As I started to climb the first hill, I dropped one of my two water bottles. I was counting on using one mixed bottle per loop (3x 36.6km). I drank one bottle on the first loop. I was hoping to get a water bottle at the end. As I approached the aid station, I shouted: "Water for elites" and dropped it! I was than forced to race 36km without water. I started to loose my legs. I was passed a few km before the end of the 2nd loop. I grabbed my extra bottle at the aid station and tried to stay with Garrett McFadden. No way! I was dehydrated. I bounced back only 10km from the run transition. I got off the bike with heavy legs. I got in my new Adidas racing flats and headed for the hilliest run of my life. It was not only hot that day but we also had to compete with a sadistic run course. I was about 6 min back to first place. I was in pain and decided to play it safe. I went on Cruise-Control and secured my second place. I crossed the line and reached my first goal of the year: Podium at Canadian Nationals. (Be advised these few lines are rated 18+) As I was walking back to transition and thinking of a cold beer. The Doping-Control people approached me. It was time for me to visit the restroom and be intimate with a little bottle and with someone looking over my shoulder! I was not successful at my first attempt. I joined the rest of the tested athletes (1 man-& 2 women) in the water-room. After more than an hour waiting to get the urge, I went for my second attempt! My entourage and I went for the final push. I was successful this time! Being the first one to leave for food and beers! Woohoo! Thanks for reading, Luc Merci à mes commanditaires/Thanks to my sponsors: Adidas
Canada - http://www.adidas.com
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| Fondatrice Courir.org : Nathalie Collin | Conception
: Jean Joly |
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