Ironman Canada & Ironman Canada 70.3 Race Recap – Coach’s View:
It feels like it was a long time ago that we participated in Ironman Canada & Ironman Canada 70.3. It was a race filled with extreme high and extreme low moments. Even during the “perfect 140.6 distance” both will always be experienced. The venue was absolutely breathtaking. You did not go for one minute without seeing a great view. Temperatures were great, wind was pretty good (except for the last 40 miles of the bike), and the run was through the woods, up or down, nature all over the place (they had to tranquilize, and remove a bear that was eating right next to people running). The bike course was by far the most challenging of the three. To somewhat give you an idea, it is like doing GMR first, than 40 miles of flat work with winds (both with you and against you), and then going up to Crystal Lake with a head wind.
The team did an amazing job, everyone trained so hard for so long, it was good to put it out there on the line and get it done. On the 140.6 side, Steven competed in his second IM race, did an amazing job on the swim, equally amazing on the bike, and brought it home with a rough marathon after not being able to really eat at all during the 26.2 mile journey. To PR on this course over doing Tempe Full, is almost like going 2 hrs faster than his Tempe time. Amazing performance.
Heather finished her awesome race almost in the predicted time that she wanted! Her swim time was also pretty crazy fast, bike and run were done as planned, and she ran almost all of the marathon, which is an impressive feat after that bike ride. What an amazing first Ironman experience!!!
Rebecca started off with a strong swim, this was her biggest fear from day one, but was only off by a few minutes of her “predicted best time”. She only made it to mile 103 on the bike. This was tough for her to swallow, but I personally know her perseverance will prevail. After all, Ironman is about pushing forward and not giving up!
I will do a personal review of my race day experience at a later time. 
On the 70.3 side, we had Astra, Brandon, Sonia, Jan, and Kevin. For both Astra and Brandon, this was a controlled workout session, and in true Underdown fashion, finished together holding hands! I have a feeling they both wanted to go a lot faster!
Sonia was racing her new spaceship bike and loved it! Now becoming a 70.3 veteran… she is already looking forward to it again, and getting climbing legs going to kill it even more!
For both Jan and Kevin, this race was their first 70.3 ever! They had an outstanding performance! From now on all of their upcoming 70.3s will seem “easy” compared to this one.
Also, congratulations to future Triathlon Training Team members Arman, Paul and Aristo-he qualified for 70.3 worlds!!!
Lastly, it is amazing having all of the support from family and friends. Thank you so much for being there, Alysha, Nick, Lesley Donna, Dolores, Jade (thank you for all the pictures!!), Steven’s parents, and Veronica who took the time to drag her family up from Washington immediately AFTER she did her own amazing marathon!!!
THANK YOU, EVERYONE, for the amazing support, words of encouragement and support that was given to all of us before, during, and after the race.
Diego
