CFB PETAWAWA – Forming up at the start line at 4 a.m. yesterday morning, over 200 military personnel embarked on the non-competitive ‘ironman.’

Marking its 29th year the 2 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group (2 CMBG) Ironman competition held at CFB Petawawa had a record number of participants. With almost 600 people wanting to compete in the event, the brigade expanded it to two days. Sept. 6 was designated the non-competitive race and today the competitive one.

For both races, participants are required to carry a 40 pound rucksack,while marching 32 kilometres, carry a canoe four kilometres, paddle the canoe eight kilometres and complete the race with a six kilometre rucksack run to the finish line.

2 CMBG Brigade Commander Colonel Simon Hetherington described the Sept. 6 participants as “people who have set a personal challenge for themselves.”

He explained weather conditions can have a dramatic affect on how long it takes a person to complete the race, which was a factor for Master Cpl. Cory Vale, who competed in his seventh competition securing the top spot with a time of 6:32:55.

The 4 Air Defence Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery member was 20 minutes slower than last year.

“It was hot. It slowed me down,” explained the soldier based out of Gagetown. Early on in the race, rain fell, which Master Cpl. Vale said was “good.”

He added, “then it got hot and I slowed down.”

For Officer Cadet Andrew Jarvis, who followed closely behind Master Cpl. Vale, the heat wasn’t a big factor. Coming in second with a time of 6:37:59 the Officer Cadet completed the race 26 minutes faster and moved up 12 spots from last year.

“The rain was a lifesaver,” said the Royal Military College team captain.

Rounding out the top three was CFS Letrim Ottawa member Pte. Marc-Andre Gosselin completing the race in 6:39:01. The private found out two weeks ago he was able to participate in the race. However, he has been training since 2010 when he had to drop out of the race due to an injury.

When it came to the women, Officer Cadet Yana Volodarets placed first with a time of 7:56:08, 1 Royal Canadian Regiment Captain Jessica Ross arrived at the finish line with a time of 8:01:46 and Major Katherine Haire of 2 Royal Canadian Horse Artillery rounded up the top three with a time of 8:38:38.

In an effort to give back to Canadians for all their support while Canadian troops were deployed in a combat role in Afghanistan, the brigade decided to raise money for the Tim Hortons Children’s Foundation.

As of yesterday afternoon, Ironman participants had raise just over $22,000 for the foundation.

Col. Hetherington noted, “we have far exceeded anything we had expected.”

The Brigade had aimed to raise $5,000.

Cyndi Mills is a Daily Observer multimedia journalist

cyndi.mills@sunmedia.ca