Nature/Nurture?

I started swimming at the age of 5...I think it was something that I always loved to do...and I did a lot of it and I still love it just as much now as I did when I competed competitively. I continue to swim and coach and even when I take a little time away from it I always find my way back... However, swimming is a hard sport...more than any non-swimmer could ever realize, sure it looks easy and fun but those who compete know how hard it actually can be and how much time and commitment it actually takes...for these reasons I have never pushed my girls to become swimmers, it is one of the things I had hoped they would express an interest in, but it was never something that I made them do...I wanted it to be something they discovered on their own, even though it is still a large portion of what I do as an athlete and a coach.

I am happy to tell you that both my girls are loving swimming and doing a great job at it.

Kayla is learning a lot and having fun being a part of the Minnows program at our club team and it is awesome to see her so comfortable in the water, she even dove off the diving block the other day! She is still in the developmental part of the club but she has been working hard and told me she wants to move to the next lane which is the group above her, goal setting at 7 years old...awesome!

And then there is Bre...my parents and a few of my old coaches have told me she looks just like I did at that age, down to the same butt wiggle in the freestyle! She has taken to the pool in such a big way, she never wants to miss workout and was asking me to move her up to the next group so that she could swim 4 times a week... I told her that her coaches were the ones who would decide if she was ready for that and that she would have to work hard if she wanted to advance and that she could do anything she wanted (the other coaches have been impressed with her hard work and the enthusiasm she has)...well this past weekend we had our home MUSAC meet and she performed brilliantly. It is fun to watch her cheer on her team mates and race with no fear..we had one moment of nervousness before her 400 free (which she had swam at a meet a month earlier and lost her goggles...but she dropped 21 seconds and didn't vomit so we were all good!!) I am impressed with how quickly she is improving and how natural she looks in the water...and her hard work is paying off... Coach Mark pulled Bre aside after her 100 fr (which she rocked a 1:35.77, at age 10) that she will be moving up to the Red group in January! The smile on her face after he told her that made me so proud, my kid's a swimmer! Now I think I should head to the pool because Coach Mark and Craig have told Bre that she will be faster than her mom soon...and at the rate she is going, I think she just might do it!!

Fall Running

I think Fall running is my favourite time to run...I love the cold brisk temperatures, the beautiful trees and heading out for a run just because...not training for anything but just getting outdoors before it gets too cold to enjoy it.

I took almost 3 weeks off running and got back into the routine of doing yoga and I have to admit I was itching to get back out there...the past couple of weeks I have had some great runs. SV and I are trying to run as much outside as we can because you can feel winter approaching and running up here in the winter isn't always the safest thing and SV is slowly pulling me towards the treadmill for the winter...so for now we have been getting in some good mileage.

I never really enjoyed running, it was always just something that I had to do, when I was a swimmer it was part of our dryland workouts/cross-training... when I became a triathlete it was something I had to do 3 times a week because that is what you were supposed to do... not until I got injured in 2005 did I realize how much I enjoy running and since then I have found that I love to run... something about the sound of your feet on the pavement, the sound of your breathing... the high you get after finishing... the fatigue in the body a few hours after that same run that makes the couch look so inviting.... and the craving a hamburger or a steak just because you ran x kilometers!

Running is probably the best stress reliever for me, something that has really come in handy the past 18 months... nothing like a hard run to forget about the things that were nagging the mind! I have been enjoying increasing my mileage the last few weeks and SV and I are going to continue to build it up for the next little while just because and we've had some friends joining in... making the fall running even more enjoyable.

One last thing that I love about the fall is the friends that have been running in fall marathons and kicking some major butt! It is so inspiring to see how far running has brought them and the goals they have reached. So impressive and motivating...I can't wait to head out tomorrow!!

Happy Turkey Day

happy thanksgiving!

hopefully everyone was able to be with loved ones today... and even if you weren't able to be with all of your loved ones, hopefully you were able to realize all that you have to be grateful for!

i am so thankful for so many things! i have a strong loving family, 2 of the sweetest little ladies that make my world go round..a guy that i am pretty smitten with and friends and loved ones that make me glad to be me!

Yoga

I started doing Yoga back in 2002...my big sis got me to start doing it after my first Ironman and it got me through my second pregnancy, in those 8 years I have been fairly regular at maintaining a steady practice...at times life has gotten overwhelming and I don't make it to the yoga mat as often as I would like but I always manage to find my way back... the strange thing is that yoga always makes me feel relaxed and strong and smooth but when life gets busy or stressful I somehow neglect the mat... using the kid free time to head out for a bike ride or run rather than getting my ohm on.... But I have decided to make the effort to spend more time on the taking care of me part... I have been enjoying some down time since Budapest... heading out for some bike rides to enjoy the beautiful fall colours, I have taken 2 weeks off running and thought I would let some of the aches recover from a fun summer of doing new things. I have gotten back on the yoga mat and will spend the next 30 days getting reacquainted with some of my favourite poses.... 30 days to remember why I love it and feeling how loose my body can be when I give it the chance to stretch deeply....

Pics..

Just a few race pics from the World Championships in Budapest...I'm back in the swing of school and enjoying some down time from training right now!

Worlds

Where to begin... I am incredibly satisfied with this race and the experience I have had in Budapest...I had set some goals for myself before I came, hoping for a top 10 finish but I didn't put any expectations on myself because my training wasn't where it should have been...I had swam 4 times since July, taken a week off biking and hadn't done any speed workouts on the run, I had done what I could but wasn't thinking it was enough, in the end I wanted to make my family, SV, and friends proud... these are the people who have supported, believed and loved me (and Barrie Shepley too, back in April he thought I could do really well here) so I knew that if I did my best, my loved ones would be proud and I would be satisfied with this race experience.

Friday and Saturday were pretty crummy here... constant rain... SV and I went downtown to watch the Men's Elite race, we got to the bridge before most of the crowd did and were able to get a really great spot... when the pack of men came by on their bikes I was so surprised... they were so close and so FAST... really truly amazing... it is impressive to watch on tv, but it doesn't do the race justice. The Elite's course was different than the age group course, more spectator friendly, the route had them doing loops so we got to see the men go by us at least 5 times on their bikes and then they did 4 laps on the run.. the roads were slick and there were some crashes on the bike, leading to 3 top men being eliminated from the race. Once these guys hit the run it was down to 2 men... the pure effort on their faces was awesome...I find people who can push that hard and make it look easy incredible... these guys were running a 30 minute 10 km and it looked so effortless to them, they seemed relaxed and strong but their faces showed how hard they were working.... there was a great sprint to the finish and Brownlee was able to take the win from Gomez... watching the next 5 guys sprint into the finish for that 3rd place position was amazing... how after 10km hard could they find that speed? We watched the medal ceremony and then came back to the hotel to get our uniforms and bikes and then went down to the race site to check in our bikes.

It was raining again and when we got to the transition zone it was a grassy, muddy mess... all the rain and the sprint race had turned the transition area into a giant puddle. We racked our bikes and I was happy to see that I was near the bike exit... I wouldn't have to run far with my bike to start the ride, although I would have a long run up to my bike in my wetsuit.... what I didn't realize was that when we got off the bike for T2, everyone had to run down the length of the transition zone and then back up to their bikes, so that there was only one direction through transition.... so even though I could just grab my bike and run 100m at the start of the bike, I still had to do the entire transition area with my bike at the end of the ride... I guess this was to make it fair to all athletes and to keep the transition area moving safely....

After racking our bikes, showing our uniforms (this was the first year that age groupers had to have their last names on the front and back of their race uniforms) we came back to the room ordered in some pizza and watched some US Open tennis...

Race morning was early, we were up at 4:45 am... my wave was to head off at 7:40 am and SV was to go at 8:20 am... we had some Meusli and 2 slices of bread with Nutella (not my usual pre-race meal, but it worked) and we took a cab down to the race site. The transition zone was still a mess and they were getting ready to start the first wave... it was a nice morning, the sun wasn't out yet but it wasn't raining and as far as I could tell there was very little wind. I got my area set up and met some of the other Canadian women in my age group (we were all racked together which was nice). They weren't letting us do a swim warm up so I did some arm circles and put my wetsuit on... I headed down to the swim start when the Mens 30-34 wave started and was feeling a little nervous, I haven't done a race where it was just a wave of women, this was going to be very different. The lady who was starting all the athletes was great, at one point she said to all of us "this is going to be the best race of your life, or at least the best race of today", lol, I loved it.

