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First off some thanks! Thanks to Rio Glowasky for her colourful and eye-catching graphic, thanks to Steve King for mentioning the event at the Oliver Half Iron, thanks to Greg and Glenda at F2C for providing us some on-course support and a place to stash our bikes, thanks to Jeff Symonds for being one of the first folks to volunteer, thanks to Joe Dixon for the legal-type advice, and also thanks to Sonya Jacobson for being our first female participant to sign up!

 

IronSoul 2018

Unsponsored, Unsupported, Unspoiled

What it is/What it isn’t

The IronSoul 2018 is an unsupported Iron Distance event held in the South Okanagan the last Sunday in August (August 26).

It is not a race. You won’t get a finisher’s medal, you won’t qualify for Kona, and you (probably) won’t hear Steve King announce your name along with the results of the last ten Ironmans you have done as you cross our “finish line.”

What you will get is an opportunity to test yourself on the original, legendary, Ironman Canada course. Do it once and brag for the rest of your life!!!

Why we are doing this?

The idea came because Ironman Canada moved to Whistler, Challenge Penticton folded, and most of us old bastards are genetically programmed to do an Iron Distance “something” the last weekend in August in the South Okanagan. We also want to see how we stack up to our former selves on the original course that we did for all those years.

What do I have to do as a participant?

We organized this event for friendship and fitness not profit or promotions. Getting 6 people on the “start-line” would be a success. Getting 25, the original number of Ironman Canada participants in 1983 would be amazing. Kind of like coming full-circle.

As a participant an unsupported event, you’ll need to have the fitness, food, and course knowledge to complete it on your own. Think of this as a long-training day with some like minded folks and you’ll be in the right head space for this event.

The course (subject to change)

Swim: from the buoy at the Big Peach to the SS Sicamous (twice).

Bike: Big Peach to East Side Road via Government Street. (more details later). Once on Lakeside Road, it follows the “Classic” route to Osoyoos via 97, Richter Pass, Cawston out and back, Yellow Lake, back to 97 into Penticton, stay on 97 and turn onto Lakeshore.

Run: Big Peach, Lakeshore onto Channel Parkway Path, through Skaha Park onto Lakeside, to Ok Falls, t/around at Christie Memorial Park in OK Falls.

FAQ (I’m sure this will grow over the next few months)

Will there be aid stations?

Don’t count on it. A few folks on Slowtwitch said they’d be willing to provide support for the run. That would be great, but again, don’t count on it.

As well, you are responsible for the logistics such as where your wetsuit is going after you are done the swim. And of course, there is the issue of your bike.

Do I have to do it all?

No, however, since the main idea here is to TEST YOURSELF against your former self on THE LEGENDARY course, it would be cool if you did but we don’t want any casualties out there.

How do I sign up?

You don’t really “sign anything” as this is NOT a race. But to let me know you are probably going to be there would be swell. Just respond e-mail me at kknnheinze@yahoo.com with the subject thread IronSoul.

This week’s Fitspeek features top age-group athlete and firefighter, Duane Foley from Fort Langley. He did a lot of sports in school including being a high level curler (!) but he only discovered the sport of triathlon later in life.

Like many of us, he paid his dues, including being near to last out of the water in his first triathlon. He tells his story of advancing in his age group and the lessons that he has learned along the way. Fitspeek 37 also features our usual features Between the Ears with Zack Neufeld, our race report, and episode 5 of Vince Speeks. Hear it all by pressing play below.

And if you’ve ever wanted to try a triathlon, run a marathon, or finish a fondo, we at Tri-Joy are ready to help you get to your finish line. We offer things that the “big guys” don’t including in-person consultations and bi-weekly progress updates. We’re local so we’re never far from a cup of coffee and a chat eith you to see how things are going. E-mail kknnheinze@yahoo.com to get more information.

If you are a cyclist in the Fraser Valley you probably have heard of Phoenix Velo. They have been offering Saturday training sessions, Thursday night time trials, and of course the world famous Wednesday night crits. Now, in addition to Phoenix Velo, there is a new cycling group in the valley. In this episode of Fitspeek, Fitspeek’s resident roadie Kevin Watt speaks with Matt Campbell from United Velo.

 

Fitspeek 36 also features a new Between The Ears with Zack Neufeld. Zack explains how controlling our environment can contribute to better training sessions & race day performances. And if you’ve read the latest edition of Triathlon Magazine Canada you’ve likely seen local triathlete Vince Dimanno. Vince is however much more than a triathlete and in our series called Vince Speaks we learn about the experiences of a guy who has lead a very interesting life.

 

 

We also have our usual features like Kevin Watt’s social media shout outs, our upcoming events schedule, and our very busy race results feature. A full menu of fitness food comes your way by pressing play below.

Just because we are in race season, however doesn’t mean you can’t sign up for a new race or start training for one. Tri*Joy can help. We offer stuff the other guys don’t including in-person consultations and weekly progress assessments. Take your performance to the next level or take a step closer to your first starting line by mailing kknnheinze@yahoo.com

Take Fitspeek with you this weekend on the road whether that’s on the Trans-Canada, Highway 97, or the manic dash to the ferry terminals.

