IMC 2011

The last month leading up to the 2011 Ironman Canada race has been very busy with work. I chose to work 23 days in August before the August 24th start of my travel on the Road to Penticton. So I had plenty of time to taper before the big race. I tried to keep my conditioning going by biking to work and running home. I even worked all day at the Edmonton Derby then ran a PB in a 10K after work. I felt ready to go, yet a bit under trained for the day.

We got into town on Friday and I went straight to the registration tent. It was a quick process and I was out and signed up for next year in less than an hour.

The sun was shining and race morning was beautiful. It is 18c at 6AM as I head in through the check in gate, I kiss my wife good-bye for the day. Body marking and bag check goes fast and and I get ready for the swim. It was so great to see a lot of people from my team who are not racing this year but are volunteering.

The temperature for the day is forecast to be hot, 32c hot. I started out on the swim andI was feeling great. I swam and swam, counted the buoys until I reached the first corner. As I past over the diver below I felt like I was making pretty good progress. The lake was choppy and I am not sure, but I think I was zig zagging more than I should have been. It turns out that I was going a bit slower than last year and when I finally reached shore I was close the the 2 hour mark. This was a half hour slower than last year. The shot at a PB was pretty much gone for this race.

I got changed and ready to head out on the bike. The temperature soared as I climbed up McLean Creek Road, I noticed that there were several people that had stopped to fix flat tires. A volunteer told me to stay away from the edge of the road because of tacks. It seems that one of the locals of this beautiful place is not happy about sharing the road with the cyclists so they threw out some tacks on the road in a futile and inhospitable attempt to discourage us from completing our journey. The support from the Bike Barn and other bike repair teams was fantastic and they seemed to help out all the cyclists that ran into trouble.

When I reached Osoyoos and started to climb Richters pass I felt tired and was thinking that this is crazy. I was pushing hard and it was so hot. To think I am doing this only because I want to and that I don't really have to do this. This could be my last attempt at the Ironman and I don't need to do this ever again. I kept pushing, standing on the pedals at times, sitting and pushing that bike up the hill. I finally reached the top and went on to climb up to Yellow lake and then the long downhill into town.

As I pass the Best Western I was greeted by a mass of happy people who had been sitting in the sun waiting for hours for me to pass by. Deb, Karen, Garnet, Rob and some other team members who were staying at the same hotel. On the ride through town I was passed by a wheelchair athlete. He is making his way on a trike that he cranks with his arms. Pretty amazing, pretty inspiring.

I reached transition and ran into the change tent. Wow! Was it full! I had managed to catch up to a whole bunch of people. I changed and readied for the run. A quick stop at the sun lotion station and I was on my way. Only a marathon left to go.

It was 4:30 and the hottest part of the day. Running was not easy, I was battling some serious heat and I wanted to stop. I made a deal with myself to run to the next aid station. So I did, then the next, then the next, then the next. I made a deal with myself to keep running and only walk at steep hills and the aid stations. My stomach was not too bad and even though my legs were tired they seemed to be working fine. My heart rate was good and I thought I can keep going.

As the sun set on Lake Skaha, I reached the city limits. I rounded the turn onto lakeshore drive and I can see the finish line. I saw lots of friends and teammates as I pushed through the final kilometers of the race.

It was a very tough day. I have many thoughts and ideas about this effort, I will share with you from time to time about this day and how the lessons earned are very valuable. I wear the finisher shirt very proudly and I now have the title of two time Ironman finisher. I have registered for the 2012 Ironman Canada Race and I am sure that the lessons learned from this experience will serve me well next year. Stay tuned!