Thursday, August 30, 2012

Race Report!! The last post!!


   “Hold My hand, and walk joyously with Me through this day. Together we will savor the pleasures and endure the difficulties it brings. Be on the lookout for everything I have prepared for you: stunning scenery, bracing winds of adventure, cozy nooks for resting when you are weary, and much more. I am your Guide, as well as your constant Companion. I know every step of the journey ahead of you, all the way to heaven.

You don’t have to choose between staying close to Me and staying on course. Since I am the Way, staying close to Me is staying on course. As you focus your thoughts on Me, I will guide you carefully along today’s journey. Don’t worry about what is around the next bend. Just concentrate on enjoying My Presence and staying in step with Me.” (Devotion on verses John 14:6; Colossians 4:2) From Jesus Calling by Sarah Young

Bike check in
training ride to check out the hills
The night before the race I could barely sleep. I could hear Damien tossing and turning beside me so I knew he was feeling the same. I could also hear Josh crying and coughing with croup and I felt like a horrible mother that I wasn’t getting up to him. Instead that duty was passed on to my Mom and my sister and I will forever be grateful to them for their help!! I knew they had a long day ahead and it would be even longer with broken sleep. Damien and I had done bits of the course over the past couple days so I had an idea of what was ahead of us. The swim was still terrifying me! We had done a practice swim earlier that day and the water was very choppy. If it was still choppy in the morning then I’d be swallowing a lot of water in the race. On a brighter note we rode the hilliest part of the bike course and we found it very manageable!! All the training on rattlesnake point and 6th line paid off! Our bikes and gear bags were already checked in for race day but I still couldn’t sleep….
Checking our gear bags in on Saturday before the race
4:30am the alarm went off and it was a relief!! I wanted to get up and start the day!! After our wakeup showers Damien and I split duties – he was getting the prerace breakfast and coffee ready and I woke the kids and got them dressed. The boys were such troopers as I woke them up whispering “It’s race morning!”. They’ve been excited about this day for a long time so they didn’t complain too much! Damien and I headed down to the bike transition early and left the boys with our amazing supporters!!


Damien pumping his bike tires
Sooo nervous in the morning
The nervous energy in the bike transition can only be described as electrifying. You could feel it in the air and see it on everyone’s faces. I personally felt like I was going to throw up and kept looking at Damien to keep me calm. I felt so much relief that we were doing this together and that he was there to make sure my tire pressure was right and my bike was looking good. We were feeling pretty good about everything and then I remembered… our energy bars for the bike!!! We left them back at the condo in neat little bags ready to take with us!! I freaked out – Damien calmly called Sherra and asked Pat to run up to the condo and grab them for us. By this time they were already at the village so I want to give Pat a HUGE thank you for running back up to get them. Nutrition or lack of can make or break a race and we left ours behind!!
Our friend Derek on race morning



The boys in the morning
After getting our bikes ready we headed over to the main stage to be body marked. We saw all our supporters at this time – it felt so nice to see everyone!! All the kids were half asleep and very cold, but they were being so good and just staring at all the craziness around them!! My sister gave me a big hug then she noticed I had on my lululemon pants with an old sweater. She said “Kris – do you want to borrow my lululemon sweater so you will match?” At that point I was so nervous I was going to pass out and she wanted to make sure that I was matching!! I loved it so much and it reminded me of that awesome way that Sher cares. In the hospital with my Dad she always made sure that his major needs were looked after, but she also made sure the little things were in order too. She would take out her pedicure set and fix my Dad’s feet. She would take out the chapstick and make sure he wasn’t too dry. She always brought hand cream and made sure his skin was looked after. I knew this was Sher’s way of helping and I really appreciated it!
"I can do all things through Christ
who gives me strength" Philippians 4:13

The volunteer who body marked me asked me my age at the end of December this year. My mind was blank!! I was so nervous I forgot how old I was!! I think she thought I was crazy – I asked Damien how old I was, but he didn’t know either!! We worked it out from the year I was born – I think the race was taking up all my brain space or maybe I just like to forget that I’m getting older!! After feeling a little silly I walked away with the 34 on my leg and my race number on my arm. They complimented the temporary tattoos I had put on my hands and arms with the verse “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13.

