My friend Jacques Adam shares his race report from Spain at the Multi Sport World Championship. I kep it in the bilingual form he sent me for any of my french speaking followers. Even a seasoned racer such as Jacques still has opportunities for learning.
“Hi Celeste
I thought you might get some amusement from reading my race report. I was in Pontevedra ESP, as part of Team Canada.
I write these reports to review what went well and not so well, and what I need to do differently at the next race. Despite doing a lot of these races, each one is a learning opportunity. You can read between the lines to get the gist of the French.
Race report, ITU multi sport world Championship.
Longue Distance: Swim 1500m, bike 108km, run 30 km.
This was one tough race, but I finished and with no injuries.
Tout a fonctionné, pas de problème mécanique, ni physique, pas de blessures, pas de crash, mais c’était quand même un parcours difficile.
The day before, at the swim-run race, the safety boats pulled out 38 swimmers due to the combination of cold water and strong tidal current…and this was only a 1000m swim. Alors pour le départ longue distance, normalement 3000m, on annonce que la température de l’eau n’est que 14.5 C. Pour les raisons de sécurité et éviter encore plus de nageurs retirés, Le parcours est raccourci à 1500m et les départs sont retardés.
The elites are off, and then we line up for the age group starts at 5’ intervals. After several days of anxiety and logistic complications, I am feeling relaxed and confident. I am ready to execute.
C’est un départ, et le groupe de +50 ans brasse et bouscule. Je trouve ma place et mon rythme. The water is cold and slightly sweet with a pleasant saltiness. Schools of little silver fish swim below me. I focus on going forward and sighting occasionally as the course follows the curve of the river.
Je sillonne où l’opportunité se présente, mais ça prends du temps se rendre à mi chemin; on nage contre la marée. On arrive à la bouée de mi chemin. I swim a bit further to then turn and let the current carry me to the other side of the channel, and swim the return leg. I estimate it took me half as long to get to the swim exit, but I can feel the cold penetrating my wetsuit. Despite wearing my neoprene bonnet under my swim cap, I am chilled and I look forward to getting out of the water. Out of the water in 38’. The second best time of my AG.
Environ 400m de course pour se rendre à la tente de transition. Mais je commence à grelotter. Je prends la decision de me changer et de mettre mon kit sèche. Je crains geler sur le vélo. Ça me coûte plusieurs minutes dans la transition. Aller op sur le vélo and je suis sur le parcours pour trois boucles d’un parcours coteux et technique. This bike course gives nothing away for free: 108 km with 1630m of elevation gain.
Two of the biggest descents on each loop come to a screeching stop as you come to a 180 degree turn-around and go right back up…no momentum to help you. Climbing is not my forte…it took me a long time to complete the course and start the run.
Je commence la course de 30km, les jambes lourdes des le début. Ça fait mal du début à la fin, mais je réussi à maintenir un pace entre 6 et 7’/km. Ce n’est pas mon pace habituel, mais les jambes sont fatiguées; probablement aussi l’ajout de stress des jours précédents. À chaque boucle, je suis encouragé par Claire qui est dans le parc et par la suite, la foule dans le vieux centre de Pontevedra qui sont très enthousiasmés. Every one of the 4 loops was uncomfortable if not to say painful but Claire and the citizens of Pontevedra were encouraging. The finish line did not come too soon.
Total time 9:12:38. Second place swim, 5th place run and 9th place bike…for a overall 9th in the World.
Merci pour votre encouragement et vos bons mots.
See you next at Mont Tremblant 70.3.”
