IMC Run and Finish

As we parked the car and hiked to the run course I saw the Third Place Lady, Heather Fuhr, go by looking strong. So we waited for Greg to come in on the bike. I saw Sister Madonna come in, Santa Clause, and the Mtn Bike guy. There were so many people, but no Greg. We checked our watches, did the math and figured it was going to be close. Greg did finish the bike but 0:02:30 past the cut off. The three of us looked at each other and collectively said “oh crap”, we watched over the fence as the people took his chip from him. I have never felt so emotionally low for another person. 2.5 mins that was all he need to make up. But there was a head wind for the last while, he said he got into the soft shoulder a few times almost crashing, he also realized he probably didn’t need to change his socks at the Special Needs Station. He was already doing the math as to where he could have made up those precious 150 seconds.

As a group we got his gear and him as far as possible from the finish area. We actually went completely around the block the long way to do so. But every 30seconds we could hear “Joe Blow from hometown Alberta you are an Ironman!” we took him to a nice Italian restaurant and our waitress had large assets. Thank goodness Jen was there to keep us in line. I had forgotten what I wanted a few times before it was my turn to order.

We sent Greg to his hotel to hopefully get a good night sleep. Mike and Jen took off to Kelowna where they were staying and I went back to the finish area. I was sitting in the bleachers wishing I had packed some jeans because that wind was blowing off the lake was Freezing!!! I saw Mark from Speed Theory pass by and chatted with him and his girlfriend (I can’t remember her name right now). It would have been cool to be his co-pilot in a support car, but I had a blast today anyway. The top three guys came out and tossed some Frisbees to the crowd and I drove back to my campsite around 11pm just in time to see probably the last 5 people on the run course. I don’t think they all made it before the midnight cut off because the last lady’s name didn’t appear in the results page the next day. I called it a night and I missed the fireworks but considering I had possibly six hours of sleep the last two nights it was a good day of supporting the sport I love.

IMC Bike

I was planning to just go out to Yellow Lake and watch everyone but now that I had an athlete to follow I joined Mike and Jen chase down Greg in the car to get photos of his day. We first caught him 10km out from Osoyoos and he had a grin from ear to ear when Jen and I leaned out the car window hooting and hollering at him. We got ahead of him and pulled over to wait for him to go by then pile back into the car. We got over the top of Richter Pass and waited on the down side. Just as he came into view a RV pulled over and parked as we watched. Jen flipped out at them hard. So off we go and pass him again I got a very good photo of Greg along side of us in the aero position.

We stopped for lunch near the entrance to the out and back section. Then we made our way to yellow lake where all the rabid fans were. I have been to the World Cycling Championships in Hamilton, On the side of the road at a Class 4 Col in a stage of the Tour de France, And in Paris for the final stage of Lance Armstrong’s 7^th yellow jersey. And by far there was more positive energy and care projected at these athletes climbing this freeking mountain pass. Remember the year they put an ITT on Alpe du Hez?? Ya it was that kind of energy you could feel through the TV, but this was live and I loved it!!!

I was able to see Amber Dawn I saw the bike before I realized it was her. By the time I called her name she was 100 feet up the hill so when she turned back she didn’t see me. I watched one guy hit the ground; he got caught in the loose gravel. We finally were able to move down the back side, they had restricted the car traffic so that they could give two lanes going down to the bikes. They were using it when overtaking a slower person. This one guy bombed down we clocked him doing 75kph. There was a bit of a pile up on the rollers, two guys were in the ditch and 3 more were down on the shoulder of the road. I think one guy messed up his shoulder pretty bad. As we went into town EMS was blasting out towards the scene. And no it was not the guy doing 75.

IMC Swim

I lay awake from 3am to 5:30 when I got myself out of bed and headed off to the swim start. Man that is one sight to behold. 2600 of your closest friends forming the largest mass swim start in Ironman history. It was a party on the shore for the spectators. They opened up the beach and the spectators all moved onto it. Many waded out in the water to form the lines guiding the swimmers to shore. They stayed there for over 2 hours! It was great to see the fast guys come in. But because of my summer I was cheering for the last few. I should mention I bumped into Mike and Jennifer from my Running Room days and they were here to cheer on Greg. Now Mike, Greg, Geo and I all started Tri at the same year. Greg is the first of us to put his toes in the sand at an Ironman. Greg is quite the character once you get to know him, which is difficult for some people. So he did not have a support crew like some of the people at IMC, one person had 3 vans following her. We cheered like crazy when we saw him out of the water and he was smiling! Jen said the swim is not Greg’s strongest event so for him to be smiling he did alright!!

