Tuesday Time Trial, On Wednesday?

This year the Barrie Tri Club decided to hold the Tuesday Time trials on Wednesday's? not a big problem, but I'm not happy with it being changed as it changes my training schedule over the summer months that I have been doing for years, but if it accommodates others training schedules to benefit themselves, who am I to complain? ;) ....


Anyhoo! This is the first week I have been able to go to the TT which started about a month ago now. This course is a three loop 20km course on some nice roads and one moderate hill to climb over both ways for a total of six climbs over the duration of the 20km course, and my results are less then great this time averaging just under 33kph on this windy day...... OK mind you it was windy and I did do a 20km ride and a swim earlier in the day before heading off for the time trial this Wed. Hopefully next week I will have better results.







Now I have to get myself ready for my next race this Sunday up in Gravenhurst. I will be doing the Tri a Tri again as the sprint race was already sold out, so maybe I have another chance to place on top of the podium ? :)




:)

First Race of the year Welland Weekend

I did my first triathlon this Saturday at the Multisport triathlon series http://www.msctriathlon.com/ms/index.cfm doing the Welland Tri a tri distance race which is a 400m swim 10k bike and 2.5k run.
My plan was to do the tri a tri distance race Saturday and then do the half Ironman Aqua bike race Sunday, but when I went to register race day for the tri a tri I didn't realize they bumped the entree fee up as when I looked on there web site before coming down to race I only saw the race being $50 for the tri a tri and the half Ironman was listed as $125.00 But when I went to register they said the fee was $71 for the tri a tri race and the half would have been more then I anticipated and couldn't afford, so I only registered for the Tri a tri passing on doing the Aqua bike half race Sunday.

As usual I got my gear set up in transition and went down to the water start. this race and the sprint race were in a time trial format sending each racing in order of number off every 5 second. I've never raced time trial before but I like the idea as there is no bashing like in a wave start.

My race number was 599 so I was off the back of the field for the start as I registered for the race race day, no biggie, I just watched for a half hour before it was my tern to start. I got off to a good start and started passing of the field of swimmers one by one until I finished the swim, taking the fastest swim split time in my age group and 19 fastest swim overall, then we had to run up about 400m to transition to get our bikes. I quickly got my bike gear on and ran out of T1 almost rolling my ankle while I ran with my bike in my bike shoes, shades of my race in Barrie in /06 when I did the same thing and tore my Planter Fascia, but this time I didn't hurt myself. I then ran past the mount line and jumped on my peddle swinging my leg over for a rolling mount, properly mounting my bike unlike others who stop at the mount line, get on there bike standing still and then peddling on! lol

It was only a 10k bike so before I knew it I was back rolling towards the dismount line uncliping my shoes and swing my leg over the bike getting ready to jump off and run my bike before hitting the dismount line. I racked my bike and took a min to put on running socks before putting my running shoes on, then I ran out of T2 for the 2.5km run. My bike split was 1st in my age group and 5th fastest over all averaging 33.6km/hr

I said to myself this is only a 2.5km run so there won't be any walking and I must push on finishing strong as our Barrie tri clubs motto says. I can't say I was the fastest runner out there but I actually had a good run split finishing 7 in my age group out of 12 and 95 fastest overall out of 152. running at a 5:33/km pace. Woo hoo! I was happy.

I finished in 45:46. and ended up finishing 2nd in my age group out of 12 in my field and 22 over all in the field of 152. I have to say I was quite pleased! It sure makes a difference when you actually run in a tri. ;)

My race splits 22 Josef POLCZ Barrie ON CAN 599 0:45:46.4 M50-59 2/12 1 19 8:32 2:08 2:27 1 5 17:50 33.6 7 95 13:51 5:33 1:39 1:30

After the race I hung out with my friends then later that night I met up with them for a camp fire to rehash the day before going home.


Pictures below in no order of the day....

Some of my friends I was hanging with John to my right, Karen to my left, Kent, Ingrid and Erin and Dan I think?
Me on the 2nd place podium
Happy to be up here.
Just a good shot! lol
The medal bite

Me Erin and Adam.
Me and Ingrid who raced to.
Me getting ready at the swim start
Me at the swim finish
Running to the finish line

Adam is at OAT meeting with other official refs officiating at the races al weekend
Some more friends Cynthia doing the Half Iron Duathlon and Brian doing the half tri
Me with Pro Wolfgang Guembel who won the Half ironman race last year
K, Erin and Karen at Karens house after the race
Adam the fire starter.

