Goodlife Victoria Marathon 2012 Race Report, or, the "I have a good life 2012 rest report"

So, I've been lazy on the writing - but it reflects how I've been going about everything lately - taking my time, finally slowing down.  Giving my body & brain a break.

A few things have passed by since I last wrote.  Let me touch on the one competitive thing I did - the Goodlife Victoria Marathon on Thanksgiving weekend.

What a day - absolutely perfect weather and great friends to run with.  Did I have a perfect race?  Nope :)  I knew going into this race that psychologically I was on low stock.  I had just enough to get me through to a PB, but couldn't reach beyond that, as there was nothing there.  No big deal.  I ran to my fitness & used whatever I had left over in 'tough girl' stock.  That got me to a 2:53:41.  4th place.  Juuuuust out of the money.  But 3 faster girls were definitely more deserving.  Good on those gals.  I did receive 3rd place prizing as this race also served as the BC Marathon Championships.  Thanks to BC Athletics!  It pays to be a member :)

The best thing about the race?  I was given a brand new pair of New Balance 1400's.  And where did those come from?  Ladysport.  What a treat!  After going through pair # 4 of my 1400s during the tri season, they were looking a bit thrashed and a little....well....let's just say it.  Stinky.

freshest on top. pair #4 too dirty to be let in living room.

 I love these shoes and wear them into the ground b/c I want to keep wearing them forever (and ever!).  So, luckily for me, owner Phil Moore at LadySport came to the rescue in delivering a brand new pair into my hands.  And I didn't even have to take the 'normal' shoes laces out of them for elastic tri dork laces.  Real laces - what a luxury!  A huge thank you to Ladysport for connecting me to New Balance & ensuring my feet will be wrapped up in their favourite outerwear.

so fresh and so clean

 So even though I was trying for slightly faster than achieved times on marathon Sunday, my feet where treated to the luxury of springy, fast new shoes.  Any runner knows how great that feels.  In the same vein, I was able to pop into LadySport as a guest speaker before one of their Monday run clinics after the marathon to say thank you to Ladysport and chat a bit about my experiences over the last year in triathlon - fun! 

 Mostly I think I told stories about crazy triathlon experiences (ie. Ironman St George), and how things can come good in the end if you stick with it (ie. Ironman Canada), but also to let people know that I think inspiration is most directly sourced from those right around you.  I used to be in total shock if someone was a 'pro' and very intimidated, but now I'm realizing that there really is no difference, at least not in the way I thought there was, and that it's nice to see what these people do day to day, in workouts, or in their rest & recreation time.  I never thought I would be at this level of athletics, but I always dreamed of getting there.

first triathlon completed.  i wouldn't have done it unless my friend Blair had suffered along with me. did the osooyos 1/2 in just under 6 hrs! and was still almost last out of the water :) blair suffered a little longer.

 One of my missions now is to help people bridge the gap - so, if you have questions about moving up in the sporting world, I'm your gal to ask (ah, please no questions about archery or water polo though...).  And chances are, you already know what you would need to do to get there, you just need someone to bounce questions off to find about the confidence & psychological gap - which can be the hardest of all, I think.

 Back to the newsy catch up.  I ran a little ditty of a marathon.  And I beat Carl again.  Sorry Carl.  Oh and Chris.  I beat Chris too.  What I love about the marathon, Ironman, endurance sports, is that what works out on paper is not an accurate predictor of the outcome.  The longer the race, the more variables, and the longer time out there for something to go nut-bar.

 In fact, my race went out with me struggling with feeling comfortable at 18km (you cannot be struggling at this point - the body just does not hold out for you), and having to drop off pace and watch the boys run away from me.  Insert sad face here.  But, I had a race for myself to figure out, so, after about 5km of feeling a bit 'off', I started to come back to form (not really sure what my pace was but I did notice nothing was in the 3:5x market), and start knocking off some girls.  All 2 of them.  But wait, just wait.....

One of them was a Kenyan.

Add that to the 'things that lift your spirits' list.  Especially when you lost your friends and you're hoping your recently sprained ankle that now feels super wobbly is going to stay glued together like the kindergarten popsicle & wood glue project that it is.

So I passed a Kenyan, stayed upright, and then, I found my friends!  Woah, wait, that's actually not a great thing (for my friends - who are boys).  I saw a very familiar singlet up ahead - grey.  Chris.  Slowing down but moving forward.  Honestly, no lies here, I really like passing guys, so, this was a qualifying pass.  Then I saw the most familiar singlet of all - black.  Carl.  Carl, you'll read this, and enough time has now passed for me to say, as much as I was sad for you that you suffered in the end of the race, I was delighted to pass you in those last kilometres.  Now, I wish you hadn't actually been standing, cramp/stretching and actually shouting out something that sounded like maybe it would not be for your children's ears, but, I'll take an ugly 'you got chicked' moment, because in the end, getting chicked is getting chicked.

Plus, I was wearing said "You Got Chicked" singlet & running skirt, and Compressport pink socks.  Score one for the girls.

chicks. dig it.

Enough of this.  So, that was the marathon, and the icing on the cake of a high I really hadn't come down from yet after Ironman Canada.  Plus it was Thanksgiving, & that meant I got to spend time with family & friends, and...eat!

So as I've mentioned previously, I've raced a lot through the year, and a few things have caught up to me.   I'm fortunate enough to have a few injuries and fatigue come at the most perfect moment of the year - the off-season.  It never fails to amaze me the amount of fatigue athletes can carry through the season, and how long it can take to get back to feeling strong.  And I wasn't really even injured (well, I could make a short list...but nothing serious).  But I did turn out everything I had to give between my toes (yes, some of them are black) to the hair on my head (I did manage to rip out a chunk attached to an aero helmet), and everything in between in 2012.

