Bent Iron - Triathlon Training in Edmonton: August 2012

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Other People's Ironman Canada 2012 Race Reports

I love reading race reports, so here are a collection of links to race reports on other blogs:

Runner Leana (and long)
Brad
Mama Simmons
Feral Dave
Taline
Karyn
Nathan Veldhoen
This is the Life
Gillian Clayton (Speech)
Steven
Iron Krista
Bounce Bark Run
Matt Russell
Jennifer
Fergdog
Running Man
Rhys Spencer
Owen Martin
Running With Doggies
Minus a Few Organs
Jacqui
Mackenzie Madison (Part 2)
Swim Cycle Run Pre-Race (and swim) T1 Bike Bike 2 T2 Run
Lawrence Keller
Clark Endurance
Sporty Mama Swim, Bike
Nathan Killam
Neo Medic
Mediocre Athlete
The Sarcastic Triathlete
KP
My 2010 Race Report

Short and 2nd Hand Ones:

Monday, August 27, 2012

Ironman Canada vs Challenge Penticton

I am a huge fan of Ironman Canada and consider it the best race I have ever participated in. However, next years event is swirling in controversy, as WTC has lost the event to the Challenge group (run Challenge Roth and other races over seas). You can read about it here, here, and here.

It appears WTC will host an Ironman Canada event at a similar time of year, but it won't be in Penticton for the first time in 30 years. Both of these races will likely be pretty awesome, so here is my pro and con list for doing each:

Ironman Canada

Pros:

WTC always puts on a good show
an all new location and event, this could be your chance to become part of history
they are offering an opportunity to get on a priority registration list, so you can guarantee yourself a spot while still not committing until important details are know, like venue
could be somewhere awesome like Whistler
Ironman Canada will always be a legendary race to be a part of
they are doubling the Kona slots (note: doesn't affect me in any way)

Cons:

location of this race is unknown!
feels rushed, there is lots of time to organize this race but still...

Challenge Penticton

Pros:

Challenge Roth sounds and looks awesome, maybe challenge can make Ironman Canada even better???
they are offering a relay option, that might be a fun way to participate without the same training requirement
same great course, same great host city, presumably same great excitement?
apparently the refund policy is quite a bit more lenient

Cons:

its just not Ironman (some will say)
first year of a new event is always risky, could it be a flop???

Summary

Normally, you would have had to already have decided and committed to racing Ironman Canada by now. This year you have not one, but two opportunities still available (IMC, CP). While both races face the risk of flopping, personally I think both will be successful, even if they take much longer to sell out. From my perspective, you can't lose no matter which way you go, and if both become sold out monster races triathlon in Canada can only be helped.

Monday, August 20, 2012

Canadian Derby Edmonton Half Marathon Race Report

Race Medal

The Race

I was out of shape and it showed! I started out too fast (well, slow but too fast by heart rate) and eventually it caught up to me. I started a fair way back in the pack near the last of the runners and quickly caught up to the 2:15 pace bunny, I stayed with them for awhile but when they stopped to do the 10 and 1 walk I kept going. I caught up to Rich and ran with him for a bit but this whole time my heart had been quite high and I knew I had to get it down or I would face problems. I slowed down and let Rich go but still couldn't get the heart rate down that much. I sat on a bench for a second to stretch out my foot and Mike passed me too. Ran until the half way point and was then really hurting so I walked for a bit. Eventually the 2:15 group passed me and I settled into an 8 and 2 type pattern. Took a 5 minute break to go to the bathroom at the Y and felt way better, rejuvenated and ran it in with 8 and 2s, and felt like I finished strong. Final time on my watch was 2:23, 1/2 hour slower than Vancouver, but for limited training I wasn't TOO disappointed.

Post Race Party/Race Venue

Last time around I wasn't that impressed with the venue but this time I was really impressed. The start at the race track at Northlands is good because there is plenty of parking (only slightly painful getting into the lot) and being able to use nice bathrooms in the Expo Centre before is a huge benefit. For some reason there was an employee stopping people from getting in and using the bathrooms at the one entrance, but all the other entrances were unwatched and runners were walking freely throughout the Expo Centre. Post race is where this venue really shined though. The end of the race was alongside the horse track and after grabbing a drink or muffin you could walk straight into air conditioned Northlands for the buffet. Food included scrambled eggs, ham, pancakes, various pastries, orange/apple/fruit punch/cranberry juice and water. Once you had your food there were tons of comfortable tables overlooking the track where the runners were finishing. Top marks for the buffet this year, one of the best post race experiences of any race I have been to, I think.

Saturday, August 18, 2012

2012 Canadian Derby Edmonton Marathon Expo Expo Expo!

Picked up our race packages at the Derby Marathon Expo yesterday. It wasn't a massive event, held in one of the smaller halls at the Edmonton Expo Centre (Hall D) but there were some booths and a play area for children etc. Not as good as the Vancouver or Seattle ones but obviously there was some effort. John Stanton was there meeting and greeting at the large running room booth. Here are some pics:

The start/finish is Ready!

Historical Artifacts on Display

John Stanton is in this Picture (Behind the Guy in Blue), But You Can Only See Part of Him

The Course Map

Expo Booths

Monday, August 13, 2012

Registration Day

Yesterday I signed up for the Edmonton Half Marathon (the 2012 Canadian Derby Edmonton Marathon 21.1, if you will) and also the Fall Classic (29th Annual Fall Classic 5 and 10 Miler).

I am not really up to training snuff for the Derby, but I hope to beat 80 minutes for the 10 Miler. I did both last year, reviews here and here, and they are both great races.

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

A Tale of Two Hats

New and Old Hats

My favourite hat has been getting dirtier and dirtier for quite some time, to the point where I still like to wear it, but feel a little silly wearing it. I tried to wash it, but didn't want to get too aggressive for fear of wrecking it. I had bought it from a triathlon store in Canmore 3 years ago on our way to my first Ironman Canada in 2009, making it tough to replace... But my wife tracked one down and ordered me a new one exactly the same from Sugoi online! Hopefully the new hat will serve me as well as the old one, which I had worn for many races including the Vancouver half marathon this year! Here are some pics of the old hat in action: