Barrie Triathlon on Sunday

I had a good day at the Barrie Triathlon Sunday.

I got to the race site early about 6:45am got my race kit which to my surprise they didn't have a cotton race shirt? Now to be fair there were some nice tri socks instead of a shirt, apparently they opted to go without t-shirts this year? but the problem I saw with the socks and heard complaints about? was that they were one size for everyone, and feet as I know come in different sizes and shapes.? I could be wrong? but my wife's race kit had the same size sock as mine? There was also a water bottle with the Barrie logo on it as well as other things like nuts gum etc.

I have to say! One thing I look forward to when going to a race, specially a race that doesn't give finisher medals out is? I look forward to a nice souvenir t-shirt that I can wear proudly or give away to some tri friends from around the world which I have done. Tri Socks with running free written across the cuff doesn't cut it for me. If indeed they had written 2009 Barrie tri across the cuff of the sock that would have been much better.

I'm not complaining! but I guess I am? I am not the only one disappointed not getting a shirt? A few of my friends were disappointed to, as this was there first tri and wanted something to represent what they did over the course of the day as a souvenir. My wife and daughter both volunteered and were given a nice t-shirt to keep and wear during the race as all the volunteers did, and they both told me a lot of people were asking them where they got their shirts from as they were disappointed that they didn't get t-shirts this year. BTW My wife was entered in the sprint tri, but decided not to race as she didn't feel prepared, So she volunteered instead, and in doing so ended up with a Barrie tri t-shirt anyway! ;)

Anyways, maybe next year they will have shirts for everyone if enough people voice there opinion.

Back to Race morning. I met up with my friends doing the race as well as some of the organizers of the Barrie race who are friends and chatted with. I then wondered around and took pictures around the venue and the start of the Kids of steel race. Then I had to put away my camera to get ready for my race, as I didn't have anyone available to take shots of my race since Joanne and Victoria were volleying.

It was threatening weather out as the weatherman was calling for storms. Well it started raining during the swim and got harder as the race progressed with thunder and lightening. It reminded me of IMLP last year. Thank god I didn't have to race longer then 1:20 in it.

I had a slow 700m swim of 14min, but compensated with a pretty good 20km bike split averaging 34.5 KPH, and I was able to run my 5 K in 30 min without heal pain! Woo Hoo! That was the main thing I was concerned with and am happy about!

I finished my race in 1:19:08 placing me 23/39 in my age group, which sounds worse then it was, but they lumped my age group of 50-54 with the 45-49 yr old for one division of 45-54 and there are allot of speedy racers in both divisions, in fact the overall winner was in our division, and won over all in 58:44, that's fast!!

The race was well run as usual! I had fun. I was happy with my result. I met up with friends and had a good time, even though it was raining. Btw, The weather cleared after the race. DOH!



If your a Face book user here is a link to some pictures......

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/photo.php?pid=30373992&id=1642942926&ref=mf

:)