PENTICTON IRONMAN FOR COLOMBIA

Catching up on my blogging and updating everyone in advance of the big day on Sunday!  
It's been an intense few days, but we're settling in and feeling organized.  Arrived in beautiful Penticton mid-day on Thursday; checked in at the Ironman Expo, lots of excitement, familiar faces and new faces.  Profound sense of purpose and camaraderie here.  Have a fantastic support crew here, including my lovely wife Elaine.  First-time Ironman athletes who have trained alongside me are pals Mary Booth and Julie Menzies.  
You can follow our progress on Sunday on the Subaru Ironman Canada website:
Penticton Ironman: Follow an athlete
Got up yesterday morning to a beautiful day; weather is hot here, but little humidity.  Forecast for Sunday is 32C!  We're planning ahead and hydrating, hydrating, hydrating.  Hit the Expo; invested in an emergency tire-repair kit.  Ready for everything.  Donned the wetsuits and took a short (500m), slow swim in Lake Okanagan to get a feel for the swim course.  Water is perfect.  

Pat Ward, me, my wife Elaine, and Esther Pauls.

After a bite to eat, drove into the mountains to Yellow Lake to test out cycling legs on the 12k climb we'll encounter at about kilometer 160 of the Ironman. 

Friends in deed Gord and Esther Pauls and Pat Ward.

I have my work cut out for me!

On to a very short run to test the grade.  Conclusion:  it's steep.

...followed by a cooling dip in Yellow Lake.

Back to town for dinner, and an evening view of Lake Okanagan.

The 4k swim portion of the Ironman is out to the far point

and looping back.

Friday evening we rounded up friends and met at the Penticton Ironman Street Festival; live music, delicious food, excitement and anticipation.

A twirling dervish enjoying the music.

Elaine and I.

More posts to follow: the Ironman is tomorrow!

From Penticton, British Columbia in support of Gord Pauls' Triple Ironman effort

The date today is August 26, 2010. Today might well be the hardest day of Gord’s journey to the challenge of a Triple Ironman. Today, Gord picked up his race kit, looked after his bike and gathered together the myriad of other minor elements that will ensure a successful race. Today, is a ‘waiting’ day.

Last November, Gord decided to take on a challenge like no other he has attempted before. He decided to do three Ironman races, 3 days in a row, culminating with Ironman Canada in Penticton, British Columbia. Gord is not looking for glory, he is looking to help give a hand up, to Haitian people in need, via micro-credit. With micro-credit, Haitian people are able to borrow small amounts of money to start their own businesses. With these businesses, they are able to support themselves and their families long term.

Gord is eager to finally start the races for which he has trained so hard. The waiting is difficult but the return, once he is finished, is well worth the effort.

Thank you so much for all of your support over these many months. The people of Haiti also thank you. It means the world to Gord and by extension it also makes all the difference for the people of Haiti.

We found a quote from an Ironman Canada book. “Glory comes not from externals. It’s what’s inside that counts. It’s an act of faith that defies understanding, making everything else fall by the way.”



Please visit http://www.gordpauls.com/ for more information regarding this incredible endeavour.