With a healthy, 30-minute lead in her age group coming off the bike leg, Cailla Patterson did something rather uncharacteristic.
The 45-year-old Kelowna triathlete resisted the urge to put the pedal to the metal and simply enjoyed her journey to the finish line at the 2018 edition of
91裸聊视频淚 got off the bike in a great position and from there it was surprisingly easy and fun,91裸聊视频� said Patterson. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 not in my nature to pull back at all, when I get to the run, I usually hammer it. But I had a bit of an injury I wanted to look after, so I didn91裸聊视频檛 hammer it down this time and just really enjoyed the moment. When I was finished I was super happy.91裸聊视频�
When all was said and done Sunday in Whistler, Patterson had won the women91裸聊视频檚 45-49 division in dominating fashion91裸聊视频攂y more than 45 minutes91裸聊视频攊n 11 hours three minutes 45 seconds.
Age group athletes wait for the start of the swim portion of the event on July 29, 2018 in , . Photo by Tom Pennington
91裸聊视频� IRONMAN Canada (@ironmancanada)
In her 20th race at the Ironman distance91裸聊视频�3.8 km swim, 180 km bike and 42.2 km run91裸聊视频攕he was fifth among all women competitors, while placing an impressive 63rd in a field of 1,626 athletes from around the world.
On top of it all, it was a scorching, hot day in Whistler, reaching temperatures of 35 C. More than 15 per cent of those entered in the race were unable to finish, an alarmingly high number for an event of Ironman Canada91裸聊视频檚 stature. For Patterson, the conditions were right up her alley.
91裸聊视频淚 love the heat, it doesn91裸聊视频檛 bother me at all,91裸聊视频� she said, 91裸聊视频渂ut that biking leg, 8,400 feet of elevation, that was torture for a lot of people in that kind of heat.91裸聊视频�
For someone who was told by doctors seven years ago she should think about choosing another sport, her performance at Ironman Canada was further confirmation for Patterson that she was made for triathlon.
In 2011, she suffered multiple injuries when she was hit by a truck while riding her bike. It was a painful and arduous road back, complicated by a torn ACL in 2012, but by 2014 Patterson was racing again and more determined than ever.
91裸聊视频淕iving it up wasn91裸聊视频檛 really an option for me,91裸聊视频� Patterson said. 91裸聊视频淭o choose another sport, that91裸聊视频檚 not who I am. I love endurance racing. It would take a lot to tear me away from it.91裸聊视频�
Patterson has learned to live with pain but considers it a basic sacrifice, a small price to pay to continue to pursuing her sport of passion. And she shares that love for triathlon with her spouse, Dale Patterson, who has completed 25 Ironman races during his long and competitive career.
As for managing the pain on a daily basis, the key for Patterson is remaining perpetually active, usually rising at 4 a.m., stretching extensively and climbing into the pool for a swim by 5:15 a.m. The further away she gets from that bike crash seven years ago, the more separation there is from the chronic pain.
91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檇 say it91裸聊视频檚 more under control now, I91裸聊视频檓 not pain free but it91裸聊视频檚 improving all the time,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淭his race, it91裸聊视频檚 by far the best I91裸聊视频檝e felt in a long time. It91裸聊视频檚 taken a long time to feel comfortable coming off the bike, but it91裸聊视频檚 getting there. It91裸聊视频檚 nice to feel more power and be able to train more.91裸聊视频�
Patterson hopes that positive progression will follow her to Kailua-Kona, Hawaii this October for the Ironman World Championships.
Her personal best at worlds is 10 hours 52 minutes in 2016, a time she fully plans on bettering this fall.
Among other local connections at Ironman Canada, Brent McMahon, a two-time Olympian born in Kelowna who now lives in Victoria, won the overall title in 8:31:33.
Brent McMahon is the 2018 IRONMAN Canada champion!
91裸聊视频� IRONMAN Canada (@ironmancanada)
Kelowna91裸聊视频檚 Laurelee Nelson placed third in the women91裸聊视频檚 60 to 64 division and 149th among all women in 14:30:22.
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