Wahine at IM Canada - Race Feed

Posted by DH
Valley Star Motel, Penticton, British Columbia 4:41 A.M. PST

Yukon gold potatoes and a hard boiled egg for a second breakfast. Wahine woke up at 1:30 A.M and decided to eat the first.

Sky is too dark now, overcast. Checking the weather site, 60 deg F now (16 deg C). 60% chance of light showers, projected high of 68 deg F (20 deg C). Great racing temp, maybe slippery downhill, we’re happy.

Wahine relates a fragmented dream of swimming with her life jacket on. That’s the first laugh of the morning as yet again she goes through the mental checklist. Second laugh when she remembers she hasn’t brushed her teeth.

Thanx for txt msg CC. It brought a smile.

I was just looking at the live video and thinking of Wahine, wondering how in the he!! anyone swims in that mass of people so close together. My hat's off to all the athletes. Will be thinking of her throughout the day and checking the results and video.

Posted by DH
Okanagan Lake Beach, Observations 6:50 A.M. PST

Most of the crowd is in place, lining the shores from the ropes to the trees. There is a heavy background murmur and occasional shouting to the athletes. The athletes are shuffling. Most have their position but are pulling out their wetsuits, adjusting goggles, shaking out their arms.

The water temperature is 68 deg F (20 deg C), ambiant air 60 deg. Pleasant. There is the morning smell of damp sand and ponderosa pine. Herring gulls circle the canoes, yachts, kayaks and buoys that form the triangle course.

The athletes have formed a bulging arc, those anticipating the fastest swims at the middle. Wahine is to the left of middle and about half way back. Pink swim cap!

Wahine does well in the swim, most recently first out of the water in her age group at the Pacific Crest half Ironman. I’ve seen videos of her from underwater cameras. When she catches and pulls, you can see heavy turbulence coming off her fingertips. But the key to her performance is body position, keeping her core high, rolling and extending. She is good at translating what her coaches tell her.

Wahine has disappeared into the mass of black suits, one of 2500 coiled springs.

Oh my gosh, I just want to stay here at the computer! Wahine's DH thanks for making us feel like we're there.

Go Wahine Go!

V.

Posted by DH
First transition (T1) at Martin Street, Penticton. 8:05 A.M. PST

What a spectacle when the cannon fired! Waves of athletes plunging forward, turbulence and windmill arms out front. The jostling continues for several hundred meters, then I can see some snake-like lines as some athletes find a draft to their liking. The energy and speed is astonishing.

They fade beyond detail. I want to get a latte, but movement through the spectactors is slow. So many have the same idea: Head for the transition area to see how their athlete looks coming in. I know when to expect Wahine. 65 min or so after the cannon.

There she is!-- in dripping glory. Focussed on process. Keep the feet moving, off with the goggles, pop the cap (Pink!), peel down to waist, orient, yield to the wetsuit strippers, breathe deeply…

I move to the fence near her bike. Request to the crowd: Excuse me please, smiles and yes, we understand, there’s room.

Wahine is already at her bike. “Race smart!” I yell. I’m worried because she pushes through pain.

Clack clack—out to Main street, spinning, HUGE SMILE. Looking so strong after T1. Clouds are clearing. Blue sky poking thru everywhere. Now, I’m optimistic.

Wow, Wahine DH, thanks for writing so well! This is great! Woohoo!!!

Live video? where!?!?! :eek: someone please post a link for the computer-illiterate among us? (aka ME!!)

Go Wahine!!!! We are cheering you on!! Thanks DH we love the updates. I feel like I am watching her!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by KnottedYet

Live video? where!?!?! :eek: someone please post a link for the computer-illiterate among us? (aka ME!!)

---

Ha! You, computer illiterate??? hahahahaha

Click on the LIVE VIDEO link below the picture.

awwww this is so exciting.....!

can't get the live video (my computer says it's got a bug? uhhh, what?) but I did get this: http://ironman.com//events/ironman/c...anada&bib=2289

Go Wahine, Go!

