Monday, September 01, 2008
Dave and Todd - ready to go!
Dave was well trained and so excited to start. It was pleasure for me to walk with him through his swim exit!
Finish Line visualization - 9:59
The day before the start I took this picture and I stopped for a moment and thought how would I feel running down this road and seeing 9:5x on the clock?? Awesome!
IM Canada - What a bunch of Rookies!!!!
Now that a week has passed I have found time to write some notes about IronMan Canada. This year No Limits had 9 athletes competing. 7 of the 9 were 1st timers (rookies) at the Ironman distance. Anything could happen!!! This was my 3rd IMC and Dave's 2nd. Dave was on a mission to qualify. I am going to keep this insert short as I will write a longer report later. So for those of you who just want the goods, here it is:
I had an amazing day finishing in 9:57 (Hawaii spot)
Lyndsey had an amazing day finishing in 10:17 (Hawaii spot and new course record for age)
Dave had a great day 10:34 (Hawaii spot)
Kevin smoked the bike (freshly painted ride) and had a good day 11:41
Michele very happy with her solid 12:52
Sue finished 2nd in age group (Hawaii spot) 13:02
Phoenix was happy with her 13:17 and is already thinking of how to go faster
Tim's 6 year dream came true as he became an Ironman at 15:15
John proved that indeed he would be an Ironman as he struggled with stomach issues on the bike and run to finish in a nailbitter time of 16:45.
With such great success from a bunch of rookies it is hard to imagine what they will do on their next attempt!!!
Great work by everyone who became an Ironman that day. Setting a goal to compete in an Ironman event is huge and can be life changing. The things we learn in training and racing are too countless to write down but all make us better people and grateful that we are able to do this crazy sport.
I want to say thank you for all the people who have helped me get to IronMan Canada. Tim for use of the wheels, Maureen and Richard for the great accommodations, Rob for helping me ride at silly times of day, Rose for tracking down shoes for me in the last 2 weeks, to Chris and Alison for taking my bike out to BC and all of my athletes who wished me well. The month before the race I was lucky to talk to many of you (and even some people I had seen in years) and all of your dreams motivated me to follow mine which was to finish in 9:59. Thanks again and I am once again reminded why I decided on "No Limits" as a name.
I had an amazing day finishing in 9:57 (Hawaii spot)
Lyndsey had an amazing day finishing in 10:17 (Hawaii spot and new course record for age)
Dave had a great day 10:34 (Hawaii spot)
Kevin smoked the bike (freshly painted ride) and had a good day 11:41
Michele very happy with her solid 12:52
Sue finished 2nd in age group (Hawaii spot) 13:02
Phoenix was happy with her 13:17 and is already thinking of how to go faster
Tim's 6 year dream came true as he became an Ironman at 15:15
John proved that indeed he would be an Ironman as he struggled with stomach issues on the bike and run to finish in a nailbitter time of 16:45.
With such great success from a bunch of rookies it is hard to imagine what they will do on their next attempt!!!
Great work by everyone who became an Ironman that day. Setting a goal to compete in an Ironman event is huge and can be life changing. The things we learn in training and racing are too countless to write down but all make us better people and grateful that we are able to do this crazy sport.
I want to say thank you for all the people who have helped me get to IronMan Canada. Tim for use of the wheels, Maureen and Richard for the great accommodations, Rob for helping me ride at silly times of day, Rose for tracking down shoes for me in the last 2 weeks, to Chris and Alison for taking my bike out to BC and all of my athletes who wished me well. The month before the race I was lucky to talk to many of you (and even some people I had seen in years) and all of your dreams motivated me to follow mine which was to finish in 9:59. Thanks again and I am once again reminded why I decided on "No Limits" as a name.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Apple Race Report by Isabelle
“So my last race for the 2008 season is done...and I feel empty...what a fun season! My first half, cutting down 18 minutes off last year at the Peach Classic! Wow! I had great expectations for the Apple – my time goal has been staring at me from my fridge magnet since Todd’s Christmas party! But on Wednesday night, I twisted my ankle walking to my car...badly....it was very swollen and I could hardly walk on it on Thursday....I couldn’t go see a physio as we were driving out to Kelowna on Thursday after work...oh well, it’s life, it’s not like I am trying to qualify for the National team....just wanted to meet my time goal!Race morning – I actually woke up at a decent hour as my start time was 9am...a little too late for my liking hopefully this changes next year! I got to the race site and organized my transition thinking fast fast fast...This was a no wetsuit race as the water was too warm which I absolutely don’t mind as I swim faster without a wetsuit J I then went straight to physio and had her tape my ankle to make sure it didn’t fall off during the race (ha ha)...she did and I put electrical tape over the taping job just to make sure it stayed on in the water...good thing I had an engineer friend on the site who happens to carry electrical tape in her bag...ha ha...thanks Janette! Her start was after mine so we unfortunately couldn’t race together which was unfortunate!
Race start, I felt like I was electrified (must have been the tape) – I had a great swim, felt strong and long, my pull was good or so it felt like it was and I got out of the water with a great time. My transition was fast and I was on my bike...I was going up the hill thinking man I forgot how steep this was and I heard Rose in front of me yelling “Kill me!” which made me laugh – such a Rose comment...so I forgot about the hill for a while. The first bike loop was hard, my legs were stiff with the hill being so close to the end of the swim...but it went ok. Second loop, I felt stronger, my legs were back but my foot started to hurt...I felt like it was all cramped up and tearing into little pieces...and that’s how it felt for the remainder of the bike...ouch! I couldn’t wait for it to end...I didn’t do too bad on the bike but without my ankle I definitely would’ve done a great job I think. And then the run. First steps were ok, I was super positive, another fast transition and I was holding my pace bracelet for my run...ready to meet my time goal...I was still ok for time although my bike was a little slower than I was hoping...then the pain started – oh god!! I walked 75% of the first 5km. I tried to take more motrin but I could still feel my foot tearing apart..augh, so frustrating when all my training was going so well! I stopped and loosened up the taping job by removing a piece that was too tight as my whole foot was swelling up! It felt a tiny bit better.
