Why I didn't go to Magog? Canada Summer Games 2017

First of all, I had no idea my blog was so closely monitored. So just want to say hello to you Mike, Des, Pavlos, and Felix. Enjoy the post. Why I didn’t go to Magog?…This was a question I was encouraged to discuss and so I decided to do so. Its quite simple really. A week before the National Championships in Ottawa I did a 4 day cycling stage race that I thought would e great training before nationals.  However, as the triathlon races started only 5 days later, I found that although I gained much experience at the Hayman's classic, it had done damage to my legs that was going to take more than 5 days to recover from.  But…. learning from my experience, I decided not to do Magog in order to save my legs, stress, energy and focus toward the Canada games, giving my self a chance to redeem myself by not making the same mistake again.
    
Canada summer Games 2017:

Strong swim, 2nd out of the water, less than ideal bike with out the ability to counter attack, resulting in being caught by the chase pack. A good but not good enough run, resulting in fourth place.
This is obviously just a glimpse of my race, but I wasn’t just going to share everything! I know how it went, where I can improve, how I can do so, and what needs to change, so that all that matters😉
However.. I will say this and only this: My experience and performances at the Canada summer Games has made me a more focused, more competitive, more dialed in, more intense, more knowledgable, more experienced, more hungry, and more fiercely knowing athlete than before.

Mens relay:

In the first relay, I knew that it was up to me to build a gap for my team. I knew it was possible and I wasn’t going to let anyone down. I was able to take the lead in the swim and then just put my head down on the bike as I yelled “shut up legs”. Once on the run I had now one to push me but still ran well and was able to make a lead of about 60 seconds going into our final leg. We ended winning the race by a huge margin, taking the mens relay for Team BC.

Mixed relay:

This race was ours to win. Me, Mike, Des, and Hannah. Based on the individual performance thats an average placement of 2nd. Not bad for one province! Hannah was able to give me a lead of over 10 seconds as she tagged me and I ran into the water. By the end of the swim I’d increased it by about three more seconds, and had a pretty solid transition. I biked hard and was able to hold me small lead solo for a little over half the ride, as I was being chased by team Quebec, Alberta, and Ontario.  Despite team Alberta and Ontario’s attempts to take a pull, the crazy strong Quebec rider wouldn’t let up and despite the opportunity to draft, practically solo’d his way up to me, dropping team ON and AB at the turn around. As I saw him trying to come past me, I was much stronger than Monday, and I was much stronger than Thursday, today was Friday, and there was no way I was being dropped. I quickly got onto his wheel as he continued to hammer on. After looking back and seeing that I was still there, it was obvious that I was expected to take a pull. Knowing my team tactics however, I knew that my job was to make sure I held the lead for my team by the end of the run. I looked back and knew we weren’t being caught. I knew that it wasn’t my job to pull Quebec away from team Ontario. I had Des next and there was no need to do that. I felt good, really good. At the end of the ride I passed before the dismount. A fumble with my bike had me going second out of the transition and I quickly accelerated onto the feet, and soon the shoulder of team Quebec. A struggle for inside lanes soon ended as we round the bends and onto the straights. I felt strong and pushed the pace out and around the corner accelerating  hard. I was able to get a 7 second lead by the end of the run. In the end, we finished with another huge lead claiming the gold medal for Team BC.

This is just a glimpse of what goes on in a race, and there is much I did not mention, but this experience is something that I will rely on and take knowledge from as I continue my quest.  

Time for fall XC running, Crits, and back to the drawing board.
 
I was hoping to be chosen for the world championships in Rotterdam this year, however, it wasn’t my year. I’ve learned that I need to outright prove my spot beyond a shadow of a doubt. That’s what I'm gonna do. Congratulations and good luck to Pavlos, Michael and Aiden who earned their spots and will be crushing it at the World champs and grand final in Rotterdam Netherlands on September 14th!! Go get em.'

Cheers,
Brock