Chilliwack's Anthony Toth raced the Lake Stevens Ironman 70.3 last weekend, finishing 12th overall in a 23 man professional field.
The event, held near Seattle, was half the distance of a full Ironman, and Toth got off to a sluggish start.
Toth was experimenting with no pre-race caffeine and it may have affected him in the first stage. The swim is typically Toth's weakest event, and he was competing against a bunch of Australians.
“I haven't met one yet that can't swim fast,” he laughed.
Toth took 28 minutes and 27 seconds to complete the stage, and found himself six minutes behind the leaders coming out of the water.
Toth made up time in the bike stage, clocking in at 2:25.05.
He completed the run in 1:19:24 for a total time of 4:15:35. He finished 20 minutes and 12 seconds behind the race winner, Australia's Craig Alexander.
“I had a bike and run combo that would have put me closer to the top five, but the swim time is killing my overall result,” Toth lamented. “Still, I feel I am on a good pace towards peaking for the Challenge Penticton. Next I will be doing a sprint race in Kelowna.”
Challenge Penticton replaces Ironman Penticton, which is no longer being held in the Okanagan city. The Challenge series of races are held all over the world, but this is the first time one will be held in North America.
Challenge Penticton will use the same course that Ironman did and takes place Aug. 25.
Get info at challenge-penticton.com