@MultisportCan Bracebridge Race Report - Aug 12, 2018 by Ryan Dockman Toronto

@MultiSportCan Bracebridge Triathlon

Aug 12, 2018 Race Report, Ryan Dockman

The sun was shining, the water was calm, athletes were out, and dry road conditions made for a great Bracebridge race - Another amazing day put on by Multiport Canada!

The Bracebidge Olympic Triathlon was my first race 3 years ago and I’ve done it 4 consecutive times since. Every year I’ve marked it on my Calendar and come rain or shine I’m excited to be racing there. Being in Muskoka always has a special feel - Bracebridge’s winding country roads and riverside run (out and back) make for a good day!

Bracebridge is a unique race and being a time trial start, it offers a different dynamic than most races.  It allows you to really focus on racing your own pace, so if you are beginner or just getting into the sport, Bracebridge is the perfect race for getting out there and completing. By removing the mass start a Triathlon feels more like you are out there to challenge yourself and not race against others, but at the same time it also offers fast competition for those top elites / age groupers.

The Swim is an out and back River Swim and the water was warm, flat and calm this year. Some years if they’ve had a heavy rain the day/night before, the current can be a little stronger but Sunday it was perfect. They start you on 5 second intervals, and fter your 1500 meter (or 750 for sprint) you arrive at with a cheerful crowd at an awesome beach finish.

Transition is peacefully set alongside the river. It makes for a good uphill effort to get out on the bike and the run course, however it also offers a great downhill 400 meter run to the finish!   

This year the bike course was basically cut in half to make 2 20KM loops. Personally, I liked it better as it allows you to measure your speed and timing at each of the 1/2 & full laps of the course. You also get a better look at how you are faring against other competitors and the progress you’re making. 2 laps offers some additional challenges because the larger hills are on the first 10KM of the original course. So on Sunday most of the bigger hills had to be done a second time on lap 2, but dry road conditions made the course perfect for race day.  

If you’ve raced Bracebridge you’ll know the run is set on a beautiful winding course alongside the river.  If you haven’t you’ll have to race it for yourself. It’s a mostly flat out and back but make sure to hydrate! It can get fairly warm on the road and on Sunday it was a sunny day without wind so it heated up a bit. Not to worry though - the course has plenty of shady area and water stations to keep moving.

Overall, I had an amazing day! There were faster competitors than me (there always are😉), but I had a fun swim, bike and run on a beautiful course during an amazing Summer day in Muskoka. What else can a Triathlete ask for? See you next year Bracebridge!

Ryan Dockman Toronto Multisport Canada Ambassador

    

Welland Long Course June 23, 2018 by Ryan Dockman Toronto

Race Report: Ryan Dockman Toronto

Welland Long Course – Multiport Canada Series - June 23^rd, 2018

I’ve never raced in the rain, and thankfully we didn’t have to this past weekend - even through I think I prayed for it once or twice during the run;) Last weekend I raced the Long Course in Multisport Canada’s Season Opening Race. The rain held off all morning and it turned out to be perfect conditions for the Ontario Championships!

This was my 3^rd consecutive year tackling the 2KM Swim, 56KM Bike & 15KM Run. They offer a Sprint (750m, 20km, 5km) distance but I like to test my fitness early season so I know which sport needs the most attention. It was a great race, flat water, mild temperatures, slight wind and some of Ontario’s best racers in a competitive field! 

I knew it was going to be a challenge as I was hit by a car last year and had to have ACL Reconstructive Surgery in September (less than 10 months ago). Even though I think I’m Superman, coming back from Surgery takes time. My Doctor’s tell me I need to have patience, but at 36 it’s taken a little longer than I had hoped. Still I stayed focused on recovery in the off season and I was ready to see how I could do.

Hat’s off to Multisport Canada for hosting another hiccup free and fantastic event. The course is flat so it’s perfect for beginners and pro’s, and venue has a grandstand that sits right in front of the swim & run course - perfect for spectators!

The 2km Swim to start the season always test the nerves a bit but I managed to hang in there. Coming out of the Welland Swim is a great feeling, again you pop out of the water right in front of cheering crowd and you can feel the encouragement as you hustle over to transition. My swimming isn’t at par with some of the elite athletes but at 37 Minutes I was happy and ready to take on the bike course.

Being a flat course I knew I could push myself and try to keep up with the top racers. I tried but failed -haha. Some of the racers are so powerful that it’s impossible to think you can keep up with them on 3-4 months training/recovery. I did manage to clock in a 37.5KM average rocking my @BladeCarbonWheels which is nothing to sneeze at. 

For those who haven’t raced Welland the bike course was perfect again this year. Flat (great for beginners) with just a few turns, very safe with police &/or officials at every turn or crossing and the aid station at KM 32 gives you that extra boost as you prepare for the run.

I was most concerned about how my knee would hold up for the 15KM run. I’ve been running longer distances recently but I’ve held back on and Brick (bike/run) training. Fortunately, it held up pretty well and I was able to average a 4:30 pace. Unfortunately, this year Welland had all of Ontario’s best with some runners running 3:30 paces so I still have some work to do:)

Multisport made a few changes to the run course this year. Instead of 3 - 5km loops you have to run 2 7.5 km loops which I definitely prefer. I always dreaded the 3^rd loop when starting my second lap, remembering thinking to myself: “You mean I have to do this 2 mores times!”. 2 laps are perfect for me and it loops right past the grandstand at 4 times before the finish.

Sadly, John Salt an Icon of Triathlon Ontario Racing announced he’ll be retiring from Multisport at the end of the Season.  He founded Multisport Canada and built it into an inspiring circuit for beginners and elites.  Being offered an opportunity by John to join the Multisport Ambassador team has motivated and inspired me to not only be a good athlete but to show great sportsmanship! Thank you John for creating a great series, the great years on the circuit and we all look forward to seeing you at more events this year!

Next stop Gravenhurst!

Ryan