Rhys Spencer from Penticton crossed the finish line as the top male in the single loop race in last Sunday’s Osoyoos Lake Loop Triathlon. (Lyonel Doherty photo)
The sweltering 40-degree heat on Sunday was what you had to beat to finish the inaugural Osoyoos Lake Loop Triathlon.
A total of 92 out of 111 athletes who signed up for the first-time event did just that.
Rhys Spencer from Penticton won the single loop course in 2:31:10. He admitted that the heat gave him the most trouble, which is why he chose the shorter course (one-kilometre swim, 58.5 km bike, and 10 km run).
Spencer praised race co-ordinator Steve Brown for putting on a great event, but he particularly recognized the 50 volunteers for their “blood, sweat and tears.”
Spencer liked the fact the event was “grassroots” and not one big rock show.
The top female in the single loop race was Megan Fretter from White Rock, the granddaughter of Donna and Mike Mortimer of Osoyoos.
Despite the heat, Fretter looked fresh across the finish line.
“I feel good. Let’s do it again,” she smiled.
Fretter made sure that she stayed hydrated throughout the race. She also ate a lot of pasta the night before.
“I’m excited to tell my coach,” she beamed.
She is also excited about getting married next month.
Fretter said the swim in Osoyoos Lake was beautiful, noting the water was the perfect temperature that morning.
“I loved the bike. I was grinding so fast in beast mode.”
The run went very quick for her, but it was a lonely one, she pointed out.
Martin Caron from Squamish was the top male finisher in the double loop race (2 km swim, 86.5 km bike and 20 km run).
Caron, a roofer by trade, used his profession to his advantage because he is able to withstand the heat.
“The heat doesn’t bother me . . . I know how to deal with it. I was expecting to suffer way more.”
Caron took two cups of ice and kept them under his cap in order to stay cool. He also acknowledged the many aid stations along the way.
Caron said his legs felt very heavy after the swim, but that helped him pace himself during the bike portion. He had one of his best runs and managed to keep a very high pace.
Trevor Lewthwaite from Oliver was the only local athlete in the race. He finished the single loop without much difficulty since he came prepared after competing in the recent Oliver Half-Iron Triathlon.
“I’m lucky because I have home field advantage . . . I know the course,” Lewthwaite said.
Brown couldn’t say enough about the volunteers, noting they did a phenomenal job helping the athletes in the overbearing heat.
Brown said they definitely could have used more volunteers – he was hoping to secure 75 for the event. The athletes really appreciated residents who put out water sprinklers to run through.
A total of 111 athletes signed up for the race, but some didn’t show up; they were probably scared off by the heat, Brown said. Several athletes dropped out after the bike portion.
“The heat got to them,” he said, noting that people who don’t live in the Okanagan are not accustomed to this kind of oppressive and intense heat.
Brown said the athletes did a good job looking after themselves. There were no reports of heat exhaustion or dehydration, just a few cuts and scrapes.
Brown stated the only disappointment in the event was the theft of equipment and supplies at the No. 1 aid station on Sawmill Road in Oliver. Sometime between 3:30 and 7 a.m. someone stole tents, parts of a bike rack, and supplies for athletes. Brown said organizers had to scramble to restock the equipment.
Despite that setback, Brown said they will certainly “take another run” at the Osoyoos Lake Loop Triathlon next year.
“I think Osoyoos has the potential to really grow (this event).”
LYONEL DOHERTY
Special to the Times
Megan Fretter from White Rock is congratulated by fiance Jerome Morley and grandmother Donna Mortimer from Osoyoos after she crosses the finish line in the Osoyoos Lake Loop Triathlon on June 28. (Lyonel Doherty photo)