Entering the water we were to put our hand on the pontoon and look at her... the water took my breath away, it was 16 degrees and my feet were cold... but we were only in the water for a minute before they started us... it was a quick start and I was glad to get going, just telling myself to swim hard as it would generate some heat. It didn't take me long to realize that I was leading the wave in the swim, no one in front of me and I couldn't see anyone around me... I settled into a rhythm but my feet were still cold. I passed a man from the 30-34 wave, which had started 10 minutes before me... and then I caught a bunch more... I hit the beach and was happy to be done the swim, I wasn't wearing a watch so I wasn't sure what my time was but I felt like I had a pretty good swim... the run to my bike was a long one, SV was halfway up transition zone by his bike cheering me on and told me I was the first woman and had about 200m on the next girl... the ground was slippery and muddy and I was so happy to finally get to my bike.

The bike course was 3 loops and I figured my first loop would be the least busy loop, unfortunately I was mistaken... having never done a looped course or a flat course I didn't realize how crazy it would be... starting the ride I was thrown in with the younger waves that were on their second and third loops along with the men that I had passed on the swim... triathletes everywhere! I saw a lot of drafting going on but I also saw people serving time in the penalty boxes. I had been passed by one girl at the start of the bike, she was from GB, so I was assuming I was riding in second place. I focused on doing my ride and staying out of other athletes draft zone and I didn't have any girls pass me on the bike, I felt like I was riding strong. I knew that the bike loops were short and the bike wasn't going to be 40km... I didn't mind the flat course and used every turn around as a chance to get out of my saddle... on the 3rd loop told myself to push harder because I was feeling comfortable, it really does make a difference when there are no hills... I got to the dismount line and saw that the bike was only 35 km, I knew SV would be disappointed but I was glad to be heading into the run, I was feeling good...the run through the transition zone with my bike was a long muddy one... I figured they were making us do the rest of the bike in the T2 zone, lol. I was passed by another girl in my age category coming into T2 and my goal was to keep her in my sights on the run.

Starting the run I realized my feet were still cold from the swim and running through the cold muddy transition zone but I knew they would come around. I was feeling strong and could see the girl in front of me. The first 5km we ran along the river to downtown and then had 2 loops in the city where we would finish, the course was beautiful and flat, I was feeling really strong and the girl in front of me wasn't pulling away but I lost her as we approached the bridge to the city as the course became very busy with athletes doing their loops... the crowds were thick and people were cheering Go Canada... it made me feel strong and it was awesome to have that energy... the loops were great, I was passing lots of athletes at this point and was only being passed by men... I could no longer tell who was the girl I had been chasing and at the turn around points I had no idea of which girls were in my age category, so I didn't know who was chasing me. I just told myself to keep running strong and push hard. As I crossed the bridge for the 3rd time I told myself to just go, I thought I was in 3rd place and I wanted to stay there...I told myself to just run the last half of the loop strong and not let someone else pass me in the final bit and that I would be disappointed if I did... as I turned into the finishing shoot I missed the man who was trying to hand me a Canadian flag to finish with but I wasn't turning back to get it... I felt great crossing the line and shook hands with the girl who had finished in front of me. I was pretty sure I was 3rd and I felt great. A girl from HUN came up and told me great race (I saw later that she was only 11 seconds behind me, chasing me down!)

I was able to see SV out on his first loop on the run and he was running strong (he had hurt his calf and taken 3 weeks off running and to see him looking smooth and strong made me so happy, we hadn't been sure he would be able to run let alone run so well!!)

My results: swim (20:01) bike (56:17, which is about 37km/hr) run(40:37). Overall I felt it was a solid race for me, I am very happy with my run split as I didn't think I could pull out a 40 minute 10km off the bike but glad I was able to!

In the end, I thought it was a great event. I know a lot of people complained because they did an extra loop on the run route, but I believe it is up to every athlete to know what the heck they are supposed to do... the routes were posted and it was easy to see that you had to cross the bridge 3 times, not 5... and if you didn't take the time to ask or clarify then you shouldn't complain that you made an error.... It was a disappointment that the bike course was 5km short but again that is something that is outside of my control and I am not going to complain about it... every race that we enter has the potential to be short or long... but every athlete out there is doing the same distance so it is fair and even though all of our finishing times are faster than they would have been if the bike was 40km, to me it doesn't really matter... but I don't base a race off my overall finishing time like some athletes do... so I guess I can understand their need to complain about it being short.... SV would rather a race have a long bike and short run but he didn't complain about it! Yes I found the water cold, SV didn't think it was too bad...I was glad that I didn't get in earlier in the week to swim in the water because it probably would have worried me (only because I had a really bad cold water experience) but again it was something that I couldn't have controlled and the water was cold for everyone...

This was my first World Championships and I have never experienced anything like this... it was great to be out there representing our country and being part of a team... cheering on other Canadians out on the course and having a large group of athletes to be part of during and after... it was a very well organized race and I was impressed with how well they were able to put some 2500 athletes through such an event. The awards ceremony was great and I have to admit I had so much pride getting on stage and accepting my medal... it was a great moment! Trading uniforms with other people from other countries was a blast and again it was awesome to have so many countries wanting the Canadian uniform, Canadians Rock!!

Now it is time to rest and recover, it was a fun summer of trying new things and experiencing racing, but the body is ready for a rest (it isn't used to all this fast stuff, lol) I look forward to some down time...

World Championships

SV talks me into some crazy things... here I am on the Canadian Team sitting in a hotel in Budapest getting ready to race on Sunday in the Olympic Distance World Championships. It has been a pretty good experience so far, we are officially registered, know the race course and are finding our way around the city. We had our first team training and meeting yesterday and the Sprint team does their race tomorrow, along with the Elite Men's race.

I was nervous heading here, I have never been on a plane for as long as I was for this trip, leaving the girlies made me sad and stressed (although they are having a great time with ma and pa!), the Hungarian cuisine scared me a little and the whole unknown had me a little shall I say uncertain. However, SV and I have been making out alright. Our first meal here didn't give me a lot of confidence but we have done much better since....we are managing to find our way around the city easily and we have been able to keep our exposure to the "stressed" triathletes to a minimum....and we have met some great new people as well.

The jet lag was pretty intense, we slept 12 hours last night but I think come Sunday we will be good to go (I feel human today compaired to yesterday that is for sure). We headed out with Team Canada and went for a ride on the bike course...the race description said they are great roads...not going to agree with that as there are a lot of pot holes and a section of the road that is under construction (but is supposed to be paved by Sunday) but it is very flat... the route has 3 turn arounds in each lap, with three laps.... this is very new for me, I have never done a flat race or a race with laps, so I am excited for the new challenge...I also like that the turnarounds are in roundabouts rather than pylons, should make the course a little less congested.... the one concern I do have is the amount of people that will be on the course, they have penalty boxes and you will have to serve any drafting/blocking penalty on the route, but with such a flat course and so many athletes I am hoping that it won't be too difficult to have my own ride (the first laps should be fine but lap 2 and 3 have me a little nervous) SV has told me to just do my ride and try to get by any slower athletes as quick as possible... sounds like good advice to me.

The swim may not be as pleasant as we had hoped, the water on Wednesday for the Aqua-thon was only 14 degrees... they are telling us it should be 18 for us on Sunday... we are going to do the swim course tomorrow afternoon so I hope it is a little warmer... we won't be able to have a warm up swim on Sunday so tomorrow is our only chance to try it out...

