Ironman Mont Tremblant (IMMT) – Race Week Report (for Spectators)

Being part of an Ironman's Support Crew is both a rewarding and stressful experience. Whether you're a spouse, significant other, family member, or friend, this Race Week Report for Spectators will help shed some light on Ironman Mont Tremblant, so you don't have to worry so much.

 

If you read my husband's IMMT Race Report, you'll know that this was his second Ironman distance race. Being such, I should have been much more relaxed than I was in IM Cozumel, but truth be told, I don't think I'll ever be able to just sit back and relax on his race days.

 

After months of watching your Ironman train, the days leading up the the big event are fraught with nerves, and sometimes, short tempers. As I've learned over the years, the last thing your athlete can focus on right before the race are your biggest questions, "What will I do while you're gone?" and "Where is the best spot for me to see you?" This is where I come in.

 

This Race Week Report for Spectators is based upon my own experience at Ironman Mont Tremblant 2013, and will hopefully, answer all of your questions about where you should sit, stand, walk, eat, shop and more. But, I would be remiss if I didn't give a huge shout-out to my new friends (Dana, Jodi and Sherry) over at Tri Wives Club for their original post The Sport of Spectating – Ironman Mont Tremblant. Without their incredibly helpful post, I would have been a nagging, stressed-out, tri-wife – and would have been kicked off of my husband's Support Crew, so I highly encourage you to check them out!

THE BASICS: SLEEPING, EATING, PLAYING, SHOPPING, PACKING & MORE

 

Where To Stay

As long as you stay in one of the hotels in the Pedestrian Village in Mont Tremblant, you'll be happy. These hotels flank the "Finisher's Chute" and are just a stones throw away from the entire race course.

 

We stayed in a suite at Le Westin and I was very happy with the accommodations. Not only is Le Westinright in the Pedestrian Village, but the "Finisher's Chute" starts directly outside this hotel, so you can see your racers enter the Village and head on down the path towards becoming an Ironman.

 

In terms of decor, our rooms were beautiful. The suite was super spacious, with a deep tub (which came in handy when my husband couldn't fall alseep the night before the race!), and had a lovely balcony for us to watch the fireworks on each evening. It even had a gas fireplace, but since the race was in August, we didn't use it.

 

We opted for a suite because orginally we had planned on taking our kids and we wanted the flexibility of a having a kitchen. But, even without them in tow, the kitchen was a plus. My husband was able to store his extra protein shakes and energy drinks in the fridge and I was able to have fresh cream in my coffee each morning! Plus, there is a small grocery store in the village, called BoniChoix, and we were able to stock up on fresh food and store it in our fridge.  

Where To Eat

My husband covers this section pretty well in his IMMT Race Report, but as a mom, I thought I'd comment too…

 

If you are bringing your children with you, definetely go to Creperie Catherine. This family friendly restaurant serves an amazing variety of homemade crepes and truly has something for everyone. Even the pickiest of eaters will be able to eat here. There is usually a long wait, so plan ahead – you definetely don't want to wait until your children are tired, cranky and hungry before trying to land a seat here.

 

If you have a hankering for an ice cold beer, then make sure you pop into La Diable, the microbrewery in town, which had good pub food and even better beer. My husband got the a-ok from his trainer to have one, pre-race beer to calm his nerves, so while he milked his Bohemian Lager, I happily gulped down two, icey cold, Blizzard Wheat Ales. (Hey, being a member of the Support Crew is stressful and I didn't have any kids in tow! That, alone, was a reason to celebrate!)

Another good choice for families is la Pizzateria. With super friendly staff, this restaurant is very casual, has large tables for families, and has great pizza – even from Long Island, NY standards. Kids will appreciate the large, square pies and upbeat vibe of this place. Oddly enough, la Pizzateria is owned by the same people that own Spag & Co - and we had the exact opposite experience there with inattentive staff and just so-so meals. However, Spag & Co has the better location – it's right in the middle of the Pedestrian Village by the big band stand, so if you're just looking to sit in the sun, people watch, and grab a beer, this is your better bet.

