Hi! I’ve been on ST for a while now, mainly asking for tips and checking out the classifieds 
guess it’s about time i shared something here. Just finished the Great White North 1/2IM in Edmonton, Canada and won myself a spot to IM Canada!!! VERY EXCITING!! Plan for the year did not include a full IM, but told myself that if i were to qualify by myself and not via rolldown or lottery, I’d do it. Never done a full IM before (but have a couple 1/2s on the resumee) and this being Canada’s 25th, I’m sure it’s gonna be an exciting one. Finished 15th overall and 2nd in AG, very well organised 1/2!!! So now, any tips on the race and more importantly, where do i stay!!!??? Hopefully some of you can help me out once again with some info and tips!! I’ll follow up with a RR later, thanks!!!
The Great White North ½ IM in Stoney Plains, Alberta, was probably one of the most stressful races I have ever been in. Not because of the race itself, that was excellent, but because of gear problems. It starts with my last swim before which was the day before. The swim goes pretty well, feeling good, until I take off the wetsuit and find a HUGE tear right across the wetsuit along the collar!! SH!T!! It’s 5PM on a long weekend Saturday, nothing is open! I am panicking, do I swim without my wetsuit tomorrow or do I try to stitch it up and use some cement glue on it that I have in the car, but what if it breaks open, then I’ll be swimming with a neoprene net! I decide to head back to the package pick up and beg for help at the Way Past Fast booth who were providing support. Took a look at the wetsuit, nope, won’t be repairable. They call their store and ask them to stay open till 7pm eventhough they close at 5pm, then I pedal to the metal it there. Got there just before 7pm and was greeted with a smile and top notch service - WAY PAST FAST Edmonton you guys rock!! The first wetsuit I tried on was the 19 frequency, I knew I had found the one. Fit like a glove and SO FLEXIBLE!! Girlfriend stepped in and asked how much $$…uhhh, just under 600, but they’re taking my torn wetsuit and giving me 100 bucks off so it’s like only 500!! After a couple minute of bargaining (with the girlfriend) we were on our way with my new wetsuit.
Now if I thought things were gonna get better, think again. Race morning, all went surprisingly well until I pulled out my LG rocket. There was a crack!! SH!T again! Upon looking closer, I saw it was only the loose piece covering the ears that was cracked, no safety issues (in my opinion at least). Taped it up so it wouldn’t flutter around, and it was go time.
The swim was good (at least for me). A little bit of elbowing, pushing, biting and toe touching throughout the swim (the way I like it) and I was out of the water in 32’ a PB. Saw the strippers and off on the bike. Pretty smooth T1, didn’t even feel dizzy/imbalanced like I usually do after an open water swim. The bike felt great, had that snap off the pedal. The course was pretty flat with a couple rollers and a climb halfway into the ride, overall not too challenging. Only thing was heading out felt like headwind and heading back also felt like headwind!! Nutrition went just as planned, 1 gel ~ every 25’, and a sip of water+nuun / Gatorade within every 10’. Off the bike in 2:30, just as planned!! Now, time to run!! The run was pretty flat which suits me very well, but also very dangerous as I tend to go harder and have a higher chance of getting leg cramps. Had my super concentrate of 3 gels and 1 nuun tablet mix in my fuel belt bottle and sipped that along the run. Legs felt pretty good after 1-2’ and then I was really going! Took a look at the garmin and I was going just under 4’/km, too fast too soon!! Slowed it down a tad and clocked 20’ at the 5km mark. I knew I was feeling strong but wasn’t sure if I’d be able to hold this pace/effort till the end. Backed it down to about 4:10-4:15 pace which felt comfortable but still working. Plan was to turn on the engines with 10km left. First 11km caught a couple people who were just ahead of me on the bike SWEET!! Caught a friend who was a very strong swimmer (ex-national water polo player who I would later find out came first out of the water and won the $250) 7km into the run and saw another friend holding a strong pace passing me on the other side 2km from the turn-around (he’d end up 3rd overall with the 2nd fastest run). Once past the turn-around, I turned the engines on, I was now running hard. Caught a couple more people and this really kept me focused, but after awhile there was nobody in sight for me to “chase” and I found this mentally tough, so I started counting steps 1-10. Last 4 km, VERY TOUGH. Dug deep to keep the pace, 1 guy passed me, tried to follow, lasted for 1km, then had to slow down. Last 3 km, mind going numb, became so dumb that I missed the turnoff to the last finishing mile and was off to do a 3rd loop!! Luckily, one of the volunteers saw the pain on my face and had a feeling I was supposed to finish chased me and turned me around 100m past where I was to turn!! I owe this guy BIG TIME, I could’ve kissed him. Luckily there was still 1 mile to go, had some time to chase down 1 guy that passed me during this wrong turn. Finished strong but boy it was tough, finishing time 4:33:25 15th overall, 2nd AG, and it was awesome that volunteers were still holding up the finishing tape for me when I crossed!! My race calendar had this as my last A race, but not anymore!! Qualified for IM Canada and I’m going for it!! This will be new territory so I am excited and intimidated.
Great race though, closed off all traffic on the bike route and marked the run with 1 continuous green line.