When I came to the turn around point, I was thinking of stopping right there but then this person comes up to me asking me if I was Isabelle....well it was Elaine, she told me she read my race report from Oliver and she gave me the nicest smile and encouraging words ever so I kept on going!! THANKS ELAINE!!!! I then saw my mom who ran next to me for a little while until she was told she wasn’t aloud to coach me...my mom is not a runner so that was amazing too !! To have her all the way from Venezuela encouraging me was the best feeling ever! She was so excited and happy! I finished the race!!! 13 minutes longer than my race goal but there are three positive outcomes to this race:
1) Without my ankle I believe I would’ve been very close to my goal,
2) I finished 36/45 therefore not last
3) AND, MOST OF ALL, I FINALLY HAVE LEARNED HOW TO RACE WITH PAIN!!!!!
So Todd thanks again, and I promise I’ll meet the goal next year!! It was an amazing season and I can’t wait to be inspired by all the ironmen and ironwomen in a week!! GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!!!! And Todd, stay away from the bees this year!”
Race start, I felt like I was electrified (must have been the tape) – I had a great swim, felt strong and long, my pull was good or so it felt like it was and I got out of the water with a great time. My transition was fast and I was on my bike...I was going up the hill thinking man I forgot how steep this was and I heard Rose in front of me yelling “Kill me!” which made me laugh – such a Rose comment...so I forgot about the hill for a while. The first bike loop was hard, my legs were stiff with the hill being so close to the end of the swim...but it went ok. Second loop, I felt stronger, my legs were back but my foot started to hurt...I felt like it was all cramped up and tearing into little pieces...and that’s how it felt for the remainder of the bike...ouch! I couldn’t wait for it to end...I didn’t do too bad on the bike but without my ankle I definitely would’ve done a great job I think. And then the run. First steps were ok, I was super positive, another fast transition and I was holding my pace bracelet for my run...ready to meet my time goal...I was still ok for time although my bike was a little slower than I was hoping...then the pain started – oh god!! I walked 75% of the first 5km. I tried to take more motrin but I could still feel my foot tearing apart..augh, so frustrating when all my training was going so well! I stopped and loosened up the taping job by removing a piece that was too tight as my whole foot was swelling up! It felt a tiny bit better.
When I came to the turn around point, I was thinking of stopping right there but then this person comes up to me asking me if I was Isabelle....well it was Elaine, she told me she read my race report from Oliver and she gave me the nicest smile and encouraging words ever so I kept on going!! THANKS ELAINE!!!! I then saw my mom who ran next to me for a little while until she was told she wasn’t aloud to coach me...my mom is not a runner so that was amazing too !! To have her all the way from Venezuela encouraging me was the best feeling ever! She was so excited and happy! I finished the race!!! 13 minutes longer than my race goal but there are three positive outcomes to this race:
1) Without my ankle I believe I would’ve been very close to my goal,
2) I finished 36/45 therefore not last
3) AND, MOST OF ALL, I FINALLY HAVE LEARNED HOW TO RACE WITH PAIN!!!!!
So Todd thanks again, and I promise I’ll meet the goal next year!! It was an amazing season and I can’t wait to be inspired by all the ironmen and ironwomen in a week!! GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!!!! And Todd, stay away from the bees this year!”
Monday, August 11, 2008
Strathmore womens only sprint
As I was riding with the Sunday group to Bragg Creek during the last class to get a treat (coffee and donut) I started to wonder how the race was going in Strathmore.
The weather in Calgary was breezy and cool. No rain though. This should be good for racing.
Madi had a very strong week of training and she topped it off by taking the overall win at Strathmore! Nice work Madi!!!
Mary was also racing and she was strong from start to finish. She had the 3rd fastest swim, 11 on the bike and 23 on the run (new PR) and finished 9th overall! Top 10 in always nice!
Madi and Mary well done! The Apple and Chaparral are next!!!
The weather in Calgary was breezy and cool. No rain though. This should be good for racing.
Madi had a very strong week of training and she topped it off by taking the overall win at Strathmore! Nice work Madi!!!
Mary was also racing and she was strong from start to finish. She had the 3rd fastest swim, 11 on the bike and 23 on the run (new PR) and finished 9th overall! Top 10 in always nice!
Madi and Mary well done! The Apple and Chaparral are next!!!
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Canmore Triathlon
Canmore Triathlon was held last weekend and for a 1st time event the feedback was very positive. We had a few athletes testing out the course.
Louise decided to try the Olympic distance. She had a great day and ended placing 1st in her age group and 9th female overall.
Elaine choose to do the sprint. Even with Sylvan lake still in her legs she had a very good day finishing 1st in her age group and 3rd female overall.
Lisa also did the sprint and finished 10th female. Nice racing ladies!!!
Here is a tip for everyone: Once you pass someone on the bike make sure that you are well in front of the bike before moving to the right side of the road. Lisa had her front tire clipped in the race and was fortunate not to have crashed. Ride Safe!
Louise decided to try the Olympic distance. She had a great day and ended placing 1st in her age group and 9th female overall.
Elaine choose to do the sprint. Even with Sylvan lake still in her legs she had a very good day finishing 1st in her age group and 3rd female overall.
Lisa also did the sprint and finished 10th female. Nice racing ladies!!!
Here is a tip for everyone: Once you pass someone on the bike make sure that you are well in front of the bike before moving to the right side of the road. Lisa had her front tire clipped in the race and was fortunate not to have crashed. Ride Safe!
Salmon Arm Tri
Salmon Arm race was also last weekend. This race is an Olympic distance race but in the order: Swim / Run / Bike. Dave and Ian were both racing and placed 5th and 8th overall. Good job guys!!!
If you are looking for a different race, I hear this is a great one!
If you are looking for a different race, I hear this is a great one!
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Sylvan Lake half
The Sylvan lake half was held last weekend. The exciting team of Viv, Lisa and Rose were all out to have a great time! And they did. Please read Kevin's race report for more details.
