So the September 24 bid submission date for IMC2013 has come and gone. And now its time for me to do a quick round up of who has tossed their hat into the ring. I'll try and put together a comprehensive list of municipalities and info here, and if anyone has any other inside info they'd like to share, please feel free to add it into the comments below.
Without further ado, the bids (that we know of);
- Kamloops- Kamloops has tossed their hat in the ring and if you're an athlete in Western Canada, whether your sport is soccer, hockey, swimming, or any other, you've probably been to Kamloops once or twice. Dubbing itself the Tournament Capital of Canada, the city has played host to tens of thousands of athletes over the years and has found a niche in providing hospitality and support for athletics of all levels. Nestled in the heart of BC, a race in Kamloops could mimic the feel of Ironman Canada from years past while keeping a safe distance from Challenge Penticton and not splitting the market. Kamloops would rightfully be a front runner for the race if you ask me. More on Kamloops' bid here.
- Kelowna- Kelowna has submitted a bit and basically had to submit a bit almost by default. Ironman Canada was originally offered to the city of Kelowna some thirty years ago but they turned it down. I'm sure some would see this as an opportunity to make right on that ill fated decision. Less than an hour north of Penticton, Kelowna would be a shoe in for the race and an easy switch for many athletes. The city already hosts the Kelowna Apple Triathlon and the addition of IMC could be a blessing and a curse for Canada's top short course triathlon. My biggest gripe with Kelowna as a potential host it that it really does split the market and puts one race in direct competition with the other. The course would be familiar, and it would be beautiful, but this is one suitor that I'm not so sure of. More on Kelowna's bid here.
- Muskoka- Muskoka with the full support of the town of Huntsville and the surrounding areas has submitted a bit to WTC to host IMC2013. What Muskoka has going for it is its proven track record of being able to host world class events and triathlons including; Muskoka 70.3, Subaru Muskoka 5i50, and a couple of the Multisport Canada series triathlons. Going against Muskoka is its proximity to Mont Tremblant and several other major IM events on the east coast. WTC has expressed a desire to keep IMC in Alberta or BC, but who knows, a lot of those races sell out very quickly and with a strong compelling bid perhaps IMC could go east. More on Muskoka's bid here.
- Vernon - Vernon was one of the first cities to outwardly express interest in hosting IMC. Though the support wasn't unanimous, the city does see the opportunities and exposure that comes with hosting an event of this magnitude. This is one of the smallest municipalities to be submitting a bid and the race would likely draw on surrounding communities for support in terms of volunteers, logistics, and course routing. That being said, Penticton and Vernon are both pretty small towns, and one thing that I really like about Penticton as a host to this sort of event is that the whole town gets right into the race, something I think that would happen in Vernon as well. You can actually find more info on the route specifics from Vernon's bid right here. I like Vernon as a contender but worry that it could be tight for accommodations similar to Penticton, which could be a big strike against. Additional reading on this bid is also available here.
- Victoria- Victoria has submitted a bit put together by SportHost Victoria and Tourism Victoria. The route would be scenic and involve 10 of 13 municipalities in the Greater Victoria area. No stranger to top level sports with athletes such as Ryder Hesjedal and Simon Whitfield calling the island home, Victoria would be a more than suitable host for an event such as IMC. The island has ample accommodations to support a race of this magnitude, though getting to the island via ferry or flight can be awkward for some. With a strong bid, I'd expect Victoria to be a top contender for the race. More on Vic's bid here.
- Whistler - Considered to be an early favourite by many, of course Whistler has submitted a bid to play host to Ironman Canada. With Mont Tremblant's unbridled success as a ski resort hosting an IM and a 70.3, and Whistler's world class hosting of some 2010 Winter Olympic events, its hard to dispute this popular west coast ski resort as a front runner for IMC2013. Though the logistics wouldn't be without challenges as there aren't many large lakes in the area and those in the vicinity can be quite chilly. I've also heard from locals that the transition and spectator areas might be a bit tricky. But IM Coeur d'Alene seems to be able to overcome its issues with cool water temps, and Whistler wouldn't be the first venue that's had to get creative with its transitions and spectator viewing areas. The resort town has no shortage of empty hotel rooms at that time of year, and is outdoorsy as they come, so this could be it. More on Whistler's bid here.
