Shannon's IMC race report - 2010

IMC 2010 Race Report
I have taken a very long time to finally get this done. I think part of me thinks once I am done writing this, it’s really over. In the first few weeks after Ironman, I told my IMC story at least once per day. Now I am telling it only once per week so I thought I should get it on paper ASAP. Even though it is late, I hope that my story will help some of our teammates getting ready for their first Ironman this year.
In general, I am an over achiever, A-type personality. Triathlons have been a very humbling experience as I am at the bottom of the heap. This really bothered me my first few years but something changed the week of Ironman. My whole training season leading up to Ironman was full of doubt and the biggest worry for me was bike cut-off. At our training camp in July, this doubt heightened when I could not make it up Yellow Lake. Many of my teammates witnessed my meltdown and throwing of my bike at the top. Angie gave me a stern talking to but the doubt hung over me like a cloud.
Ironman week arrived and our first team swim was Thursday morning in Lake Okanagan. My competitive swimming background was not enough for me to overcome my open water anxiety. Every time I was in open water I would have to use various techniques to calm myself down. It usually took a good 500 m to get into the groove. That Thursday morning I was really nervous with getting the wetsuit on and getting in for the swim. I got in the water and started swimming – something was different. I didn’t need to calm myself down. I actually felt good and comfortable in the open water. It was a huge Ah-ha moment. The week was starting off well.
The team atmosphere was amazing all week. I had great support from my parents, youngest son and my friends Angela and Bruce. My husband and oldest son were at hockey tryouts but kept my spirits up with their updates and checking in on me. I was amazingly calm all week. When I picked up my race package Thursday, the doubt about bike cut-off loomed large. This is the main reason I made the decision to sign up for IMC 2011 that day. It took a little pressure off. If I did not make it, the training f0r 2010 were just necessary steps towards finishing it in 2011.
The night before the race, we had a BBQ with my friends Angela, Angela’s parents, and Bruce. They surprised me with T-shirts they planned on wearing that donned Team Ouellette. It was great to have such enthusiastic support. We had a nice relaxing evening leading up to a sleepless night.
The morning came way too soon but everything went as planned until body marking time. I was in line with Tanya to get body marking when she said she had to change batteries in her watch. Shear panic over-whelmed me. I had forgotten my watch and heart rate monitor. I went hysterical when I couldn’t get a hold of my parents. Tears were flowing!! I had to find Angie. As usual, Angie calmed me down. She told me I could use her watch and to race on feel, not to worry about the heart rate. I didn’t have much choice so I finished the preparation for the swim. Walking to the beach brought on the butterflies. I heard “Mom” and looked up. Josh and my parents had a perfect vantage point for the race start and I got a much needed high five from Josh. I saw Tara on the beach so we stood together waiting for our big day to get started. I reviewed in my mind who I was dedicating each leg of the race to. The swim was for my friend Kim. It was her birthday and I wouldn’t get to talk to her, so I wanted her in my thoughts. The bike was dedicated to Shawn Riley, an employee of mine who died suddenly at the age of 30 years old just a month earlier. His enthusiasm for life had touched me and I wanted to do his memory proud. The run was for my Grandpa who had died the past September. He had had a long illness and was a fighter. I knew I had a guardian angel watching me so I would try to be a fighter like him.
Before I knew it, we were off. My goggles were leaking so I was playing with them quite a bit but felt good. There were not a lot of swimmers running into me so that was a bonus. UNTIL, that is, I heard a volunteer in a canoe say “YOU ARE GOING THE WRONG WAY”. I stopped and looked up and realized there was not a soul around me – I was swimming parallel to shore instead of toward the buoys. My heart sunk. Even though I didn’t want to have “official” time goals, I wanted to finish the swim around 1:30. I pushed that out of my mind and got back to the task at hand. I got back on course and got into a great rhythm. I used Joanne’s mental game of one buoy at a time and I had a great rest of my swim. As I ran out of the water, I glanced at my watch – 1:20! I felt elated – despite my terrible start I had surpassed my secret goal. I think at this point, I had set the tone for the day. T1 went really well. I read my first note from my friend Cathy. She had given me a note for every bag and I was happy to have her around me Ironman day. She was a huge part of my Ironman journey as she had done all my long bike rides with me. She even came to the Ironman training camp to support me despite a bad back. Off to the bike, the dreaded bike. Along the fence I saw Angela, Bruce, Josh and my Mom and Dad. I gave them big waves and smiles and felt choked up. I rounded the corner to the cheers of Team Tri-Life. I really was doing this.
McLean Creek was there before I knew it and that little climb went well. I was going to take the first 60 km easy-peasy as Angie preached. I did that and it worked well. I was getting in the nutrition and fluids. Richter loomed ahead and I viewed that as a big test for me. I did it training camp day but it was hard. The hill was lined with many spectators. I heard Thunderstruck blaring which gave me a huge boost. Gord Clayholt was actually one of the reasons I started triathlons. Through the years we had kept in touch and I was very superstitious about seeing him at races. It was always in the back of my mind that I had to see him. He would be behind me on the swim, but always passed me on the bike. Going up Richter, I heard Gord say “You have got the bike”. This made me smile and deepened my resolve to gut this race it. Before I knew it, I was being greeted by Wade Church (GWN Organizer) at the top. As I told Angie when I saw her on my run, “I climbed Richter effortlessly”.
