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Derrick's 2007 IMC Race Report
Posted September 2, 2007 03:14 PM
The following race report was written by Derrick Koch
"Diary of an Ironman"
The Alarm
4:30 a.m. seems like a real early time to get up for a race but I need to get some food in me and do some last minute checks on my equipment. My nerves make it tough to eat. I'm thinking about how long the day will be with a 3.8 km swim, 180 km bike ride and a 42.2 km run. Too late to turn back now so off to the transition zone. First line up of the day, body marking, to stand in the cool air and wait for someone to write numbers on your body with a great big jiffy marker. Off to the next line, the porta potty. With more than 2700 competitors you would think that the organizers would have enough so that we wouldn't have to stand in lines 100+ in length, just get through in time to get wetsuit on and make it to the start line.
The swim
They fire the cannon at 7 a.m. and 2700+ athletes start running in the water for what can be best described as blender full of people. Our first leg of the course is 1.6 kms to the house boats at the corner. I spot a scuba diver sitting on the bottom waving at us at the first marker buoy and get a chuckle out of that, no Ogopogo here. The battle for space continues for the whole length of the swim. I'm very thankful to finally see the bottom again, knowing that I will survive this. I exit the water in 1 hour and twenty minutes, scramble through the change tent and hop on the bike.
The bike ride
Finally on the bike, my strong suit, and I have some ground to make up. Main street in Penticton is packed with well wishers and volunteers, nothing like having the whole road to ourselves. Now we head to Osoyoos via Oliver with a few small climbs along the way. When I get to Osoyoos I look at me cycling computer and see that I've been averaging better than 37 kms/hr. That's good as the famous Richter Pass is next (10kms @ 6% grade). The longest climb of the day is already taking its toll on several people as they are down to a crawl. Good for me as Whitecourt is nothing but hills and I manage to keep up a pace to the summit. Now coming down was an adventure. I thought 65kph into a cross wind was scary enough for me but some guys rocket by me like I'm standing still. I'll get them on the flats so it's time to relax, catch my breath and get some food in me as we still have a long way to go. The wind was relentless for the last 100 kms. It was a constant battle to keep the speed up but finally Penticton once again looms on the horizon, the ride is coming to an end. I hop (sort of) off the bike in 5 hours and 45 mins, right where I had wanted to be. Now I'm off to the change tent to put some fresh clothes on so I can go run the final stage, a full marathon.
The run
Well the final stage, 42 kms to go to the finish and this day will be done. Legs feel like they are made of concrete, this will take about 5kms to clear up and they will be OK. Reach the turn around point (13.1kms) feeling really good in about 2 hours. I was very happy to see my wife Brenda and my 2 sons there, along with them were some friends and my coach Carolyn. I decided to stop and have a short visit with them and tell them how my day had gone so far. They then pushed me back on the course so that I could finish up my adventure. Along the way back there were so many cheers and great volunteers that it just carried me home. The final mile was down Lakeshore Drive and what a rush to have that many people cheering for you to finish. With about 75 yards to go I stopped and grabbed Brent and Nick and ran across the finish line with my 2 boys in tow. Finished in a time of 12 hours 37 minutes and 46 seconds.
Thanks
Although this is an individual sport it took many people along the way to help and these I would like to thank. Lloyd, Chris, Bill & Devon for the countless hours spent on the bike, Gail, Thor and Ram for helping me out when my hamstring blew and getting me back to running form. Felicia and the swim club for letting me swim with them in the mornings and helping with my swim stroke. 1st Canadian Insurance for the financial support. All the staff at Spruceland for putting up with my wacky training schedule. A special thanks to my coach Carolyn Gebbie for the last two years of guidance and moral support in this quest. Most importantly I would like to thank my family, Brenda, Brent and Nick who without their love and support none of this would have happened. After a year of training I am able to smile and say that I am an "Ironman".
