Muskoka 70.3, the second time.

This is a little late in coming out, partly because I've been busy and partly because I didn't really want to relive the results.

I took a beating. The course absolutely beat me up in all three phases of the race. That's what happens when you're seriously undertrained and you try to fake your way through a very, very tough course.

Swim - 41:03. Terrible, and the strange thing was, it didn't really feel that bad. I had some sense that it was slow and seemed to be taking a while, but I was surprised by this. Again, this is what happens when one is underprepared.

Bike - 2:59:18. Again, just couldn't get it going - didn't have the strength or the endurance to put up a better showing. I also had my left IT band start to complain mid-way through the bike and I had to carefully make my way through. It did subside though and I thought I was through the bad stuff. Big mistake.

Run - 2:07:06. And herein it all fell apart. At the 4k mark on the run my left calf seized up - the end result of the whole ITB thing. I tried to massage it and stretch it and nurse it carefully but I basically couldn't run uphill without stabbing pain. If you're familiar with the course, you might understand that this would be a big problem. I spent the rest of the afternoon stopping to stretch and massage the knot in my calf every 10-15 minutes and walking up all the hills.

Overall, 5:53:54, a very disappointing time, but I have nobody to blame for this but myself. I want revenge on this course but this is where it gets a little tricky. I managed to get myself entered in IM Canada for next summer (online!) and these two are two weeks apart. This will need some serious thought over the off-season.

Now, the off-season. Actually, I went for a nice easy spin through the countryside today which was okay. Only two hours, but that felt about right. No aches or pains and hopefully in a couple more weeks all the rest of the aches and pains from M70.3 and the physio resulting from it will be over.

Peace.