For those that do not know yet, the Toronto Triathlon has been resurrected for this year. Here is my big concern: the swim is in Lake Ontario, specifically at Clarke Beach. Ugh. Is anyone else worried about the quality of water? I am I being a wuss? If you are interested, here is the report on the closure of the beach last year in July, and the water quality through the summer. Don’t forget that it was a cool summer, and we didn’t have the usual bad water quality.
Spoke with the RD one on one about this yesterday (John is at the bike show and is very approachable) and he mentioned this. That stretch of beach never had a closure but it did have a few warnings. They will ‘never’ have a race where the water quality is questionable and they can get lab results on it within a day of the event. That is one thing I will say about this series that they never compromise (not to say they would about anything else either…but I digress). Concerned about it? Not at all. But then I have done the races at Guelph, Albion Hills, and Peterborough…and you want to talk questionable water quality.
I always say hello to John at the events. Great guy. Glad to hear. I do almost all the multisport races, and hardly any Subaru for reasons that I am sure you are familiar with.
Thanks, no time to make it to the show this year unfortunately.
I have serious concerns about the water too, but if Kentiger says it’s ok, it’s ok Haven’t made any decisions about doing this one, although I love the appeal that it’s literally right in my backyard, I could ride to the event, but that probably defeats a major purpose of being fresh for the race.
peterborough is bad? this will be my a-race this year! i was there in 2002 and the water was VERY weedy (is it still?). but i didn’t really consider how it was with regards to contaminants - i live in windsor, so my basis of comparison is the detroit river
Guys, we have it really good here in Canada. I realize that Lake Ontario is not optimal, but hey, I’ve done triathlons in canals in Germany and Belgium where I could not see my hand in front of me. Trust me, this water is “relatively good”. Granted, there is better water elsewhere in Ontario, but as far as worldwide tri standards, Lake Ontario is actually “up there”
They do have some big problems with Lake Ontario in the Toronto area with high bacterial counts in the warm months. A friend of mine lives in the Beaches area and it absolutely sucks that they can’t go in the water on those hot summer days. Go further east to the tris in Cobourne, Kingston and Brockville and it’s no problem at all.
Dunno if it’s true, but I’ve been told it’s not just a sewage problem but actually the bird sanctuaries are main contributers to the problem in Toronto. Apparently the birds poop a lot and raise the bacteria counts.
I’d be leary of swimming in July and August. Ear infections, ect apparently are quite common if you do.
I pretty much agree with the comments of AJ. Not polluted bad but it has its share of troubles…not the least of which is the weeds. As the water warms up they get more prominent as does the slime that grows on it. I suppose it is the weeds that give the tumbs down to Pete and not pollution…and certainly not Detroit river bad.
Given my druthers I’druther swim in Lake Ontario and all its cold (and potential pollution) then swim through a salad.
Around 10 years ago I did a tri in Toronto at the CNE (it was a President’s Choice/Subaru race) that had us swimming in the little canal between Lakeshore Blvd and Ontario Place. It was not the cleanest water around but didn’t cause me any problems. I’ve done races all over this province including the one in the swamp at Albion Hills and in Waterloo in the duck shit pond at Laurel Creek. The only problems that I ever encountered were at Guelph Lake when they switched the swim area a few years back. I wouldn’t be too concerned about such a short swim since the Multisports team will have checked the water to make sure it isn’t too bad.
One of the other posts mentioned not liking the Subaru series. I do races on both of the main triathlon series in Ontario and find both are well run and am not sure what the problem is with the Subaru races. I think that Mitch would love to hear some feedback from you if you are not satisfied with the event. My only “complaint” is that the post race food doesn’t match the impossibly high standard they set when President’s Choice used to be the title sponsor
…I’ve done triathlons in canals in Germany and Belgium where I could not see my hand in front of me…
Dev
So have I, I hear ya loud&clear. I’ve swum iun some very questionable waters back in Belgium.
On race in late May the water temp was high enough to disallow wetsuits…reason…the water from that canal was used in the cooling towers of a nearbu nuclear plant.
Lots of rules now about cutting weeds in Ontario from what I understand. Many resorts used to cut the weeds on their beach on ontario lakes, and I don’t think that they are allowed to do it anymore. There is only one lake that I have swam at in the Multisport where the weeds were bad (Lakeside) Otherwise all other locations were great: Lake Ontario in COlburg, no weeds, Welland Canal, obvious, Wasaga Beach, great great location, no weeds, Collingwood, in the harbour, so no weeds.