The Mystery City - Steve Meckfessel, managing director of the World Triathlon Corporation, told Vernon's Kiss FM that they received seven bids before Monday's deadline, but he wasn't prepared to name the other contenders. I've listed six of the seven bidding cities here and haven't been able to figure who's the mystery city. Noticeably missing from the list is Calgary. I speculated on Calgary being a contender for IMC2013 a couple of times here and on Twitter and maintain that it would be a good easy fit to play host to IMC based on its existing relationships with WTC, WTC's late penchant towards moving major races to cities, and Alberta/Calgary tourism aggressively marketing the province. but according to Triathlon Magazine Canada, Tourism Calgary did not submit a bid. Is Calgary out of the running? Or with Ironman Calgary 70.3 did the bid go through an entirely different channel?
We'll know soon enough who is on the short list for IMC2013 as municipalities expect to know by the end of this week whether they have made the shortlist for hosting. An official announcement to where IMC will take place next year is expected in early to mid October, I would expect around the timing of the Ironman World Championships in Kona on October 13.
Weigh in on which of these cities you would like to see host IMC2013 on my poll in the right hand column.
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Ironman from the other side of the finish line
I meant to write this blog post a couple of weeks ago but with all the commotion around Ironman Canada and Lance Armstrong I never really got around to it.
This year at the 30th and final Ironman Canada held in Penticton, BC, I had the opportunity to volunteer as a finish line catcher. I raced IMC last year and decided pretty shortly thereafter that because of other life commitments I would not be racing the Ironman distance again in 2012. But still wanting to be a part of the experience, and wanting to give back to the sport and race that gave me so much, I decided I'd volunteer with Shirley as a catcher.
The role of the catcher at Ironman is to wait at the finish line to guide, aid, and sometimes literally catch finishers as they cross the line. Having done the race I'm grateful to every single volunteer on the course, from the first volunteer who packs my race goodie bag days before the cannon blows, to the last volunteer taking down the finish line hours after the finish, and every volunteer in between, I'm grateful. But the catcher waiting at the finish line to say "congratulations, we're going to make sure you're looked after now", was the one who stood apart for me last year.
So taking up that role this year was a special experience for me and I made a lot of cool observations.
We started our shift shortly before the 10hr triathletes came in, generally the fastest of the age groupers. The energy in the last few minutes as the clock ticks towards the double digits is amazing. The crowd begged and willed the last couple guys to come in at 9:59:XX and you could see the athletes were laying it all out on the line for those few seconds. Its hard not to feel a little jealous of the athletes out on the course breaking that barrier when you yourself are a triathlete.
Volunteering at the finish line you see people come in shaping up all across the board. A lot of the guys we caught were in great shape save for a little exhaustion and dehydration. The athletes were a little tired obviously, but we didn't have anyone faint or throw up. I know some of the other catchers weren't so lucky as the worst cases are generally fainters or people letting up all the fluid they'd taken in for the past couple hours. As you catch your athlete and ask how they're doing you're always on your toes as things can go from good to bad in just a few seconds, sometimes as soon as they cross the line, and sometimes a full 15 minutes after they finish.
You see a lot of people come across the line after sprinting the last hundred meters, and suddenly the switch shuts off and they need your help to simply stay upright. At one point the head nurse was yelling into the face of an athlete to stay conscious while 3 or 4 volunteers held him up. Another athlete barely crossed the line and then needed to cling to the finish arch to keep from falling. The worst we saw was a lady who crossed the line and went straight down, and had to be carried straight to medical. It really makes one wonder, why do we do this?
But then you see the other side of it. I don't know what it was but my eyes welled up with tears when I saw one athlete just break ten hours and cut straight through a line of waiting catchers to his pregnant wife. He gave her a big hug over the fence and all she said "I'm so proud of you baby", and all of the sudden I could feel a strange salty discharge filling my eyes. Another athlete, my friend Shayne, grabbed the finish tape in triumph as he crossed the IM line for the first time, the expression on his face for a half second can only be described as 50% yelling, 50% sobbing. That's when it all started to come back, that's when I remembered why we do this, to simply commit yourself to an accomplishment, for whatever reason, and to achieve it.
I can also see why people come back time and time again to volunteer. So many of the athletes we caught were so appreciative that we were there to help them, I was simply floored by the overwhelming gratitude expressed for the volunteers. When someone has been racing for 13 hours and all they can do is eat, drink water, and say thank you a thousand times over, you feel pretty special.
Oddly enough, and I have to note this, Shirley and I caught a disproportionate number of Texans. And I've got to take my hat off to them, the Texans we caught were incredibly gracious, and on average probably the furthest from fainting or throwing up of all the athletes we caught in the 5 hours. So props to you guys, you did your state proud, and your grace, resolve, and acclimatization to hot weather did not go unnoticed.
