Photo by RANDY FIEDLER/Advocate staff Peter Reid, a three-time Ironman world champion, goes over cycling technique with seminar participants at the Collicutt Centre on Saturday.

By LAURA TESTER Advocate staff

Local triathletes trained with one of the world’s best in Red Deer on the weekend.
Three-time Ironman World champion Peter Reid held a two-day training session for about 25 participants.
Dwayne Loyek of the Red Deer Triathlon Club, which invited Reid, said they’ve never had someone of Reid’s calibre coach here.
“It’s nice to have an athlete who is not only successful, but Canadian,” said Loyek, owner of The Runner’s Den in Red Deer.
Reid swam with the group at the Michener Centre pool on Saturday morning. An indoor cycling session followed at the Collicutt Centre on Saturday afternoon. Outdoor runs were held on both days.
The event wrapped up with spinning — riding on a stationary bike — and a public autograph session.
Reid, 37, of Victoria announced his retirement in June 2006 after an illustrious career.
He won 10 Ironman triathlons around the world, including three Ironman World Championships in Hawaii. He placed in the top five in the world’s top race over a 10-year period.
The Ironman involves a 3.8-km swim, a 180-km bike ride and 42.2-km run.
Reid joked that he remembers mostly coming in second during three Ironman World races.
His competitive nature began as a child when he took up alpine ski racing and bike racing. Later on, a friend entering his first triathlon encouraged Reid to come along.
“It was a real struggle. But I crossed the finish line and felt this huge sense of accomplishment.”
His first triathlon was in 1989 and seven years later, the sport became his full-time profession.
Reid said it wasn’t easy to win at first.
The change came when he hired a good coach and moved from Montreal to Victoria to train year-round.
He also learned that the desire and determination to win were vital in reaching the podium.
“That’s when my results totally changed,” said Reid.
Reid experienced flat tires and lost many water bottles and energy bars — all of which can throw a racer off.
“I’ve had horrible swims . . . I was so far back,” Reid said. “But that just meant I had to work harder on the bike. Re-adapting is the difference between the champions and the guys who are always in the top 20.”
He also took training seriously, sometimes working out as much as nine hours a day.
Reid broke the race into smaller segments in his head. That way, any goals appeared more achievable.
“I like the balance. You’re not doing the same sport over and over,” said Reid. “And it’s the full body as well, so you avoid injury.”
Loyek, one of the most ardent triathlon competitors in the region, agrees.
“I like the variety,” said Loyek. “It’s great to cross-train with a goal and it’s much better for the body.”
Area triathletes can compete close to home, including at the Woody’s RV World Triathlon in Red Deer and the Sylvan Lake Half Ironman.
The Woody’s event takes place on June 17 while the Sylvan Lake event runs on July 21.
Contact Laura Tester at ltester@reddeeradvocate.com