In answer to all of you who have asked why I don’t like the Subaru series, here is my answer:
The Multisport series are more “personal”. You really get a sense of caring from John Salt and the gang. They listen, John remembers those who do most of the races. Him and I always say hi to each other, whether he sees me first or vice versa.
The races aren’t as busy as the Subaru, and let’s face it, some of the Subaru races are getting too overcrowded
I find that the general organization is better at Multisport
The food is fantastic. They actually have food. At Guelph last year they ran out. Multisport has fresh Great Canadian Bagels, fresh fruit, and FREE chicken, since Maple Lodge Farms is a sponsor.
Website is much better. Multisport has a survey at the end of each race online. They give you a ballot for their year end give-away for every survey completed. And they listen, I have seen changes based on what is said in the surveys.
Finally the awards and year end give away party is fantastic.
John should be paying me for all the press that I give him and the series
I am not going to pick sides here other than to say we should be grateful here in Ontario for the oustanding selection of races that we have - from both the main series( HSBC and Subaru), Somersault up in Ottawa and a number of other very well run independant races, some of which have been going on for 20+ years. We are very lucky. In fact, if you live in the GTA, my feeling is that it may be one of the best areas in North America to live as a triathlete - the selection of amazing races is great. Greater than even some of the so called triathlon hotbeds such as Boulder and Southern California. Who knew? Ontario a triathlon nirvana!
I live across from Kingston (the dark side of the river) I just want to gloat about our good water. If you want to swim in the weeds come to the Lyme tri in Augest. We have some of the best lake weeds going. I know their is a language problem and poor quality beer and the border cops. Just come for the weeds and the taste of the water. You won’t be disapointed.
I agree with Fleck, if we could just import some San Diego weather into this province it would be a tri-geek nirvana. I’m trying to put together a race schedule for myself for the upcoming season and am considering the following:
Lakeside (multisport series), Guelph Olympic (Subaru), Peterborough 1/2 (Subaru), Kingston Long Course (independent), Cobourg (multisport) and Canadian 1/2 in Ottawa (Sommersault)
You can race pretty much every weekend and find new races (I’ve never done Lakeside so that is why I’m thinking of trying it this year) that you know will be well-run and well-attended plus you can go back to old favourites like K-Town that is just an awesome race that I like to do every year.
I’ve only done Subaru tris so far (just due to their schedule fitting mine better than any other races) and I’ve got nothing but great things to say about them. Very well run and good support even for BOP’ers like me. I don’t expect much as far as the food is concerned, but there have always been bagels, bananas, water, etc which is all I ask for.
I did the Peterborough 1/2 two years ago. The weeds were bad, but only for about the last 100 meters coming in to the beach. It just made me swim faster since I wanted to get out of that as quick as I could. The rest of the swim was perfectly clean and clear.
In reply to all: you’re correct, we are blessed in Ontario. You can race every single weekend from about June 1 to mid Sept without going much more than 200KM from Toronto. SOme weekends you can race both Sat and Sun.
Just wanted to answer the question: why Multi over Subaru.
Allan, my favourite race out of all the multi was Gravenhurst. It was fantastic. It’s a time trial, meaning you leave every three seconds. The bike is FANTASTIC. It was on freshly paved roads, through the woods, small rolling hills, past lakes, golf course (Taboo) the scenary was incredible, and the course very fast.
If anyone is in Toronto, and wants to carpool this summer, drop me a line.
Water quality and Lake Ontario can be very specific, particularly to each beach, due to where the runoff from the rains runs into the Lake (the prime suspect in raising coliform levels of the lake). Having gone scuba diving off the shore of Toronto, having friends who windsurf at Clarke (nee Cherry) Beach, and knowing how much of a stickler John is regarding water quality, if the swim is on, I’m a-swimming.
Hey, maybe the local constabulary should enter a relay team called the “Cherry Beach Express” (back in the day, when the cops wanted to have some choice “words” with a suspect/criminal in Toronto, they used to drive him down to Cherry Beach, (Clarke Beach’s former name), out of sight of prying eyes…it was nicknamed “taking a ride on the Cherry Beach Express”).
As to the differences between the two race series, they’re both excellent in their own right. John’s races (the HSBC series) tend to be more personal, and a bit smaller. The post-race chicked wieners can’t be beat, either. The Subaru series generally has larger fields. That being said, they’re both impeccably organized and run.
Haven’t made any decisions about doing this one, although I love the appeal that it’s literally right in my backyard, I could ride to the event, but that probably defeats a major purpose of being fresh for the race.