I'm perfectly content with my efforts.  It's a nice feeling.  And I think it's that feeling that has allowed me to finally step back and say, "ok, it's ok to stop".  Now the whole point of saying it's ok to finally fully allow myself to stop, I only do because I know I want to come back faster, stronger, and fiercely focused.  If I wasn't wanting to come back with great ambitions, I wouldn't worry about disciplining myself now to hold myself back and begin a new building process.

And what has happened since giving my body a break?  Everything hurts more.  That has been a little scary, for lack of a better word, at first.  But it points me down a path of very straightforward explanations and answers.  Strength.  Stability.  Form.  Power.  Energy.  No point in moving forward until I have built a solid platform to move forward from.  As tempting as it is to roll on from one race to another in hopes of finding that perfect performance, that perfect moment, I now think it's time to see the perfection in building a stronger body, the perfection in sleep, the perfection in exercising to technique.

That's my upcoming job for the next little while.  But in the meantime, no one says you can't drink some chocolate milk and ride your bike in the sunshine.  And I did just that - with Powered By Chocolate Milk! And I won't spoil the surprise - you'll just have wait and see what I'm talking about :)

That's all for now.  An update, a surprise to come, some reflections on resting.  Not bad to sum up October.

All I need now is some snow and a pair of skis.....

Don't forget to turn back your clocks - the one time in the year people actually may get enough sleep! Maybe try turning back your bedtime for a couple of months and see how happy that makes you :)

gillian

Kona Thoughts in a Conch Shell

Well, another Kona in the books.  I did some hard core couch spectating yesterday and it's left me more tired than I thought it would.  And sore!  How can anyone sit around on their butt most of the day?  Yeowch!

I have had a few weeks of the written word, and I have still to put up a few bloggo's into the blogosphere, but I feel inspired to write today.  And it's pouring rain out too.  So a wonderful time to procrastinate a 'jog' in the fog/rain/puddles/wind/grey/muck/leaves/dirt.

It was so interesting for me, to watch the ongoings of the Ironman World Championship all day - these are things you don't get to see when you're in the race.  And things you don't really appreciate about the course until you've actually done it - the video footage now makes much more sense than it previously did (yes, I have watched multiple Kona's on the interweb).  So it was a treat to watch and armchair spectate - I now have more respect for those that come to watch us compete!  And we weren't even in 100F weather (although I would have loved to be.....would trade that for the previously mentioned weather system above).

But these are my own ramblings and likely not super interesting to you.  Well, what the heck, I'm going to ramble a bit more anyways.  I've not been overly supratentorial lately, likely due to me recovering brain cells over the past 6 weeks.  Oh wait, I don't think you can actually get those back.  Oh darn.

One of the things that struck me about the women's race (besides the top 5 women being scary tough kick ass women) is that in the top 10 women, a 46 year old with a smile on her face, and a new mom came across the line.  For me, this was heartwarming.  It means life outside triathlon is possible, it made me feel like there is less of a rush, to surge to the top, to take your time and become better with age and experience.  In reflecting on my past year, things went by quickly, and it at times felt like a vice grip having to get better all the time, that only steps forward counted, that steps backward were a waste of time or worse, a fault.  At times my year also felt so wonderful that I almost couldn't handle it all too, so, there was a balance.  I'd like to think most of the time was spent in the middle ground, which is made up of good solid training without much psychological complication.

Flash forward to yesterday.  I am tired from a year of busy and successful racing.  I am an athlete who does well regardless of conditions.  I do well because I want to.  I want to do it because I love it.  I define what racing 'well' means for me, you can define it for yourself however you want.  I had just raced in the Goodlife Victoria Marathon (race report to come) last weekend and had fun and ran hard, and did well.  But the end of the triathlon season still lingered in my mind and my ability to 'race' was compromised.  But doing 'well' and 'racing' are really different things.  This is all mental.  I'll explain.

To get performances out of your body that go above and beyond what you ever thought was capable takes one simple thing.  A positive mind.  I don't think it is much more complicated than that.  To remain positive while you are in a great deal of pain, when you are scared, when you don't know what to do.  So, a positive mind (yes, this needs to be trained, no, it's not a genetic hand-me-down) is your platform, really it is the equivalent to the body you have been training all these months.  I would say even more important that your nuts and bolts.

Now what you probably think I'm going to write is that I had a semi-positive mind, and then I wasn't quite confident in myself to get up there and run with the top girls.  Nope.  Guess again.  I was quietly confident and positive with myself.  I had a race plan and had to readjust part way through, but didn't panic.  I missed my goal time by minutes but didn't really mind, I did well given the conditions.  And I was happy with it all.  It still felt like I won the race coming across the line, and I think that speaks volumes to how much my win at Ironman Canada has affected me - it is becoming more and more firmly lodged in my brain as part of my psyche (It probably helps that Steve King was the announcer for the Goodlife Victoria Marathon!).  It is becoming quite a powerful weapon in my psychological toolkit.  That is quite cool.

So how does this tie into watching yesterday's race?  I knew in last week's marathon that I only had my physiological strength to go on.  I have given all I had to give for this year's intense efforts, I don't think there are easy words to put to it, but that mental 'thing' is taking a rest in me.  Watching these women gut it out on the pavement of the race, that 'thing' for them is well and lively and completely intact, regardless of whether they've come 1st or 10th.  It was amazing to watch.  Sure physiologically they are very impressive creatures, but they are roughly the same (maybe apart from leg length - wowza) - it is the brain that separates them.  So you have to bring that 'thing' to the race, and it is your responsibility to get that 'thing' to the line, and that is where I see the greatest challenge of all in Ironman, keeping the balance that gets you to be your 'best' when it counts.

