Its the day after my first track and field meet. I'm not certain how I feel about the experience. There were lots of young faces and plenty of anxious parents sizing up the competition on behalf of their sons and daughters regardless of whether their child wanted to know anything about the competition.
I watched one father and mother approach a young girl just to find out how old she was. The young girl was from Montreal and she was 9 yrs old. She ran in the heat just ahead of me. Both she and her older brother are naturally talented runners. I wish I took the time to ask her her name. She was quite nervous, but she ran a great race. She beat a few older girls which raised eyebrows. That's why this father and mother who perched beside me on the stands looking like vultures at the ready, wanted to find out if this talented 9 yrs old was their daughter's competition. I wanted to say something to the parents but I just sat there and kept my mouth shut. Not my place to say anything. These are the kinds of people I detest being around. The parents that lack any respect for the competition or the sport.
A day later, I am still wondering what lessons learned I can take away? I learned that their is no margin for error in a sprint distance race. It is fundamentally critical that you execute the game plan from the moment the Race Officals says, 'on your mark'. In fact, I am more apt to believe that the execution of the game plan begins in practice. You have to be able to practice your game plan in order to perfect it. Come race day, the execution of the game plan is essentially second nature. The difference between first and second is purely the mind game. If you believe you will
win the race, you will. If you can execute your game plan to perfection the result is inevitable. She who can execute a flawless plan is triumphant.
So what next? Well, I have to build a race game plan that I can practice every time I go to the track. Simply running down the track and trying to go faster each and every time is not enough. I will also have to rethink my Plan B. I am learning invaluable running skills but I also need to
translate that into a fast 5km race. I also have to determine if I am even talented enough to be doing sprints. I like endurance events and I'm just not convinced that I have the fast twitch muscles necessary to become a 'speedster'. What I have decided to do is set milestones. If I am unable to achieve two successive milestones, then I will revisit my commitment to track and field - to the sprint distance race. At the same time that I set milestones for my sprinting, I will set milestones for my 5km race. I think I already know the outcome but this means that I am situating my estimate to a certain degree, and that is not good thing.
I have decided to keep an open mind, build milestones and focusing on achieving those milestones head on. Its going to be a tough 4th quarter but I have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Lets wait and see.
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Friday, December 17, 2010
Training with Yoda
When you have one of the top National Sprinting coaches in Canada taking interest in your running, you know you have struck pay-dirt !!
Three short weeks after placing third at the World Paratrithlon championships, I met Hugh Conlin. With my trusty coach Helen Cooper by my side, Hugh asked if I would be interested in trying sprints - the 100m and the 200m. I was a little shocked at the offer. I even asked him, "are you certain I am talented enough to do sprints?" He just laughed and told me not to worry about it. Two short weeks later and I am starting my first ever sprinting session with this amazing person I have now dubbed YODA. I have learned so much about good running technique in such a short time - it was awesome. Sprinting is incredibly technical, completely powerful, and absolutely frightening all rolled up into one. I was hooked. Sprinting is not for the faint of heart, and it takes the courage of a lion to step into a starting block.
Its been 5 weeks since I started training with YODA. This Saturday, I am going to do my first race. I'm stoked. I am going to have a great race and an even greater day.
To my good friend Helen (aka Obi-Wan Kenobi), thank you for believing in me, for taking a chance on me, and for allowing me to achieve amazing things on the track and out on the triathlon race course. Together we will change the world one race at a time!!
Three short weeks after placing third at the World Paratrithlon championships, I met Hugh Conlin. With my trusty coach Helen Cooper by my side, Hugh asked if I would be interested in trying sprints - the 100m and the 200m. I was a little shocked at the offer. I even asked him, "are you certain I am talented enough to do sprints?" He just laughed and told me not to worry about it. Two short weeks later and I am starting my first ever sprinting session with this amazing person I have now dubbed YODA. I have learned so much about good running technique in such a short time - it was awesome. Sprinting is incredibly technical, completely powerful, and absolutely frightening all rolled up into one. I was hooked. Sprinting is not for the faint of heart, and it takes the courage of a lion to step into a starting block.
