Joanna Brown

Caution: Fragile

2011-09-22T22:49:00.001-04:00

Well hi!
This is LONG overdue...I think I am in need of a recap of every race that I have done this season. AND since that is not going to happen, I will just have to settle for a quick review of the entire season.
My year started out rough. I was not enjoying the cold winter and missing the sun. I wanted to be out of school and training, but once I was out of school everyone was still busy so there were not many people to train with. In February I went down to Austin for a couple weeks to train before heading off to a training camp with the RTC Guelph, NTC boys, and the Storm crew in Clermont, FL. I was feeling energized and revived after the camp and ready to go again and looking forward to my first Olympic distance race in Monterrey, Mexico. Around this time I also made the very difficult decision to go to university in Guelph instead of staying in Ottawa. I would miss my family, my training partners at ROCS and in the Storm, and all of my support with physiotherapy, and of course my coach of 5 years. I felt that I just needed the change and was looking forward to a new environment.
I got injured before Monterrey - I stepped on a rock while running - and didn't start running until 2 weeks before the race. I loved the Olympic distance and getting to hang out with the Canadian team. My race wasn't amazing and I crashed the day before the race, but it was a stepping stone for all of my races next year and into the future of my career.
When I got back from Mexico I made one small but very important mistake that definitely had huge implications for my entire season; when putting my bike back together, I put my stem a couple spacers too low. This would later contribute to a back / nerve injury three weeks later that would put me out of running for almost two months.
Being injured is hard. As an athlete it is something that you have to learn to deal with, and a lot of times that learning comes with "doing" and being injured and learning how to cope with it. I have learnt a lot this year from my four different injuries. You start to define yourself by your injury and your limitations. In my head, I was the girl who couldn't run. I didn't feel strong or confident. I cried when I tried to push and it still hurt. I did my very best to just stay positive and keep training the bike and the swim. When I broke down, my coach and my family and my friends were there for me.
When my back injury was still very current, I raced the Pan American Championships in Edmonton. Flying out to Edmonton to swim-bike was not exactly how I envisioned my season, but I had to play the cards I was dealt. I had what I think was a break through swim, coming out only 20 seconds back from the leaders, and then breaking away on my own on the bike. Stopping after the bike when I was in the lead pack was one of the hardest things I have ever done. I got about 500m down the run course when my coach pulled me off. I reluctantly turned in my chip to an official and that was my race in Edmonton. I got to watch Ashleigh Gentle run away with her first World Cup win and fantasize about next year while getting eaten alive by mosquitoes and freezing in my capris. Later, I walked around the West Edmonton mall with two great Andrews and heard some awesome stories of life at Mac.
After returning home from Edmonton (this time putting my bike together correctly) I slowly started running again and was able to run for 20 minutes three days before the provincial race in Ottawa. Ottawa was the first sprint triathlon that I completed all year and it seemed that things were finally looking up.
Continuing with my streak of bad luck, about a week after the Ottawa race I was running through the parking lot in Mooney's bay to change into my bathing suit when I took a striding lunge to avoid stepping on a crab apple. Lo and behold, I stepped on a different crab apple and rolled my ankle. I think they call them crab apples because they can actually shift sideways at their own pleasure. I completed the workout that day, but later in the week my foot was very sore and by day 5 I couldn't run. I learnt that I had managed to pop out a bone again and I was more than frustrated. More tears.

I didn't run at all leading up to Nationals, just the week after Ottawa. I was happy to be back in Kelowna, and as many people have expressed it feels like "coming home". You get to see all the triathletes in Canada that you know and may have raced before. The trip was also hilighted by getting to hang out with some of my friends from Ottawa and seeing the juniors from the club compete at their first National Championships. I raced, I was unsatisfied, and I flew home.
After Nationals my prep for Worlds began. I only had a few weeks, and I ran through pain because I knew I needed to run and this was my last triathlon of the year.
Flying to Beijing was interested...the flight included holding a baby for a chinese man numerous times, a nap that was way too short, and many movies that I had already seen (luckily they switched to new films them on the way back!!) 13 hours later I was in Beijing and missing the sun through the smog. In Beijing, I was with the most amazing group of Canadian athletes and support staff. I think that this crew would compare to many around the world. It was so easy to prep for the race and focus on the task and race day came as quickly as ever.
I think my biggest mistake was switching my wheels to a carbon wheel with a deeper dish. I thought that it would suit me better in the rain, and since it was pouring rain and cold outside I was looking for advantages. As soon as I exited the water and chased the lead group that was just ahead of me, I knew that these wheels were different. I slid out on my first corner, my cheek coming in contact with the cool pavement and my wrist jamming into the ground.
I had two choices at this point. Get up. Lie back down. I didn't even think for one second of stopping and I was back on my bike faster than I thought I could move. By the top of the hill, I was in the lead pack and soon discovered that my left wrist wasn't working as it should. I couldn't brake or switch gears on the left side and had to reach over with my other hand when we went to climb the hill.
I was pretty useless in the pack - just staying at the back and braking hard before corners and then catching back up. I just wanted to stay on my bike. On lap two on the same corner I was cut off by a girl in front of me and with my limited braking ability I slid out again. This time I felt my hip and knee drive into the ground and my wrist was pounding. Up up again and by the middle of the hill I was back in the lead pack.
By the third lap I got it right ( or more like slowed down to a crawl to get around the corner) and then we were off on the run.
My legs felt like jello. Okay, so they usually do off the bike, but this was some super gooey jello that doesn't get left in the fridge long enough and you need to eat with a spoon. None of my movements felt right and my legs felt like they were just flailing underneath me. I ran hard and pushed until the finish line.
After the men's race I shook Alistar Brownlee's hand while he drank a bottle of champagne and teased me about the large scrape on my face. Soon, Mr. Brownlee, there will be another Brown in town.

After the race I climbed 1300 stairs with a red headed superstar, a hungarian bike mechanic, and a wizard of a doctor. The stairs were hard to get to and just reaching the bottom felt like a feat on its own. Once there, we saw that the stairs were nicely cut into the mountain. The first hundred stairs were fast, but soon we were breathing hard and had to settle instead for a steady rhythm. The stairs we long and shorter at times, and abrupt and steep at others, but we adapted to the terrain and kept plugging away. They winded up and we passed by lookouts and rest points, but we kept pushing on until the top. We contemplated briefly stopping at the halfway point, but we both knew that stopping was never really an option. The summit came just in time, and once we got there the view was blocked by the smog and fog. We were both a bit disheartened, but we made it. It may not have been what we ventured upwards for, but we still made the trek not knowing what would happen once we reached our destination. We climbed back down, satisfied with our effort and knowing that, had it been a perfectly sunny day, the conditions just right and the clouds chased away, the view would have been crystal clear and the lush green landscape would have unfolded underneath us with blazing finesse.