The Seven Witches were a nuisance but I did ok. The whole time I was doing them, I kept thinking about Yellow Lake. Just before turning onto the out and back, I saw Tanya in front of me and followed her for a while. Legs were tiring so it was nice to see a familiar face. At the out and back I should have gone to the washroom but the line-up was too long. I had not needed to really go yet so I thought I would wait for the run (yes Angie, I never used the washroom until 2 km into my run. I never told you that yet). The weather was a little nasty but I thought it was better than the 39 degrees we had at training camp. I dreaded Yellow Lake from the special needs station until I started the climb. It was lined with lots of cheering people. I looked up and saw the lane narrowing sign Kelly had told me to watch for. I was at the top of Yellow Lake and I really started to believe I would make bike cut-off. Now for the descent. It was liberating. I am a very slow and nervous descender. I felt like I was having a great trip down the hills and I even passed people which was unheard of. Coming into Penticton, I saw Leslie-Ann and Roger

in Roughrider green and their cheering gave me another lift to keep going. The last 10 km was painful and passing people already on the run made we realize it was far from over. Bike cut-off was 5:30 and I wheeled in T2 at 4:00 – I really did it. I was slow in transition but I was just so thrilled that I had done it I was relishing the moment. Heading out on the run, I gave my adoring fans hugs and high fives. I was really choked up at the point when Josh and Bruce ran along the fence encouraging me. I knew I wouldn’t see them until dark.
In the first km I saw JoZ and Richelle. I got much needed hugs and words of support from them. I had the honour of catching Richelle the year before at her first Ironman so it was a really good omen to see her at that point. I ran until around the 2 km mark and decided it was time to go to the washroom for the first time. Had to be done but oh my goodness!! I just about passed out – I had extreme chafing and it was anything but a relieving feeling. I saw Angie at Cherry Lane mall and she ran with me for a bit. I wanted to tell her everything but didn’t have time. Angie you are such a great coach and friend and even though we do this silly sport for ourselves, I felt so happy that you told me how proud you were I had made the bike. It meant a lot. Shortly after leaving Angie, I met up with a young lady, Maya, and we started chatting. It turned out she was also an engineer and we had a great conversation. During this part of the run, I saw Tara and we had smiles for each other – we were doing an Ironman!! Then I saw Ally who was enjoying every second of the day and made me laugh. About the 18 km mark I was starting to fade so Maya said her good byes and took off. I got to see Kelly heading back and boy, familiar faces and genuine smiles go a long way on Ironman day. I caught up to Nola and John and at that point, they were exactly what I needed. We ran into OK Falls and then I continued on to special needs. My salted potatoes were exactly what the stomach ordered. The coke was giving me a little bit of a tummy ache but the potatoes settled it down.
I then started the hardest part of the race for me which was the run back into Penticton. There were less people on the course, Penticton lights far away and it was dark. It took an eternity to get into Penticton. This was the part of the race that had few smiles or high points. Finally, I was in town and had 2 km left. The second last km felt like it took forever. You could see people heading across the finish line and I just wanted to be done. At the 1 km mark, our team was cheering. Angie came up to me with a big hug and I felt so overwhelmed. I just wanted to stay here. Angie pushed me and said “Get it done, you are an Ironman!” A volunteer informed me that I had 6 minutes if I wanted to beat 15 hours. There was no way I could get a km done in 6:00!! What the hell, I wanted to try it. I finished strong and the time was 14:58:55. I was an Ironman and I was getting a tattoo!!! I always thought I would have tears crossing the finish line but all I felt was elation and couldn’t quit smiling. My family and friends found me and took care of me which was awesome. I needed some TLC. Josh declared “Mom you are so fast!!!” He was just so happy I was in at 10:00. I had warned him all week I would probably be out there until midnight and I might not finish.
There is no way a person becomes an Ironman without a lot of support. I want to thank each and every person who has supported me throughout this journey. First, thanks to my coach and friend. I met Angie by fluke at a “learn to run a 10 km” clinic and have been with her since. Her honesty and intensity pushed me to believe in myself. I do finally believe her – I am a triathlete. The other thing Angie has brought into my life is my teammates. Being in Airdrie, I never felt a real part of the team until this last year as it took a while to get to know everyone. Now that I know everyone, WOW!! We are so lucky to have the support of each other. Races and training would not be the same without Team Tri-Life. My husband, Ronnie, and kids, Dylan and Josh, allow me to train and encourage me to do so. Ronnie is honestly the most amazing husband. Do we fight? Of course we do but he is always by my side and my Ironman journey was no exception. Teenage boys don’t say a lot about their Moms but they have shown me they are proud which is very important to me. My parents have always been there for me and it meant the world to have them there that day. Angela and Bruce have stood by me and have been at more finish lines for me than anyone in my life – I was so happy to have them there for my first Ironman. Angela has met me many mornings at the gym for early morning workouts and has offered continuous encouragement. Cathy introduced me to triathlons and I would have not finished the bike if it wasn’t for the tireless bike rides she accompanied me on.
I am not an elite athlete but I love training as a triathlete. I have grown up over the last few years when it comes to my attitude about the finish line. Being able to cope with races, good and bad, is a life skill and my first Ironman was not about the day of the race. The race day was the icing on the cake. I took the whole day in stride and enjoyed every minute (well most every minute) and kept a smile on my face. Becoming an Ironman has been a life changing experience. I AM AN IRONMAN!!!