Its been 5 weeks since I started training with YODA. This Saturday, I am going to do my first race. I'm stoked. I am going to have a great race and an even greater day.
To my good friend Helen (aka Obi-Wan Kenobi), thank you for believing in me, for taking a chance on me, and for allowing me to achieve amazing things on the track and out on the triathlon race course. Together we will change the world one race at a time!!
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Kim Got The Bronze!!!
I've got a soaking wet, slightly disappointed, but overall content Kimberly upstairs here in the hotel. She had a great race, but just couldn't run as hard as she wanted to - the mind was there, but the leg(s) couold only do so much. Once I look after the care and feeding of my little triathlete, I'll write more!!
Friday, September 10, 2010
Day 5 in Budapest
Quiet day in Budapest. Lots of race prep. Getting ready to head down to the transition area to drop off Kim's bike - it's rainy, so we are going to get wet!! Got some nice emails from CF members (including the CDS - thanks sir!!) Kim seems pretty calm and ready to race, so all is good!!
Thursday, September 9, 2010
End of Day 4 in Budapest
Well, it was a long and busy day here in Budapest. Got up early for a team breakfast, followed by a trip (for Kim) down to the race site for registration. I headed into Pest to recce out the other spots we would be visiting today. We linked up for the Paratriathlete Briefing at 1330 and went to the Team Canada Meet and Greet at a local sports bar (owned by an expat Canadian and, supposedly, Wayne Gretzky). This was followed by the Team Canada photo. While the rest of the team headed out for the opening ceremonies, we headed over to the Hotel Intercontinental to get Kim classified. So, according to the experts, Kim is actually missing her right leg above the knee - can you see the sarcasm at all? Anyway, she has officially been classified and can qualify for medals now.
We will head down to the race site again tomorrow, to check out the newly-set up transition area and to drop Kim's bike off. After that, it is all race prep, all of the time...
I think I will go and drink a tasty beer now...
We will head down to the race site again tomorrow, to check out the newly-set up transition area and to drop Kim's bike off. After that, it is all race prep, all of the time...
I think I will go and drink a tasty beer now...
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
From The Canadian Press: Triathlon guides Canadian athlete Kimberly Fawcett-Smith through tragedy
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/breakingnews/triathlon-guides-canadian-athlete-kimberly-fawcett-smith-through-tragedy-102463004.html
Triathlon helped Kimberly Fawcett-Smith recover from losing her son, her leg and much of her military career in one terrible accident. The Air Force captain was preparing to leave for Afghanistan on Feb. 21, 2006. Her husband Maj. Curtis Smith was preparing to potentially deploy to the Congo.
Fawcett-Smith was taking their infant son Keiran from CFB Kingston to his grandmother's home in the city, where he would be cared for in his parents' absence. An accident occurred on the icy road ahead of her car. Fearing further collisions, Fawcett-Smith exited her vehicle and climbed an embankment near the highway. She was holding Keiran, not yet 10 months old, when they were both struck by another vehicle.
"This guy lost control of his vehicle. He was travelling way too fast," Fawcett-Smith says.
Keiran was killed and Fawcett-Smith lost her right leg up to her hip.
"It was the button to my combat pants that got caught in the grille of the vehicle and that's what caused the injury and the amputation of my leg," the 40-year-old from Ottawa recalls in a recent interview.
She had participated in short triathlons and was training for a marathon at the time of the accident. Throwing herself into the world of endurance racing, with the mountainous physical and mental challenges that entailed without a leg, helped her cope with her grief.
Her dedication has also led Fawcett-Smith to the elite level of her sport. On Saturday, Fawcett-Smith will compete for Canada at the world paratriathlon championship in Budapest, Hungary.
"My recovery success is 90 per cent attributable to triathlon and the rest to a great husband and wonderful family support," Fawcett-Smith says. "I have always used physical fitness as a mechanism to help deal with stress."
Fawcett-Smith had to learn to swim, bike and run again, all the while searching for prosthetic legs that were technical enough to allow her to race at a high level.
