Ironman - Supporting & Training

Hi everyone, hope you have all had a GREAT couple of weeks. We have had a hugely busy time commencing the weekend before last with 4 days of fun up in Quebec supporting at the Ironman Mont Tremblant 70.3.
This was a dual purpose trip and as well as watching some great performances in the race we were on a fact finding mission to check out the area and the race course in advance of our Ironman in the same place in August.
What we now know is that Tremblant is a beautiful venue and a challenging course for an IM. The people are so welcoming and fully embrace these huge events that roll in and take over their town and area.

We had a couple of swims in Lac Tremblant and very nice it was too. Very still and clean, easy to enter and exit and one big loop so no need to get out half way through.
The bike route is pretty tough. Not many flat sections and is basically 2 out and backs which are completed twice. Some long steady climbs and descents and some more challenging climbs and fast descents. A cracking Half Ironman course but I can see how the second loop for the Ironman can really sap your legs for the run.
We ran all of the marathon route over two runs. Again it is 2 laps for the IM and is a mix of hillier road section and flat trail. We ran the trail section when it was humid and still and whilst the running was pretty easy, in the trees it was very still and hot. There will not be many spectators on this trail section and it will require a good bit of mental control to keep it going through here, especially on the second loop.The finish line is the best one I have ever seen - running down the length of the resort which is narrow with hundreds of screaming supporters lining it. I can't wait for that bit!!

We have a number of members of the Scottish Athelite Tri Club taking on Ironman distance events over the next few weeks. This weekend it was the chance of Gavin and Lorna who were taking on their first Ironman at Austria. So nerve racking to watch both in the run up and in the event but they both did so well.

We are now only 7 weeks out from our own event. Any hopes of completing a half Ironman in advance have gone so we will be starting the race having not competed since 2011. Hopefully memories will get us through but training is still going pretty well.
Yesterday was a mega Swim, Bike, Run training day and the day became more hot & humid as it progressed. This is what I looked and felt like at the end of it...

Only 4 big weeks of training remain so just got to keep it going a little bit longer!!