Local triathlete David Odishaw has provided an update on some of the activities of Battlefords-area triathletes so far this summer.
Odishaw, Greg Gubbe, Michael Higgs, Joelle (Alescia) Kramer-Higgs and Ryan Wandler have been competing in one or more triathlons held in Saskatoon during June.
One was The Bike Doctor Moe's long course triathlon June 19.
It consists of a 500-metre pool swim at Riversdale Pool, then a 15-kilometre bike along Spadina Cresecent, followed by a five-kilometre run along the river valley trail ending up at River Landing.
The race got a late start due to rain and stormy conditions in the morning, but the sun did finally show up. Of a field of 58 competitors, Odishaw was 10th overall with a time of 1:00:41 and Gubbe 16th at 1:03:54, finishing after a minor crash on the bike course.
The next major event was the Subaru 5i50 Ironman series June 26.
It is a standard or Olympic distance race, starting with a 1,500-metre open water or lake swim in Pike Lake, followed by a 40-kilometre bike from Pike Lake to River Landing in Saskatoon and concluding with a 10-kilometre run along the riverbank.
Several professional triathletes were in attendance this year and Odishaw reports the field included Sara Gross, James Cook (this year’s winner), Doug Wickware, Robert Bigsby and Christina Charles for a total of 169 participating athletes.
It was a windy day, which made for some challenging swim and biking conditions, but for Battlefords and area athletes it was a good day.
Michael Higgs was 30th overall and fourth of 15 in his age category (45-49) with a time of 2:38:50; Odishaw was 43rd overall and won his age category (50-54) with a time of 2:46:29; Gubbe was 50th overall and eighth of 15 in his age category (45-49) with a time of 2:50:25; Wandler was 56th and 5th of 14 in his age category (35-39) with a time of 2:52:07.
The previous day Higgs participated in her first triathlon at the Living Sky Spring Triathlon in Saskatoon, which consists of a 750-metre open water swim in Pike Lake, a 20-kilometre bike course and then a give-kilometre run around Pike Lake. She finished 80th out of 111 with a time of 1:44:42.
All three local triathletes plan to compete in the Frank Dunn Triathlon in Waskesiu on Aug. 12. Odishaw, Gubbe and Higgs are also planning to compete in the LostSouls UltraMarathon in Lethbridge, Alta. Sept. 9 and 10. Last year Gubbe finished the 50-kilometre race in a time of 8:45:00 and he will be attempting the 100-kilometre race this year. This is the first time for Odishaw and Higgs, who will be doing the 50-kilometre version.
