During the next 6 months, a lot of things will happen.

I will certainly change running shoes, at least once because of the mileage, I will ride Misspi more often and further than I ever did, I will swim more than 4,000 lanes (25 meters pool)…

I’m gonna sweat, I’m gonna be tired, I’m gonna be crampy, BUT I’m going to push a lot of boundaries, I’m gonna explore my body and my mind to see how far I can possibly go, I’m going to go where I’ve never been before in terms of psychological battle with my Brain…

In 6 months, exactly 6 month at 7am, if everything run according to plan (ie, no bike crash the day before…), I’m going to be in Lake Placid, on the starting line, racing for the Ironman.

Ironman Lake Placid - Transition area

2.4 miles of swim, 112 miles of bike, 26.2 miles of run… All of that during the same day!

It’s going to be a difficult battle, but I’m already in the process of being ready for that day. There is plenty more to go, the road is going to be long but I have 100% trust in my coach and his ability to prepare myself to be ready for that day.

6 months… 26 weeks… 180 days… I’ll be there and ready !

Ironman Lake Placid - Swim start

Last triathlon of the year, I choose Miami for several reasons.

My best friend is living there and I’m always searching for new reasons to meet them and spending some wonderful time with them.

Second reason is a friend is doing Miami also and I was thinking it might be a good idea to finish with this race…

I was wrong !

We flight south, from Toronto, on Friday, to allow us to settle down a little bit, to give me some time to prepare myself and Misspi before the race, and to spend some good time with Laura and Massi.

Weather was not very good and they forecasted some wind/rain for the entire week end. Well, it’s gonna be rainy/windy for everybody so, I don’t complain.

I got registered, get my little blue triathlete wristband and that was the day.

My coach asked me to do a quick and short run/bike in order to get prep for the race on Sunday. So Saturday morning, between 2 rain showers, and after breakfast, I went for a short run. I just went back home in time to not be soaked by a pouring rain… So I waited a bit before taking the bike.

As I just planned to ride 10/15 min, I didn’t plan to take with me my ID, my credit card, my phone, my RoadID wristband… I was wrong ! Wrong, Wrong, Wrong ! At least, I took my helmet…

Just to get a little bit in the situation, my friends are living 800 meters from the transition area… So I went on the other way to get some mileage. As it poured rain before, there was a lot of water everywhere. I declared it unsafe, turn back after 150 meters and decided to go to the transition area. Wise decision I was thinking…

At that time, between me and the transition area, there was a metallic bridge that can separate itself in order to let the boat go under. A metallic bridge of the type you can see through, where you ride on a sort of metallic crate…

I told myself:

OK, let’s push a bit, get some speeds, and I will not have to pedal over the bridge as it was slightly uphill…

Getting some speed, going uphill over the bridge, hitting the metallic part of the bridge and here we come… In some sort of blur, my front wheel started to slide on the right, and without understanding what to do, I hit the bridge with my left shoulder and my helmet. I was at about 30 kph at that time.

I closed my eyes, saw 3 white flash and stopped sliding. I opened my eyes. OK, quick assessment of myself: I’m on a bridge, I just crashed on my bike, cars cannot see me where I’m lying, so Let’s get out of here.

I stood up immediately and I knew at that time my race was over: my left shoulder was moving very unusually, and having a couple of broken bones already, I knew it was that. I picked up my bike, grabbed my bottles and went on the other side of the fence. Some walking people helped me to go over.

I was bleeding in the left hand, but I though it was very superficial as it was not very important bleeding.

I sat down, and I didn’t know what to do, who to call. People called 911 and an ambulance was on it’s way.

I never lost consciousness but I didn’t know how to call my wife. I removed my helmet and I saw that little orange sticker with my emergency info on it.

Saved, I was saved !

Mags has been called and she arrived at the same moment as the ambulance.

We went to the hospital, and spent 15 hours in the ER, waiting to be cleared… In the mean time, I got x-rayed on both sides of the upper body to search for broken things, or maybe forgotten scissors inside my body… I don’t know…

Keeping the smile, even in the hospital bed

Anyway, 3 broken bones and 8 stitches in the left palm.

The broken clavicle is obvious...

It could have been worse, way worse than that if I didn’t wear my helmet…

What would have happened to my head without the helmet ?

ALWAYS WEAR YOUR HELMET !

The race was over, the season was over and done but I’ve never been sad, or angry, or depressed.

There is nothing I could have done to avoid this, nothing to do, so let’s just accept it and move over trying to re-focus on me, on Mags, on my social life and on what’s next on the schedule: Ironman Lake Placid.

At least, the good thing is, compare to a tattoo, there is always a good story behind a scar…

Not as bad as it looks like

Woke up at 5am, felt rested and slept well. Ate a banana and a full pack of banana muffin… Yep, the entire box

After loaded myself, everything was already packed so I just put my trisuit and off I went to the transition area.

