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July-August 2010
Dear Friends, Athletes, and Partners, July and August were two very busy, but exciting months. They marked my return to racing and presented new coaching opportunities. I was able to manage a good training regimen which led to race results that I can be happy with. JULY 2010 I spent most of July at home. Training progressed well, maybe too well. I might have pushed too hard… I had some minor issues with Achilles which lasted only a week. As most of you know, a week of training seems like an eternity! On July 11, I entered a local 5km where I ran 16:15.0. I stopped thinking about my running mechanics and just focused on going… which resulted in a good time. I was asked by McGill University Triathlon Team to resume a series of 6 technical clinics for their members. The July 4th clinic (2nd/6) focused on Open Water Tactics. For the last 2 weeks of July, I focused on getting ready for 2 Quebec events and one ITU Olympic distance event in Korea. AUGUST 2010 What a month… Hardly enough time to get a haircut! I did my first race of the season. The Sprint Triathlon event was in Terrebonne, Quebec (Aug 01). I was very nervous before the race… It has been so long since I raced in Quebec that it felt very strange. The swim was in a 50m pool where a triangular course was set up for fastest wave of 20 athletes. The sprint for the first buoy was brutal. I managed to slip in 2nd place and maintain my cadence throughout the swim. I was 10sec behind when I got on the bike. I quickly managed to take the lead on a very technical “Y” shaped course. I had decided to opt for my road bike, equipped with Profile Design Draft legal aerobars, which paid off with a 1min lead off the bike. The run was a mix of road and sandy cross-country. I crossed the line in 1st place. The event might not have been at an international level, but it gave me confidence and experience. I really enjoyed the moment and the trill of racing. The following week, I completed another Sprint Distance (1km swim, 33km bike, 8km run). The St-Agathe Triathlon is part of the Subaru Series (Aug08). This race made me realize that I am getting old! As everybody was getting ready for the start, I was politely asked to wait for the 40 and over wave. My reaction… “But, but, I am not 40 yet!” Thus, I had to start 2min behind the first waive. I exited the water with the 3rd best time of the day. Given that I was 2min behind the first wave, I had no clue of my relative position. The hilly course on the bike suited me well. I did not realize where I was, until the 4th km on the run. After being attacked by a dog, chasing it, and getting back on the run course, I crossed the line in 2nd place overall. The following day, I was on a plane heading for Korea. I attended the Asian Triathlon Confederation Jr-U23 Training Camp on Jeju Island (Aug 9-22) as the head coach of more than 20 athletes and coaches. Read full story: http://www.triathlon.org/news/article/itu_and_astc_junior_and_u23_development_camp/. After the camp, and with a drastic reduction in my training (for obvious reasons), I entered the ATSC/ITU Asian Cup Open event. I did not know in what shape I was going to be after the camp. Thus, I had not registered via my federation prior to the event. I was offered to race in the open category, which (if I understand correctly) was composed of age-groupers and Korea elites that did not take part in the elite race. Thus the quality of the field varied… but still a good event. The night before I went swimming with a few athletes, I swam only 600m and felt like my arms would fall off. It had been 16 days since my last swim workout! I knew I was going to be in trouble the next day!!! Race day was hot, hot, hot (38C)… the water was boiling (32C)… The swim start was in water. I managed to stay at the tail of the first group of swimmers. I slowly made my way up… after the 1st loop, I had a head hack and the taste of sea water mixed with fuel. As I swam behind the first swimmer, I remembered telling my athletes: “don’t play hero… draft!” I just went as hard as I could, pass the first swimmer and hope I would make it to the finish! I jumped on the bike with 3-4 swimmers on my tail. Since it was a drafting race, I told myself there was no need to push… but no one came! I rode the 40km alone. 10-15m from the bike dismount I got caught. The athlete unleashed a speedy run through transition… he was in and out as I stumbled and almost fell flat on my back… (NEED TO PRACTICE TRANSITION). I went in survival mode, until I noticed I was gaining ground on the leader. I made my move climbing a bridge and stayed at the front by fear only… It was so hot… I was looking for an exit… but could not find it. I crossed the line in first place and paid for it with overall body cramping! One Quick clinic with the McGill University Triathlon Team and a quick transition home, I than flew to France for an Altitude Training Camp/Study. I will be in France for a few weeks… I will report soon! Upon return home: Fall Racing! Thanks for reading Luc Morin
Rhode Island, United States
Team Elite Athletes/Active Lifestyle
I am a Long Distance Triathlete since 2000 and a Powerbar user since 1996. …MORE
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