Oh, I didn't mention about my nutrition for the race. Well let me just say, don't eat a McDonads double cheeseburger the morning of the race.lol After the race my gut was churning like Drano down the sink to unplug a drain! lol But I had no choice as I went to McD's on the way to the race at 4 am and and with the race starting at 10am I need to have some solid food and wanted an egg Mcmuffin but they weren't surving breakfast yet? WTF? 4am and no breaky? and I need to eat so I got the hamburger.

But pre race before the swim start I did down a couple of stroopwaffles and drank one of my pre mixed energy drinks which gave me the energy to do the whole race without eating or drinking the whole race.

:)

Big Race Weekend Report.

Big Race Weekend Report coming!! ..Stay tuned!! :)

:)

Tribute to Amber, my Dog.

Born July 24 2000..Died June 9, 2011...We will all miss you as a special member of our family.... RIP AMBER. :(

My weekend was putting up my walk way light post.

This weekend was a work weekend. I of course started Saturday off with my bike ride of only 60 km, then I started work on putting up a new light post for my front walkway.

First thing I had to do was dig a post base and cement in a foundation with the post brackets in place, then let it cure over night. Sunday morning I started to erect my light and hard wire it in.


Base plate and brackets installed in cement and ready to put light post up.

Post comes in 3 sections that screw together as I fish the wiring though.

Then put the last section with the lights on and wired it together

I dug a trench and fished wiring though some conduit to be buried along the walk and wired the power and turn the lights on.

It works!

wiring buried and garden fixed up, work is done!

Next is to finish fixing the top edge of the pond once I get some money, everything in time. ;)

:)

Recovery week

Well it's been a week since my Barrie to Wasaga beach event and I have to say how surprised I am with my recovery. My outer quads were a little sore the Sunday and Monday after,but not to bad. By Wednesday I was able to do some short recovery runs and today I ran 6km with Joanne with the running group.

Also this week I swam Monday, and Friday and Saturday I rode 70km on my bike on a gorgeous Warm sunny spring Saturday day, then did some gardening and planted my veg garden. How does it look?




So now I am enjoying the rest of my long weekend lazying around and maybe take in the fireworks down by the waterfront tomorrow night. Cheers!


:)

Barrie to Wasaga beach 50 miler was a success

I would first like to say I am Sorry Catherine couldn't make the event as she took Ill and was not able to run, I hope since I created this event to run with her in hopes to help in her in training for her upcoming Vermont 100 mile event that she recovers fully as to continue her training and ultimately run and achieve her goal of finishing her 100mile ultra race in Vermont this coming July. http://www.vermont100.com/index.html


That being said, what a great turnout of friends and fun! Sure it got painful for me near the end of my journey even though I didn't accomplish what I set out to do, but I am not disappointed in my accomplishment consider the weather and how well my "less is more" training got me through the day.

The day started for me at 4:30am when I got up obviously, lol. I went downstairs and grabbed a Stroopwaffle and a coffee in my large Mickey mouse coffee cup, Then I made and ate a bagel with cream cheese and downed one of my energy drinks I pre-made. I then gathered all my supplies to get ready for the day. By now it was 5:15am and Joan Van Hilten show up, boy was I ever pleased she showed up! Joan said she would show to help out but when Catherine and Bill informed me the night before that they couldn't make it because they were ill, I didn't know if Joan would show to be our vehicle support and Photographer! and thought I would have to carry as much supplies in my back pack and have my wife Joanne do a few drive bys to replenish my and anyone else's supplies during the day.... But Joan did show up to save the day! Yeah Joanie!!


Keith Lascelles then showed up up at the door shortly after Joan walked in, Joanne made them some tea and we talked about our plan for the day as it looked like it would only be me and Keith running.( which btw is a multi Boston marathon runner and who is also doing a 100 mile run this summer at Burning river 100 in July http://www.burningriver100.org/ )

Well it was time to go and as we start to get ready with supplies out to Joans SUV, then just as we get to my front door more peeps showed up. Victoria Northcott and another lady I haven't met before Donnie. Again I was pleased they showed up. Victoria told me earlier that she would come out to do 30k or so with us if we could get her home, I said that wouldn't be a problem, so here she was! Yeah!

Keith, Victoria, Donnie, Joanne,( who was only running 10k or so with us 5k out and back at the start) and I got ourselves ready to start line while Joan took the opportunity to take our picture.

