Ironman Canada: Official Thread (Page 8)

Question for folks familiar with Vancouver.

I am renting a car in Vancouver to drive to Kelowna/Penticton for the days at the race.  My wife and I will then be spending 5 days in Vancouver.  We will want to do the normal tourist stuff, like going to the big botanical gardens, and go to place where the long suspension foot bridge is.  (My wife is making those plans so I don't know the names or the details).  But anyway, my question is:  should I keep my car for the time in Vancouver, or will I be able to get to where I want to go with public transportation.  I think the gardens are on Victoria Island. 

I don't know if it would be more difficult to keep the car, and try to get around strange city, or would the public transportation cost an arm and a leg? 

Anyway, I think you get my question.  To use a rent car or public transportation in Vancouver? ? ? ?

Vancouver is an easy city to get around using public transportation. My daughter recently graduated from college in Vancouver and never had a car during her time there. Parking can be a pain, but sometimes it's nice to have the convenience of a car.

The botanical gardens are on Victoria Island, so you'll be taking a ferry regardless.

scott

BT get together/swim:

Anybody up for a Thursday morning swim starting at the Sicamous and swimming to the Peach and back. I'm planning on getting there between 7:15 and 7:30

The Sicamous is a sternwheeler/museum on the far west end of Lakeshore Dr. It's less hectic and there's more parking there then the east end where the race transition and village area are. The "Peach" is a concession stand that looks like a giant Peach. It's located where the race day swim start is on the east side of the lake.

Thursday afternoon I'm going to have my gf drop me off at Yellow Lake and I'm going to ride back to town. Most of this is downhill, so it's a pretty easy ride. There's a lot of speed to be made up on this descent race day, so it's good to familiarize yourself with it.

I don't have a set time for the ride other then after lunch. I don't mind the company if anyone wants to join me.

scott

Having lived in Van-groovy for a couple of years, I thought I would throw in my two cents. Not sure where you are staying in Vancouver but if it is downtown, I would ditch the car. Transit via Seabus/SkyTrain/bus is very easy and they also have the hop-on/hop-off buses that go by all the tourist stops. I believe the Canada Line (subway/train) is now also running between downtown and the airport. 

The Butchart Gardens in Victoria are stunning and definitely worth a visit, but I would consider signing up for a tour- buses are always first on and first off the ferry, and you know that you are automatically on versus car travel can mean long waits unless you ante up the extra $ for a reservation. They usually will also take you into city centre to see the harbour and the fancy Empress Hotel.

In terms of "long suspension bridges"- there are two: Capilano Suspension Bridge and Lynn Canyon Suspension bridge. The latter is free and not as well known to tourists and there are some great hikes in the area too. Stanley Park is a must with the aquarium within it, as is Granville Market.

Hope that helps!  

Run yc Run. . .

Thanks for all that info! ! !   That is Exactly what I was looking for.  Yes, we are staying at the Downtown Marriott.  So that is great info for us.

Looking forward to the visit.

Thanks. . .

Aside from the descent I suggested, I would ride through town and up McClean Cr. road, then follow the route to where you come out on 97. I would then take a right (course goes left) and go back to Penticton, but turn off of 97 at OK Falls. Then follow the marathon course back to Penticton. This gives you a better perspective of the hills near OK Falls then what you'll get in a car.

scott

So, what's up with the Special Needs Pick-Up at 120 km?   Since it is not at the Mid-Way point, that messes up my Infinit Nutrition plan.  (Just a little).

I just find it odd that it is not in the middle of the course.

just received back results from my MRI (took a week plus for the swelling to go down enough to make an MRI useful) since my Vineman crash.  Short of it, no IMC for me this year.  I put in a request to rollover to next year, but that e-mail they just sent out about not rolling over numbers didn't sound so good.

Donato, I am so sorry to hear about the crash and the resulting no-go on IMC. Hopefully they will be forgiving about the rollover. Will you still be coming up? Rest easy and take care.

I'm sorry that your injury at Vineman won't allow you to do Canada.

The no roll over policy doesn't always seem to be consistent..hopefully they will be kind to you.

Bummer I was looking forward to meeting you...that is assuming I race. My Mom's surgery is Friday and few days after that we should know more.

Sorry to read about your injuries. That sucks! Good luck on getting a roll over though, it can't hurt to ask.

Last weekend of long training....
- 20 mile run: CHECK
- 2.5 mile swim: Saturday Morning
- 120 mile ride: Sunday Morning

Bring on the TAPER and maybe a beer?

Great job! Sounds like a killer weekend.

I have more training to do before full taper time...16 mile run next week and a 50 mile ride.

Our tickets to Seattle are for next Saturday so close but so much to do. My mom is in surgery right now...critical time will be after the bypass when they have to restart her heart in a few hours.

16 more sleeps! Well I guess technically only 15....who the heck sleeps the night before???? Have a great weekend of training everyone, guess I should get some miles logged over the next few days! Take care!

"............guess I should get some miles logged over the next few days!"

Why start now?

Have a safe weekend of training, everyone!

scott

Glad things are looking better Kathy, I hope the outlooks continues to improve for your Mom. All the best and take care!

Numbers are being assigned or probably better said posted tomorrow..that sure makes it more real for me.

Folks - I have been looking on the race site as well as Ironman.com and have not been able to find the "track athletes" link so I can send to family and friends. Has anybody seen this yet?

I went to Ironman.ca, and then went to participants.  On that page you can get a list of all the participants, but the numbers weren't up yet. 

Me too, no bib numbers posted yet from what I can get.