IM Canada Race Report

The gist of it:

13:38.23: Slower than expected but satisfied.

Swim: Cold and shivering at the exit and through mile 10 on the bike.

Bike: Sunny and beautiful. Challenging climbs and 40+ mph descents.

Run: My weakness. Ran out of gas but no leg cramps = win.

Transitions: Totally whacked. Oh well.

Detailed race report:

Swim. 1:06

The water was a bit chilly, about 68 deg. F., and I only had my sleeveless wetsuit. The first 2 miles were OK and went nearly as expected. My plan was to pick it up the last 0.4 miles and finish fast but I was quite cold and my arms and shoulders were stiff from the exposure. I had the energy and the will to go faster but I just couldn't get my arms to turn over any faster. I exited the water just fine and got wetsuit stripped, grabbed my T1 bag and headed for the changing tent.

I was shivering like a leaf in a windstorm. My feet were nearly numb and my hands were too stiff to function properly. “Where are my socks?” “Ah, forget ‘em, I can’t get them on anyway.” It took me forever to just get my bike shoes on, helmet, gloves, and zip up my jersey. I couldn’t get the zipper to line up because my hands were shaking too violently. I desperately wanted to get on my bike so I could warm up but my body would just not move how I wanted it to.

T1. 10:48. Horrible. I could have taken a nap but I was shaking too badly to relax.

Bike. 6:19

I was so frigg’n cold I practically coasted the first 10 miles while I ate and hydrated (stick with my plan no matter what). By mile 20, I was getting warm and feeling good and settled into my pace. The sun was shining and eventually, I began to sweat. It felt so good. Hydration was right on.

The bike route was spectacular with beautiful scenery, some challenging climbs, and some screaming fast descents. I love going fast and caught myself going 40 mph and topped out at 43 mph on the last long descent from Yellow Lake. What a gas.

I think I fell a little behind on calories cuz I felt my energy levels getting low. I gulped down my last gel with some Gatorade about 3 miles from T2.

T2. 9:02. What the hell? I didn’t like the layout of the transition area. It was just too damn far from T2 bag, to changing tent, and back out to the run course. It seemed like about a quarter mile lap around a track. Oh well, same handicap for everyone.

Run. 5:52.

The clouds were beginning to thicken and gray skies were on the horizon. Yes! It was cooling down. I was about 2 miles into my run when the crowd along Main Street began to erupt with cheering and applause…for me? Wow, that was so wonderful. I basked in the excitement for a brief moment when I saw the pace car coming and the first pro male was coming into town on the opposite side of Main Street from me. Bryan Rhodes from New Zealand was taking home the win.

My plan to run/jog between each aid station went well for the first 6 miles. No leg cramps and my HR was on target. Then I felt my energy dropping and I was running out of gas. It began to rain lightly and it felt good. I walked every incline and jogged every decline and walked through each aid station. I was sinking fast and couldn’t get my HR above 130. Crap, now what? At the halfway turn around, I grabbed my special needs bag, downed my liquid vitamin pack and tried to run again. Slowly, I felt some energy return but I still had to walk the inclines. The rain was light and steady now and still felt good. I started drinking cola at mile 14 and alternated with water or soup and gels to mile 24. At mile 18, it was getting dark and the street lights were on and reflecting off the wet pavement and mirrors of puddles. It was quite pretty.

I was still warm and by mile 24, I felt some relief so I tried to pick up my pace…and I did. It was that feeling of knowing I would indeed finish that came over me and noticing the spectators were still lining the streets and cheering for me. They were calling my name and encouraging me to “keep it up, you’re gonna make it.” Then I heard a familiar bell…a cow bell! I turned the corner at Main and Westminster and there she was, screaming my name and clanging that cow bell. My Iron Sherpa/girlfriend jumped off the curb and ran with me for 2 blocks and ringing that cow bell all the while. Very cool.

I had to continue on the last mile by myself to the final out and back along the lake front. Making that last turn and seeing the glow of lights at the finish banner was glorious. The light rain was still streaking down and the reflection of neon lights and street lights off the wet pavement was heavenly. All my discomfort and pain was gone, my breathing was easy, my feet were suddenly light and I was weightless. Bathed in the warm glow of the finish chute, the crowd noise was deafening, yet I could hear my name from the loudspeakers as I grabbed the finish banner and yawped.

Ironman Canada celebrity sightings.

Michael Lovato.

Peter Reid.