For me personally, I think it is easy to get sucked up in a rush of success.  It feels good to win, and I think it is very easy to get pulled away from what you 'need' in development to what you (or others) 'want' in development.  So in looking at someone like the men's winner, Pete Jacobs, who declared 8 years prior that he would win the World Championship, I'm willing to bet he's put a pretty good plan in place to get what he 'needed', and not always what he 'wanted'.  I think similar reports have come out from the famous Brett Sutton, to get his olympic champion athlete to stick to the plan regardless of desire or distaste.  But you all know this already - so my point being, it is hard to say 'no' to the flash of being at the top when you have the chance to be there.

I will openly admit that I have fears in stating that I just want to train.   I want to improve, and not let racing and that culture of winning, get in my way.  I think it is a bit of a red herring, to worry about racing and winning or losing too much, and I think this is something that many, many people are guilty of.  I think this holds a lot of people back in their dreams and goals.  But racing and winning is so paramount in the culture of athletics, I think, to a fault.  This might seem somewhat ironic considering all the praise I've given to the winners of the race, but it's not a black and white issue.  Everyone will find their own way through life, but as you may remember from high school, times can be tough when making your own decisions.

I won a big race, and 6 weeks later, I'm still feeling like I am winning the same race as I cross a finish line.  And there are even 'bigger' races than the one I won.  So I'm wondering if something is lost in the shuffle if you just bang out a race and move onto the next, without fulling appreciating what you've done?  And you don't have to win either, because I think people will bang out a crappy race only to try to forget about it and move onto the next.  Big mistake in my mind, but that's just me.  I think people need to spend more time appreciating what they do instead of just 'doing it' and hurrying along to the next thing.  You are spending SO much of your life and resources into training for this one thing and then you whisk it away for the good or the bad too soon?  I think life is too short for that.

So if you have just raced Kona, a race that many people dream of racing, my stern advice to you is to really think about the day you had, to appreciate it for everything that it gave you, and you gave to it.  Being one who has raced at this race, I know the extent of your life's resources that are invested in such a thing.  Be true to yourself and those around you and honestly evaluate what this experience has meant to you.  Take your time.  Let it sink in.  It has surprised me how long things take to come to the surface.

For me, looking down a road where I feel I have potential, I am heartened to see that I can formulate a plan where life exists with flexibility and balance, that it is those that truly stick to their guns that come out on top.  That you can do it your way, and make your dream come true.  I don't think this is the same in all sports, and I feel very lucky to be part of a sport where I have freedom to be me.  It is exciting.

Those are my Kona thoughts in a conch shell.  Did I miss being there?  Yes, absolutely, was it the right time for me to be there.  No, absolutely not.  Unless it was a papaya eating championship :)

So, now it's time to run.  In the cold, wet, purposelessly and as slowly as my brain or body needs to.  I will admit it is a bit odd not to have a target on the wall right now, but I think it is ever important to be in a new space to become a better athlete.

Happy training, and if you're in Vancouver, I feel your soggy laundry piled up pain :)
xo
g

The RBC Whistler Gran Fondo, or, "Chicked on a bike"

What a day!

I was lucky enough to participate in the Royal Bank of Canada's Whistler Gran Fondo this past Saturday!  A huge thank you to RBC for making this possible!  As I've mentioned before, good things come in 3's, and this was the year's 3rd running of the "big bike".  So, I wanted to highlight my 3 favourite things about this year's event.

Prima Luce

It's not a race.  It's an event.  I was so happy about this.  I've had my fair share of racing this summer and it does, undoubtably, take it's toll on your psyche.  Your psyche affects your physiology, and mine was in definite need of rest time.  But that's not to say that a girl can't hop on her bike (yes, tri bike, sorry roadies but I was too lazy to switch my pedals & saddle over to the roadster) and ride to Whistler for fun!
I have never ridden my bike up to Whistler because I think there is a high degree of risk riding on those roads, and as beautiful as it is, I have decided against biking to Whistler.  So given the opportunity to ride on a protected course up to Whistler on a sunny Saturday was a dream event!  After racing at Ironman Canada, I was ready to just ride.
I love the start of these events - go to any other 'race' and someone is always going fast from the gun, cannon, bull horn, you name it.  In these events, the de rigueur is to nice out comfortably & at a friendly pace - what a nice way to start :)  Now, that sort of flies out the window once cyclists triple jacked on caffiene all hit the Upper Levels and start mash hammering & passing from both left and right sides, but, until that point it's lovely.  You cycle over the Lions' Gate bridge with the sun rising and mountains ahead of you and life just seems like a dream.  It had to have been one of the best mornings I've spent outside all year.  Simply fantastic.
Being a ride and not a race, it's likely the only event where I'll cycle behind Simon Whitfield.  So, again, if that doesn't sell you on doing this ride, what will?  (Editors note: I cycled behind him until Furry Creek Hill, then I promptly lost touch :)