Having finally been on the other side of things, volunteering, I'd like to express my gratitude once more to all the wonderful, giving, and caring people who volunteer their time to support amateur sport. Without you races like IMC, and so many other sports, simply wouldn't happen. Whether its a local charity 5km, Ironman, or the Olympics, volunteers make the world of sport go round, and for that, I take my hat off to you and say thank you.
.JPG) |
| Lululemon Cheer Squad on Lakeshore Drive |
The role of the catcher at Ironman is to wait at the finish line to guide, aid, and sometimes literally catch finishers as they cross the line. Having done the race I'm grateful to every single volunteer on the course, from the first volunteer who packs my race goodie bag days before the cannon blows, to the last volunteer taking down the finish line hours after the finish, and every volunteer in between, I'm grateful. But the catcher waiting at the finish line to say "congratulations, we're going to make sure you're looked after now", was the one who stood apart for me last year.
So taking up that role this year was a special experience for me and I made a lot of cool observations.
We started our shift shortly before the 10hr triathletes came in, generally the fastest of the age groupers. The energy in the last few minutes as the clock ticks towards the double digits is amazing. The crowd begged and willed the last couple guys to come in at 9:59:XX and you could see the athletes were laying it all out on the line for those few seconds. Its hard not to feel a little jealous of the athletes out on the course breaking that barrier when you yourself are a triathlete.
Volunteering at the finish line you see people come in shaping up all across the board. A lot of the guys we caught were in great shape save for a little exhaustion and dehydration. The athletes were a little tired obviously, but we didn't have anyone faint or throw up. I know some of the other catchers weren't so lucky as the worst cases are generally fainters or people letting up all the fluid they'd taken in for the past couple hours. As you catch your athlete and ask how they're doing you're always on your toes as things can go from good to bad in just a few seconds, sometimes as soon as they cross the line, and sometimes a full 15 minutes after they finish.
You see a lot of people come across the line after sprinting the last hundred meters, and suddenly the switch shuts off and they need your help to simply stay upright. At one point the head nurse was yelling into the face of an athlete to stay conscious while 3 or 4 volunteers held him up. Another athlete barely crossed the line and then needed to cling to the finish arch to keep from falling. The worst we saw was a lady who crossed the line and went straight down, and had to be carried straight to medical. It really makes one wonder, why do we do this?
But then you see the other side of it. I don't know what it was but my eyes welled up with tears when I saw one athlete just break ten hours and cut straight through a line of waiting catchers to his pregnant wife. He gave her a big hug over the fence and all she said "I'm so proud of you baby", and all of the sudden I could feel a strange salty discharge filling my eyes. Another athlete, my friend Shayne, grabbed the finish tape in triumph as he crossed the IM line for the first time, the expression on his face for a half second can only be described as 50% yelling, 50% sobbing. That's when it all started to come back, that's when I remembered why we do this, to simply commit yourself to an accomplishment, for whatever reason, and to achieve it.
I can also see why people come back time and time again to volunteer. So many of the athletes we caught were so appreciative that we were there to help them, I was simply floored by the overwhelming gratitude expressed for the volunteers. When someone has been racing for 13 hours and all they can do is eat, drink water, and say thank you a thousand times over, you feel pretty special.
.JPG) |
| It ain't easy. |
Having finally been on the other side of things, volunteering, I'd like to express my gratitude once more to all the wonderful, giving, and caring people who volunteer their time to support amateur sport. Without you races like IMC, and so many other sports, simply wouldn't happen. Whether its a local charity 5km, Ironman, or the Olympics, volunteers make the world of sport go round, and for that, I take my hat off to you and say thank you.
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Ironman Canada vs Challenge Penticton- Part II
So its been about a week since I posted on Ironman Canada vs Challenge Penticton and I can certainly tell from the web traffic and all the comments the post has received that its an issue a lot of people feel very strongly about. The topic has been pretty divisive with supporters for both sides spread across first timers and seasoned vets alike. Whether you're for or against the changes I have to say its refreshing to see this sort of response to the topic, it shows the passion and dedication to the sport that I think really characterizes triathletes.
I thought I'd post a quick update on how things seem to be coming along for the future of Ironman Canada. A disclaimer right away though, a lot of this is based on rumour and conjecture, WTC has been pretty tight lipped around the process for where IMC is going to land. So I'll start with what I know and then I'll work my way into the heresay.
