by Eric Blakie (aka Big E) (Ryton Tri Club)
Ironman Canada took place on 28th August in the town of Penticton about 4.5 hrs drive east of Vancouver. I did the event last year and of all the Ironman races I've done thus far it is simply the best in terms of atmosphere and organisation. The setting itself is beautiful being in the heart of the British Columbia wine region, surrounded by the Rockies and between the two lakes of Okanagan and Skaha.
Quite a warm day with a strong wind picking up later. The first 10 miles of the bike revealed about 100 people with punctures - apparently some nasty local with a grudge had put tacks on the road - just as well I wasn't faster on the swim!! The course includes two long drags, Richter pass at 11km long and towards the end Yellow Lakes which is about 16 km - not out the saddle stuff but nearly in places, however the summits do act as focal points for support and it is indeed incredible.
I was looking forward to my special needs bag at the 120km point only to find
somebody had obviously taken it by mistake - that was all my drink and gels gone for the rest of the bike - had to drink that ade stuff named after alligators – uuggh - only any good for chucking over coach's heads in my opinion. Anyway, finished the bike in 6.06 hrs - not too bad considering the heat. Off onto the run and after the initial Ironman shuffle for about 3 km I was running ok into a very strong head wind and at 6' 5'' that’s like trying to get water to flow up hill. Well I not only died at half way on the run but the wind shifted exactly 180 deg to have a headwind on the way back too. I eventually rumbled in at 12.36 hrs - not my best but not my worst.
I should mention at this point that every person who crosses the line is immediately caught by two people and physically helped back to transition via the T-shirt and Medal girls, where they stay with you for as long as it takes, bringing drink and change clothes as necessary, until you are back in the land of the living again, can struggle to the food tent and then the beer garden - marvellous ! Out of 2240 starters 200 did not finish and 400 ended up in the medical tent - why do we do it? (please contact the Obi Wan Kenobi of the Northern Region Arthur Puckrin for an answer as he is older and wiser and has been further!).
The highlight, well the 'Underpants Run' on the previous Friday morning! You buy a special pair of underpants for $10, which goes to help local kids in triathlon, meet 8.00am in such and jog around the streets of Penticton stopping only to pose if front of various hotels and old people's homes. The run used to start in front of the Hog's Breath cafe but in the last 12 months that has become a Starbucks. Its origins go back some years apparently to some North American deciding to take the mick out of Europeans who were always jogging around the place in only lycra shorts and heart rate monitors .I find that strange as in my view it is usually the North Americans who pose and have all the gadgets but never mind, it is a good relaxer and reminds you not to take it too seriously. Oh and women and dogs can enter too as long as they at least wear underpants.
If you must torture your body I recommend Ironman Canada.