GOAL: Ironman Canada 2012

[Susan Otcenas]

Yup, I'm in for Ironman Canada. Yikes! Lots of work to do 'tween now and then.

I'm planning to blog about my journey here:
http://susanotcenas.blogspot.com/

Advice, encouragement and support always welcome. :)

Susan

[Bike Chick]

Awesome, Susan! You can so do this and we will be right here cheering you on. We are your biggest fans!

[Tri Girl]

HOT DIGGETY!!!! Yee haw, Susan! Can't wait to hear all about it over the next year as you prepare for one of the toughest IM courses out there (that bike profile elevation gives me the heebie jeebies- but I'm a flatlander weeniee). :)
Can't wait to follow along with you on your journey!:D

[OakLeaf]

Wow. Good luck!!! And I hope you do better with your training blog than my friend who just did his first at Louisville ... his last blog entry was about watching last year's Kona. After that, he had no more time for blogging! :p

[Tri Girl]

After that, he had no more time for blogging! :p

LOL- so true! I kept up with my blog until about mid-June, then I didn't have another post until last week: post IM. ;)

[salsabike]

I KNOW you can do this. And it'll be fun to see.

[Susan Otcenas]

Thanks for the well wishes!

Today's blog entry: It's a Miracle.

http://susanotcenas.blogspot.com/2011/10/ironman-training-day-4-its-miracle.html

[kacie tri-ing]

FUN! Enjoy the journey!

[Susan Otcenas]

Today I rode with Robbie Ventura. ;)

http://susanotcenas.blogspot.com/2011/10/ironman-training-day-5-riding-with.html

[GLC1968]

Heh - I was not a fan of a lot of those workouts. I had to keep my eyes closed for all the descents or I'd get motion sickness! I did love the scenery on the climbs though.

[Susan Otcenas]

Ironman Training Day 7. BONK!

http://susanotcenas.blogspot.com/2011/10/ironman-training-day-7-bonk.html

[maillotpois]

Wow - great new goal for you !!

[Grog]

Good for you! Might go and cheer, we have another friend who's signed up for it.

Enjoy the process!

[Pika]

Yae! I think you will love IMC. Although I am very happy we did not sign up again this year- I am feeling a twinge of regret as I don't have a new goal this year- I am soo happy to read about your adventure!
We will be there cheering of course so as the time draws near you will ahve to post your race number etc!
Happy training:)

[SadieKate]

Awesome, Susan!

[Susan Otcenas]

Yae! I think you will love IMC. Although I am very happy we did not sign up again this year- I am feeling a twinge of regret as I don't have a new goal this year- I am soo happy to read about your adventure!
We will be there cheering of course so as the time draws near you will ahve to post your race number etc!
Happy training:)

Pika - Do you have a recommendation on booking accommodations? I'll probably go for a full week or longer. Was thinking that a condo would be a good idea, because I'd like to be able to prepare my own meals, especially before the event. And, I want something close by. Suggestions?

[Susan Otcenas]

http://susanotcenas.blogspot.com/2011/10/ironman-training-days-101112.html

"Note to self: 3 beers and 5 hours sleep on a Sunday night is NOT conducive to a successful class on a Monday morning."

:D

Susan

[Pika]

Ahh- I was going to ask what you were doing.
I think it is a huge rip-off - they way they have managed this.
Basically a company (I'll have to get the exact name once I am home) has all the accomodation in their pocket- so you have to book thru them. The prices are definitely jacked up for that week. There are many motels that have kitchenettes- the closer to the venue the more expensive of course.
Once I get home I will give you the name of the company but also the place my sister stayed- it was a Mom and Pop motel- nothing fancy but had a kitchenette and I know they were not part of the other company so their prices were more reasonable.
Again- once I am home I will check the names for you- you do want to book anytime now as closer there may not be much left- typically accomodation right in Penticton are sold out.

[Susan Otcenas]

Ironman Training Day 13: Peanut Butter!

http://susanotcenas.blogspot.com/2011/10/ironman-training-day-13-peanut-butter.html

[Susan Otcenas]

BTW - if you are on facebook, you can subscribe to my feed there instead of checking in here. My Ironman-relates updates will be public, though the rest of my profile will remain private.

Susan

[salsabike]

I just asked my triathlon coach, who has done it a bunch of times, if she had any recs, and here's what she said:

Actually, no, tell her get working on it... lodging can be very difficult to find. Right now I also have clients looking at they have had a hard time finding anything nearby/in town. Most places require a 5 night minimum and are quite $, although it is VERY nice to stay in town vs 30-40 minutes away or further in a nearby location. She may be able to secure something in a nearby town and continue looking later this Spring. While it's nice to have things nailed down, it does seem some things come open later on as athletes either change their minds or modify race schedules. As well, many of the residents "rent" out their homes for the week and it seems that they don't always post these until they have made their formal vacation plans. I would tell her to post/check craigslist and/or slowtwitch to see what she can find.

[sgtiger]

Good on ya! You can totally do it.

[emily_in_nc]

BTW - if you are on facebook, you can subscribe to my feed there instead of checking in here. My Ironman-relates updates will be public, though the rest of my profile will remain private.

Susan

Thanks for letting us know! I subscribed. :D

[sgf726]

Susan,
Good Luck! I am also in for my first IM next year too - Lake Placid.

Sharon

[Susan Otcenas]

Susan,
Good Luck! I am also in for my first IM next year too - Lake Placid.

