Quebec - 9th and 10th July 2004
Report by Arthur Puckrin
After a 30 hour journey we were pleased to be met by our host, organiser Jean Pierre Morin and settled into our self-contained student accommodation at the Cegep Levis Lauzan. After a few days to settle in and meet our fellow competitors we had the ordeal of blood tests on the day before the race to see that we were not users of illegal performance-enhancing drugs. The nurse was unable to find any blood in my arm and it finished with me having to lie down with one nurse holding one hand, another nurse my other, whilst a third squeezed blood from my arm! “After that the race will be nothing”, said Morin. To my surprise he told me that in previous years they had obtained three positive tests. As a result of this blood test, the night before the race I was told by the Race Doctor that my blood showed I was anaemic and should consult my own doctor immediately on returning home - the last thing I wanted to hear so close to the start. I was relieved however that he did not disqualify me from the race.
Friday morning. Our support crews arrived to take us to the bike transition to leave our bikes and kit ready for the race and then upriver for the start prompt at 2.30pm. I hoped that the river would be calm, but alas, it was not to be and as soon as we swam out of the bay 100 yards after the start we were met by huge waves caused by a strong wind blowing against the tide. I knew it was going to be difficult to survive the swim. I thought about retiring and at one stage told myself that I had 24 hours to race and if I was going to spend it swimming then that’s what I was going to do! It was a considerable ordeal as we were tossed about from side to side by the waves. I told myself the end was getting closer – who was I kidding! “Just relax and let the tide take you to the finish”, I told myself.
Eventually the end was in sight and I forced myself to swim on, it was only the skill of the two canoeists that got me to the finish. To cap it all as I staggered ashore I cut my big toe badly on a sharp rock and had to be patched up by the ambulance man. I had taken two hours for the swim – it seemed to be considerably longer - but at least I was ashore. Now a long run to the bike transition, something to eat and drink and off I went.
I had hoped that I would soon join the leading group of cyclists, but not this time, I struggled on the ride. “Still”, I told myself, “it is the last 50 miles that count, not the first 50, just keep riding”.
It soon became dark and started to rain. At least the weather was English but it didn’t improve my position. I had completed about 80 miles, I was not yet halfway, I was cold and having a poor ride. “Why was I doing this?”, I asked myself. “Should I retire?”. If I had stopped for any reason – puncture, lights failure – anything – I’m sure I would have retired, any excuse would have done. Then I told myself that if I retired now without good reason I would be really annoyed with myself the following day. I kept going. My support crew shouted “Halfway” which cheered me up. I started to overtake a few riders and did a few more laps. I dared not ask how far to go in case it discouraged me. I rode a few more laps and eventually I asked. I got the answer – “33”. I had completed over two-thirds of the distance and could now count down to the finish. I felt a bit better. Keep riding. With 10 laps to go it started to rain heavily but I refused to stop, I knew I would warm up on the run. Eventually the end came. 13 hours 5 minutes for the bike leg. I had brought myself up to 5th position. Could I improve on this during the run?
As soon as I stopped I began to shiver, hypothermia set in. I had a change of clothes and something to eat. My legs were so stiff that I could not run so I walked the first two laps until I thawed out. Then I began to run and it gradually became lighter as dawn broke. It was still cold but I was running better although not well enough. Tony Fisher of Chester Tri shot past me. He had a great run and finished in 6th place whereas I gradually dropped back. However as the sun came up it became warmer, my support crew ran with me for a few laps to keep me going and the end became a possibility. I ran a few laps with Robert Holmes, also of Chester Tri who was about to finish 15th and Suraya Oliver of Black Country Tri who had a good run to finish 3rd lady.
Eventually, after 14 hours and 27 minutes I finished the run in 13th place with a total time of 30 hours and 3 minutes. I was pleased to reach the finishing line as on several occasions finishing had seemed a very doubtful outcome.
Next stop, Robert Holmes, Suraya Oliver and Arthur Puckrin attempt the Deca-Ironman in Hawaii in November!
Selected results:-
| 01 | Pascal Jolly | France | 21.59.32 | |||
| 06 | Tony Fisher | Great Britain | 25.29.02 | |||
| 07 | Astrid Benohr | Germany | 25.46.53 | |||
| 13 | Arthur Puckrin | Great Britain | 30.03.08 | |||
| 15 | Robert Holmes | Great Britain | 31.03.15 | |||
| 18 | Suraya Oliver | Great Britain | 31.55.28 |