"I needed the thrill of the fight," she says. "I like being challenged and I needed to be able to say 'I conquered it and I won.' Triathlon is what did it for me, the three toughest things I've ever had to do without a leg."
In Budapest, she'll be joined in the sprint distance, which is a 750-metre swim, 20-kilometre bike and 5k run, by Jody Barber of Smithers, B.C., also a nordic skier in this year's Paralympics, Pierre Ouelett of Ancienne-Lorette, Que., Darren Smith of Victoria, Charles Moreau of Trois-Rivieres, Que., Grant Darby of Hamilton, Lorene Hatelt of Brampton, Ont., and Calgary's Kim Wedgerfield.
Canada's paratriathlon team is training in Budapest this week in preparation for Saturday's race.
"I'm hoping to win. That's been my goal since Day 1," Fawcett-Smith says. "I'll have a good day, but I'm asking for a great race for myself. I know it's in there somewhere. I just need to unleash it."
Fawcett-Smith will race in the AK category for above-knee amputees. She was third at the world championships two years ago in Vancouver. She wasn't able to race last year in Australia because she was anemic and the country was on H1N1 alert.
The world paratriathlon championship coincides with the Grand Final of the International Triathon Union's world championship series in Budapest. The seven-race series determines the men's and women's world champions.
Three-time Olympian Simon Whitfield of Victoria and Kyle Jones of Oakville, Ont., compete in the men's elite race Saturday. Edmonton's Paula Findlay, currently eighth in the women's standings, is the lone Canadian in the women's elite event Sunday.
Kirsten Sweetland and Jeff Philipps of Victoria and Andrew Yorke of Caledon, Ont., are Canada's entries in the world under-23 championships Saturday.
Alison Hooper, Matt Sharpe and Christine Ridfenour of Victoria, Alexander Hinton of Kingston, Ont., Joanna Brown of Carp, Ont., and Cole Stewart of Langley, B.C., comprise the Canadian team for the world junior championship Sunday.
Saturday is the ninth anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks that sent Fawcett-Smith to Afghanistan multiple times during her military career.
Her brother, Warrant Officer Scott Fawcett, is currently serving there on his second tour. Fawcett-Smith races with a yellow ribbon tied to her bike handlebars as a reminder her brother still fights the same fight she did.
"I was deployed right after the attacks," she explains. "For me, going to race on that day has profound significance. I have a lot of reasons to race and that just adds fuel to the fire."
She also rides for Keiran, whom she calls her gift because he was born after two miscarriages.
"He's our little angel on my shoulder telling me 'Go mommy, go!' How could you not go faster?"
Fawcett-Smith says she was carrying out her military duty when she lost her son.
"Both my husband and I were on high-readiness units," she says. "We have a responsibility to find a place for our dependents to go to if we are deployed at the same time. I lost my son executing that duty.
"It's a little hard for me because in the action of doing my duty, I lost my son. He didn't get wiped out in Afghanistan, but he was killed right here at home."
Fawcett-Smith returned to Afganistan an amputee soldier in November 2008 to work with families of fallen soldiers there.
"My job was to basically try and help address the families' needs and concerns and answer questions and allow them to see the camp," she explains.
"I needed to prove to myself that I could still do the job. It was without question, the toughest task I've ever had to do in my entire life because I'm a grieving mother as well and I'm standing alongside grieving mothers. It had only been two years since I lost my own son."
She's now based in Ottawa at the Canadian Operational Support Command, but would like to return to Afghanistan if the right mission came along.
"The sad part of the military is once you lose a leg you are considered walking wounded," she says. "Basically promotions, the good jobs have been taken away from me. There's really nothing left for me to do over there.
"I went from a high-profile, high-performance job with JTF2, our elite special forces, to doing business planning. It's a little deflating because I didn't lose my brain, I lost my leg. I'm not the only amputee soldier to face that."
