Our last day in Penticton had us biking a part of the Ironman course and then testing out the chilly waters of Lake Okanagan - brrrrr! We left Penticton at 8am and then continued East towards Calgary, where we've been since Sunday. The drive through BC was stunning and unforgettable - we have some great pictures that we'll share as soon as possible.
We had a really fantastic visit with Mark (Matt's brother) and girlfriend, Ashley and their adorable dogs, Noodle and Guiness - will post pics tomorrow. We also had a great lunch with Aunty Chris today and are now all packed up for the long journey east to Winnipeg. It will be an early morning tomorrow as it is a good 12-14 hours to Winnipeg - our longest drive of the trip - hopefully it won't be too painful. All in all this has been a fantastic way to see this beautiful country of ours.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Friday, June 26, 2009
Enroute East
We left Victoria this morning onboard the 9am ferry and I must admit it was bitter sweet - bitter in that we're leaving so many great friends but sweet in that we are looking forward to this next chapter in our life. The car is definitely jam packed so hopefully we'll lighten the load along the way. We made a quick pit stop in Merritt, BC for lunch and are now in Penticton, BC for a few days. The B&B we are staying at is further out of town then we wanted to be (we're in Naramata) but it will be good to have a day for Matt to train on the Ironman Course tomorrow. We're heading out for a bike ride early tomorrow morning and then will swim and run Sunday before we head towards Calgary. We'll also check out the market tomorrow and load up on lots of fresh fruit for the rest of the drive.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
The Locusts Have Arrived!
Well, the packers have arrived. It is absolutely amazing how fast these guys work. That being said, we have a lot of crap so unpacking should be fun. The car is packed...if it was not for all the trg gear & the duty free it wouldn't be so bad.
Aside from that, there is not much else going on. This is a relatively quiet trg week but well start ramping up soon enough. Before we sign off we just wanted to give a big thanks to Coach Noa. Without her help we would not be progressing like we are. We look forward to what the future brings. Noa's dedication & knoledge are second to none and were happy to have her on our side.
We'll try to keep regular posts on our trip across the country.
Aside from that, there is not much else going on. This is a relatively quiet trg week but well start ramping up soon enough. Before we sign off we just wanted to give a big thanks to Coach Noa. Without her help we would not be progressing like we are. We look forward to what the future brings. Noa's dedication & knoledge are second to none and were happy to have her on our side.
We'll try to keep regular posts on our trip across the country.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Amber's Race Report - I am a Half Ironman!
Today was truly a great day! This was the race that I have been working towards since October and I couldn't have been happier with the results - it would have been awesome to be sub 5 hours 30 minutes, but considering that I honestly thought I would be done in 6 hours, I really surprised myself - even looked at the clock at the finish line twice to be sure! I guess it goes to show that hard work and training do pay off - it was a great feeling arriving this morning and knowing I was ready - thank-you Coach Noa!
Swim
Shawnigan Lake two weeks ago was my first open water swim start and I couldn't have started in a worse position - in the middle of the pack which resulted in being swum over by a bunch of people. I'll post a Youtube video that will give you an idea of what these swims are like. But... back to this morning - a great swim! Started on the edge, rode someone's wake to the first buoy, then fended for myself for a bit and then joined back up with the traffic for the sprint to the beach. Official swim time: 34 minutes, 10 seconds
T1
Pretty good although I did spend at least 5 minutes in the water wondering if I should have put clear lenses in my sunglasses because it was pretty cloudy. Tried jamming my gels into the bottom of my shorts and seemed to work well. Time: 2 min 31 seconds
Bike
I knew that this was not my forte so rode the first lap fairly easy but keeping a steady pace. Ride was great except for the occassional segments of heavy rain that filled my shoes with water and for one milisecond made me wonder "What the hell am I doing out here in my bathing suit in this weather?!?". The bad weather didn't last and the second loop was good. My Argon is definitely a speed machine with the SRAM Wheels - it feels great to go fast! Official bike time: 3 hours, 3.36 seconds
T2
Under 1 minutes (56:56) - nice and fast - wish I had brought another pair of socks because they were soaking wet from the bike. Oh well - no time to worry about it - time to run!
