This is a test.  They say what makes a good story is conflict.  Well, this story has plenty of conflict, but I wouldn’t go so far as to call it a good story.  I am no author and I can not promise you this will not put you to sleep, but people have asked for a race report and to honor the event and those that did it, I thought I would take the time and dump my words on the screen.

An Ironman event actually begins about 1 year before the start horn blows.  That is when you plop down some $575.00 (now some $600.00, yes I am doing it again) and decide you are not going to have a life for 10 out of the following 12 months.  You take up the next two months hanging out with your drinking buddies knowing you won’t see them much come November.  Or, if you were more dedicated than me and had less drama in your life, you wouldn’t see them much come November, but this is a race report so I will move on.

November to February is filled with lots of muddy runs on Leif and lots of training rides watching Netflix with some great training partners.  March to May gives a few nice weather days for an outside bike or two and my first bike crash since I was 12.  A fellow cyclist crashed in front of me and I had nowhere to go fast except over the top of her and in the air.  So, a few weeks of taking it easy and I was back in full swing and raced Wildflower, the hardest Half Iron race I have done with a flat on the bike…  Yes, 30 miles into the ride the front tire got a flat.  About a month and eight more expensive flats later I discovered the cause to be rim tape.  So, that was fixed and my training volume was in full swing.  Three workouts a day was common and some very long runs and rides.  Then, finally the group beach ride and a Wednesday 18 mile run and I am on taper.  No more long stuff.  It was also a few weeks before that when I decided no more beer till after the race.  Believe it or not I held to that.

Tuesday before the Sunday race, Devin, Alana and I drove up to the house our fellow Ironman Seth got for us this year.  We saved about $700 on the house compared to what Devin and I paid last year.  It was a nice little place with an interesting owner who liked to pay visits to make sure we were following the rules.  We spent the next days before the race doing morning swims, riding the run course and waiting in lines.  No joke, about ½ of the time spent before Ironman Canada was waiting in one line or another.  There was a line to get the race packet, there was a line to get the free Crocs, there was a line to get your back rubbed, there was a line to get in the gear tent, there was a line to get signed up for next year.  It was a complete surprise that I didn’t get burned on my neck from waiting in so many lines. 

The day before the race I met with Mark Kendall, my coach, and we went over some race tactics.  I was feeling good as all my training was on pace for a good finish and I was healthy.  We decided I would take the swim easy and draft as much as possible, take the bike strong but easy enough to run most of the run.  This worked for me at Boise even though that race was half the distance.  

Finally, night before the race and I was in full stress mode.  I couldn’t smile, I couldn’t talk and I was very spacey.  It doesn’t matter how many times I do these races, just multiply the expected race time by three and that is about how long I will stress over it.  I will never get over that.  It doesn’t help me, I know, but it is like telling Frank not to jump on you when he sees you.  He can’t control it and neither can I.  I was so stressed I convinced Alana to take me to dinner just to unwind before the big race.  It was nice.

Race morning came and after a few dreams of missing the race, I woke up in plenty of time and I got everything together.  I ate, did some bathroom visits and we headed to the athlete race entry area.  This was old hat for Devin and I so we dropped off our special needs stuff and went all the way to the back of the marking area where people were waiting to mark athletes and there was no line.  We got marked and made our way to our bikes.  Note to self, bring your own pump next time.  I asked 3 people to borrow their pump with no response.  I guess they had too much to do 1.5 hours before the race started to let me and Devin borrow their pump for 5 minutes.  Anyhow, I think I saw one of them on the side of the road so Karma was out to get them.  Someone finally let Devin borrow a pump and we knocked it out since we were next to each other on the bike rack.  Humm, 30 PSIs lost over night on each tire…  I played the chance game that would later on come back to bite me. 

Devin and I made our way to the pit stop one last time before we had all the solids out for the day.  Yet another line…  Finally, we took care of business and found a spot to gather the group before crossing the swim entrance.  We applied body glide, gave well wishes and put on our wetsuits.  I could really use a swim to relieve myself about that time anyhow.