Through triathlon, however, Fawcett-Smith feels she's helping others in the military who have lost limbs. She completed her first Ironman — a 3.8-kilometre swim, 180k bike and a marathon run of 42.195 kilometres — this summer in Lake Placid, N.Y.
She's hoping paratriathlon is included at the 2012 Paralympics in London, even if it's a demonstration sport, and she wants to race in it.
"I keep doing triathlon as a way to demonstrate to other soldiers coming back that there's more than just rehab and more than just physio," she says.
Fawcett-Smith would like to become a paratriathlon coach, once she gets more racing experience under her belt.
"There's lots of thing I could do to help out youngsters and those suffering from traumatic limb loss and there's lots of them," she observes. "A lot more than I ever thought."
Triathlon helped Kimberly Fawcett-Smith recover from losing her son, her leg and much of her military career in one terrible accident. The Air Force captain was preparing to leave for Afghanistan on Feb. 21, 2006. Her husband Maj. Curtis Smith was preparing to potentially deploy to the Congo.
Fawcett-Smith was taking their infant son Keiran from CFB Kingston to his grandmother's home in the city, where he would be cared for in his parents' absence. An accident occurred on the icy road ahead of her car. Fearing further collisions, Fawcett-Smith exited her vehicle and climbed an embankment near the highway. She was holding Keiran, not yet 10 months old, when they were both struck by another vehicle.
"This guy lost control of his vehicle. He was travelling way too fast," Fawcett-Smith says.
Keiran was killed and Fawcett-Smith lost her right leg up to her hip.
"It was the button to my combat pants that got caught in the grille of the vehicle and that's what caused the injury and the amputation of my leg," the 40-year-old from Ottawa recalls in a recent interview.
She had participated in short triathlons and was training for a marathon at the time of the accident. Throwing herself into the world of endurance racing, with the mountainous physical and mental challenges that entailed without a leg, helped her cope with her grief.
Her dedication has also led Fawcett-Smith to the elite level of her sport. On Saturday, Fawcett-Smith will compete for Canada at the world paratriathlon championship in Budapest, Hungary.
"My recovery success is 90 per cent attributable to triathlon and the rest to a great husband and wonderful family support," Fawcett-Smith says. "I have always used physical fitness as a mechanism to help deal with stress."
Fawcett-Smith had to learn to swim, bike and run again, all the while searching for prosthetic legs that were technical enough to allow her to race at a high level.
"I needed the thrill of the fight," she says. "I like being challenged and I needed to be able to say 'I conquered it and I won.' Triathlon is what did it for me, the three toughest things I've ever had to do without a leg."
In Budapest, she'll be joined in the sprint distance, which is a 750-metre swim, 20-kilometre bike and 5k run, by Jody Barber of Smithers, B.C., also a nordic skier in this year's Paralympics, Pierre Ouelett of Ancienne-Lorette, Que., Darren Smith of Victoria, Charles Moreau of Trois-Rivieres, Que., Grant Darby of Hamilton, Lorene Hatelt of Brampton, Ont., and Calgary's Kim Wedgerfield.
Canada's paratriathlon team is training in Budapest this week in preparation for Saturday's race.
"I'm hoping to win. That's been my goal since Day 1," Fawcett-Smith says. "I'll have a good day, but I'm asking for a great race for myself. I know it's in there somewhere. I just need to unleash it."
Fawcett-Smith will race in the AK category for above-knee amputees. She was third at the world championships two years ago in Vancouver. She wasn't able to race last year in Australia because she was anemic and the country was on H1N1 alert.
The world paratriathlon championship coincides with the Grand Final of the International Triathon Union's world championship series in Budapest. The seven-race series determines the men's and women's world champions.
Three-time Olympian Simon Whitfield of Victoria and Kyle Jones of Oakville, Ont., compete in the men's elite race Saturday. Edmonton's Paula Findlay, currently eighth in the women's standings, is the lone Canadian in the women's elite event Sunday.
Kirsten Sweetland and Jeff Philipps of Victoria and Andrew Yorke of Caledon, Ont., are Canada's entries in the world under-23 championships Saturday.