So we are getting close to the swim course closing and there are three people getting close. The announcer says if they stand up and they are in waist deep water they get to keep going. The crowd went ape shit!!! I have never seen so many people giving out so much positive energy. The closest two made it, the third of that group did not. There was also 2 other people out in the water. So for 3 people plus the 3 that called it quits in the water and came back by boat, their day was done. There was no Chris King asking for the family of the people still in the water what there times were like, how good of biker are they. It broke my heart. If I had not been with a few friends I would have openly cried for the people that didn’t make the cut off.

IRON MAN CANADA!!!! Pre race

Last shift was Thursday and the fireworks were cancelled, plus TR was busy so I just went home and packed. Friday I woke up and started driving. I had a few plans change; I did not meet with Lori. I drove straight to Kamloops instead of meeting half way and then I would hike and camp. So I blast my way to Leah’s house. All I knew is that she lived on the North Shore. So I kept following the signs, when I got close I called her up and we had some confusion as to where I was in relation to where she was. So I remembered she said 12ave and I found a Casino parking lot and pulled over while waiting for her to find her map and call me back. She found her map and I said where I was. I was just across the street, what are the odds? So she has just moved in and not everything was in its new place, so I was entertained by watching her relax and chat with me but Kyle was itching to have all the big stuff in place.

So we go out for supper after looking at photos of Leah and Betty’s trip to China and a scrap book Leah made when she was very young and there were some cool photos of me as a lad. We drove around looking for a pub to eat at and found this Irish place. They offered a 3 POUND burger!!!! I hadn’t eaten much that day so game on!! Well I did about ¾ of it and began to feel rather disgusted with myself and I could not finish it. I tried eating a few pieces of lettuce from my salad but that did not feel right either.

In the morning we took off together. Leah and Kyle were going back to Calgary to pick up Andrea to take her to Edmonton and then they were to drive back to Kamloops. The things you do for the people that are taking care of your cat J I drove to Pentiction. I had planed on dropping in on my coworker Friday night while she was on vacation but because I drove straight to Kamloops it would be backtracking and I really wanted to get to IMC.

It was nice to drive on the highways that a few years ago I was riding on. I saw the Pentiction sign on the side of the mountain and became very happy. I stopped at the visitor info booth and got a Program and a spectator map for the race. The people there were very informed of the race and were happy it was here. So I got to lakeshore drive. The grandstands are all ready set up and every where you look there are fellow triathletes hanging around checking out one another and their bikes. I checked out the athlete’s village and bought some IM gear. A shirt that I will never wear but it will provide inspiration, a shirt I will wear because it does not say IMC on it, a car flag, and a Head Sweat running cap celebrating the 25 anniversary. I listened to an interview of the Head of the WTC and he has some interesting stories of past Ironman events he has put on.

I realized I better get a camp spot so I drove off, I realized that one of the campsites was right on the course… so guess which one I camped at J yah baby!!! Half the campground was athletes the other 40% was supporters and maby 10% had nothing to do with it and were getting nervous. There was one kid with a voice like a fog horn and around 9:30 you could tell the 90% were sending vibes saying shut up were going to bed. Of course at 4am we woke them all up. I wish the guy with the Harley had started it up at 4am it would have had the right start to the day. LOL!!!

Plain of Six Glaciers Tea Hut Hike

So I had the bright idea to go for a hike, look at the map 5.5km to the Tea Hut and some more to get to the foot of the Glacier. The weather was to improve, the last few days of being stuck inside while it rains was getting to me. So I load up an take off. As I get in the mountains the clouds are low and I start to wonder what kind of views I am going to get. I arrive at the parking lot at the Chateau and it doesn't look so good. Lots of people are gearing up so what the heck. Grab my bag and realized I didn't have a hat, oh well.

Started on my way trying hard not to elbow my way past the tourists taking photos of them with the fog so thick behind them it could have been anywhere. Why is there always one guy with a TV camera running around like a fool zooming in on weeds? Ok yes they have a nice flower but they are weeds!!! Oh I am here to get back to nature not get angry by idiots.

The lake shore is nice and wide and fairly flat. I found myself with a couple going my pace but they weren't very talkative. At the end of the lake there were people on horseback, which explains why the rocks were slippery. Horseshit. The fog was lifting and the other side of the lake was becoming visible. It reminded me of that bike ride out the plant, tops of hills poking out of the fog. It was nice. So off I go, it is warming up and I stopped to take off a layer and get the hiking pole out, might use it for the first time. I chatted for a moment with another couple. We were going the same pace and they were very entertaining. We swapped stories all the way up the hill, and I answered their questions of the area.

