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Weekend roundup: Elmore third at Coeur d’Alene, Madsen wins XTERRA Mine over Matter

June 27, 2016
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This past weekend saw several strong Canadian finishes across the Ironman 70.3 circuit, the kick-off to the Canadian off-road triathlon season and another world record performance from Australian Mirinda Carfrae.

Malindi Elmore podiums at Ironman 70.3 Coeur d’Alene

Malindi Elmore earned her second podium finish of the year, taking third behind winner Heather Jackson and runner-up Ellie Salthouse at Coeur d’Alene yesterday. The B.C.-native is a former track runner and Pan Am Games medallist and showed her running prowess with a fast 1:20:50 half marathon split.

Elmore also earned second a few weeks ago at Ironman 70.3 Victoria. Last year, she won the Great White North triathlon and had several top 10 finishes on the 70.3 circuit.

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As much as I love a great result, I have come to appreciate more and more the process of racing. Once upon a time I would have discarded a finishers medal, especially if the result was not desirable. But now every race I complete feels like an accomplishment because it is. The fact that our bodies can actually move ourselves through water, pedal 56miles / 90 km up and down huge hills at a fast speed and cover another 23 miles / 21 km on foot is amazing and takes hard work before and during the race. Battling the ups and downs and resisting the urge to back off when things get hard, that is also to be celebrated. Most amazingly is seeing 3000 people out on course, taking on their own personal challenges and goals. I l love being a part of a healthy and active living movement that is open to everyone who wants to take on the challenge. Long after I finished my race we watched hundreds of folks walking, jogging and running the tail end of their races – some 7 hours after starting in the water, and I was really proud to be a part of a sport that gives people this opportunity and is not just about being the fastest (despite the fact that's my personal goal!). So cheers to #im703cda #ironman #ironman803 #triathlon #swimbikerun #active #goals!

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Heather Jackson and Andy Potts, both no strangers to the top of the podium, took the women’s and men’s Coeur d’Alene titles, respectively.

Karsten Madsen gets his first off-road win at XTERRA Mine Over Matter

Guelph, Ont.’s Karsten Madsen has been on the podium at all three of his XTERRA races this year, finally adding a gold to his silver and bronze at this weekend’s Mine Over Matter off-road triathlon in Milton.

Madsen has been mountain biking all his life and delivered the fastest bike split of the day, covering the 21K course in 49:51. His victory moved him up to just 20 points behind the leader on the XTERRA Pan Am tour standings and sets him up well for the world championship later this year.

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“It was a really special race for me,” Madsen told TMC. “When the Pan Am series was announced, I was over the moon that Mine Over Matter was included. It’s a hometown race and I was pegged as the favourite for the first time. I brought a new level of intensity I hadn’t seen from myself before and it was great to have my coach, family and sponsors come out to support me. Winning was important as it solidified my place in the overall standings.”

Madsen will be racing in Victoria, BC next and plans to race at Canadian national cross-triathlon championships in August.

Full results for Mine Over Matter here.

Carfrae smashes Ironman Austria course record

Three-time world champion Mirinda Carfrae broke the Ironman Austria record yesterday with her outstanding 8:41:17 finish time, breaking American Linsey Corbin’s preview record of 8:42:42. Though fast across all three disciplines, it was Carfrae’s 2:49:06 marathon split that earned her the win and the record.

Joining Carfrae on the podium were Austrians Michaela Herlbauer and Elisabeth Gruber. In the men’s race, Belgium’s Marino Vanhoenacker won the title with Ukraine’s Viktor Zyemtsev and Italy’s Alessandro Degasperi finished second and third respectively.

Canada’s Karen Thibodeau had a strong race in Austria as well, finish sixth in the pro women’s field. She finished in 9:44:43.

Jeff Symonds fifth at Vancouver Half Marathon

Jeff Symonds broke his elbow earlier this year which put a damper on his triathlon racing season. Though he may not have been able to get in good training in aero position on the bike this spring, he proved he’s still at the top of his running game this weekend, finishing fifth overall at the Scotiabank Vancouver Half Marathon. Symonds’ time of 1:10:35 put him just three minutes back from the overall winner. He currently has one of the fastest Ironman marathon times in history — 2:40:34 at the 2014 Ironman Canada.