Alison Hooper, Matt Sharpe and Christine Ridfenour of Victoria, Alexander Hinton of Kingston, Ont., Joanna Brown of Carp, Ont., and Cole Stewart of Langley, B.C., comprise the Canadian team for the world junior championship Sunday.
Saturday is the ninth anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks that sent Fawcett-Smith to Afghanistan multiple times during her military career.
Her brother, Warrant Officer Scott Fawcett, is currently serving there on his second tour. Fawcett-Smith races with a yellow ribbon tied to her bike handlebars as a reminder her brother still fights the same fight she did.
"I was deployed right after the attacks," she explains. "For me, going to race on that day has profound significance. I have a lot of reasons to race and that just adds fuel to the fire."
She also rides for Keiran, whom she calls her gift because he was born after two miscarriages.
"He's our little angel on my shoulder telling me 'Go mommy, go!' How could you not go faster?"
Fawcett-Smith says she was carrying out her military duty when she lost her son.
"Both my husband and I were on high-readiness units," she says. "We have a responsibility to find a place for our dependents to go to if we are deployed at the same time. I lost my son executing that duty.
"It's a little hard for me because in the action of doing my duty, I lost my son. He didn't get wiped out in Afghanistan, but he was killed right here at home."
Fawcett-Smith returned to Afganistan an amputee soldier in November 2008 to work with families of fallen soldiers there.
"My job was to basically try and help address the families' needs and concerns and answer questions and allow them to see the camp," she explains.
"I needed to prove to myself that I could still do the job. It was without question, the toughest task I've ever had to do in my entire life because I'm a grieving mother as well and I'm standing alongside grieving mothers. It had only been two years since I lost my own son."
She's now based in Ottawa at the Canadian Operational Support Command, but would like to return to Afghanistan if the right mission came along.
"The sad part of the military is once you lose a leg you are considered walking wounded," she says. "Basically promotions, the good jobs have been taken away from me. There's really nothing left for me to do over there.
"I went from a high-profile, high-performance job with JTF2, our elite special forces, to doing business planning. It's a little deflating because I didn't lose my brain, I lost my leg. I'm not the only amputee soldier to face that."
Through triathlon, however, Fawcett-Smith feels she's helping others in the military who have lost limbs. She completed her first Ironman — a 3.8-kilometre swim, 180k bike and a marathon run of 42.195 kilometres — this summer in Lake Placid, N.Y.
She's hoping paratriathlon is included at the 2012 Paralympics in London, even if it's a demonstration sport, and she wants to race in it.
"I keep doing triathlon as a way to demonstrate to other soldiers coming back that there's more than just rehab and more than just physio," she says.
Fawcett-Smith would like to become a paratriathlon coach, once she gets more racing experience under her belt.
"There's lots of thing I could do to help out youngsters and those suffering from traumatic limb loss and there's lots of them," she observes. "A lot more than I ever thought."
Day 3 in Budapest
Hi All,
Overall, another good day. Did a bit of bike work with Kim this morning. I (2Legs) then went out for a 16k run (not entirely intentionally...) Went to the Race site and watched the Aquathon (Swim/Run competition). Had a good lunch, then a nap, then some mental skills training. Kim is now writing out her race plan for Saturday, while I am slaving away over this blog.
The race site is pretty nice. The only issue we are having right now is that the water temp is 14 friggin' Celcius - kinda chilly. This may stop the paras from going for a pre-race familiarization swim, as they tend to suffer in the water more than the average age-group athlete. I ran the bike/run course today - relatively flat, so it should be fast!!
Took lots of pictures, so they will be up as soon as I figure out how to upload them!!
Overall, another good day. Did a bit of bike work with Kim this morning. I (2Legs) then went out for a 16k run (not entirely intentionally...) Went to the Race site and watched the Aquathon (Swim/Run competition). Had a good lunch, then a nap, then some mental skills training. Kim is now writing out her race plan for Saturday, while I am slaving away over this blog.