Doppio Puntare

This is a great event for anyone to do.  If the 122km scares you, it shouldn't.  If the mass starts spook you a bit, fair game - but there is plenty of opportunity to start at the back and take your time, and work your way through (and you get a great draft!).  All you need is a bike that works, or works most of the time (there were lots of riders participating as Tech Support on course - as there were for Medical as well - props to the organizers for having riders in touch on the course!).  And of course, should you need it, there were plenty of ambulancias out on course as well.  Thanks guys!
There are beautiful aid stations with clean (yes, clean!) portapotties (a friend of mine even got an award for 'pee of the day' - which he did in a portapotty - but received a free cycling cap for his efforts - awesome!).  I even got off my bike to pee, which was a total luxury (for me and others near me) so too bad I missed out on the 'prizing'.  The aid stations are beautiful - full of fruit and Honey Stinger WAFFLES and all things sugary and good.  I found myself hungry at aid station #2 and delightfully pulled over and stocked up on yummy treats - then ate said yummy treats whilst enjoying the view - things I don't get to do in an Ironman event.  I was a very happy girl!
But back to my point - you can do this event.  The organizers make it possible.  This is not a hard core die hard hammer til you drop or die event.  This is civilized.  This is pleasant.  To me, this event was truly luxurious in it's layout.  So, is it worth the cost of $200 odd dollars for a little bike ride?  I'd say it's a must do event one time in your life, and most certainly you'll forget about the cost once you've participated and enjoyed your life to the fullest that day.  No price point on that, I don't think.

Terza volta e un fascino

I got to wear this...

You Just Got Chicked, one of my lovely sponsors, as released a sweet cycling kit  that I was lucky enough to get my hands on for the RBC Whistler Gran Fondo!  What a treat!  I've been able to bust out my You Just Got Chicked gear for running and tri events, but not yet for cycling, so I was super excited to get this gear on and get my tuckus in motion and pass some boys out there.

It never fails! "AH, I just got chicked AGAIN" - it's my favourite phrase to hear as I smile and slice past boys on course.  It's a great way to make riding fun (for more than just the rider, I swear - I'm pretty sure the guys love it).  In fact, "I LOVE being chicked" was another hilarity someone shouted out as I zipped past.  I also have to say, some guys say nothing, and that is pretty satisfying too :)

So ladies - I really think you should call up the Chicked girls and order this kit!  The more Chicked girls out there the better - and what wouldn't be sweeter than a pace line of You Just Got Chicked cycling kits??  Um, nothing :)

Happy riding everyone - fall is coming - although luckily in Vancouver we appear to be getting a second shot at summer - just with a crisp morning and evening - not too shabby!  Enjoy the outdoor rides before indoor training season is upon us.

Bicicletta, l'amore!

Ironman Canada 2012 Race Report, or "Falling from Cloud 9"

David McColm Photography

Ironman Canada 2012 Race Report

What I am supposed to say?

I'm incredibly happy.  I'm still taking it all in.  I've been waking up each day and at some point in the morning, realizing I won Ironman Canada.  Woah...

Suffice to say, I think I'm still in shock over it all.  I've actually been quite overwhelmed with the attention and the outpouring of positivity and support and all the kind words.  It's a lot, all at once, and certainly more than I ever imagined it would be.

All I ever imagined, in my visualization before the race, was how to get to the finish line first.  After that, my thought process had stopped.  So this is all new territory to me.

I am at a bit of a loss for words on how I feel about myself and this accomplishment (me at a loss for words is a weird thing), so if you're interested, I'll tell you a little bit about my race.  That I understand to a T.

And yes, I just referenced Katy Perry in my report title.  When you have a song in your head for 9 hours, it becomes quite near & dear.

Pre-race, or "I'm home":

I'm wonderfully supported by a local resident, Ann, in Penticton.  I've been able to stay with her for the last 3 years, for my first Ironman, my 2nd IMC and successful attempt to get to Kona, and my 3rd as a 1st year professional - and win!  So I must thank her for being my perpetual homestay and family friend - it's such a comfort to have a 'home' up there.

I finished up work & drove up with family on Thursday afternoon, and it's always magical to drive over the highway pass and start descending down toward the lake - it shimmers and huge boulders of mountains rise up against it.  It is the first time my heart did a big 'ka-thump'.  We're here.  It's race time.

David McColm Photography

I always do the same pre-race workouts, swim at the same times, bike to the same places, run the same hill near our house.  It's a ritual.  After travelling a lot this year and racing a whole bunch of new races, I'm so comforted to have familiar routines.

The unfamiliar?  Finding a tiny nail lodged in my not flat tire 2 days out from the race.  So off to the Bike Barn, a likely pilgrimage for so many triathletes pre-race, but I had never been (I was hoping for a Jeff Symonds "Rhymes with Diamonds" sighting but I didn't see him - oh well :)  Maybe he's too rich & famous to work anymore?).  They are just another testament to the greatness of the community of Penticton - ready to help, happy and smiling.  So, a new tire & tube, and I was a much happier girl - thanks Bike Barn!

So I have a functioning bike.  I have a pair of shoes.  And those are really the only pieces of triathlon equipment I own.  I was very fortunate to borrow a wetsuit for this race from my friend Jill who was super kind to lend me her wetsuit for the race (she took pity on me as I was a bit suspicious of the usefulness of my old (like, OLD) wetsuit that had a certain number of large-ish holes in it).  So thank you Jill!  And, as always, I am in a timeshare situation with a borrowed helmet from my friend Carolyn, who is the owner of the aero-helmet, but I use it most of the time.  So thank you Carolyn, a terrific friend and lover of cats, who did a super job of cheering for me on Sunday!  So I have the gear...it really does take a community to raise a child....or to equip a triathlete.  Or sponsors :)

The race, or "Full gas"

The swim, or "It was long....right?"

Without a bit by bit bore you to tears breakdown, here are my thoughts in chronological order.

"Holy crap, I'm standing beside Lisa Bentley"......"Oh, she's doing the relay, thank god".

As a group of us girls are chatting, one woman asks "Do we even get a countdown"?....2 seconds later...HORN!

