Ironman Canada 2011 by Shanta Oudit

Sep 5, 2011

Ironman Canada 2011 by Shanta Oudit

First and foremost, I would like to Thank Everyone for their overwhelming support during my Ironman Journey!!!

This whole thing started a year ago, Aug 2010, I had just completed Timberman 70.3 in New Hampshire where the state License plate was " LIVE FREE OR DIE" I liked that!
My friend Laura Gazzola, who competed at World's Duathlon in Italy, went for a leisure ride and I beat her up every hill!! This got to my head " I am a strong rider". Laura confessed later she was very sick that day:)
I came home and Ironman Canada registration was still open, spoke to a few friends and they convinced me I was crazy and of course I can do it; so I signed up.

Training was very hard on family life, I sent my boyfriend Rick for therapy, because he couldn't handle my selfishness:)
It was all about me.. my swim, bike, run, massages, camps… etc..

Tuesday Aug 23, 2011 we landed in Kelowna 40 minutes from race site Penticton.
Surprising I was very composed and ready, just wanted to "getherdun".

Race day:
I am at the swim start, getting a bit anxious seeing 3300 athletes in the water, my friend Karen was standing beside me. I told her I was scared, she said " Shanta 5 laps at Professor Lake" all my fears were gone because I did that every Thursday night since early June.

That darn swim start horn, I hate that sound " baaaaaoch" we were off swimming.
I started to pray to my Hindu God "Om Namo Shiva". It was the same as counting 3 words 3 strokes.. it calmed my breathing.
I got pushed around, hit a few times but I was on a mission, to complete that swim.

About 400 meters into the swim, I remembered "Walter" I witnessed his body pulled from the water in 2009, Ironman Canada he had drowned; I prayed for his soul to rest in peace and told him I would complete this swim in his honor.

Almost immediately I found a pair of feet, " I hope it wasn't Walter's":), I drafted the entire swim. A few times I was tempted to swim faster, but I didn't. I was moving forward and I had company.
I finished the swim fresh.

Transition tent:
I ran to the far end of the change tent towards the exit, stripped, put on fresh dry bike wear and was off to my bike. No effort

Bike:
First 14 km was pretty flat, enjoyed a fast pace, but deliberately held back; Maclean Creek first climb, no sweat. Got to the bottom, and I can see about 10-12 cyclists at the side of the road, I slowed right down.
Officials was calling out " cross the yellow line, ride on the left side, tacks on the road!!" Oh boy, I am missed that calamity!

Nice riding from 14km to 64 km. Then comes Ritter's Pass; long relentless climb, scorching heat in the mountains, no air circulation, but lots of cheering fans.

Almost at the top, big problem… I overheard some saying "no water, go to the next aid station" they ran out of water, on a hot 35 degrees race day!!! This was a serious problem, my fountain was full and I had ½ bottle in my cage. A girl was begging for water, I almost gave her my ½ bottle, then on second thoughts, I didn't because I was concerned " what if there was no water at the other station". I selfishly kept my water:(

That hill took a few rounds out of me, at the top I felt like I had a flat tire.. I wasn't moving very fast, so I stopped and check my tires, they were fine it's me:) So I backed off my pace and I started a "touring ride". Nothing bothered me for the rest of the ride. Out and back, Yellow Lake climb, I pulled up along side some riders, chatting. "So where you're from, is this your first ironman"?? It was the best long ride I ever had:)

Transition 2
Stripped, changed into fresh clothing. no problem!
The run:
My watch was dead; Kelly gave me Andrews's watch, I started to run.
Legs were good; body felt good, but there was this huge weight strapped around my waist, 4 bottles of warm water and 10 warm gels. I tried 1 gel and it almost projectile across the road. My stomach didn't feel very good and this belt was bouncing around.
It took me a long time to get to the turn around where I had a "special needs run bag"
I dropped the belt with 4 bottles full of water and 9 gels.

That's when I started to run, I passed 180 athletes, and this was fun. I continued to chat with everyone I passed. "Are you having a good day"?……….
I had a few goals:
To have fun
Finish in 14 hours
To beat Klaus's time 14:59
To beat Carrie's time 14:16
At 22 miles I knew Klaus's time was in the bag, Carrie's time and 14 hours was still out there. The last 3 miles I picked up my pace, at 1 mile I can hear the crowds, I saw Nadia and my friends, and I booted it to the finish line. I finished strong 14:08, enjoyed the whole Ironman experience and achieved ¾ of my goals:). We waited until midnight for everyone to finish, I couldn't stop talking, I was so happy!!!!

In summary, Ironman training is very time consuming, but the Distance is quite doable, in a reasonable time. If you want to qualify for Kona or beat 11/12 hours like some FMCT Ironnuts, that another story:)



I had so much fun, I signed up for Ironman Canada 2012!!!!

Shanta