> |
> |
August 6 - 7, Toronto International Inline Race Weekend Report
The weather for the 2005 edition of the Toronto International Inline Race Weekend was hot but mercifully a little less humid than it has been so far this summer. Another good-sized contingent from Ottawa also made the trip with me this year: JF Messier, Allain Legacy, Stephane Tremblay, Pierre Blaise, Dr. Frank LaRue, Jake Maarse, Sergio Almeralla, Adrian Loewen, and Herny Thirscutt. The drive up was fast, with a bit of traffic near the airport -- drivers rubbernecking as they passed the downed Air France airplane that crashed there earlier this week, I suppose.
Saturday's events were at a new & improved venue this year, which was a relief to those that experienced the road snakes at Max Ward park last year. Ultra-smooth pavement, a virtually flat course, and buildings ideally positioned to block most of the headwinds made for some very fast lap times. The 42k departure times were spaced about 45 seconds apart, with the speed men departing first, followed by the speed women, then the fitness men & women. I didn't see much of the speed men's or women's race (except when they lapped me :-)), but from second-hand reports, the men's race was a lot of stop & go with a 15 skater dash to the line. Aaron Arndt won that one. Martine Charbonneau broke away early in the speed women's 42k and put in a great solo effort to win that one.
The fitness 42k event I was in started off at a good pace (30 - 35km/h) and a very large lead pack of about 20 skaters, which I was fortunate enough to hang onto for the first third of the race. JF, Allain, Jake, and a Toronto skater or two did most of the pulling for the first bit. JF broke away after a few laps but was unable to widen the gap much. Allain hammered to close the gap with JF which splintered the pack into 3 or 4 groups. I hooked in with Stephen Fisher and another Toronto skater dressed all in black (Chris?). We worked together for the remainder of the race, picking up and dropping a few others along the way. On our turn around the race circuit, we were lapped by JF and company. JF placed first with a great finishing sprint, followed by a Toronto skater and Allain. Jake was not far behind. Their times were in the 1:20 to 1:22 range. I finished just after Stephen with a PB of 1:25:55 (whoohoo!).
In the 21k, Jade Pauley and Beth Clarke were the winners. Henry Thriscutt handily beat his goal time of 50 minutes with a 48+ minute finish.
The second day got off to a bit of a late start, but made up for it with some very entertaining track races for the spectators. In the speed men's 10k, there were a few tentative breaks by Randy Bowman, Peter Doucet, Sergio Almeralla, and others. About half way through, Peter made a big break. Randy Bowman put in a concerted effort to close the gap, but with little help from the rest of the chase pack, was unable to do so. Peter eventually lapped a few of the rear skaters and comfortably took first place. Randy Bowman won the speed men's 1500m. Martine Charbonneau took a big break and won the 10k with another great solo effort and also won the 1500m (I think). Stephane Tremblay took the fitness men's 10k, and placed second or third in the 1500m, which was won by Rhett Cappleman. Kristi Shoebridge won both women's fitness 10k and 1500m events. Arastina Barrie won both kids events and surprised many adults with her tremendous speed & superb technique (at only 8 years of age, I was told!) She was a literal pocket rocket.
Highlights off the track included: bumping into former TV show "Survivor" cast members at our Mississauga hotel; glow in the dark mini-golf at the "Putting Edge", where I handily whooped Stephane Tremblay's A$$; Gavin's 1:00 AM storytelling as always; idiot drivers on the 401; and food critiquing Wendy's new 3/4 pound hamburger monstrosity on the drive back to Ottawa.
For more reports, results, and photos from the Toronto International Inline Race Weekend, visit:
http://www.geocities.com/shaloheat/ (Peter's Website)
http://www.geocities.com/torontoinline/tirw.html (Official TIIRW Website)
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/buffalocrying/album?.dir=8076 (Peter's Photos)
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/golf_ball_picker/album?.dir=5c95 (Peter's Photos)
http://www.camdenmarketing.com/TISC_Race1/ (More Photos)
http://www.allainlegacy.com/albums/2005/TIRW/index.html (Allain Legacy's Photos)
http://www.allainlegacy.com/albums/2005/TIRW/index2.html (Allain Legacy's Photos)
