Hi folks,
What follows is a note I sent some friends chronically one-man's-view of
Ironman Canada:
vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv Race Day: 'got up at 4:00. Checked over my swim stuff for the hundredth time Swim: I got bounced around a couple of times, got hit in the face a few times, Bike: The first 60K of the bike course is relatively easy, mostly flat, and One side note - as I was cruising in to Penticton, the lead runners were on time for the bike leg 6:45. Since I wanted to do it in close to 6 hrs, I Run: I felt surprisingly good at first. I did the first 1/4 marathon in about Afterthoughts: I realize now that my trainig was far from adequate. In parti- ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Other Observations: - I noticed a name in the results - there was a Dan Quisenberry (sp?) in the - The traffic leading into and around Okanagan Falls was scary. Ray Browning was - Why the 15 hr. cut-off? Is this the new standard to come for all Ironman events? happy trails,
Before: I couldn't really relax and enjoy the scenery, although it is really
beautiful there (the Okanagan vally). We got into Penticton on the Friday
before the race, got registered, and checked into our hotel. Saturday I drove
over the bike course - spectacular! The view from the top of Richter Pass is
simply magnificent. Later in the day I checked-in my gear and bike. All set!
...now I just had to wait for the race
(this is quit amazing since the aformentioned 'swim stuff' consisted of a
bathing suit, wet suit, goggles, and swim cap). Ate a couple of bowls of
cereal and two cups of java... it didn't do much to calm my nerves. We drove
to the race site at 5:30. 'got numbered, checked in my 'special needs' bags,
checked over my bike one more time, and entered the start area. While waiting
in line for the ritual poop-and-pee, I saw a couple of friends from the
Ottawa area. Put vaseline behind my neck and around my arms to prevent chaffing
from the wetsuit (good) got vaseline on my goggles (not good). 'waited around
for the gun while looking through opaque goggles... 8-0
had to stop to ask a lifeguard on a surfboard to re-zip my wetsuit (the guy
that zipped me up at the start didn't do a great job), had a lot of trouble
seeing where I was going - especially on the last leg into the sun, got out
of the water in 1:29 (just under my 1:30 goal - hey! I'm not a good swimmer
okay) so far so good. After a six minute transition I was off on the bike!
a tail wind (if any). I was feeling good, and quite e***d. I took on lots
of water. So much, in fact, that I had to stop and pee a couple of times.
I passed some people, and some passed me, but it was pretty meaningless since
you're not really working hard yet. I reached the bottom of Richter Pass
after about 1:50. Richter Pass is really three separate climbs with a couple
of more-or-less flat stretches, totaling 11K. I passed a lot of people going
up (I would guess over a hundred), I was feeling really good now. Then, at
the aid station, one K from the top, I got a flat. I guess I should have
practised fixing flats - it took me 20 minutes to fix it - mostly because I
was trying to rush. Just as I was about to put on my new tube I thought I'd
check the tire for the cause of the flat (yes, I use clinchers). Sure enough,
I found a nail/staple thing sticking through my tire... good thing I checked,
I only had one spare tube.
During the time I fixed the flat I estimate that well over a hundred people
passed me. Although many gave encouragement and were generally quite suppor-
tive, I was pissed. I got back on the bike and almost immediately felt stiff
and sore. That, combined with a feeling of frustration for losing time made
the rest of the bike leg a drag. The wind was quite tough coming back and
the last series of hills leading up to Yellow Lake (I believe) were a killer.
From Twin Lakes it's pretty much down hill and fast. Just in time to rest
up for the run.
the last stretch of the marathon. I passed Tinley, Leder, et. al. I was
wondering who was in the lead. Who ever it was looked like they must have a
big lead... then coming in to town I could see the timing vehicle which
accompanies the leader and I entered, what I can best describe as, a tunnel
of people and noise. They were cheering on the leader (Ken Glah, as it turn-
ed out) and screaming his name. As I pulled up alongside him I took a peak.
Awesome! The guy seemed to be effortlessly gliding along through this wall
of sound, looking straight ahead, just cruising... what a rush! I felt the
adrenaline, I can only guess what he must have felt.
was mildly disappointed. But you don't have much time to dwell on things.
50 minutes, reached the turnaround in just over 2hrs, and then the wheels
fell off. I had been feeling (relatively) good, but as soon as I made the
turnaround I caught a cool breeze in my face and felt it on my drenched
shirt. I started feeling cold and queezy. The rest of the run wasn't fun.
I limped into town with a 4:42 marathon. I had hoped for something closer
to 4hrs. My total time was 13:13:45. I thought I would do it in 12:30.
I still think I could have on that day if things had gone better... but I'll
take the 13hrs thankyou very much!
cular I needed many more long workouts (my longest workout before the Iron-
man was a half Ironman I did three weeks before). I know better now. If I
do one again, in a couple of years, I'll do better.
Having said that, it was an experience of a lifetime. An adventure more than
a race.
50-54 agegroup from someplace in California. Anyone know if this could be the
same guy who was a relief pitcher in the majors?? I recall he finished in
under 13hrs.
hit and there were numerous other accidents that I heard of. Is this normal
for I.C.?
A friend mentioned that a doctor in the medical tent said that this was by far
the worst year for people requiring medical attention. He attributed this to
the conditions (warm and windy) and the extra push that many put in to try and
make the 15 hr. cut-off.
Chris
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Ontario Telepresence Project, 2670 Queensview Dr., Ottawa, ON, K1N 6N5, CANADA
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