Oh Canada!

I'm a bit behind in my updates, but I'm working on em! This trip was August 12th-18th, 2014.

A week off of school came at the perfect time for an already planned trip to Mont Tremblant, about an hour and a half from Montreal. I was needing a nature fix after just a couple of weeks of the city life and this place did the trick! 

It was quite cold compared to the summer weather I had packed 3 month's worth of clothes for. Needless to say I enjoyed it from the inside much of the time. 

These skies. I have been spoiled in every destination with amazing clouds! 

Same view, different day. (Yes, all from inside)

Why Mont Tremblant? For my first experience spectating an Iron Man event, of course! The little ski village was transformed into all things Iron Man. 

Thankfully this meant there was plenty of eating still happening in my adventures since I was surrounded by athletes needing to fuel for the big day. 

The area is known for maple syrup and it is sold in many forms. Post lunch treat...

Maple syrup poured over ice, then left to harden for 60 seconds...

You're given a Popsicle stick to roll the syrup onto...

Straight sugar never tasted so good!

I wish I had taken more pictures here, it was so gorgeous! 

I was sad to see how comfortable the feet were with humans. There was no zooming involved in this photo, she really was that close! Sad was how many people would try to get as close as possible. I understand how amazing this can be, but not many seem to consider the animals and that this is not how they are meant to live, feeding off of your human food. 

Stepping off my soapbox and into spectator mode...

The Iron Man is a crazy feat for humans; 2.4 miles swim, 112 mile bike ride and a 26.2 mile (full marathon) run with not even a second's break between. 

Starting at about quarter til 7, the Iron men and women dive into the pool with their entire age group. This is one of the men's swim start. As a spectator...this is so stressful!!! Nearly 300 men are rushing into the water on top of one another, kicking and smacking anyone in their way. And this was just the start! 

Same view add swimmers! The weather miraculously cleared for the day which was such a nice treat for the athletes. 

After the swim, the racers rush out of the water and head to transition where they change for the next leg. The majority wear the "kit" or suit they don all day. This usually entails a tank and thinly padded (like, no padding) bike shorts. They wear this under their wetsuit, to ride their bike and to run a marathon in. I've been known to be quite the diva when running marathons and require all conditions to be just perfect. No way would I want to run in a wet short and shorts...aaaaaalllll day! Nope. Uh uh. Not happening for me. 

Anyhow...they rush out of the water and run about a quarter mile barefoot while simultaneously stripping off a wet wet suit to the transition tent. Once in the tent they scurry to get their bike shoes and helmet on, then rush to find their bike in the stands. They clear the gates and hop on their bikes to embark on their 112 mile ride. This is over an hour after starting only to sit in the saddle for 5-6+ hours: HOURS, people! HOURS! Ugh. Thankfully the scenery is gorgeous and I am sure helps them along. They are not allowed to accept any help along the way; no medical help or even passing of a coke from a bistander or they will be disqualified.  Can you imagine?!

Out of the gate!

After the bike they head back to transition and switch to running shoes. Then run. One. Entire. FULL. Marathon. Yeah, what the heck?! This can take minimum three hours unless they are not human. Well, I don't think these people are human anyhow. 

Crazy awesome skies when a brief storm came through during the run.

Nearing the finish, this was about a half mile from the finish.

To get a spot at the finish is quite the challenge as people are cramped to see their loved ones. 

In the end they spend at least 10 hours racing. This doesn't count the early rise of 3 hours before and that the average person averages at least 11+ hours. 

The Iron Man is crazy amazing to watch, but downright exhausting-as a spectator!! 

On a side note, one of my favorite moments (& a little de ja vu to Sorrento) was an epic fireworks show two nights before the race that was heard during dinner. This is tradition for the night of packet pick up. 

Always fireworks!