While debriefing quickly in Guelph, I was told that this is probably the year that I will look back on in my triathlon career and see as the year of improvement. I can swim with more confidence now. I can bike in a lead pack and catch up and persevere through pain. I don't get as cold as I used to all the time. I know just how important it is to have an amazing team behind you and people to lean on when you are hurt and broken. Canada is so clean.
So, I have to thank the amazing support staff in Beijing, my family that is always there for me, wherever in the world I am, my massage therapist Sharon Hopper, and my physiotherapists Francine, Jordy, and Jaime. I slept better and was always comforted thanks to my sport med doc, Renata Frankovich, and was welcomed openly by all the staff at PSI Physiotherapy. I want to thank Kunstadts and Asics for their help with getting me through training and all of my training partners in Ottawa, especially Matt Vierula, Jamie Stephenson, the pentathletes, my sushi gang, and David "sunshine" Markin. And to the people who get me fast; thank you John Hawes for all of your infinite wisdom and ridiculous good looks that keep everyone coming to the pool at 6 in the morning. Finally, thank you Greg Kealey for putting up with me for five years and teaching me to love the sport. I couldn't have done it without you.
And the pilot who flew me home without crashing.

Now, its time to run.
If you are nervous just shake your body.

"For energy conservation, there is body sensitive lamp installed in the bathroom. The lamp will be turned off automatically after lighting for 3 minutes. At this time, please don't be nervous. The lamp will be turned on automatically so long as you shake your body. "

Back on the map

2011-05-26T09:47:00.000-04:00

Well, the season has started again and I am excited to start racing and putting my training together to see the results. I have been keeping busy in the last couple months with camps, travel, and everyday training. In march I went down to Clermont Florida for a training camp with a couple members of storm triathlon and the gang from the RTC. I really enjoyed the warmer weather and the environment at the camp and almost can't wait for winter to come again so that I can go away to someplace warm.
April was more training and lots of rain...I was very fortunate to get a brand new Scott Addict bike from Kunstadts here in Ottawa and I have to say that it is by far the nicest machine I have ever ridden. I am spoiled with great components and a featherweight frame. I have only put it to use once in my first world cup in Monterrey, Mexico, but it will get tons of use this year and take me very far.
In May I headed down to Mexico to race my first ever Olympic distance triathlon, first world cup, and first race of the year! I also managed to have my first crash of the year the day before the race...making me a bit of a chicken for the first few of the eight laps of the actual race but I got into a rhythm and was able to go through the corners a lot more aggressively instead of just slowing and sprinting to stay in the pack! I got to meet la belle femme Kathy Tremblay as well as Brent McMahon and Andrew Russel. Kyle Jones was there too but he was totally old news since I met him in Budapest last year. ;) I believe I also had the best room mate that I could have asked for and got to stay with miss Kyla Coates at our wonderful hotel that had a full kitchen. (aka a microwave and a coffee maker) It was a warmer day for the race...I could have enjoyed an even hotter one...and it was sunny which was a big change from the rain and cold back home. the women raced first thing in the morning so it was a perfect temperature for us, but by the time the men were on the run things were starting to heat up!
My shoulder was a bit stiff for the swim, but I did what I could and it is obvious that it is still a huge area that I need to work on. I had a pack of decent riders for the bike and ended up pulling the majority of the last five laps. I was excited to get onto the run course and see where my running was at...Greg and I had only been running for a couple weeks prior to the race with not much speed work. I felt very comfortable throughout and finished feeling like I definitely could have done more in the first couple laps of the run. I am very excited to actually race an Olympic distance instead of just feeling it out and making sure that I would make it to the finish line. I much prefer the longer distance....which is a good thing since it is all that I will be racing next year! All of the Canadian athletes raced well and demonstrated that ability to persevere even in situations that are not ideal or preferable. I have to thank Craig Taylor and Greg Kealey for the amazing coaching support as well. As Dr. Vanessa Young for patching up all of my cuts and scrapes.
I am just on my way home from Guelph where I was visiting the RTC crew and the university. I stayed in Craig's brand new home with his super cool wife and his daughter Kate. The guys and gals here had some awesome runs on the track on Tuesday and it is obvious that they are getting the work done. Time for me to get home where I am racing the Ottawa 10km and then getting back to training.
I will check in again soon.

Stay Strong

2011-03-22T11:27:00.002-04:00

Top U.S. Junior Triathlete Diagnosed with Cancer

Kevin McDowell-
“Earlier this month, I was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. On Monday, I will begin a treatment plan that includes six months of chemotherapy. This will certainly impact me in the short term, but I am very encouraged by my prognosis for a long-term cure, versus just remission. I am extremely grateful for the overwhelming support offered by friends, fellow triathletes, doctors, nurses and church friends and I look forward to getting back to racing next season.”

An amazing athlete, can't wait until he is back racing the best. Stay strong, Kevin!
Full article - http://triathlon.competitor.com/2011/03/news/top-u-s-junior-triathlete-diagnosed-with-cancer_24363

Kind of a Big Deal

2010-09-17T19:42:00.003-04:00

Well hey!
So there have been some pretty important events happening in my life lately...I recently returned home from the Triathlon World Championships in Budapest, Hungary. I got to meet some amazing people and see the triathletes that I have admired for so long from a distance up close. The race itself was very well organized, and I owe so much to the team that was sent with us to make our experience the most enjoyable possible. So before I begin, I want to thank a couple of amazing individuals that I got to meet and know better. First off, thanks to Kurt I, Patrick K, Carolyn M for helping me get prepared for the event, and offering their wisdom and advice whenever it was needed. Without Pierre P and Kim W I would have been starved and sore. Rob and Dr. Kealer kept everyone in one piece, and Gabor welcomed us to his home city with warmth and humor, and made sure our bikes weren't going to fall apart! Simon W, Kyle J, Paula F, and Kirsten S taught everyone of true class and dedication. And of course to my fellow juniors, Matt S, Cole S, Alexander H, Allison H, and Christine R, I hope to see you at many more events and I really appreciated the time that I had to get to know you better.

When I first arrived in Budapest, I didn't know what to expect as it was my first time crossing over to Europe. The grocery stores were limited, but we definitely made due. I had a brief episode of banana withdrawal, but once the store received its weekly (monthly?) shipment of yellow gold I was cured. Throughout the week, we started our mornings with swims at a local pool / bath (smelt of eggs). I opted to bike on the trainer most of the time, since the drivers were a tad...aggressive. The week leading up to the race was rainy and cold, which left me slightly depressed, but a race is a race. The inlet that we were swimming in was also slightly chilly...wetsuit to the rescue (or so I thought).

I got to go for a couple of runs on Margaret island (the guys christened it TRI-land), which had a long single rubber track all around it, about 5.3km as well as three pools and a petting zoo. I would say one of the coolest experiences was going for a run with Kirsten S and Paula F. These were two girls that I had looked up to and strived to embody since I started in triathlon, and here I was running with them!!

Race day was quite weird...I have never raced at 4pm before and so it felt like I had so much time...but it definitely went by quickly.