Knot - When I clicked on the link, Windows Media Player opened up, but it doesn't want to connect.

Wahine's DH - thanks for the live feed! I got up at 7 and tried to find the IM on TV but no luck. It's good to know she's doing well so far and that the
weather is clearing. It was looking a little ugly last night, and early this morning, so I was a bit worried it might be windy for the ride. (I sent a text last night too but forgot to sign my name so she might have wondered who it was from :rolleyes: ) Anyway, we're going to head down to there before noon because I want to see her go by in T2 and finish of course! Maybe we'll see you down there!

Barb

Awesome! Thanks for the updates! We really do appreciate it!

Time Update:

TOTAL SWIM 2.4 mi. (1:08:31) 1:48/100m 563

FIRST BIKE SEGMENT 40 mi. (--:--) -- mph
FINAL BIKE SEGMENT 72 mi. (--:--) -- mph
TOTAL BIKE 112 mi. (--:--) -- mph --

FIRST RUN SEGMENT 13.1 mi. (--:--) --/mile
FINAL RUN SEGMENT 13.1 mi. (--:--) --/mile
TOTAL RUN 26.2 mi. (--:--) --/mile

I just checked out her swim time online. WOW! And her T1 looks good too. Here's best wishes for a smooth bike leg. GO WAHINE!! You make us all proud!

Lynette

Sister Madonna Buder (age 77) was only 23 minutes behind Wahine at T1!!!!

Go Sister Buder! Go Wahine!

Also, a little off topic, but for those reading who are battling cancer or have a loved one who is...

My friends from PA were also just about 20 minutes behind Wahine at T1...they're a married couple...and she is healthy as a horse, and he has been battling metastatic colon/liver cancer, including chemo, for the last 1.5 years. A tough couple.

Go everyone!!! Go Wahine!!!!

We just rolled our lazy butts out of bed and I've read through all of Wahine's DH's posts, which are fantastic and brought tears to my eyes....

My DH asked how this time compares to what she'd hoped. Is it bad luck if I repost what she predicted?

Wahine is kicking some international butt! Loads of butterflies surrounding her,
~T~

2:14:55 on the bike at 40 miles! 17.79 mph average! Woohoo!

Just checking the leaderboard. The woman in 10th place is #563 over all. Wahine is #607 over all. Sounds pretty good to me!

WOW! :eek:
Thanks for all the live updates!! This is SOOOO exciting. She's kicking tail!

I'm watching Wahine #2289 http://ironman.com/events/ironman/ca...tracker&y=2007 and Sister Madonna Buder #2787

At the 40 mile bike mark, Sister Buder was only 19 minutes behind Wahine! (add that to the 23 minutes at the T1, and I think that makes her a total of 42 minutes back)

Go, Iron Women, go!!!

Edit: there are a few bike photos showing up now, for those of us who can't get the video to work (a couple niiiiice subies, too! :D ) http://ironman.com/events/ironman/ca...eshow=1&y=2007

Just got home from a 24 hour mt bike race( I will save THAT story for another time), and logged right on to see how our Yoda is doing....

GO Yoda GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We're watching the live local coverage. The lead women just went through the transition to the run. At the 40 mile mark, Cassie was about 15 minutes behind. I am now officially glued to the TV and thinking loads of butterflies to Cassie right now.

H&B
~T~

You aren't missing a lot on the race feed. Too much face time for the commentators and they talk about one person for too long instead of doing running commentary.

Oh well, I'll take what I can get.
[edit] now we're starting to see something worthwhile...

Argh! The track an athlete isn't working now!

And the local coverage is following the lead runners, not showing the transition area!

Argh!!

I think I crashed the ironman site. Darn.

Guess it's time to clean the house and think of loads of butterflies around Cassie!!