Challenge Penticton
Registration for Challenge Penticton is open and they're signing people up for next August. They actually had a registration area set up in the Convenction Centre in Penticton after IMC last week. From what I read and heard it sounds like it was a well put together sign up with the Challenge Family CEO Felix Walchshöfer on hand to personally thank people for their trust and registrations. Athletes who signed up last week in Penticton received a special loyalty price of $599 (online registration is now $675). As a side note, the Challenge series has a decent refund policy with full refunds offered for 60 days after sign up, after which there is a $100 cancellation fee for athletes up to 30 days before the race.
The Challenge series has been doing their social media work to get the race out there with sponsored Facebook ads, an active Twitter feed, and a pretty sweet YouTube video on their website specific to Penticton.
The series is definitely taking their debut in the North American market seriously and I do think this bodes well for next year's Challenge Penticton. We all know Challenge is a very well run race series and they know how important it is that they be well received in their inaugural event on our soil. Whether it'll be enough to sway some of their detractors remains yet to be seen, but you have to admit, they get points for effort.
Ironman Canada 2013
So now starts the speculation.
Its been reported in Triathlon Magazine Canada and the Vernon Morning Star that municipalities have been given until September 24, 2012 to submit proposals to the WTC to host Ironman Canada. An announcement is expected to be made by October.
A number of BC municipalities were put forward in the Triathlon Magazine Canada article including Vernon, Whistler, Victoria, Vancouver, and Kelowna. To me that just sounds like a list of towns and cities in BC and I'd expect that only two or three of them are actually being seriously considered.
In order to put on an event the type and the size of Ironman Canada there are a number of pretty major considerations that need to be accounted for. "Borzoibob" on the slowtwitch forums actually summarized a few of the logical criteria quite well pointing out that considerations like; lake and transition area size, proximity to major trauma centre, availability of volunteer and traffic control resources, and spectator friendliness might actually rule out a few communities straight out of the gate (probably Vernon and Whistler, maybe even Victoria if you think of how awkward it can be to get to).
Kelowna does keep popping up in the lists, but I've heard that they aren't interested. They already have the Kelowna Apple Triathlon which is an important race in the Canadian triathlon calendar with its own heritage. Opening the doors to Ironman in Kelowna might be a bit of another headache for locals, and it could hurt Apple, and of course it does split the Ironman market between Penticton and Kelowna, given that the timing of Ironman Canada 2013 will still be August/September. It seems to be Kelowna and Ironman Canada might be one of those perfect relationships in another set of circumstances, but not this time.
In my last post I speculated about Calgary 70.3 being converted to an Ironman. It still makes sense and given the WTC's penchant for moving races to big cities, it could be an easy answer, perhaps even as an interim 2013 location. I say Calgary and not Vancouver just because Calgary already plays host to an event and it seems like the relationships are already in place with the City of Calgary to host this type of event. Vancouver on the other hand would require starting from scratch with a city that while beautiful, already leaves something to be desired in terms of urban planning.
Conclusion
No matter what, it seems like the date has been set and this October we'll know where Ironman Canada will make its new home. I'll be watching this with a keen eye and keep you all posted on anything I hear.
I thought I'd post a quick update on how things seem to be coming along for the future of Ironman Canada. A disclaimer right away though, a lot of this is based on rumour and conjecture, WTC has been pretty tight lipped around the process for where IMC is going to land. So I'll start with what I know and then I'll work my way into the heresay.
Challenge Penticton
Registration for Challenge Penticton is open and they're signing people up for next August. They actually had a registration area set up in the Convenction Centre in Penticton after IMC last week. From what I read and heard it sounds like it was a well put together sign up with the Challenge Family CEO Felix Walchshöfer on hand to personally thank people for their trust and registrations. Athletes who signed up last week in Penticton received a special loyalty price of $599 (online registration is now $675). As a side note, the Challenge series has a decent refund policy with full refunds offered for 60 days after sign up, after which there is a $100 cancellation fee for athletes up to 30 days before the race.
The Challenge series has been doing their social media work to get the race out there with sponsored Facebook ads, an active Twitter feed, and a pretty sweet YouTube video on their website specific to Penticton.
The series is definitely taking their debut in the North American market seriously and I do think this bodes well for next year's Challenge Penticton. We all know Challenge is a very well run race series and they know how important it is that they be well received in their inaugural event on our soil. Whether it'll be enough to sway some of their detractors remains yet to be seen, but you have to admit, they get points for effort.
Ironman Canada 2013
So now starts the speculation.
