Timex® Ironman® Global Trainer™ Bodylink® System with integrated SiRFstarIII™ GPS technology measures pace, speed, distance and more in real-time, allowing athletes to measure, review and advance their performance.

Customizable displays show up to four windows of information, and advanced online training log software analyzes uploaded data across several dimensions.

The water-resistant case and long-lasting rechargeable battery prove this is the only GPS-enabled watch worthy of the Timex® Ironman® name.

http://www.timexironman.com/Products/Global_Trainer_GPS.htm

-Performance and Route Data Downloads to Online Training Software Powered by
-Advanced Desktop Software Manages Users Settings for Easy Customization.
-Battery Recharges when Connected to USB Port or AC Adaptor.
-Compatible with Windows® XP or Newer and Mac® OS X 10.4 or Newer.
-Compatible with Timex® Heart Rate and Bike Sensors Using ANT+™.
-Compatible with Third-Party Bike Power Sensors Using ANT+™.

Available at many specialty sports and sporting goods stores in September 2010.

This was my 6^th year in a row racing Ironman Canada.  It has become my favorite race over the years.  We had a lovely home stay with Bonnie, Sussie and Bill on the highway towards Naramata, overlooking Lake Okanagan and wineries.

It was a busy year for me and I was probably a little less prepared for this Ironman Canada as compared to previous years.

Fast forward to race day.

Race morning I woke up early and gobbled down calories and water.  I arrived at the race site early so that I wouldn’t be rushed.  It was great to say hello to fellow competitors.  It is interesting to note that most of the pro racers are as nervous as the age-groupers come race morning.

Swim: 54:29, 3.8km

I went out hard for the first 800m of the swim and found myself near the back of a very large group.  I had no difficulty staying with the group well past the half way point of the swim but unfortunately did not notice a gap opening up two swimmers in front of me.  Unfortunately by the time I noticed, I could not bridge up so I elected to stay within the a smaller group.  We came out just a minute behind the group that I should have been in, but I was able to get through the swim without having to dig deep.  I’ve found over the years that it is much better to come out of an ironman swim a little slower having conserved rather than come out slightly faster but tired.

Bike: 4:47.47, 180km

 I was quickly able to catch up to the likes of Scott Curry, Jasper Blake, Michael Simpson et all.  Unlike previous years, it seemed to me like people were riding without drafting, keeping distance greater than the 10m zone.  The pro race has a 10m rule between bikes and there seemed like officials that were watching us closely.  Unfortunately, from what I heard about much of the age-group race where there were a lot more people riding within tight groups.

I was using my powertap, trying not to go too hard early.  Scott Curry passed me during the rollers after Richter Pass but I was able to keep him in sight as he seemed to remain about 200m down the road.  I passed Scott just after the out-an-back aid station as we started the Yellow Lake climb.   I was able to pass a few other riders before the end of the bike.  I think that I came off the bike in 12^th place.

 Average power for the ride was 257 Watts, or normalized to 269 Watts.  I used a combination of Powerbars, Powerbar Blasts and PowerbarGels as fuel for the bike.  I supplemented my water with electrolyte pills.

 Run: 3:11.17, 42.2km

 Before I started the run, I made a much needed porta-pottie stop. 

 I started the run, not feeling good at all.  I was passed early by Wolfgang Gumble and Jasper Blake who were moving well.  I knew that I wasn’t going to be able to run fast today, but I could run consistent so I wanted to make sure that I paced myself well.  I went by two guys that were obviously hurting more than I.

 The run is an out and back, so I was able to gage my competition.  My goal for the race was to finish in the top-8 but it looked like I wasn’t making any ground on anyone. 

 Finally, with 6.5 miles to go people started to fade.  First, I went by Thomas Hellriegal.  I didn’t know if that was an appropriate time to ask Thomas for his autograph.  Soon after I went by Trevor Wurtele who was in the bushes doing some personal business.  With about 5 miles to go, I came around another corner heading back into town and there were Luke Bell and Mark Van Akkeren. 

 I heard people yelling at me that I was sitting from 5^th to 10^th position.  Up ahead I could see another spec of white, who was Brian Lavelle.  I gritted my teeth and kept on going and caught Brian with about 1km to go.

 Looking back on my run, I think that I ran a very smart race.  I believe that I was very close to even splitting the run, which is a difficult thing to do in an ironman.

 I finished with a time of 8:58.34 good enough for 7^th place.  Not my fastest IMC, but probably my smartest race there.  If you’d told me before that I would have passed the likes of Lothar Leader, Thomas Hellriegal, Luke Bell, Brian Lavelle, Chris Dmitrieff, Michael Simpson, Andrei Yastrebov and others, I would had said that you were nuts.

