
The highlight of the Vancouver Half Ironman for me was Jill Savege cheering, "Go Bree". Let me give you a quick story... the very first triathlon I saw in real life she won. She was so much fun to watch that I just knew I had to race a triathlon. After she won I begged for an autograph and foto with her. It was her that inspired me to start this whole triathlon thing. When I heard her cheer my name I almost ran to shake her hand rather than keep on course...
I think it's people like her in our sport that make people like me want to do something and become something in this life...

Vancouver Half Ironman is a must-do-race! I just love it, and that says a lot coming from someone who is far from a city person and not a fan of cold water person. This place is beautiful!! I've got a swim to go do so this will be short...
The moment I got in the water I felt happy to be racing yet everything hurt. Maybe the lack of sleep, the two 5 hour delays, who knows. The only thing I did know was that this is the second half of my season and I HAVE to make it better than the first half. I lost the pack I wanted to be with so played that game 20/20 to get myself back in the groove. It was enough to catch me up to one of the pro men who then became my feet-to-follow. Thanks to him I was able to get out of the water first and off on the bike before the other girls.
My lead was so short. Within moments my team mate Magali Tissyre took control and never looked back. She is the woman with the 4:12, the fastest 2009 recorded womans half ironman time. Oh I tried to hunt her down... it was not happening. Thankfully some much needed confidence had returned and my passion for sport was at an all time high. I was able to push on depsite not making any grounds. My legs felt very heavy but I've learned that when you have a strong mind the body stays strong despite the physical pain.
Once into transition it was evident my tires slow leak was now a "faster leak". That actually made me really relieved, perhaps it wasn't so much my legs and that gave me some hope that I would be able to run and hold my $h!t together as coach told me to do. I took off and actually felt zippy! I knew my bike was one of the best bikes in our sport to run off and it proved true, also having a solid nutrition plan helped heaps going into the run.
I just kept feeling better and better as the run went on. Maybe it was because K-Swiss and Splish let me race in a swim suit like I love to rather than bike shorts, maybe the track workout, maybe this or that, all I knew was that I felt like I was running and it made me really happy. I was not making any grounds on Magali but I was holding off the other women. With about 3 (I think) miles to go I asked the cheering Linsey Corbin how much longer, it was then that I felt ready to see a finish line.
The day ended with so many good moments. I finally broke a 4:30 and set my new PR to 4:23, and I finally ran off the bike better than I have all year with a new 1:22 off-the-bike run split, and I managed to take 2nd female overall and a pay day for some fun at the office. It hurt so good being able to hold on and fight to the finish. It felt so good to race and enjoy racing. And it was such an honor to race against such great athletes and amongst such a fun crowd of supporters!
A couple fotos:

My home stay mom and her hero "Jasper Blake". Loving the Blue Seventy! Kinda feels like swimming naked...

A bald Eagle that came to visit! This was spectacular!

Local sea shells...

My bike-still holding Kainoa's hula girl...

Team mates Linsey, Janet, and I holding the champ (Magali)!

One of my local Canada friends, Rick, who made my special recovery cookies and brought them to me!! Way too cool, thanks Rick!!

My room at my home stay. This room belongs to Ben, I steal it every year. This year I added 5 photos to his wall-of-mess... zoom in and you can tell the ones that are mine...

Local Canada friend and supporter...

Fresh from Angela's garden. She was so excited to have our annual carbo-load party that we forgot to make any carbs! It was fresh fish, 5 kinds of salads, and I was scared. 15 minutes later Jeff ran to the store and made us some pasta!

At the awards with some local friends...

Pro podium...

Headed to the fairy with the Regensburgs. Corbin, Poulsen, and I. Linsey taught us how to play suduko...I finally learned!

The beach...

On the podium with the 2nd place male, I think he looks REALLY scared of me... I promise I don't bite...

BIG Mahalo's to my incredible supporters for making my dream job reality! Trakkers, Argon 18, K-Swiss, Bike Works, Lifesport & Coach Paul, Cerasport, Splish, Blue Seventy, Johnson & Blanton, the Schott family, Healing Hands massage, Kona Aquatics, and of course Kainoa, my community, family, friends, and training partners!
Vancouver Race Results
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