Kevin had a great day 46th overall and 5th in age group in a time of 5:13
Elaine had a great day as well 55th overall and 2nd in age group in a time of 5:21
John was thrilled to complete his 1st ever half ironman in training for IMC. Less than 4 weeks, but who is counting... :)
Kevin had a great day 46th overall and 5th in age group in a time of 5:13
Elaine had a great day as well 55th overall and 2nd in age group in a time of 5:21
John was thrilled to complete his 1st ever half ironman in training for IMC. Less than 4 weeks, but who is counting... :)
Kevin's Sylvan lake report
So Lisa, Viv, Rose and myself did the Sylvan Lake half ironman this weekend. Here’s how it went down…
Lisa and the girls decided to do it as a team in COSTUME! The three were dressed up as Hef Bunnies and looked damn cute. Lisa lost most of her aero advantage by tacking big floppy bunny ears on her helmet! Rose had a great run despite recurrent “issues” and was still smiling when she cruised in – Hope you’re feeling better! Viv rocked the swim and then pulled the toughest leg of the race – childcare. Next year they need some one to race with them dressed in a silk bathrobe and smoking a pipe.
As for me, I experienced a new first - pure dread on the swim. I had a little hissy fit of dyspnea/hyperventilation right at the start of the race. As I tried to calm down I hummed the chorus to “le freak” by Chic (yeah, I’m old but it worked) and tried to recall what SIPE actually stood for (swimming induced pulmonary edema). Since there wasn’t pink frothy stuff coming out my nose and I liked the song, I carried on. Now people often mention how bad triathletes bike handling skills are, but I would like to point out that our swim “handling” skills are a thousand times worse. I have never been tackled, hit or run over on the road but in the water… it’s like the Deerfoot with bumper cars!
After a tardy transition, it was on to the bike, yeah! With my power tap and HR monitor dutifully informing me of performance parameters, a detailed nutritional plan in place and exquisite knowledge of the course from previous races, I set off to do some damage. It all went pretty well except for the large volume of lake water consumed in the previous paragraph. I spent a large portion of the ride wondering how to pee and cycle at the same time – if only they talked about this on OLN during le tour…
After a prolonged T2 potty break it was off on the run. Now in my previous two visits to Sylvan I have gained great knowledge of the cleanliness and locations of all the porta-potties on course. They are both plentiful and fairly clean. But this year I was able to pass them all by! Thanks for the tip, Viv! On the outbound leg I felt pretty good, but I could hear this one guy running me down forever! His shoes were super loud. It sounded like a Dutchman wearing clogs or a samurai wearing those wooden slippers as he paddled by. I made a joke of it hoping he would slow down but to no avail. It was a little lonelier but a lot quieter after he was gone. In the final kilometres my brother, who was a volunteer, helped clear the path for me through the masses of beach people. I felt like the race leader and it was clear sailing to the finish and a fantastic day! At the finish I met up with Lisa and a good friend while we cheered in the other athletes.
Finally, a super huge THANKS to Roger andeveryone involved with putting the race on, especially the volunteers. They ROCKED.
Lisa and the girls decided to do it as a team in COSTUME! The three were dressed up as Hef Bunnies and looked damn cute. Lisa lost most of her aero advantage by tacking big floppy bunny ears on her helmet! Rose had a great run despite recurrent “issues” and was still smiling when she cruised in – Hope you’re feeling better! Viv rocked the swim and then pulled the toughest leg of the race – childcare. Next year they need some one to race with them dressed in a silk bathrobe and smoking a pipe.
As for me, I experienced a new first - pure dread on the swim. I had a little hissy fit of dyspnea/hyperventilation right at the start of the race. As I tried to calm down I hummed the chorus to “le freak” by Chic (yeah, I’m old but it worked) and tried to recall what SIPE actually stood for (swimming induced pulmonary edema). Since there wasn’t pink frothy stuff coming out my nose and I liked the song, I carried on. Now people often mention how bad triathletes bike handling skills are, but I would like to point out that our swim “handling” skills are a thousand times worse. I have never been tackled, hit or run over on the road but in the water… it’s like the Deerfoot with bumper cars!
After a tardy transition, it was on to the bike, yeah! With my power tap and HR monitor dutifully informing me of performance parameters, a detailed nutritional plan in place and exquisite knowledge of the course from previous races, I set off to do some damage. It all went pretty well except for the large volume of lake water consumed in the previous paragraph. I spent a large portion of the ride wondering how to pee and cycle at the same time – if only they talked about this on OLN during le tour…
After a prolonged T2 potty break it was off on the run. Now in my previous two visits to Sylvan I have gained great knowledge of the cleanliness and locations of all the porta-potties on course. They are both plentiful and fairly clean. But this year I was able to pass them all by! Thanks for the tip, Viv! On the outbound leg I felt pretty good, but I could hear this one guy running me down forever! His shoes were super loud. It sounded like a Dutchman wearing clogs or a samurai wearing those wooden slippers as he paddled by. I made a joke of it hoping he would slow down but to no avail. It was a little lonelier but a lot quieter after he was gone. In the final kilometres my brother, who was a volunteer, helped clear the path for me through the masses of beach people. I felt like the race leader and it was clear sailing to the finish and a fantastic day! At the finish I met up with Lisa and a good friend while we cheered in the other athletes.
Finally, a super huge THANKS to Roger andeveryone involved with putting the race on, especially the volunteers. They ROCKED.
Heart of the Rockies
The Heart of the Rockies triathlon was held on July 20. Tim and Louise took part in this race. The conditions were perfect! Tim swam 23:49 and Louise swam 28:48. This is where the differences stopped. They both biked 1 hr 23 min and ran 48 mins. They also both grabbed 3rd in their age groups. Tim at 2:35 and Louise at 2:40 were both pleased with the day. Great racing Tim and Louise!!!
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Peach Classic Race Report by Janette
I am so proud of myself! I did it - my first olympic! 3:38:42 154avg HR, 172max HR I went for a ride with Isabelle last Tuesday and we found some big hills. I'm so glad because when I drove the Peach course on Saturday I was pretty scared. I knew I had the gears on my bike to get me up them, but man, there are a lot of hills!
The swim started out okay. At the first turn we started heading back into the sun and I couldn't see the next marker. I was with a group of swimmers though, so I figured I was pretty much on course. Wrong! I finally saw the marker when I was beside it - but 30' to the inside of the triangle. Once I got back on course, I found my rhythm but it felt like I was super slow because now I was all alone. I was out of the water around 37min. My HR during the swim was around 155.
The bike was both as hard as I thought it would be, but also more fun then I though it would be. It was the first time I've gone that fast on my bike, racing down those hills, trying to make up for the 9km/hr climb I just did. I saw a rattlesnake on the side of the road which was pretty good motivation to go faster. Isabelle past me way before the turnaround looking strong going up the hill I was racing down. Get moving Janette! The way back wasn't as consistently downhill as I thought it would be and I had to talk myself into going faster for the last couple of hills before the quick downhill back into town.
