World Triathalon Championship

My little brother (ha, he's in his 40's and is 6'2") qualified to be a member of the Team Canada's triathlon team for this year - the championship is in New Zealand in October - so cool!

He qualified based on some races and his age (they send "others" based on age groups - there's a techinical term for it...but I don't remember).  He's pumped, but now has to get the $ to get over there...and while there...he might as well tour some of Australia too!

He just received his uniforms - so cool!

Opening ceremony outfit

closeup of the back - love the scene!

Opening ceremony outfit

Cycling outfit

Cycling outfit

Run outfit

closeup

He can't resist a BUTT shot!

I sure wish we could go - his Ironman run was such a great experience to watch!

See more about his triathlon experiences HERE

Triathalon - a spectator sport

Did you know that its great fun to watch a triathalon?

I've got a bunch of posts of my brother's Ironman 2004 experience. In August 2003, my parents and I went to Kelowna to watch my brother in a triathalon. It was a great one to watch because you could stay in one spot and see the bike & run several times because they ran the same route a couple of times. Great as a spectator!

One thing we did prior to the race, was go to a winery! YUMMY! As we were arriving in Kelowna...it was getting hotter and hotter outside! Such fun to watch the thermomintor go up in the car as we drove. There were lots of forest fires that year. We were in Peachland for dinner one night and we could see all the fires on the land just accross the lake from us. Very scarey to watch. We could see the planes dropping water and it was doing nothing to help. Later in August, my brother could see the flames from their house and were only blocks away from being evacuated...but thankfully, never were. It was a bad year in Kelowna for fires.

Dean during the race

So...here are some photos of the actual event. with 2055 people, all dressed in black rubber swim-things, you couldn't find Dean. We missed him coming out of the water because he swam it faster than he thought. He gave us approximate times...so we went for breakfast...& got back in time for his transition...to find his friends who said he was already on the bike! YIKES!

We drove & drove looking for him. Based on his assessment...we got to where he should be on his bike...but he wasn't there. We were driving behind racers and looking at their #'s on their backs looking for him. Then we found him! This is a photo from when we passed him so we could go ahead, jump out of the car and take some photos! We were screaming his name & waving like idiots...and he just heard us after I took this photo and gave us a big smile & wave!



Then we had to high tail it to the 1/2 way point of the run (they turn around and go back...which was in Osoyos) This is Dean's girlfriend running with him for a bit...he had a headache so she ran back to us and got some tylenol and then back to him with the pills.

This next photo is 10 minutes before he's done the race! He stuck out his hand and gave our father a high-5 just after I took this photo. He was all grins...and picked up his pace...it was amazing to watch and I'll never forget it the rest of my life!

Now here he is...hard to see...he's to the left with black on and a white hat - his girlfriend is on the right with a light shirt and her hands up...and its taken like at 30 seconds before he got to the finsh line!

After the race, they have to go into an area where they are monitored, get some masages etc. We were waiting and waiting in the dark, but we eventually found him. He had us pose with him for a group photo by the professional photographers...and I can't find my copy of it (I'm sure I downloaded them...darn!). We had to take him to the car...and the poor guy could barely get down or up the curb (like to get on or off the sidewalk)....and he PAID $ for the joy of doing that.

Here he is the next day...all smiles and his legs cramping up - what a great day that was!

Dean's Ironman 2004

There were 2166 people participating in the Ironman that year...and only 2055 completed the race. Dean came in 1074 at 12:45:53. The person that came in first did it in 8:28:03 & he's a professional ironman runner. The 1st non-professional competitor came in at 9:07:12 - so Dean did really well. I know that he said he did way better than he expected to do. The last person to arrive did it in 16:57:33!

We were all tired from standing watching the swim & sitting in the car trying to catch Dean on the bike & standing waiting for him to arrive at the end...I can't imagine actually participating in it!

Here are photos from the night before the race! Mom got him a lucky-loonie and put it in a bag for him to carry during the race.

Ironman Canada

This is dean's medal for completing the race:

Swim Course
The swim begins with the opening and anthem at 6:50 a.m. Competitors hit the water at 7 a.m. The swim will start from Okanagan Lake Beach in Rotary Park. You will swim in a North by Northwest direction and . Elevation at transition is 1125 feet. The swim finishes at Okanagan Lake Beach at Rotary Park. Competitors had to be there like at 6 am...so Dean stayed out in Penticton & we all got up early to drive there for the start of the race - amazingly, we were able to find Dean in the crowd prior to the race. He was wired, nervous & excited.