The weather hasn't been the greatest since we got here, our cabbie told us that the weather here is usually beautiful up until October but the last week or so has been cold, and it has rained all day today... but he told us it will be nicer tomorrow and even better Sunday... SV and I went out and did a short run today, we ran down to the river and then to where the race finish line is and the bridge that we will be running across 3 times on race day... again very flat run course but despite the rain, it is a very beautiful route, rain or shine I think I will enjoy the run for sure! The finish area seems exciting and seeing it all set up today got me pumped. I look forward to running in my race outfit and being cheered on by the spectators... it made me feel very proud to be somewhere so far from home representing our country.

A few observations I have so far:

--people really like the Canadian Team uniform (they will like them a lot more on Sunday as the see-through quality becomes apparent! I chose the bathing suit option as a race outfit.... something I would never normally do, but the options of uniforms led me to choose the lesser of the 3 evils... SV went with the one piece tri suit and mine at least came with a shammy and the seam of my outfit doesn't need to be strategically placed to hide anything :) but we are in Europe so being out there is expected right, lol) I am on the look out for which team uniform I like best and hope to be able to do some swapping on Sunday night at the closing ceremonies....

--I hadn't realized how wonderful we have it in Canada, to be able to go to a restaraunt and have an enjoyable meal... here the service is very slow and people smoke everywhere...I really prefer my meals without a side order of cigarette smoke.

---the city of Budapest is prettier than I thought it was going to be, don't get me wrong there are some depressing looking areas but the buildings and setting is very pretty (I can't wait for a sunny day to enjoy it to its fullest).

---the bridges are gorgeous. I have this thing with bridges (think this is part of why I want to someday do the NYC marathon)... Budapest has 4 amazing bridges (that we have seen) all so very different from each other but I hope to get pictures of them all so that I can show you... the Szechenyi Bridge, which we ran today and will be crossing 3 times on race day is gorgeous and I tried to take it all in today because I know on race day I will not appreciate its beauty but honestly the views from both sides of this bridge are impressive... although the river Danube below isn't beautiful (brown)

---I am a small town girl... yesterday our bike ride took us through the city... I am very comfortable on my bike but I have never ridden in a large city and I was stressed... the amount of cars, stop lights and finding our way around was intense... I found it so crazy and I tried to only focus on following SV (or other team members) but as we were heading back to the hotel we took one of the bridges that I find very beautiful and I thought I was going to die, lol... it was crazy, I could not do that every day of my life, but I was actually impressed with how great the traffic was with us on our bikes, a few people did get close to us but no one honked their horn or tried to cut us off... something that occurs almost every ride back home. So although I did not enjoy riding in the city and was concerned about safety the drivers here in Budapest seem to respect cyclists more.

--SV and I won't be able to race each other here at the World Championships. My wave is set to head off 40 minutes before he starts, I think we may get a chance to see each other out on the bike course or run course and I will get to see him cross the finish line but other than that it will just be us and athletes from around the world.

Tomorrow we are going to head down to watch the Men's Elite race, I am very excited to see such a fast paced race... these guys will be running a 30 minute 10 km run after doing the bike and swim... should be impressive. We will head down to swim after and then check our bikes into the transition area.... I think I am ready to go, I may not have done all the training I could have done, life and loved ones are more important though.... but I think I will do alright, all I can do my best and at the end of the day if I put in a 100% effort I can't be anything but proud

Different

I thought it was time for a new look for my blog...don't get me wrong LA naked on a bike will always have a special place in my heart but I thought it was time to make a few changes....

I never used to make change so freely...it is so easy to get caught up in what is comfortable and simple, not that it is always what you like or want but what you are used to....I am realizing that I am not that person any longer...yes I like a routine and getting things done the way I like them, but I find I am much more open to going outside my comfort zone...I have really challenged myself in the last year and a half and it made me start to wonder if I had changed a lot... this past weekend I realized that I had changed, not to becoming someone new but changed back into me...the me I really am. Spending time with loved ones has a way of opening your eyes...loved ones that have been there through all the hard times, the ones that know the good and the bad and have always been there to help you through it...the ones in the end who know you better than yourself...This past weekend I was able to spend some time with 3 of those great loved ones...my sisters and brother (1 official the other 2 by love!) and to realize how hard it was for them to see me not being me for so long...and how happy they are to have me back with them! I missed you guys!

Different isn't always bad or strange...in my case I am happy to say that different is wonderful...I feel stronger than I ever have (physically and mentally) I am healthy and incredibly happy and I am working towards many different goals in my life and I finally believe that I can do anything...and to have my loved ones recognize that the person they have loved and missed for many years is finally back makes me feel even stronger!

Soaring...

A wonderful person sent me a message the other day and made a comment about this photo..she wrote "So fun to see your spirit soar...just like in your profile picture"...that comment made me smile and think about how far I have come. It hasn't been the easiest route and life sure has been challenging...but it is that way for everyone and I think the struggles and stress that we all go through makes happiness that much sweeter. Life isn't always kind and you can never control what is going to come next but I have gotten to the point that I am surrounded and loved by positive, great people and I know that I can handle anything.

I am almost back to normal after getting the wisdom teeth pulled...I am still having a lot of discomfort in the mouth but I am slowly getting back to eating the things that I love...although I paid the price for eating those Snyder's of Hanover pretzel pieces...but they are SO good and SV was enjoying them...it was worth the intense jaw pain!

We had our last TT of the summer this week...I have missed the last few because of studying and getting the teeth pulled, but was glad to be able to do the last one...we had the option of 23.6 or 30km and SV encouraged me to do the 30km...it was a windy night and cool but I felt pretty good, legs felt strong... the top 4 ladies were within 20 seconds of each other so that made it pretty exciting for the volunteers who organize it. I want to just say how impressed I am with Wanda and Greg..they put so much time and energy into putting these on for us (with support from the local Bike Shops!) they were awesome with the timing and encouragement and they made it fun! You guys rock!! Thanks so much and I look forward to the series next summer (I will try to do more than 4!) after the TT we all headed to BP on the wharf and had a great wrap up celebration.

We also had our last group swim out at MD's place...a great night to swim out on Lake Rosseau..SV and I did 3.2km and then enjoyed some yummy dinner with the group. I am feeling good in the water and SV is swimming strong!

All these "last" events is making me wonder where the summer went...hard to believe it is almost time for it to come to an end...but we have a few more weeks and I know I will enjoy them!

Soggy and Swollen...

Rain, Rain and more Rain...that is what greeted me on Sunday morning, normally for a Sunday morning this would be an excuse to sleep in, however this Sunday morning I had made the mistake of putting the idea of doing a triathlon relay on the table...the reason this was a mistake was that I mentioned this idea to 2 very hard core ladies that jumped at it, the other reason this was a mistake was that I said I would do the half marathon portion of the race....normally not an issue for me since I tend to like the long stuff, but this year I have fully embraced the short distance training and have not run farther than 15km in over 10 months....ok not a problem, it's a relay and we will have some fun, 3 ladies going out and enjoying a nice Sunday (I also talked SV into coming and doing the swim/bike race that they had).

The Bracebridge half is a great course... the swim is in the river and Beth did a great job out there... the bike course is challenging and MD tore it up, she knows those roads and did a great job, all while on her road bike! I have ridden the run course many times and figured that the hills would be challenging but it would be a good training day...unfortunately it started to pour and continued to pour the entire time I was out running...this was a very challenging run for me...starting fresh while other people are 2/3 through their day...I enjoy doing the run portion of a relay because you always feel fast passing everyone, but this race was challenging...some big hills and the non-stop rain made it tough. I focused on picking off the runners in front of me and trying to catch as many as I could...in the end I passed 26 athletes and was only passed by 2..I loved seeing old friends and new ones out there splashing in the puddles. I crossed the line and was happy with my run, it wasn't a really fast time but I will take it for a training run on a tough course...my feet were soggy and covered in blisters and I was cold when I finished, but it was great having my girlies there cheering for me (and making sure I got some pizza at the finish line!!) SV had a good day too, placing first in the swim/bike race!

Monday was a little different...had the 4 wisdom teeth taken out...I was pretty nervous about it..not a fan of needles and drills and tools and pain, lol...yep I'm a wuss...the Dr. was great and I didn't feel a thing :)....don't even really remember the drive home (SV was driving sillies!)...I'm doing pretty good, I am swollen...SV is calling me his puffer fish...