The race site is pretty nice. The only issue we are having right now is that the water temp is 14 friggin' Celcius - kinda chilly. This may stop the paras from going for a pre-race familiarization swim, as they tend to suffer in the water more than the average age-group athlete. I ran the bike/run course today - relatively flat, so it should be fast!!
Took lots of pictures, so they will be up as soon as I figure out how to upload them!!
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
End of Day 2 in Budapest
Busy day!! As mentioned earlier, Kim went for a swim with the team. She got to meet some of the elite Team Canada athletes and had a good workout. Did some mental skills training later with the coaches, put together her bike and did some transition training. Had a nice meal at a swanky restaurant and am now thinking very hard about going to bed. Tomorrow will be a route recce of the bike course and some more mental skills training. As far as I'm concerned, Kim doesn't need any mental training...
Have a good one.
Have a good one.
Here in Budapest!!!
OK, we made it. Long flight but all right. Bit of an adventure to get downtown from the airport, but nothing too crazy. It is 0900 on Tuesday morning - Kim is off for a Team Canada swim with her para teammates. There are about 8 of them, along with 2 coaches. I am off to look for coffee - in my humble opinion, a more important mission than swimming...
Budapest is very nice. Lots of old buildings and tons of tourists. It is sunny outside and a bit cool. All of the triathletes are contemplating what they are going to wear on race day because of the coolness.
Our hotel is nice. Food is pretty good and cheap - paid the equivalent of $10 last night for a pizza and a 1/2 litre beer - most awesome, I must say!!
We'll put together Kim's bike later this afternoon, then do a transition skills session. Tomorrow we'll go for a bike ride - you take your life into your hands biking on some of these roads, so I'll have to do a bit of a recce later.
More to follow later!!!
Budapest is very nice. Lots of old buildings and tons of tourists. It is sunny outside and a bit cool. All of the triathletes are contemplating what they are going to wear on race day because of the coolness.
Our hotel is nice. Food is pretty good and cheap - paid the equivalent of $10 last night for a pizza and a 1/2 litre beer - most awesome, I must say!!
We'll put together Kim's bike later this afternoon, then do a transition skills session. Tomorrow we'll go for a bike ride - you take your life into your hands biking on some of these roads, so I'll have to do a bit of a recce later.
More to follow later!!!
Saturday, September 4, 2010
One Week Until Budapest
This week had a few rough patches, but training has gone well. I am fit and I am so ready to race. I have been ready for over a month now and trying to stay mentally sharp has been a challenge. Run training this week was phenomenal - thank you Helen Cooper. Bike training was also good. We had some major winds to contend with this week - parts of Hurricane Earl, I think. Really challenged me to figure out how to handle my bike with race wheels. Its all good. So if there is any wind, I'm still going to burn up the course. Same same with swim training. I am very ready. Many thanks to Vicki Keith and Tom Anzai.
Mentally, I have had to re-read Terry Orlick, Pursuit of Excellence (some chapters more so than others) to help keep my brain in the zone. I find the 'waiting' for the race rather tiresome and my mind tends to stray away. When I do that…I tend to start picking apart my training in an effort to get the technique a bit stronger, or more fluid or whatever. What I did was in effect, start getting down on myself. NO NO NO…not a good thing to do. So, I had to go back read some of the passages that applied to me, and revamp. I am as ready for the race as I have ever been. Trust in my training, trust in my coaches, and trust in me !! I'm good. I can start to taper and just enjoy life.
Next week is Team Canada's inaugural paratriathlon training camp. The focus is mental skills training, and race course familiarization. I'm so thrilled by this opportunity. It will give me a chance to learn how to analyze the course and determine a race strategy. I have my own race mission (which I will execute flawlessly)…but having a strategy based on what the ground tells me, will help me tweak the execution. Always be flexible…this is what I have learned. If you have never seen the race site - I have never been to Budapest - you have to have a race mission that is flexible. If there are mountains to climb, or cobblestones to run over…the plan will change slightly !!