The morning start was foggy but humid and not to cool which was good for me and the day looked promising even though the weather forecast was calling for rain all day but with a high of 16C very doable for running. So now we are off and running. Now at this time I must mention I am in awe of Keith, Victoria and Donnie as they are phenomenal runners and all Boston marathon runner and here I am a fat old guy slogging along trying to put on a good impression, like I can run? lol

Everyone stuck together for the most part, I stayed with Joanne at the back while Keith, Victoria and Donnie paced up ahead but not to far. I was feeling good and kept pace at 6:30 to 7 min pace with Joanne which I and Joanne felt comfortable with until we met up with Joan in the SUV every couple of KM's until we got to Carson road where Joanne would leave us to go back on her own and the rest of us kept going.

The two ladys lead the way as Keith and I paced behind, but me being slower I start lagging behind and Keith went on to catch the lady's to run with them, then he would circle back to me when he and the lady's got to far ahead. I didn't mind that the others were running ahead as I knew they would wait for me as I was trying to keep my 7 min/km pace. and as Keith put it to me, he said he needed me to keep him slow to pace himself for his training for his 100 miler.

Well the day went on the rain started coming down in a drizzle. I would catch up to the others every few Kms as they waited by Joan's car fueling up, I would also do a bottle exchange at the 10k mark and grab one of my energy drinks and of course a stroopwaffle which I passed around to the others.

When we reached 21k the drizzle was rain and I checked my watch and was pleased with my 2:40 time, my goal was to reach Wasaga beach somewhere between 5 and 6hrs and if I pushed on, finish the 50 miles in between 13-14hrs. By now though my hip flexors were getting sore and tight. My pace was slowing a bit but I was trying to keep it between 7-8 min/km pace, then a car drove up and it was my friend and neighbour Brian Chew who drove out to cheer us on and offer some food and drink. ( Brian is also a Boston marathon runner ) It made me feel so privileged to know and have support form all these friends! I was honored. Brian offered me some food and drink and freezies, I took a freezie and told him about Catherine not being here because of illness but up ahead was Keith Victoria and Donnie,and Joan on support Which was a surprise to him as he didn't know Victoria and her friend Donnie were going to be here today, So after a few Min's with me he went to meet up with them.

Well I kept going keeping to my slow but steady 10 and 1 pace and before long I was a few k shy at the 30km mark, I lost site of the others by then, but when I finally caught up the ladies were in Brian's car as they did there 30k and Brian was going to drive them back home. I thanked them for coming out and said I'll see you at the pot luck and I kept moving on.

I think Keith was like 3 or more k's ahead of me by now and Joan would come back and check on me. When she did, I told Joan to keep an eye out for another lady that might be joining us on the run at around the 30k mark her name was Silvia Schweizer. Silvia is in training for Ironman Lake Placid this coming July and told me she would come and support my run and run 20k with us, but in this case me into Wasaga and back to her car where she parked it along the road.

The rain was still coming down and the air was getting colder as the day went on, it seem the high temp for today was early morning and as this cold front came in with rain the temp was dropping, so now I'm starting to get cold and sore. lol

The next time Joan cam back to check on me I was almost at the 30km mark and Joan told me Silvia was up ahead, I then grabbed and apple from the Car and another energy drink to hold me over fo a while and in the distance I saw Silvia running towards me, by now I was pressing hard to keep up with my 10 and 1's and my pace was hovering around 8/k and 10/k while walking. When Silvia caught up with me she turned around and paced with me as I started to run after a short chat and thanking her for coming out.

At the next meeting with Joan we fueled up and I gave Silvia a stroopwaffle as she was curious as to what they were,she like them and even had another later on! I also had one........ By now I Walking 5 and running 5min with the rain still coming down, then Steen Klint showed up in his car to offer support! Steen is also a Boston marathon runner who just did a double with doing Boston two weeks ago and Big Sur last weekend. He came out to offer support and food and fluids to us asking how it's going. Wow again I am Honored having all these great runners come out in support of my event, I told Steen Keith and Joan are up ahead and introduced Silvia to him and thanked him for coming out and continued on my journey as Steen went on up to catch Keith.

I continue doingmy 5 and 5min runs when we make it to the last turn onto river road which leads into Wasaga beach. I'm saying to Silvia at this time Keith must be on his way out and we should be seeing him run by us soon. I'm also telling Silvia I don't think I will be able to go on after I reach Wasaga beach, I said I just want to get my split for the marathon and call it a day because I'm getting cold and my hip flexors are getting worse with tightness. Silvia would tell me to at least try to finish 50k which is only 8k farther then the marathon? I said I would think about it and will know better when we reach Wasaga and after I hit the washroom there.

