From: dodge@Software.Mitel.COM (Jeff Dodge)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.triathlon
Subject: A Week at the Worlds
Date: 14 Sep 92 15:17:16 GMT
Organization: Mitel. Kanata (Ontario). Canada.

A WEEK AT THE WORLDS
*********************

Just in from a week at Muskoka. To echo Jeff Dods, it was awesome!

As I was a participant, my observations are from a differnt angle and
I have virtually no results to report. Perhaps others out there have
the official list.

I raced as part of a 450 person Citizen's Wave (for those of us with
insufficient DNA to make the national team!), leaving in the next-to-last
swim wave, 30 minutes behind the juniors.



The week leading up to the event was a mized bag of weather, mainly cool
with enough sun to see hordes of athletes out to check out the now infamous
bike course. We got a lot of opportunity to mix and chat with people from all
over the world. The main topic was the weather (cool in the teen's degrees C), and
the cool 65 degree water, (don't you love how the Canadian's mix imperial and
metric measurements !!).

Like most, we swam the course every morning and either biked or ran every day. There
was never enough time to do everything. There was a disappointingly small expo on-site
with few if any deals (except for the fast vanishing $50 wetsuits). The town hosted a
boisterous parade on Thursday evening with the opening festivities held on a rather wet
field in the town. Plenty of food and entertainment, incuding a display of the hukka (sp?)
by the Kiwi's and a great local band. We left with our 1mo old before the laser/fireworks
but I'm told that they were a non-event as the wet ground had shorted the firing mechanisms.

Thursday was registration. The race kit included 2 shirts! Amazing what $100 will buy! 
Signs of things to come as we found out the the citizens waves were over 200 people each
in size and that we would be last, behind many slower national age-groupers. We didn't mind
being last, as we were not national team members, but the size of the waves and the
proximity to slower racers was a concern that turned out to be well founded.

Friday was a day off, with bike check-in throughout the day. Checked bike in last at 4:00. 
The pro's had to have their bikes in at 10:30 am on Friday. This meant that they had no
chance to spin a little during the day. Strange I thought. 

The forecast was promising frost overnite, sending us in to town for gardening gloves
for the bike and a search of our rented ski chatlet for winter clothes for spectators
and racers. The major concern was not of the water temp but of the cooling effects on
bike. A friend ran into the Chinese team looking at $30 waterski gloves in some shop,
but managed to steer them in the direction of a hardware store for gardening gloves at $2
each. A much better deal.

5:30 am race day. Cold, just above freezing. Frost on car windows. Heavy fog. Dark.
The Mexican team said it was the coldest winter day they had ever experienced.
I had on every piece of clothing I could find and rubbed down with A535 to generate
some heat and trundled off to the transition at 7:00. I felt like I should be lining up
at the base of the ski hill instead of taking off clothes to be body marked by mitten-clad
volunteers. (over 1400 volunteers who were simply superb). On the beach, even the Brit's and
Newfies couldn't see through the fog to the second swim bouy. Nearly an hour later, the sun
finally burned off enough of the fog to start as the juniors plunged in.

A side story about a one-armed Argentinian Triathlete. We met this guy on Wed morning on
the beach. 50 meters into his swim, he suffered leg cramps and we had to pull him in,
somewhat shaken. On race day, he left in the second wave. When I entered the water 27 minutes
later, I passed him at the 1000 m mark. While he had been permitted a flotation jacket over
his wetsuit, this display of grit and determination was inspiring in the frigid water. My
wife later saw him in the run, so I know he finished in one piece.

The swim was by far the most physical I have ever been in. I was pounded and pummelled
the whole way. Similar reports from friends in all waves, at all levels. The last 500 m was
incredibly cold as the valley's streams, all well chilled from the cold nite, drain into
this shallow bay. The chill was mind-numbing as you entered the last leg. I had a good (for me) swim in about 24 minutes (my watch was kicked so I don't know exactly).

Up the 100 m hill to the transition to lose at least 3 minutes in trying to force lycra
over wet skin. Gloves, winter cycling jacket. First corner pothole left me hands-free
momentarily. On the first descent a spectator crossed the road looking the wrong way 
and nearly took out 3 of us.

At the the first big climb, I knew there was something wrong. Earlier in the week, I had
been climbing this seated at 25-30 kph. Now I was standing at 15. Muscles very cold. Feet
out of sensor range as they say on Star Trek. Almost stalled. As my brother, who would
never pass me on a hilly course, blasted past at 2 km, I spun even faster trying to 
generate heat. I was now overtaking the older age-grouper traffic which was slower and
quite heavy. Touched wheels with an Aussie at the first turn. She was probably so cold in
her swimsuit that she couldn't move. We both stayed up though. Starting to warm up as 
I turned onto Harp Lake Road, which sounds too much like Heart Break Road to be a 
coincidence. Every hill on the road was painted like the Tour De France, with slogans
from every country egging you on. Really neat. Especially at the top of one brutal
climb "Where's Your Mommy Now??". It would have been funny any other time. Mid way
through this section, I lost the cable to my front derailleur. Now I'm stuck in
my small chainring, with cold legs, non-existant feet and a stomach that wouldn't
keep liquid down. I decided to turn from serious competitor, to mere participant,
merrily spinning along at 120 rpm at 38 kph. Stopped in town to help a national
team member repair a flat (this is probably against the rules, but it's a long
walk back and I'm sure she was well out of contention at that point. Besides
I'm not telling who, or what country). Limped back to the transition in a time
better measured with sundial.

Took my time in transition. It's hot now. From winter gear to swimsuit with singlet.
Stopped to talk to my wife and child, got my picture taken. Trotted through the
run, having fun talking with the water station volunteers. The course was quite
hilly, raoming over 3 golf courses and a road. One section almost needed a ladder
to climb it. Met up with some slower athletes who were really pushing it. 
Ran laong with some for awhile, urging them on. Stopped again for more pic's. Finished
10 k in 44 minutes, whole course in 2:30. (last year's time was 2:14). I had my worst
race ever, but really enjoyed myself. Lots of food, drinks and massage for all!

The Pro race had started by then. Some really great finishes in both the male
and female catagories. Watch for them on TV!

That nite the awards and banquest were held outside in the parking lot. Good
food and lots of great people (and beer!). Met up with Todd Jensen
of net fame and his speedy wife Lauren of the US Team, who had a great race 
in 2:19 (I think).
They stoped and chatted for awhile, nice people!

I'd encourage everyone to try to attend the next World's (in Monaco I think, as Germany
has dropped out). If you can't compete, just watching is well worth while.

..J
-- 
     >==o^   __e     o        
     SWIM  _ \ ~    %          Jeff Dodge
          (x)/(x)  /)          MITEL PUBLIC SWITCHING
            BIKE   RUN         Kanata, Ontario, Canada (eh?)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.triathlon