Ironman World Championships in Kona equal one word….AWESOME. To be in the epicentre of the sport of triathlon is like something I’ve never experienced before, I was like a kid who goes to the big city for the first time and stares at how tall all the buildings are. I was in awe, walking around with my mouth wide open trying to take it all in. After we arrived I couldn’t wait to put my bike together so I could get on on the famous Queen K highway and test my mettle in the morning. I was up at the crack of dawn and was heading out for a 3 hr ride, I got out on the Queen K and was loving every minute of it, I might not be racing in Kona but I was in Kona…finally. I got out about 40km and decided it was time to turn around when I did I felt the winds you hear so much about punch me in the gut. It felt like someone had flipped a switch and the Hawaiian god Pele had started to blow. It took me almost 2 hrs to make it back to the condo but I did and I still had a smile on my face. I won’t bore you with all the details of how awesome the expo was, or how coffee at Lava Java was a who’s who of triathlon every morning but I do want to share with you my race day experience from the other side of the fence for once.

We got to the swim start at around 5:45 and had a great spot to watch the race, the pro’s start at 6:30 and I couldn’t wait for the cannon to go off. All of a sudden a chopper flies overhead so you know it’s close to time, then without warning BOOM the cannon fires and the pro’s are off. We stuck around to watch the Age Groupers start at seven and then headed down to the swim exit to watch the first pro’s head out on the loop around town. We had a great spot to watch all the action and all the top guys were in the pack and headed out for a long bike. After all the leaders were on the highway we jumped in our jeep to try and beat them to the 60km mark, we didn’t, but we did get there in time to see the women’s leaders. It takes about an hour and a half for the leaders to get to Hawi (1/2 way point) and back so we waited and saw the leaders go by and then jumped in the Jeep to get back to town…FAST!

We dropped of the jeep and jumped on our scooters so we could get out on the course and see the race, the run was going to be epic…it didn’t disappoint. Craig Alexander chased down Lieto early but Raelert was catching him, it was amazing to see the whole race unfold in front of you. We were in the action, we saw Chrisse Wellington over take Steffen for the lead and never relinquish it, we saw the pain on the faces of top pro’s who could not continue due to the torrid pace. We got down to the end in time to see the women finish and then stayed and watched the age groupers come in for hours. It was a great day.

I got so motivated on race day that I am determined to get to that race, the next day I had a 4.5 hr bike followed by a 1.5hr run and the whole thing just flowed for once. What will it take to get there? Guts? Fitness? Luck? sure all of those things but more than that belief. I BELIEVE I WILL DO THAT RACE ONE DAY. Am I smelling the ether? Yes. But how else to attain your goals than see them in front of you and go for it. Some one asked me what I would do if I never qualified for Kona? I’ll never know because I’m gonna die trying.

See you at the finish line,

MB

“Hi Mike,

My name is _____ and I am emailing you after coming off of the computer for the 100th time staring and the website for the GWN race.  This last time I found myself reading your blog.  I am so inspired by the words you wrote and the journey you yourself have been on.  Barely two years ago I was very over weight, serious health issues building and  a mother of 3 who was slowly checking out on life.  This year finds me at the completion of 5 Sprint triathlons, several 5Km runs, soon to be 10km runs and a lot less pounds.  Im all about being present in every moment of life now.  My personal trainer put a bug in my ear to set out a bigger goal and alluded to GWN.  And that is how I found myself in front of the screen so often. I’ve spent hours thought processing  the capabilities, the why’s, the numbers, the possibilities.  I just want to let you know that you’re blog inspired me so much to take hold and believe in my dreams and reminded me of the hard work i’ve done to get here, that I have the strength, support and love to take it to where Im going next…which just looks like it just may be GWN 2012.

I wish you all the best in your venture of taking over the race, I hope that your passion and perseverance is caught like a tidal wave amongst all levels of people reaching for their dreams…”

This small little email humbled me more than anything has before, it made me really sit back and reflect on just how broken I used to be and how my words may have helped one person believe they could accomplish something.This lady’s registration later came across my email that she had indeed entered the GWN 2012.  Last weekend I competed in the Half Ironman WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS, now this may not be a big deal to lots of people but I had never or may never again compete at something on this level. I am proud to say I came in 986th place, 146th in my age group and had the time of my life. In the span of 14days I had set an Ironman personal best at IMCAN and two weeks to the day later I finish with a smile the World Champs, crazy. We all fail in life and make mistakes that we wish we wouldn’t have made, but not everyone gets up. We let people judge us and draw conclusions on events that don’t define us but we let the judgers dictate how we will be perceived…not any more. I will dictate how people view me, how people treat me. Through my actions good or bad only I determine how the world sees me. Not because I had a tough childhood, not because everyone is out to get me, not because “I can’t” or “I won’t”, and most definitely not because I’m scared to fail. I will succeed.