(Me, to myself)

"Swim hard, don't be scared"

"Yes, there is a gap forming and you are behind it.  Keep swimming hard, hold on"

"All alone at 1/4 through the race.  Ok.  Empty your head.  Negativity is useless.  Keep swimming hard"

"You have arms & legs, use them"

"How far ahead am I from the helicopter overhead?" (signaling age grouper chase pack)

"Hmmm....waves.  These don't have a thing on Ironman St George - hahaha!"

"Bacon....I smell bacon"

"Ooh, the buoy is that way"

"This woman in the pink cap is kicking my ass" (age groupers start 15 min back of the pro start - it's Susan Williams, Athens Olympic Bronze medallist...oook then)

"My arms feel like bacon"

"I am done - and that was not a fast swim - this race is going to be tough"

The bike, or "Gabe kicks ass"

David McColm Photography

I have no other option on the bike than to cycle hard from the time I jump on my bike.  My bike's name is Gabe, and being on my bike holds a special place in my heart.  I also know it's time to thrash myself on this thing, because it is my only option to get back in contention.  But I can't panic.  I just start flying.

And flying is relative, but I am pushing as hard as I can (everything your coach told you not to do, likely).  I actually am breathing incredibly hard, my legs are sort of solid cement things, I'm quite cold (it was cool that morning and I'm not a super warm person), and my helmet is semi-stuck on my hair braid in an awkward way.  There is a camera in my face and I don't think I shy away from farmer blowing my nose.  Classy.  We'll see if that makes the cut.

I pray for no tacks on the road, and once I'm through that section I breathe a sigh of relief.  A frozen cold hyperventilating state is not a good state to change a tire.  I am expecting more guys to be catching up to me but really, very few appear.  A huge change from the massive packs of people that accompanied the ride out to Osoyoos last year.  Something that likely interfered with the Carl Hansen vs. Gillian Clayton battle, and caused a crash on his end.  Boo.  But that's all part of the race.  Nothing is exceptional and anything can happen.  I think that if you know that, and it doesn't phase you, you are bound for success. (Carl finished a very successful debut IM in 10:04.  I did however, thrash his time :)  Sorry Carl, but you.got.chicked :)

After that, all I do is work hard, I just pretend like there is no marathon and there is nothing to save.  I start catching up to the other pro women by Richter's Pass and breathe a sign of relief.  I'm back in this.  But there is no time to relax because the gap to the front is huge.  Someone shouts 13 min, someone shouts 15.  Who knows, it's big, and there are good bikers at the front.

There were a group of kids with Mom out on course (I didn't know them) but they were one of my best cheerers on the bike course.  "Way to go, PINK SOCKS" - was their cheer.  I am a sucker for kids!  I waved and smiled every time I could.  There are farmers that come down to the side of the road with their families who watch and wave.  It's so great...not to mention the hundreds of crazy fans that are out on the side of the hot hot road screaming and you and cheering you on.  It's the best bike course I've ever ridden.  Probably always will be.

The rest of the bike is a blur.  My job is simple.  Eat, drink, hurt legs.  I feel as if I might fall off my bike going up around Yellow Lake.  Thankfully there is a camera right there filming me dragging my carcass up the hill.  It almost feels as if there is nothing between my hip socket and my knee joint, and poignantly pointed out by a man of the side of the road, I needed to "just sit and keep spinning".  Perhaps he knew if I stood up at that point I'd fall over and he'd have to deal with me. (See #11 on the  '20 types of athletes you'll see at an Ironman race')

Unfortunately for me on the way into town, the cramp brigade starts.  I have had minor leg cramps before but nothing too serious.  As I'm biking along, I mostly just ignore because I know that when I get off and start running they'll be gone.  For sure.  All of a sudden I'm in T2 and three of us are in there together - what??

The run, or "Chariots of (my legs are on) fire"

Alrighty, what would a race report be without a little nitty gritty?  This run wasn't short on drama.

Steve King announces on us exiting T2 that there places 2nd through 6th are within 4 minutes of each other.  First place is more than 18 minutes ahead.  This, is exciting.

One mile out.  "I feel great".  One mile and 1/4 out.  "Oh....no".  Stopped dead in my tracks.  Bent over.  Full leg cramp.  Complete inability to run.  There are 3 girls coming within a minute behind me.  There is a camera in my face, if I'm lucky filming these super awkward stretch manoeuvres while I am hoping to release the spasm.  I am pretending to be a physio and not an athlete.  Nothing is releasing.  Girls are coming.  I am trying not to freak out.

My heart is sinking.  I'm not sure I can even walk.  A friend shouts encouragement as he runs by.  In my mind, there is no other option than to run on extremely uncomfortable legs.  So I get going.  It's a shuffle, but it's forward momentum.  I just want to race.  I just want to be in this.  I know who I'm racing, I know the numbers, I just have to get my run back up to speed and then have to react to what needs to be done.  42.2 kilometres gives me time.

I run up Main St - people are crazy cheering for everyone!  It is so uplifting - and thankfully, distracting me from my awkward running form.  I see my friends & family and it's a real comfort.  They're there for me.  They are what matters.  I am going to do this.  All along in my triathlon career, I have always relied on the run.  This time, it's my new challenge.  I catch up to my friend, Chris, who is so supportive and happy to see me back even though I'm slowly running by him.  It was great not to be alone out there in that moment.  You're never the best judge of yourself when you are under stress and a reassuring few words were so helpful.  Thanks Chris!

Finally by OK park I'm back into a rolling & steady running form.  I am in a weird scenario though, where I can run and keep cadence high, but I can't push much with my legs or the flickers of cramps come back.  So, momentum needs to be my friend.  My form might actually be legal in race walking -  but it's coming back to me.