Yeah, onto the run! I totally underestimated the first long hill. I ran all the way to the top, but I had to walk for a minute or so three times up the other smaller hills before the turnaround. My max HR was going up that big hill, but it stayed around 160 for the rest of the run. My calf's were rock hard and wouldn't loosen up. I stopped at a bathroom at 6km and then I was off down the big hill. I was almost crying, I was so happy that I was almost done! I had a great cheering section as I crossed the finish line - Thank you Tom, Isabelle, and Scotty! It was super hot and sunny and I just finished the hardest race I've ever done! Can't wait for Apple - there are no hills there, right? :) Thank you so much Todd!!! I'm so glad you suggested this race - I now know I can do this!!
Janette
The swim started out okay. At the first turn we started heading back into the sun and I couldn't see the next marker. I was with a group of swimmers though, so I figured I was pretty much on course. Wrong! I finally saw the marker when I was beside it - but 30' to the inside of the triangle. Once I got back on course, I found my rhythm but it felt like I was super slow because now I was all alone. I was out of the water around 37min. My HR during the swim was around 155.
The bike was both as hard as I thought it would be, but also more fun then I though it would be. It was the first time I've gone that fast on my bike, racing down those hills, trying to make up for the 9km/hr climb I just did. I saw a rattlesnake on the side of the road which was pretty good motivation to go faster. Isabelle past me way before the turnaround looking strong going up the hill I was racing down. Get moving Janette! The way back wasn't as consistently downhill as I thought it would be and I had to talk myself into going faster for the last couple of hills before the quick downhill back into town.
Yeah, onto the run! I totally underestimated the first long hill. I ran all the way to the top, but I had to walk for a minute or so three times up the other smaller hills before the turnaround. My max HR was going up that big hill, but it stayed around 160 for the rest of the run. My calf's were rock hard and wouldn't loosen up. I stopped at a bathroom at 6km and then I was off down the big hill. I was almost crying, I was so happy that I was almost done! I had a great cheering section as I crossed the finish line - Thank you Tom, Isabelle, and Scotty! It was super hot and sunny and I just finished the hardest race I've ever done! Can't wait for Apple - there are no hills there, right? :) Thank you so much Todd!!! I'm so glad you suggested this race - I now know I can do this!!
Janette
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Coral Springs Triathlons
This past weekend was the Coral springs triathlon. There were 3 events taking place: super sprint, sprint and Olympic distances.
In the sprint we saw Madi win her 1st race. She was top female today in a smoking time of 1:17. Awesome!
Louise was testing her fitness with her 1st triathlon of the year and she finished 2nd in her age group and 5th overall female in a time of 1:20.
Mary was just getting back from a 2 week vacation and finished strong in 1:27.
Nice work Ladies!!!
Tim was the sole No Limits athlete in the Olympic dist race and he was 5th out of the lake. Flying on his bike he ran into some technical problems as he crossed the train tracks and his race was unfortunately over. He, as well as Louise will be back in action this weekend at the Invermere Triathlon.
In the sprint we saw Madi win her 1st race. She was top female today in a smoking time of 1:17. Awesome!
Louise was testing her fitness with her 1st triathlon of the year and she finished 2nd in her age group and 5th overall female in a time of 1:20.
Mary was just getting back from a 2 week vacation and finished strong in 1:27.
Nice work Ladies!!!
Tim was the sole No Limits athlete in the Olympic dist race and he was 5th out of the lake. Flying on his bike he ran into some technical problems as he crossed the train tracks and his race was unfortunately over. He, as well as Louise will be back in action this weekend at the Invermere Triathlon.
Stampede 10 Km / Marathon
The stampede has come and gone and most of Calgary is recovering from all the fun!
Madi was in top form for her 10 Km race. She finished in 42:40 and 2nd in her Age group and 14 overall female. Nice job!!!
For the Marathon, Dave was attempting his 1st ever marathon. He had a goal time of breaking 4 hours. At the 32 Km mark he was on pace for 4:15 and at this point he decided to go for it and push as hard as he could until the finish. Guess what? He finished in 3:59.19. I find this a great message for all of us. Never quit and push strong until the end. Remember once you cross the finish line you can rest for hours or days!!!! Great job Dave!
John was also running the marathon. He was on pace for a 4:15 but then ran into stomach problems. Lesson: watch what you eat the night before a race. He courageously finished in a time of 4:48. Well done John!
Madi was in top form for her 10 Km race. She finished in 42:40 and 2nd in her Age group and 14 overall female. Nice job!!!
For the Marathon, Dave was attempting his 1st ever marathon. He had a goal time of breaking 4 hours. At the 32 Km mark he was on pace for 4:15 and at this point he decided to go for it and push as hard as he could until the finish. Guess what? He finished in 3:59.19. I find this a great message for all of us. Never quit and push strong until the end. Remember once you cross the finish line you can rest for hours or days!!!! Great job Dave!
John was also running the marathon. He was on pace for a 4:15 but then ran into stomach problems. Lesson: watch what you eat the night before a race. He courageously finished in a time of 4:48. Well done John!
Desert Half race report by Lynn
Osoyoos Race Report – July 7, 2008
Ok, heading off to a ½ Ironman with 3 of your best friends is maybe not the best for getting the head into race mode especially when your 1st night of sleeping is in Winfield at Carol’s sisters. Picture house right on Okanagan Lake, dinner and a beer on the dock with your best buds? Who needs to go any further, no husbands, no kids, race in Osoyoos – are we crazy??? We did get up in the morning and continue our journey, but we all for a ½ second thought staying on the dock for the weekend would have been just as good.
I like races that the bikes spend the night in transition. It seems to make race morning more organized. We arrived with plenty of time to prepare and to get ready. No rushing required.
The swim was two heats, another enjoyable feature. Let the fast men go and get out of the way. The water was VERY warm, clear and calm. I could have just kept swimming for a couple more hours! I even managed a quick glance at the HR monitor – 143. This is where the enjoyment ends for me….