You may never get to a World Championships of anything but does that mean you stop trying to be a World Champion? HELLLLLLLLL NO!!! Be a champion in everything you do and whats the worse that can happen? You wake up tomorrow better than you did today.

See you at the finish line,

MB

Last weekend the (what most people thought) impossible happened, I qualified for the Ironman 70.3 World Championships in Las Vegas Sept 11th. To say I’m stoked is an understatement, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t surprise myself a little. I started this triathlon journey 2 1/2  years ago when one night I was sitting in bed and I looked over at Jacqueline and said “I just signed up for a half Ironman”, I’m sure she wanted to laugh under her breath at the idea of this 245lb guy thinking he was capable of completing such a thing. A few weeks later Jacqueline and I went for a run and I couldn’t go ten minutes without stopping, she encouraged me to keep going and I managed to finish the 30 minute run but with a new appreciation of what it was going to take to complete the race. I finished the Sylvan Lake half Ironman that year in 5:58, success just to cross the line. I wanted more.

The next year I completed a few more Half Ironmans and the big one Ironman Canada, I finished with some improvements and was even more addicted to the sport than before, Jacqueline and other people have asked me what the goal is? The goal is to lead a healthy lifestyle and try to do as best as I possibly can at races, and qualify for Kona. Last year the 70.3 World Championships got moved to Vegas, the race was on my radar. My Mom lives in Vegas and I started thinking it might be possible to qualify if I had a really good race and of course put in the effort. I got a new coach who absolutely is the best, Lisa never tells me I can’t do something but she makes sure I put the hours in to be able to do it. My poor wife got dragged to Costa Rica for a race, New Orleans for a race, Houston for a race and last weekend Calgary for a race, all with an infant in her arms cheering me on without complaint, never once telling me I was unrealistic in my belief I could qualify for the World Championships even though I’m sure she had some doubts.

I had a good race last week, not a great race but I did enough to qualify. I was first out of the water ( in my age group), seventh off the bike and I finished in eighth.We went back to a friends house and I decided I may as well go to the roll down to see if I could get a spot, there were six spots in my division so I needed two people to not be there or not be able to go. The M.C. started talking, “male 35-39 age group, first place do you want to go?” the guy was already in line, “Second Place?” he was going too. I now had only a few more chances “Third?” yep you guessed it he was going too. Fourth and Fifth were also taking their spots so I had to hope the next two guys weren’t going. The announcer called out the sixth place name, NO ANSWER!!! He called out the seventh place name…anyone…anyone, “please lord let that guy not be here….NO ANSWER!! I knew the next name on the list was mine and I took it, I’m going to the Ironman 70.3 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS. Amazing. The best part of the whole thing was how happy everyone was for Jacqueline and I when they found out, everyone knew the sacrifices we have both made for this to happened and they were over the moon for us.

At first I didn’t care how I did at the World Championships but my tune has changed, I might never get this opportunity in my life again so I’m going for it. I will be training harder than ever, my diet will be tight, and my attitude will be to race as hard as I can on the day and get the best result possible. I will never let someone tell me I can’t do anything and with my wife and daughter at my side I can accomplish anything, the world is there for the taking but it moves fast so you have to hit the ground running. Run at your dreams, chase down all the things you said you wanted to do and do them, don’t wait until it’s to late. Surround yourself with people that believe in you, and will help you reach your goals, discard the people that don’t.

Two and a half years ago, I drank to much, I ate terribly and I was 245lbs, today I’m training for a race I could have never even dreamed I’d compete in. Dreams do come true…through hard work.

See you at the Ironman 70.3 World Championships Finish Line,

MB

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

The run course was 3 loops around the town of Woodlands and it had some shade, but mostly sun and concrete. The run was partially around a man made canal and there were tons of people cheering the athletes on, at one point I passed a Pub’s patio and there were all these people having fun and drinking beer, eating nachos.. you know the deal, having fun with friends. I wanted to stop sit down have a beer and throw in the towel, it was not fair to have to run by that three times.