Run
The run was really great. Felt really strong coming off the bike and settled into a steady pace. By now the sun had come out and I was focused on watching the route so as not to get caught by any of the roots. Something must have been wrong with my timing chip because it said I did the run in 55 min which is impossible (it was 20 km long), but I know that I was well under 2 hours which was a great accomplishment. Most importantly finished strong and felt great.
Official 1/2 Ironman Final Time: 5 hours 32.24 minutes
Swim
Shawnigan Lake two weeks ago was my first open water swim start and I couldn't have started in a worse position - in the middle of the pack which resulted in being swum over by a bunch of people. I'll post a Youtube video that will give you an idea of what these swims are like. But... back to this morning - a great swim! Started on the edge, rode someone's wake to the first buoy, then fended for myself for a bit and then joined back up with the traffic for the sprint to the beach. Official swim time: 34 minutes, 10 seconds
T1
Pretty good although I did spend at least 5 minutes in the water wondering if I should have put clear lenses in my sunglasses because it was pretty cloudy. Tried jamming my gels into the bottom of my shorts and seemed to work well. Time: 2 min 31 seconds
Bike
I knew that this was not my forte so rode the first lap fairly easy but keeping a steady pace. Ride was great except for the occassional segments of heavy rain that filled my shoes with water and for one milisecond made me wonder "What the hell am I doing out here in my bathing suit in this weather?!?". The bad weather didn't last and the second loop was good. My Argon is definitely a speed machine with the SRAM Wheels - it feels great to go fast! Official bike time: 3 hours, 3.36 seconds
T2
Under 1 minutes (56:56) - nice and fast - wish I had brought another pair of socks because they were soaking wet from the bike. Oh well - no time to worry about it - time to run!
Run
The run was really great. Felt really strong coming off the bike and settled into a steady pace. By now the sun had come out and I was focused on watching the route so as not to get caught by any of the roots. Something must have been wrong with my timing chip because it said I did the run in 55 min which is impossible (it was 20 km long), but I know that I was well under 2 hours which was a great accomplishment. Most importantly finished strong and felt great.
Official 1/2 Ironman Final Time: 5 hours 32.24 minutes
Matt's Race Report - NB Half
I figured I would try to be timely with this post. Before I got any further....HAPPY FATHER's DAY. Hope everyone had a great day. I'll let Amber complete her own race report so without spoiling it, she did amazing.
First half ironman out of the way - now that it is down, my goal was 5hrs. I figured this was doable but I would have to push. Turns out, I didn't have to go crazy and my time was 4:51:25 - I'm really happy with that result given that this is only prep for Ironman Canada. Fitness seems to be ok. Definitely room for improvements.
Swim (29:33 - 1:34/100m)
Nothing like being in a small pool with 500 of your closest friends all trying to get to the same location in a hurry. Better than Shawnigan but I have to be more aggressive. I managed to place myself in a good position for the start. I got off to a good start going hard for about 100-150m. Managed to get some feet for a bit of a draft. The problem was that I kept getting spit of where I wanted to be so I ended up swimming alone for a bit. This made for a more tiring swim than planned. Definitely slowed a bit towards the end.
T1 (1:50)
Definitely slower than planned but not horrible. I had a terrible location in the far corner.
Bike (2:42:14 - 32.2kph)
Bike started off pretty good and I got in to a good rhythm. Overall I was happy with the time but things were not great. I was never so happy to get off my bike. Right hip was tight right off the get go but that settled down. Around the 35k mark, my lower back was giving me some terrible issues. Felt like I wanted to cry at one point. First time this has happened. If my lower back is tight, usually it goes away. This time, I was not so lucky. Did at least 10k out of the aero position at one point b/c it was bothering me so much. It definitely zapped some power. It was pretty windy at points and the down-pour of rain at one point sucked. All in all, time was good but I was not comfortable. I also did not eat or drink enough but I'll let coach Noa in on that.
T2 (1:29)
Still a little slow but I ended up putting on socks as I had a blister from my shoes the other day. Also elected to use my fuel belt for the run.
