With all of my friends, family and specifically Paige and Lucas behind me, I knew that somehow I would  complete IMC 2007.

The days leading up to Sunday, August 26, 2007 were nerve racking, I felt nauseous on a few occasions and wondered if I could do the event.  With some visualization and talking to friends, I was able to ease this nervous induced nauseousness. On Sunday August 26, 2007 I wasn't nervous anymore.  I somehow had this calm peace about myself and knew that I would complete the event. I knew that I had trained each event separately over the past year and would take this day one step at a time, I would focus on the swim, then the bike and then the run. I would do it all slow and enjoy the experience.


As I stood in the water with my fellow 2700 plus Ironman athletes, the cannon went off and so began the most memorable day in my life. Off to the swim.

The swim was a little hectic and scary at times, so I just went really slow and focused on staying alive!! From the swim, I was off on the bike. 

As many of you know the bike is my weakest event. I went out slower than I ever had trained (on purpose). I took in the sights and enjoyed my time out there. I saved my legs for the numerous hills yet to come (Richter pass an 11km hill reaching an elevation of 2295feet, followed by many more hills and then the dreaded climb of Yellow Lake at the 140km point in the ride). I felt great on the hills. I then took my time again in the remainder of the ride to spin out my legs for the marathon yet to come. I never once looked at the time while I rode, I focused on the enjoyment of being on the bike, which I have never done before, as I always feel pressured to ride faster and keep up to other riders. I can say the scenery on the bike was beautiful and the 180km bike painless. 

I made it in from the bike with plenty of time to spare and headed off for a full marathon, which I had only done once before. As with everything else on Sunday, I went slow and steady. I focused on the sights, staying injury free, met some wonderful people along the way, chatted to them and learned about their desires for IMC 2007. 

On my run back into Penticton from OK falls, it was dark and after 10pm, I finished strong with my family, friends and training buddies there to see me to the finish line. As I approached the finish line, it was like a dream, lakeshore drive was lined with spectators, the bleachers were packed, there was yelling, cheering and stomping of the feet. I had a smile on my face the whole time, I crossed the finish line at 15 hours 38 minutes and 35 seconds and became an  Ironman!!

 
All of you will ask if I will do Ironman again. I think because I took my time, stayed injury free and truly enjoyed the experience that I would never say never. However, I don't for-see an Ironman in the near future. I will stick with the sprint, olympic and half Ironman distance triathlons for now.
 
I want to thank to each and every one of you for your unbelievable support over the past year. To complete an Ironman event, it is essential to have the support of friends, family and the community, which I had.
 
In 2005 I raised $12,780.46 for the Canadian Cancer Society
In 2007 I raised over $7,040.00  for the Canadian Cancer Society.
In the past two years, thanks to your support, WE have raised over 
$19,820.46 to fund pediatric cancer research and programs that benefit children with cancer.
 
Thank you for your support...

……………Tasha, Lucas & Paige...Together we will find a cure.