Here is a quick point form race report...
- positioned in 45th spot, which was slightly to the left side of the first buoy, 300m away
- wetsuit swim with 16C water temperature
- water was so dirty that you couldn't see your own hand infront of your face...and I didn't know where the bottom was!!

- lined up for the start, still waiting to for any news of the elite woman's race, called down to pontoon...hands were quivering a bit at this point

- take your mark.

- go.

- dove in, clean start, took about two strokes then felt an awfully weird sensation on my back

- wetsuit zipper had come completely undone; cold water started to pour in around my legs, stomach, arms, and neck

- panicked a bit

- briefly contemplated the consequences of taking off my wetsuit completely. Not really an option.

- reached the first buoy, was dunked completely underwater, kicked, pushed, and scratched right down the back

- girls kept pulling on the flaps of my wetsuit, and so the flap on the left side got pulled down to my left elbow

- proceeded to swim / thrash about with one arm (some side stroke was involved in an attempt to get my wetsuit back up on my shoulder)

- thank you thank you thank you the ramp finally came and it was time to GET OUT

- short steep ramp to transition, flew through that due to lack of struggling with wetsuit zipper

- got to bike. Wetsuit, caps, goggles, all IN box

- got my butt on the bike, was about 50s back from leaders in the third chase pack

- hammered and tried to get a group together on the 5km straight stretch into downtown where we would complete the rest of our laps and transition to the run

- took the corners aggressively, at one point two girls ran into each other right infront of me and went down...lost the pack for a little bit

- smaller group worked well on technical course; lead group was now a pack of about 40

- maintained time to front pack, made up some time in the last lap

- got into T2 about 20-30s back from the leaders

- shoes on feet

- exited transition in 46-48 position (I have heard many different counts, all in this range)

- ran

- passed a lot of people

- came to the realisation that I was getting closer to the front and that a podium spot was within reach

- kept running

- saw second place about 10s infront of me, willed my legs to push harder and faster, but there was not enough ground left

- stepped onto the blue carpet and the final stretch, paused to take the Canadian flag, and crossed the finish line of the biggest race I have ever done in my life

- saw the people that had guided and helped me throughout the week, and wasn't able to thank them enough

- shipped off to anti doping!

Okay, well I think that is enough writing for now. I will post some pictures soon. Glad to be home. :)

Dunrobin KOS

2010-08-31T14:17:00.003-04:00

This past weekend, I volunteered as a bike marshall at the Dunrobin Kiddos of Steel Triathlon. The race was organised by my local club, Bytown Triathlon. The event went very well, and it was a beautiful day for racing. Unfortunately, Michelle Charrier captured a picture of me getting my butt kicked by a six year old. Oh well, there is always next year...

Ketchup

2010-08-28T09:53:00.010-04:00

Well, I have had a couple of awesome weekends of racing, and a couple of weeks of not updating the blog. I will try to recap as best I can!

Starting with the Ontario Provincial Triathlon Championships, held here in Ottawa. It was the first ever draft-legal provincial championships to be held in Ottawa, and we owe many thanks to Terry McKinty and Somersault promotions. It was a great race with some of the best weather we have had to date, and it was fun to see everyone from Ontario getting together.

I had a solid swim, sticking in behind Domi Jay and Dorelle Hinton the entire time. We came out on the bike together and eventually caught Angela Quick, making a pack of four. The transitions were clean, and I came out on top after the run, placing first overall and first junior with team mate Domi right behind!

Next up was a tune-up race in the town of Brockville, about 1.5hrs from Ottawa. With the National Championships coming up, it was a race for practicing transitions and getting a feel for putting all three events together. The race went very well and I settled into a comfortable pace, again a well organized race by Somersault. I enjoyed a nice day in the town with my parents, going to lunch and visiting the mansion of George Taylor Fulford, the owner of the company who earned the rights to the "Little Pink Pill for Pale People". It was a sensation in the early 1900's and it is obvious by the size and ravishing decor of the "house" that the family was very successful...

Finally, my most recent race was in Kelowna BC. I travelled to the amazing city on the 18th of August to race that Saturday in the National Triathlon Championships. I have never been to such a breathtaking venue, and the scenery was absolutely amazing! The water in lake Okanagan was...refreshing, but the mountains in the back drop were gorgeous! I stayed alone in a room at the Kelowna Inn; luckily the race site was close and Matt Vierula and his parents arrived soon after me!

I enjoyed some delicious dinners and gelato while I was there...but it wasn't ALL about the food and the scenery!

On race morning I woke up to sunny skies, but slightly chilly temperatures. I arrived at the race site and proceeded to warmup after checking in. Everything went smoothly and I was knew I was ready for a defining race.

I was ranked first and got first choice of positions on the start line. I made the mistake of looking at the very first buoy to determine my spot. The first buoy was just a sighting buoy, and so you did not have to swim around it. This realization came to me as I watched the other girls line up to the right of me, where they would be in clear water and I would have to fight for a spot!

Despite my poor decision, I had a decent swim and came out close enough to the front that I was able to work with a couple other girls on the bike and merge two small packs together. The course was very technical with four laps, and so Hilary Willie, a super strong swimmer who is a monster on the bike, was able to stay ahead of us for the entire ride.

I got out of T2 in about fourth position, and I worked hard for the first two laps of the run to put in a lead. I savoured the last two laps, and crossed the finish line as the new National Champion! When I crossed the line, there was no banner for me...I guess I was just too fast! ;) The race organisers had me run through a SECOND time, this time with a banner and after everyone had finished...I still haven't found any pictures of run through #2, but I will keep you posted!

I got to relax for the rest of the day, and pack up all my stuff, as I was leaving on Sunday for home. Unfortunately I didn't get to take in all of the Elite racing action, but I did get to see the majority of the woman's race. I wish I could have stayed longer in Kelowna to celebrate with all of the other triathletes, but it was time to head home to recover for a couple days and get in some final prep before my departure for Worlds in Budapest.

And that is where I am now! Just a week left at home before my departure. I have been resting and going over some final technical preparations. I can't wait to compete in what I am sure will be an amazing experience and my final triathlon of the season!!

2010-07-27T15:01:00.002-04:00

[source]

Thanks to Memphry

2010-07-27T14:29:00.003-04:00

This Sunday was our Eastern Canadian Championships in Magog, Quebec. I was lucky to stay in a nice condo on the water...I tried on many occasions to spot the lake's infamous monster, Memphry, but I am sad to report that there were no sightings to document. Apparently Memphry has been spotted over 225 times in the last 200 years. I guess he / she (?) got scared away by all the crazy people flailing in the water.

Anyways, the race went really well. I was out of the swim where I needed to be and made up time in transition to be with the lead pack on the bike. I was feeling quite weak after my sickness, and I didn't quite have the legs on the hilly course. I stuck in and played it safe, taking some pulls and watching for any breaks. I had a great T2 and was off running, so happy to be where I wanted to. Unfortunately I went the wrong way on the run, but I was fortunate to realise my mistake and turn around in the right direction. I had to sprint back up to first, and I was so relieved to have the speed and energy left to do so!