Run (1:36:20 - 4:49/km)
I felt pretty strong off the bike. The cadence and turnover was going well. That slowed down at a couple of points but for the most part, it was good. Still too tight in the shoulders. Had 2 gels and a little bit to drink (not enough fluids). The course was around Elk Lake and it was nice to run on the trail. My right calf/Achilles and hamstring were not too horrible but they were tight at times (I've been having issues for the last 3 wks with these - recovery week should help). Overall, I was really happy with the run...just need to build on this as we move forward.
Overall, the race went well. Things could have been better from a logistical standpoint but the overall result was good. Standing in the line for the port-o-john 10 minutes before race start with no warm-up complete and the wetsuit to put on is not the best plan. I really have to sort out nutrition and I need to take a bit better care of my body.
Points to Ponder
This is a non-draft legal event on the bike. There was definitely a lot of drafting as a couple of packs whipped by me on the bike. That being said, there was one individual that sat on the wheel of anyone he could (bib 286) which is definitely not in the spirit of the sport. Oh well....some people...
The volunteers were awesome yet again and the race was very well organized....
That's it, that's all....back to packing....almost forgot we move in less than a week.
Cheers. M
First half ironman out of the way - now that it is down, my goal was 5hrs. I figured this was doable but I would have to push. Turns out, I didn't have to go crazy and my time was 4:51:25 - I'm really happy with that result given that this is only prep for Ironman Canada. Fitness seems to be ok. Definitely room for improvements.
Swim (29:33 - 1:34/100m)
Nothing like being in a small pool with 500 of your closest friends all trying to get to the same location in a hurry. Better than Shawnigan but I have to be more aggressive. I managed to place myself in a good position for the start. I got off to a good start going hard for about 100-150m. Managed to get some feet for a bit of a draft. The problem was that I kept getting spit of where I wanted to be so I ended up swimming alone for a bit. This made for a more tiring swim than planned. Definitely slowed a bit towards the end.
T1 (1:50)
Definitely slower than planned but not horrible. I had a terrible location in the far corner.
Bike (2:42:14 - 32.2kph)
Bike started off pretty good and I got in to a good rhythm. Overall I was happy with the time but things were not great. I was never so happy to get off my bike. Right hip was tight right off the get go but that settled down. Around the 35k mark, my lower back was giving me some terrible issues. Felt like I wanted to cry at one point. First time this has happened. If my lower back is tight, usually it goes away. This time, I was not so lucky. Did at least 10k out of the aero position at one point b/c it was bothering me so much. It definitely zapped some power. It was pretty windy at points and the down-pour of rain at one point sucked. All in all, time was good but I was not comfortable. I also did not eat or drink enough but I'll let coach Noa in on that.
T2 (1:29)
Still a little slow but I ended up putting on socks as I had a blister from my shoes the other day. Also elected to use my fuel belt for the run.
Run (1:36:20 - 4:49/km)
I felt pretty strong off the bike. The cadence and turnover was going well. That slowed down at a couple of points but for the most part, it was good. Still too tight in the shoulders. Had 2 gels and a little bit to drink (not enough fluids). The course was around Elk Lake and it was nice to run on the trail. My right calf/Achilles and hamstring were not too horrible but they were tight at times (I've been having issues for the last 3 wks with these - recovery week should help). Overall, I was really happy with the run...just need to build on this as we move forward.
Overall, the race went well. Things could have been better from a logistical standpoint but the overall result was good. Standing in the line for the port-o-john 10 minutes before race start with no warm-up complete and the wetsuit to put on is not the best plan. I really have to sort out nutrition and I need to take a bit better care of my body.
Points to Ponder
This is a non-draft legal event on the bike. There was definitely a lot of drafting as a couple of packs whipped by me on the bike. That being said, there was one individual that sat on the wheel of anyone he could (bib 286) which is definitely not in the spirit of the sport. Oh well....some people...
The volunteers were awesome yet again and the race was very well organized....
That's it, that's all....back to packing....almost forgot we move in less than a week.
Cheers. M
Friday, June 19, 2009
Work's Complete
Yesterday was our last day of work. We have a few days "off" before they come to pack up our place. "Off" is a relative term. Fri is a rest day before the first real big race of the year. It is also a day for us to take care of a bit of business prior to the move.
