It is long weekend Monday’s like this in Downtown Edmonton that I consider myself the most fortunate for living where I do. Walking out into an international bike race sprawled out on the narrow streets between a few blocks in the core of Downtown. Overtaking and occupying the large public space in the center of our city that is Churchill Square and City Hall.

Ancillary races that support the main event including a time trial stage the previous day utilizing an already blocked off section of our River Valley along Groat Road for another major International event, the ITU World Triathlon. Another fantastic event that itself electrifies downtown.

It is long weekend’s like this past that makes me feel very fortunate to go out and have some fun. I wasn’t working this weekend for any event. I participated in the triathlon relay riding the bike portion, and then simply road the course for both the Velethon and TOA16 stage. Shooting for fun. Crossing paths back and forth with friends that were up to the same fun.

My final photos were taken standing on the flatbed of a truck parked just past the finish line that I scoped out earlier that day. Without media credentials, I wanted to get higher up than the crowd in order to get a finish line shot. About 10 of us ended up standing on the same flatbed. Friends I’d been shooting all summer while they ran. Friends I’d shot alongside at community events. It really was the best way to end a very enjoyable weekend in Edmonton.

Thank-you to all the folks on the teams that I chatted with the other morning while out taking photos. We love that you come into town, do your thing, provide an intense amount of energy to our city, then trudge on to the next race. I can’t imagine the grind, but we appreciate the effort.

Enjoy the photos of my day from early morning prep in the core, to the East end of Downtown, up on the High Level Bridge, and down on Rivervalley Road. From Victoria Park hill, into the finish line back downtown.