Transition was seamless, and on to bike. The Richer climb was not so bad and even the 1st few rollers. But quickly after that, at about 25k the wind started, only as a breeze at first. It was relentless; but you kept telling yourself that at the turnaround it would be all behind. It was a great tailwind for about 10k. Then all of a sudden there was not wind at all, then only a light breeze (headwind, nothing to terrible). The breeze picked up good and became a good headwind at times. Not fair to have wind like that both directions on hills that are a bit ridiculous. It is a very challenging bike course and for anyone doing Ironman Canada is a must! HEAT, WIND, and HILLS. I was probably 1 of the 5 women that braked going down Richer – yes, I am a big chicken! Nutrition was good, but must get behind the seat waterbottle holders as I’m not drinking Gatorade. Extremely happy to see transition and know that the run is basically flat. Avg HR between 145 – 150.
Felt great on the run, although I new the heat was creeping up on the last loop. Drank water/Gatorade at each station, no coke, and only one gel. Stomach was great throughout. Started to fade about the 17k-18k mark, but new it was almost done. Avg HR between 155-160. Felt pretty good after, nothing really sore, just overall fatigue. Stomach great after, able to eat right after and drank lots of water. It was only 29 degrees when I finished, not the usual 37 degree heat that can happen in Osoyoos. This is a fabulous race, well organized and lots of volunteers. Exceptional training day for me.
Swim – 32.51
Bike – 3.42.40
Run – 2.12.42
6.33.49
Ok, heading off to a ½ Ironman with 3 of your best friends is maybe not the best for getting the head into race mode especially when your 1st night of sleeping is in Winfield at Carol’s sisters. Picture house right on Okanagan Lake, dinner and a beer on the dock with your best buds? Who needs to go any further, no husbands, no kids, race in Osoyoos – are we crazy??? We did get up in the morning and continue our journey, but we all for a ½ second thought staying on the dock for the weekend would have been just as good.
I like races that the bikes spend the night in transition. It seems to make race morning more organized. We arrived with plenty of time to prepare and to get ready. No rushing required.
The swim was two heats, another enjoyable feature. Let the fast men go and get out of the way. The water was VERY warm, clear and calm. I could have just kept swimming for a couple more hours! I even managed a quick glance at the HR monitor – 143. This is where the enjoyment ends for me….
Transition was seamless, and on to bike. The Richer climb was not so bad and even the 1st few rollers. But quickly after that, at about 25k the wind started, only as a breeze at first. It was relentless; but you kept telling yourself that at the turnaround it would be all behind. It was a great tailwind for about 10k. Then all of a sudden there was not wind at all, then only a light breeze (headwind, nothing to terrible). The breeze picked up good and became a good headwind at times. Not fair to have wind like that both directions on hills that are a bit ridiculous. It is a very challenging bike course and for anyone doing Ironman Canada is a must! HEAT, WIND, and HILLS. I was probably 1 of the 5 women that braked going down Richer – yes, I am a big chicken! Nutrition was good, but must get behind the seat waterbottle holders as I’m not drinking Gatorade. Extremely happy to see transition and know that the run is basically flat. Avg HR between 145 – 150.
Felt great on the run, although I new the heat was creeping up on the last loop. Drank water/Gatorade at each station, no coke, and only one gel. Stomach was great throughout. Started to fade about the 17k-18k mark, but new it was almost done. Avg HR between 155-160. Felt pretty good after, nothing really sore, just overall fatigue. Stomach great after, able to eat right after and drank lots of water. It was only 29 degrees when I finished, not the usual 37 degree heat that can happen in Osoyoos. This is a fabulous race, well organized and lots of volunteers. Exceptional training day for me.
Swim – 32.51
Bike – 3.42.40
Run – 2.12.42
6.33.49
Great White North Triathlon (half ironman)
Well, the great white North half Ironman is over. The day was good for racing. The bike was a bit wet early on but not too bad. No snow so I figure the day was good! We had quite a few athletes racing today including myself. My goal was to grab an IronMan spot. Here was my plan: Draft off Lyndsey on the swim, keep her in sight on the bike and then run with her as much as I could and this should give me a good time and hopefully an IMC spot. Well the swim started well. After the 1st loop I got out of the water and sure enough Lyndsey was right in front of me. I patted her on the back and then we dove back in the water. She went one way and I chose a different line (believing mine was shorter). Well she beat me out of the lake by a min or so. After a quick T1 we were once again side by side at the mount line. I passed her and after a smart remark by the coach I was 1st at the top. I assumed that she would quickly catch me so I never looked back. The next I would see of her would be at the turnaround. Still behind me. I must be doing OK. The next 30 or so Km for me would be a struggle. My fitness was starting to show and I felt a bit flat. After finishing the bike I had my classic dismount at near the transition area and then something happened and my bike crashed and then I was falling on top. I did a double flip (or something J ) and then picked up myself and my bike and made my way to get my running gear on. By the way this crash would end up gaining me a 2 min penalty for riding through transition. L. Once on the run my legs never felt fresh. Quite flat, but I maintained the best pace I could. My treat to myself was to walk the aid stations. I held Lyndsey off for ~13Km and then she caught me. We ran side by side for a brief while and then she was off. Lyndsey finished very strong at her 1st ever Half and in typical Lyndsey style also finished in a record breaking time (4:41) for the Masters category and 7th female. Nice work. I finished in 4:45 + 2 mins and was very lucky to get a spot to IM! J
Dave had a great day, even with a flat tire finishing in 4:55
Kevin just :15 sec behind Dave also picked up a spot to IMC
Sue also captured #1 spot in her Age Group and earned a trip to IMC (5:24)
Dawn had a great day and PB’s by almost 15 min in a time of 5:25 and 6th in age group
Lisa was very pleased with her day even though she had some stomach issues. A great finish in 5:53
Greg was just behind Lisa in a time of 6:00 and was happy to once again finish GWN.
Jordan had an awesome swim, loved the bike and then struggled a bit on the run and finished in 6:18.
Great results by everyone and a big thanks to wade for putting on another great show! Until next year!
Dave had a great day, even with a flat tire finishing in 4:55
Kevin just :15 sec behind Dave also picked up a spot to IMC
Sue also captured #1 spot in her Age Group and earned a trip to IMC (5:24)
Dawn had a great day and PB’s by almost 15 min in a time of 5:25 and 6th in age group
Lisa was very pleased with her day even though she had some stomach issues. A great finish in 5:53
Greg was just behind Lisa in a time of 6:00 and was happy to once again finish GWN.