The last few days have been pretty good. They had a lunch on Wed for Amber and the guys took me out for lunch on Thur. Wed night was an imagery session courtesy of coach Noa which was pretty good. I remembered the importance of visualization from using it playing sports growing up but the imagery uses all of the senses. It is definitely worth while.
Aside from that, we are trudging along getting ready for the move and "resting" up for NB 1/2 Ironman on Sunday. Now, all we need is for the rain to hold off.
It has been bitter sweet over the last couple of days. It's exciting to start a new job in a new area but we are leaving behind an excellent community and good friends. All will be missed but only a short flight away. I'll be back in less than 3 wks for Ironman camp in Penticton with a lot of the gang. Should be good.
We start our drive on Friday and will attempt to keep everyone posted on the voyage across. Hopefully we'll even have a few photos.
Take care. Keep smiling. M
The last few days have been pretty good. They had a lunch on Wed for Amber and the guys took me out for lunch on Thur. Wed night was an imagery session courtesy of coach Noa which was pretty good. I remembered the importance of visualization from using it playing sports growing up but the imagery uses all of the senses. It is definitely worth while.
Aside from that, we are trudging along getting ready for the move and "resting" up for NB 1/2 Ironman on Sunday. Now, all we need is for the rain to hold off.
It has been bitter sweet over the last couple of days. It's exciting to start a new job in a new area but we are leaving behind an excellent community and good friends. All will be missed but only a short flight away. I'll be back in less than 3 wks for Ironman camp in Penticton with a lot of the gang. Should be good.
We start our drive on Friday and will attempt to keep everyone posted on the voyage across. Hopefully we'll even have a few photos.
Take care. Keep smiling. M
Friday, June 12, 2009
Rolling Along....!!!
Whether we like it or not, things are rolling along quickly. Training has been going pretty well. It's been a tough week on Amber as she was away last weekend for 4 days with work and she did not manage to get a lot of rest. As for me, the run focus that Coach Noa made has been great but I'm finding it tough to hit the paces...easy runs are too easy, harder runs tend to be not hard enough (except for the track which is always hard work with the rest of the gang). It's just over a week until we take on the first half ironman. The Victoria New Balance Half Ironman will be 21 June (Father's Day for those that need a reminder). It should be a good day. We have some goals but we'll leave that for a later time.
Moving....well, it's been a bit of a cluster but prgressing slowly. It will happen regardless whether we are ready or not.
A new addition to the family (get your minds out of the gutter)....iPhones. Yes, we have succumber to the technological age and both got iPhones. We needed an update and since this is cheaper than what we have now, we figured we would jump in. In all honesty, they are amazing.
The BIG NEWS ---- PARTY TIME!!!!! This weekend will be our big moving bash with the gang coming along. One of the good things about all of our travel is duty-free booze. Since we can not move it, it will be party chez nous. Since we drink very rarely with all the trg and a big trg day Sat & Sun + race weekend a week away, we'll be doing it in moderation. But, it will be great to see everyone before we leave.
That's really about it. Take it easy. M
Moving....well, it's been a bit of a cluster but prgressing slowly. It will happen regardless whether we are ready or not.
A new addition to the family (get your minds out of the gutter)....iPhones. Yes, we have succumber to the technological age and both got iPhones. We needed an update and since this is cheaper than what we have now, we figured we would jump in. In all honesty, they are amazing.
The BIG NEWS ---- PARTY TIME!!!!! This weekend will be our big moving bash with the gang coming along. One of the good things about all of our travel is duty-free booze. Since we can not move it, it will be party chez nous. Since we drink very rarely with all the trg and a big trg day Sat & Sun + race weekend a week away, we'll be doing it in moderation. But, it will be great to see everyone before we leave.
That's really about it. Take it easy. M
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Random Rants
So, there have been a few thins on my mind so I figure I'll share them.
Man's Best Friend
Now, I love dogs...would actually like to get one some day in the future but at present time I am starting to dislike them (I guess it would be more appropriate to say their owners). There is an area in Victoria along Dallas Rd that is an "off leash" area. In general, I think this is great. However, over the last week or so, I have almost run over a couple of dogs on the paved section, I've had 2 chase me as I was running and the ones that are on those leashes that are retractable - for the most part, their owners allow them to do whatever they want....so, a trip wire they create. It is extremely annoying.