The town was so beautiful and I enjoyed staying there. I hope that I can go back soon...there are so many paths and restaurants to explore. I won't bore you with the story of my two hour adventure in the grocery store...some people love shopping for clothes...I love shopping for food!! They had the most amazing grocery store; oh how I wish we had Metros like that in Ottawa. Or maybe not. I wouldn't get much done because I would be grocery shoppin all the time.

There was a lot of racing this weekend and so I have many congratulations to give out.
1) Domi Jamnicky showed her fitness at the Junior race, coming in third. She has put so much work in and truly deserves this result. I am so fortunate to be able to train and race with her!
2) Sam Klus placed first in the U15 Elite category with some fast racing. Elise Charrier and Alex Maxwell represented Bytown well with some great results.
3) The veteran, Matt Vierula competed in the Elite Olympic race in Magog, placing fourth and getting a chance to TT the whole bike! I don't know how I would ever have done those hills on aero bars...
4) Ryan Cain, newly engaged to a gorgeous blonde lady, stole third position in the Long course race...apparently he was too cool for the medal ceremony and insisted that they mail his cash to him...but he did have the fastest bike after all. I am excited to help him work on his speed in the water. Then he can bring home the BIG bucks, and share some with me. :)
5) Leslie Sanderson and Dave Markin raced IronMan Lake Placid this weekend with some solid results. I am lucky to swim with them on a regular basis and their level of commitment is inspirational. Can't wait to hear about how the race went!
6) Garrett De Jong blazed through the Long course race in Muskoka. He tackled the hills and the challenging terrain to finish strongly....just slightly behind some of North America's better know Pro Athletes.
7) Paula Findlay. Need I say more? Zooooooooommmmmmmmmmmm.

Next up is Ontario Provincials here in Ottawa; the first ever draft legal race to be held here! It will be an exciting race, and we have to thank Terry McKinty for letting us use his course!

No Fun

2010-07-19T11:17:00.004-04:00

It could have been the ducks in Pike Lake.
Or the residence at University of Saskatchewan.
Or the red-eye flight home from Saskatoon.
It could have been in the warm water at Mooney's Bay.
Or something that I ate.
We may never know. But it sucks.

On Wednesday night I woke up many times to burps and cramping. I was feeling pretty sick, but nothing seemed to come of it. Thursday morning, tired and still nauseous, I dragged my butt out of bed and off to the pool. You could say that I threw up just as I was walking from my car to the pool. I will tell you that I felt 100 times better afterwards. But the good feeling didn't last a very long time...

Once I got home I had no appetite and the burping was back. Pair that with gastrointestinal problems and you have a winning combination. So here I am, five days later, still sick. Feeling quite tired and weak.

I have done my best to stick with the BRATTY diet - bananas, rice, applesauce, tea, toast, and yogurt. No food is really appealing, but the bland stuff I can usually keep down.

So that has been my week. Hope that I make it to Magog...and that everyone else is doing okay!!

Hot hot heat

2010-07-07T13:56:00.002-04:00

I love the heat.
I love the sun.
I love blue skies.
When it is cold, I think of my love for summer.
I wish for warm.

This week I got it. Since Saturday Ottawa has seen highs of 35C. That gives us a overall high of about 43C with the humidity. It has been a little difficult to get in the usual training as the heat can be so draining.

Mother Nature, sometimes you are a little too generous with the sun. But I am not complaining. I will take this over -20C and snow ANYDAY.

Next up, Saskatoon!

UFC at Coteau-du-Lac and Canada Day

2010-07-04T13:40:00.006-04:00

Trying to smile after drinking 2 Litres of water for CCES...

I am in serious need of a nap!

So this is much overdue, but I raced at Coteau-du-Lac in Quebec last Saturday. It was a national Junior series race as well as a Continental Cup race, and the set up and accommodations were excellent. I really noticed a difference between the transition zone set up from this year and last year, and it was a lot smoother and thought out.

I arrived the day before and looked over the course before heading over to the pre-race meeting a couple of kilometres away. In the meeting we learnt of a new rule now being enforced in all TriCan and WC races. For the first time ever, we were going to be using a penalty box for any infractions over the course of the race. The penalty box was to be placed on the run course, and the athlete may decide on when to serve their penalty (first or second lap). For those who are curious, a fifteen second penalty is given if an athlete false starts, drops any equipment on the way to transition, touches their bike before fastening their helmet, mounts before the mount line, dismounts after the dismount line, unbuckles their helmet before racking their bike, and fails to put their helmet in the equipment box (we didn't have equipment boxes for this race).

Anyways, I headed back to the hotel for dinner with the team and Andrew McCartney. Then settled in for the night. The race wasn't until the afternoon the nest day, and I enjoyed the chance to sleep in (which means 7am) and relax before the race.

We arrived on the race site with pouring rain and cooler temperatures, and soon learnt that the race was not wetsuit legal. I warmed up and did the normal preparations. Unfortunately, our swim warmup was a little short, but I got in a couple starts and was ready to go.

I got a decent spot on the pontoon, but I wasn't prepared for the blast of the start horn and the thoughts in my head revolved around, "boy, I bet that water feels chilly without my nice warm wetsuit". I didn't have a great start, and I found myself being pushed back as the pack closed in. This is when I received a swift kick to the face. A girl's heel connected right with my right eye, and of course my goggles. I couldn't really see out of that eye and my vision went blurry and white. Sighting was slightly difficult, as was the run up the stairs to transition. I now have a pretty sweet looking black eye...I will get some pictures up when I can!!

Out of the water, I was farther back then I wanted but I knew I had to minimize any damage on the bike. After two laps of working with Domi Jamnicky and Mag Rochette, I was slowly starting to see out of my right eye. It became obvious that there were some effective team tactics going on, and with this being an important qualifying race for Worlds in September, it wasn't hard to understand why a strong team would take this approach.

Once I got off of the bike I did what I could on the run, but I had lost too much time to run to the spot I wanted. Overall, I learnt where I can make some corrections and prepare for the next race!

In other news - Happy Belated Canada Day! I trained a bit in the morning and then went up to a friend's beautiful cottage to relax and celebrate.

Canada Day Road Race

Ottawa Race Weekend

2010-05-30T09:37:00.011-04:00

BBQ Set up

Yesterday I woke up to grey skies, but by early afternoon the sun had come out and it was starting to warm up. It was a perfect day for the Great Glebe Garage Sale and the first couple races of the Ottawa Race Weekend.

Matt used his charm to attract the woman customers...

Corey worked out for endless hours in the gym just for this occasion.

Matty P manning the barbecue

Every May, a local community here in Ottawa called "the Glebe" organizes a huge garage sale. And I mean huge. The streets are swamped with people and pretty much everyone in the area is trying to sell or give away their stuff. It is a fun occasion if you are wanting to hunt around for items, but if you are trying to get anywhere downtown you can expect a very long wait. People cross the street left and right and against the lights and at random times. I had to put all of my driving skills to work as I...

