CBS man shows his iron spirit in Ottawa
Ryan Antle of Conception Bay South can number himself among the estimated 0.1 percent of the world’s population that have completed an Ironman triathlon after completing the IRONMAN Canada 2026 this August with a time of 14:22:14.
“I knew people that had done it before, and being such a massive goal, it felt like something that was impossible,” said Antle. “But it was always in the back of my mind. And to complete something like that, to me that would be the pinnacle of athletic ability.”
Participants swam a 3.8-kilometre loop in the Ottawa River starting from Britannia Beach, biked a 180-kilometre route through the streets of Ottawa, and then ran 42.4 kilometres to the finish line at Major’s Hill Park next to the Fairmont Château Laurier near Parliament Hill.
“People often say that completing an Ironman is about discipline and consistency, it’s about showing up for yourself when it’s just you and the easy button to quit is always there,” said Antle. “They are right. I thought I was already a disciplined person before. But let me tell you, that definition of ‘discipline’ has been completely redefined. Early mornings. Late nights. Saying no to friends. Thousands of kilometres. Watching what you eat. Each workout was like putting a jellybean into a big jar, and by race day the jar needed to be full.”
Of the three disciplines, Antle said the 42.2-kilometre run was the most challenging.
“I’m a naturally larger person, and running for me has always been a bit of a struggle,” said Antle. “Compared with some of my peers who run a lot, I’m nowhere near the speed that they’re at.”
Antle said he’s always kept in shape but has never considered himself an endurance sports kind of guy.
“About a year and a half before the race, I hadn’t run further than the Tely 10, I didn’t have a proper bike, and although I was a strong swimmer, I wasn’t an active swimmer,” he said. “So, completing an Ironman, especially Ottawa, was far from easy for me… You never know how hard you can push yourself until you push yourself like that.”
Antle began training for the competition over a year ahead of time, and began an official training routine six months ahead of the competition. Leading up to the event, he was either running, biking, swimming, or weightlifting every day of the week. He even downloaded an app that allowed him to bike the route virtually. In the lead up to the Ironman, he competed in the St. John’s Triathlon, Cape to Cabot, and the Uniformed Services Run. While on vacation in Las Vegas he ran a half-marathon distance just to practise running in heat.
Antle said completing the Ironman was supposed to be just another item on a bucket list. Instead, the successful finish became a pivotal moment.
“The person who registered for this race is not the same person who crossed the finish line on August 2,” said Antle. “I’m still trying to find out exactly what I’m capable of. That’s probably the most exciting part. This isn’t the end. It’s the beginning of something else.”
The competition, and the hours of training leading up to it, have been life changing.
“Hundreds of hours alone swimming, riding and running gave me the space to really think, forgive, and make peace with myself. I’ve always been someone who’s wanted to push myself harder and further, but this experience humbled me in ways that are hard to put into words,” said Antle. “This transformation followed me home and into work. I became a better father, a better husband, a better person. I’m working to become more patient and learning how to be more present. The thing I’m most proud of in this journey is what it’s given my kids, Emsley who’s almost eight, and Tatum who’s almost three. They saw me coming back from those long training sessions, a lot of them in the freezing cold while they’re waking up, and they believe that taking care of yourself, working hard, setting hard goals and seeing them through is normal.”
Antle said completing the Ironman has quenched his competitive spirit – for now – and he has no plans for any major athletic competitions in the near future.
“I’m so content right now,” said Antle. “There’s not much more that I want to push for. Obviously, I want to maintain myself, and maybe one of these days compete again, but for now, I don’t have that same urgency and stress that I don’t even know that I had.”
Watching from the sidelines were Antle’s family.
“It was cool watching him run. It was a very big race to run,” said Emsley.
“I’m surprised he did it,” admitted the seven-going-on-eight-year-old.
Emsley said she wants her dad to run another Ironman race. Dad said he’ll run with her if she decides to compete one day.
Antle is also grateful for the support of his wife Whitney Chesney.
“None of this would have been possible without her,” said Antle. “She made room for this dream in our already really busy life, supported early mornings, every long Saturday and every part of this journey.”
Antle said anyone considering competing in an Ironman should make sure they understand what they are getting themselves into and the level of commitment involved.
“But, if it’s something you really want to do, stick with it,” said Antle. “It’s something that, for the rest of your life, you’ll be able to say that you did.”
To mark his victory, Antle got the Ironman symbol tattooed on the back of his right leg upon his return home.
A few weeks after completing the Ironman, for his 39th birthday on August 22, Antle participated in the 14th annual Tickle Swim and swam five kms to Bell Island from Portugal Cove with the goal of raising $5,000 for Canadian Mental Health Association Newfoundland and Labrador Division. Thirteen people braved the waters this year.
As of deadline, he had raised $2,840, with donations still coming in.