I have some pain..it hurts to smile and laugh..and I am missing food something fierce...I had 4 perogies tonight (it took me a good 30-40 minutes to eat them, but hey it wasn't soup or eggs so I am thrilled!), I am getting better...no bruising yet and the stitches are starting to loosen (feel them at the back of my tongue, such a great feeling!!) soon I will be able to open my mouth wide enough and chew so that I can get back to eating burgers and popcorn and sandwiches and cashews and carrots and pizza and steak and sushi and corn on the cob and strawberries and chicken and apple crumble...... I have only had one food related melt down and I am craving everything right now...what should my first meal be?? I am going to start planning!!

On top of all this I am in the midst of finals...3 are down...3 to go...it has been a crazy few weeks with school but I am doing well and the light at the end of the tunnel is near. I am feeling good about the finals I have coming up and did really well on the ones I wrote this week...pain meds and all!

Looking forward to the next few days and getting back to eating!!

a few more things

wow...it's August already, can't believe how the summer is flying...been so busy lately seems like there are not enough hours in the day but I do the best I can. School is insane right now...exam after exam and finals aren't even here yet, lol, but it is all good. I like the material we are covering and being able to put it all together, a few more weeks and I will be onto semester 3, crazy to think about but it is going fast!

SV and I did the Bala race the weekend after Gravenhurst...we didn't go into this race very well prepared, we had a busy week with more time spent doing anything but training, but that is life and SV came down with a chest/head cold a few days before the race but we decided what the heck, we had a friend doing the race and I had never done this one before and SV has done it every year except for 2 years since the race started 15 years ago. It ended up being a good race for both of us. I came out of the water in 2nd place and ended up being the first person out of transition...my first time being led out by the lead vehicle...very fun..lol. I stayed in the front for the first 10km, but then I felt the butt pat and off went SV blazing up the bike course. It is a challenging bike course in Bala...always climbing a hill it seems, but they are the kind of hills I like and I really enjoyed the ride...I managed to stay in 2nd on the bike for the rest of the ride, but SV was so far ahead of me I knew I wouldn't be catching him this time. The run was a tough one again some pretty tough hills and thankfully it wasn't as hot as the weekend before in Gravenhurst. I finished this race in 6th place...first woman overall. I was happy with how I did and the body was sore.

I also caught SV cold which is annoying..a summer cold is never fun..I also broke out in hives again...that is the second time...but interestingly the outbreak again happened after a stressful day of drama...I see a pattern here...hopefully this will be one of the last times I get hives but if not at least I know the cause now! And the third crummy annoyance this week was my wisdom teeth began causing me problems...in the past I have been able to ignore and avoid the dentist...I love my teeth and I take good care of them but this week I had to admit that they give me pain and after seeing extractor Andy...well these suckers have got to come out...it will happen in the next little bit..not thrilled about it (I passed out when my sister had hers pulled, lol) but I know that I can't live with the pain I have been in this week...I will let you know how it goes!

A year ago this weekend I did UMC...and man am I glad that I am not out there this year...not sure how I was able to do such an epic adventure and for now I am happy to look back at all the great memories from that race....it looks like they are having a great weekend out there for the race, my swim course record was broken (Great Job Tracy!!) and to be honest I had said if my record was broken I would consider doing UMC again....but I made a promise to SV and to myself and I am comfortable with that promise....shorter pursuits are fitting me and life and family so much better right now....plus it leaves plenty of time for the "pants" war that SV and I have taken too....currently tied at 1-1!!

the race

It turned out to be a great weekend for the Gravenhurst Triathlons..AC and CS had come up to stay with us for the weekend and we headed out on the lake for a choppy boat ride and dinner(H&T joined us as H was doing her first try a tri..) Dinner was great at the Taboo boat house and I loved randomly running into old friends, DB and RF, who were up for the race as well...
Race day, I was in charge of getting us to the race site on time, after Binbrook I decided I would be in charge of this..although the transition area was less than 500m from the condo, I knew we would be alright. Things went smoothly for all 3 of us (CS, SV and I) and we made our way down to the Sequin for 8am..I was excited for this as I think the Sequin is beautiful and we have talked about going out for a cruise on it...so it was great to be finally heading out on it. The wait to jump off the boat and into the lake was probably the worst part of the day..it was already very warm by 8:40am and standing in wetsuits was not a comfortable thing. Once we were given the signal to jump in I was happy, the water was the perfect temperature and just a little bit of chop. The Whistle of the boat signalled the start of the race waves and once we got swimming it didn't take long to settle into my rhythm..I saw SV for the first few strokes and then I was pretty much on my own..I could tell there were at least 2 people in front of me and I just focused on the buoys and staying long and smooth on my swim. It is a great lake and I really enjoyed the swim course...it is an L shape with the swim exit at the dock at Boston Pizza (they installed some floating stairs for the athletes) I hit the stairs with one other person, 3rd out of the water..it is a long run up the dock, across the street and around the back of the park to the timing mat, but it was also nice as my bike was close to the swim entrance/run exit area..I had an ok transition, still have to work on being a little quicker in there and my mount to my bike was laughable, but it got me smiling and having some fun!
The start of the bike takes you up Brown St. which is a nice kick in the butt, the first few kms were great, I am used to the roughness of Jones Rd and was prepared for having to be careful. At the first turn around I found out that I was riding in 3rd place..not bad..but then I saw SV and it was sooner than I thought I was going to see him, I greeted him with an "Oh Crap", lol...I then saw CS and RF..it was very deceiving as they seemed to be right behind me...I gave myself a pep talk..figuring I wasn't making the 18km mark before SV caught me..I told myself to just do my own race and let him catch me..nothing I could do about how fast he was riding and I waited for the pat on the bum.
I ended up having a great ride, I felt strong in all the hard areas and pushed on the fun spots..I hit the 18km point and had to smile as SV hadn't passed yet...goal reached. He caught me not long after the 2nd turn around and it was nice to see him, no pat on the bum as we were climbing and he was trying to avoid a pot hole and then he was gone....The last section is tough and I was passed by one more person, he was a duathlete and he rode by me like I was standing still....at the last turn around I realized I was less than 2 minutes behind SV...this was going to be an interesting run!

The start of the run was tough... it was really hot and humid and my quads were screaming at me and on the verge of cramping...the first km I tried to reason with them that the run wouldn't be that bad and all they had to do was 9 more km...but they know that road and the hills aren't nice...but the fuzzy peaches I ate seemed to help a little. The run was a brutal one...the heat, sun and humidity on the road on top of the hills made it challenging, there wasn't much about that run that I found enjoyable...at the halfway point I could tell I was gaining on SV and I thought it might be possible to catch him...by the 7.5km mark I had goosebumps...it was the heat getting to me...I was closing in on SV by the last big climb but I knew that if I didn't catch him by the top that I wouldn't be able to take him on the down hill (as he is way better at running down hill than I am)...he knew this too and after checking over his shoulder for me a few times he raised his arm in victory at the top of the last hill, lol...I love that we can have such fun out there even when we are both hurting!

I crossed the finish line in 3rd place, 20 seconds behind SV...18 minutes ahead of the next woman...I was pleased with my first Olympic race in over 8 years and felt strong the whole way...my quads were tired...there was nothing else I could have given on that run and it was a fun day, people out there suffering and still cheering each other on! not everyone had a great day and some had some bad mechanical problems but still it is a great event and I love the route and can see how it was voted the #1 race in Ontario...

We ended the night with a great gathering of friends to celebrate SV birthday and we got up early to cheer on friends that were racing the next morning in the sprint and try-a-tri...body felt good but man was I tired!!