On one of the trails leading to the upper section we hear that someone saw a bear. But it was above us and we were aiming for the tea hut, if I did the route I had planned on I would be on that trail later on. There is a very steep section where it is switch backs, good grief that was a good climb. I think that hiking pole was helping my hip because my calf only got a bit stiff not sore like running. So we finally make it to the tea Hut and had to assure them that their really was tea at this hut. I realized I didn't take out any cash so I was just going to eat my snacks but they offered to pay for a PB&J sandwich for teaching them of the area. It was a good trade, the bread on sandwich was soooo good!!

It took about 2:15 to get up and we practicly ran down because it took 1:30. It was funny to see the looks on people's faces going up as we went down... some were ok but others were like WTF did I get into. Reminded me of when as a kid we took a hike around Upper Kananaskis Lake and mom got the bonk really bad.

So we get back to the hotel and swap emails, their luggage was lost by Air Canada but good news it was on the van driving out to Lake Louise at that moment. So they were without the camera, I promised to email them photos.

I put the photos into a collage with this software I found last week. It's kinda fun :)

Tour de Bow Hill Climb

August long weekend rolls around and it is time for the other big Tour that I pay attention to. This one is a bit more local though :) This year I have to work while the Crit is on, which is disappointing because it is a very spectator friendly event to watch. So I took off a bit early on Sunday and went to COP where they hold the Hill Climb competition. The course is 1.5ish KM long about5 turns and the record is around 3 min a whole lot faster then I can do that's for certain. So walked up about halfway and watched for a bit. I wandered down to the start just as the Cat 1&2 were starting. It was nice to check out the bikes these local racers are on. I happened to bump into two guys that race for Crankmasters group that is putting on the ITT that I thought about doing.

Going to the Sun Road

Oh I have been thinking about this ride for a year now.... I had the bright idea that this would be the "weekend" for it. I finished my shift on Monday and didn't really feel like driving for 4 hours not certain if I had a campsite to crash at or not. So Tuesday I got my but out of bed a bit later than I planned, guess 4 days of alarms going off at unholy hours has it's toll.

I packed up the car and headed south. I stopped in Naton to check out the air museum. I know I have drove past it a few times and the Lancaster wasn't visible like it had before so I was worried. but nope they have made room in the hanger for the old aircraft. I made my $5 donation and spent a few hours checking out displays.

I grabbed a slurpy in the next town and kept on moving. I kept looking out the window and just in awe of the rolling fields trying to take photos as I drove. I finally made it to the border the guys wished me luck when I told him my plan to ride the highway. I kept hoping for a car to be in front of me because I was paranoid that I was speeding. Those Mph numbers are hard to read when your looking at mountains:)

I payed my $25 park fee, which is good for 7 days.... why????? all I wanted was a two day pass!!!!! So I drove right past the campground I wanted to stay at... the lake was nice so I kept on driving. Thought to myself that I should drive this thing and then ride it tomorrow when the sun isn't so hot. So I keep pulling over at the spots and took photos like a crazy tourist. Keeping track of how long I had been climbing till the top.

Ok if I had problems with the last hill on the Sylvan Course.... WHAT MADE ME THINK I COULD DO THIS MOUNTAIN PASS???????????????????

This is an alpine road, no shoulder, WINDY, and it has metal grates across the road to keep the water from going down the road. All I saw was an easy way to DIE trying to go down this road on my bike..... So I drove to the west end and got a campsite. I sat and read some of the magazines I brought along. I just chilled out and relaxed. I realized late in the day that I all I had to eat was a baggett, slurpy, and 3 granola bars. So I went to the camp store got an ice cream and a bag of chips. Then I realized there was a restaurant.... oops I thought I would eat breakfast there.

Slept like crap! couldn't get comfortable sliding down my mattress, I found that what I thought was level when I set up the tent wasn't even close!

Got up and packed up the tent, thought about breakfast... didn't have any. Drove to Whitefish and kept on going. Got to the boarder and waited. I always get nervous trying to get back into my own country.... every time I have crossed in a car it was always a great big pain in my ass compared with entering the states. I guess they have to balance the hatred in the airports the US customs creates.

I got onto highway #3 and recognized places I had camped as I biked it a few years ago.... man I have to do that again! Anyway I got to Kimberly and walked around and again thought to myself" this is it?" hope back in the car and keep going. I was thinking about camping at Wasa Lake but ...... keep on driving. Thought about stopping in Farmount to go to the hot springs but blew past the corner.... thought about the the Radium Hot springs and you guessed it went past that corner too. Guess I was in the mood to just drive and listen to the podcasts I had on my Ipod. Well blow past Banff and finally stop for some food in Canmore.

I got home and went to the gym for a swim and a jog on a treadmill. How stupid am I! I could have swam in a lake and ran in some nature.... oh well it was a good road trip.