1) attempted to drive to Landsdowne park, (fail: they charged for parking and all I wanted to do was pick up my race kit!)

2) find some parking close to the pavilion where the expo was, (another fail: there were cars everywhere and in a humongous Honda Ridgeline I couldn't exactly "squeeze" into any of the convenient small little spots. Parallel parking is also a challenge)

3) make my way over to Kunstadt to help out with our fundraising barbecue (success!: after it took me about half an hour to drive one kilometer)

I gave up on trying to get my race kit for the 10km scheduled for that evening, and figured I would just walk from the store to the pavilion through the crowds of people. Luckily my amazing friend, Jamie Stephenson, went with his pup and picked it up for me!!

Jade and her winning smile

Anyways, the Bytown Triathlon club set up a bbq next to the Kunstadt in the Glebe in order to help raise money for training, travel, races, etc. I am not sure of the numbers yet, but I think we sold a fair number of burgs, dogs, and refreshments.

Cheese!

Also, last night (I say night because the race didn't start until 6:30pm!) I participated in the 10km race here in Ottawa. It was windy and warm, and the course was more challenging then I expected it to be, but overall it was a great experience. Jamie was nice enough to run with me, and it made the 10km go by so much faster!
The start went out just fine (fast, as usual, but what do you expect after we have all been stadning around in a coral for 15minutes!!) and I eased into a comfortable pace. My goal was to reamin consistent, and if anything make the last half a bit faster then the first. At the half way point we have to cross over a bridge and run up the other side of the canal to the finish. It was uphill and as soon as we turned around and started heading back the wind was right in our faces. The wind and the hill took a fair bit out of me, and my last haf was actually slower! I talked to Jamie after the race and we both agreed that around kilometer 7 it felt like the end would never come!

The Elite women left about 5minutes before the rest of the field, and then the rest of the 10 000 people were given the go-ahead. I was happy to catch a couple of them near the end, but I was upset today when I learned that I could have won $350 USD had I had the intelligence to register as an Elite! Instead I got a finishers medal and I wasn't even mentioned in the paper!!

Next time...

I will try to find some pictures of the race to put up soon! Other than that have a great rest-of-weekend and thank you to everyone who came out to support the runners and cheer us on!! It makes all the difference.

And good luck to everyone racing the half and the marathon today. Especially my friends Francine Eastwood, Dr. Francovich, Ms. Chan, Ryan Cain, and Dave M. and any others that I may have forgotten!

Link to the results for the 10km
for the 5km

Congrats to Matt Polson (first competitive 10km race ever!) Matt Vierula (rocked the 10km with style) Olivier Mouyau (possible the world's coolest pace bunny) Jade Gregory (coming back from a hard winter - owned the 5km) Jasmine Labonte (sub 25 woo-hoo!!) and Francis Hupe (our french connection)
And some of the younger Bytown members; Sam Klus (great race at OFSAA East regionals only a couple days earlier!) Elyse Charrier, Alec Jarvis, Pat Smith, and many others!

Ixtapa Photos

2010-05-26T11:23:00.010-04:00

The dive from Zihuatanejo Airport to Ixtapa resort destination.

On the shuttle to the hotel- Alexander, Jason, and Greg. (And Tristan's foot)

The most awesome suit ever - Jason Wilson, Barbados.

Watching the Elite / U23 race from close to the aid station.

On the podium...I think I will need a vest of my own :)

Yes, these lovely ladies are wearing pants and full long sleeves as I feel the sweat run down my back in a t-shirt and shorts.

Our wonderful hotel.

Ixtapa, Mexico - PATCO 2010

2010-05-26T10:41:00.008-04:00

Well, after a brief (cough) hiatus from blogging I have decided to start up again. Since it is finally race season, I will actually have something to talk about!!

Okay so, Race numero uno - PATCO Pan American Championships. Worlds qualifier. Arguably one of the biggest races of the season. This is one race that determines a lot for the rest of the year...if the swim is not cancelled.

I left on the 18th of May at 3:00am to catch a flight in the Montreal Airport at 7:30am. After checking in, I was on my way to the sunny and warm Mexico City, where I had a 3 hour layover, and then finally on to Ixtapa. We were very lucky on our flight to Mexico City; the plan was almost empty and I got an entire row to myself. Not too shabby!

Mexico City Airport

Coach and his Starbucks

We arrived in Ixtapa and the weather was amazing! Warm and clear skies, perfect for me. For the next couple days we settled in and get used to the heat. It was fun to hang out with Team Canada and get to know some interesting people who live on a tiny island in the Caribbean.

Before I knew it, race day had come. My team mate, Domi, had just arrived in Ixtapa the night before the race, but she was as happy and as optimistic as ever. Her attitude gave me a huge mental boost, and I told her that the sun had finally arrived for real.

Race morning I was woken up quite early, but I proceeded to eat my breakfast and complete any last minute preparations that were necessary. Then, it was time to head down to the lobby and spin over to the race course.

After getting my numbers and transition set up, I headed down to the water to start my swim warmup. I, personally, had not seen the waves that morning, but Domi had been out practicing the night before. All she could talk about was the size of the waves that evening, and speculation about what if they cancelled the swim. I assured her that it would not be cancelled, but I was so wrong!! Kyla describes the ever growing size and aggression of the waves well in her post.

Before I was even down to the beach, they had announced that the boats were not allowed to be launched into the water and that the Junior event, that was starting in less than 30 minutes, was to be turned into a duathlon. We would complete a 2km run, followed by the standard 20km bike and 5km run.

Craig Taylor, the lead coach, remained calm and focus. He called all of the Canadian athletes together and made the new change cleat to everyone. Canada still needed those Worlds spots, but the race would most likely not be used to determine the athletes selected to fill the spots. Some of the athletes, most notably Matt Sharpe, stepped forwards and thought immediately of a team approach. CT assured them that he didn't want anyone throwing their race away. It was really important to see others thinking of the "team" first. They deserve a lot the respect and recognition.

For me, I had a million thoughts going through my head, but I knew that with less than 20minutes to go it was time to change my warmup, reset my t-zone, and talk strategy quickly with my coach.

The race was underway before I knew it, with the men leading out about 5minutes ahead. The first run was really smooth and controlled. I had talked with Greg and he told me not to kill the pace and just settle in. There was no point in breaking away, because then I would just waste my legs and have no one to bike with.

I came into T1 with a large pack of girls, and we proceeded onto the bike. Christine Ridenour and I attacked a couple of times, and one attack of Christine's put a big gap in the group. We formed the lead pack, with four Canadians, two Mexicans, and one lone American. Christine worked amazingly well on the bike, and the grouped worked pretty well together, although there were always a couple girls just sitting in on the back.

We came into T2 where I was second out behind Christine. It was fun to experience that wobbly ache in the legs that comes from a good ride for the first time again this year. I built into the run, and I was in first by the turnaround on the two lap course. I continued to build my pace and put a bit of a lead on the others. At one point I remember telling myself that I had won, and that I just had to keep taking one more step - the finish would come soon!