We then proceeded to walk the 800m to the swim start! At the start of the walk I was sooo nervous. At one point the thought came into my mind – what if I just say that I can’t do this, is that allowed? J Just as I was thinking this we walked past the lake and saw the most beautiful view. The water was as smooth as glass and the sunrise was gorgeous. I had asked all the girls from my bible study group to send me verses that I could think about for the race. They came through with some amazing verses and I kept thinking of one of them “surprise us with love at daybreak, then we’ll skip and dance all the day long.” Psalm 90:14. So there it was – God surprised me at daybreak and I knew it was going to be a great day. Now it was my turn to skip and dance all the day long!!
"surprise us with love at daybreak, then we'll skip
and dance all the day long." Psalm 90:14
At the swim start we got our wetsuits on, gave everyone a big hug, and then headed down to the beach. I had found out at the race briefing that it would be a beach start instead of the usual start where everyone is already in the water. I was worried that people would be trampling on one another as they all raced into the water. I went to the beach with Damien and watched as they started the pros before us. I kept looking at the big clock – 10 mins to go. I just wanted the gun to go off because the anticipation was killing me!! A man beside me looked at the verse on my hands. He told me he loved that verse too and we wished each other a great race. The time was getting closer. Damien and I gave each other a big hug and kiss and said our goodbye for the day. He was heading to the front of the pack and I was making my way to the back of the beach! The countdown began and the gun went off. From where I was there wasn’t any trampling and people weren’t even running! We were all calmly entering the water like we were going for a training swim. I loved it!! The first 300m were a little crazy though. Every time I would find some space to swim it would quickly be filled in with other wetsuits. Just when I thought I was on a roll people would swim at me from another direction and I’d lose my rhythm. At one point I heard a guy yell out “This is insane!!” and I agreed with him completely. I didn’t once feel panicky though like I thought I would. Instead I was kind of chuckling at the craziness of it all. Finally things started to spread out a bit and I found someone’s feet to follow behind. The water was so clear you could see everything! Very different to the murky Kelso lake water!!! I was looking at my watch under water and looking at my tattoos. Then I just kept looking at those feet in front of me. I was thinking that she had very nice feet and I was wondering if someone was following mine and I started to regret that I hadn’t gotten a pedicure before the race. Funny what you think of to pass the time!! Then we hit the first turn around! It started to get congested again as everyone was staying close to the bouy. I heard someone say “Is it the turnaround already” and I was thinking the same thing. I was actually enjoying this swim!! On the stretch back to the beach I followed someone else’s feet. This was a man’s feet and he was kicking a lot. I loved it because the wake made swimming so much easier!! I was trying to stay with him but then I noticed that he was swimming all over the place and decided that my own straight line would be faster. It was kind of funny as the random person would swim into me and I’d see them going in all directions. That was probably me too because spotting in open water has never been my strength!!  The swim finish was shallow for a long time so there was a lot of running in the water before you got out. It was a funny feeling getting my legs to stand up again and run. Finally I crossed the swim finish line and the time read 1:24!!! As I was running towards the transition I saw that they had wetsuit strippers!!! This was the best thing ever!! I ran to 2 volunteers and they told me to lie on the ground and they ripped my suit off me in seconds!! This would’ve taken me forever!! I thanked them profusely then was on my way to the 500m run to the bike transition! It was along this run that I saw our support group!! It was so great to see them and I couldn’t help but have the biggest smile on my face!! I WAS DONE THE SWIM!!!!!! One leg down – 2 to go!!
Done the swim!!!!! 
The bike transition was so organized! I ran in and someone yelled my number and another volunteer grabbed my bike gear bag. I was trying to get my stuff on and get out of there as fast as I could but noticed that some people were drying off and changing into bike clothes. I guess they were in for a more comfortable ride than I was!! I put on my new pink arm warmers!! I was so pleased with my purchase and I even got a few comments on them on the bike course!! I had an all black race outfit so I had to jazz things up somehow!! I headed out for the 180kms ahead of me!!

