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www.insideHALTON.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Friday, October 26, 2012 · 32 SCENIC RIDE: Helene Desrosiers rides her bicycle during the Ironman World Championship earlier this month in Hawaii. The 48-year-old finished the gruelling race in less than 12 hours, placing 29th in her age division and 1,292nd overall. PHOTO SUBMITTED Important to develop proper work ethic at young age Continued from page 31 IRONDame competes in Ironman worlds By Jon Kuiperij BEAVER SPORTS EDITOR The moniker of `ironman' traditionally refers to an athlete's exceptional physical endurance. In Helene Desrosiers' case, the term applies to some serious mental and emotional stamina as well. The 48-year-old Oakville woman finally accomplished a long-time dream earlier this month, competing in the Ironman World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. Desrosiers completed the gruelling 3.86-kilometre swim, 180.25 km bicycle and 42.2 km run test in 11:53:56, good for 29th in her age division and 1,292nd overall. Time and standing in Hawaii weren't too important to Desrosiers, however. After what she had to go through in order to qualify, she was just happy to be there. "It is very difficult to qualify for that race," said Desrosiers, a fashion designer who put her career aside for the past year in order to focus on training. "(More than 100,000) people do races every year to try to get a spot. Per Ironman, there are only about 50 people who qualify (for worlds), and there are 2,600 who participate in each race. There are very few spots." Desrosiers found that out in her first three attempts to qualify for the Ironman worlds, all three attempts coming at the Ironman Lake Placid event. Needing a top-three placing in her division to qualify, she was seventh in her age group in 2009, finishing in 11:50:39. The following year, Desrosiers was bit by a dog a month prior to the race, then had a flat bike tire on race day, leading to a time of 11:56:14 and a 13thplace finish. Last year, Desrosiers took a full hour off her time, crossing the line in 10:50:57 to finish second in her division. But she was declared ineligible to qualify for worlds because she'd worn a wetsuit during the swim, something she did because she misunderstood the rules. "It was my third time doing Lake Placid, so I didn't go to the dinner," Desrosiers said. "At the dinner, they said that wetsuits were optional but that if you wore the wetsuit, you were not eligible to go to Kona." Disappointed but undetered, Desrosiers entered another Ironman last summer, a competition in Arizona. This time, despite falling during her run, Desrosier posted a personalbest clocking of 10:48:08 to finish third in her age group and finally earn that elusive berth in the world championships. In Hawaii, Desrosiers was faced with her toughest challenge yet. Already bothered by a lingering hamstring and pain in her back and hip, she also battled heavy crosswinds and 95-degree (Fahrenheit) temperatures. "This Ironman, you can't compare to any else," Desrosiers said. "A lot of people go (to worlds) and don't even finish because they get sick or have injuries. There are so many things that can go wrong along the way. I saw a lot of people in the heat who got cramps and couldn't go on. I was pretty happy I was able to finish." Desrosiers is a member of the IRONDames, a group of Oakville and Burlington women who are using athletic endeavours to raise money for expansion of Wellspring Halton-Peel's cancer exercise program. Desrosiers' participation in the Ironman World Championships raised $2,555 for the facility. Also a seasoned runner, Desrosiers will race in her sixth Boston Marathon next spring. She then plans to compete in the International Triathlon Union's world championships next September in England, on the same London course that hosted Olympians earlier this year. "It's very good to have something after Kona," said Desrosiers, who will also compete in next year's Ironman Mont-Tremblant event. "People say if you have no goal after this, it's very hard (to keep going)." -- A recording of the Ironman World Championship will be broadcast tomorrow (Saturday) from 4-6 p.m. on NBC. "Steve and I have both been in this position. It's some of the most fun you'll ever have playing hockey. You just want to make sure these guys don't take it for granted and realize it doesn't get e a s i e r, " O'Marra said. "It gets harder at every level. If you don't have the right work ethic instilled at an Ryan O'Marra early age, it's hard to get it as you get older." Some more expert advice is likely in store for the Rangers in the near future. Calgary Flames winger Tom Kostopoulos and Florida Panthers center Shawn Matthias are expected to attend a practice next week. Other NHLers working out at BTNL include the New York Islanders' Brad Boyes, Colorado Avalanche's John Mitchell and Detroit Red Wings' Carlo Colaiacovo. The minor midget AAA Rangers also train out of BTNL. "The pros are well aware of how well these kids are playing," said BTNL owner Dan Ninkovich, "because I'm pumping it all the time." -- Jon Kuiperij can be followed on Twitter @Beaversports NO NHL... NO PROBLEM! OAKVILLE BLADES vs Toronto Lakeshore Patriots This Friday, October 26, 7:30 PM at Sixteen Mile Sports Complex Adults $5 - Seniors/Students $2 - Kids FREE Free Pumpkin Giveaway! Kids: wear your Halloween Costume for a chance to win a prize!