A change was as good as a rest for an Okotoks septuagenarian. Bob Wahlund adapted to a new course in a new town at a new distance en route to capturing two cycling gold medals at the Canada 55-Plus Games in Saint John, New Brunswick. “I just went there to give it my best effort and represent Okotoks and Zone 2 the best I could,” said Wahlund, a prostate cancer survivor. The 73-year-old was ready for anything, training extensively at spin class inside the Shane Homes Gymnasium at the Okotoks Rec Centre. Being adaptable was a necessity. Due to road construction the course was moved about 20 minutes outside the city to the scenic suburban enclave of Quispamsis. The 10-km loop was closer to 13 clicks as Wahlund unexpectedly learned first hand. Expecting to compete just in the 20km road race, Wahlund went down on the first day of racing as a spectator for the 10-kilometre timed event. Good thing he brought his bike. “There were quite a number of riders there that day and we went down to take photos and support all the riders,” Wahlund said. “My wife spotted my name on the board and so I raced.” The timed-event saw competitors leave individually in one-minute increments with several age groups on the course at the same time. There were seven in Wahlund’s 70-plus division. “Just do it as fast and efficient as possible and get to the end and back,” he said. “Different groups, different times, you might pass someone, but you don’t know if you’re competing with them or not or they might pass you, it’s kind of unique that way.” After winning the event, Wahlund was in a solid position to repeat the feat at the 20km distance. “It was very hilly which was okay, it was semi-paved and it wasn’t the greatest, but everyone had to contend with the same terrain,” he said. “There were hidden driveways if you were coming down the slope with any speed you just had to be totally aware of your surroundings.” Though his training was for the 20km distance, the extra six clicks didn’t give him any trouble. He won the road race by over three minutes. “Another six kilometres there at that time, everybody was up for that challenge,” Wahlund said. Bob and his wife Anne made the drive to the east coast and made a vacation out of the Maritimes, just arriving back in Big Rock Country this week. He brought back more than silverware with him, namely new friendships and an appreciation for the spirit of the games. “They were very hospitable, the Games were great and they looked after us very well and worked very hard to do that,” he said. “It was really a great experience, everyone was so friendly, the chap that I raced against who was second, he said to me ‘I know you’re coming over to Nova Scotia, bring your trailer and put in my lot and you can go sightseeing around the country side.’ “We didn’t bring the trailer there, but we went there and visited him and the people out there are just so friendly.”