Sharon

Thanks! My elder sister had done Lake Placid. Such a pretty part of the state (we were born and raised in NY.)

You should start a Lake Placid training thread! Would be fun to compare experiences. :)

Susan

[Susan Otcenas]

Ironman Training Day 14: Cramping

http://susanotcenas.blogspot.com/2011/10/ironman-training-day-14-cramping.html

[Pika]

Re: accomodation for IMC
This is the place we stayed this year- along the finishing mile- you can walk to the start - they had a 7 night min stay
email:
Rochesterresort@shaw.ca
in 2010 we stayed at
Valley Star Motel ( wahine had also stayed here - it is on Skaha Lake road- so near the bike/run route but not that near the start ( you have to drive). They had a 5 night min. stay
My sister stayed at the Ogopogo Motel ( I think) and they didn't have a minimum stay- it is at the far end of the finishing mile ( more like 1.5miles to the start) Just far enough that with gear you may want to drive.
Hope that helps! and as someone already mentioned it would be a good idea to nail something down sooner rather than later.
Tam

[Grog]

A few years back we stayed at a b&b in Summerland (maybe 20 minute drive away?), and we could have used the kitchen there if we wanted, so it's worth looking around. Also look at Craigslist (or even VRBO??), you may find a private condo to rent.

Note that on both sides of the lake there are rather steep hills, so in our case getting back after a ride meant finishing on a notable effort. You could always park a car at a lower altitude though (less practical). All this to say that if you rent outside of Penticton itself, make sure you look at altitude data to avoid getting a surprise.

It was a nice ride into town to watch the start of the race. I am not certain about parking anymore but I'm pretty sure you could have someone drop off your things, too.

[sgf726]

Thanks! My elder sister had done Lake Placid. Such a pretty part of the state (we were born and raised in NY.)

You should start a Lake Placid training thread! Would be fun to compare experiences. :)

Susan

Love the LP area, volunteered on the run course this year and have done some hiking in the ADKs.

Good idea on the training thread - probably close to the beginning of the year.

[solobiker]

Thanks! My elder sister had done Lake Placid. Such a pretty part of the state (we were born and raised in NY.)

You should start a Lake Placid training thread! Would be fun to compare experiences. :)

Susan

Hey..I was born and raised in NY too!! What part of NY are you from?

Keep up the great work with all of your training.:D

[Susan Otcenas]

Hey..I was born and raised in NY too!! What part of NY are you from?

Keep up the great work with all of your training.:D

Born in Kingston. Dad still lives there.

Lived in Kingston, New Paltz, & Wallkill as a kid (until 8th grade, when we moved to NJ). Lived in Manhattan & Queens during my first 3 years in college. Lived in Queens right after college, then in Pearl River in my mid 20s.

I've lived a lot of places. Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, Oregon, Japan.

[Susan Otcenas]

Ironman Training Days 15-16: Busy Weekend!
http://susanotcenas.blogspot.com/2011/10/ironman-training-days-15-16-busy.html

[Susan Otcenas]

Days 17-19: Stick a Fork in Me.
http://susanotcenas.blogspot.com/2011/10/ironman-training-days-17-19-stick-fork.html

[salsabike]

Born in Kingston. Dad still lives there.

Lived in Kingston, New Paltz, & Wallkill as a kid (until 8th grade, when we moved to NJ). Lived in Manhattan & Queens during my first 3 years in college. Lived in Queens right after college, then in Pearl River in my mid 20s.

I've lived a lot of places. Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, Oregon, Japan.

Good God. I was born in Buffalo, grew up in Albany, and went to SUC New Paltz my first two years of college. My mom was from Manhattan, dad from Brooklyn. Ah, New York.

[Crankin]

Susan, I had relatives who lived in Kingston and I have never met anyone else who lived there! They owned/wrote for the local paper. They are second cousins/third cousins/great aunt and uncle, so you might know the third generation? Don't know if any of them still live there, though.

[Susan Otcenas]

They are second cousins/third cousins/great aunt and uncle, so you might know the third generation? Don't know if any of them still live there, though.

Other than my Dad, I don't really know anyone in Kingston. I didn't keep in touch with any school mates.

I like the Hudson Valley. I've moved so many times in my life (more than 20) that I don't really consider any one place my "home town". That said, there's something about the Hudson Valley in general that just feels like my roots to me. The four REAL seasons, the changing leaves in the fall, the mix of deciduous and evergreens, the low rolling hills of the Shawangunk Mountains...

[Susan Otcenas]

Ironman Training Day 20: The Zombie Apocalypse

http://susanotcenas.blogspot.com/2011/10/ironman-training-day-19-zombie.html

[Susan Otcenas]

Day 21: Noodle Flips? http://susanotcenas.blogspot.com/2011/10/ironman-training-day-21-noodle-flips.html

[solobiker]

Good God. I was born in Buffalo, grew up in Albany, and went to SUC New Paltz my first two years of college. My mom was from Manhattan, dad from Brooklyn. Ah, New York.

Wow...I was born and raised in the Rochester area and went to college in the Finger Lakes. Beautiful area!!

[colby]

Super excited to hear your journey and see you get to the start line, then the finish! We all know the bike is nothing you can't handle ;) Training 3 disciplines at that distance will be an interesting new challenge.

I am really hoping to be able to come up and volunteer this year. I am racing Coeur d'Alene and I think they are just too close together, but a trip to Canada would be fun.

Congratulations :D