Eventually I'm relaxed on Eastside road.  I am into 3rd, with a lead biker in front, and for what seems like endless (maybe 10) kilometres I run exactly the same splits behind Janelle Morrison.  She looks fantastic - so great it's scary.  I'm not sure how I'm going to do this, but it's the marathon, so you have time to think.  And I think it's time to wait this out, to be more patient with myself than I have to be with my competitors, and believe in my legs, and more importantly, believe that I will do whatever it takes to win.  And yes, the ice went in my pants.  And no, I didn't suck the sponges.

321 Photos by Mark Bates

At the turnaround, there are 3 of us (1st through 3rd) within maybe 25 metres of each other?  Okanagan Falls turnaround point was an exciting place to be on race day!  All of a sudden there is a car in front of me.  What?  Oh, it says 'Lead Female'.  This is surreal.  And girls were driving it - awesome!

I won't go on to describe searing pain and brutal mental toughness from here on, because from here, everything just became very quiet (not literally - people were cheering like crazy for a chick behind a car!) but in my mind, it was simplified.  Time to push.  I wasn't scared.  I was confident, but it's a hard thing to accept.  I'm in 1st place with 21.1kms to go.  Usually I get to this point on the run and think, "you're a runner, you can do this", but today I was thinking, "you are a triathlete, and you can do this".  It's a small switch, but a powerful one.  I've raced in races before where I look at the lead females coming through and they don't look like beautiful runners, but they are going fast and they are winning.  So previously as a runner with a triathlon complex, I both judged and was jealous of their position, their abilities.  And today I was realizing, it doesn't matter if you're pretty.  You're winning.

Pretty doesn't win races.

(Editors note: although pretty doesn't win races,  I do think pretty can win hearts :)  which I believe I make up for in the outfit department - so a huge thanks to Aquadiva Swimwear and Compressport Canada for the keeping me in outrageous pink and green apparel!)

By the time I got up the slow grade hill and into Penticton city, people started to say, "You're going to WIN an IRONMAN".  Woah.  That was a scary thought to take in, and I really couldn't.  My job is run to the line, but then more and more people, people I know - looked maybe a bit shocked but so happy to see me as the person running behind the 'lead female' Subaru.  Did things hurt?  Probably, could I pay attention to them?  Nope.  The crowd is going nuts.  I just keep eating ice chips, throwing the odd cola cup generally onto my face and probably not much in my mouth, and running on.  I'm reminded to enjoy this, and I'm starting to let a little of that in.

You turn onto Lakeshore Drive.  The crowd is deafening.  I really like this section of the course, but today, I am in LOVE with it.  Everyone is so happy!  Kids are high fiving!  A smile is starting to come out on my face, and I couldn't stop it even if I wanted to.  And through the noise I finally start to hear Steve King's voice.  This getting hard even to write!

The last minute is not something that I can really put into words.  It is an experience that I will have for my entire life.  Some days are hard work, hard luck, hardness of yourself upon yourself.  A lot of people have said to me, "it must justify all the hard work".  I realized when they said that I had no feelings of satisfaction in that sense.  I like the hard work.  That is why I do what I do, why I train like I train.  I love it.  So to me, winning this race was the proverbial icing on the cake.  It transcends justification or reward.  It goes beyond that, and I don't have a word for it.  So you'll have to take my other 'words' for it.

It's simply the best feeling a girl could ask for.

And that's that.

A huge thank you to the people closest to me in my life, because you are the reason I have been able to push my limits way beyond what I thought possible.  Life doesn't always go according to plans, and I'm sure glad that I somehow got mixed up in triathlon and have had the support ever since to go out and learn so much about myself I never thought possible.

Thank you for reading this and to all of those who have supported me along the way, big hugs and many thank you's!

What a day.

And a thank you to my sponsors for this race~

Aquadiva Swimwear

Compressport Canada

Pacific Multisport

You Got Chicked

The Massage Therapy Clinic at the UBC Aquatic Centre

The coaches - Jerry & Jeremy

Swim help (I need lots)  - Nathan

Wetsuit - Jill

Helmet - The Catlady

Everything else - Shawn

Speech, Speech!

Some of you have asked to read what I wrote for my speech for Ironman Canada 2012.  So here it is.  I think I stuck mostly to the script as I was talking, but as I was up on stage in front of quite a few people, I was nervous and undoubtably rambled a bit, but this was my message for the day.

                             __________________________________________________

IRONMAN CANADA 2012 VICTORY SPEECH

Photography by david mccolm

Thank you!  Thank you to everyone involved in yesterday's race.  Thank you to my friends and family and everyone that has supported me leading up to this event.  Wow!

Thank you and congratulations to my inspiring competitors up on stage with me today - I couldn't have worked this hard without them pushing me all the way - so to everyone up here, a huge thanks to you.

And whatever they are putting in the water in Denver, they should probably keep on doing it.  A very special congratulations to your 2012 women’s amateur champion, Kendra Lee.  I was the amateur women’s champion last year, and although I was quite pleased to have finished 5^th overall fastest time in 2011, this lady has certainly blown it out of the water this year with your overall women’s fastest time.  So, congratulations Kendra on your amazing race yesterday. 

Yesterday was the first day I felt I accomplished what it meant to be a triathlete.  This is my 3^rd year in the sport so the learning curve has been steep.  I still don’t know where you buy salt pills and I refuse to have a bike computer.  In previous races, I have muddled through swims and cruised through bikes, all to end up very fresh on the run course.  As I learned more about what I could do, and what was expected of top level athletes in this sport, I realized that it is a push from start to finish in this race called triathlon.  I had tried in races past but often fell short of what I wanted, which, was to give the race everything I had.  

