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
害羞草研究所淚 got off the bike in a great position and from there it was surprisingly easy and fun,害羞草研究所� said Patterson. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 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 didn害羞草研究所檛 hammer it down this time and just really enjoyed the moment. When I was finished I was super happy.害羞草研究所�
When all was said and done Sunday in Whistler, Patterson had won the women害羞草研究所檚 45-49 division in dominating fashion害羞草研究所攂y more than 45 minutes害羞草研究所攊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
害羞草研究所� IRONMAN Canada (@ironmancanada)
In her 20th race at the Ironman distance害羞草研究所�3.8 km swim, 180 km bike and 42.2 km run害羞草研究所攕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 Canada害羞草研究所檚 stature. For Patterson, the conditions were right up her alley.
害羞草研究所淚 love the heat, it doesn害羞草研究所檛 bother me at all,害羞草研究所� she said, 害羞草研究所渂ut that biking leg, 8,400 feet of elevation, that was torture for a lot of people in that kind of heat.害羞草研究所�
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.
害羞草研究所淕iving it up wasn害羞草研究所檛 really an option for me,害羞草研究所� Patterson said. 害羞草研究所淭o choose another sport, that害羞草研究所檚 not who I am. I love endurance racing. It would take a lot to tear me away from it.害羞草研究所�
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.
害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檇 say it害羞草研究所檚 more under control now, I害羞草研究所檓 not pain free but it害羞草研究所檚 improving all the time,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淭his race, it害羞草研究所檚 by far the best I害羞草研究所檝e felt in a long time. It害羞草研究所檚 taken a long time to feel comfortable coming off the bike, but it害羞草研究所檚 getting there. It害羞草研究所檚 nice to feel more power and be able to train more.害羞草研究所�
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!
害羞草研究所� IRONMAN Canada (@ironmancanada)
Kelowna害羞草研究所檚 Laurelee Nelson placed third in the women害羞草研究所檚 60 to 64 division and 149th among all women in 14:30:22.
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