Jordan had an awesome swim, loved the bike and then struggled a bit on the run and finished in 6:18.
Great results by everyone and a big thanks to wade for putting on another great show! Until next year!
Mike getting ready for the pass near the finish!
Can you believe Mike would pass me right before the finish line??
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Congrats to Elaine!
Elaine had a great day at IronMan Coeur D'Alene. She finished in a time of 11:35, 12th in Age group. Fantastic!!!!
Waiting for a full race report.
Congrats Elaine!
Waiting for a full race report.
Congrats Elaine!
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Chinook race report by Phoenix
I finished in a time of 6:20 according to my watch; I’m still waiting for the officially time and split.
Right off the bat I have to say I am beyond pleased with how everything went. Even my transitions (which I practiced the day before went almost without a hitch :-p).
Swim:
My initial plan was to play it safe and find myself a corner or something, but once the start sounded I found myself jammed into a crowd of swimmers, and I thought who cares, this is what IMC is going to feel like so this is better anyway!
I worked hard the entire swim to keep a good pace, kept looking for feet ahead that I might ride on for a while, that didn’t in the end work out for any length of time, but that strategy at least found me speeding up to catch people if only to pass them. Of course there were a couple of times where I had a guy swimming zig zag in front of me, but I felt good about my sighting, never strayed off course too much, and was elated to be on the beach after the second lap in under 40 minutes!
The T1 went very well, the wetsuit strippers were amazing, I got my shoes on while on the bike and didn’t fall off (as I did while practicing the day before J)
I worked hard on the bike, with my heart rate pretty consistently at 160. The course is hilly and it seemed to play to my strengths if I couldn’t catch the rider in front of me on the flats I was catching and passing them on the hills.
Right at the city limits my knee started to hurt (like debilitating hurt, searing pain through to my spine… kind of hurt) two of the riders I had passed previously were able to over take me during that last couple of kilometers as my cadence was definitely down. I believe this knee pain although the same knee is a result of my bike fit, as it has only started after the recent bike fit. I will be taking it back to get that fixed.
So here are my bike computer readings: this was completed reset once it was racked before race start.
Trip Dist 96.59
Trip Time 3:21:24
Avg Speed 28.77
Avg Cad 71
Max speed 66.45
Nutrition: I did my best to make sure my nutrition went as planned, which was one bottle per hour, my first two bottles had carbo pro, ultima, and two sodium tabs a piece, the third bottle was a Gatorade (got that mostly down) and within the last km of the bike I took in one hammer gel.
Run: With my knee hurting on the bike I was certain my day was over before the run started, but the plan was to go until it hurt and felt like I could do some damage. Through t2 the transition itself was quick, but I had to stop at the bathroom, ran through the timing mat to add that time to the run not the bike. Once I started running, or rather jogging I was surprised that my knee initially did not hurt at all, the pain from the bike was located higher than the pain I typically experience while running.
Running on the shale path, and sometimes where it permitted, the grass kept the knee pain manageable. Seeing you at about the 10 km point I wasn’t sure it was going to stay the same or get worse. But I did want to keep going as long as it was manageable, and it turned out…it stayed manageable till the very end. My hip didn’t hurt the entire time. I should mention I took 800mg of Advil just before swim start and 800mg again at the start of the run, I think this was a good strategy over all.
Nutrition on the run
I took in a gel ever half hour for the first hour, and Gatorade at least two gulps at each aid station, at the 1:30 hour mark give or take, I knew I was due for more; I was out of hammer gel and had been holding a honey stinger, provided by the aid station. I took one slug of that and just about lost my stomach contents. I forgot how much I hate the taste of honey. So I didn’t take more, but on the last aid station before the hill, I drank most of a cup of Gatorade between the out and back and the hill.
I don’t know my officially time for the run, but I do know that my heart rate on average was in the 150’s for the run…definitely kept it easy!
Overall a very good practice run for IMC, I am very pleased with everything, even my run impressed me given the circumstances. Thanks so much for your guidance; it was very nice to see you out on the course.
Right off the bat I have to say I am beyond pleased with how everything went. Even my transitions (which I practiced the day before went almost without a hitch :-p).
Swim:
My initial plan was to play it safe and find myself a corner or something, but once the start sounded I found myself jammed into a crowd of swimmers, and I thought who cares, this is what IMC is going to feel like so this is better anyway!
I worked hard the entire swim to keep a good pace, kept looking for feet ahead that I might ride on for a while, that didn’t in the end work out for any length of time, but that strategy at least found me speeding up to catch people if only to pass them. Of course there were a couple of times where I had a guy swimming zig zag in front of me, but I felt good about my sighting, never strayed off course too much, and was elated to be on the beach after the second lap in under 40 minutes!
The T1 went very well, the wetsuit strippers were amazing, I got my shoes on while on the bike and didn’t fall off (as I did while practicing the day before J)
I worked hard on the bike, with my heart rate pretty consistently at 160. The course is hilly and it seemed to play to my strengths if I couldn’t catch the rider in front of me on the flats I was catching and passing them on the hills.
Right at the city limits my knee started to hurt (like debilitating hurt, searing pain through to my spine… kind of hurt) two of the riders I had passed previously were able to over take me during that last couple of kilometers as my cadence was definitely down. I believe this knee pain although the same knee is a result of my bike fit, as it has only started after the recent bike fit. I will be taking it back to get that fixed.
So here are my bike computer readings: this was completed reset once it was racked before race start.
Trip Dist 96.59
Trip Time 3:21:24
Avg Speed 28.77
Avg Cad 71
Max speed 66.45
Nutrition: I did my best to make sure my nutrition went as planned, which was one bottle per hour, my first two bottles had carbo pro, ultima, and two sodium tabs a piece, the third bottle was a Gatorade (got that mostly down) and within the last km of the bike I took in one hammer gel.
Run: With my knee hurting on the bike I was certain my day was over before the run started, but the plan was to go until it hurt and felt like I could do some damage. Through t2 the transition itself was quick, but I had to stop at the bathroom, ran through the timing mat to add that time to the run not the bike. Once I started running, or rather jogging I was surprised that my knee initially did not hurt at all, the pain from the bike was located higher than the pain I typically experience while running.
