Jaime Zaharias is an Iron(wo)man

Update June 15th

Training Update: Race or Just Try to Finish

While I haven't posted as many updates as I would have liked, it hasn't been because of a lack of training. Overall, I've been able to stay injury free (knock on wood) for the most part. I've gotten sick a few times (thanks, kids) and that has set me back a bit, but I've been able to catch up quite well.

I think in my head, I have a few goal times and expectations, but with that said, it can be discouraging if you get too hung up on times and you're not hitting those times on race day. Heat, rain, mechanical issues, flat tires, injuries, large slow packs, cramps, nutrition issues, and countless other issues that could arise on race day, my only goal is finishing. Anything after that will be an additional "cherry on top" of the goal. So I don't look at this so much as a race, more so as a challenge.

As I work through the solo training sessions, I go through a typical mental conversation with myself about stopping, doing enough halfway through, or even just having trouble getting started. But as I mentally juggle with the choices, I think of Jaime often in those scenarios. And when I do that, it doesn't take very long before I convince myself to get started or keep going. Jaime has helped me push through so many training sessions, it would be hard to count. Having a 'why' behind this has really helped keep me on track, so I thank Jaime for that.

Equipment and Gear Changes

I upgraded my bike to a Cervelo P2 (used) and had a bike fit. Thanks to Ziggy's Cycle in Kitchener for that. They have always been great to deal with! During the bike fitting, I needed to bring my cockpit height up (handlebars and tri bars) due to a previous hip issue. The first option is a bar stem replacement, the second option is an entirely new cockpit (costly $$). I went with the cost effective bar stem option, which would raise my handlebars up by a few inches and hope it would be enough. I had to order online from China in order to get the size needed, and that was a 3 week wait. Luckily, that was able to be replaced for relatively cheap, and I've been practicing in the aero position with it. It's been going well, but I need to spend more time in that tucked position vs riding upright, the tucked position saves time and also saves your legs for the run.

Another gear change is a new pair of shoes. Sounds like "not a big deal" but when you're clocking a lot of mileage, shoes (and changes to shoes) are a big deal. I've always run in Asics DynaFlyte, but they discontinued the line. But I found an even better pair of On Cloudsrufer 1's that I've really liked and think they are a saviour to my calf issues. The problem is trying to find a second pair of these shoes. They have a high heel drop (10MM) and have a high level cushion for my calves. Running has gone well and I haven't had much soreness at all, even after long 15km runs, which is uncommon for me. I do need to find an additional pair of shoes, as shoes generally only last 600-800km before they degrade. So I've been looking for another pair of these shoes (the newer model - the ON Cloudsurfer 2's have a different setup) and finding a brand new 2 year old shoe model has not been easy! I bought a pair of New Balance 1080's, which are max cushioning and known as one of the best shoes for runners. I had calf tightness after every test run due to the change in heel drop (6MM). So they are out for me. I could not find another pair of Cloudsurfer 1's anywhere in my size other than Stock X for a small fortune. So I bought the Cloudsurfer 2 and use those for the shorter runs and save my Cloudsurfer 1's for the longer runs. The Cloudsurfer 2s are different, (9MM heel drop and a little less cushioning), but not too different that I couldn't ease into using them. This rotation will allow my Cloudsurfer 1's to last long enough to get to the race while they are still in good shape.

Tune Up Race: Mont-Tremblant Change

I had originally booked half Ironman Mont-Tremblant as a tune up, warmup race to Ottawa. It was set for June 21st. Parker and Sydney's graduation ended up being scheduled for that same weekend, so I needed to cancel my plans of attending the race as a prep race. I'm a bit disappointed, but there is no way I was going to miss their grad to travel to Quebec for a practice race. I plan to do a half Ironman as prep, likely the week before at home.

Update January 27th

Road to Ottawa: Building the Engine 🏊‍♂️🚴‍♂️🏃‍♂️

I’m officially in the lab. With the Ottawa Ironman on the horizon this August, I’ve shifted my focus from "staying active" to "purposeful preparation." Currently, I’m clocking about 6–7 hours of volume per week, covering a total distances of 100–120km.

Here’s what the current split looks like:

• Running: 2–3x per week (building the aerobic base).

• Cycling: 2–3x per week (steady 90-minute spins).

• Swimming: 3x per week (reconnecting with the water).

• Strength and mobility: Should be more, but doing 1-2 days per week. 

Trusting the Data

Starting in early March, the intense work begins. I’m moving into a 22-week structured plan that takes the guesswork out of the equation. This isn't just about logging miles; it’s about:

• Heart Rate Discipline

• Specific Race Intensity

• Phased Loading

The goal isn't just to finish; it’s to show up at the start line in Ottawa knowing I’ve done the work, followed the science, and am ready to deliver my personal best for Jaime and SickKids.

A Quick Reality Check

Nutrition is often considered the 4th discipline of triathlon, so learning how to consume energy on the bike and run has taken some getting used to. Eating and drinking enough calories to sustain the 14-17 hour grind and not "bonk" is an important part of training.

Injury prevention is another significant part of all of this. Because if I get a strain/sprain then I'm done for training while it heals. Injury prevention (and this can't be overstated) is one of the most important parts of the ramp up in volume. I've been guilty in the past of doing too much, too soon and end up with an injury set back. I'm seeing a physiotherapist regularly to keep me on track and to treat some areas of soreness or niggles. I'm doing some dry needling (hurts even worse than it sounds) and activation work to keep me going, and it's been working so far!

I will post more updates as I go!