Damien on the bike course
The bike course was amazing! All I can say is that I enjoyed every single part of it!! I loved the scenery which was unbelievably beautiful!! I loved the energy of the spectators and the volunteers!! One section of the course went through the old village of St Jovite. I felt like I was in the tour de France as I was biking up paved roads and people were running along the course yelling French things at me and ringing cow bells. That town exploded with energy and biking through it was a joy! The hilliest part of the course was up Ch. Duplessis and the scenery made up for the hills!! I saw Damien twice on the bike. Once on route 117 and he was looking great!! I yelled out “Hey hun!!” and the person next to me thought it was neat that my husband was in the race too. And another time as he was finishing his last loop and heading back to transition!! I gave him a little cheer! One lady biked passed me from Collingwood and said she liked my arm warmers – I noticed she had the same and we wished each other well in the race. Then there was Spencer from Alberta. I could hear him coming a mile away because he chatted with every person he passed. He came up to me and we talked for a quite a while! He used to weigh 250lbs and his neighbor who was a doctor told him that while he was shoveling he was going to have a heart attack one day. He decided to make a change and signed up to this race in the Clydesdale category – for men over 200lbs. He has lost tons of weight and is feeling better than he ever has. He’s trying to get his wife into the sport and bought her a pink tri bike for her birthday. She was ticked it wasn’t diamonds. I could see her point but I would secretly have loved a pink tri bike!! He asked me about my story. I told him I was doing this for my Dad to raise money for brain cancer. He told me his Dad died of lung cancer and thinks of him a lot while he’s training. We seemed to see one another a lot on the course. He would race pass me on the downhills and I would race passed him on the uphills. The last loop of the course went straight uphill then finished with a long downhill. I felt really good so I was passing everyone on the last uphill section. Then on the downhill everyone with fancy aero bikes with aero helmets and more weight flew passed me. One nice man came passed me and told me I needed to gain more weight if I wanted to be faster. I had never heard that before!!! I finished the bike course on a high!! I couldn’t believe it was over and I couldn’t believe how much fun it was!! I raced into transition and was amazed at how fast 6hrs and 47mins felt!! I was also amazed at my time. I never thought I would do anything under 7 hours. In training I would always finish a hilly course with an average of 24kms and here I averaged 26kms. Very excited!! 2 legs down and 1 more to go!
bike course