H&B
~T~

It's working for me, just very slowly.

yup, it came back, thankfully, but there is nothing new to report.....I think the results page is a bit behind - she must have gone through the transition by now, right?

H&B
~T~

I couldn't even get the 72 mile time, so maybe it is way behind.

Anybody know her 72 mile time?

and I can't get Sister Buder's info at all. Anybody know how she's doing?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by KnottedYet

I couldn't even get the 72 mile time, so maybe it is way behind.

Anybody know her 72 mile time?

and I can't get Sister Buder's info at all. Anybody know how she's doing?

---

The way I interpret it, there's a time for the first 40 miles, and a time for the next 72 miles, for 112 total. So the 72 mile time won't be posted until she's done with the bike.

No update on Sister Buder since the 40 mile bike time.

Posted by DH
The Out and Back. 12 Noon. PST

Sorry I’m late. Huge traffic jams.

Wahine just flew by.

We saw her at the crest of Richter Pass. Elevation at the bottom is about 1200 ft and the crest is about 2300 ft. Wahine’s coach thought she should charge near the crest. He pointed out that with the climb behind her, she will be sooner doing 35 mph down hill rather than spending more time at 12 mph mashing. “Do the math, he said.”

I can’t tell you if she followed his advice. She was already up there. When I asked her how she felt, she said “Medium”. Perhaps she tried to charge

We grab the signs and cowbells and cheer Wahine approaching low profile. Here then gone, heading for the climb at Yellow Lake. Is she on schedule? This time she said she felt good. Rosy cheeks and a you-guys-made-me-smile.

She's off the bike!

TOTAL SWIM 2.4 mi. (1:08:31) 1:48/100m 563

FIRST BIKE SEGMENT 40 mi. (2:14:55) 17.79 mph
FINAL BIKE SEGMENT 72 mi. (4:11:56) 17.15 mph
TOTAL BIKE 112 mi. (6:26:51) 17.37 mph 1114

FIRST RUN SEGMENT 13.1 mi. (--:--) --/mile
FINAL RUN SEGMENT 13.1 mi. (--:--) --/mile
TOTAL RUN 26.2 mi. (--:--) --/mile --

Simply Amazing!!!

I was shut out of the site for the last couple of hours, but just got back in. I saw the same data as above and a T2 time of 5:21.

This is sooooo exciting!

Keep it up, Wahine!!

Lynette

Incredible. I'm checking in as I can, this is so exciting! Go Wahine! And thanks, Washine's DH :D

The site has been frustrating, and so has the local coverage. I'm not getting anything done as I hope for a glimpse of her on TV.

Wahine rocks!! I am sooooooooooooooo impressed!

Thank you for posting Wahine DH!
H&B
~T~

Good job DH!

Go YODA!!!!!!!! You are kicking azzzzzzz!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Knot, sister Madonna has done IMC 10 times, she's the oldest competitor this year (a month older than the oldest man who turned 77 today), and her goal is to complete the IronMan Hawaii when she is 80 years old. (the live coverage just switched to the finish line and the race MC - much more interesting than al that face time the color commentators were getting!

Go, Wahine, Go!!!

~T~

Posted by DH
Downtown Penticton, 2:35 P.M.

A glorious day for a run. Big white fluffies and 72 deg F (22 C). Not a drop on the bike course. Mild lake breeze all the way to Okanagan falls.

Traffic and cheering spectators line the roads. Lawn chairs and beer coolers on the curb. Kids in trees. We were in gridlock for T2! Athletes streaming by on tricked out bikes.

I’m heading out to the run course to see if I can judge Wahine’s stride. Three blocks from the internet.

The plan was: Wahine, do a form run for the first three miles, set the motor pattern, then increase the turnover ‘till optimal heart rate.

If she is striking heavy, I’ll know that Plan B is in place. Plan B is to tough it out at an injury-free pace and empty the bucket coming into town.

Yowsa! She’s gotta be happy with her first two events!

GOOOOOOOOOOO Wahine!!!!!