Ironman Canada (personal) race report

Ironman Canada (personal) race report

Post by Chris Passi » Fri, 10 Sep 1993 02:14:10


Hi folks,

What follows is a note I sent some friends chronically one-man's-view of
Ironman Canada:

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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

Race Day: 'got up at 4:00. Checked over my swim stuff for the hundredth time
  (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

Swim: I got bounced around a couple of times, got hit in the face a few times,
  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!

Bike: The first 60K of the bike course is relatively easy, mostly flat, and
  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.

  One side note - as I was cruising in to Penticton, the lead runners were on
  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.

  time for the bike leg 6:45. Since I wanted to do it in close to 6 hrs, I
  was mildly disappointed. But you don't have much time to dwell on things.

Run: I felt surprisingly good at first. I did the first 1/4 marathon in about
  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!

Afterthoughts: I realize now that my trainig was far from adequate. In parti-
  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.

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Other Observations:

  - I noticed a name in the results - there was a Dan Quisenberry (sp?) in the
    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.

  - The traffic leading into and around Okanagan Falls was scary. Ray Browning was
    hit and there were numerous other accidents that I heard of. Is this normal
    for I.C.?

  - Why the 15 hr. cut-off? Is this the new standard to come for all Ironman events?
    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.

happy trails,
Chris
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Ontario Telepresence Project, 2670 Queensview Dr., Ottawa, ON, K1N 6N5, CANADA
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Ironman Canada (personal) race report

Post by Curt Simki » Fri, 10 Sep 1993 04:17:48

  Congradulations Chris, you did well. I was surprised to hear that
  there's a 15 hour cut-off, it was always 17 each of the years that
  I did it.  The second half of the bike ride *is* hard especially when
  the wind is blowing hard.  

  Again, good job.  You have to almost experience the distance before
  you can "race" it, 8-).

  Take care eh,
  Curt


 
 
 

Ironman Canada (personal) race report

Post by Bert Sand » Fri, 10 Sep 1993 04:43:03

|>
|>   - Why the 15 hr. cut-off? Is this the new standard to come for all Ironman  
|>     events?
|>     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.
|>
All the Ironman Events except for the Hawaii Ironman have implemented a
15 hour cutoff.  The Hawaii Ironman still has a 17 hour cut-off.   I think the
rationale behind the 15 hour cut-off is mainly to do with health risks to the
competitors such as severe dehydration, ..., also it becomes much more
dangerous for both competitors and volunteers once the sunlight disappears
and it starts to become dark.

FYI,
Bert Sandie

 
 
 

Ironman Canada (personal) race report

Post by Michael J. Gils » Sat, 11 Sep 1993 02:28:53


|> >All the Ironman Events except for the Hawaii Ironman have implemented a
|> >15 hour cutoff.  The Hawaii Ironman still has a 17 hour cut-off.
|>
|> The Great Floridian has an 18 hour cutoff, though unofficially they have
|> been more lenient.
|>
|> >I think the
|> >rationale behind the 15 hour cut-off is mainly to do with health risks to the
|> >competitors such as severe dehydration, ...
|>
|> Then their rationale is stupid.  Look in any medical tent and you'll see
|> the younger and faster competitors with tubes in their arms.  The older,
|> more experienced competitors who are hurt by the strict cutoff have a
|> lower metabolism, sweat less, and rarely dehydrate.
|>

        According to a (Penticton) local that I spoke to, the 15 hour
        cutoff has generated quite a bit of discussion in the community.
        I don't know if this is accurate, but one of the arguments made
        in favor of the 17 hour cutoff was that no one in the 60+ age
        groups had completed the race in under 15 hours in past years.
        This year several 60+ competitors finished in 15:00 hours...

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