Overall it was a great race, a great environment, and a great experience. I was ready for a triathlon, but I guess two out of three will have to do for now!

The rest of the day was spent watching the Elite / U23 race and eating a ton at the hotel buffet. Congratulations goes out to all of the U23 women and men, who had to race 2 hours in the heat of the day. Their bravery and effort was unmatched! Also, to the junior men, who like to play bumper cars with their bikes and forget their shoes.

One last shout out has to go to Alexander Hinton, who had a blistering first run and absolutely destroyed the competition and claimed the number one spot going into T1. As we all know, that was REALLY the only title that matters.

After a day in the sun the whole group headed out to celebrate and let loose.

DONE and DONE

2010-01-28T11:09:00.002-05:00

Well it is the time of year that leaves a tingle in my head and an overall feeling of awesome goodness...I am all done exams!! I can't believe that I only have to go through this once more in highschool; then I guess it is on to much bigger and better things.
I am excited to catch up on some sleep and rest, de-stress myself you might say. I am really going to enjoy some time off and I am couting the days until training camp!!
And boy do I ever miss the sun. Here in Ottawa cold, windy, and yucky seem to be the prevalent conditions. It is hard to get in decent runs when the wind is blowing so hard it feels like you are standing still. Which happened to me just yesterday... I swear if I had stopped running I would have begun to travel backwards.
Anyway nothing much to update for now (I live such and exciting life... :) just basking in the joy of not having my nose pressed into some sore of textbook!

TriRudy Awards Night

2009-12-06T18:33:00.006-05:00

Last night we (being the parents, and members of Bytown Storm as well as Rick Hellard) got Greg Kealey to attend an awards night for local triathletes. Greg came thinking that I was going to receive and award, but when I went up to receive a pretend award, I then presented his award to him. It was a little noisy in the room, and so I think half of the people missed my little rant, but I think Greg understood what was going on in the end. Anyways, I thought I would just post the speech in case anyone that may have missed it wants to read it....
Congratulations again, coach, on receiving the Dave Maskell Builder's Award!
Thanks to James Knox for the photos!

Its like I hear the gun a minute too late...

2009-12-01T09:22:00.003-05:00

Cross country season has come to an end for 2009.
And man we had a good run.

This past weekend I participated in the AGSI cross country Nationals in Guelph. It was a very well run event (yes, the pun was intended :) and I was really surprised at the number of competitors out there.
I ran the junior race, which was for anyone born 1990 or later, and we had a huge field. I think it was about 160 girls! I have faced these numbers before at the high school championships, but with a bit more organization at the start. At OFSAA, every region is given their own cozy little box where there is lots of room and comeraderie. Not here!! I had to fight for a spot on the line, and luckily my team mate and good friend Domi saved me a patch of white strip.
After warmup and strides, before I knew it we were off and racing. The start was very agressive. I saw girls fall, girls elbow others, hands flying, hips checking, ponytails (literally!!) being pulled by other girls... There was no mercy! I had never seen this before, but I guess there is a first time for everything!
I had my usual brutally slow start...and by the 1km mark I wasn't in the top 100. There was no room to pass after the initial sprint, and for a moment I had to think to myself; "You can either go now and give it, and try to make up as much lost ground as possible, or just sit right in and ride the rest of the race out."
I knew that the last thought wasn't even an option, so I picked it up, ran through some bushes, over some tall ferns and small trees, and pushed to the front. By the second half of the last 2.6km loop I had worked into the top ten, and I was running a faster pace than the leaders. There just wasn't enough time or enough ground, and in the last bit I managed to pass two more girls and climb the last hill to the finish.
I was moderately satisfied with my race, and I did qualify for the worlds team. I didn't run much for the last couple weeks or truly prepare for this race, but it just kills me to think that, had I had a good start and been up with the leaders, I could have battled it out for the National title.
The worlds team will travel to Trinidad and Tobego as well as Poland in March. Declaration is mandataory by december 3rd, but unfortunately I don't think I will be able to attend. I have to focus on my goals and be smart with the races I choose...racing in march and then again in may is alot of travel and alot of coin!
Anyways, I was really excited to see some of the great runners out there. Shaaf, Ahmed, Meg Brown, Carson, Bairu, and our own Mr. Whitfield. It really was a great day!!

Wind me up and Let me go

2009-11-08T16:17:00.005-05:00

Time for an update.

Well, well, highschool cross country season has sadly come to an end.
Here I am, seriously procrastinating on catching up on the homewrok I missed after two days of school forever lost. Oh well.

The cross country season started out slow, I only did the cross country races needed to qualify for OFSAA, as well as one race that I did in Sherbrooke, QC, for Asics.
The Asics race was a great experience in a beautiful park, Parc Lafontaine, and they were the Quebec Junior Road Racing Championships. I definitely think that I was a dark horse, as i am not from Quebec, but it was more of a race just for fun and I took it that way the entire way through.

As for school cross country, I did the NCSSAA west conference and city championships, doing only what I needed to qualify. We had one warm race and one cold race at the Walter Baker Park in Kanata, which I believe is a potential site for OFSAA next year. Samantha Klus, a midget girl who is also a member of the Storm, did amazingly well in all of her races and won both times for west conference and cities!!

Then, on friday, we were off to OFSAA, in Vaughan at the Boyd Conservation Area. I ran the course nice and slowly to get my footing a bit once we arrived after our 5 hour trip, and discovered the amazingly steep "Mammoth Hill" that I would have to run the next day. After some technical talk & thoughts we settled into our all inclusive resort....

The next morning it was up and away to the course, I had my usual breakfast, but upon failing to bring my own milk I ended up paying $2.00 for less than one cup of milk at the restaurant next door. So much for continental breakfast!! Oh well, guess I can't have eveerything....

We piled on to the buses and arrived in a timely manner, I had over four hours to relax and take in some races before the start. I got to catch up with some great people, girls that I had raced against before, old friends, and so on. I was very happy to see Craig T and his absolutely gorgeous daughter Kate...after helping to push his stroller I was mistaken for his wife (I guess they didn't quite catch the braces) but it was all in good fun :)

Coach Greg came out to catch the excitement, once he arrived I truly began to feel confident and relaxed. We discussed a couple approaches and easily came to an agreement on the best one, and soon enough it was time to watch Samantha race in the midget girls!

Sam had an amazing first race at OFSAA, I can remember my first provincials back in Thunderbay...25 hour bus ride, snow, freezzing cold, sleeping giant, not knowing what to expect...it is all about gaining experience!! She did a great job in staying strong and placed an impressive 16th, better look out for this girl!

Some eventful occurences happened throughout the day, but most notably was the deer collision during one of the races. This deer did not collide with a car, but rather a poor girl. There were rumors that she now has a broken collarbone...my coach and I joked of images of a dear emerging from the forest with a jersey around one antler and a shoe hanging off the other...poor girl....