Muskoka

I remember my first ride up here in Muskoka last summer. SV took me out and we were going to do an easy 62km ride...the first 15km I broke up with him in my mind at least 3 times (possibly 4 but I can't be sure) these little hills that SV said we were "nothing" just about killed me...nothing like the hills I was used to riding in Southwestern Ontario...now just over a year later the Beach Rd is one of my favourites in the area to ride and I am looking forward to racing on it for the first time this weekend. The Gravenhurst Triathlon is here and I am excited to get out there and have some fun. The course really is a great one and even though I haven't done this race before, I have swam, biked and ran the course so many times in the last year, some good some really really bad, I can't wait to have 300 other athletes out there finding out why I love it so much. We have friends coming up to do the race and to celebrate SV's birthday (Happy Birthday babe!!)...I am looking forward to spending time with great people, pushing hard and then celebrating. This will be my first Olympic distance triathlon since 2001...my goal is PB baby, lol...hopefully that won't be a problem as it was my first triathlon ever...I think I know a few more things now...

SV is going down this race...there I said it..okay maybe not..but my goal is to get to the 18km mark on the ride before he passes me...and then make myself look strong on the run course so he thinks I'm catching him...ssshhh don't tell.... It should be a great weekend!

Lastly I want to just congratulate 2 of the best people in the whole wide world on an accomplishment I am very impressed with. My parents celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary...such great parents, spouses and friends! They have a marriage that amazes me and gives me faith that marriage can work (even if it isn't something I intend to ever do again). Congratulations on being so great for one another, for showing me that your partner has to be your lover and your friend and that relationships aren't always easy but liking each other and being a great team can get you through all the hard times! I love you both and thank you for being so great together!

July

Wimbledon...Tour de France....heat and humidity....I am in love with this month so far.

SV introduced me to tennis last year, a sport I had never been interested in watching before but now I am hooked, the skill, speed and power that these players put into each of their shots is impressive...I loved watching Wimbledon this year..some interesting things happened...and I look forward to the US Open!

Then the tour stared this week...so far so good, many crashes and excitement...it never disappoints and to be honest it is my favourite thing about summer...always makes me want to get out there and ride..it also floors me to know that they are able to ride at 50-55km/hour...amazing!

I had my 3rd attempt at the TT this week...I am really loving/hating this event...it is a great group of people who are coming out each week, between 10-14 people..and the volunteers are pretty amazing to come out and do all this for us. Last week I wore toe warmers and arm warmers and the wind was intense. I rode about 30 seconds slower than the first week but I was happy with my effort. This week I thought we were crazy to even be attempting it. It was 42 degrees out with the humidity and my motivation level was non-existent. I tried to tell SV that it wasn't healthy for us and that we shouldn't be doing anything intense....his response was.."this is the temperature it was for your Ultraman last year and it will be 30 minutes of hard work"......so to say the least I put my bike gear on and off we went.

I had a pretty good ride actually. I did a PB by 30 seconds and felt pretty strong and was actually able to even split the 2 laps. There is one lady that has come out the last few times and she is fast, I ended up being only 8 seconds behind her and it was great to be pushed by her and to know that I was pushing her as well! It was hot and painful..I was soaked by the time we were done but it was also a lot of fun. I am actually starting to enjoy these tt's...so different than what I have done before but fun to push hard and I never thought I would be able to ride at the speed I am riding at...hopefully I will learn how to do that in a race setting but for now I am having fun with the time trials.

I also found my way back to the water this week, the last time I swam was the triathlon last month but I have been in the water 3 times so far this week...can't say I am feeling great in the water but at least I am getting in again...we also got out in the lake for a swim and I am really happy with the new wetsuit...fit is great and the feel is even better!

TT

So I did my first TT last week... The Muskoka Cycling Club is putting on a series of TT this summer and I was excited to do a time trial but also wasn't really sure "how" to do it. My race in Binbrook left me feeling a little disappointed in my biking because I didn't really pace it right, but I guess that is the beauty of learning to do something new.

The day of the time trial turned out to be a rough one for me mentally as I had a pretty emotional conversation and despite trying to be strong sometimes things said still hurt and upset me...I was thinking of not going to the event as my motivation level was low but SV got me going and told me I would feel better and all I had to do was go hard for 23.6 km...at that moment there was nothing I wanted to do less, lol. MD and KM were great and gave me big hugs and I figured what the hell...there was going to be a beer at the end.

They sent people off 1 minute apart...there was no real order, we just went in the order we arrived..I went 8th and started one minute behind SV...which I realized wasn't that great because it made me 2 minutes behind the next person that I was trying to catch, as I knew I wouldn't be catching SV. lol

It ended up being a very interesting event. There was 2 laps on the Parkway and I really liked the route. They did a great job with organizing it and made sure the course was clearly marked. I pushed hard and it was fun to see SV blazing by all the other riders. It was very different from anything I am used to and I did enjoy it. I was able to work out some of my frustration on that ride and at the end I knew I had put in a good effort and the day was saved, lol..

I ended up placing 4th overall and was the first place woman which was cool, but I was still 4 minutes behind SV (he won by over 30 seconds), but my average speed was higher than I thought I would be able to ride at and I am pretty happy with it.

I look forward to doing a few more of these events this summer and seeing if I can improve on my first attempt.

Hi There....

It's great to see you...I am sorry it has been so long...wow can't believe how busy life can get.

I am back into the grind of school...we have midterms next week, wow is it going fast but so far I really like this semester a lot of great things are being taught and the teachers are extremely good.

The girlies are doing great..changing all the time, the youngest got her hair cut and looks so grown up as she heads into her 7th birthday...my baby is going to be 7, wow,hard to believe...My oldest is getting super excited as she counts down the days until the 23rd, she gets done school early and is going to camp for 3 weeks...I on the other hand am feeling a little anxious about it, I know that she is going to have an amazing time but 3 weeks away and not being able to talk to her for the first week...ok deep breaths..the camp is supposed to be great and I am excited for her..I am just sad for me, lol!

Other than that things are good, often feel like there isn't enough hours in the day to get done what I would like to get done but I guess that is normal. I think back to this time last year and it is nice to see that life has gone on and we are surviving, the hardest times are behind us and I know that I am a stronger person than I was before...

A few years back I had a conversation with some people about getting older and I clearly remember saying that I was looking forward to age 34 and 35, I wasn't sure why but I thought those would be great years...interestingly enough, 10 days before I am to turn 34, it all makes sense...I am finally happy and getting stronger every day. I like who I am, I love my family and I have a person in my life who makes me smile.

Okay..on to tri stuff....this past weekend I did my first triathlon shorter than an Ironman in almost 5 years...shortest race I have done in 7 years...learned a few things for sure...

SV and I went down and raced in Binbrook with Ange, a new race for all 3 of us...somehow our plan of getting to the race on time/early just didn't work out the way we thought it would...I know I give SV a hard time about sauntering but we were on the rivet and somehow things just kind of happened. It was a beautiful rainy day and we knew that our bikes were going to get filthy...it took a little longer to get into the park and to get our stuff at registration, we were running around trying to get things done as the race announcer was saying 5 minutes to the start of the triathlon...I have never done things so fast, setting up my transition area and getting my wetsuit on...they started the duathlon and SV wasn't even in his wetsuit yet...to say the least our heart rates were high..I looked around the transition area and we were one of the few remaining and we were in the first wave...SV's daughter was capturing all the chaos with her camera and being very supportive of us and telling us we would be fine and helping us into our wetsuits..she's such a sweetheart! ....as we were running to the beach SV was still only half into his wetsuit and we had just over a minute until the start of our wave...we reached the water and put our goggles on and had 30 seconds until we started...My heart was racing, I have never before started a race in such a flurry of activity..I had no clue what the swim route looked like and I was wearing my brand new wetsuit..no warm up swim, no goggle check...just ran to the start line, exchanged a quick smooch and wished each other luck and then it was go time!!

The start of the race was very different than the race I did last summer which had no contact (with only 24 people swimming and doing 10km, no one was interested in swimming on top of each other..) but my first short course tri brought it all back to me, people pulling on my legs, pushing into my back, kicking me, hitting me in the head...wow, I forgot how rough people could be..luckily it only lasted for 150m or so and then I was in my own space. I felt ok but could tell I hadn't swam in 2 weeks but still pushed myself. There was one pro woman in the race, she is a young girl but very strong in the water, I could see her for most of the swim and she pulled ahead at the last buoy...when I reached the beach I was glad to be done, but it was a long run up a very muddy beach, about 225m run to transition and all mud...this was the first time I had worn the new blueseventy wetsuit I won at Ultraman and I loved the reverse zipper it has, it made taking off my wetsuit very easy!