Me on the run
Damien on the run
In transition I fumbled with what to do with my gels. I was trying to get them on my race belt and that took a lot of time. I managed to get 2 on then thought I would hold 2 more in my hands. As soon as I ran on the course I saw our amazing supporters!! I didn’t see them at all on the bike because we were going too fast so I was soo excited to see them!! In the beginning of the run I was trying to hold back! I sprang out of there with a pace of 5:10. I knew I couldn’t maintain that over the marathon and I had read many race reports that said if you slow down in the start then your body will thank you for it later. I eased back to a pace of 6mins. I was feeling really really good. My strategy was to walk every aid station to make sure I drank all my fluids. I realized that my stomach would never be able to handle the gels that I painstakingly put in my fuel belt so I threw those out and came up with a new plan. I would rotate coke at one aid station then energy drink at the other and water all the time to wash it down. I also discovered that they had warm chicken broth at some of the aid stations so I put that in my rotation as well.  I figured I would get all the sugars and salt I would need this way.  The longest section of the run was on an old railway line that was covered in fine gravel. I broke it up into 4 sections to make it seem more manageable. The first loop felt good and I saw Damien right away as he was finishing his first lap. We gave each other a high five and it was so nice to see him!! As I was starting my second loop I saw Damien again at his 41km mark! I knew he had 1.2kms to go and he was having an awesome race!! He would be so happy with his time and I was soo excited to see him!! I gave him a huge high five and massive cheer!! It gave me the burst of energy I needed!! I imagined his finish and everyone there to see him! He did it and I was almost done too!!  
The volunteers and spectators on the run were amazing!! We had our names on our race bibs so I would hear people yelling “Go Kristen – you can do it!!” or “girl power – looking good!!!”. Many of the volunteers at the aid stations were dressed as super heroes!! Their energy would keep me smiling and really made the race special! The hardest part of the run was at that dreaded 30km mark. At this point my body was really tired and I knew I was close but still far enough away. I was on the long out and back of the railway line and it suddenly started pouring with rain and there was a little thunder too. I started to get worried in the downpour that I was going to freeze. I didn’t pack anything in my special needs bag and I really needed to finish before the sun went down if I wanted to avoid hypothermia!!! I knew my spectators would need to take the boys home in this rain! I started to worry about the Chariot in the thunder and figured that Pat and Sherra wouldn’t keep the boys in it!! All of a sudden it felt like it was just me and my Dad. I thought “This is how it all started Dad so it feels right that this is how it should finish”. I was feeling a little out of it at this point so to be having conversations with my Dad was perfectly normal. I told him that I really needed him now and that we had to finish this together. I felt like I could feel him linking his arm in mine and for a moment I could even see the details of his hands. Where his wedding band was on his finger, where the creases were on his palms, and the grease under his nails because he was always working on something in the garage. So that was it – hand in hand we finished the end of the long railway line. And at the end the sun came out and the most beautiful sky emerged from under the clouds. There was a lake at the end of the trail and the water looked like it did in the morning. So peaceful and so beautiful. My Dad got me through the worst and I was almost done now!!! I thanked him – he must have some pull up there with God to give me such a great sky to finish!!
Everyone around me was getting excited to finish!! This nice man from Switzerland started talking to me in French – at this point I couldn’t even muster up enough French to say that I didn’t speak it, I could only give him a blank look. He easily switched to English and congratulated me on being near the end!! I congratulated him too and he said that a week earlier he had finished the Ironman in New York! I told him he was crazy and he said “That‘s what my mother told me too”!! He continued to chat with me but it was hard to hear him and I felt so bad that I kept asking him to repeat himself. Finally I said “I’m sorry but at this point it’s taking everything in me to just move my legs over. I’m sorry that I’m not much of a conversationalist!!”. He laughed and understood!! He told me if I hurried then we could finish under 13hours!! At this point I hadn’t been paying attention to the time. This race was only ever about finishing and I had some idea of what time I thought I could do but I never thought it would be under 13 hours!! The course looped into the village where the finishing shoot was lined with people cheering and giving you high fives!! It felt amazing to go down there and I saw my sister at the very end!!! She had the sign that I wanted with me to cross the line and I gave her a huge hug as she passed it to me. This race was all about my Dad and I wanted to honour him in the finish!! I held the sign up and crossed that line hearing “Kristen you are an Ironman”. 12:57!!! I couldn’t believe it!! What an awesome, awesome day!!














I saw all our family at the end!! The adrenaline was fueling my body at this point and I was so excited to see everyone with a huge smile that I couldn’t get off my face!! Then suddenly I could feel the adrenaline leaving and I started to feel very sick. I needed to sit down so Damien took me to some chairs and we hung out there for a bit exchanging race stories. He finished in 10:46!! That was an Ironman PB for him and his best marathon time ever! Sounds like that caused him to spend a good chunk of time in the medical tent afterwards but he was feeling much better now!! It’s crazy what we put our bodies through voluntarily!! I watched as other athletes were enjoying the beer, poutine and pizza that they offered at the finish line. I could barely muster a couple mouthfuls of chocolate milk at this point but was wishing I had the stomach for more!! After a while we met everyone at the village and got our bikes and gear bags. Then we headed back to the condo, had a much needed shower and just hung out with all our amazing supporters!! That was probably my favourite part of the day – enjoying the aftermath with my Dad’s brothers, sister and families and my mom, my sister and our families!!! I was so honoured that they were there!!

Our supporters (and my mom taking the photo)

I’ve been reflecting a lot on the day this past week!! I can’t believe how much I enjoyed it!! If I could think of one word to describe the race it would be “joy”. Because that’s what it was!! It was a joy to swim, a joy to bike and a joy to run in such a beautiful place with some amazing people. I keep telling Damien that I don’t think I was meant to enjoy it as much as I did. Maybe I didn’t push myself enough – or maybe it’s like childbirth and I just forgot about most of the pain because the finish overshadowed it!! I feel like the race summed up so many things about my Dad. He wasn’t a complicated person, he didn’t like drama – his favourite saying was “keep it real, let’s keep it real”! My Dad lived life with joy!! So that was my race – no major complications, no crazy dramas, just pure joy! If I could experience so much fun skipping and dancing to the love of God at daybreak then imagine how much more of that my Dad is experiencing!!



