2026: James’ Year of New Experiences

This will be the first in a series of articles on this topic. You can also follow our Instagram page for regular progress updates.

A day that would change my life

August 3, 2025

On this day I watched people swim, bike and run in the 2025 Ottawa Ironman Triathlon. I myself was out on a group bike ride, prior to and after which I had the chance to take in the race, taking place in downtown Ottawa and surrounding urban areas.

A triathlon consists of swimming, biking, and running portions, in that order, and a triathlete must be proficient in all three sports and be able to quickly transition from one to the other. The Ironman Triathlon is the longest single-day triathlon and is considered the most challenging single-day sporting event.

During the race I was asked if I would one day like to participate in an Ironman Triathlon myself. I gave a hard no, because although I like cycling, I had not swum since I was a kid, and did not like running. And that was where it ended and I never thought about it again.

Thanks everyone for reading, I hope you enjoyed this brief post that… is not what happened.

(Image by OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay)

The reversal

While it was true I had not swum in decades, did not care for running, and initially had no intention of changing that, the idea of whether the Ironman Triathlon was something I would be able or willing to do (and whether I would regret not doing it) lingered with me. After all, skills can be acquired, and one can learn to enjoy previously unenjoyable activities, right? Within two days after the 2025 event, I changed my mind. This is the story of my quest to participate in the 2026 Ottawa Ironman Triathlon on August 2, 2026.

Why am I doing this?

First, I derive meaning and self-discovery from athletic accomplishments that make me feel like a part of something larger, particularly in timed sports with a physical endurance component. This is why I was a competitive rower in my younger years, and am currently into road cycling. And standing as a spectator at the finish line of the 2025 event watching people cross it to the sound of strangers cheering made me want to experience that myself.

Second, if/when my health begins to fail one day, I want to be able to look back at my life with no regrets about what could have been.

Third, I support events that promote active lifestyles and a love of the outdoors. The fact that an Ironman Triathlon takes place in my own backyard of downtown Ottawa with no travel required makes it even more enticing.

A worthwhile question is why do the hardest triathlon as opposed to an intermediate distance. Well, the 2025 Ottawa Ironman Triathlon was almost cancelled at the last minute because of wildfire smoke, though it ultimately went forward (I did not notice any smoke in the air that day). This leads to my fourth reason: there may be a limited number of future opportunities for me to attempt the Ironman Triathlon given the realities of climate change. At this point (both in my life and in the Earth’s recent climate history) I would rather attempt and fail to complete the Ironman for health or injury reasons than attempt and complete with greater certainty an intermediate distance triathlon.

How the next months will unfold

General training notes

An Ironman Triathlon requires a significant amount of training. Fortunately my strongest of the three sports is cycling, which is the longest part (in both time and distance) of the triathlon, and this headstart is the main reason I am confident in my ability to complete it after one year of training. I am not cycling in the winter, freeing me to concentrate on indoor swimming, outdoor running, and strength training for injury prevention.

Leading up to the triathlon date of August 2, 2026 I will be participating in some organized events as part of my training.

May 24: Tamarack Homes Ottawa International Marathon

This will be my first marathon (42.2 km), sponsored by Tamarack Homes and taking place in the heart of downtown Ottawa. I have watched this race as a spectator in each of the past two years, and now find myself signed up as a participant for 2026. This will likely be one of the most physically and mentally challenging things I will have done up to that point.

June 6-7: Rideau Lakes Cycle Tour

I first did this two-day, 342 km round trip bicycle ride between Ottawa and Kingston (operated by the Ottawa Bicycle Club) in 2025. I was part of a riding group with drafting (riding directly behind another person) for reduced wind resistance and reduced energy expenditure.

For the 2026 edition, as enjoyable as the social aspect of long rides can be, I nonetheless plan on riding on my own to simulate triathlon conditions, where drafting is prohibited during the cycling portion. I will also take shorter breaks at the rest stops, to simulate having to complete the ride within a time limit.

Of note, the “Classic Route” between Ottawa and Kingston which I did last year is being redrawn for 2026, with the one-way distance increasing from 171 km to 178 km. This brings it closer to the 180 km cycling distance of the Ironman Triathlon.

July 11: Bring on the Bay

I will participate in a 3 km open water swim event, in the same waters where the Ironman Triathlon swim will take place. As I have only swum in a pool before, this will be an excellent opportunity to practice swimming not only in open water, but also in crowded conditions surrounded by other swimmers.

Follow my journey

So there you have it, my plan for the next few months. There will be a lot happening between now and August 2, including milestones being crossed and unforeseen setbacks. Be sure to follow this page and our Instagram page for progress updates!

See you again soon! (Image by Olena from Pixabay)