The Bow Valley’s reputation as a breeding ground for Ironman triathletes was cemented, Sunday (Aug. 28) in Penticton as several athletes finished one of the nation’s toughest races.
Martine Grenon-Lafontaine of Canmore, competing in her first Subaru Canada Ironman Triathlon, was the top local female finisher.
“It was quite hot, but it went really well. I beat the time I wanted,” said Grenon-Lafontaine, who stopped the clock on the 3.8-km swim, 180-km bike and 42-km run in 12:52:03.
Hydration was key for the Canmorite, who, as an employee for Cross Country Canada, has the advantage of working next to great training facilities at the Canmore Nordic Centre.
“On the run I tried to get as much hydration as possible. Every two kilometres I got hydrated,” she said.
The technique obviously worked, as she actually got faster as the run went on.
“I felt good the whole time,” she said, while recovering in Peachland, B.C.
Three years ago she finished her first Olympic distance triathlon and has been working her way up to Ironman ever since.
“This is the year to do Ironman and I want to do the new one in Tremblant next year,” she said.
Banff’s Briana Botsford also finished her first Ironman in Penticton, completing the course in 14:30:14. The former competitive swimmer turned yoga instructor was the 300th competitor out of the water in a field of 2,800, surprising herself with an excellent time.
Once she was out of the water, the heat took its toll.
“It’s a lot different than training in Banff. You can’t get out of the heat and have to keep your electrolytes high. Loss of electrolytes is where a lot of people ran into trouble,” said Botsford, who is also a personal trainer.
A strong swim and an excellent bike ride had her sitting in a good position, however, the heat hit her hard on the run.
“I had to dig deep on the run. There were spots where there were not a lot of people around,” Botsford said.
She relied on her yoga training to keep her legs moving in 34 C weather.
“I thought a lot about my breathing and focused on that,” Botsford said, which kept her feet light.
The finale was a sweet experience. While she was exhausted, she sported a large smile.
“It was so awesome. Everyone was cheering the runners on. It was dark by then and I was tired, but I was so excited.”
She also got to compete with her training partner, Lindsey Austin, also of Banff, who finished the race in 14:58:22.
Botsford, 24, made a list of 30 things to do before she turns 30 and run an Ironman was on the list. So she spent the past year training for the event and now has six years to focus on the rest of her list.
“I had run a sprint triathlon when I was 21 and thought I could do an Ironman,” Botsford said. “It’s always been a goal of mine.”
She’s unlikely to complete another Ironman soon, as she wants to return to school to study physiotherapy. However, she does see herself returning to the Ironman ranks later in life.
Other Ironman competitors from Banff and Canmore included Shawn Carr (11:25:39), Steve Sellers (11:22:41), Andrew Hicks (14:48:59), Earl Emberton (16:04:22), and Kyle McLaughlin (10:20:43). For McLaughlin’s story, see page 56.
