IronMan 70.3 or is it IronBear? IronFox?

Mirinda Carfrae repeated her win in this year's Muskoka Ironman 70.3 Her highlight? The baby bear that crossed the bike route -- and probably paused to wave and cheer the athletes on. After all, everybody else was out along the route hooting and hollering.

We were at the junction of South Portage Road and Dwight Beach Road again this year. My trusty "Ironcrew-mates" flew colours (next year, we'll bring even more flags, and our apologies to team Norway for mistaking their flag -- you were going so fast, and crouched so low, all we really saw was the cross...)

The first bikes got to our location 45 minutes and 40 seconds into the mission. We know, because there was a huge sign on the pace car that preceded them!

The weather was cool, with intermittent drizzle that didn't start till after the swim portion.

We were all watching for our neighbours, competing -- well done to Mike Duncan, Dee Howell, Mark Sinnige, John Eastmure and a whole bunch of others who whizzed by before we even recognized them! You all looked awesome! Our station is at the top of what is the longest steady climb on the course. Not the steepest, but certainly the longest uphill pull... Of course, it's followed by a lovely long downhill to Dwight Beach, and then the new pavement on Highway 35, so it's all good. As we kept telling the competitors...



We didn't see the baby bear that sprinted across in front of Mirinda, but shortly after the last bike passed us, a young fox came out to strut his stuff.



The elite athletes don't ever say much as they zip past -- they are focused totally, and have no time for small talk, but later in the race, particularly at the top of the hill where they are slowed down by the slope, we get a lot of repartee, and we love that.



This was the first bike past us... Craig Alexander, who I don't think even noticed we were flying the Aussie flag for him... Never mind... we understand. Aussie Aussie Aussie... OY, OY, OY!