Joanna Brown: Very Late Canda Games Report...

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!