After two years of training to become an IRONMAN, I was crushed when the triathlon I registered for and had poured so much time into working towards was cancelled due to COVID. With the help of the YMCA of Okanagan, I was able to persevere through my training and create my own Lone Wolf IRONMAN. They provided the support and environment I needed to succeed.
I first got involved with the Y after visiting the Downtown Y when it initially opened. We were amazed by how welcoming the environment was, so we joined and have been Y members ever since.
I have always been active and enjoyed cycling, but I didn’t get into running or swimming until I moved here from Quebec. Luckily many of my coworkers were running enthusiasts who helped and motivated me to become better at the sport. Soon after I completed my first marathon in Tofino. I also credit my wife with enrolling me in the Across the Lake Swim here in the Okanagan, where I completed my first ever open water distance race. I enjoyed these experiences so much that I decided to set my sights higher.
My inspiration to become an IRONMAN came after seeing part of an IRONMAN race in Hawaii while on vacation. The atmosphere was amazing, and I thought to myself what’s stopping me from doing a triathlon like this? I knew it would be difficult, but with the right training, I could make it happen.
After setting the lofty goal of becoming an IRONMAN, I set to work with a vigorous training routine. I started swimming in the pool at the Kelowna Family Y. The staff and volunteers were always very welcoming and interested in my training and progression. It was great to see how much they truly enjoyed being there.
Everything was on track. I booked an IRONMAN triathlon in my hometown in Quebec so that I would be able to compete in front of my friends and family. I trained for two years and couldn’t wait to see all my hard work come to fruition and call myself an IRONMAN.
Then life flipped upside down for everyone when the pandemic hit. I was devastated to hear that the race I had poured my heart and soul into training for was cancelled, even though it was the right call. Everyone who had supported me felt terrible, as they knew how much it meant to me.
As heartbroken as I was, I knew I couldn’t let all that effort go to waste. I had been working towards this for too long to just give up. I persevered through the training, and this was another setback. It occurred to me that although Ironman events are incredible, I could still recreate my own triathlon- The Lone Wolf IRONMAN.
With the help of the YMCA, I continued my training throughout the winter. Their swim lane reservation system made it much easier, and I appreciated their adaptability to the ever-changing COVID-19 restrictions. The staff wanted to see me reach my goal and they were eager to help me out in any way they could. This made me feel like I was racing not just for myself but also for all my supporters, which inspired me to persevere that much more.
The day of the event I did the 3.8 km swim in the pool at the Kelowna Family Y and left on my bike from the Y to embark on a 180 km ride around Kelowna. My IRONMAN ended with a 42 km run where I finished in a great little park right near our home. I was cheered on at the finish line by my closest friends and family where we celebrated (social distance style) with champagne and a homemade medal. Start to end the race took me over 15 hours and it felt amazing to have finished!
I simply could not have achieved this incredible personal goal without the YMCA of Okanagan, they helped me persevere through completing my Ironman in the face of the pandemic. The Y equipped me with the tools I needed to train, and a support system that inspired me to keep going.
I’ve never considered myself a high-performance athlete. When I started this journey, I was just a regular gym-goer. It’s the people and the environment that you surround yourself with that enable you to achieve your goals. The YMCA played a huge part in helping me succeed. Whether it was the staff always being there to help me reserve a lane, or members giving advice on my swimming technique. It all meant a lot to me, and I don’t know if I could have done it without the Y.