We have an hour of entertaining and insightful content featuring Canadian Triathlon Legend Jeff Symonds. Jeff has been an icon in the sport with his special kind of mental toughness that he calls “getting ugly.” You can listen to it by pressing play here:

Zack Neufeld sets up the interview with his Between The Ears feature. What’s interesting is that Zack & Jeff went head to head at the Bare Bones Duathlon in Penticton. Jeff won round one but this weekend is the rematch at the Westwood Lake Triathlon! Will the youthful Zack be the latest up & upcomer to challenge Jeff?

Not only is Jeff Symonds one of the best in Canadian Triathlon he is also doing great volunteer work, working with a group of young female runners in North Vancouver. The group uses running as a way of boosting self-esteem. Jeff also tends to be like Superman, showing up at the right place and at the right time, like at the finish line at Challenge Penticton in 2016 where he can be seen reviving the corpse of Fitspeek host Kevin Heinze.

Program 34 features an interview with the organizer of the Abbotsford Run For Water and the all new Ride For Water.

In our interview with Peg Peters we find out about his motivation for the creation of the event, his alliance with local “Gravel King” Matt Scott, as well as why the events are just as much a party as they are a great fundraiser.

Also in this week’s program we have part 3 of Vince Speeks. Vince tells us about his transition from professional soccer player to university student to triathlete. Hear it all by pressing play below!

Thanks for waiting! Here is part two of our interview with Vancouver professional triathlete Nathan Killam, a guy his competitors call a pyscho on the downhills, and the most positive pro male triathlete competing today.

We dust off that veneer and reveal his murky obsessions with Zwift and peanut butter, we discover his least favourite triathlon workouts, his ITU world championships challenges.

We end of the interview with Nathan putting on his coaching hat and offering advice to folks who are doing their first Ironman Canada.

 

After listening to the interview head over to the Fitspeek Facebook Page and enter to win a free entry to the Westwood Lake Triathlon on Sunday May 20. You can also win a canister of F2C’s 3:1 Rehab formula.

Hang on for an interesting, motivating, and sometimes hilarious sixty minutes with Fitspeek favourite Nathan Killam. Last year we told you the story of this former heavy duty mechanic-Burger King lover turned fire fighter and professional triathlete. This year we caught up with Nathan between training sessions as he prepares for his best ever performance at the long course triathlon near Paso Robles, California.

Since last year Nathan has had a number of changes in his life including being a dad! In the interview you’ll hear how he manages the demands of being a full-time elite triathlete, father, husband, and working guy.

Also in part A you’ll hear about some of the challenges he’s had to face over the past few months. Prepare for an engaging sixty minutes by pressing play here.

After the interview remember to head over to our Fitspeek Facebook Page for your chance to win a free entry to Dynamic Race Events Wine Capital of Canada Triathlon.

The event is already sold out but you can still win an entry thanks to Dynamic Race Events & F2C Nutrition. And while you are logging the training miles, remember to refuel with F2C’s 3:1 Rehab Formula. Oh yeah by entering our contest, you can win a canister of that!

We’ll have part B of the interview in a few days!

From professional soccer player to web designer, to elite triathlete, to “Mr. Mom” to “The Music Man” Abbotsford’s Vince Dimanno has had a wide variety of jobs and pursuits. Vince is now the owner of Deep Blue Creative and a coach with the Abbotsford Triathlon Club. In our second Vince Speeks segment, we hear about the huge role his father had in shaping Vince’s athletic life. We also hear about the “non-secret” method Vince used to become a professional soccer player…. at the age of 17.

Also in this week’s Fitspeek, a tutorial on how to become a “Time Weasle” as well as the results from last Sunday’s Heritage to Hatzic 5 K and 10 K races. Get the scoop, by pressing play below

Tri*Joy} The Spirit of Multisport is ready to help you with your athletic goals this spring. If you are interested in doing your first triathlon, such as the Westwood Lake event in May, we can create a personalized an effective training plan for you. We also offer one on one consultations and feedback sessions. Contact kknnheinze@yahoo.com to get on the road to the start line.

 

We’re happy to unleash Fitspeek 31 on all of our listeners. Spring is here and so is some all new information and inspiration on the program. We lead things off with segment 1 of our feature interview with Abbotsford’s Vince Dimanno. Vince has led a very interesting life with sports a very big part of it. In segment one, we hear about Vince’s path in becoming a professional soccer player and the influence that Vince’s dad had in his life.

In our Between The Ears feature Zack Neufeld explains how to use motivation pull factors to get off the couch and onto the trails and Kevin Watt returns with social media shout outs.

We also have some information for you on the health benefits of cheese on our Fit Tip of the Week.

Fitspeek 31, the cheesetastic aural delight flows into your ears by pressing play.

And if you are ready to take the plunge and do your first triathlon or enter the Fraser Valley Gran Fondo, we at Tri*Joy can help you get to the finish line. You can get a free half hour consultation to get you started on the road to personal awesomeness by e-mailing kknnheinze@yahoo.com

Our latest Fitspeek guest is local business owner Charlotte Lepp. Lepp’s Farm Market in Abbotsford is the go-to place for locally grown meat and vegetables.

Although Charlotte was never a high school sports star, she’s proof that regular exercise can do wonders for a person’s quality of life Listen to Charlotte’s story by pressing play.

With spring here, it’s time to spring into fitness with Tri*Joy. If you are considering doing your first marathon, cycling fondo, or triathlon we can help you get to your finish line. Give us an e-mail at kknnheinze@yahoo.com to set up a consultation to get you on the road.