Knowing I was far behind the swim pack and all on my own, my brain had a lot of chatter, and some of it negative.  I learned to swim just over 3 years ago, and yesterday was the first day I was able to push all through 3.8kms of swim and I have never been more proud for doing so.  I have to say though, to the people who were cooking bacon on their houseboats out there, that was a small bit of torture.  And I’m a vegetarian.  I'm not sure we want to back on the water next year or not.....maybe we do :)

The bike course is ravishingly beautiful and just as ravishingly tough.  Whatever you give with your legs on this course, also seems to be taken away from them somewhere between the Yellow Lake climb and that sweet moment you know you’re in for the big descent.  Again, my only goal was to push from the minute I got on my bike, and man, is that tough.  I have never focused so much on keeping my legs going around in a circle.  At times, I was not convinced that I would make it up those last few hills because my legs now felt like some type of swiss cheese / cement hybrid variety.

The run is always my favourite but as I said I usually arrive feeling fresh and full of hope.  I made it out the first mile and then promptly came to a dead halt.  The dreaded multi muscle full leg cramp.  And then it started to dawn on me, this is what it means to be a triathlete.  This is one continuum of 3 different events that really are just one event.  So I stood there, bent over, stretching, thinking I might not even be able to finish this race.  My favourite race.  I had to finish.  So, I started moving forward, as many of you did yesterday, in the best way I could, but certainly not in the way I had planned.  I ran on eggshells for 40 kms, worried that one misstep would snap my legs in some Cirque du Soliel maneuver and have me rolling into the ditch on Eastside road.

But I made it.  And I made it because of the support of dedicated roadside fans, other racers, total strangers, and my friends and family.  People who are racing and suffering that still manage to scream encouragement at me as I go by - I am in awe of these people.  What you said meant the world to me.  

There is no better finish line than the finish ‘lap’ along Lakeshore Drive in Penticton.  I have raced in Hawaii and although it was wonderful, there is nothing like coming home to Penticton, and hearing Steve King’s voice on the microphone, calling you in.

And I am very proud to say I have finally figured out what it means to be a triathlete, and thankfully it feels pretty wonderful, because it is balancing out how not wonderful my body feels right now.

So Penticton, I thank you, as I have just been given one of the happiest moments of my life.  You are a gem and will always be.  

Thank you and congratulations to all competitors, volunteers and community supporters of this year’s 2012 Ironman Canada.

                           ______________________________________________________

Ladies and gentlemen, hold your horses!

I just wanted to say a race report is coming and thanks very much for your patience!  I've been completely overwhelmed by all the support and congratulations and will happily get down to writing my Ironman Canada race recap on the weekend!  You can take a peek at a pre-race interview here:

Pre race Ironman Canada interview with Shaw TV

And a quick video race recap here:

Ironman Canada 2012 Wrap video

Stay tuned!

38 things you should know about Ironman Canada

Why 38 reasons?  Well, I'm number 38 this year, so it just seemed like the right thing to do!

1. Ironically, I think it was 38 C last year.  It also hailed for 38 minutes the year before.  Be prepared to not be prepared for weather.

2. The swim is straight and easy.  The water is warm.  There are two huge targets to swim to, one mountain on the out, one solitary tall hotel on the return.

3. There may be scuba divers in the water around the big buoy turns - they're friendly and might be waving.  Do not freak out these are nice people :)

4. Rumours are true - tacks are often thrown out on course in the morning in the section after Maclean Creek hill to the highway stretch to Oosoyos.  I saw a lot of age groupers with flats in this section last year, but not as much the year before, so it can vary.  This is really unfortunate but try to stick to some heads up riding and scan the road for debris and avoid it.  You shouldn't have your head down into MC Hammertime yet anyways.  This is one of the most beautiful sections of the course.

5. You need to feed yourself on the hills of the bike course.  Don't wait to eat because the hills can go on for much longer than a food/drink interval should be.

6. This out-and-back section that you do in Cawston is not the mind f#%^ everyone says it is.  It's actually a lovely place to cycle, and you get to make some turns, which is nice after riding straight for most of the course.  You get to stretch out a bit, grab your special needs, and break up the last section of the course.

7. There will be a guy with a 'smile if you peed your pants today' sign.  Always smile :)

8. Get excited for the climb up to Yellow Lake.  People surround you both sides Tour de France style.  It is such a boost.  Smile and show your thanks for all these awesome friends and family of Ironman Canada.  They love to make people happy!

9. The last 20k of the ride is all essentially downhill.  If you need anything nutrition wise, make sure you know where the last aid station is before the descent.  After that you're on your own, and I think the last 20k is a good place to get in an extra gel, and some extra fluids.

10. The race has wetsuit strippers and transition at IMC is one of the most simple, straightforward, and comfortable transitions I've seen.  Take a walk through with one of the volunteers and ask them how it works, they're always happy to help.

11.  Please wear sunscreen for this race.  It is often full sun all day and there is almost no shade on this course for the entire day.  There have always been sunscreen smotherers out of T1 in my experience.  Just shout for sunscreen and they'll come slathering :)

12. If you get a chance to meet the announcer, Steve King.  Say hi.  He is a fantastically devoted person to our sport and unbelievably positive and a true force of endurance on race day.  He is the first voice you'll hear on race morning and also your last as you cross the line.  His voice is a total comfort to me during race day.

13. The run has a great combo of flats and climbs.  The middle 'half' of the race is quite technical (in other words, hilly), but it gives you little goals to get up and over, and I think that helps.  Your last 10k is basically a gentle uphill for about half of it and then downhill all the way to the end.

14.  There have been some complaints that the back half of the run course is quiet.  It's true, it is.  But it's a good time for you to just focus on what you're doing and keep up the pace.  If you're working hard, you won't be able to do much sightseeing for fans anyways.  But don't worry, you'll get a great boost at the OK falls turnaround - plus your special needs bag - and lots of cheers!