As it happens when time passes, it was eventually time for me to warm up and get to the starting line. I had some interesting experiences in trying to locate a washroom without a one billion person line up, which, if anyone is wondering, is the only hint that I will give if they are questioning the reason why there were numerous burs stuck to my hair and clothing... :P I was placed in box #1 with the rest of the girls from the NCSSAA region, and we were the very furthest to the left. This was a slight concern since the first turn was a sharp right after the initial sprint, but it worked out just fine in the end. I was happier that we got to avoid the gargantuan mud pit in the centre of the field.

The initial sprint....my least favorite part....
But guess what? It went amazingly well. I think I learnt my lesson after having to run up to the front from more than 100 back last year at OFSAA. I was told that most people would be looking out for me, so there was no point in holding anything back. I quickly made it the rest of the way up to the front and held a steady pace. I wanted to may anyone who wanted to stick with me work hard, and was very conscious of getting into the forest section in the lead pack, where opportunities for passing were very limited. All of my worries kind of evaporated once I got out there and started running - it was all I had to do, just run.

With some focus and great cheering from some good friends and family, I build up a pretty solid gap and glided into a pace. I believe I finished with a 25 second lead on second place, although Ian Donald was quite disappointed that I didn't have a victory dance planned. Next time....

Overall it was a fantastic day, beautiful weather, great course, with some triathletes from the Bytown Storm, Tristan Woodfine, Domi Jamnicky and I, coming out on top of the Senior division. Tristan had a breathtaking race, dominating from the start, but it wasn't much of a suprise. I think he was greatly inspired by my performance and decided that he had to do just as well :) He knows I would have teased him forever if his result was any different. :P Domi Jamnicky also had a stupefying race...she had an unbelievable sprint finish at the end and really put everything out there, as she does with every race. Her effort was truly evident to everyone watching. Woohoo everyone.

I couldn't have done it without everyone there, thanks to my coaches, parents, sister, aunt, friends, and one particular white haired gentleman in particular. (no Craig, you are never to tell Greg about his IDENTICAL twin :)

Well the month of November still hold some myseries, including OTFA provincials and Nationals in Guelph...as well as my birthday!

See you at the races!
(I wanted to be as cliché as possible)

Full Results
http://www.trackdatabase.com/viewmeet.php?current_meet=zzzz_db258

Pictures soon to come!!!

Very Late Canda Games Report...

2009-08-27T08:07:00.008-04:00

Team Spirit!!

Well aren't I just the most efficient blogger ever. Almost a week after canada games and here I am giving my report. Anyways, at least I am doing it right??

I arrived last friday in to some beautiful weather in Summerside, PEI. All of team Ontario got a chartered jet to the island, so we just walked right up onto the tarmac and into the belly of the plane. It was definitely a very full plane...not a lot of room for much movement which ruined the idea of a dance party :) The paparazzi in Summerside was going crazy as I stepped off the plane, but it wasn't anything I couldn't handle. Almost as soon as we arrived we were shipped of for H1N1 screening, and then we were given our room keys (which I held on to for dear life - it costed $75 to lose one of those buggers!) I made my way up to my room, lugging around my overpacked suitcase, and snagged a bottom bunk. The room that the women triathletes stayed in was jam packed like a can of sardines. There were 14 girls rooming with us...all rowers!! The rowers were a really nice bunch, slightly noisy at times, but they had reason to celebrate as they pretty much cleaned up in all of their events.

The athletes village contained a couple of games rooms and the cafeteria, where we spent a lot of our time ;) Unfortunately, over the course of the week i didn't get a chance to take in many other events, but we did get out to some wrestling, beach volleyball, cycling, and rugby.

Ian, me, Dorelle

On the first day we headed out for a fun spin and dip in the ocean...at first I was afraid to get in the water because the ocean kind of has a reputation of being cold, but it was extremely warm and welcoming! (A little salty, but I won't be picky...) I swear it felt like a bathtub, I didn't want to get out until coach CT mentioned that we would miss dinner if we didn't get out butts in gear and back to the village.

We also had to head out to the Ontario pep rally and the opening ceremonies the next day. I am not the biggest fan of huge crowds and loud noises, so standing in the arena at The Credit Union place waiting to be called in and seated for the ceremonies was not quite my idea of fun.

2200 athletes + their coaches and managers + loud music = very accurate and scary insght as to what it would feel like to be a pickle in a pickle jar that is in the oven next to a boombox.

In case that formula didn't make a lot of sense (I am rather confused by it myself), it was hot and sticky and noisy. I did manage, however, to grab a 15 minute nap on the floor.

Dorelle, me in blue :)

We then paraded into the Opening Ceremonies by province, and I was later told I was on TV. Each and every athlete shook the prime minister's hand (except me of course...) and then we sat on benches for another 3 hours until the ceremonies had finished. Then it was back on the bus and over to the athlete's village. The line up for food into the caf was quite long, as everyone was returning from a 6 hour sojourn. Coach CT decided that we should wait it out by going for a run and ice bath instead of standing around some more. Our wonderful mission staff, Stenphanie, snabbed some bags of ice, and so the amazingly cool kiddie pool was waiting for us as we returned from our shuffle.

Over the next couple of days before the race we got in a couple of swims and some biking and running, jst staying loose and keeping sharp for the individual event.

OKAY, now the Race Report.

The individual event was on tuesday, we had gorgeous weather; slightly windy, sunny, not a hint of rain or dark clouds in the sky. I am a huge fan of the heat, so it was shaping up to be a great day. We biked over to the site, and arrived to find that the water in the bay was very choppy and turbulent. I was hoping that it would calm down as I got my bike chacked and prepared my transition, and luckily it seemed to get a little more calm and tempered. The water was between 24-25C, so it was not wetsuit for me! I warmed up in my wetsuit however, and then before I knew it, it was time to get going! We lined up on the pontoon by province, and it was a nice clean start. I felt okay in the swim, it wasn't my greatest and I just concentrated on staying on some fast feet. I got out of the water quite a bit farther from the leaders than I wanted, but I knew that I would make it up on the bike. I had been having some great sessions and I had the confidence that I would be able to bridge the gap, it was my only chance and I needed to be in sight of the lead group off the bike if I wanted my podium spot.

This is where things got complicated. I hopped on my bike and soon formed a small drafting group with a couple of ladies from Quebec, one of my Ontario team mates, and one girl from Manitoba and Nova Scotia. I knew that we had a solid draft pack, as I had worked my way up to the leaders with a similar group in Coteau-du-Lac. But after the first lap, I knew something was wrong. Up to this point I had no idea that team tactics would come into play in the individual event, and I thought that we would see that later in the team event (or relay) on friday. I guess I was just really naive, and so when I was faced with it, it was thoroughly unexpected. It became obvious that my strength as a runner was well known, and so tactics were employed to slow my draft group so that I was not within stiking distance on the run.

After a rather frustrating bike, I transitioned to the run and just gave it, pushing the entire time to make up for time lost on the bike. I had a strong finish and just kept racing, I ended up with the fastest run time of the day. I believe I have had the fastest run split in every one of my triathlons this season!