Its been reported in Triathlon Magazine Canada and the Vernon Morning Star that municipalities have been given until September 24, 2012 to submit proposals to the WTC to host Ironman Canada. An announcement is expected to be made by October.
A number of BC municipalities were put forward in the Triathlon Magazine Canada article including Vernon, Whistler, Victoria, Vancouver, and Kelowna. To me that just sounds like a list of towns and cities in BC and I'd expect that only two or three of them are actually being seriously considered.
In order to put on an event the type and the size of Ironman Canada there are a number of pretty major considerations that need to be accounted for. "Borzoibob" on the slowtwitch forums actually summarized a few of the logical criteria quite well pointing out that considerations like; lake and transition area size, proximity to major trauma centre, availability of volunteer and traffic control resources, and spectator friendliness might actually rule out a few communities straight out of the gate (probably Vernon and Whistler, maybe even Victoria if you think of how awkward it can be to get to).
Kelowna does keep popping up in the lists, but I've heard that they aren't interested. They already have the Kelowna Apple Triathlon which is an important race in the Canadian triathlon calendar with its own heritage. Opening the doors to Ironman in Kelowna might be a bit of another headache for locals, and it could hurt Apple, and of course it does split the Ironman market between Penticton and Kelowna, given that the timing of Ironman Canada 2013 will still be August/September. It seems to be Kelowna and Ironman Canada might be one of those perfect relationships in another set of circumstances, but not this time.
In my last post I speculated about Calgary 70.3 being converted to an Ironman. It still makes sense and given the WTC's penchant for moving races to big cities, it could be an easy answer, perhaps even as an interim 2013 location. I say Calgary and not Vancouver just because Calgary already plays host to an event and it seems like the relationships are already in place with the City of Calgary to host this type of event. Vancouver on the other hand would require starting from scratch with a city that while beautiful, already leaves something to be desired in terms of urban planning.
Conclusion
No matter what, it seems like the date has been set and this October we'll know where Ironman Canada will make its new home. I'll be watching this with a keen eye and keep you all posted on anything I hear.
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Ironman Canada vs Challenge Penticton
So the cat is out of the bag. Last week, only a few days before IMC, news broke that Ironman Canada as we know it in the beautiful city of Penticton would be no more. In 2013 Penticton will reprise its roll as host to iron distance triathletes from around the world, only this time it will be under the Challenge Penticton name.
I spent the weekend in Penticton volunteering and had the opportunity to talk to triathletes and some of those "in the know" individuals who were privy to information before it hit the triathlon newstands. The reaction around in the community was pretty mixed from both locals and visiting athletes. On the one hand some people are happy that the reigns to Penticton's darling race won't fall into the clutches of the oft derided World Triathlon Corporation, but on the other hand it means losing the universally regarded Ironman name.
A rose by any other name...
Let me make myself clear on one thing, the Challange family puts on amazing races. I have yet to race one myself, but I've rarely heard an ill word spoken about Challenge. There are many Ironman veterans who are happy to see the series hit North American shores and are looking forward to racing southern BC's tried, tested and true Iron distance course. The warm waters of Lake Okanagan will still be there in 2013, Richter and Yellow Lake will still be there in 2013, and most importantly the kind and inviting people of Penticton will still be cheering for athletes in 2013. A change in the name won't take that away, to quote Shakespere, "A rose by any other name would smell as sweet".
All that being said, I don't think that Challenge Penticton 2013 will be better than Ironman Canada 2012. I think it'll be different, not better or worse, just different. Graham Fraser has put on a top notch race for many years now and has set the bar for what an Ironman race should be. Racing IMC last year was everything I could have possibly imagined thanks to the town, volunteers, organizers, and athletes. I know there were some missteps last year with issues around the medals and water but I think that those challenges were presented by circumstances somewhat outside the Race Director's control. After the fact Graham went well beyond what was called for to make things right, and that's the kind of director we all know him to be. He deserves our thanks and respect for everything he's done for anyone, athlete or otherwise, who has become part of the Ironman Canada family.
Looking forward
Without the Kona slots, the Ironman name, and the mass start, but with additions like a relay option, I think that Challenge will have a very different feel to it. Many first timers will no doubt be put off by the loss of the Ironman name and I don't blame them. If I was coming into this for my first time in 2013, as soon as I heard the news I would have signed up for Ironman Coeur d'Alene or Ironman Mont Tremblant. So Penticton will lose some age groupers on that end, but hopefully that is countered by athletes testing the waters with the relay option, which is an exciting addition to the field.
