Fort Simpson (Aug 11/06) - Long hours of training and preparation paid off for Fort Simpson athlete Chris Stipdonk on July 29.

Stipdonk won a bronze medal in his age category at the World Duathlon Championships in Corner Brook, Nfld.

Rain added an extra challenge to the race as Stipdonk, middle, glances at the competition. - photos courtesy of Paul Stipdonk

"It's a good way to end the summer season," said Stipdonk, 21.

This is Stipdonk's biggest finish to date. Last year, he placed sixth in Australia at the World's.

"It's nice to be on the podium this year," he said.

Stipdonk travelled to Corner Brook for the race on July 27. He spent time before the race doing trial runs and rides over the course to become familiar with it.

"It was a really hilly course," said Stipdonk.

Because of the hills and a number of 90-degree turns, Stipdonk said it wasn't a fast course.

On race day, the course had more surprises in store as the weather varied between heavy and light rain, creating puddles all over the course. Stipdonk ran in shoes heavy with water which also slowed the course down.

The race started with Stipdonk in a pack of 70 runners, including 18 from his age category.

After a 10 km run, he was in eight place heading into the transition. During the 40 km cycling portion, he picked up enough time to settle into third place which he held onto for the final 5 km run.

Stipdonk finished the race with a time of 1:58:29 just minutes behind two duathletes from Brazil.

The race went according to plan, he said. The goal was to be close to the lead time coming to the first transition and then pick up time during the cycling portion, his stronger event. To help him stay on track his father, Paul Stipdonk used a stopwatch and yelled him his time as he passed by.

In the final run, Stipdonk said he knew the two competitors from Brazil were too far ahead to catch and the fourth place athlete was far enough away that he maintained a steady pace to the finish line.

After finishing the race, Stipdonk couldn't be sure if he was in third or fourth place. He had to wait over three hours for the results to be posted so he could confirm his standing. Even after seeing the results, Stipdonk said he had to check it a few times to be sure.

"I was very pleased, very happy," he said.

The competition was the pinnacle of Stipdonk's racing season.

He used other races during the summer to train for Corner Brook. In May, he finished 10th at the National Duathlon Championships in Hamilton, Ont.

In June, he competed in the National Road Cycling Competition in Quebec, but a crash prevented him from finishing the race.

Stipdonk also put long hours into preparation, training six days a week by cycling, running, stretching and doing core strengthening exercises.

"I was very pleased with how all the training came together," he said.

Already, Stipdonk is looking forward to the next big race, the World's in Hungary next year. To qualify, he has to finish in the top three in a race before the World's in May.