I’ve been asked a few times if I’ll do another one again. I enjoyed this race so much that I’m not totally against the idea. The training was definitely the most demanding part and took up so much of my life. If I was ever to do one again it would be when my kids are much older. But I also know that if I was to do another one it would never be the same as this race. This race had such a huge purpose from beginning to end and I carried that purpose with me the whole day.

I'm ending this with a link to a video that was done on Ironman Mont Tremblant race day! It gives you an idea of the crazy swim start and the beautiful race! A friend sent the link - it's not a video that I made!! 




Friday, August 24, 2012

It was an awesome day!!! Thank you soo much everyone!!

We got back from Mont Tremblant late Wednesday night and spent the day yesterday packing for camping which we are heading out in a few minutes!!! I want to take my time and write a race report because there are so many emotions of the day that I want to capture. I'll spend some time when we get back from camping to put it all together. So this is not a race report but I want to write a HUGE thank you to everyone for all their support!!!!

First of all a massive thank you to my Dad's sister - my Aunt Sharon and Uncle Mark, my Dad's brother - my Uncle Dave and Aunt Gloria, my Dad's brother - my Uncle Mark and Aunt Cathy and my cousins Marlee and Laura for driving all the way to Mont Tremblant to honour my Dad and support the race!! You were there to calm our nerves, entertain the boys, get great pictures and to be the faces we needed throughout the day!!! I really can't tell you how much we appreciated your support!!! 




Another MASSIVE thank you to my sister Sherra, Pat, James, Andrew and to my Mom!!! We could never have done this without you guys!!! From the moment you arrived in Mont Tremblant we relied on your help with the boys, cooking the meals, keeping everyone in the loop and keeping us calm!!! When you feel like you're going to either pass out from nerves or hang out in the toilet all day - there isn't much room for patience with kids and you guys completely took over and we can't thank you enough for everything!!!! 





The actual race day was early (4:30am wake up), cold (7 degrees in the morning), extremely busy and crowded, and at points in the day there were downpours of rain with thunder!!! Josh also had the croup and was miserable!! Our supporters endured all of that to be there for us and to help pay tribute to my Dad!! What an incredible honour!! 

I also want to thank EVERYONE for all their support in any shape or form!!! I want you to know that we appreciated every donation ($5000!!!!!!!!!!!!), story, comment, facebook likes and messages that you sent. All of that support in any way it came was a huge honour to my Dad and I will forever be grateful for it. You added fuel to the day and helped power me and Damien around the course!!! 

I will write all about the day when we get back but I feel so overwhelmingly grateful to everyone so I needed to send this message!! I can't believe we raised $5000 for the Brain Tumour Foundation!! At one point on the run I was thinking how hard the race was getting and how much it was hurting - and then I thought "of course it's hard Kristen - people don't give $5000 for something easy!!". So I hope we managed to earn the donations!! 

Thank you so much again everyone!! Can't wait to take some time to sit down and share all the emotions of the day!!! 

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

We're all packed!!!

Everything is packed and ready for the double check in the morning!! I have so many emotions right now it's hard to articulate exactly how I'm feeling. This has been a week of many highs and lows!!

The fundraising party night!
  The biggest emotion I am feeling is overwhelming gratitude!! The support I have received from family, friends, and the community has been incredible. This past weekend my friends Andrea and Cynthia hosted a fundraising party to support the race! It was an awesome night with friends, hanging out at the pool and finishing with drinks around the campfire! A huge thank you to Andrea and Cynthia for organising it!!!
All the kids hanging out at the party




Also my sister, Sherra, contacted the local paper and told them our story. Rachel from the Guelph Mercury called me and interviewed me on Monday. I am still so honoured that they chose to run the story and very thankful for the donations and words of support from everyone. So thank you everyone for all your encouragement, stories, and support!! I really really appreciate it!!! 
http://www.guelphmercury.com/news/local/article/779545--guelph-woman-swimming-biking-running-for-a-cure

I'm also feeling a bit heavy and anxious. My Granddad had a stroke on Monday morning. He is in the hospital now and he's being well looked after so I know he is in good hands. He is a man I have always admired. He is 92 years old and until Monday has been caring for my Nana in their own place. He isn't on any medication and hasn't had an overnight hospital stay as long as I've known him. He was a German soldier who walked through Russia in the middle of winter while friends around him gave up. And he survived being a POW in England where he met my Nana on the other side of the fence. And when my Mom told my Granddad about my Dad's diagnosis he told her to never give up hope because a man isn't anything without hope. I admire his strength. So seeing him in the hospital while I was visiting him yesterday was hard. He told me that he'd be cheering me on this weekend and wished me all the best. And I've been thinking that somewhere maybe I have a little ounce of his determination and strength that I can use this Sunday.

