IM Vancouver Island

Another Pandemic Season has come to an end for Human Powered Racing.

This years season culminated with a Iron Distance Event for our Ironman Canada athletes who had seen their race day cancelled on 3 separate occasions. With the support of team mates, family and friends, Colette Hopkins, Richard Boxhall and Christopher Mavrikos started their “race” day at 7am Saturday morning in Thetis Lake.

2 loops of the Big Island and 1 loop of the Small Island made up the 3800m swim. From there it was onto the bikes for the 180km ride up Vancouver Island ending at the Bayview Resort in Parksville. The weather could not have been better for the ride. Sunny skies and a slight tailwind the entire way made the tough, hilly course as fast as it could be.

https://onthegomap.com/s/q7hnqjsj

After the 180km bike it was a quick change in the Sprinter Van (our T2) and onto the run course that took them north from Parksville past Quallicum and back to the finish line in Parksville, where the “Fans” were waiting to cheer them across the well deserved finish line. The only thing missing was the voice of Steve King calling them across the finish line.

https://onthegomap.com/s/b4o28gni

There were so many people that made this day possible, but it was the will and determination of our 3 athletes that brought everyone together and made the day one to remember. Here is hoping that Ironman Canada will go ahead in Penticton next August, but if this was indeed the first and last IM Vancouver Island, it was one awesome event.