Ironman Canada : Official Thread (Page 6)

Hey everyone -

I'm sorry to keep myself from spamming, but I am starting to get the jitters of excitement and I had to come here to get some calmness...(wrong place to?)

Are there any IM Canada events going on the days leading up to this? I want to meet everyone!

Let me know.

Nothing formal, just look for the pictures I guess.

Yes we have M&Ms and snickers. But you're right, a lot of candy is different. We do have better slurpees for the most part.

I leave for Pen on Thurs morning with the wife and kiddos. Nervous about the weather forcast and mech issues - I won't be relaxed until the bike is behind me and it's one more long run to finish.

What am I feeling?  Excited and ready to go.  A little frustrated that I'm not getting there sooner.  I didn't realize everything happened so early in the week and we don't arrive until Friday. Oh well. As long as I make check in I'm good.

Where am I coming from?  Long way.  Apex North Carolina

Family?  Whole family plus mom and sister out of Kansas

Ready? Bike, yes.  I've been training in the mountains of MD and the Blue Ridge of NC so as long as I don't have a flat I'm good.  RUN:  we'll see.  This is my very first Ironman and my first marathon so it's all or nothing!!!

Thanks! (If I'd known that part about the slurpees, I bet I could have gotten my daughter to come up with me. LOL)

I was worried about the M+Ms because I remembered this long conversation about Smarties and how Smarties in Canada are not the same candy they are in the US but are more like M+Ms and that made me think maybe you only had Smarties.

First of all, good luck to all those who are participating this weekend in the IMC! I'll cross my fingers for a nice tail wind to push you throught the mountain passes. 

Second, does anyone know how quickly the 2011 event sold out? More specifically, I would be intersted to know if any spots ever come up for on-line registrations once the on-site registration had finished on the Monday morning? I desperately want a spot for 2012 but I'm stuck working this weekend and am not so confident that on-line registration spots will ever come up at noon on Monday.  Any advice from people's prior sign-up experience would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Last year (when I signed up) it went for several days. But this year is the 30th ani I think which will be very popular. However there is a rumor the cap will be removed (or really high).

Even 2 years ago I checked at noon online and there were spots (but only for a couple hours).

Thanks very much Khyron, and good luck this weekend!

Hi all!  Best of luck on Sunday. May the weather be good, your bike be issue-free, and your day be as amazing as possible!

TriDave:  I am in the same situation as you.  I'm desperately hoping to get a spot for 2012, but am unable to make the drive up this weekend.  I heard that the last several years it went online at noon, but filled up by the end of the day, so I'll be on active.com with credit card at the ready right at 12PM Monday!  Best of luck to you in securing a spot, and if we both do, I look forward to seeing you on the 2012 IMC thread!

It was definitely warm! It didn't bother me that much on the bike, but I was slow enough out of the swim that there was no water when I got to the first aide station. But no one said anything and I merrily threw away my water bottle expecting to get a new one. I made a volunteer give me one from a pile he was collecting. I bet it was one someone took two sips out of and threw away and I was expose to their cooties. The same thing happened at the aide station before Richter Pass and I actually stopped the bike and pretty much MADE a volunteer give me a bottle of water. And this time he actually told me it had cooties. But I didn't care. I wasn't going up Richter Pass without water.

All the aide stations after that had a hose you could use to fill your bottles until Yellow Lake when they finally had water again. Stopping to fill my bottles with hose water really screwed with my bike time. I still PRed compare to my first IM.

The first 4 miles of the run were pretty hot and I kept drinking too much, but I eventually figured out that you put the water and ice ON your body, not IN it and then it cooled off. In the end, I negative split my run! And the only people in my club with faster transitions than me were the two who podiumed in their age groups.

Wont finish my RR until I get home and plug in the garmin for power numbers, but I broke my 12 which was great for the conditions.

Race had tacks again on Maclean Creek - dozens of flats. They need to catch and execute the idiot doing it.

35-37C was listed on some of the weather sites.

2800 people makes a giant pace line pretty much to the top of Yellow.

Running out of water for the BOP bikers was unacceptable. 4-5 aid stations in a row had no liquid at all.  Some people even were pulling from the lake.

Run was super well supported.

Summerland accommodations

Well, we enjoyed IMC so much we will be returning next year - 2012 - with family and friends.

We are looking for accommodations, would prefer Summerland, for 4-6 people. 

Did any of you find a nice place there which you would not be rebooking for next year? 

If so, we would appreciate the contact information.

Thanks, and congratulations!

Congratulations everyone ! Job well done.

I am signed up for 2012, and I am looking for sugegstions for places to stay. 

Thanks for your help

Agreed. I'm still pissed about it.

The heat was a disappointment.  Luckily I trained all summer in 100+ degrees so I was used to it. But I was looking forward to racing in cooler weather.  One nice trick I've learned training/racing in the heat, sports bras are ideal for holding ice.  Always take a cup and pour it down your sports bra.  You made rattle a little but it really works.   

Great job everyone.  This was my first IM and I wouldn't trade a moment of it. 

That would be a Seinfeldian "bro."

Depends on your budget where to fly. I live in MA and did the race in 2009.

Flights can be $300 to 1100 depending where you fly.

We wanted to fly SWA as bikes only take $50 each way and living on East Coast Tri bike transport would pick up bike 2 weeks before race. Plus 6 of us went so price was an issue.

Some folks fly to Vancouver others to Penticton, or Spokane. If you fly to Penticton, your bike will not go on the plane, they offer bike transport for a fee from Vancouver.

We flew to Seattle spent two nights there and drove to Penticton.  We took my bike out of bike box, left it the hotel storage room in Seattle as we stayed there again on way back which allowed us to rent a mini van for about 40% of what a big SUV would be needed for 6 people, luggage, and bike box. Flying to Spokane is closer though.

Most of my group flew into Kelowna. It's about 45-60 min. away from Penticton but flights are much cheaper. Then some rented cars and we grouped up and drove to Penticton.

I do know people who fly into Vancouver or Seattle and then rent a car and drive to Penticton but I didn't want to spend hours in a car before my race.