Crossing over the swim start mat is interesting.  A constant beep noise fills the air as all 2600+ athletes have to cross over the mat.  The noise goes on for a solid 20 minutes.  It is shocking that all these people paid to be here…

Last year I had a great swim so this year I decided to start in the same area.  It is about 2/3 of the way from the buoy line and at the front.  The horn went off and the race was official.  I always like to swim strong for about the first 300 yards to drop any weak swimmers that might think about pulling or punching.  My kick is also strong enough that if anyone grabs me in the beginning of the swim they really regret it.  This was not the case this time as very quickly I was alone and swimming toward the first turn buoy / sail boat.  A strong swimmer was swimming to my left and looked to be keeping a good line so I stayed the course and came to a group of swimmers along the buoy line shortly before the turn.  The swimmer to my left got a little close so I shifted my hips to let him know I wasn’t going anywhere.  We were at the back 400 meters and it was feeling good.  There were more people around me this year than the year before making drafting very easy.  However, people started slowing down heading back on the final 1800 meters, so I had to make a few passes.  However, I didn’t push it and it seemed easy.  We also passed a few of the swimmers that started in the pro wave around this time too.  They tried to latch on to the draft, but that didn’t last and I had to run over one that got right in front of me.  The exit this year seemed a bit more shallow.  I swam over the big rocks to get to the flat area and passed a number of people along the way.  Out of the swim at almost the same time as last year but I knew I used a lot less energy.

Swim Time: 55:55

The changing tent was pretty empty.  There were about 8 of us in there so I made short work of it.  I knew exactly what I needed and put it on.  I got on my shoes and made my way to the sun block people.  I asked for two coats.  Last thing I needed was a burn.  I got some on my arms, back of the legs, quads and back of the neck and I was off to my bike. 

Transition 1 Time: 3:21

I had been doing a lot of bike training for the past 3 months so I knew I would have a strong bike time.  I headed out on the course and passed a number of people.  It was around mile 9 when I felt the rough ride and realized I got a flat in the front of my bike.  I quickly pulled off the wheel from my bike and set the bike up so it didn’t spill my nutrition all over the place.  I looked over the wheel and saw the sliver of glass lodged in my tire.  I was in the process of removing the tire when I saw the neutral support vehicle pull up.  They asked if I wanted help and at first I refused until they mentioned I could avoid using a CO2.  I figured these guys do this for a living so maybe they are faster than me…  Not the case…  They took their time and it seemed to take forever.  15 minutes to change a flat??  You have got to be kidding me.  In 15 minutes I saw no less than another 200 people pass me…  I was pretty frustrated by the time I got back on the course.  I decided to move a little faster and see how much ground I could make back.  Now I was going quick and heading to the first small climb to McClean Creek road.  I crested it without issues passing a number of other people and getting in my groove.  It was about then when the packs started forming.  I was attempting to hold my power range when others would start drafting, then passing, then take a drink and slow down.  A little of this and I got fed up and pushed it to a much higher power rave to get free of the pack and gain some ground.  This turned out to be a good thing because most of them I didn’t see for some time, but some came up on me again.  I pushed it a few more times and was finally free of the pack.  Then came Richter Pass.  The initial climb isn’t so bad, but the stair stepping climbs made things difficult.  I just dialed in a power and let some people pass me as I was sure I would see them later.  Finally over the Pass and in some of the more flat areas.  Then I hear a pop and hiss.  I look down and don’t see anything so I assume everything is OK until about 5 miles later at about mile 60 when my rear tire was completely flat.  OK, one flat I can overcome.  Two flats really ruins your motivation.  A thought came to my mind about this time when I discussed this type of event with a few people the night before the race.  I keep two spare tubes.  If I get three flats that means someone is telling me something and my luck could only get worse on the run.  I started to change the flat and I started to run my fingers along the tire to find the puncture.  Nothing.  There was no glass or metal that is usually associated to a flat.  I couldn’t notice anything on the flat tube either.  I assumed it was a pinch flat from that slow leak I didn’t take care of.  And, all I had for spares were ultra-light tubes which are pretty much garbage tubes.  However, I changed the tube and crossed my fingers that I didn’t pinch it in the process.  I used a CO2 and pumped up the tire.  It was about this time when Scott came by and slowed down to ask if I needed help.  I told him no and to keep going.  That was too nice.  I put the wheel back on the bike and started to get back on it when I noticed the rear wheel didn’t want to move.  I adjusted the break and that was about when Kat passed me.  I got back on the bike and started in my groove again.  This time much less motivated to even complete the foul race.  I made the turn to the out and back and shortly after that I passed Kat again.  Another turn to the short out and back and then the flats to the special needs bag where I passed Scott again.  I stopped for the special needs, grabbed some gummy bears and my remaining bottles and made my way to the bathroom at the next aid station.  I decided at this point that since there was no PR, I didn’t need to pee myself, so I hit the facilities and came out ready for the last 40 miles and next potential flat that would end my race.  At this point I was kinda hoping for a flat because with all the bad luck so far, I didn’t want to find out what the run course had in store for me.  But, I made my way on the course and up to Yellow Lake.  Again, the Yellow Lake climb isn’t so hard, but it is 90 miles in and there are about two extra stair stepping climbs after yellow lake that make it a challenge.  Yellow Lake is a sight though, you feel like you are on a stage of the tour.  So many people screaming you on.  I just dialed in a power and steadily climbed up the hill.  Finally, the last major climb came and it was time to head back into town.  There wasn’t much left in the take with all the fighting to stay away from the packs and the flats.  But, I made it into town and to the transition area with no third flat, so I guess I was going to be able to finish the race after all. 