I started my second loop and I saw my coach Lisa and she was screaming for me to go, I told her I was dying inside and she said “NO YOU’RE NOT, you’re doing great!!” Who was she looking at? I saw the carnage around me and there was no way I looked any better than any of the people around me. One of her pro’s Kim Loeffler passed me and she was going onto her third lap, she ended up running a 3:06 marathon..fast. As I came around the finishing chute (for the first time) I saw my Mom and she was screaming and yelling for me, I stopped and she put some sun screen on my shoulders and neck and off I went.

Now in a three loop course the second loop is the worst by far, you’re not full of energy and starting, you’re not almost finished, you’re in a 14 km suckfest of despair and agony. I was in a bad space, I saw pro’s on the side of the road with spectators pouring water all over them, age groupers crying, people puking..I saw it all, I hope I don’t go to hell but if I do I have already visited..it’s called Ironman Texas, hell probably isn’t as hot. I made it to the half way point and at least now I was a heading home. There was a black line in the middle of the path we were running on and I just focused on staring at that line and putting one foot in front of the other. I ran from aid station to aid station as best I could but I spent to much time in the aid stations for sure but I wanted to make sure I got everything I needed to keep up my nutrition. It was the same at every station..water…Coke..ice in my top…water on head…water …Gel…Coke..ice in my bottoms…over and over again, apparently it worked because I had no G.I. issues and I never felt like I was dizzy or dehydrated. When I came around the corner for the finishing chute, age groupers were passing me to finish their last lap (I had one to go) and I thought about just stealing one of their numbers so I could be finished, I wanted to be done soooo bad but I had 14km to go. At that moment I heard someone yell “Go Michael”..hold on I know that voice..it was my beautiful wife or an angel taking me into the white light..nope it was my wife. I actually stopped running, walked over to her and she was holding my daughter MacKinley. I looked in my baby girls eyes and she gave me the biggest smile I had ever seen, my heart filled with the love and energy I needed to finish this race. I kissed my wife, my Mom and my daughter and I was off.

I wanted to run the whole last lap, but alas it wasn’t meant to be, I managed to run the last 14km in around 1:30 which I think was my fastest of the three laps. I focused on my nutrition and knew every step was closer to the finish. I don’t really remember much of that last hour I was in survival mode but I do remember being extremely disappointed with my run, I wanted to run sub 4 hours but the conditions on the day were against me. I rounded the last corner and I was almost home. In my last Ironman I didn’t have much time to reflect  I was just happy to finish the race, this time I thought of all the hours in my basement riding the trainer, the long runs in the ankle deep snow, the seven a.m. swims when it was -30, my wife patiently waiting for me to be done training so we could get on with our day, how much effort I put into this race…I was proud of myself and I deserved this moment. I saw Jacqueline, MacKinley and my Mom screaming for me from the side and I smiled from ear to ear, Jacqueline didn’t see me finish Ironman Canada and I was over the moon when I saw her because this was as much a payoff for her as it was for me…she deserved this as well. I crossed the line in 11:33.41 a full twenty minutes better than Ironman Canada but short of my goal by 33 min..oh well I made it. Progress not perfection.

I would like to thank my wonderful wife Jacqueline and my daughter MacKinley for without their unconditional support and patience I could never have taken on this race, for being by my side when I started this journey and being by me until the end, this is as much your victory as mine and I could never dreamed of having such an amazing support team. I love you both more than you’ll ever know and I can’t wait to be the cheerer instead of the racer in a few weeks time. Thanks Mom for coming down and sharing in this experience with us and everything is more special when your Mom is there..right?? To my coach Lisa who has listened to me vent, break down and feel sorry for myself and always found the right words to get me back on track, you push me to places I never thought I could get to and make me believe I can accomplish anything in this sport I put my mind to…thank you. To all my friends and family who have put up with my short temper at times, my diet at others and my messed up schedule all the time, I couldn’t do it without your belief in me and if I can ever return the favour I promise I will. To all the people that laugh at me when I tell them I’m going to do an Ironman, I hope you find the belief in yourself to accomplish anything so you don’t need to laugh at other peoples dreams to make your insecurities go away. For all the people that tell me how proud of me they are and that I inspired them to take on a race or get moving, remember you’re inspiring other people just by moving yourself and we all as people of the earth need to keep encouraging each other to be active, healthy and trying new things and supporting each other in whatever our ambitions are.

I’ve taken a few weeks to digest my performance and generally I’m satisfied with the result, I have some more experience and now I can make the necessary changes to reach my goals in Arizona. I have been training harder than I ever have and know the results will be there in the end….I have 4 months until Ironman Arizona and I have some work to do, back to training.

See you at the finish line,

MB