Ironman Calgary 70.3 - Triathlon1/2 Ironman

This course is kind of funny. I remembered from last year that if you followed the bouys, the course is longer. The first turn you make is to the left, then every other turn is to the right. If you make a sharp turn at the first turn bouy and swim toward the bridge pillar it is easy to shave off a lot of swimming. If you stay close to the course marking bouys there is more swimming to be done.

I found someone shortly after the first swim bouy and drafted them for most of the course. It worked out really well for me. He was really good at spotting and we went very straight for the entire swim until I lost him near the end. Then I weeble-wobbled the last 200m into the boat launch getting clobbered by the lead women who started 12 minutes after I did.

Need more practice.

Things went smoothly in transition. My wetsuit is so big it nearly falls off so I was stripped quickly. I had the spare tubular in my jersey pocket which made for some difficulty putting my shirt on but otherwise a good transition. Wet ground and puddles made for a splashy, grassy squishfest.

Put spare tire in jersey after getting jersey on.

Used race wheels for the first time and the cassette on them is an 11-23 which made the hills a little harder than they needed to be, my regular cassette is an 11-25. It rained really hard on the northern edge of the course and off and on for the first half. The aid stations were few and far between and stocked with only Gaterade. I got half a Powerbar at the first aid station (first of two) and starved for the remainder of the day. I ate all my jelly beans and eload capsules and needed fuelling really bad.

There were lots of flats on the course and I saw a crash in front of me when a girl re-entered the course and cut someone off. Major crash with three bikes. As I slowed down to see if everything was OK a group of 8-10 people echeloned by WTF!! Where are the marshalls? One guy bleeding really good from the head and the person who entered the course was looking after things. Kept watching the echeloners pulling away from me, not so happy about this. Saw the ambulance go by, lights and sirens on.

Bring my own food!!!! Change the cassette to a regular 11-25.

I think it went good, memory is getting a little foggy at this point. Need food. Transition dude helped quite a bit. Changed out of sunglasses to regular glasses because Navarra was close by. After watching some major cheating on the bike course I wasn't afraid of being DQ'ed for this. Although, at this point, all references to DQ means Dilly Bars and Blizzards I'm so hungry.

I would take off my cycling shorts and leave in transition bag.

Still no food. Only gels every 3kms or so. It dominates my thoughts for the entire run, if you can call it a run.

My goal was to run the first 10km then do a walk-run thing, but I only lasted 2km then did the walk-run thing for a while, then walked the last half.

Guy who crashed his bike and got help from the abulance went by me with about 5km to go in the run. He had major bruising, swelling and bandages on his head. I thought if you got medical attention during these events you weren't allowed to continue. I don't mean to seem petty because he passed me, I'm just saying. He was one tough SOB in my opinion and deserves to go on.

I had a frog hop out and keep up with my walk for about 50m near the end of the run. I had fun telling people going the other way that the frog was kicking my butt. Got some good laughs. Really wanted to eat the frog.

Stop and eat some grass, leaves, twigs, or dog crap, anything would have helped. Really felt underpowered for the entire run.

Went to food tent after getting my medal handed to me without a ribbon, weird. Has a sub, chips and a ginger-ale.


Needed food, I had very poor nutrition planning. I assumed that there would be enough at the race and was sorely disappointed.


I really didn't like this race and won't likely do it again. Not enough aid stations made this a long outing. Announcer at the finish line was referring to people as "Ironman" as they crossed the finish line. I know there is a debate about whether people who finish a 70.3 race should be called an Ironman or not, but this annoys me. For me and most people who have finished a 140.6 Triathlon this is an easy distinction. When you complete an 140.6 Triathlon, including races that are not of the "Ironman" brand, then you are an Ironman and not before. Of course I am easily annoyed when I am hungry.

All the volunteers and Police were fantastic and very supportive. Can't say enough how great they were!!!