Back in Austin!!!

Once again I have found myself in Austin. I suppose that from the moment I left Austin in late February I was itching to get back. I knew it was where I was supposed to be. Ottawa was good to me as usual – seeing friends, training, getting my taxes done (thanks Gary and Wendy at Logan Katz!!) but really I just wanted to be here.

While in Ottawa I developed what I now know to be iliopsoas tendonitis. What this meant was that I was a bit stressed out as to whether to run or not to run. Aches are normal but pain is something else and sometimes it is hard to know the difference. After going back and forth a few days between resting it then trying to run, I decided to take a week off running. Given my recent history I got a bone scan to make sure that my bones were good. Other than learning that I had not just pulled an intercostal muscle in December but actually cracked a rib (no wonder it hurt so much!) all was good. Like I said before in a previous blog the hardest part of an injury is: a) not knowing what it is; b) understanding why it happened; and, c) believing that you will be ok and that not all is lost. Basically though, I get grumpy (hence the lack of writing on my blog).

So to get at the why an injury happens, how to prevent injury and most importantly achieve optimal performance is what I have been grappling with. Part of this is analysing what it is about Austin that supports my renewed sense of self as a professional triathlete. Although I think that I have a long ways to go to answering these questions I have learned a few things that I think are essential for where I am now.

I have got to where I am now thanks to my absolute dedication, consistency and motivation to build my motor. I have had countless lactate tests which drove my individualized training program with Peak Centre. The consistency of my training has been like clock work balancing intensityand volume within a very regimented schedule. This was done while balancing a demanding job where I was always “on” when I was there. I don’t think that any other approach would have worked and given me such power for the training time spent as my schedule was everything to keep me going. I never stopped. This was my reality up until January of this year when I became a full-time athlete.

There are however other aspects of training that I am only fully appreciating now and have the ability, time and space to really investigate and apply. These are stretching, sport specific economy and finally, strategy. Zane Castro and Steve Sisson’s elite running group at Rogue have had a huge influence on me and have led by example rather than words. Basically what I have learnt is really summed up in what elite triathlete Sarah Groff had to say in her blog http://in-the-arena-sarah.blogspot.com/. To be an elite athlete is not only to do the hard work and push through it but to address every detail of your being. Training consistently is key and when you are training on the edge the only way to continue training consistently without injury is to implement, without excuse, the details. This is where the only consistency I have had is falling short.

I also recently read the book on Hamish Carter (2004 Gold medalist Triathlon) which really opened my eyes to the strategy and planning that has to go into a race season and race. As for race specificity Hamish trained for one race the whole year- the Olympics. There was a killer hill in Athens and it was evident he was prepared physically and mentally for it. Not only did he physically take it on 6 times as though he were dancing on the pedals, he had the confidence that it took to dance up that hill 6 times. Confidence is the difference from 1^st to 2^nd and sometimes the whole top-10. If you don’t know, and I mean really know you can, you won’t.

Finally, my last point as I ramble on is that we all need people to help motivate and push ourselves past what we thought we could. I need people to train with and learn from – I can’t nor do I want to do every training session alone.

So where does this leave me. With homework and lots of it. I am cramming what it took Hamish Carter to learn in 10-14 years of competing at the elite level in triathlon in 5. I always loved a good challenge. Each person on my team plays a role but it is up to me to clarify and ensure that I am putting it together and have the right lead. I have to trust myself to take what I know, what I am learning and apply it. So stay tuned because I just have this feeling lots of good things are happening… starting with this pain in the iliopsoas going away!!!!

A tough day....

On my second espresso. I have eaten my morning oatmeal, fruit, yoghurt combination and am now gearing up for my long run for the week and then ride later on. It is still cold out and so I am waiting until we get above the freezing point. Why rush it? Yesterday was a tough day of training and so I thought I would post something about it - what a tough day is in my world. On the agenda was a morning indoor trainer race at the Peak Centre, a 8M steady run with some hill drills and to top it off a swim in the afternoon.

