Muskoka Ironman 70.3: Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi!

I was part of the IronCrew for this year's race, stationed on the bike course at the top of that lovely long hill leading up South Portage Road to Dwight Beach Road. It crosses what is one of the highest points of land in the Township, at Cain's Corners, with spectacular views in several directions. Not that the athletes were taking in much of the view... At the top of the hill, they were more interested in more mundane things. Like breathing. The good news was they were about to enter a delicious downhill section on their way into Dwight.

The course is described, optimistically, as a "bit hilly."

The day was as close to perfect as an autumn day can be, and the atheletes were all in great form passing our junction. With our Australian connection at Bondi, I was waving the Aussie flag, and shouting the Aussie cheer for the athletes that made the long trek to compete here. Mirinda Carfrae took a moment to give us a big wave back for that, before going on to win the Womens' Elite Division.

Making it an Aussie sweep, Craig Alexander won the Men's elite division for the second year in a row.

Aussie Aussie Aussie, Oi, Oi, Oi!!!

Mind you, we cheered for them all, our local heroes like Mark Sinnige, and new friends we're still getting to know. Amy Moritz from Buffalo and I met by trading comments on a Blog Post -- she was competing in her first Ironman 70.3, and she did (as the kids' say) "awesome", finishing 61st. As she came past our junction, she yelled my name, and I ran alongside of her cheering her on. Hopefully we'll get to meet for more than a nano-second NEXT year! Maybe her Buffalo Tri-Sport group will even come and stay with us for a pre-race training camp, who knows. Whatever, it was great to meet someone from the "blogosphere".

There were people out cheering all the way along the route, as almost 1700 athletes tackled the course. Yes, it makes for some road congestion, but only for a few hours out of the year, and almost all the motorists passing us were considerate and cheerful.

Hopefully the athletes had a moment or two on their course to enjoy the autumn colours that are starting to show! This tree was right at 'our' corner, and we admired it all day!