 I am pretty proud about my consistency at Ironman Canada

2005: 7^th Place

2006: 4^th Place

2007: 6^th Place

2008: 6^th Place

2009: 7^th Place

 We were very sad to hear after the race about an athlete passing away during the swim.

The Great White North half-ironman triathlon in Stony Plain Alberta (just west of Edmonton) is one of the bigger triathlons in the north west with close to 900 participants.

This dylan-esque pop bubble gum favorite has had a slew of world class ironman contenders. Heather Fuhr still holds the women’s course record but Tom Evans beat his own course record with another dominating performance.

2009 Results
1. Tom Evans 3:49.09
2. Kyle Marcotte 4:05.08
3. Ben Adam 4:05.22

1. Rosemarie Gerspacher 4:24.52
2. Kristina Schultz 4:25.15
3. Tanya Salomon 4:28.34

Viterra Ironman 70.3 Calgary is proud to announce five charity entry spots for the Calgary 70.3 half-Ironman. The proceeds of these entries are going to support that Jason Lapierre Scholarship fund at the University of Calgary.

On July 19th 2006 we of lost a very good friend when Jason Lapierre was hit by a car while he was out training on Highway 1A near Cochrane. Jay was doing nothing wrong. He was riding in the shoulder of the road (a wide shoulder at that) when a driver coming from the opposite direction passed out behind the wheel, crossed over the highway and hit Jay head on. There is a very good chance that Jay never saw it coming.

Jay made close personal connections with people and many would have described him as their best friend. Such was his strength of character. Jay and I first met in the summer of 2001 at some duathlon races but it wasn’t until the fall of 2002 when we joined the Kronos triathlon club where Jay and I really got to know each other.

Jay would often disappear during the winter as his duties with the Calgary Alpine Ski club meant that he was out of town quite a bit but when in town we would join up to hammer some running intervals at the Olympic Oval in Calgary. Both of us would often exchange ‘glory’ day stories as to when we thought we had some speed back running in university.

We started traveling together to races but I would admit that I wasn’t always the best traveling buddy, as I’d fall asleep when he was driving. He’d use this opportunity to play tricks on me like turning up all the heat on me. I’d wake up feeling sick not knowing what he had done. We’ve made half a dozen trips together to the Okanogan for races and training.

In the summer of 2003 Jay was focusing training on Ironman Canada. Even if we weren’t able to be there to watch Jay race, many of us were following it on the internet. I was both happy and proud of Jay at the same time. He inspired us. Here is a slide show that Trev Williams put together on Jay’s first ironman, which inspired us to take up long course triathlon the challenge.

http://www.jasonlapierre.com/Jaysvideo.wmv

That fall, Lap moved out to Canmore, so I didn’t see as much of him but Jay would often come into town and use my place as a training base. We would do a workout at night, he’d crash on my fouton and then we’d wake up in the morning to do another run or bike before he drove back to Canmore. I’d often do the same out at his place in Canmore. When he moved back to Calgary after buying his townhouse, it wouldn’t be an odd-occurrence to find us doing a three-hour trainer rides together in his garage.

Jay and I became close friends and I would not hesitate to say that he has been my best friend for the last couple of years. I talked with Jay for a good 20 minutes early in the afternoon of the day of the accident. We spoke of career opportunities (Jay had just turned down an opportunity with Alpine Canada); we talked about mutual friends, investment properties (Jay was looking at buying a downtown condo as an investment), and upcoming races. Jay was hoping for some good races by the end of season after taking a mid summer break from bike racing. He said that he had been feeling strong on his last couple of bike rides. We looked forward to a 200k ride together in the next weekend.

Our last conversation was a good talk, as we often had. In fact I remember we ended the conversation, and then I called him back again about 5 minutes later and we talked some more. Things were going well for him and I am confident that his last day with us was a good day filled with Jay having happy thoughts and memories.

The long road trips to races, our shared sense of humor and the great conversations were special times Jay and I had together. I will miss Jay as a great friend, training buddy and role model. There are so many people that owe so much to Jason for his leadership and coaching to help make us what we are in terms of athletes and people. Jay always believed in us and pushed us to accomplish more.

Jason has been a great friend and I will really miss him. Since Jay’s passing there have been many wonderful things done in his name. The fact that we are keeping his spirit alive is wonderful.  Click here to Register

Below is the a slide show that world champion down hill skier, Olympian and one of Jay’s best friends John Kucera put together for Jay. Jay was John’s coach when John was a teen. Jay was extremely influential in John’s athletic development.

For more information about the Jason Lapierre Memorial Scholarship, please visit:

http://netcommunity.ucalgary.ca/Page.aspx?&pid=290&srcid=231

www.jasonlapierre.com

I received an email from Chris this morning saying that he is in for Calgary 70.3. I know Lisa is also racing. Is anyone else making the trip?