15.  There is one exception out on the 'quiet' part of the run course - for anyone who raced last year they may remember the very attractive dancing girls on the boat?  Simply awesome!  I think a few guys were tempted to jump into the lake and go party with the girls, but I have to say, their spirit was contagious and we all loved it.  Hope you're there this year ladies!!  And maybe you can bring some dancing men as well :)  Just sayin'....

16. If it's hot (it likely will be), I have 6 words of advice: "The ice goes in your pants".

17. If you're thristy (likely you will be), I have another 4 words of advice: "Don't suck the sponges".

18. Thinking back to the bike, don't get caught up in racing towards Osooyos (the start of the first climb - Richters' Pass).  People tend to derby right out of the gate and guaranteed you will be saying hello to these people before they ever get to Keremeos. (the 2/3 mark).

19. Wave at the kids.  There are kids all over this course cheering you on.  If they are looking for high fives, give 'em some.  It's a long day and they are out there hoping to make your day better.  It is worth the extra 3 steps to the side.  And it's a good stretch for your pecs.  The kids will go crazy!

20. The creativity that goes into the signs people will hold up on the run course are priceless.  Make sure you take a look.

21. Go to the carbo dinner.  The food is good, there is lots of it, they manage the line ups very well, and it is so inspiring to listen to Steve King talk about the history of the race.  Watch out for the Dickheads. You'll see what I mean.

22. If you didn't already know, this is the 30th anniversary of Ironman Canada and this is a big deal to the community that has supported it for 30 years.  It really is the community that makes this race.  It's their land, their water, their hands holding the cups of ice for you.  I feel honoured to be a part of it.  I hope you do too.

23. If you see a tall bald guy with #745 on his bib, I'm really, really trying to beat him this year.  I want a fair race, but I wouldn't be adverse to you stealing his ice cups.  His name is Carl.  He is my Ironman nemesis.

24. Be an honest racer.  Don't draft.  Even if you see other people doing it.  Don't do it.  Stay true to everything you trained for for the past year.

25. If you swim 1:05 or faster, please start as close to the front as you can take.  I was around a 1:05 swimmer last year and I made the mistake of starting in the middle.  I swam into slower people in front of me, and then got swam over (yes, literally) by people charging up from behind.  Bad scene.  I just needed to be more confident and stand up front.

26.  If you are slower or nervous, start on the sides.  There is lots of room out there to escape and take a breather if you need.  I am still uncomfortable in the water at times and a 'pro', so don't beat yourself up about feeling nervous about this swim.  It's ok.  You'll be ok too.  And you'll get a a rip roaring draft to suck you all the way around the course - you will do great!  Just be nice to your neighbours and they will likely be nice to you too.  And if you get bonked, laugh and roll on.  My best races have started with a punch to the face.

27. This is a hot and hilly course, usually with lots of wind.  So you will get sucked dry of fluids pretty quickly because sweat will evaporate quickly.  Drink early and as often as you need, and like I said, you will have to drink on some uphills and some downs.

28. Other people in the race are always ready to share a few words of commiseration with you when you need it the most.  Encourage them and they'll do the same.  You can get pretty self involved when you're hurting and focusing on yourself.  There have been a few guys out there who have made me break out into laughter and for me, it totally helps 'reset' a runner ticker of sometimes negative thoughts.

29. You have to run past the finish line before you run to it!  Some people hate it - I love it!  The road is packed full of cheer-ers, the lake is right there, it's maybe the best finish line I've run across.  And Steve King will be there, calling you home.

30. You're going to do better than you think you will.  This course is tough, but even more so, it's rewarding.  Ironman is so much more mental than physical, and this course is a gift to you in the spirit department.

31. The descents down the backsides of the climbs are fast, but they are also straight and safe.  Give your fellow bikers a little extra space when you're zooming along at 80km/h.  You don't want to be surprised by a rogue bottle launch.  Oh, and don't be the dork that passed me on the right hand side last year.

32.  This year I am putting an emergency pair of cut off tube socks that might double as arm warmers in my special needs bag for situations like said hail storm in point #1.

33.  Penticton is home to the best peaches I have ever tasted in my life.  Buy a whole box.  I am generally fuelled by race day by about 10 lbs of peaches.

34. Same goes for the wine - a little wine tasting before your race is not going to throw you off your game.  It's a lovely way to relax and spend time with the people that support you.  You should perhaps consider buying them a bottle of wine :) or two :)

35. There are some serious downhill sections on the run.  Don't brake, just lean forward, look downhill, and spin your legs quickly down the hills, it will be good for your cadence & will wake your legs up a bit.

36. If you like solid food in your special needs bag, pack a couple completely different options, you never know what you might want.  And put a CO2 cartridge and a tube in there too, just in case.

37. Once you reach the Cherry Lane Shopping centre area of the run home, it's time to give it everything you've got.  I don't know how far it is, maybe 5km, maybe less, but it's time to push.

38.  Have fun.  This will be one of the greatest races you'll ever do.  There will be patches where you'll feel desperate, a bit raw, maybe frustrated, but you'll make it through.  When I did my first Ironman, which was IMC, by the time I hit the end of the lake section of the run I teared up a bit, because I knew the race was coming to an end.  I didn't want it to be over, after dreaming about it for a year.  But then, when I stepped over the finish line, I was proud to stop and smile and throw my arms over the army of catchers at the finish line.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I have.  After going to Kona last year, if you gave me the choice of one one Ironman to pick between the two, it would be Ironman Canada.

It will always be Ironman Canada.

I can't wait to race at home :)

xo
gillian