Bike Time: 6:13:38 (actual ride time was around 5:44 off the power tap…)

This transition was a little slower.  I was still fighting myself to finish this horribly hot and unlucky race.  I got my shoes on, took my GUs and got another two coats of sun block everywhere the volunteers would put it.  I could feel them rub it on my body and the salt from my sweat rub like sand.  Not pleasant.  I shuffled out to the run course thanking everyone I could. 

Transition 2 Time: 5:58

The first 6 miles of the run felt just like training.  I felt strong and was about the pace I wanted to be at when the motivation flew out the window.  It was about then when I realized how much I hate running and slapped myself a few times for signing up to do CDA and Canada in 2010.  What was I thinking. Then a really cool distraction. The guys that run the mini-mart at mile 6-7 were handing out ice cold bottles of water.  What studs…  This town really gets behind this race.  I showed lots of appreciation.  I got my legs back and sped up a bit.  I ran to every aid station, walked up the major hills and walked through the aid station getting whatever I could in the way of sponges, I ice and water.  Ice under the hat and in the shirt kicks butt.  Sponges on the back of the neck and on the shoulders also kicks butt.  Putting a few sponges around the heart also seemed to help.  At one point I had about 8 sponges around my body just taking them for a run.  Thank god there were no close-up pictures around those hotter parts of the race.  However, when you are putting that much water on your body, I recommend my Zoot shoes with the holes in them.  No support but about then I was already pretty beat up so I didn’t recognize it.  It was the half-way point where I saw Kat pass me again.  She was running great.  I was walking up that major hill though, I don’t care who is in front or behind me.  My motivation was gone.  Around mile 15 I caught up with Sue and Mark.  Sue’s hip was giving her issues so she was walking.  I was feeling it for her, but I had no hip issues so no good excuses.  Mark started getting on me to run, so I started running more.  I saw the rest of the group running the opposite direction and I wished them the best.  They all looked fantastic.  About mile 20 Scott passed me again.  Like last year he had a great stride I was unable to match.  I just wanted this to be over.  Around mile 21 I ran into the Ironheads Bill, Gary and Denny.  Denny jogged next to me for a while and explained his stomach issues on the bike.  I felt pretty bad for him.  The added motivation helped me run a bit harder and more and then the cramping started to occur.  I was glad it waited so long to happen, but I wish it wouldn’t happen at all.  So, I started swinging my arms high and doing high knees and that seemed to help a lot.  The crams wend back down in the depths of the muscles for a while.  This was the next 5 miles until the last mile coming in.  I ran that cramping or not.  Because the group of 3 males in front of me decided to slow down, I was unable to get a finishing banner thing, but oh well.  I just didn’t want to pass out, and that is why I had my arms over my head for the finish shot.

Run Time: 4:47:26

This year, I got a shirt that fit me.  A medium?  That says something about the American weight issue.  I am an XL in European sizes.  My best friend / training partner / girlfriend Alana caught me at the finish line and sacrificed the smell of her new shirt for me. 

This year’s race was much tougher conditions than last year’s race.  It was hotter and there was more wind on the bike and there were about 400 more racers on the course.  Penticton is for sure the best town to host an Ironman.  Everyone pretends to love the athlete’s except the occasional hillbilly, but that is everywhere.  I am doing it next year.  I learned to never ignore a slow leak.  I just lost my toe nail, I am sure it occurred on the bike for some reason.  I took a photo and posted it if you want to see it. 

This year I will also be spending more time on the bike and I am switching my race tires to Michelin Pro Race 3s and I will never ride ultra-light tubes ever again.  They suck.  In 2010 I am doing 2 Ironman races so I have 2 chances to have a good race.  Thanks for reading this far.

Total Time: 12:06:16