The bike leg was pretty good, not a really tough ride with a few turns, that I will admit I slowed down a little to much for, but with the rain and sand I was being a little over cautious I think. I am still learning how to do this short course stuff and I think I held back a little bit on the bike, wasn't really sure how or when to push hard and never at any time did I feel like I was working really hard, but I felt strong...not sure if that makes sense. SV caught me at 7km into the ride, he looked really strong and patted me on the butt as he flew by (he ended up passing everyone but the lead male, coming in 2nd off the bike..he was moving!!) I was really looking forward to the run and during the ride I started to think of going hard on the run, figured I would try to "catch" SV out there, even though it was only a 6.5km run...

However, I didn't realize the run was going to be so muddy...the description of the course said grass paths and packed trails...but none of us realized that it was entirely off road and with all the rain that it was going to be so slippery and muddy. Getting footing was terrible as we were running on grassy hills and the paths were all mud and narrow...it made for one messy run. It consisted of 2 out and backs and by the 3km point I was pretty frustrated, I never run on grass or on mud and I was having a difficult time getting solid footing and I could feel myself just kind of shut it down....no point trying to go hard and sprain an ankle, I just wanted to get it done and not be injured. Ran past a friend I hadn't seen in many months and he cheered me on as we past each other, it lifted my spirits to know I would get to catch up with him after we were done. When SV and I would pass each other on the out and backs I could tell he was enjoying the run just as much as I was, and he said the same about me...there were a few really dangerous spots on the course with steep downhills that were mud covered and several people went down, luckily I stayed up on my feet and finished as the first age group woman overall. I was disappointed in my run because I knew I hadn't given it my all but at the same time for the way the course was it was all I could put into it...interestingly, SV said he did the same thing...he knew he could run harder but was frustrated and didn't want to get injured so he "shut it down" too!

Overall it was good to get this race under my belt, it is so different from racing the long distance things that you have so many factors to try to consider and plan for while this type of racing it is purely just "GO"...not sure which I prefer yet...guess I will know after a few more!

Recap.

No bruises today but there was blood....this photo doesn't do it justice...really...I promise this rub mark is HUGE and so painful...ok, you don't believe me...SV didn't give me a whole lot of sympathy either, lol!

Great brick workout today, pushed hard and took 2:30 minutes out of SV's lead on me from last week...I can't wait to do it again....but I think I may wear socks next week...

In the Groove

It has been an interesting few weeks, getting back to classes, learning new things and attempting new training. I have been busy! It's great to be back in classes and although it's going to be a hard semester we are a pretty close group of students so we are all helping each other and I think it will be a great semester.
It looks like the nice weather is finally here to stay, we had some really chilly days the last 2 weeks, even had some snow and riding outside was not fun, but now the forecast is looking great...it is a beautiful time up here..everything is in full bloom, so fresh and pretty..the smell of lilacs (one of my favourite smells while riding/running)in the air, all the trees are full and gorgeous, the lakes are clear and blue, the sunsets are breath taking...I really love it up here...being outside is easy, even with all the black flies!!
I have been doing some really great training, I am trying to break my Ironman/Ultraman mind set and push myself in doing shorter races/workouts...and even though they are intense and painful..they are done quickly and then the rest of the day is free...I enjoy heading out for a long ride but it is nice to know that I can go out do a hard 50-70km ride and it is enough...I have always liked the long stuff, but I am enjoying not having to go long right now...my life is busy enough to not have to try to fit in 4-6 hours of biking and 2-3 hours of running in on the weekends!
SV had me do this crazy brick workout last week with him, it was intense and I figured I would hold back a little because it was only the first time I was attempting it...and I was learning how to get on my bike like a real triathlete, I even have bruises, lol... it was a killer workout and I pushed hard...I felt really strong on the bike and run and I was happy with how well I did but man was I exhausted, but I loved pushing hard, didn't hold back and learned a few new things....however, I discovered that swimming the day after an all out effort can be messy...really messy...but now that I have that first one under my belt I am excited to go out and try it again today...the sun is bright, the wind is blowing and we are off to suffer for 2 hours!!

Mothers Day!

".. is who I am because of my Mom!!"(kvk) A friend of mine wrote that on her facebook and I couldn't agree more...I truly do have the greatest Mom and she has given me so much strength and support in my life that I wouldn't be me if she wasn't my Mom.

My Mom is one of those ladies who tells you how it is, good or bad. She has a beautiful smile and strong arms that give the most amazing hugs....My Mom has cheered me on every step of the way and has one of those voices that, in a loud swim meet I could always hear her cheering, over everything else....She has always been there with an idea or way of making things easier, a shoulder to cry on or a kick in the ass to keep me in line (she says that is why I am so much taller than the rest of the family...lots of kicks in the ass, lol!)

I know I have given my Mom (and dad) several challenges over the years but they have always been there through those rough times never wavering and always making things and life better. She has taught me to be strong, to never give up and to always stay true to myself. She has the biggest heart and her relationship with my dad proves that love is meant to be constant and fair and all consuming!

I love that I have such a strong, beautiful role model, that she is my friend as well as my Mom and I don't know what I would do without her.....Mom......I LOVE YOU!!

Sporting Life 10km

I have to admit that the Sporting Life 10 km is becoming one of my favourite races. I did it for the first time in May 2009 and it was my first race in a long time and it was at the start of a new chapter for me and I had been so inspired at the start and during that run, the sounds and sights of running down Younge St in TO...I had loved every second of it and I had run a 40:30...so I was pretty happy with that race, SV has been doing this race for years and it is one of his favourites as well.. When we had decided to go to the AZ training camp we were a little disappointed to see that the Sporting Life race was on that same weekend that we would be getting back in and we didn't think that we would be able to race it this year...we talked about it and decided that we should still do it, we booked our flights so that we would get to TO Saturday night and be able to pick up our kits on Sunday morning do the race and then pick up my girlies...we knew it wouldn't be the ideal way to race after a training camp and flying and time change but we decided it didn't matter it was more about just going and having fun and being there together.

The week of training camp was insane and I have never been so tired, honestly I am very pleased with the quality of workouts that we did down there but I was dreading how much the 10 km was going to hurt on Sunday morning.

I had an ice bath after our last ride of the camp and although I hate getting into those things they sure do help. My body felt a little better on the Saturday and luckily all our travel went smoothly on the way home and we arrived at the hotel just before 8pm...SV was thinking that we wouldn't be able to sleep that night because of the time change but Barrie exhausted us and we slept like babies. Waking up was a tough one but we got ourselves organized and to the race start very early...so early that using the port-a-potties was easy..no line ups...twice...we even had time to sit in Starbucks and drink coffee...anyone who knows SV will realize how impressive this is!! (just teasing babe). It was a pretty smooth morning and we enjoyed watching all the other athletes starting to get anxious, with 14000 runners/walkers this year we had several people to amuse us.

We headed out to do a warm up run and that was eye opening, everything hurt. Felt like I had cement blocks for legs...we had talked about it and figured we would just run as hard as we could and whatever the time said that was what was going to be...this was just going to be the icing on the top of a great training week and then it would be time for Eggs Benedict!