Running on the shale path, and sometimes where it permitted, the grass kept the knee pain manageable. Seeing you at about the 10 km point I wasn’t sure it was going to stay the same or get worse. But I did want to keep going as long as it was manageable, and it turned out…it stayed manageable till the very end. My hip didn’t hurt the entire time. I should mention I took 800mg of Advil just before swim start and 800mg again at the start of the run, I think this was a good strategy over all.
Nutrition on the run
I took in a gel ever half hour for the first hour, and Gatorade at least two gulps at each aid station, at the 1:30 hour mark give or take, I knew I was due for more; I was out of hammer gel and had been holding a honey stinger, provided by the aid station. I took one slug of that and just about lost my stomach contents. I forgot how much I hate the taste of honey. So I didn’t take more, but on the last aid station before the hill, I drank most of a cup of Gatorade between the out and back and the hill.
I don’t know my officially time for the run, but I do know that my heart rate on average was in the 150’s for the run…definitely kept it easy!
Overall a very good practice run for IMC, I am very pleased with everything, even my run impressed me given the circumstances. Thanks so much for your guidance; it was very nice to see you out on the course.
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Good Luck Elaine!!
Good Luck to Elaine who races IronMan Couer D'Alene this Sunday. You can follow her race at Ironmanlive.com last name lowry.
Go Elaine Go!!!!!
Go Elaine Go!!!!!
Wasa lake
Janette complete her very 1st triathlon at Wasa lake. She competed in the sprint event. After trying out her new wetsuit in freezing Auburn Bay a while ago she very pleased with the water temp at Wasa. She was well under her anticipated finish time and is looking forward to her next race in Kelowna (Apple). Congrats Janette on completing Race #1!! You will never forget it.
Lynn was also racing Wasa lake. Lynn thought the race was great, fabulous weather, good course and lots of racers. She finsihed just behind Mary (race report below). And looking at the splits it seems as if they were side by side for the swim (24) and bike (1:24).
Great racing and I am looking forwrad to the next weekend of racing: Chinook and IronMan Couer D'Alene.
Lynn was also racing Wasa lake. Lynn thought the race was great, fabulous weather, good course and lots of racers. She finsihed just behind Mary (race report below). And looking at the splits it seems as if they were side by side for the swim (24) and bike (1:24).
Great racing and I am looking forwrad to the next weekend of racing: Chinook and IronMan Couer D'Alene.
Wasa Race report by Mary
Race day was great and I loved the venue and course. You weren't kidding about it being fast and flat. My time was 2:43:29: Swim 24:55 Bike 1:24 Run 54:21. I was very happy overall. I started towards the front (behind the sub 20 min people) and off to the side but still managed to get pummeled at the start. No sharp blows but smacking arms and people attempting to swim over me for the first 150-200. I think next time I will stay farther to the side. After the first buoy I had some space and the swim felt good. I tried a different wetsuit this time (thanks Rose) and it was less restrictive in the shoulders and made for a much easier swim. I was a bit disoriented when I exited the water and took my time getting to transition. As for the bike- the magnet on my back tire somehow shifted from my walk to transition and exit from transition- my speed and distance weren't computing...nor was my HR. Luckily I had cadence and I just rode around 90 the entire time. I was passed by quite a few people during the first 5-10km but passed a few during the last 10k...that felt good. Transition #2 was easy and I started off feeling really good on the run. I was consciously trying to start slowly but felt great and seemed to be running quite comfortably...until I hit 6k. I wasn't in any pain but I really felt zapped. I walked through all the aid stations taking water and tried to keep my legs moving. 6-9k was just not pleasant. This was a bit disappointing as my running has felt great lately. I tried to remain positive and focus on my breathing / rhythm but I had lost a bit of motivation. Needed to be a little tougher mentally when the going got tough. Anyway- was happy when I crossed the finish line with a sub 3 hour time and will definitely return next year.
The bear photo was taken on the ride home. Nice!!!
Vancouver 2008 Age Group World Championships
Yesterday at the sprint race the weather was very poor in the morning. In the afternoon I made my way to the beach and baked myself. I did not think the sun would change that much. Ooops! Next time remember the sunscreen. J
When I woke up today for the Olympic distance race I looked outside and did not see any rain. Just sun, so I figured that I did not need to bring as many clothes as yesterday. This was a mistake. The rain was gone, but it was replaced but a very cold wind. Once again my hands and fingers were cold from the cycle down to the race start. Today’s racers were Lyndsey, Dawn and Shane. I made my way down to the transition but was unable to find anyone. I then made my way to the swim start where I scanned the beach looking for Lyndsey and Dawn. I found Lyndsey just as she was about to head to the start. Good luck and she was off. I could tell that the racers were cold by looking at their faces. The idea of jumping back into the water after a cold warmup seemed like a daunting task, but they were all up for the challenge. I was glad to be a spectator today.
Lyndsey was off and Dawn was next. I could tell she was very happy to be racing and also cold from the weather and the ocean. I chatted briefly with her and Jill. Jill was also happy to be at the starting line. After they started I made my way back to the exit to watch Lyndsey exit. I noted on my back that the water was getting rougher and the swim looked very tough. The strong swimmers had quite a gap on the swimmers who were not ready for the cold or waves. Lyndsey finished well but a little further back than we had hoped. She came out the ocean with a smile grateful to be done and ready to bike. I stayed and watched Dawn and Jill exit and both were happy to get that swim finished.
Now onto the bike. The good news about today was that there was no rain. Very good, I did not have to worry about crashes on the wet corners. The wind was strong where I was standing but I was hoping that the riders were sheltered by the tall trees of Beautiful Stanley Park. Everyone looked strong on the bike and I was enjoying watching the amazing athletes fly by. Soon I had to make my way back to the swim start to watch Shane go. As I made my way back all of these people were heading my way. I asked Jason Kincaid what was going on and he said the swim is cancelled/delayed due to the ocean as he pointed at the rough water. Wow this really changed things including my strategy to watch the race. To keep this short….Basically they changed the Olympic Age group men’s race to a duathlon 3 Km run / 40 Km bike / 10 Km run. Shane adapted well to the change and continued to get ready for his event. His ability to take this change and run with it was very positive, even though he had just lost his strength (the swim).
