I apologize in advance, if you understand Canadian French, you may be offended by the title.

Last Sunday I was off to Magog in the eastern townships of Quebec,? for a 5km run / 40 km bike / 5km run duathlon. Many of us from the YMCA Parc Avenue Montreal triathlon club was participating in various distances. We all had a great time on a hot summer day.

Sometimes, as an endurance sport athlete, whether it be cycling, triathlon, running, anything with the phrase "long distance", we are signed as "outsiders", or crazy people putting our bodies voluntarily under physical pain.? Indeed, it does seem strange, and we can probably make up hundreds of reasons why we do it, again, and again, and again. We put ourselves through it so that for a few seconds or a few hours, we feel something special in our bodies or mind, that just would not happen otherwise.

My little special moment in Sundays race was when during the last kilometer of the first run leg. I catch up to the race leader who is nearly half my age (so if your wondering, I'm 39),? and then after a sharp 90 degree corner, I increase my pace knowing there is about 1 kilometer to the bike transistion. Then I hear "Tabarnak" from the runner I just passed. This word is probably the strongest swear term you can use to express frustration.

From then on, I knew I was having a good race as I was felt good, and was running fast at a 3:30 / kilometer pace. With a hilly bike course I increased my lead, to finally finish comfortably first overall with a gap of over 8 minutes on the second finisher.

Another quick note, is I tried Newton running shoes for the first time in a race. The shoes felt great and work really well if you have adopted a "toe striker" running style, they are worth it.? I'll keep you posted how they do in the next races.

Speaking of which, next weekend will be quite intense. Saturday is the 4 man Quebec team time trial championships, followed by a 120km road race on Sunday. Should be fun.