Photos and commentary about last weekend's race at Ironman Mont-Tremblant:
This shot was taken six days before I was supposed to race Ironman Texas in May. I was in the medical center getting treatment for pneumonia. I ultimately decided not to start IMTX and looked to get back into racing later this summer. I had eyed both Ironman Canada-Whistler and Ironman Mont-Tremblant as potential races. In the end, I decided to do both, with the second event of Mont-Tremblant taking place three weeks after Ironman Canada.
I took part in the Ironkids race on Friday morning. I loved seeing the kids scramble to be up front to get a better start position.
With Mike Reilly and Lisa Bentley at the start of the Ironkids race. Photo credit: Robert Mahaits
Day before the race involves a lot of resting and eating.
People always ask what I have for dinner before a race: rice, soy sauce, chicken, and orange juice. I usually have avocados too, but the local IGA's produce was a bit rough this trip.
Had some Pringles too. Have to have something you enjoy when carb-loading.
Taking the pedestrian gondola down from the top of the hill of Mont Tremblant village. Trying to save the legs as much as possible before race day.
Personalized bike racks for the professionals were a nice touch.
Drinking copious amounts of coffee at 4:00 in the morning on race day. No matter how many of these races I do, I will never enjoy how early they start.
Getting the bike ready in transition.
Looking back at Mont-Tremblant as we walked over to the swim start.
45 minutes to race start.
30 minutes to race start.
20 minutes to race start.
One minute to race start.
BOOM! At the pro meeting they told us "At the start, there will be a starting gun, a cannon and fireworks. Whatever you hear first, GO!"
I exited the water in 5th place in 51:39. Photo Credit: Robert Mahaits.
Awesome photo, taken by Korupt Vision, in the closing miles of the bike leg on a very fast section of the course. I exited the bike in 4th position. I was well off the lead, but 2nd-5th were within ~4-5 minutes at the start of the marathon.
This shot was taken just before entering T2. They had moved the mount/dismount line back about 100 meters from where we started so I swung my leg off the bike way too soon resulting in me having to ride my bike in like skateboard, with one foot on the pedal and one pushing off the ground. Photo Credit: Robert Mahaits
Onto the run, I moved from 4th to 3rd position around 18K. At ~25K, I moved into 2nd position, but 2nd-5th remained tight all the way to the finish. Only about 5 minutes or so remained between all four position by the finish line. This shot was snapped less than a mile before the finish line by Sara Gross. I like this shot as I rarely tend to look away from the ground when I run, but I think I was happy to see a friend at that point.
My wife, Brooke, greeting me at the finish line. I felt rough. Photo Credit: Robert Mahaits.
I think this photo captured how I felt moments after finishing. The heat and the effort had taken a major toll on me and I felt it. Around ten minutes after crossing the finish line, I became very sick and probably threw up everything I had tried to put down in the last part of the run. It wasn't pretty. Photo Credit: Robert Mahaits.
Fortunately, I didn't throw up on the reporters.
Awards ceremony. Glad I wore shorts because it was hot in there.
Good buddy, and EC athlete, Rob Mohr, made the podium in his AG with a 9:39 (in his 2nd IM ever).
Nice sunset view from the Gondola in MT.
My cats' reactions when I told them I had a good race.
Racing IM Canada and IM Mont-Tremblant three weeks apart was one of the more challenging things I have attempted and completed as an athlete. In the end, it worked out pretty well with a 3rd and 2nd place finish, though I'm not certain I would attempt that close of a double again (at least not in the near future!). Hopefully I can recover soon enough and try and race a little more before 2015 ends.
Cheers,
Justin