Sports TheReview Wednesday, September 16,1992 — A28 a Ee re Pepper satisfied fo finish gruelling race by Paul Wyke The Review Anything can happen when over 1,000 athletes attempt to mun, bike and swim a total of 228 kilometres in the course of a day. But for Sidney triathlete Martin Pepper, the only thing on his agenda on Aug. 30 was to cross the finish line at the 10th annual Ironman Canada competition in Penticton. It’s pretty rare to see competi- tors quit in an Ironman race, Pepper says. “Competitors are told to leave the race because of exhaustion or unnoticed injuries. Most don’t just quit,” Pepper said. The competition in Penticton was the ninth triathalon for the 34-year-old Saanich police consta- ble, but his first attempt at an Ironman. Without question it was the most significant mental and physi- cal challenge he has ever risen to. Whe race consists of a four-k swim, a 182-k bike and a 42-k marathon. And each stage is major chal- lenge in itself, Pepper said. Out of 19 entered athletes from the Greater Victoria area, Pepper came ninth out of the 17 who made it over the finish line. And he remembers the last five miles as the longest distance to cover out of the entire race. “7 started out going from aid Station to aid station, then from telephone pole to telephone pole and eventually I was counting down from yard to yard,” Pepper recalled. But hearing the crowd at the finish line a half-mile away really helps athletes keep going, Pepper - added. “Finally seeing and hearing Finally seeing and hearing family and friends going berserk brings it all home’ family and friends going berserk brings it all home.” Although Pepper says anyone can do a triathalon, the selection process can be rather lengthy for interested athletes. First-time Ironman competitors must submit an application for the race almost 10 months ahead of time. From the applications, a lottery system is used to select athletes who are given the opportunity to compete in the race. Selection is made by age group, and a specific number of athletes are chosen for each group. The difficult part for athletes is that once their applications have 2 FoR 1 SALE | Get 2 PAIR ( of HEEL LIFTS for the PRICE OF ONE With this Coupon GOOD UNTIL SEPT. 30th —- FAWCETT SF SHE “J REPAIR CHECK ©9767 - 4th ST. Sores! §—» 55-4121 — POUNDING THE PAVEMENT, Martin Pepper feigns a smile in the final stage of the Penticton Ironman, been submitted, there is no guar- antee of a spot in the race. “You have to start training right away on the chance you’ll be picked,” Pepper said. On days off, he trained for all three events quite vigorously. And in July and August along with regular lengthy swims and runs at Elk Lake, Pepper biked over 1,000-k in each month. : Most athletes strive to be accepted for Hawaii, where the Ironman competition originated. And down the road, Pepper would love to give it a shot. “Hawaii is where everyone shoots for.”’ The race in Penticton is interna- tionally recognized, and support for it is overwhelming Pepper said. “There were over 4,000 volun- teers that made it possible, and everything was very personal. The Spirit was very inspirational.” Competitors paid an entry fee of $280 to register for the race and were also responsible for all their Own equipment. “Some people think triathletes are crazy. We pay for the right to cause ourselves lots of pain and NATURAL FOODS Sidney Natural Foods (You are what you eat) SEPTEMBER SALE Brewers © Art Tomlinson Photography photo grief, “Pepper said. Intense physical preparations are the key to finishing an Ironman, Pepper said. “If you don’t get the base miles in, you simply don’t finish.” Ironically, when Pepper found out in March he had been selected” through the lottery system, the number assigned to him was 649. In the Penticton Ironman, he crossed the line with a final time of 12-hours, 43 minutes and two seconds and placed 158th out of a field of 200 in the 30 to 34-year- old age group. “You certainly don’t race an Ironman. You concentrate on fin- ishing it. I was thrilled with my time.” Traditionally, Ironman competi- tions bring athletes from all over the world. And over 600 athletes represent- ing over 40 countries and 400 Canadians competed in the 1992 Penticton Ironman. There are only five Ironman competitions held each year. Besides Penticton, the prestigious race is held in Hawaii, Tokyo, Germany and New Zealand. « All beer and wine supplies 10% off! « Thompson Raisins 99¢ Ib. - All Vitamins & Champion Juices 20% off 2473 Beacon Ave. 656-4634 (on the south side of Beacon Ave. just past 3rd St., two blocks from the sea.) WE HAVE THE BEST NUTS IN SIDNEY ss —Z. Oa at eS ESA a A a ae ANNAN NOQVIE Zbz TOWN OF SIDNEY MOTOR VEHICLE DEPARTMENT NOTICE Due to staff vacations, the Motor Vehicle Depart- ment will be closed between 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. daily, August 31 to October 2, 1992 inclusive B.L. Warner Director of Corporate Services RECYCLING DROP-OFF DEPOT at the MARINER VILLAGE MALL (9810 7th Street, Sidney) STARTING MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 74, 1992 (see times listed below) YOU MAY BRING THE FOLLOWING RESIDENTIAL MATERIALS HERE FOR RECYCLING: 1. PAPER PRODUCTS ° Corrugated cardboard boxes e Envelopes (remove windows) ne * Boxboard (empty cereal, laundry soap |28) & packing boxes) 14 Lined, writing, or computer paper €5 ° Flyers and junk mail (including glossy) * _ Magazines, catalogues, telephone books vz Remove Non-paper Attachments & Inserts 2. PLASTIC BOTTLES ° Milkjugs ¢ Bleach bottles e Shampoo bottles e Water boitles t Rinse; Remove All Lids; Caps, Neck Rings vw Flatten DEPOT WILL BE OPEN ON THESE DAYS ONLY: Mondays - 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Fridays - 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Saturdays - 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. PLEASE DO NOT BRING YOUR REGULAR BLUE BOX ITEMS FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CALL THE CRD HOTLINE 360-3030 es a x ¢ Another Heritage Moment by Carole Bawlf 8370 EAST SAANICH ROAD > “Blink Bonnie Farm’”’ circa 1880 (7?) The old Haldon farm house is one of the most important Heritage Landmarks on the Peninsula, sited prominently on East Saanich Road as it enters Central Saanich. It is not known exactly when this house was built, though it is known that Mr. Haldon came to this area inthe late 1850's. The house is a very simple version of the Victorian Italianate style: typical features are the centered entrance door with side lites and transom, and the porch and roof brackets. 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