As I was approaching the 39km or so mark, a guy rode by in a Polar outfit .. none other than Mike, smiling, telling me that I looked great. Hmmm, I wasn't thinking quite the same.

But I crossed the line about 15 minutes later in 3:22 and was more than happy to stop moving. My girlfriend was already relaxing in the finishing zone.

It's been an odd year in which I have raced just one triathlon - a half iron - and one in which I've done a lot of running races. The way I see it, it was a good break and also a chance to recharged myself as I've signed up for Ironman Canada 2009.

Time now to get back on the bike - even if that is more mountain than road and more in the garage than outside. Time in the saddle is time in the saddle and I'm keen to recapture and surpass the cycling form that I had now more than a year ago. 

As for the Victoria marathon .. next year is the 30th edition and I can't say enough good things about both the course and the organization.