This past week (compared to the week before which was recovery one) was tough with every day giving me some sort of hard intensity either on the bike, swim, or run. Fridays are off for me so Saturdays seem like I am waking my body up again. The moment I started the race my legs felt heavy. I had power but it was going to be tough. Sue Schlatter - incredible rider, mom, inspiration to me was beside me and the question was how badly was she going to kick my ass. Then there was Alex a few bikes down. I beat him last week by 1 second so he was ready to redeem himself. I, in other words, was in trouble. I went out hard trying to stay in touch with the two of them - started to lose ground, tried to pull it back up and then totally blew up. Ouch. I finished the race a few minutes behind and pedaling sheepishly to the finish line. I did however have that dizzy, I worked my butt off, have a hard time walking problem so definitely did my job of stressing the system. I decided then that my run would be a much more positive experience if I had a short nap so home I went. Nap - brilliant. The run - to start was not good... my stomach was not cooperating. Ran to the hill, did drills and slowly my body said ok it would work with me. Ran 5 miles steady and actually felt fantastic. Then boom, my body was done again so I had to slow down completely. My stomach turned around on me and I had to walk the last .5M so I didn't lose everything inside of me... uggg. The swim - by this time I think that I was dehydrated. It was hard to keep pace with the nutrition for this day. I decided that the focus was to just swim - I didn't have to kill it. There was some sprinty stuff but 25m at a time is most definitely manageable.

The point of this blog I suppose is to say that a hard day for me is not just about putting my body through the grind but the mental up and down of it all. There were moments of brilliance in the way of good power, speed, form. These moments, however, were fleeting as I had to slow down to a slow pedal or walk. I kept plugging away and just hoped that it would be ok, that my body would come around again... sometimes it did. I listened to my body and went with what I had in that moment. I suppose this is kind of like life except wrapped up all in a day - when you are going through the tough stuff, have faith that things will come around again. Deal with the present and don't worry about the future - it will come. And importantly make sure you finish the day with a piece of apple pie. You made it.

Every bit counts

I posted this on Trirudy (Friday March 5th) as there was much discussion happening with respect to the "Own the Podium" initiative of the Canadian government, the Olympics and funding in general. This was my two cents....

Another four year cycle is over with the conclusion of the Olympic Winter Games. For every single one of those athletes at the games there were at least five other athletes from across Canada that were close enough to have a dream to also be there, represent Canada and become one of the very few who reach this pinnacle of sport.

In reading the recent posts on Trirudy I was interested on the various view points of OTP coupled with the posts by Cliff on the Lifesport Pro Camp – what it takes to be a pro (i.e., elite athlete). There are two points here I want to make. First is that no athlete can make it to the Olympics without fully devoting every waking and sleeping moment to their sport for numerous years. Second is that no athlete can devote every waking and sleeping moment to their sport if they don’t have incredible people behind them also willing to sacrifice their time and/or money.

For me – I have a dream to represent Canada at the 2012 Olympics in London. I was the sixth Canadian at Nationals this past year and am one of the few who have a real shot to make it to the top. I would not have been able to dream and take the plunge to become a full-time athlete this January if it were not for my family, amazing friends, and countless individuals that give me tangible support week-in and week-out (from training, housing, massage, spider-tech tape, to bikes, bike mechanics etc.). To be an elite athlete I saved money by working full-time, reducing it to 15 hours over the course of 4 years and then selling everything that was not related directly to my goal. Now that I am not juggling work and training and am devoting every moment to my sport I believe I will be representing Canada at World Cups this season and will make the necessary steps to compete against the best in the world.

Listening to Olympians interviews each recognized the support that they had behind them to get them where they were. There is an expression that says “It takes a village to raise a child” - the same goes for an elite athlete – it takes a whole community. Own the Podium is important but do not forget for every athlete that made it and received funding from this or the summer equivalent Road to Excellence initiative there are several others that did not get support because they were either in the “wrong sport” (ie not the chosen few) or not quite there… yet (think of Carolyn Murray 2008 Beijing Olympic Team). They figured out a way to believe in themselves, work day-in and day-out on their passion, and simply take care of every detail there is to be the best they can be. This takes living every day without fear, with joy and certainly a lot of faith that it really will all work out.

Whether I make it to the Olympic Games in London or not I can say that I am living everyday with passion and no regrets, that I would not have made it without my incredible community of support and that already I am living my dream. I hope that what I am doing now inspires others and I know that one day I will also be able to give back.

So dream on and keep supporting those around you to be the best they can be. Every, and I mean every, bit counts.