On Sunday, 200 racers from across Saskatchewan and beyond competed in the Subaru 5i50 Saskatoon Triathlon. The grueling race was a test of endurance and skill for all the athletes involved.
“They’re starting out at Pike Lake. They do a 1.5 kilometre swim, they get on their bikes and ride 45 kilometres into town, then they do a 10 kilometre running circuit just around River Landing,” said Rachel Macaete, Ironman Athlete services manager for Western Canada.
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The fastest time for the men’s division was clocked by 27-year-old James Cook, who did the triathlon in just a little over two hours.
“It takes some luck and just a lot of hard work really, we train 20 to 30 hours a week,” Cook said.
Endless hours a week, full-time said Cook and all year round. The key to competing and winning said the triathlete is all about mental toughness admitting the last two to three kilometres of the race were torture.
“You can change spots quite a few times and it just comes to who’s got it on the day,” Cook said.
“That’s what I love about the sports, anything can happen.”
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That sentiment was shown when Cook showed support for a fellow athlete at the finish line, helping to give him a run for his money.
“I wouldn’t be able to do this without everybody else. If you’re out there by yourself it’s great, but you’re not getting that competition,” he said.
“We do this for the competition.”
Christina Charles agreed and raced on Sunday for the first time as a pro athlete.
“Having someone out in front sort of gives you a target to shoot for, keep your eye on the prize,” she laughed.
She pushed herself in all three disciplines and it paid off. She had the quickest time of all the women.
“You’ve got to be determined. You’ve got to have time and determination.”
In total, 200 athletes participated, celebrated and will now begin to recover after Sunday’s race. Some said there were times they wanted to give up but kept going.
“I always say trust your training, listen to your legs,” Charles said.
“Pain is a perception, not a sensation, and you got this!”
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