Eagles ready to run, bike, swim in Hadley triathlon
Published Saturday July 4th, 2009
Former NHLer and current St. Thomas Tommies' men's hockey coach Mike Eagles will join at least 196 others Sunday morning for the annual Duncan Hadley Triathlon at Killarney Lake.
Eagles spent 15 years in the NHL before he retired. He misses being on the ice and the atmosphere that goes along with it, but still has the same competitive edge.
"Part of the reason that I do track now is I like to compete," Eagles said. "I don't have to win but I love competing and this is the way I can do that now."
It didn't take much after hockey for him to get into triathlons. Eagles enjoyed cross country and track and field as a youth. The biking aspect was added when he began bike racing in his 20s to help with his training for hockey.
The Hadley triathlon consists of a 1,500-metre swim, a 40-kilometre bike ride and a 10K run. The event also includes a sprint triathlon (half those distances) and a duathlon.
After his retirement, Eagles began running again, racing in a duathlon in 2000.
Swimming entered the picture in 2001. Since then he has competed solely in triathlons - two to four each summer - with the odd running race thrown in the mix.
His training consists of all three aspects of the triathlon. He adds cross county skiing in the winter.
"I always try to find ways to improve, although that does not always result in improved times as I am getting older," said Eagles, who turned 46 in March.
"My goal is always to get out of the water and stay on my bike."
Eagles plans to continue to race as long as he's able.
"I think I do this now strictly for fun," he said. "This is what I do to exercise and I get a lot of enjoyment out of it."
He has found he misses being on the ice, yet training for triathlons is at a lower intensity and more enjoyable.
"I train about a third of the hours I trained for hockey," Eagles said. "My cardio is around the same, but I don't work out with weights as much anymore."
Eagles has many interesting memories that took place throughout his many triathlons, including doing an extra kilometre or two in the Marathon by the Sea in Saint John.
"My sense of direction has never been great," he said. "I took a wrong turn and luckily ended up back on course to finish the race."
In Shediac a few years ago he had a close encounter with a motorist - a near collision.
"It was very unnerving," he said. "My wife (Anne-Marie) was standing watching the whole thing unfold so it certainly scared her as well."
He hopes everything will go smoothly tomorrow and he will finish with little or no bumps and bruises.
This year he joins the outstanding registration numbers. At this point last year there were about 100 participants registered. This year the number has reached 197, including 75 at the Olympic distance.
With these numbers the Duncan Hadley Triathlon will once again be one of the largest triathlons in Atlantic Canada.
Race official Onne de Boer has been pleased with the success in past years and expects nothing less this year.
"We have had fabulous cooperation and support from the city and the residents in the area for this event," he said. "I'm very happy that Fredericton hosts one of the best triathlon events in Atlantic Canada."
Saint John's Troy Allaby, who won the men's Olympic distance triathlon last year, will be back to try to defend his title.
But 2008 women's Olympic distance winner Elizabeth Seiffert of Fredericton is preparing for a 70.3 kilometre event next weekend, so may decide not to compete here Sunday.
Athletes are advised to be on site by 7 a.m. and are required to be there before 8 a.m. The Rotary Lodge at Killarney Lake is the headquarters.
Online registration is still available at www.tribnb.ca. There will be no race day registration only race pack pickup and body marking Sunday morning.
Residents of the area need to allow for extra driving time and be aware of traffic restrictions in the areas of Brookside Drive, St. Mary's Street, Maple Street and the 105 highway. The Two Nations Crossings ramp will also not be accessible from the 105.
The event is named after Dr. Duncan Hadley, a Fredericton physician who was killed in a cycling accident 11 years ago.
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