I'm also feeling very nervous!!! I just reread some race reports and forums from people who raced the Mont Tremblant 70.3 in June. Every report says hills, hills, hills!!!! After tapering for the last few weeks I think I've forgotten all the training I've done and my mind is trying to trick me. I'm starting to feel like I'm not fit enough to do this and reading these stories is getting my heart - and stomach going. There really is nothing I can do about it now though - I just need to do my race!!

And last - I'm feeling very excited!!! I just want to do it. I just want to get out there and be on the start line. In reality I have worked hard for this day, I have sacrificed a lot of family time, and I do deserve to be there. So here I am at 11:00pm when I should be sleeping, but I'm excited and I just want to be there!!

So I want to thank everyone again for all the support. It has been truly overwhelming and I really hope I have good news to report!! I may get some time to blog again - I'm not sure what the next few days will bring!!

Friday, August 10, 2012

Just over a week to go!!!!!

So a few weeks have passed since the last entry! The taper began and the reduction in training hours has been a wonderful blessing. One would think that would mean more time to update the blog!!! But I've got to say I've been in a funny place lately and when that happens I always retreat a bit and take some time to think. 

       I've been thinking about how I'm nearing the end of this journey and I've been looking back on what it has meant to me. It's funny the way things fall into place. I was going for a run while my Dad was sick and an idea just popped in my mind to race an Ironman to raise money for a cure. I guess when faced with an incurable tumour the only hope I could see would be for research to move faster than the tumour! I told my Dad what my plan was - I think in such a helpless situation it was my way of trying to help. Shortly after my Dad passed away Damien came home and told me they just announced that a new Ironman was going to open in Mont Tremblant. I really felt like this is what I was meant to do. What I didn't realise is how much this process would help me grieve for my Dad. I think of where I was when I signed up for the race compared to where I am now and I really believe the training has gotten me here. 

       There is a lot of trauma when you see someone you love dying in front of you. At the time it's too much to process so it stays away somewhere deep within you. While riding my bike or going for a run these memories would surface again. Memories of my Dad's face when he realised his diagnosis, memories of  his frustration as he's trying to hold his grandkids with one good arm, memories of watching his erratic breathing knowing it was close to the end. When these thoughts would surface the pain was so intense and the only relief would be to bike harder or run harder. And when I gave it all I could there was a sense of peace that came after. 

     I think a natural process of grief is also guilt. It's human nature to somehow blame ourselves for everything - I know I do a good job of it as a mother. I've been thinking that maybe this race has also been a way for me to rid myself of guilt. Like I'm doing my penance for the person I wasn't. Did I miss out on too many years with my Dad while travelling and living in Australia? Was I my Dad's best advocate when he was misdiagnosed as having a stroke? Did I say the right words to him to comfort him when he needed them most? Did I let him know how much I love him and how much he meant to me? These are all things I've thought about while on my long training rides and runs. And on everyone of those training sessions I would see the odd butterfly fluttering past or the random motorcyclist driving past - like little reminders from my Dad that its all ok. And I'd go home with that sense of peace again. 

      So the reduction of training hours has been bittersweet. It reminds me that this will soon be over and I'm not sure what to expect when I don't have this race as my focus. But something happened this week that made me feel like I am in a better place. I was watching the Olympics, which I have been loving, and there was a story on trampolinist Rosie MacLennan. The story was about her relationship with her Grandfather, who had a huge impact on her career. She mentioned stories of when he would watch her compete and talks they would have together. The story had me in tears and at first I felt this sadness at the loss of that relationship in my own boy's lives. They will never know what kind of person my Dad was, the kind of love he was so full of, the strength and determination he showed, the kindness and laughter he always shared. But I realised that I had that with my Dad and because of that it has defined who I am as a person. My boys may not have their Grandpa to watch their games or to have meaningful talks about life with them because that is not our story. Our story will be different and it's up to me how it plays out. I need to be my Dad's legacy, I need to show my boys who my Dad was by living out who he made me to be. 

