This past Saturday, I received a bit of news that will alter the course of my life for the next several months.
I am pleased to announce that I have been selected to race Ultraman Canada this coming summer!
Ultraman Canada is a three day, 320 mile triathlon stage race held every summer in Penticton, British Columbia. You have 12 hours each day to complete the distance. You cannot "bank" time for one day to the next.
Completing this race will be the culmination of 2 1/2 years of planning and preparation.
Of course in the beginning I didn't have the slightest clue that my Monday night social running habit would lead me to go on to complete Ironman events, marathon swims and eventually to an international racing platform.
When I started triathlons in the spring of 2011. In March I met my now fiance Chad, who at the time was in the heart of training for his first Ironman at Ironman Texas. I was about to do my first triathlon at Kemah. I remember thinking to myself how cool it was that this Ironman-to-be was even talking to me, much less interested in me.
May rolled around and I went out to support Chad during his race. It was a tough day for him but he did manage to finish! As he was doubled over in the bushes hurling his guts up after his trip to medical, I knew that one day I just HAD to do my very own Ironman
In November of 2012 on the flight to race Ironman Cozumel, I sat in the back of the plane with my coach Wendy Hammerman and told her about my latest crazy idea: Ultraman Canada. I got "the look" from Wendy. It's a look that says a mix of: "you are crazy", "you've got to be kidding right", and "I like the sound of that".
This was to be the first of many of the same "looks" she's given me.
The week after Christmas, I contacted Ultraman Canada to see about crewing for an athlete since crewing can significantly increase your chances of getting into a race like this. I was connected with an athlete out of Austin, Tx named Devon Kiernan. In July 2013, I met him for the first time in the baggage claim in Kelowna, British Columbia. (Yes, I met a strange man on the internet and flew to a foreign country to meet him!)
Crewing for Ultraman proved to be an invaluable experience. Honestly, the course scared me. The bike course looked like a crazy EKG! I am from the flat lands of Texas after all. Our biggest hills are the overpasses across I-10. Most importantly, I met the athletes and their crews. The caliber of athlete represented absolutely amazed me! Their resumes include finishes at Epic 5, Canadian Death Race, Sinister7, and multiple 100 milers. There was even one guy who would end up becoming the 6th person to complete all of the Ultraman events! The wealth of information these people willingly shared was invaluable, only surpassed by the friendships that were formed.
Andrew Gale with his pacer and future UMFL '14 athlete Chris Garlington during the run portion of Ultraman Canada. August 2013
After I got home I had to do some soul searching. Was Ultraman really what I wanted to do? I would have to dedicate hundreds of hours over many months to be able to complete the race. Was I ready to take on such a race? I am only 25 after all. Most Ultraman athletes are in their 40s which is when most athlete's bodies are in their endurance prime.
I applied in October to race in 2014. I fretted for months afterwards over if I would get in or not.
This past Saturday afternoon my fortune cookie told me what I was beginning to hope for. "The world will soon be ready to receive your talents."
A few minutes later I got an email telling me that I had been accepted into Ultraman Canada in August 2014!
This weekend is my first of many Ultraman training races, Rocky Raccoon 50 mile trail run. I hope that I can finish in under 11 hours.
