Recharging the battery

Kentville's Brent Platt looking forward to competing in extreme triathlon in Quebec

“I love to swim, I love to run, I just put up with cycling so that I can say that I am a triathlete,” he said. Brent Platt Kentville triathlete

jason.malloy @saltwire.com @JasonMa47772994

Don’t call Brent Platt on July 3.

The Kentville resident will be swimming, running and cycling near his hometown of Montreal in the Canada Man Extreme Triathlon of Lac-Mégantic. Athletes from around the world will start at 4:30 a.m. and have to finish the course, consisting of a 3.8-kilometre swim, 180 kilometres of cycling and a 42-kilometre run, by midnight.

“I’m into doing things that just kind of push people out of their comfort zone,” Platt said.

The 38-year-old has competed in a few similar events in recent years, but this one is a bit different due to the elevation. The cycling component has 2,500 metres of elevation gain while there’s 1,200 metres in elevation gain during the run.

DIFFERENT OUTLOOK

While many people would consider the thought of completing such a course as gruelling, Platt has a different outlook on it.

“This, for me, will fill my battery far more than drain it. My body might be physically sore, but my soul and my brain (will) feel far better once I’m done this,” he said. “To me, it’s a productive way to spend my Canada Day weekend.”

The event checks numerous other boxes for him, including providing a chance to spend time with his supportive family and competing not too far from his Montreal home.

Platt decided he was going to compete in the event in late 2021.

“I think, like lots of people, the pandemic has helped put certain things in perspective and I was done waiting.”

ORIGINS

Platt was leaving an appointment about a decade ago while living in Alberta when he saw a poster for the Calgary Ironman. Something clicked, and he decided he needed to compete in the event.

He had run some marathons and grew up swimming. While he had never ridden a bike that didn’t stop him. Platt purchased a bike, trained and completed the Calgary competition.

“I kind of got hooked,” he said, noting he has competed in communities across North America. “It’s a huge passion. … It’s something I stumbled into because I like running, I

like swimming.”

Platt completed a super sprint in Montreal last weekend, which consisted of a 350-metre swim, a 20-kilometre bike and a 5-kilometre run.

Platt isn’t a big fan of the pedalling part.

“I love to swim, I love to run, I just put up with cycling so that I can say that I am a triathlete,” he said.

NOVA SCOTIA

Platt met his wife, Rachel Platt, an Antigonish native, at an international camping conference in Quebec City. They married and a few years later decided to move to Nova Scotia.

Platt has worked for L’Arche Homefires and Brigadoon Village and is now vice-president Atlantic for Global Philanthropic Canada.

Platt also volunteers his time with the Kentville Volunteer Fire Department.

“He’s a valuable asset to us,” Chief Scott Hamilton said of the lieutenant, who supports members to be active and live healthy lifestyles. “He has … encouraged many of our other members and started a run program through the fire department.”

Hamilton said it was great to see Platt competing in Quebec.

CLOSE TO HOME

This weekend’s course is about three hours from where Platt grew up.

It will include cycling on a road that he drove as a teenager and running up the face of a mountain to get to the finish line at the Mont Mégantic Astronomical Observatory.

“There’s some nostalgia for me,” Platt said. “I can’t think of a better way to spend my weekend.”

This is the fifth edition of the Canada Man competition, and it is organized by Endurance Aventure. It will end at the summit of MontMégantic. Platt will compete the last 8.9 kilometres of the run with Nathan Clinansmith, one of his business partners.

“The goal is to finish and have a smile and have a good time. We want to finish before midnight,” Platt said. “I just want to take it in. It’s not about crushing a time.”