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Whistler Triathletes qualify for Hawaii Ironman

Havens, Palm to race in world championships Since the first 15 men swam, cycled and ran around the Hawaiian island of Oahu back in 1978 to settle a bet over who was the best athlete, the Ironman has been celebrated as one of the most physically and m

Havens, Palm to race in world championships

Since the first 15 men swam, cycled and ran around the Hawaiian island of Oahu back in 1978 to settle a bet over who was the best athlete, the Ironman has been celebrated as one of the most physically and mentally challenging competitions in the world. Just finishing is considered to be a remarkable achievement.

From the Whistler area, 10 athletes jumped into the water at Okanagan Lake Beach in Penticton at the start of the 2002 Ironman Canada, along with a field more than 2,000 athletes from all over the world. All 10 were up to the challenge and two – Daniel Havens and Mae Palm – qualified for the World Ironman Championships in Kona, Hawaii, this October.

Ironman events include a 3.84 kilometre swim, a 180 km cycling leg, and a 42.2 km (marathon length) running leg.

The top time at the Penticton Ironman went to Garrett Macfadyen of Halifax, Nova Scotia, with a finish time of eight hours, 30 minutes and 57 seconds. Although he was 23 rd out of the water, he made up the time by winning both the cycling and running stages.

Lori Bowden of Sidney, B.C., the world Ironman champion in 1999, was the top female racer. She finished 13 th overall in 9:15:52.

Closer to home, the top Whistler athlete in the race was Paul Nicholas, who was 219 th overall and 53 rd out of 340 entries in the men’s 30 to 34 age group, in a time of 10:33:21.

Close behind, racing in his first ever Ironman was Daniel Havens in 10:37:29. He was 244 th overall and 14 th out of 189 in the 45 to 49 age category to qualify for the World Ironman Championships.

"It was a good day – a little wind, a little rain, but nothing that would really slow you down," said Havens the morning after the competition.

"I feel great. The shins are a little tight so it’s going to be all ramps and elevators for the next couple of days, but I was right in line the next day to sign up for next year."

The only part of the race that gave Havens any trouble was the swim, where he felt fenced in by the mass of more than 2,000 people in the water.

"You get squeezed in as you head towards the buoys, and there are just thrashing hands and feet everywhere," said Havens. "I would have to start swimming the breast stroke until I could get clear of the group."

The cycling leg went smoothly, and Havens says he finished about 10 minutes faster than he had expected in 5:35:50. The only problem was the arrival of a couple of bees that stayed with him for most of the race, apparently attracted to his raspberry drink.

"You would have seen a guy on a bike swatting away at the air, slapping his helmet for part of that leg. People probably thought I was crazy," he said.

The run was mostly easy, although Havens said his legs were in danger of seizing up between the 16 mile and 20 mile markers.

"After that you hit the crowds, and the people are lined up three deep in some places, the noise is just incredible, and I knew I was going to finish. I felt great again, all the way to the finish line."

Havens said he is going to rest for the next few weeks before beginning his training for the World Ironman Championships.

Next for Whistler was Francois Fournier, who was 393 rd overall and 96 th in the 30 to 34 age group. He finished under eleven hours in 10:59:01.

Paul Suter, was 414 th in 11:02:42, and 56 th out of 262 in the men’s 40 to 44 group.

Shane Robilliard crossed the finish line in 12:26:23 to finish 984 th overall and 84 th out of 125 in the men’s 25 to 29 group.

Mae Palm fell short of reclaiming the race record for Canada, but still managed to win the women’s 60 to 64 age group with a time of 13:19:53, to qualify for Hawaii. She was 1,411 th overall.

Murray Coates was 1605 th , and 10th out of 21 in the men’s 60 to 64 group in 14:25:44. Fighting a cold, he was 15 minutes slower on the swim this year and almost an hour slower on the run.

"Usually you like to be on top of it, to peak right before race day, but it doesn’t always work that way for you," he said. "For me, it was still a good day and I’m happy with my race."

For Coates, it was his 18 th appearance at Ironman Canada, missing just three starts since the first event in 1983. Only four other competitors have more than 15 appearances, and Coates counts these racers among his closest friends.

"We sit together at the awards and at the carbo loading dinner. It’s amazing to have people around you that know you, and have been through what you’ve been through so many times," said Coates.

Like Havens, Coates was back in line the day after the race to sign up for his 19 th appearance. After all these years, the race hasn’t lost any of its appeal.

"To be in a place in the world, to do something like that, it’s just an amazing opportunity. To have your health, to have the money to be there, to see all of the volunteers and supporters out there, it’s just wonderful feeling," he said.

Although he knows the route by now, he says you have to treat every race as a new race.

"Nothing becomes routine. You have to treat it with respect, or it’s going to turn around and drop kick you so fast you won’t know what happened."

Running together, Lisa Baadsvik and Dave Keeler crossed the line 1,684 and 1,685 with times of 14:50:09 and 14:50.10.

Whistler photographer Scott Brammer, in his first ever Ironman triathlon, came in 1,876 th with a time of 16:20:20.

The World Ironman Championships take place on Oct. 19 in Kona, Hawaii.