Broken Glass
On my long ride today, the shoulder of the rode was littered with a lot of broken glass. Most of this came from liquor/beer bottles so it is nice to see that drinking and driving is alive and well. The least they could do is take their empties home. This is very annoying given how easy it is to get a flat. Just so you know the majority of it was out in Langford.
Stupid Drivers
Granted there are a lot of stupid bicyclists on the rode, there are a lot more stupid drivers. I past a girl yesterday with an "N" (ie. new driver) on here car - she was listening to her IPod with headphones in both ears while texting on her cell and driving at the same time. I highly doubt she has near the skill to accomplish the task. Time will tell. There are also those drivers that seem to thinking it is funny to lay on their horn as they approach a cyclist from behind. They are morons.
The Weather
The weather has been awesome out here over the last week. That being said, the weather folks got it totally wrong for today. It did not clear up and in fact it rained a little. Some things never change.
Amber is away for the weekend for work down in Portland. I'm trying to sort some stuff around the house and prep for the move. Aside from that, it's been a good training weekend. Tomorrow will bring a long run and a swim. Today was an ok ride (about 110k) followed by a short run. Looking forward to Victoria 1/2 Iron in a couple of weeks. We'll be hitting the road a few days after that.
Cheerio. M
Man's Best Friend
Now, I love dogs...would actually like to get one some day in the future but at present time I am starting to dislike them (I guess it would be more appropriate to say their owners). There is an area in Victoria along Dallas Rd that is an "off leash" area. In general, I think this is great. However, over the last week or so, I have almost run over a couple of dogs on the paved section, I've had 2 chase me as I was running and the ones that are on those leashes that are retractable - for the most part, their owners allow them to do whatever they want....so, a trip wire they create. It is extremely annoying.
Broken Glass
On my long ride today, the shoulder of the rode was littered with a lot of broken glass. Most of this came from liquor/beer bottles so it is nice to see that drinking and driving is alive and well. The least they could do is take their empties home. This is very annoying given how easy it is to get a flat. Just so you know the majority of it was out in Langford.
Stupid Drivers
Granted there are a lot of stupid bicyclists on the rode, there are a lot more stupid drivers. I past a girl yesterday with an "N" (ie. new driver) on here car - she was listening to her IPod with headphones in both ears while texting on her cell and driving at the same time. I highly doubt she has near the skill to accomplish the task. Time will tell. There are also those drivers that seem to thinking it is funny to lay on their horn as they approach a cyclist from behind. They are morons.
The Weather
The weather has been awesome out here over the last week. That being said, the weather folks got it totally wrong for today. It did not clear up and in fact it rained a little. Some things never change.
Amber is away for the weekend for work down in Portland. I'm trying to sort some stuff around the house and prep for the move. Aside from that, it's been a good training weekend. Tomorrow will bring a long run and a swim. Today was an ok ride (about 110k) followed by a short run. Looking forward to Victoria 1/2 Iron in a couple of weeks. We'll be hitting the road a few days after that.
Cheerio. M
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
0 for 2
Well, we have purchased 2 dining room/kitchen tables and we are now 0 for 2. The first one arrived 2 months late without the chairs so it was returned. We then decided that we would wait until we found a table we love. We found it but unfortunately, the company screwed up and now it is cracking terribly.
So, as you can see, although it is suppose to crack a bit, it should not be this bad. Given that it sits 8 people, the chances that it will get worse are highly likely. The top has also started to crack. So, we will soon be on the hunt for #3. Hopefully we'll have luck and the table will work. We don't have time before we move so that will be one of the first things we take care of when we get to Ontario.
On a brighter note, the weather is absolutely gorgeous out here and we are getting ready for our group ride. Should be a good one. M
So, as you can see, although it is suppose to crack a bit, it should not be this bad. Given that it sits 8 people, the chances that it will get worse are highly likely. The top has also started to crack. So, we will soon be on the hunt for #3. Hopefully we'll have luck and the table will work. We don't have time before we move so that will be one of the first things we take care of when we get to Ontario.
On a brighter note, the weather is absolutely gorgeous out here and we are getting ready for our group ride. Should be a good one. M
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