I signed up for Ironman Canada sometime during my Ultraman Canada journey. I was not thinking very clearly at the time.. some combination of the strong sun and the incessant voice of two jobs on my back got me to do it. I've realized that I have a very difficult time sucking up to people. Be it potential sponsors, sugar-daddy's or other providers of "free things"...

In my world NOTHING is for free. This includes hurdles... even those you have to earn :) I need to work, period. I have found a few intrepid souls to help me this year though and more importantly, I've learned to ACCEPT this help. I want to say a big thanks to Tracey Macquair and her partner Michael for being my host family. Tracey is my twin sister from another mister.. or maybe our parents forgot to mention this.. She is one of those amazing age-groupers that I am going to see have a star next to their name on a slowtwitch report... where she has creamed 10 pros. It's going to happen.. just wait and watch. I finished IMC for you and Steve King girly!! You guys ROCK!!

The post Ultraman low was much bigger than the post-Ultraman high. I did get back to work right away even though there were many times I felt I should have gone home right after. I think one meets a lot of strange people on this road...Ultimately, one has to have the street smarts to figure out what works for them, rather than the people they are working with or the ego of a million others they will run into.

I had trouble finishing my long runs so, I knew it would not be an easy day at Penticton. The reasons were not just the recent Ultraman finish.. the reason was also that my training had marginally suffered during the time from last August.. but the only way to get out of the red is to keep moving. This race was nothing short of spectacular.. both in spirit, spectators and simplicity. I had no reason to quit. Not in the 18 miles I walked, not in the swim where I was in such high spirits, I was thinking I was a studly swimmer, not on the bike, not once.

Canadians are crazy. They love their triathletes. I am so impressed with this country since 2006, when I did my first race in Ottawa. I also have my number #1 supporter here, Dev Paul... Back to the race.......... no rambling report.. just a story to tell from my first race ever..

My parents were with me then and I used to take nearly 3 hours longer on the half ironman at that time..than I do now :) :) The first thing my mom said when we were getting ready for a practise swim was "why are these men standing around in their underwear"... This question has come back to haunt me on many races... added to this, my dad mispronounced "buoy" and this made my mom and I giggle for days. Even now, I cannot look a buoy in the eye without a big snort under water.

The swim was awesome and stress free... The bike was awesome and stress free... The run was awesome and a bit slow......... I dislike walking......... I have quit races before for the fear of being reduced to a walker in this sport. It makes me very angry..... but, I realized my ankles are not hulk hogan's ankles and they had their limits. I'll tell you though, some of the most amazing stories are at closing time in an Ironman. My friend Tracey gutted it out on a hard day and did not give in to her anything..

I heard many people call out my name (THANKS!! I think they called me Ann but, who cares).. THANKs anyway.. I heard ALL of you!! I heard a lady say "that's anu, from XTRI"... thanks!! I do try!!! You looked spectacular out there.......... I heard a woman telling her fellow competitor that she was reading a letter from her son because she was having a hard day.. I wanted to cry!! I'm not the crying kind, trust me..My mom bounced me on my head as a baby and I have no tear glands as a result.. Sometimes the battle is in not giving in to anger and frustration, two regulars in my life.. or any half-intelligent person's life. A stranger held my head when I barfed for the fifth time. Tonnes of volunteers did a PROFESSIONAL JOB of volunteering.. THANKS!! Tonnes of supporters brought out their lawn chairs and rang their cowbells for us all night. A very cute
doctor gave me a hard time about doing the Ultraman and doubling up with the Ironman.. turned out he had visited Tamilnadu (my native-state) and he IS Canadian so, never beyond reprieve.

I've always thought of two women to be spectacular and others are vague approximations.......... It made me very happy to be in the land of the former and try to have the mental game of the latter. I'm sure both these ladies have had hard days.. just because they smile through it doesnt mean they didnt have 'em. I hope to be the frowning version of one of the two in 7 years..

Watch for the book... its titled "How the Bangalore Buffalo overtook the BC Bullet" (in all of 3 decades.. but that's the fine print)