My time from last year put me in the first coral with SV, just behind the elites. It was a fast start and the first km went by a little too quickly...I wasn't wearing a watch so I wasn't sure about how fast we ran it...but itwas a 3:33 SV told me later....I settled into my pace for the next 3-4 km...the 10 km is something foreign to me, go hard and go harder until it is over...in those 3-4 km I was trying to remember that I needed some for the end but this race just has a way of sweeping you along...so many people running and bands playing and people cheering...it is awesome! SV was slightly ahead of me during that time and I knew we were running hard but it was nice to not know just how hard we were running...By the 5km mark I was still feeling good and I wanted to try to push hard until the end, my legs felt alright, I just kept thinking "GO" ...I started to pull ahead of SV and I knew that his legs were hurting...but I also knew that he would continue to push hard...I saw a few girls ahead of me and my competitiveness got a hold of me...focus on one and reel her in...then on to the next girl...I admit I am not competitive before or after but during it is handy, lol. (SV told me later that we went through the 5km mark on pace for a 38:30...which is a PB for me at 5km distance) Around the 7km mark I was hurting...legs and lungs...I wanted it to be over. I knew I could ease up and it wouldn't hurt as bad, but I thought about everything that had happened since I did this race last year, how much I have grown and learned and I wanted to stay strong, that the suffering was worth it...I wanted to close this past year on a strong note, I told myself I deserved to be strong and not to give up it was almost over...and that it would be worth it.

I somehow missed the 8km marker so it was the longest km in my mind..I was going through so many different thoughts and couldn't figure out why I wasn't making any progress but then I saw the 9km banner and the bridge that means the end is just around the corner..there were 2 girls ahead of me and I pushed harder to catch them...I ended up passing them both, (one re-passed me just before the finish though)...but I gave it my all...when I saw the race clock I was surprised but excited...could I really have just ran that fast... I finished and the body was so happy to be done...the hamstrings and calf muscles were screaming but I barely noticed...never had I imagined that I would come off that week of training camp with a best time let alone one that was almost 2 minutes faster...I was thrilled but also felt a little ill...SV came in and his legs were toast, his calves and hamstrings were burning...but we had done it...we ran strong and got to the finish!

As we made our way out of the finish area I was hurting...we had planned to jog back to the hotel but neither of us were going to make it, we were soaking wet and cold, legs were cramping and my tummy was upset from running so hard, we took a taxi instead, lol.

We checked the results online...I had ran a 38:36.20...I placed 177 out of 11918 runners(making the first page on Sportstats results,lol), 19th woman overall out of 6691, 6th in my age category out of 1224. (also I almost even split the race, only adding 6 seconds on the second 5km) I am very happy with how I did...I didn't think I would break 40 minutes in the 10km and now I know that I can push hard with a body that is beat up, it was gives me some confidence heading into the race season...SV was proud of me despite being "chicked" lol, his time (39:40) was where he had hoped to be after the week of training....but man were we sore the rest of that day and I am still hurting today!

Final Training Camp Day

Waking up on the last day of the camp was tough...we had gone out for a great dinner with the group...(seriously the restaurants in Tucson were great--Zinburger, Sauce, North, Saffron...yummy!) but that Friday morning was a tough one to get up and get going..the legs were sore and it was a little chilly out but we managed to drag our tired bodies to the pool. The water was warm and Sean gave us a long 5500 yd swim to do. I was actually feeling good once I got going on this set and I really enjoyed the workout he put together for us. SV had a great swim and I think it helped loosen our legs up a little.

The only thing we had left to do was a final ride and Barrie thought that SV, Taylor and I should head out on this great last ride...the wicked smile on his face should have tipped me off to the fact that it was going to be a challenging one,lol. It ended up being a 115 km ride, probably the flattest ride we had gone on but the majority of it was into a strong head/cross wind. It was a tough ride and with all the biking/climbing we had in our legs I was beat. For the first 50km of the ride we were all chatting and taking pictures and having some fun, the wind was annoying but we were all still in good spirits...at one point we came upon some cows crossing the road and one got a little spooked and took off...I thought SV was done for, the cow came close to hitting him...scary but also pretty entertaining, lol. By the 70km mark our ride got very quiet..we were all down to nothing but a little bit of water and no stores in sight, the wind was getting to us and our legs were done...it was a very tough section to get through, all 3 of us were wanting it to be over and wishing for a few minutes of no wind so we could just relax and take a break unfortunately it never came so we just had to keep on working hard...there was some swearing and Barrie wasn't our favourite person at that moment.. but we got through it and 11 miles from the end we finally found a store and got some calories in us...it was a great ride, a tough one to end a tough week!

I am really impressed with the camp, I wasn't sure what AZ was going to be like but after having the chance to be there I loved it. We put in some great quality rides and I know there are many more rides that we could have done down there. It is a beautiful area with some of the most breathtaking sunsets I have ever seen. I was in awe of some of the views we had and the mountains were beautiful...so different from anything we have here. I would love to go back again and do some more training!!

Barrie put together a great camp and really made sure that each athlete was getting what they needed for their goals. He put together a very well organized camp (SV and I were even early to training events by the end of the week!) and challenged us in a way I didn't think I would be challenged down there. He took the time to talk to me about my training and racing and he put some new ideas in my head and has me pretty motivated to try some things. His knowledge and coaching style is great and I am so glad that we attended his camp and I got to know him better. He is a very impressive coach and I like the way he pushes his athletes. I look forward to doing more training with Barrie (check out his group and event http://www.c3online.ca/index.shtml)

Our goal going down there was to get fit and ready for the tri season...I think we accomplished this as I have never rode so hard in my life...my quads feel huge...ok maybe they aren't huge because my legs are a little scrawny but for me, they feel huge and I have the quad line now and I actually have some calf muscles!) We were both pretty sore and tired and bed time couldn't come soon enough for me.

We met some great people down there of all ability levels and we were able to train with some great young athletes: Sean Bechtel, David Sharrat, Andrew Woegerer, Taylor Reid and Nat Faulkner... their dedication to the sport is inspiring and I can't wait to watch them do some great things within the sport.

It was a great camp....we swam just over 25000 yds, biked almost 500km and ran 30km...a great week for me!

Day 5...Mt. Lemmon part 2

When we headed up Mt. Lemmon the first time I didn't know what to expect but once I was done I was really looking forward to attempting it a second time. SV and I were happy with how we had done the first time (I finished about 3 minutes behind him) but we decided to see if we could go up faster the second time... though I had some worries about pushing too hard and blowing up, it would be a really long climb if you pushed hard too early....Barrie split up the group so that the slower riders started at 8am, then a group of us went off at 9am and then the 3 young guys to leave at 9:30am...the goal being that we would all end up at the top of the mountain at roughly the same time.

As we were getting our bikes ready it was colder than the first day and Barrie was telling us that the wind could be a bit of an issue as it was pretty strong head winds...hmmm..that could make things interesting. SV and I started around 9:20 (I didn't think that I would be able to catch any of the people who started earlier and that the young guys would be catching me quickly). As we rode the 4 miles to the start of the climb, I told SV to not worry about me because I didn't want to try to stay with him and push too hard. Both of us were feeling all the training we had been doing and weren't sure if getting to the top faster was something that could realistically happen. We decided to have some fun and do the best we could.

The first 5 miles were good, challenging right from the start but we were chatting and checking things out, there weren't very many people on the mountain but we did see a giant lizard on the road. At the 6 mile mark, I realized we were in for a tough ride...we hit the head wind and it took my breath away. I could not believe the power of the wind and how hard I had to work to keep my bike moving upwards. When we would turn and get a tail wind it was a beautiful thing, unfortunately there were very few times when we had a tail wind. The gusts were pushing us towards the middle of the road at times and then at other times pushing us towards the gravel. I was gripping tight to my bars and scared by the feeling of my bike being pushed to the side...very intense. Close to the 12 mile mark we turned a corner into a very nasty section of wind and climb, one of the ladies in our group must have been knocked hard by the wind as she was trying to get back into her peddles but the steepness and gusts of wind were making it impossible for her, SV and I pushed hard but at times I didn't know if I was going to be able to make it, the wind was brutal.

We stopped at the 14 mile mark (windy point) and put on vests and arm warmers, it was getting cold and we still had 11 miles to climb. I looked at our split and didn't think it was possible to go faster today but with the conditions we didn't care, just getting there was going to be worth it. At no point along this climb did the wind let up...The wind added a great challenge but very exhausting. I was able to stay with SV until the 19 mile mark and then he started to put some distance into me...as we climbed I began to get really cold, the temperature was dropping, I had put some gloves in my jersey and it was difficult to control my bike and get them on but I managed...The last 5 miles were great, there is a section of down hill that I really enjoyed, it was so great to get a break and I worked really hard to catch one of our group members, Bob, who I managed to catch at mile 24. (he outraced me to the finish on the down hill telling me he couldn't get chicked at the end, lol). I caught almost everyone in front of me and the young guys didn't pass me, Yay!

