To say the last few weeks have been a whirlwind would be a massive understatement, I’ve been busy. A couple months ago I heard through the grape vine that Wade Church might be looking to sell his race “The Great White North Triathlon”, I didn’t think much of it at the time but it kept creeping back into my mind until it was a screaming voice. I decided to try to contact Wade to see where he was with the race, I emailed him regarding the truth to the rumor and he emailed me back saying he was busy with this years race and to get in touch with him after this years race, no harm…no foul.

Out of the blue three and a half weeks ago Wade emailed me and said he had time to sit down and talk, we met on a Monday afternoon Wade basically interviewed me for a couple hours to see if I was a good fit for the race, he decided I was. It showed me that this race means so much to him that he wouldn’t sell the race to just anyone, it needed to be the right person who could carry on the legacy of this great race. The most humbling moment was when I found out Wade has been approached on many occasions to sell the race and he didn’t feel the person or group weren’t the right fit for the race, apparently he thought I was. We talked a bit more over the next couple days and we both made the decision to go ahead with the sale. By the end of the week Jacqueline and I had bought one of the largest 1/2 Ironman distance triathlons in Canada.

I spent the whole last race week with Wade learning what it took to run and own a race, I learned more that I could have imagined. Sure I learnt how to set up the arena for the carbo load dinner, I learnt how to stuff race packages, I learnt how to set up the transition areas but I learnt the most important thing from Wade himself. Wade treats the people around him like gold, he has time for everyone. I never saw him not stop to thank someone, smile a hello to a volunteer, give a hug to a stressed out first time triathlete or figure out a solution to a hard problem and make it look easy. Wade takes the saying “Never let em see you sweat” to a whole new level. In a triathlon you are defined by your race number, you are literally a number, but not at Wade’s race. You are a Mom who’s juggled two kids at home with training, you are a 19 time finisher of his race, you are a volunteer who got up at 5 a.m to help out for the fun of it, you are an elite athlete who has trained for 25hrs a week to pursue a dream, you are a person with a full time job who trains when you have any spare time, you are a kid who grew up watching the race and now has the opportunity to take part in it…YOU ARE SOMEBODY!!! The most valuable lesson I learnt last week was to care for this race like it’s a child and cherish every person that is connected to it, and I intend to.

I read books about successful people and they all seem to have one thing in common, they’ve turned their passion into some sort of work. I’m so passionate about the sport of triathlon (ask my wife) and I feel like all the hours training, travelling to races, reading countless books and racing was leading to something more and it has…The Great White North Triathlon. I feel truly honoured to carry on Wade’s legacy and take the race to the next level, with the rock solid foundation Wade has created I have a start no one could even dream of. I’m terrified of the challenge to come but I will take it head on and do my best with it, with the help of Wade’s volunteer army, my family by my side, Wade’s mentor ship and countless man hours “The Great White North Triathlon” will be one of the “bucket list” triathlons on every athletes list.

When the weekend was over, I fell asleep with my shoes on and I had dreams of being the great race director for The Great White North Triathlon, but wait it wasn’t a dream I was just replaying what I saw Wade do all week…in a word INSPIRING. Thanks Wade.

See you at the (Great white North) finish line,

MB