Hannah Peatfield very nearly opted against doing her first-ever triathlon, the Subaru Ironman Canada 70.3, on July 28.
Hampered by a knee injury that kept her from training for months, Peatfield was unsure of her participation until Ironman announced it would be taking the event back to its Penticton roots next year.
"Right when I was deciding if I really wanted to do it, it got announced that it was going to be the last year," she said. "That pushed me to want to do it more. I've always wanted to do it."
The 18-year-old, a lifeguard at Meadow Park Sports Centre, said she was inspired by watching the athletes compete at the event while she volunteered. On race day, she was the youngest woman in the entire 70.3 half-Ironman field.
However, Peatfield injured her knee shortly after putting pen to paper, losing much of her preparation time and casting doubt on her participation.
"I couldn't train from September to May, so I wasn't even sure if I could even do it. I was going to pull out," she said. "I was going to physio every single day and then in late May, I could finally do everything again."
Though she had just two short months to get back to a high level, Peatfield managed to complete the 70.3 half-distance course in seven hours, six minutes and 15 seconds (7:06:15), good for 14th in the women's 18-to-24 division.
"I felt like that was enough training to perform how I wanted to," she said. "I just wanted to finish. I wasn't going for a certain time or anything." Peatfield said after cheering people on as a teenager, it was gratifying to be the one who was cheered as it helped to lift her through tougher sections of the course.
"Having people cheer me on the whole way, I think that's what gets athletes through the race ... They really keep you going," she said. "On the bike, towards the turnaround, there's not really anyone there except for a few people at the aid station, but then once you get back into Whistler, it was a re-boost to be able to go and do the run."
Another fun element, Peatfield said, was that she got to experience her home community a little bit differently during the race.
"I hadn't been on foot to a lot of places on the course like the Valley Trail near Green Lake, so getting to see the scenery on my feet versus in a car was a lot different," she said.
To prepare, Peatfield trained with her father, Mick, who crossed the line in 6:15:48. It was his first Ironman event, she said, though he'd done other triathlons in the past.
"Even on the course, we didn't do it together—he finished before me—but we would see each other, pass each other, stop and chat for a second, then keep going," she said.
As she gets set to head to Vancouver Island where she'll pursue her business education at the University of Victoria, Peatfield said she'd like to do another similar event someday.
"I want to keep the training up just to keep fit. I don't think I'll do another one next year," she said. "It's hard to do the training and the work in school, but I do want to do another one sometime."
Locals who completed the full-distance Ironman were: Johanna Hudson (first in the women's 40-to-44 division); Marla Zucht (second in women's 45-to-49); Chris Bowen (sixth in men's 30-to-34); Angela Shoniker (14th in women's 40-to-44); Nina Wills (17th in women's 25-to-29); Tomas Korab (20th in men's 30-to-34); Matthew Robinson (23rd in men's 25-to-29); Alicia Santry (40th in women's 35-to-39); Anton Masich (49th in men's 30-to-34); Ben Thomas (51st in men's 45-to-49); Ashley McMillan (62nd in men's 45-to-49); Shane Burgess (70th in men's 45-to-49); and David Vodicka (105th in men's 40-to-44).
Those completing the 70.3 race were: Bill Geddes (first in men's 60-to-64 division); Bob Deeks (fifth in men's 55-to-59); Karen Norton (sixth in women's 30-to-34); Adam Ward (sixth in men's 30-to-34); Christian Stulz (ninth in men's 50-to-54); Whitney Reynolds (ninth in women's 45-to-49); Gary Martin (12th in men's 45-to-49); Alina Neumerzhitskaya (15th in women's 18-to-24); Jodi Carter (18th in women's 45-to-49); Susie Foley (19th in women's 35-to-39); Hiroto Nakai (25th in men's 18-to-24); Hannah Kitchin (25th in women's 25-to-29); Ethan Regan (27th in men's 18-to-24); John Legg (30th in men's 50-to-54); Steve Wheeler (34th in men's 50-to-54); Mike Meade (37th in men's 45-to-49); Shannon Susko (41st in women's 50-to-54); Lewis Stockton (42nd in men's 18-to-24); Nina Harmon (46th in women's 30-to-34); Simon Young (52nd in men's 45-to-49); Julie Cummings (53rd in women's 45-to-49); Hannah Hughes (65th in women's 25-to-29); Elyse Feaver (65th in women's 35-to-39); Trevor Hopkins (65th in men's 45-to-49); Rich Sievewright (67th in men's 30-to-34); Jay Southall (71st in men's 50-to-54); Mark Gershon (73rd in men's 50-to-54); Myriam Benrahmouni (75th in women's 35-to-39); Brandon Schade (106th in men's 30-to-34); Murray Kay (107th in men's 30-to-34); Edison Strelau (108th in men's 30-to-34); John Crehan (116th in men's 30-to-34); and Alex Porkhun (126th in men's 35-to-39).
