Lisa Bentley 11x IRONMAN Champion

Hello from Hawaii!

I had two themes for my race yesterday – being grateful and being an angel. I was grateful for the opportunity to race – grateful for my talents – grateful for the ability to race. And I had the opportunity to be Carter’s angel. To be part of his dream of crossing the finish line at an Ironman. After a great swim and solid ride, I was having a very good marathon until stomach upset led to about 8 pit stops – 4 of which happened within 1 km. It would have been very easy for me to have walked the last 20 km, but Ironman is about being the best you can be with the hand you have been dealt. Either you change your circumstances or you accept them and do the best you can with those set of circumstances. And so, when I wasn’t stopped at the side of the road, I ran as well as I could and I continued to hydrate and take in calories. Months of therapy and training and sacrifice and pain tolerance had gone into my preparation and I was going to finish what I started. Besides, I was more than an Ironman on this day. I was an angel. Carter, the dear little 7 year old boy with CF, was waiting for me with 100 meters to go. He ran so fast and we crossed the finish line together. The truth is, Carter was my little angel too.

I finished in 15th place yesterday and that was the best that I could do yesterday. No regrets. No excuses. And no feeling sorry for me. I fulfilled my dream and my life’s goal. I made a difference in the life of one person in this world.

Have a great day today!

Lisa

2007 Ironman Canada

Lisa Bentley's third Subaru Ironman Canada title did not come with the apparent ease of her 2003 and 2004 Ironman Canada wins. At this year's Ironman Australia, Bentley suffered a lower leg injury that side-lined her run training for three months and threatened her chances of even competing in the race.

Bentley came into the 25th Subaru Ironman Canada displaying a different "race face" from previous appearances in the Okanagan Valley. Gone was the subtle confidence usually displayed in her pre-race comments and appearances. Yes, the words, responses and comments were similar to those of years past, but there was a noted restraint in her tone. It was more of an "I am just glad to be here" attitude.

Throughout April, May and June, Bentley replaced her seven day a-week running program with sessions lying motionless in the hyperbaric chamber, having physiotherapy, active release therapy, acupuncture and injections into the tendon on her heel. Her focus during in her recovery turned to her bike training, which paid off in spades for her in the race.

View the Ironman article