The probability of rain is only slight at this time of year. Morning winds are generally very low and the lake should be calm. However, the water temperature, wave action and wind could at times can cause discomfort, so we highly recommend that you train and compete in a wet suit. Average water temperature on race day is 68 F / 20 C.

Swim to Bike Transition
You will be directed through timing chutes to the wet suit strip area. Athletes requiring eye glasses call for them as they reach the beach. Following wet suit strip, proceed through bike gear racks and then into the change tents. DO NOT drop and change when and where you pick up your gear bag. NO PUBLIC NUDITY PLEASE. (HA HA HA HA - that's what it has on the site!)

We require you to be fully ready to race before entering the bike lot. This rule is for your own safety as well as our race crews. Swim course closes at 9:20 am.

Bike Course
The first 14 km of the bike course (south on Main Street, Lakeside Road and East side Road) is relatively flat. Just past this point, a left turn onto McLean Creek Rd. is the start of a significant climb of approximately 1 km, followed by a scenic winding road that leads through the Okanagan Falls countryside. The route will continue down Peachcliff Estates Hill, where athletes will then turn left on Highway 97 at 10th Avenue in the Township of Okanagan Falls.

CAUTION is required on all roads, and avoidance of excessive speeds approaching curves and corners is critical. The next 35 Kms are relatively flat as you ride through Oliver and Osoyoos to the base of Richter Pass. From this point the course becomes more difficult. The long 11 km climb up to Richter Pass (elevation at summit , 2295 feet) and the series of challenging hills beyond the 84 km point complete the most difficult part of the course. From Keremeos (the 132-km point), the ride then follows a gradual uphill climb to the summit at Twin Lakes, and then a fast winding downhill ride to Highway 97 and north to Penticton. Skaha Lake Road to Main Street and the Transition area is also flat.

Bike to Run Transition
Full medical facilities will be available to you at the bike-to-run transition. Athletes requiring IV fluids at this point in the race will not be allowed to continue. The Medical Director's decision is final. At this point, remember, timing crews will check to see that reflective tape is properly pinned before allowing you to leave transition. Both transition times will be included in your bike split. OK...if they mention IV FLUIDS in the info area...this is a serious race!

Run Course
The run course for Subaru Ironman Canada is known for its scenic beauty and the enthusiastic support of the volunteers at aid stations along the way. Aid stations are placed approximately every mile.

Leaving Gyro runners go down Lakeshore toward Main. Turn right at Main run South (up) on Main to Westminster and turn right, run along Westminster to Winnipeg. Turn right on Winnipeg and run down Winnipeg towards Lakeshore, towards the Peach. At Lakeshore runners turn left and go out along Lakeshore to the turnaround at Power Street where they loop back and come back to Winnipeg and tun right. Running up Winnipeg runners turn left and are now on Westminster heading towards Main. Once runners hit Main they turn tight and go South out on the run course through town. Turnaround at Christie Beach. I took this from the 2008 website - looks like the route has changed...I'm sure they turned around in Osoyos)

Back in town, almost done. Runners come down and turn left on Westminster. Running along Westminster runners turn right on Winnipeg. At Winnipeg runners turn right and head down towards Lakeshore. At Lakeshore runners turn left and run along Lakeshore to the turnaround at Power Street. Once around the turnaround runners now come down Lakeshore back towards the Peach to the finish. The finish is located on Lakeshore halfway between Winnipeg and Martin Street.

This final stretch will be lined with spectators and supporters to cheer you in.
Runners on the course after dark will be provided with glow sticks, which must be worn or carried to insure your safety and visibility. We encourage you to pick up your sweater or warm ups at the special needs station. It can get quite chilly after sunset. The marathon course will close officially at 12:00 midnight. All athletes still on the course past 12:00 midnight will be offered a ride to the transition area.

Are you up for the challenge? I'm not...but it sure was amazing to watch!

Are you an Ironman?

Does doing one of the following seem exciting to you:

• swim for 2.4 miles (3.8km)
• bike for 112 miles (180 km)
• run 26.2 miles (42.2 km)

well...then, how does doing them all at the same time sound to you? That's want you'd do if you ran an Ironman...are you up for it?

I'm absolutely NOT! I can't even balance on a bike...so that portion is out. For the running, well, I could maybe do 5km in a hour..not sure how long it would take me to do 42.2 km...but I know there would have to be alot of pee breaks!

Anyway...as I was organizing scrapbooking stuff, I found my disk with photos from when my brother Dean participated in the event 0n August 29, 2004 (our father's birthday).

He did it in 12:45:53! I couldn't even do the run portion in 12 hr!

Here's his certificate of completing the event.