In the previous chapter of this logbook I told you that my plans had changed because of an injury. Instead of going to Brazil for my first event of the season, I would go to France. So I’m writing this third chapter of my “To Kona” adventure logbook in Nice, France.

A place that makes you dream

Ironman France is the Ironman I dreamed of doing. This historic race is the result of the first running of a long-distance triathlon in Europe. When you think of Ironman France, you also remember the greats. Mark Allen, the Ironman legend, won 10 consecutive victories here.

Then there’s the course, which is as stunning as it is brutal. The swim, held in the warm waters of the Baie des Anges, is followed by an extremely tough cycling event. It’s a big loop during which you ascend a col (mountain notch) and do several climbs. In addition to presenting an altitude change of about 2000 metres, the course includes major technical descents. To finish, there’s the marathon run, which consists of linking four return trips on the Promenade des Anglais. It’s spectacular, but can be very hot and humid.

Preparation

I finally feel ready. The first challenge was to limit the amount of training while getting rid of the injury. The second was to find, here in Quebec, a way to simulate the long climb of the Col de l’Écre. Thanks to the calculations done by my coach, we were able to reproduce the effort required for this climb by cycling on a stationary roller that we placed on an inclined plane. I had it confirmed, in climbing the col, that this training had borne fruit.

The final stage

For sure, a win or a podium would mean having an enviable place in the Kona classification. But now that the work is done, my goal is to execute my plan and stay positive, no matter what happens. You just never know what a race day has in store for you, and I like it that way.

So there you have it. I’m ready to go! From Nice, I say thank you and…see you later.