       So I want to race this race with the same determination and fight that my Dad showed when he was faced his biggest trial. I want to say at the end of the day - this is what Grandpa would've done. And my boys will know him through me. 

       This is what these past few weeks have been to me. Our coaches notes say that on race day take all your emotions and store them away, then use them in the last half of the marathon because it's not your head or your training that will get you through - it's your heart. 

Since these past few weeks haven't been so much about training I won't give a detailed training report. I'll sum it up here:

July 23- 29th - 15.5 hours training
July 30- Aug 5th - 10.5 hrs training

We are leaving Thursday August 16th and I will write an entry before we leave!! I'm hoping to keep it updated while we are away but I'll see what my internet access will be like!! I'll leave this entry with some photos of what kind of Grandpa my Dad was!! 

Tyler and my Dad


Josh and my Dad
My Dad and Andrew

My Dad and Tyler

My Dad with Joshua



3 Generations - My Grandpa, my Dad and all the grandsons


James and Tyler having fun with my Dad

Dad with Tyler and Ryan in the cubby house

My Dad and Ryan

Monday, July 23, 2012

4 Weeks to go!!!!


This has been a week of extreme ups and downs!! Damien and I went to Kelso for my 2nd open water swim last week on Monday. I was feeling pretty good about it and we got in the water and just started swimming. I can always see the many years of ocean swimming that Damien has under his belt. He is so comfortable in the water and I can tell he enjoys it. I was trying to find my rhythm but I couldn’t seem to control my breathing. I think I had a mild panic attack in the middle of the lake. I felt like I couldn’t catch my breath and suddenly felt like my wetsuit was way too tight. I kept thinking that I can’t do this! I can’t swim 200m – how am I going to swim 3.8kms??!! I managed to get through 2kms of swimming but each time I reached the other end I would be gasping for air. I left that swim session very panicky. I wasn’t worried at all about the 180kms bike ride or the marathon run – it was 3.8kms that might stop me from doing this.

The next day we had a 120km bike ride in the hills. Tuesday was the hottest day of training so far – temperatures in the 40’s!! Between the heat and the headwind my hilly ride was shortened to 90kms and I was spent!! Again – not a great confidence builder. I think after the last few weeks of heavy training my body was really starting to get tired. We listened to the coaches notes and took some time off. Damien and I skipped the night of hill repeats and relaxed instead! Very very needed!!

Thursday night my sister had the boys for dinner and Damien and I headed out to Kelso again! I had spent the past couple days reading about open water swim anxiety and felt I had a few tricks up my sleeve!! Damien also told me that he changes his breathing technique in open water compared to swimming in the pool. Instead of breathing every 3rd stroke I was going to try breathing every 2nd. Realizing that it was panic that I was experiencing and not a lack of fitness made me feel better. We hopped in the water and off we went. I kept counting my strokes to keep my mind off things. I breathed every 2nd stroke and I was so calm. I did it!! I swam 2kms straight and felt awesome!!! It was only 2kms of swimming but for me I felt I had conquered the whole race – I can do this!!! I will still be the happiest person in the world when I get out of the water on August 19th!!!!

Friday was another huge win!! Damien and I rode 180kms and finished the ride with a 35min run!! It felt so good to complete the 180kms and know that I can do the distance. I ran 6.5kms off the bike and felt pretty good. Not sure how 42.2kms will feel but I’m expecting some major ups and downs!!!

With all this training we have been relying heavily on family to look after our boys!! At the start of the week we’ve been sending our training program to my Mom and my sister and we work out between the 2 of them the days that they can help. We could never be doing this without them and they are as much a part of this race as we are!! A huge thank you, thank you, thank you for all your help guys!!! You are amazing!!!

On Friday while Damien and I were doing our bike ride my sister had all the boys at my place!! They put up their lemonade stand to raise more money for the Brain Tumour Foundation!!! A big shout out to the boy’s first customer who only had a quarter on him for a drink but came knocking at the door later in the day with $20 for the boys donation jar!! He thought it was a great cause!!!