On the other side of the spectrum, the loss of Kona slots means that some of the top pros and age groupers won't be making an appearance next year in Penticton either. Now with news that next year's yet to be located Ironman Canada will have 100 Kona qualifying slots and 5000 pro KQ points, IMC 2013 might be the place to be for some of the top athletes around.
Ironman Canada 2013
I'm eagerly awaiting the news on where Ironman Canada 2013 will be. A 3.8km swim in Green Lake in Whistler, followed by a 180km bike ride down the Sea to Sky Highway through Vancouver to transition in the Campbell Valley Regional in White Rock, finished off with a marathon run into into Richmond, would be a fast, epic race, albeit a complete nightmare in terms of logistics.
Otherwise, the Ironman Calgary 70.3 bike route could very easily be modified to 180km with an out and back down Highway 66 up to Elbow Falls. The run course could be similar to that of the Calgary Marathon route but starting at the south side of the Glenmore Reservoir where the current run course turns around. In this case the race could lean on existing agreements and permitting, and the logistics would be familiar to RD's and the host city. A bike segment into the majestic Rocky Mountains, and a run through downtown Calgary would make the route one of the most beautiful and varying routes in North America.
And of course there is Kelowna. The city which was originally offered Ironman Canada thirty years ago may now have a second chance. This would almost surely be a direct response to Challenge Penticton, and may cut the race at the knees. For this reason alone I'm actually hoping southern BC doesn't play host to WTC's revival of IMC. More races in western Canada is a good thing, and I hope that WTC realizes that the region can support three races including IMCDA without undercutting one another.
Decisions Decisions
If there's ever a time or place to be as a triathlete in Western Canada, its now. I'd originally put my plans to race the Ironman distance again on hold until at least 2014, in favour of Olympic and 70.3 distances. After a of year of keeping my athlete life carefully balanced against my personal life, the plan was to go back down to shorter distances and build speed, seeing how far I could take myself with a year of very intense and focused training, and hopefully win myself a ticket to 70.3 worlds in Vegas. But after spending the weekend volunteering at IMC, and with the prospect of racing an all new course, I can't help but be excited at the idea of changing the plan and going back to Ironman next year.
As always, I'd encourage others to look at their plans, and maybe put themselves out there a little in terms of where and what you see your goals for 2013 are. This really is a great time for the sport and whether you're racing the inaugural Challenge Penticton, or reborn Ironman Canada, this may be your calling.
Closing Time
By chance I ran into the always gracious and kind Ron Zalko and his wife last Saturday in Penticton. Ron was the visionary athlete who first brought Ironman to Penticton, and North America. When looking for a course, he sought a location that mirrored the challenging and rewarding conditions of Kona. He found it, and with the help of Graham Fraser for the past thirty years the finish line at Lakeshore Drive has become hallowed ground for tens of thousands of Ironman triathletes including myself. The number of dreams that have been realized and memories that have been formed on the course of Ironman Canada thanks to these gentlemen can't be counted.
So as the reigns are passed to the Challenge family, and Penticton says a bittersweet goodbye to Ironman Canada, I think its fitting to say thank you to Graham Fraser and Ron Zalko, and the residents of Penticton for the countless cheers and memories that they've left with us.
I spent the weekend in Penticton volunteering and had the opportunity to talk to triathletes and some of those "in the know" individuals who were privy to information before it hit the triathlon newstands. The reaction around in the community was pretty mixed from both locals and visiting athletes. On the one hand some people are happy that the reigns to Penticton's darling race won't fall into the clutches of the oft derided World Triathlon Corporation, but on the other hand it means losing the universally regarded Ironman name.
A rose by any other name...
 |
| Hoping I don't need to write this down again |
All that being said, I don't think that Challenge Penticton 2013 will be better than Ironman Canada 2012. I think it'll be different, not better or worse, just different. Graham Fraser has put on a top notch race for many years now and has set the bar for what an Ironman race should be. Racing IMC last year was everything I could have possibly imagined thanks to the town, volunteers, organizers, and athletes. I know there were some missteps last year with issues around the medals and water but I think that those challenges were presented by circumstances somewhat outside the Race Director's control. After the fact Graham went well beyond what was called for to make things right, and that's the kind of director we all know him to be. He deserves our thanks and respect for everything he's done for anyone, athlete or otherwise, who has become part of the Ironman Canada family.
