Back on the map

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

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

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

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

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!!

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Thanks to Memphry

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!