I grew up in Victoria and moved away in 1996 (for a woman. Dumb mistake) but my parents still live there today and there is just something about the laidback lifestyle that the island has. The best part about living in Victoria is that it only takes about 20 minutes to get anywhere and everywhere.
The race scene is not that bad and they now have 2 half irons, lots of shorter races and some of the best training places. Elk/Beaver lake for your runs and along the waterfront. Thetis lake for your swims. I remember as a kid jumping off the rocks there and thinking that there was no way I would ever swim out to the rocks to jump in. I would walk around. Years later I was doing 2.5 loops of the lake and thinking that I could go farther. I do hate the weeds at the back when you loop around the island but it is not all bad.
The bike rides that you can do are also very cool. I remember heading up to Duncan (Cowichan Lake was the turn around) in 1996 as a training ride for Ironman. Coming down the Malahat at over 86 kph was amazing and passing cars while they look at you like you are crazy. We made it too Cowichan Lake and on the way back decided to take the ferry back over to Brentwood Bay. From there all the way back to town it hailed and rained like I have never seen. It was the best ride that I think I have ever done. Just amazing. You can take the ferry over to Port Angeles and ride up Hurrican Ridge. I think it was just under 2 hours up, burger at the top, 28 minutes down. Another great ride with good Mexican food near the ferry terminal for the ferry ride back. Hey a guy has to eat.
I have gone back to do the NTTC Ultimate training camp a few years ago and had a lot of fun hanging out and learning from Simon, Peter and the other that help out. I swam early on with Neil H. as my masters coach in 1996 and it was great to be back over there getting tips about my swimming. Lance and Lucy helped with my running and the rides up the Observatory and out near the Dump were very fun as well.
I even remember the first day that Peter started working at the Running Room when he first moved to Victoria and seeing him ride around town on his Softride.
I think the best part is that you can be in town and have such a diverse following of athletes. You can show up for a run in the old days and have Peter Reid, Roland Green, Andres Hesler and many other top athlete out for a run and then head to the swimming pool and some of them were there as well.
I am not sure what it is like to train there today but some of the best times I ever had training were in Victoria. Can not make a good living there like you can in Vancouver but man you can have some of the best training in the world.
The race scene is not that bad and they now have 2 half irons, lots of shorter races and some of the best training places. Elk/Beaver lake for your runs and along the waterfront. Thetis lake for your swims. I remember as a kid jumping off the rocks there and thinking that there was no way I would ever swim out to the rocks to jump in. I would walk around. Years later I was doing 2.5 loops of the lake and thinking that I could go farther. I do hate the weeds at the back when you loop around the island but it is not all bad.
The bike rides that you can do are also very cool. I remember heading up to Duncan (Cowichan Lake was the turn around) in 1996 as a training ride for Ironman. Coming down the Malahat at over 86 kph was amazing and passing cars while they look at you like you are crazy. We made it too Cowichan Lake and on the way back decided to take the ferry back over to Brentwood Bay. From there all the way back to town it hailed and rained like I have never seen. It was the best ride that I think I have ever done. Just amazing. You can take the ferry over to Port Angeles and ride up Hurrican Ridge. I think it was just under 2 hours up, burger at the top, 28 minutes down. Another great ride with good Mexican food near the ferry terminal for the ferry ride back. Hey a guy has to eat.
I have gone back to do the NTTC Ultimate training camp a few years ago and had a lot of fun hanging out and learning from Simon, Peter and the other that help out. I swam early on with Neil H. as my masters coach in 1996 and it was great to be back over there getting tips about my swimming. Lance and Lucy helped with my running and the rides up the Observatory and out near the Dump were very fun as well.
I even remember the first day that Peter started working at the Running Room when he first moved to Victoria and seeing him ride around town on his Softride.
I think the best part is that you can be in town and have such a diverse following of athletes. You can show up for a run in the old days and have Peter Reid, Roland Green, Andres Hesler and many other top athlete out for a run and then head to the swimming pool and some of them were there as well.
I am not sure what it is like to train there today but some of the best times I ever had training were in Victoria. Can not make a good living there like you can in Vancouver but man you can have some of the best training in the world.