Whittig battles elements, finishes 3rd by Daniel Perry

Whittig battles elements, finishes 3rd - Timmins Daily Press - Ontario, CA

Page 1 of 2

Timmins Light rain showers Weather Sponsorship Available!

Careers Classifieds

Obituaries Autonet

SUBSCRIBER SERVICES

News

Sports

Business

Arts/Life

Multimedia

Video

Letters to the Editor

E-Edition Shopping

TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2011

SUBMIT

Community

JOIN | SIGN-IN

Sports

Local Sports Home Sports finishes 3rd

Local Sports

Whittig battles elements,

Whittig battles elements, finishes 3rd

Newspaper

Triathlete's next challenge is this weekend in North Bay

UR Timmins Archive Information

By Daniel Perry, The Daily Press

Posted 2 hours ago

There isn't a picture of Timmins' resident Devin Whittig beside the definition for determination in the dictionary, but there very well could be.

Today

Whittig competes in several triathlons a year, and is constantly trying to get quicker and stronger.

CLUB GÉNOME, THE FIRST OF FOUR INTERACTIVE OBJECT THEATRES TO OPEN AT SCIENCE NORTH, WELCOMES YOU!

He routinely wakes up at 5 a.m. to hit the roads around town, trying to improve his running skills and get even faster. The early-morning runs are only one part of his daily workout routine he prepares for himself every night.

Goalie School by Gold in the Net - Ontario

"I'm up and on the roads running by five because I start work at nine," said the recent École secondaire catholique Thériault graduate.

Click here to find out more!

"When I'm out there so early in the morning and no one is with me, I have to push myself. That's how I like it best. I am just determined to get better. If I'm not having a good day while training, I tell myself to suck it up and keep going. This is my life. I need to compete and get better. I am very passionate and I base everything around my racing." Whittig, 18, finished third among competitors in his age group, and 10th out of 250 athletes overall, in the 16th Muskoka Subaru Triathlon this past weekend in Huntsville. The first event was in 1990, but it has been running annually since 1996.

Jun. 30, 2011 Come and Get It...A Community Kitchen for Teen Parents Jul. 1, 2011

Timmins triathlete Devin Whittig

More Photos

The Timmins resident battled against the wind and rains and competed in the Sprint Triathlon, which includes a 750-metre swim, a 20-kilometre bike and a five-kilometre run.

Stargazing Manitoulin Jul. 5, 2011 Babysitter Course Girl's Hockey Information Session

"The race started up the river from Huntsville in four separate waves," explained Whittig. "I started in the last wave and had the challenge of passing and overcoming a lot of other racers in front of me." Whittig couldn't even swim last year. He has faithfully practised his techniques in the pool with the Timmins Marlins. He realises that his swimming is still holding him back and has devoted himself to strengthening his skills in the underwater portion of the triathlon. He's taken almost a minute and 45 seconds off his time in the 750 metre swim since last year.

Business Name City

"I'm in the water seven days a week," he said about his training. "I only take days off the day before a race. I do about 20-25 kilometres a week in the water, alone." Whittig managed to come out of the water in 42nd place. He rushed out of the water and got to his bike for the next stage of the race. He had already fastened his shoes to his pedals with elastics to cut even more time off the transition from water to land. "Once I get up to 30-35 kilometres, I slip my feet in all the way and tighten them up," Whittig said. His race was almost cut short during his bike ride, when he attempted to get closer to the front of the pack. "I came within a hair of getting hit by a car," he recalled. "They left the road open to traffic, which is OK if everyone is riding in single file. I tried to pass someone going up the hill though, and a car was passing traffic in the other lane at the same time. I had to slam on my breaks and just missed it." After the bike ride, he made another transition into his running shoes and hit the trails for the final portion of the race.

http://www.thedailypress.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3191859

28/06/2011

Whittig battles elements, finishes 3rd - Timmins Daily Press - Ontario, CA

Page 2 of 2

He runs with the Timmins Porcupine Track and Field Club to help his training for competitions. "I took track to increase my running speed," he said. "Working on track really helps me with my turnover and getting the power to increase my speed even more. Vital Shank continues to help me so much." There weren't any near deadly occurrences for the 18-year-old during the run. He is extremely proud of his results, but knows he can do better in the future. "This year was a building year for me," he added. "I'm still getting used to the packs of athletes I'm competing with and what to do in the transitions. "I want to improve my swimming and do bigger races, like Quebec and Manitoba." He is also competing in upcoming triathlons in North Bay on July 3, Timmins on July 17, Bala Falls on July 24 and Bracebridge on August 6. "And I eventually want to race professionally. I want to compete nationally and hopefully I'll reach the Olympics one day too." Whittig is preparing to study Kinesiology at Lakehead University in the fall. He is excited about the school's strong running program and eager to learn as much as he can to make his muscles as efficient as possible. He is confident he can of accomplish all of this in the next eight or nine years. Advertisement

Article ID# 3191859 Tools

Comments on this Article. You are currently not logged in. Discuss this Article

Submit Topic guidelines: We welcome your thoughts, stories and information related to this article. Please stay on topic and be respectful of others. Keep the conversation appropriate for interested readers.

Local Sports Articles: • • • • • • • •

http://www.thedailypress.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3191859

28/06/2011