AETE officer competes in the Ironman World Championships
News Article / November 21, 2012
The Ironman World Championship (IMWC) in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, is arguably the most prestigious long course triathlon in the world. It consists of a gruelling 3.8-kilometre ocean swim, an 180-kilometre bike race and a full marathon of 42.2 kilometres in the blistering heat and often extreme winds of Hawaii.
What makes this race so special? Hawaii is the birthplace of the Ironman distance race. For most who compete, it’s the opportunity of a lifetime; for others, it’s a chance to be crowned Ironman World Champions. Each year, a lucky 200 athletes win the privilege of competing in this prestigious race through a lottery. But for approximately 100 professionals and 1,700 age-group athletes, entrance is only achieved by earning it. To do so, you must qualify at other Ironman races throughout the world.
The road to Kona
I had competed in 2010 at Ironman Canada and had come within two minutes and one placing of the IMWC. Consequently, I devised a plan to race Ironman St. George in Utah in May 2012 and then race Ironman Coeur d’Alene in Idaho in June 2012, providing me with two great opportunities to obtain my slot.
Although my training progressed well, Ironman St. George just wasn’t my day. Despite fighting through three- to four foot swells on the swim and 40 km/h winds on the bike, my finish in 10 hours and 20 minutes — good enough for 25th out of 1,400 athletes, including the professionals, and fifth in the male 25–29 age category — I was shocked and perplexed that such a stellar ranking had come up short of clinching a coveted “Kona slot”. There were only three Kona slots allocated to my age group, and I was left on the sidelines staring in.
The build-up to the next race was anything but ideal. A posting to the Aerospace Engineering Test Establishment (AETE) at 4 Wing Cold Lake, Alta., meant all the additional work of getting a house ready for sale, buying another house and, to top it off, my wife was due around race day. Just over a week before race day, it looked like I would not get a shot at Kona — but then the unexpected happened.
My wife started having contractions on Saturday night and delivered our third child, Klara Jane, on Sunday morning. With my mom available to help with the kids, my wife insisted that I go with my Dad and race Ironman Coeur d’Alene that day. “After all,” as she put it, “it’s your Kona race.”
I went into the race on Sunday mentally drained, but physically feeling great — and thankful for another lovely child and one last shot at Kona. When I crossed the finish line in 9 hours and 41 minutes, not only had I achieved a new Ironman personal best and finished 18th overall in a field of 2,800 athletes, but I had also won the male 25–29 age category.
I was going to Hawaii!
Shortly after I arrived at 4 Wing, I learned of a local policy that provided limited assistance to athletes competing in Canadian Forces-sanctioned sports and submitted my application for sponsorship. A month later, AETE, 4 Wing, the Western Region Sports Office and the National Sports Office were all on board in sponsoring me to compete at the IMWC.
On the Big Island
The week before the race is packed with activities ranging from athlete package pick-up to the mandatory pre-race meeting. It’s easy to get sucked into all the activities and lose focus on why you are actually on the Big Island.
The coolest event during that week is the Parade of Nations. All the athletes form up with their respective nation and then march (more like gaggle) down Ali’i Drive to officially open the Expo while waving to the throngs of people lining the streets. The special part for me was that I got to hold the Canadian flag and lead the Canadian contingent down the street.
Race day came so quickly. The professional men hit the water at 6:30 a.m., followed by the professional women at 6:35 and then the age groupers at 7:00 for the infamous mass start of every Ironman race. I’m normally a middle-of-the-pack swimmer but in this World Championship, I ended up closer to the back with a slow but respectable swim of 1 hour 16 and minutes for the 3.8 kilometres.
Per ardua ad astra: Through adversity to the stars
Up next was the 180 kilometre bike ride under the scorching heat and blistering winds that often make this race particularly difficult. All was going well until shortly after the turn-around in Hawi, the most north-westerly point of the island. My gut decided it didn’t enjoy what it was getting in the way of nutrition, and for almost the last two hours on the bike, I was throwing up every few minutes.
Knowing full well that anything is possible in an Ironman, I backed off my pace slightly, altered my nutrition plan and continued to stay mentally strong as I pressed on. I was here to race and to finish. After five hours and nine minutes, the bike segment was behind me and I was happy to be on to my favourite part of the race: the run.
It was like a blazing inferno as we ran down Ali’i Drive. There was little wind, no shade and the only welcome relief was the cold water and ice at the aid stations at approximately one-mile intervals. I just kept throwing ice cold water on me and ice down my back, trying to keep my core temperature down.
I was passing people constantly, but my body wanted to quit. In this type of race, it’s all about mental toughness and pushing the body to new limits. I didn’t bother to observe my pace; I just knew that I had to push as hard as possible. I was thankful to finally make the last turn and then accelerate down Ali’i Drive, lined with people yelling, screaming and cheering on every athlete to the finish.
Personal best
I went to Kona with one objective: to race hard, but to enjoy the experience. Well, not only did I get to enjoy the experience, but I completed the competition with a personal best in an Ironman marathon of 3 hours and 38 seconds, and an Ironman personal best of 9 hours, 35 minutes and 2 seconds!
It was good enough to place 139th in the overall field, 96th among the overall age-group category, 18th in my category of males aged 25–29 and the third overall Canadian. Not bad for my first trip to the Big Island and the IMWC, eh?
Now, having just returned from the race of my life in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, I can say with a new-found respect that the IMWC is arguably the coolest and most rewarding race of a lifetime. The hours of training and the sacrifices made by my family were all worth the achievement of our dream of me racing in Kona. For those who also dream of racing on the Big Island, I trust that one day you, too, will get this amazing opportunity.
A special word of thanks to AETE, 4 Wing Cold Lake, and the Regional and National Sports Offices for supporting me on the journey.