mytrilife

Saskatchewan...

Spent the last week in Saskatchewan.

Started my trip in Saskatoon for a family reunion. Managed to get a ride and a couple runs in there. Some nice routes to run along the river valley. Didn't get too far on my bike, but if you like FLAT and windy, then Saskatchewan is your place to ride! The reunion was good, haven't seen some of my relatives in many, many years.

Monday to Friday I was in Regina. Managed to hook up with some old friends while there and get in some sporadic training. I'm on a bit of a break from right now.... just getting out there when I feel like... otherwise just resting (or drinking beer and eating bad food!). I hooked up with the Tuesday roadie ride to get a feel for Regina riding. I only had my Cervelo, so the roadies were a bit nervous, but they let me ride with them anyways. I let a gap open just before Lumsden and was promptly dropped. OOPS! I hooked up with the B group and put in some massive pulls back to Regina.

Talked to a couple triathletes that were out for the ride. Most of them were getting ready to race in Penticton. They told me that for thier long rides they would ride to Lumsden (25km), then continously loop between Lumsden and Craven (about 9km), because it was the best (only!) place to get in hills/rollers on a long ride. Wow... that's gotta be tough!

On Friday I drove to Saskatoon to register for the 10k Classic road race, which was also the provincial 10k champs this year. After sitting in the pub for some food and watching the Riders lose, I retired to the comfortable confines of my Subaru... it's just long enough in the hatch area I can keep my legs straight while sleeping. Race morning was cool, but a bit windy. I was expecting some good competition at this race, but at the 5k mark I was fighting for 3rd place as we hit the turnaround in sub-35 pace! Quickly I realized why... it was a headwind and uphill to the finish! I started to feel good though and pulled away into 3rd, until about 9km mark when I got a stitch. I tried to gut it out but came in to the line 4th, 6sec down on the 3rd place guy, in 37:13. Wow.... lost over two mins on the return leg! The winning time was just under 36mins.

So... now back in Calgary for a week and very busy with work. On Friday, off to the Okanogan for 10 days.

Some Sask links:

Brainsport Running Store (Saskatoon)
Saskatoon Road Runners
Saskatoon Triathlon Club
Regina Cycle Club
Regina Multisport Club

posted by Greg @ 8/13/2006