Here are the totals for the week. This coming week is going to be a lot of training again – but then we start our taper!!
So this past week July 16-22 totals:
RUN: 62kms (6hrs15mins)
BIKE: 270kms – (11hrs30min) – hills and longest ride – 180kms
SWIM: 4.3kms – 2 open water swims
Total training hours: 19hrs45mins

Monday, July 16, 2012


5 Weeks to go!!!!
This past week has flown by – and I don’t like that!! I feel like the secret to life is to slow it down but when I’m thinking about my next training session or the next time I get to sleep I stop enjoying where I am in the moment. That is actually part of our coach’s notes – racing in the moment. I’m trying to practice that in my training. Instead of dwelling on mistakes made earlier in the race – or dwelling on how many kms are ahead of you, just take the race moment by moment. So in training when my legs are burning and I want to stop - I just think about turning my legs over and over and over. Who knows how this will go in the marathon after 180km bike ride!!!! Just saying that gets me nervous!!!

This week my swimming got a little better – I managed to make 2 of my intended 4 swims. Not bad considering my past record!! I also did my first open water swim with the help of friends watching the kids to make it possible!!! Open water swimming does scare me but it is all in my head. I need to calm down and have the confidence that I can do it and I’m not going to drown J !! Big shout out to Dan who taught me about drafting during the swim. It makes a huge difference to hang behind someone’s feet and follow directly behind them. It also makes for a little game to find someone’s feet who you can draft off easily – the long 3.8km swim might go by a little faster!! After about 300m I’m hoping to get into a rhythm and just keep going. My mantra for the whole race will be the same as our race shirts “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.” Phil 4:13.

I want to include some more pictures from the photo session we had at the bench during the celebration day for my Dad. Most of my Dad’s brother’s and his sister and my Grandma and Grandpa came for the day and we were able to get some wonderful photos – what a keepsake! We just got them this week and they are great!!














Here are the totals for the week. I think there is one more week of very heavy training – then we taper (maybe?).

So this past week July 9-15 totals:
RUN: 75.5kms (7hrs30min) – 1 session of hill repeats
BIKE: 304kms – (11hrs30min) – hill and flats with efforts (longest ride – 160kms)
SWIM: 5.5kms – one 3.5km pool swim and one 2km open water swim (2hrs10min)
Total training hours: 21hrs10mins

Monday, July 9, 2012


6 Weeks to go!!!!
Just writing that gets me nervous and very excited!! The preparation for this race started in December and now in 6 weeks I will be at the start line. It has been quite a journey already!! I’ve had weeks where I hit every training session and weeks where I miss a lot! I have runs where I feel invincible and runs where I feel every step. Bike rides where I love the time to myself and bike rides where I just want to get home to my family!! And swimming – don’t get me started on swimming!!! Swimming is my Achilles heel and the one area where my training hasn’t gone quite as well. I’m starting to wake up at night thinking about it so I’ve put a new plan in place – it’s called no more missing swim sessions!!! This week with 1 swim session already under my belt and 3 more planned I’m hoping to make up for lost time. When I’m out of the water on August 19th I would have already accomplished a major goal. My biggest fear is not making the 2 hour and 20 minute cut off time – months of bike and run training out the door!!

Since my last entry we marked a year of my Dad’s passing which was on the May long weekend. We had our family come over to see the bench that we dedicated to my Dad and we also had a big BBQ with fireworks!! It was so nice being together to remember my Dad and it was a very special day! All 5 of my Dad’s grandson’s wore their race day shirts! They looked so cute in them and I can’t wait to see them wearing them on race day! They will give me inspiration!





The training this month has stepped up and from this point on I’m going to record our training weeks to keep a record. I’m not sure when we start tapering for race day but I’m looking forward to it already!!
So this past week July 2-8 totals:
RUN: 63kms (5hrs45min) – 1 session of hill repeats
BIKE: 315kms – 13 hrs – focused on hills
SWIM: nil L- instead of open water swimming with Damien one night - we went for drinks and dinner instead J
Total training hours: 18hrs 45mins
So after this week I’m feeling good about the bike and run training but swimming is stressing me out! Let’s see what this week brings!!! I’ll report back!
Heading out for a ride!