My bike is packed and my suitcase is 1/2 packed. I will finish up tomorrow by noon. Then its off to the airport for 1400h. Our flight does not leave until 1715h but I want to be early to permit the Transport Authority to inspect my bike box before I seal it up. That way, I can avoid having it re-inspected while in Frankfurt and my bike should arrive all in one piece.
I will try and blog everyday right up until we return home…to give everyone a play by play of how I am doing and feeling as we get closer to race day. How exciting. I'm so stoked !!
Monday, August 16, 2010
Update
Hi everyone! Well a couple of good things have happened since my last post.
I had a great interview with Carolyn Waldo of CTV Sports. She's an amazing women and a true inspiration to me. Carolyn is helping me document my road to the World Paratriathlon Championships in Budapest, Hungary on September 11th. Please be sure to watch !!
I also had some promotional photography done by G.R. Martin photography. Julie and Guy are phenomenal photographers and I am so fortunate to be working with them. We did a running photo shoot up at Major's Hill Park. It took a few 100 snaps to get the right shot, but I believe we got it. Sunset and Parliament in the background. Can't wait to show them off.
Unfortunately I had a bad fall while running over the weekend. Road paint, wet weather conditions, and a running flex foot don't mix!! If they call it road rash when a bike slips off its wheels, wonder what I should call a slip off a prosthetic...a road wax? Was thinking that leg wax can remove hair on your leg just as effectively as the road will falling off your leg!! I am out for Nationals in Kelowna however. My running leg goes in for a tune up next week. I want to make certain its ready for Budapest and there are no surprises. Gotta go.
I had a great interview with Carolyn Waldo of CTV Sports. She's an amazing women and a true inspiration to me. Carolyn is helping me document my road to the World Paratriathlon Championships in Budapest, Hungary on September 11th. Please be sure to watch !!
I also had some promotional photography done by G.R. Martin photography. Julie and Guy are phenomenal photographers and I am so fortunate to be working with them. We did a running photo shoot up at Major's Hill Park. It took a few 100 snaps to get the right shot, but I believe we got it. Sunset and Parliament in the background. Can't wait to show them off.
Unfortunately I had a bad fall while running over the weekend. Road paint, wet weather conditions, and a running flex foot don't mix!! If they call it road rash when a bike slips off its wheels, wonder what I should call a slip off a prosthetic...a road wax? Was thinking that leg wax can remove hair on your leg just as effectively as the road will falling off your leg!! I am out for Nationals in Kelowna however. My running leg goes in for a tune up next week. I want to make certain its ready for Budapest and there are no surprises. Gotta go.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Race For Our Lives and Salvation
From the Lake Placid News - http://www.lakeplacidnews.com/page/content.detail/id/502678/-Race-for-our-lives-and-salvation-.html?nav=5007
LAKE PLACID — Of the thousands of athletes who emerged from the turbulent Mirror Lake during the Lake Placid Ironman, most went by in a blur, disappearing from memory as soon as they hit the sandy beach.
But some were hard to forget. The images of the athletes rising from the water were powerful statements of perseverance and courage as they began a long day that included a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike and 26.2-mile run.
It was inspiring to see blind triathlete Mark Griffin and his guide Scott Burkhardt rise from the water after the first lap, laughing and enjoying themselves as if they were on a casual swim.
It was encouraging to see another blind athlete, Patricia Walsh, holding onto her guide Caroline Gaynor as she made her way out of the water amid the thousands of swimmers.
And it was downright stunning to see Kimberly Fawcett of Ottawa come out of the water, with the help of two men, with only one leg.
Fawcett lost her leg when she was hit by car about two years ago. She lost her son in the same accident.
For her efforts, Fawcett, who served in Afghanistan for the Canadian military, received one of the loudest, if not the loudest, ovation of the morning as she hopped out of the water.
Fawcett completed the swim with just her natural leg, then put on a prosthetic leg for the cycling and running segments.
It is these athletes who really give the event meaning and make it one that more people can relate to.
In general, Ironman is not something that most people would ever consider entering. The distances of the events are too extreme. Most people don’t have the time, inclination or desire to spend hours a day exercising with the focus of becoming an Ironman. There are other obligations that are much more pressing: work and family being the biggest.