Looking forward
Without the Kona slots, the Ironman name, and the mass start, but with additions like a relay option, I think that Challenge will have a very different feel to it. Many first timers will no doubt be put off by the loss of the Ironman name and I don't blame them. If I was coming into this for my first time in 2013, as soon as I heard the news I would have signed up for Ironman Coeur d'Alene or Ironman Mont Tremblant. So Penticton will lose some age groupers on that end, but hopefully that is countered by athletes testing the waters with the relay option, which is an exciting addition to the field.
On the other side of the spectrum, the loss of Kona slots means that some of the top pros and age groupers won't be making an appearance next year in Penticton either. Now with news that next year's yet to be located Ironman Canada will have 100 Kona qualifying slots and 5000 pro KQ points, IMC 2013 might be the place to be for some of the top athletes around.
Ironman Canada 2013
I'm eagerly awaiting the news on where Ironman Canada 2013 will be. A 3.8km swim in Green Lake in Whistler, followed by a 180km bike ride down the Sea to Sky Highway through Vancouver to transition in the Campbell Valley Regional in White Rock, finished off with a marathon run into into Richmond, would be a fast, epic race, albeit a complete nightmare in terms of logistics.
Otherwise, the Ironman Calgary 70.3 bike route could very easily be modified to 180km with an out and back down Highway 66 up to Elbow Falls. The run course could be similar to that of the Calgary Marathon route but starting at the south side of the Glenmore Reservoir where the current run course turns around. In this case the race could lean on existing agreements and permitting, and the logistics would be familiar to RD's and the host city. A bike segment into the majestic Rocky Mountains, and a run through downtown Calgary would make the route one of the most beautiful and varying routes in North America.
And of course there is Kelowna. The city which was originally offered Ironman Canada thirty years ago may now have a second chance. This would almost surely be a direct response to Challenge Penticton, and may cut the race at the knees. For this reason alone I'm actually hoping southern BC doesn't play host to WTC's revival of IMC. More races in western Canada is a good thing, and I hope that WTC realizes that the region can support three races including IMCDA without undercutting one another.
Decisions Decisions
If there's ever a time or place to be as a triathlete in Western Canada, its now. I'd originally put my plans to race the Ironman distance again on hold until at least 2014, in favour of Olympic and 70.3 distances. After a of year of keeping my athlete life carefully balanced against my personal life, the plan was to go back down to shorter distances and build speed, seeing how far I could take myself with a year of very intense and focused training, and hopefully win myself a ticket to 70.3 worlds in Vegas. But after spending the weekend volunteering at IMC, and with the prospect of racing an all new course, I can't help but be excited at the idea of changing the plan and going back to Ironman next year.
As always, I'd encourage others to look at their plans, and maybe put themselves out there a little in terms of where and what you see your goals for 2013 are. This really is a great time for the sport and whether you're racing the inaugural Challenge Penticton, or reborn Ironman Canada, this may be your calling.
Closing Time
By chance I ran into the always gracious and kind Ron Zalko and his wife last Saturday in Penticton. Ron was the visionary athlete who first brought Ironman to Penticton, and North America. When looking for a course, he sought a location that mirrored the challenging and rewarding conditions of Kona. He found it, and with the help of Graham Fraser for the past thirty years the finish line at Lakeshore Drive has become hallowed ground for tens of thousands of Ironman triathletes including myself. The number of dreams that have been realized and memories that have been formed on the course of Ironman Canada thanks to these gentlemen can't be counted.
So as the reigns are passed to the Challenge family, and Penticton says a bittersweet goodbye to Ironman Canada, I think its fitting to say thank you to Graham Fraser and Ron Zalko, and the residents of Penticton for the countless cheers and memories that they've left with us.
Thank you.
(11/27/12) Edit- For an in depth comparison of the Ironman Canada and Challenge Penticton Bike Courses, check out this more recent blog post.
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Ironman Canada Bike Course - Updated
Its been a year since I rode the IMC bike course, but my memories of it are still pretty vivid. I still get quite a bit of interest on my blog around the IMC bike course for obvious reasons, so I thought I'd write a little revamp of what to expect on the course in two weeks.
Note: This post was originally written a few weeks before IMC2011 after I pre-rode the course. I've updated it to include some of my experiences from the actual race last year. At the bottom is also the Garmin file from the ride last year.
Edit: For a more in depth look at at the Ironman Canada and Challenge Penticton Bike Courses check out this post.
Note: This post was originally written a few weeks before IMC2011 after I pre-rode the course. I've updated it to include some of my experiences from the actual race last year. At the bottom is also the Garmin file from the ride last year.
