One Super Summer

GREG LAYSON, GUELPH MERCURY

James Loaring enjoying life both on and off the course
September 02, 2008
Greg Layson, Mercury Staff

Summer's been very good to James Loaring.

The 30-year-old long-distance runner was married May 31. He and his wife are now expecting their first child. His business, Loaring Personal Coaching, is booming. And Saturday, Loaring won his third triathlon of the season.

Loaring was the first to break the tape at the Guelph Lake II Triathlon of the Subaru Triathlon Series. He finished the 750-metre swim, 30-kilometre bike race and 7km run in one hour, 23 minutes, 23 seconds. He finished the race three minutes faster than he did last season, when he came in second.

Daren Walton of Alton was second in 1:24:12 and North York's Paul Bregin was third at 1:25:27. Sheri Fraser of London was the top female finisher in a time of 1:31:51.

"This year's just been amazing," said Loaring, who also won the Bluewater Chase Olympic Triathlon and Belle River Triathlon.

Loaring now has eight top-10 finishes in nine triathlons this season. He recently began training at the provincial training centre at the University of Guelph under head coach Craig Taylor.

"I've been really busy and it's affected my training," Loaring said. "But I think I've been training a lot smarter. Now I go into races with no pressure and wanting to have fun. And this year's been a blast."

Making it a little more fun is the fact he now races against triathletes he coaches. Travis Goron, Shauna Carter and Tim Zippel, all trained by Loaring, were three of 579 triathletes in the sprint triathlon Saturday.

"They're new to the sport and really have the triathlon bug," Loaring said.

Goron is an up-and-comer. He crashed his bike at the Canadian Junior Triathlon Champs in Kelowna two weeks ago when a spectator ran across the road and accidently knocked him off his bike. He placed 56th yesterday.

Zippel came in 309th and Carter placed 422nd.

"The athletes that I coach say they enjoy me being out there racing, but I think one of the main reasons I'm racing well is because I draw a lot of inspiration from them being out there, too," Loaring said.

Loaring, now finished racing for the season, was going to spend Sunday afternoon on a couch at home watching Ironman Louisville that was to have three more of his pupils, Shelley McKee, Ralph Iannitelli and Rob Wojtowicz, race.

"I cheer them on. They cheer me on. And we have a great time," Loaring said.

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