All in all, I learned a lot from this race and got to experience something that I will be faced with in many of my future triathlons. I have been told to take the tactics employed against me as a compliment and a true sign of the respect I have earned as a quick runner. I know now exactly what I need to work on for the upcoming season to ensure that I can always race my own race. As much as it was a frustrating suprise, it will ultimately benefit me in the end and make me a stronger triathlete.

Wow this is getting long!! I will sign off for now and post an update about the second half of the week very soon. Hopefully my brain will be able to remember everything!

Articles from the Ottawa Citizen

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/sports/Triathletes+disappointed+Canada+Summer+Games+results/1905279/story.html

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/sports/Carp+triathlete+helps+Ontario+team+bronze/1919673/story.html

National Capital and other things...

2009-08-05T08:52:00.004-04:00

Heya! Man the weather can be so gross here in Ottawa - there has been a constantly circulating low-pressure system over our little valley and so we have been getting nothing but rain and clouds :( But, for the two days that I needed some nice weather iI ended up getting some...
On Wednesday I decided to do a fun 5km race on the track at Mooney's Bay for the last of the Twilight Series races. It was the last race to be run on the track due to the fact that they are tearing it up to lay down a wonderful (hopefully bouncy and unblemished) new one! The race was supposed to go off at 8:30pm, but there were more participants in other prior races than the organizers had projected and our race was delayed until 9pm. It was definitely the latest I have ever raced. After warming up twice in the already hot and sticky air, we went to line up. I was suprised at how many people showed up for this tiny time trial, but it made the race more fun. I took the pace out nice and easy and just really tried to have fun with it. At no pint did I put pressure on myself, and just kept a steady enjoyable rhythm. Apparently all my training has paid off because I ended up finishing my "fun" race in 17:02! However, being my first ever 5000m on the track, I am not sure I really appreciate going around in a circle that many times!!
Then, this past Saturday, I did a local non draft-legal triathlon, also at Mooney's Bay. The sun was shining and it was absolutely gorgeous!! It was also a great race, so relaxing with no pressure at all. I ended up finishing first woman and third overall...damn those boys :) I will get them next time.
There are only 9 days until I leave for Canada Games in PEI. I am very excited. It will be a small field but a fierce one. I just have a couple more days of prep, but training has been going pretty well overall, and I will soon start my taper.

Nothing to Update really...

2009-07-23T09:40:00.003-04:00

Well the past couple of weeks have been rather uneventful since the race. I have been doing a fair bit of babysitting, plant sitting, house sitting, and overall general sitting. I feel so lazy!! It is time to get back to it. Summer days seem to stretch out for so long when there is not a full day of training ahead - but I have really been craving the training sessions that I do get!
Anyways, it has been semi rainy with some suprisingly sunny days...I have been doing alot of cooking with my spare time and I guarantee that no one can make recipes that compare to my muffins, bread, or energy bars!
I just wanted to congratulate the Junior Worlds team that was selected recently, I was disappointed to not be a part of it but I wish them all the best of luck.
READY to start the work needed to prepare for Canada Games!
NO MORE SITTING!

A couple Gatineau Pics

2009-07-23T09:34:00.003-04:00

Found a couple of pictures from the race in Lac Leamy that I am not overly embarrassed to post!!

Exiting the swim...eyes closed!

On the bike - with a little smile.

The Race...LacLeamy

2009-07-15T14:15:00.002-04:00

I was called fifth and received a decent starting position...Far Right! The wind was blowing and I was hugging my towel and jacket around me, praying it wouldn't start to pour again!!
The start was okay - I had no room at all to dolphin dive and got kicked in the face, what a wonderful beginning! I had to stand back up and shove my goggles back on my face, and then boogy after the pack. The swim felt okay, I just concentrated on breathing and staying relaxed. Getting out of the water was fun, the mats were quite slippy thanks to the rain...sprinting all out to try to make up some ground...
I had a nice suprise once I jumped on my bike and went to put on my shoes. My BIG toenail came off and was hanging on by a small piece. This made biking rather enjoyable. I had a new friend in my shoe that was bumping and sliding along as I rode. He was quite a painful friend to have indeed.
By the end of the bike I was more than ready to run. I knew that the front pack had quite a lead and that if I wanted to make up time I would have to do it - FAST. Once again, my little friend joined me as I tried to shove my feet into my racing flats. He did not seem to want to seperate completely from my toe and just kept holding on.
I felt great on the run, nice and smooth...just a bit of panic...I saw the other girls running by in the other direction and just gave it what I had. I ended up with the faster run split by almost a minute (I think) not bad! I was disappointed with where I finished, my swim definitely requires more work. It was amazing motivation to see that I only needed to be a couple seconds faster in the water and I would have been with the huge lead pack. Time to keep on truckin'! :)

Man where is summer??? WE NEED SOME SUN !
Jo

Junior Nationals

2009-07-14T08:47:00.003-04:00

Well well.
This past weekend I competed in the Junior Elite Nationals in Lac Leamy along with about 40 other girls from around Canada. It was a miserable weather - we haven't had one nice race in the Junior Series yet!! It was pouring all morning, nice heavy rain with some lighter breaks but overall wetness. I had some fun hiding out in the outhouse and our team tent...procrastinating my warmup until the rain seemed to let up a bit.
Finally, I dragged my soggy butt on to my bike for a spin with my good friend Jade which turned out okay, the legs felt great and light. We ended up biking along a boardwalk and the wood was quite slippery, as we transitioned back from wood to pavement Jade fell and slid along the ground...her second wipeout right before a race!!
We tunred around and headed back, Jade was alright with no injuries. Slipping my feet into nice wet shoes, I did a short warmup, jumped into my wetsuit and into the water. It was a non wetsuit swim, but I have had problems staying warm before a race so I kept my wetsuit on until we were called forward.

Day Two

2009-07-07T21:51:00.003-04:00

I made it!!
The second day of having a blog... how exciting.
Not up to too much today, it has been rainy and depressing since the moment I woke up this morning. Nothing exciting to report here in Ottawa.
I have been listening tentatively to the weather reports for Nationals in LacLeamy on Staurday...so far it looks like we will have a cloudy and rainy competition day (yay my favorite?)
The course it fairly technical at some points and I am positive that some rain would make it truly interesting.
Off to watch Canada's Next Top Model and let my brain rot for a little while :)
jo

Welcome to the blogging world...

2009-07-06T09:48:00.000-04:00

WELL
After reading the blogs of many others and deciding that it may be a fun chance to get myself out there and consume my free time...I started a blog.
No promises, this may work out well or I may decide to shut things down in a couple weeks (or hours) but I might as well give a try.
First of all - this feels kind of strange for a couple of reasons
1. I do not know if anyone will read my wonderful messages
2. I have an unmatched talent for rambling
3. I do not want to inherit any friendly stalkers
4. My cat is digging his claws into my leg as I type
5. I don't know what else to write
Anyways, I am going to play around with the blog a bit and explore...hopefully find myself some fans.