For anyone who is doing Ironman Canada and won't have the luxury of riding the bike course before hand, I've come up with a few quick pointers based on my experience and the advice of others.
 |
| Perfect Ironman Strategy |
- If at any time during the ride you feel like you are going hard, you're going too hard. Listening to your body during IM can be pretty tricky. Out of the water and onto the bike you legs may not feel like they're really there yet, but give them about a half hour and they'll find you. The trick to a solid second half of the ride, and a solid run is listening closely to your body. That especially means your heart, your lungs, your legs. If you feel like you're going hard at all, you're going too hard.
- Be sure to hydrate. I usually take in about 750ml of fluid per hour and in 2011 that wasn't quite enough as the temperatures rose to about 37C down by Osoyoos. If the temperature this year is in the 20's you should be pretty safe to stick to your usual nutrition plan, but if it gets into the 30's be sure to up your fluid intake. By the time you're thirsty, you're already dehydrated and you could end up digging yourself a hole.
- The ride down to Osoyoos is fast and a slight downhill, if you find yourself cruising along at 40kph and your HR is relatively low, consider taking advantage of that time to hydrate and relax. The work starts at Richter, and you can start to build there. Also, depending on where you come out of the water, it could be a pretty crowded course while the field sorts itself out. How some triathletes handle their bikes still boggles my mind sometimes, so when you pass someone, make sure they know you're there by yelling "Left!" or "Passing left!".
- Take your time up Richter, its not as bad as people make it out to be if you have a plan. Be mentally strong here and be very patient. I'm a strong climber/cyclist but I made a point of sticking to my planned 200 watts up Richter. For me this meant I was climbing at about 9-10kph. For my friend Keith, an average cyclist/triathlete who was trying to stick to 160 watts, this meant climbing at 6-7kph. If you aren't racing with power, just climb at a pace where you can still hold a conversation with someone. Richter is way too early to be burning matches so if people are passing you, Keep Calm and Carry On.
- Learn to descend comfortably, it may be a little late for this less than 2 weeks out, but a couple rides with some long descents will do good to prepare you for the IMC course. Even if you just do the climbs and descents of the IMC course in the weeks before the race, you could save a couple minutes on the ride by being familiar with the long descents on the back of the Seven Sisters and Richter.
- On the rollers after Richter you may be tempted to try and take the momentum from the last descent and power over the crest of the hill to the next descent. Don't. These rollers are a little too long and few many to do this without burning up your legs. At the race last year I definitely played cat and mouse with a few Maillot a Pois Rouge wannabes. They would climb past me on the up, and I'd pedal past them on the down. The difference between my approach and theirs was I was shooting for steady power output up and down, where they were attacking the climb and not pedalling on the descent. Amateur hour, I didn't see most of them past the sixth roller until the finish line.
- The out and back kind of sucks. Its long and hot, and like any other out and back section of a looped race, it feels like you're only doing it to ride longer, which is exactly why its there. This will probably be your first and only glimpse of some of the people who are going to beat you handily. Buckle down mentally and think about why you're out here, think about crossing the finish line, and about everyone who is out there volunteering, cheering, and racing with you.
- The only good part about the out and back is that its where you get your special needs. If you're like me and are totally comfortable sticking to race course nutrition, consider throwing an extra tube and CO2 canister in your special needs. If you don't use it, thats $10 down the drain, if you need it but don't bring it, that could be 10 months training down the drain. Better to be wrong on the safe side.
- Not long after the out and back you'll approach the Yellow Lake Climb. It starts so gradually that you may not even notice you're starting to climb. Here and all over the course you should always be mindful of your power/HR/perceived exertion. There are a lot of false flats and a lot of sections where the terrain will deceive you into thinking you aren't climbing when you actually are and this is definitely one of them. This is a tough section, but near the top of Yellow Lake you'll come into a Tour de France style tunnel of cheers and fans. Relish that moment, if you're going to get out of the saddle at any time on that course, that's the place to do it.
- Save your energy for the run. At the end of the day, incremental power on the bike isn't as valuable as incremental power on the run simply because you're trying to overcome far more wind resistance when you're riding at 35kph, than when you're running at 10kph. Going 5% harder for 6 hours on the bike might mean you get out of the saddle 10 minutes sooner, but with that you end up shuffling for an extra hour on the run. Its not worth it, people rarely say "I wish I'd gone out harder on the bike", but often say "I had a great ride, but things fell apart on the run". The fact of the matter is that its all legs and its all related, so on a course like IMC, your patience on the bike will be rewarded on the run.
Edit: For a more in depth look at at the Ironman Canada and Challenge Penticton Bike Courses check out this post.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)