We continue on, and I'm feeling guilty for Silvia holding her back from her run and told her she could go on and I'll just trudge along, but she said no, she came out to support and pace me and it's ok. We finally get to the edge of town and we see Keith running toward us and I high five him as we meet, he tells us the beach is only a couple of K back and to keep it going. I told him I'm probably going to stop after my marathon split because I'm getting cold and my hip flexors are hurting, but he should keep going and I'll catch up to ride support with Joan. Silvia looks at me and says What? you have to go on! I said I'll try we will see? and we continue on.

We meet up with Joan just outside of the beach area and I tell her I'm stopping at the beach so she should meet us there. in the mean time the rain is getting harder and I'm getting colder and I have to go to the bathroom. We finally get to the beach and main strip and both Steen and Joan are there waiting for us. I go to the public washroom soaking wet and when I come out I had decided I won't go on. I'm told cold at this point and the rain is coming down harder and the temperature had dropped even more. Silvia at this point decided she will continue on to run back to her car, Steen did the awesome thing and supported her on her run back while I got into the car with Joan to go support Keith.

My unofficial marathon time was 5:45, a personal best for me and I was pleased and don't regret going on.

When we caught up to keith he was 10k out and at the exact point where Silvia left her car, Keith jumped into the car for a short rest before continuing on. At this point I though I would leave a present for Silvia and left a bottle of water and a package of Stroopwaffles on her car for her when she gets back.

Joan and I would continue on support driving up a few K and waiting on Keith, When we got to Phelpston we waited by the corner store where. When Keith caught up to us Keith asked if we would get him some coke, so Joan went in to buy some coke and a couple of chocolate bars, when she gets back to the car she can't find the chocolate bars and though maybe she left them in the store, I tell her I didn't see any chocolate bars and we both look everywhere and can't find them. She goes back into the store and the store keeper said she took them with her? Joan comes back and we look some more, Oh well? we couldn't find them! so we drove on to catch Keith offer the coke but no chocolate, but Keith said he didn't want chocolate? but we both said he said he wanted chocolate? lol anyway, Keith downed the coke and continued on. We then went ahead again and waited in front of a farm house that had a big German Shepard that wasn't leashed and was very vicious. Keith told us he was worried about the dog as it had almost attacked him when we ran out at the beginning of the race, I said I remember the dog as it tryed to attack me when the owner came out and called it back. So we parked in front of the house where the dog was still barking and roaming freely until Keith showed up, but while we waited we looked again for the chocolate and Joan found it in her purse that she had in the back seat, somehow she threw it in her purse when she came back to the car with the coke and just gaped out what she did with the chocolate bars. lol

As Keith approached the farm house with the dog roaming and barking Joan drove along side of Keith to put the car between the dog and Keith which kept the dog in check, Keith was safe!

Off we went ahead to the next check point to wait while Keith ran, and while we are waiting along route we get another supporter drive by Wayne Hodge who said he drove the route all the way out and back looking for us and finally found us to give support! Thanks Wayne! then not long after that Cindy Marcelli drives by to see how things are going. It was great to see all the support! thanks!

Now on the home stretch, Keith tells us he is ok and we can meet him at my house, but as we come up on to the 80k which is just over 1k before reaching my house, I keep an eye on the time and Keith reaches 80k in 9:37 Amazing!! Keith says he will run the rest of the way so we meet him back home.

Wow! Keith is an animal!! He ran more then 82km in total maybe more with all the looping back he did to run with me going out to Wasaga. lol Congrats Keith!!

Later that night it was party time with great food and friends! Thanks to everyone who participated and Supported! I hope to do this event again next year. You guys are great!


My supplies for the day.....

My pre made energy drinks....

Kieth and I in the morning......

The whole group at the start, Keith, Donnie, Victoria, Joanne and me..

Running in the fog before the rain started...

Joanne and I running up in the rear....

Great start of the day for a run...

Showing I have energy to run..

Steen showing up for support. ...

The ladys still having fun...

Photo op time...

Running up the rear but still smiling.....

What a good day for a run!

Eating stroopwaffles and calling in my tweets on twitter.

Silvia running back from Wasaga beach after my finish...
Where's my chocolate Joan!! ......
Running strong at around 75km...
Something to look forward to after the day of running...

:)