In the end Lyndsey finished 3rd in her age group. A bronze medal at the worlds is Fantastic! Dawn finished 50th in her age group and Shane finished 78th. Overall I was very proud of everyone for getting to the starting line and crossing the finish on very tough racing conditions. Next year the worlds are in Australia and the Aussies were promising the weather will not be the same as Vancouver :)
When I woke up today for the Olympic distance race I looked outside and did not see any rain. Just sun, so I figured that I did not need to bring as many clothes as yesterday. This was a mistake. The rain was gone, but it was replaced but a very cold wind. Once again my hands and fingers were cold from the cycle down to the race start. Today’s racers were Lyndsey, Dawn and Shane. I made my way down to the transition but was unable to find anyone. I then made my way to the swim start where I scanned the beach looking for Lyndsey and Dawn. I found Lyndsey just as she was about to head to the start. Good luck and she was off. I could tell that the racers were cold by looking at their faces. The idea of jumping back into the water after a cold warmup seemed like a daunting task, but they were all up for the challenge. I was glad to be a spectator today.
Lyndsey was off and Dawn was next. I could tell she was very happy to be racing and also cold from the weather and the ocean. I chatted briefly with her and Jill. Jill was also happy to be at the starting line. After they started I made my way back to the exit to watch Lyndsey exit. I noted on my back that the water was getting rougher and the swim looked very tough. The strong swimmers had quite a gap on the swimmers who were not ready for the cold or waves. Lyndsey finished well but a little further back than we had hoped. She came out the ocean with a smile grateful to be done and ready to bike. I stayed and watched Dawn and Jill exit and both were happy to get that swim finished.
Now onto the bike. The good news about today was that there was no rain. Very good, I did not have to worry about crashes on the wet corners. The wind was strong where I was standing but I was hoping that the riders were sheltered by the tall trees of Beautiful Stanley Park. Everyone looked strong on the bike and I was enjoying watching the amazing athletes fly by. Soon I had to make my way back to the swim start to watch Shane go. As I made my way back all of these people were heading my way. I asked Jason Kincaid what was going on and he said the swim is cancelled/delayed due to the ocean as he pointed at the rough water. Wow this really changed things including my strategy to watch the race. To keep this short….Basically they changed the Olympic Age group men’s race to a duathlon 3 Km run / 40 Km bike / 10 Km run. Shane adapted well to the change and continued to get ready for his event. His ability to take this change and run with it was very positive, even though he had just lost his strength (the swim).
In the end Lyndsey finished 3rd in her age group. A bronze medal at the worlds is Fantastic! Dawn finished 50th in her age group and Shane finished 78th. Overall I was very proud of everyone for getting to the starting line and crossing the finish on very tough racing conditions. Next year the worlds are in Australia and the Aussies were promising the weather will not be the same as Vancouver :)
Monday, June 16, 2008
New Triathlon in Canmore
Check out this great new race in Canmore being put on by Calgary's Tony Smith. I raced an Xterra race at a similar location years ago and had a blast. This is sure to be a hit. Here is the link to the race.
www.trainingandracing.com/canmoretriathlon
www.trainingandracing.com/canmoretriathlon
Friday, June 13, 2008
Vancouver sprint World Champs
Vancouver 2008 World Champs
Well the race is over and the skies have cleared. It was a very exciting weekend of racing. Friday morning was the sprint event. I was very fortunate to have the use of Leslie’s (Michele’s sister) bike. As I rode down to the race site my hands / fingers were very cold and it was raining. This was a sign of things to come. Note to myself: Next time bring gloves. J
I went to Transition looking for Tim and Pete. Did not find Tim but I did see Pete. After a quick chat and a photo he was back in the zone preparing for his race. Thanks to Pete I bought an umbrella yesterday for the race (just in case).
As I biked back to the swim start I saw Ross and Mike from Calgary and they were getting excited about their race. The ocean looked cold from the faces of the racers exiting the warmup area. I found Tim in the crowd and wished him luck. Pete was also there and he was totally in race mode. To see his race face, check out the photo of him on the run. Now that is focus on determination.
The swim went well, everyone got out of the ocean and now they were on the swim. I was worried about them as the course was very fast and rain continued to fall. Everyone looked strong and fast. I was happy to see them all get safely off their bikes. There were quite a few crashes as racers were dismounting their bikes. Very slippery!
Once on the run I cheered for all while huddled under my umbrella. The rain and the conditions did not deter the athletes much. After all this is the worlds!
At the end of the race we saw Pete finish 12th (3rd Canadian) and Tim 17th (5th Canadian). Good job guys. Another good result was put in by Mike (Lyndsey and Darryl’s Training partner who finished 8th and 1st Canadian.
You all did an amazing job in such extreme conditions!!!!
Well the race is over and the skies have cleared. It was a very exciting weekend of racing. Friday morning was the sprint event. I was very fortunate to have the use of Leslie’s (Michele’s sister) bike. As I rode down to the race site my hands / fingers were very cold and it was raining. This was a sign of things to come. Note to myself: Next time bring gloves. J
I went to Transition looking for Tim and Pete. Did not find Tim but I did see Pete. After a quick chat and a photo he was back in the zone preparing for his race. Thanks to Pete I bought an umbrella yesterday for the race (just in case).
As I biked back to the swim start I saw Ross and Mike from Calgary and they were getting excited about their race. The ocean looked cold from the faces of the racers exiting the warmup area. I found Tim in the crowd and wished him luck. Pete was also there and he was totally in race mode. To see his race face, check out the photo of him on the run. Now that is focus on determination.
The swim went well, everyone got out of the ocean and now they were on the swim. I was worried about them as the course was very fast and rain continued to fall. Everyone looked strong and fast. I was happy to see them all get safely off their bikes. There were quite a few crashes as racers were dismounting their bikes. Very slippery!
Once on the run I cheered for all while huddled under my umbrella. The rain and the conditions did not deter the athletes much. After all this is the worlds!
At the end of the race we saw Pete finish 12th (3rd Canadian) and Tim 17th (5th Canadian). Good job guys. Another good result was put in by Mike (Lyndsey and Darryl’s Training partner who finished 8th and 1st Canadian.
You all did an amazing job in such extreme conditions!!!!
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
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