But the event itself is a great metaphor for life and the hardships that many people experience and overcome. For some, it can be an experience that builds confidence and reaffirms one’s sense of self worth.
This idea isn’t necessarily brought home best by the professionals or elite athletes who blaze through the various courses.
The purpose of doing an Ironman is best understood by watching those who aren’t perfectly-sculpted athletes. It can be best seen in those who are average people. Those who are overweight. Those who are graying. Those who, like most of us, don’t appear perfect on the surface.
The meaning is brought home by people like Walsh, who lost her vision as a child, but now wakes up most days at 5 a.m. before work with the goal of bettering herself.
It’s brought home by 70-year-old Peter Hanna of Nova Scotia who refuses to listen to those who say he should slow down at his age.
And, of course, it is made obvious by Fawcett, who had the courage to push forward and overcome the physical and emotional pain of a lost leg and a lost child.
For some people, the grueling race is more than just the glory of being an Ironman. It’s about finding the courage to persevere in the face of life’s obstacles. It’s about finding the strength to save oneself, no matter what has life has thrown in one’s way.
I think Dan Callahan, an Ironman and pastor of St. Joan of Arc Parish in Toronto, said it best: “We run a race, and really, it’s a race for our lives and salvation.”
LAKE PLACID — Of the thousands of athletes who emerged from the turbulent Mirror Lake during the Lake Placid Ironman, most went by in a blur, disappearing from memory as soon as they hit the sandy beach.
But some were hard to forget. The images of the athletes rising from the water were powerful statements of perseverance and courage as they began a long day that included a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike and 26.2-mile run.
It was inspiring to see blind triathlete Mark Griffin and his guide Scott Burkhardt rise from the water after the first lap, laughing and enjoying themselves as if they were on a casual swim.
It was encouraging to see another blind athlete, Patricia Walsh, holding onto her guide Caroline Gaynor as she made her way out of the water amid the thousands of swimmers.
And it was downright stunning to see Kimberly Fawcett of Ottawa come out of the water, with the help of two men, with only one leg.
Fawcett lost her leg when she was hit by car about two years ago. She lost her son in the same accident.
For her efforts, Fawcett, who served in Afghanistan for the Canadian military, received one of the loudest, if not the loudest, ovation of the morning as she hopped out of the water.
Fawcett completed the swim with just her natural leg, then put on a prosthetic leg for the cycling and running segments.
It is these athletes who really give the event meaning and make it one that more people can relate to.
In general, Ironman is not something that most people would ever consider entering. The distances of the events are too extreme. Most people don’t have the time, inclination or desire to spend hours a day exercising with the focus of becoming an Ironman. There are other obligations that are much more pressing: work and family being the biggest.
But the event itself is a great metaphor for life and the hardships that many people experience and overcome. For some, it can be an experience that builds confidence and reaffirms one’s sense of self worth.
This idea isn’t necessarily brought home best by the professionals or elite athletes who blaze through the various courses.
The purpose of doing an Ironman is best understood by watching those who aren’t perfectly-sculpted athletes. It can be best seen in those who are average people. Those who are overweight. Those who are graying. Those who, like most of us, don’t appear perfect on the surface.
The meaning is brought home by people like Walsh, who lost her vision as a child, but now wakes up most days at 5 a.m. before work with the goal of bettering herself.
It’s brought home by 70-year-old Peter Hanna of Nova Scotia who refuses to listen to those who say he should slow down at his age.
And, of course, it is made obvious by Fawcett, who had the courage to push forward and overcome the physical and emotional pain of a lost leg and a lost child.
For some people, the grueling race is more than just the glory of being an Ironman. It’s about finding the courage to persevere in the face of life’s obstacles. It’s about finding the strength to save oneself, no matter what has life has thrown in one’s way.
I think Dan Callahan, an Ironman and pastor of St. Joan of Arc Parish in Toronto, said it best: “We run a race, and really, it’s a race for our lives and salvation.”
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