by ERIK LEIJON
photos by
RACHEL GRANOFSKY
Support groups exist for every type of shared, troublesome condition. Problem gamblers meet weekly to plot the downfall of government agencies. Other addicts share roundtable discussions, dispensing personal experiences from painful lapses to triumphs of inner restraint. For compulsive go-getters—the kind who couldn’t fathom a day without accomplishing something worthy of pride or would get nauseous at the thought of sleeping in—their support group is the triathlon. Excessive vigour afflicts people of all races, creeds, shapes and sizes, as evidenced by the 1,480 participants at this year’s Montreal Triathlon Festival, Sept. 13 on Notre Dame Island, but they all share one common attribute: a positive outlet for their addiction.
“A triathlon is a lot more than just biking, running and swimming,” says personal trainer Kayla Segal, a highly active 30-year-old Montrealer who participates in multiple half-Ironman races (as was the case here) and one full Ironman per year. “There are countless hours put into everything from weight training to getting mentally prepared for a race.”
The latter is especially key and a recurring theme throughout the day, as wave after wave of focused, self-assured individuals took the starting plunge into the Olympic basin to start the swimming portion of the race. Prepare all you want for the swimming, biking and running sections or the odd, accident-prone transitions that separate them, but as every participant in the 11 different types of races at this year’s festival can attest, taking a love of morning constitutionals to a timed, pressure-filled and very public environment is as much about attitude as it is keeping physically fit.
“You have to get used to being in races,” says Segal’s friend and fellow participant Christian Varin, 48. “The more you do, the more your head will be accustomed to the format.”
Adds Segal, “The more races you do, the more motivated you get and the more you learn, because there are all these little things you can’t really teach.”
STRONG-MINDED HARDBODIES: Triathletes at playSweating nine–15
Not everyone who completed the triathlon this year would qualify as a hop, skip and jump away from being an Olympian. The Esprit Triathlon—the full-service option of the day—pits human against 3.8 kilometres of swimming in 19.5 degree water, 180 kilometres of biking around the famed Formula One track and 42.2 kilometres of not-so-scenic running around the basin.
Those who completed the gruelling, nine–15 hour test would qualify as gods among mortals, especially considering the early-bird start time of 7 a.m. Those without bionic muscles could complete the still difficult half triathlon, or could even delegate specific roles in the three-person team relays. After jumping into the basin, racers swim a buoy-designated lap before exiting and running towards the bicycle racks. After completing the necessary laps, the rider returns to the racks and begins the running section. To ensure accurate results, Champion Chips are placed in every athlete’s number sign. These are small, waterproof transponders that hold a triathlete’s info, so when they pass over a sensor marked on the ground, it knows how many laps remain.
LÂCHE PAS! Participants in transition (above)
between the competition sections (below)
 The event that brought together the most unique motley crew of adrenaline junkies was the Olympic Montreal Triathlon, which at 1.5 km swimming, 40 km biking and 10 km running, could be completed in two to four hours. “I’ve done zip,” said Beaconsfield dentist William McJannet, 60, referring to his triathlon experience just prior to dipping his toe in the water for the first time. “I woke up one morning, and on CJAD they were talking about [72-year-old Westmount triathlon athlete] Morris Shore, so I figured it was my time to give it a shot.”
When asked about his specific goals, he joked, “I just want to be alive when I’m done,” adding with the much more serious and self-motivational tone, “I’m not nervous, I’m ready and I can do this.” He did complete an Olympic triathlon in four hours and 16 minutes, proving to himself—as many people did for the first time that day—that feats of great strength and determination are within striking distance of anyone with the proper motivation.
Also new to the experience was 23-year-old McGill grad student Kristin Dawson, a competitive swimmer in her youth who largely dropped the sport when the rigours of college hit. “We decided to do it about a month ago,” says Dawson, who along with friends Georghia Michael and Reza Wakili participated in the Team Triathlon. “The plan is to come back next year and do a full one.” In contrast to McJannet, who intensively trained in the three disciplines, Dawson and her friends only decided to sign up a month prior to the race. Every racer had unique circumstances under which they decided to join, and whatever expectations that were met in competing, their trials were equally personal.
Train, train and train again
As dedicated as every athlete was on Notre Dame Island, the cavernous seating  areas and grass patches around the tracks were draped with equally passionate supporters. “Let’s go, on ne lâche pas,” was frequently heard by the many volunteers passing out water bottles to dehydrated racers and giving obligatory high fives to anyone who held out their hand expecting reciprocation. Riders’ names were continuously being yelled out, but everyone seemed eager to root for anyone willing to subject their bodies to the triathletic grind. It stands to reason that the life of an adrenaline junkie can be especially taxing on family and friends, as frequently a spouse or child could wake up at the crack of dawn, their afflicted relative and their pair of New Balance shoes nowhere to be found.
“During a period of intensive training, I’ll swim three hours a week, 300 kilometres of biking and 55 kilometres of running,” says ETS Montreal student Maxime Labrie, 23, after finishing the Half-Esprit Triathlon. “Depending on who you are and your lifestyle, sometimes you have to manage 15–20 hours of training a week along with family and work commitments,” says professional long distance triathlete and McGill PhD student  Patrick Allaire, 30, who ran in the 2004 Ironman Triathlon World Championships in Hawaii, and who finished fourth in this year’s Half-Esprit. Like the other athletes who just finished their races and refuelled with food and drink, Allaire was pumped and looked mentally prepared to attack the course again. “Usually, after a race, you feel good because you’re excited about finishing and the adrenaline hasn’t settled down. You’re still hyper.”
Going for the high
Competing in a triathlon isn’t for everyone. If rising before the sun to run around the block didn’t already turn off half the population of the city, then the necessary training and relentless positivity will appeal only to those of a certain dedication. This year’s Montreal Esprit Triathlon was the congregation of these like-minded individuals, the ones who, if they pulled a hamstring, would keep going instead of limping to the nearest couch. But that’s how addiction works, and a triathlete will persevere in order to get that high.
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