 

Last but not least, if you get the chance to splurge on something fancy-schmancy (and don't have your children with you), book a helicopter tour with Héli Tremblant and they will drop you off at Trattoria de Lago. Located on nearby Lac Maskinongé, Trattoria de Lago is just 15 minutes away from Mont Tremblant Resort. We had a lovely dinner there and got to spend some much-needed quality time together before the race.

What To Do (In the little downtime you might have)

If you're traveling with your children, never fear: Mont Tremblant has lots to offer. If you're traveling with little ones, the Pedestrian Village is nice, safe and clean. The top of the Pedestrian Village is where all of the kids activities are including a Luge, mini-golf and so much more. (There's even a movie theatre in the Pedestrian Village if it rains!)

 

If you have teens, this is the race to take them to. Again, the Pedestrian Village is super safe – and contained – so you can let them have some freedom while you stand among the crowds waiting to see your loved one pass through. If you've ever been to Lake George, NY or Saratoga, NY - Mont Tremblant reminds me of a much more updated, contained version of these two tourist towns. Your teens will have lots of fun bike riding, kayacking, swimming, hanging out among the shops and more.

 

A great site to check out is the Visitors Guide for Mont Tremblant.

Shopping

As far as shopping goes, there are tons of cute little shops in the Pedestrian Village. My favorite was a store called Roots, where I picked up some new sunglasses on the cheap.

 

I was also pleased to find the Plush Factory in the Upper Pedestrian Village. It's similar to Build-A-Bear in the US and we were able to pick up some bear clothes for our kids. (FYI – they also stuff bears on site if you want to treat your little ones to a special activity that's just for them! Sometimes race day is overwhelming and they feel left out, or totally stressed, so this is a special way to let them know that Mom or Dad couldn't do the race without them!)

 

Don't forget to check out the Expo too, especially if you forgot something. My husband needed an extra pair of compression socks and had to pick up CO2 cartridges while we were there. The official Ironman tent had loads of cool merchandise for sale, including really cool tee shirts that had every registered racer's name. Needless to say, we grabbed four of those for our family and a super comfy hooded sweatshirt for my husband. Expensive, yes. But worth it? Yes. 🙂

What To Pack

Aside from common sense items, Mont Tremblant is a true outdoor enthusiast's paradise. From hiking to biking to swimming to playing, there is something to do every single day. So it goes without saying that sneakers and swimsuits are a must!

 

The day before the race, I walked around the Pedestrian Village, which is loaded with hills, in my adorable Nine West kitten-heeled "fancy" flip flops. What a silly, stupid mistake! Needless to say, I suffered from shin splints the next day, which made chasing my husband around the race course much more painful than it needed to be. My Nike sneakers, although bright blue and not meant to be worn with a maxi-dress, proved to be much more suitable for race day!

 

Also, you should definitely bring an easy-to-wear backpack and some ice packs. If you have kids, make sure that it is large enough to carry lots of drinks, snacks and diapers. Depending upon where you are on the course, food and restrooms are hard to come by unless you go back into the Pedestrian Village. My backpack was fully loaded, but I forgot ice packs – and drinking warm water in the blazing hot sun was not refreshing.

French Words To Know

In our home, we have a rule: Always be polite. So when we travel, our children are expected to know how to say the basics in the primary language of the country we are traveling in. Even if our pronunciation is atrocious, it's the thought that counts.

 

Here are a few words that you should know before heading off to Mont Tremblant because you'll need to use them all weekend long:

Bonjour = Hello

Au revoir = Goodbye

Merci = Thank You

Aller à, Aller à, Aller à, = Go, Go, Go!

Bravo! = Bravo!

Mon Gars! = Attaboy!

à gauche = to the left

à right = to the right

 

Looking for more information?

* Tremblant: Take me to the top - This site is full of good information about Mont Tremblant – the shops, lodgings, activities and more.

* If there are any gaps to be filled, by all means, please check out Tri Wives Club. I traveled solo for this race, so my family perspective is limited, but they have some good tips for families.

 

In two weeks, I'll post my Best Places To Spectate Report. Stay tuned…

 

Thanks for reading,

Denine

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