Getting to the mile 25 mark was wonderful, it was so great to be done and to head into the warm cookie shack (they had the fireplace going and it was so warm!!) SV was waiting for me and we both ended up reaching our goal of getting to the top faster, SV took off a minute and a half and I took off just over 2 minutes (and closed the gap between us to under 2 minutes!! which I am pretty happy with to be honest, especially with how difficult the conditions were compared to Sunday...) We split a peanut butter cookie and a cappuccino which warmed me up, we sat in the warmth with the rest of the group talking and waiting for the others....a few people decided to bail on the ride down and I have to admit that I was pretty nervous, the way up had been dicey in sections and I was pretty intimidated by the force of the winds and the decent that I still had to do. SV and Barrie told me to just take my time and I would be alright. I was the first one to head off on the decent, I was dreading going down and I really just wanted to get it over with and I figured that the rest of them would catch me. All I can say about the decent was that it was rough. I think I held my breath for most of the ride and have never hung onto my bike so hard in all my life. I was tense and terrified in sections and have never been happier to be done a ride in all my life but at the same time I am proud of myself for doing the decent even though I was scared of it! None of the other riders caught me on the way down so that was pretty cool too, but I think everyone took extra caution on that decent. SV took some video of the decent that he and the 3 young guys did (they were not as cautious as I was lol..), I will post a link in the blog soon so you can see and hear how insane it was.

I am really impressed with the Mt. Lemmon ride, it is beautiful and challenging....and to make things even crazier they are doing an inaugural Mt. Lemmon Marathon this year...thought I would post the link because I know some of you out there may just be crazy enough to want to give it a go http://www.mountlemmonmarathon.com/

Days 3 and 4

Man, this camp is kicking my butt! Seriously, it has been a pretty intense camp so far, Barrie does a great job of making sure that everyone's needs are met and I am feeling it.

We headed into downtown Tucson to check out the area the other night and we found some great little places.

Day 3 we got to sleep in a little before we headed to the pool...we swam with the young guys and we did a pretty good workout. Caron then led the group in a core/yoga workout on the grass. The weather was insane, when we left to head out for our ride the car read 94 degrees..very stifling..a group of 5 of us headed over to do Gate's Pass while the others stayed around here and did their ride. Gate's Pass was a pretty good ride, but at times I felt like I was in a sauna...it made breathing hard and the last climb was so intense because of the heat. I have been getting my butt handed to me by the guys here, but I am holding my own pretty well I think. At times the testosterone levels get quite high and I get dropped, but never by too much. I am enjoying having people to chase and I know that if I get a flat one of them will be changing it for me, lol! After the ride Barrie had put in an optional run off the bike...I wasn't thrilled about doing it but SV and I decided why not...so off we went...I am really noticing the altitude on the runs here, not sure why it effects me on the runs compared to on the bikes, but add that into the 90+ temperatures and I suffered on that run...but it was a short one, so even though we were pushing hard it was over quickly...Day 3 was a tough long day with over 5 hours of training done...My body was tired and I barely managed to stay awake through dinner.

Day 4...hard to get out of bed...but we had a speed run to do today..I could have gone on a long aerobic run but if my goal is to try my hand at some shorter races I figured I should attempt some speed....man what a silly idea! There were 6 of us that did this run, it was 8 x 600m (with a run back recovery on 6 minutes) Sean and Taylor are these fast running machines, seriously it is impressive to watch! I found this a very tough workout, not a lot of rest by the time I ran back to the starting point and by #6 I felt like I was going to vomit... After the fourth repeat Barrie offered me the option to do 4 x 400m to finish up along with the other girl that was doing that, but I had already committed to doing the 600's....but it was tempting...To say the least I am tired now..speed work is an aspect of running I have never enjoyed, well not true, I really enjoy that it is over now!! We are just about to head to the pool for our swim which Sean promises will be a lot of pull!

So far the camp is great, intense and a great ass kicker for sure. I am tired, hungry and sore...what a great vacation!

Training Camp

My first semester of school is done and I am very happy with how I did. It is a lot of information to get through and to know but I am really enjoying it and am happy with how the first semester went...but now that finals are over I am enjoying a 2 week break before we begin again for the summer semester. On top of studying for my exams this week there was some more drama, you would think I would be used to it by now, lol...anyways all I can do is hope that eventually they will be able to move on from the anger and hurt and realize that things could go smoothly if we worked together and that is what I hope for... the girls and I are doing well and are getting through all the ups and downs of this past year....hard to believe a year has gone by but life has gone on and we are doing well and I know each year will get easier. So we just keep moving forward.

Since I have a break from school we decided to do some training...tri season is fast approaching and as we are working out what races we want to do, we thought it would be fun to get away and push ourselves...we had looked at a few options and decided to try something new. Barrie Shepley, the head coach for the Olympic Triathlon team for the Sydney games does a camp each year and this year we thought his camp in AZ would be a good fit for us. SV knew some of the guys who were going to be at the camp riding and it promised to have some great rides.

Getting here was a little hectic as our connecting flight was pulling away from the gate as we raced up, we ended up having to spend 2 hours in the Denver airport but it really wasn't too bad.

Day one was great, we headed to the pool which was at a resort for a nice little warm up swim, 4 of us did 4200 yards and I felt a little sluggish, SV and I think it could have something to do with the time difference and the altitude...we then headed to the park where Barrie's wife Caron, led the group in a yoga session, SV even gave it a go and said it wasn't so bad, lol! Later in the day we headed out for a ride...everyone was riding at least 70km and there was an option to continue on and do a 12 mile decent and then turn around and head back...we decided to do the extra but about half way down, I started thinking to myself that it may have been silly to do the extra as it meant 12 miles of climbing a 7% grade to get back up for the last 35km...in the end it wasn't that bad, I was tired as we rolled back to the condo's...total for the day was 110km and the legs could feel the climbing but I felt good so I was happy. We found a great little Mexican place and then crashed for the night!

Day 2 started bright and early as we drove over to Mt. Lemmon....I had heard about this ride and knew it was going to be a challenging one but I was looking forward to it...we started 4 miles away from the start of the climb and I was anxious, everyone was talking about how hard it was going to be and I was a little intimidated, but I figured I would just ride my own ride, stay where I was comfortable and I would get to the top when I got to the top. The ride starts at a sign that says mile 0 and ends at mile 25 and a cookie stand (there is an option to do an extra bit to the ski resort but I opted out of this for this ride) it ends up being 5500 feet of climbing and you reach over 8000 feet elevation and once you get to mile 22 there is snow on the mountain..... I ended up loving this ride, it was hard and challenging and at points I was begging for a break in the climbing just to have a minute of coasting but I felt strong and comfortable the entire way. There were tonnes of people out doing the climb and at tough sections I was motivated by the people who were on their way down...it looked awesome.

We got to the top and as promised the cookies were huge. We sat for a bit eating our cookies and talking with the other athletes before heading back down. There are 2 small areas of climbing as you head back out, that after eating a giant cookie and slice of pizza are really no fun at all....but the rest of the ride down was fast and fun and I have to admit at times pretty scary. We finished this ride and I was tired we had done 95km and the legs were happy to be done...and I had McDonald's fries for the first time in years (can't even remember the last time I had McDonald's french fries, but the salt was worth it!) Barrie and SV said that I did a good job and I can tell that all the trainer rides we did have really helped...I'm getting there! Now we are lying around having a beer and trying to get excited to head out for a short run and then head to the pool for a swim (which is going to be ugly but the pull buoy should help, lol) and then a team dinner....So far I am very impressed with Arizona for it's riding, we have done 2 rides and they were great ones! I have a feeling this camp is going to kick my butt a lot but hey that is what we are hoping for!!