It’s good on the mind when you know that everything is ready.

Once in the transition area, I went for a quick run and felt great and proud to be here. All the people gathering around, the music, you can feel the electricity in the air…

Finished to setup my transition spot and talked a bit with Mags.

I saw Nigel, he gave me some words for today. It’s sweet of him as I’m not yet one of his athletes that he cares about me.

I then decided to head down the lake and start preparing myself for the part I was scary about.

All along the season, from training to racing, I had the feeling I was regressing.

Once in the water, I felt the pressure and wanted to go to the potties… :(

So I did what everybody does, I peed in my suit… I felt weird and gross at the beginning but then so much relaxed… Anyway, back to the start line!

I was stressed a lot about this part. My coach told me to go in the middle of the pack BUT on the outside. I did what coach told me and when the horn started the race, I was on clear water, with not so much of people around me. Always follow the coach’s plan

I paced myself in a very easy pace and stared at the 1st buoys. One down.

Then stared at the 2nd one. Two down, first turn.

Woah, that was faster that I expected. Keep going !

Three down; Four down; Nice and relax, smooth all the way; last one before the final turn.

Stopped there, watch my clock: 33 min. Woah, way faster than expected. Keep going!

I see the stairs, the people, I can do it, I can make it!

Last 10 meters, no visibility at all in the water, kept the head out and when I reach the stairs, was pulled out of the water by the 2 men. Did not think at all and was already on the green!

I did it! I made it: 47 min ! Way better than the hour I was expecting. Best swim of the season and felt strong!

Looked around for the strongest wetsuit strippers and after 2 seconds, I was already on my way to the transition area. Thanks to the volunteers, you did an amazing job!

Now, time to relax on the bike…

Going from the end of the swim to the transition is a bit of a hill (first one of the day, and not the last…).

Got passed by, and congratulated by one of the coach who worked where I’m training, Tara Norton, who raced in a relay that day. She started 18 min after me… She’s a fast fish ;)

By the time you’re at your bike, you’re already warmed up and no need for the arm warmers ;)

Everything went smoothly, put the shoes on, the helmet, the glasses, the bib and off I went.

No need to hurry, just make sure I’ve got everything.

I knew I would have to pace myself and ensure not to push too hard on this segment as I could, sometime, be over optimistic… The ride is a long one and a tough one, so keep it easy…

First part of it, I was pushing a little bit too much. Had some difficulties to settle my HR down. Hit some crazy speed with the racing wheels I rented (76 kph… That’s too fast for me… Crazy!!!)

Once I passed dwight beach road and the Hwy 60, I forced myself to eased it down because I was really concerned of my possibility after a tough ride.

I might (I don’t and never know if it was a good decision) over reacted and eased it a bit too much… Anyway, it was tough, but managed to go through it. Knowing that I was half way point, that this was my day, my race, my moment, that all my family, friends were following me on ironmanlive, that helped a lot!

I hit a moment when that was enough, at about 2h into the ride. I lost myself and the purpose of all of this. I knew I was slower than expected and it became difficult mentally to go through. Then, I tried to raise my head, keep smiling, think of all the good things I went trough the training, once again friends and family and I went back on track.

At that moment, one of my training buddy passed me on the bike. It was his 1st triathlon and he choose a half ironman for that… Crazy dude!

I knew he was hammering the bike and was going in front of serious trouble. I passed him again and reminded him there was a half marathon after this ride… He thanked me for that and went more easy. I never saw him again on the bike.

I have been passed a lot on the bike. At some point, I wanted to keep it up and follow them. I knew it would have been a big mistake. I knew I will see them on the run… I managed my ego and kept myself in MY pace.

On Deerhurst drive, that’s it, 2 down, one to go, I’m 500m of the line.

Everybody is cheering, I’m feeling like on the Tour. It is a great way to recharge your tank with a lot of positive energy. Thank you all for that!

I saw Nigel, he pushed me again. That felt god

Off the line, into the transition, Bike: Done!

Regarding the race, that was a tough one ! But did it.

I really felt I was supported and cheered by all my friends and family from all over the world and it helped me a lot on the run, really.

It was funny to noticed that you were actually doing an almost live re-transcription of the race thanks to ironman live on my FB page.

That was funny to read after the race. Thanks.

Even though I went trough some difficult moments, when it was very hard, I never though it would have been impossible to do, impossible to finish. Training paid off.

Now, time to recover, to digest this race and will start thinking of the next one in a couple of days…

For the records, my crazy dude that went ballistic on the bike, before I warned him and eased down, ran his PB on the half marathon. He thanked me for this little advice ;)

Final note: Thank you Volunteers for all you’ve done. This is thanks to you we are able to have races so well organized! You deserve the same medal we all had !