Even a little fogginess can't stop Steve Archdekin from his love of triathlons
By Bruce Fuhr
Horrible headaches, fogginess, more sleeplessness, seeing spots, quick second long blackout-y-type things, squinting eyes because of how much pain generated through my skull, parts of my head are also numb . . . and this is happening during the race.
Despite experiencing all these aches and pains, Nelson’s Steve Archdekin still managed to finish the Peachland Triathlon coming across the finish line in a time of two hours, 13 minutes and change.
“It’s hard to explain, but is nothing new and has been going on from a few days before race and is still going on,” Archdekin said about the 750-meter swim, 20 kilometer bike and five km run Peachland race Sunday in the Okanagan.
“Having my head off the vertical plane makes everything even worse,” Archdekin adds.
“The bike is horrible for that. It’s bad enough on my neck on the best of days, but when my neck is doing this it is an absolute killer to be on my bike.”
Despite suffering from a rare form of arthritis called, Reiter’s Syndrome — a form of arthritis that produces pain, swelling, redness, and heat in the joints — Archdekin continues to seek out his first love, competing in triathlons.
He started the season out in Christina Lake before heading to Calgary earlier this month where he finished in a time of two hours, 15 minutes — which just happened to be 25 minutes better than Christina.
Back to Peachland, Archdekin persevered during the swim, coming out of the water second to last.
During the cycle he reeled in a bunch of competitors who got the upper hand during the run.
“There was one short hill in particular where you had to really dig in . . .. I forgot how much pressure it puts on my shoulders and wrists to drive into my bike,” Archdekin explained.
“By the time I got to the top of the hill and back up to speed each time (two-lap bike course) my arms were numb and I was conscious of the fact that they could give out and I could bail.”
“I never did though,” Archdekin said.
Two triathlons in two weeks miles apart is enough for now, said Archdekin.
He has a few weeks to rehab before jumping into Kootenay Lake at the Cyswog’n’ Fun August 5 in Nelson.
“Even though I love road tripping, driving hurts my body so badly, so it’ll be nice to be at home for one,” he said.
“The last time I raced here was in 2009 which was three days from getting off of crutches after that goat whipped my (butt).”
Archdekin will be just one of many local racers competing in the 30th annual Nelson Cyswog’n’ Fun Triathlon.
The race, with a course distance of 1.5-kilometer Olympic swim, 39 km bike and 10 km run, goes Sunday August 5 at 8 a.m. from Lakeside Park in Nelson.
The short distance, the sprint race, is 500-meter swim, 22 km cycle and five km run.
Registration deadline is Friday, August 3.
Participants can pre-register online at
https://eventsonline.ca/events/cyswog/
