On the Team!

Thu, Jul 14, 2011 at 10:20 AM
Dear Alison

I am pleased to inform you that after reviewing the registrations you have received a spot on the 2012 Age Group Triathlon team.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Julie

Julie Keown
Office Manager
Triathlon Canada

Edmonton ITU

Just one week later and another race (with just a squeak of rest in between)!

The day before prep was almost discouraging because of all the rain and cold...but I just went through a cold and rainy Abbotsford winter of training so no complaints here!! (Just from the cheer team I brought, haha)  So I checked out the 'steep hill' on the bike route and (haha) the things that we Albertans call hills), it was a good course though and the short 10K lap was a nice figure-eight type of loop which kept it interesting.

Sunday morning was still wet and FULL OF MOSQUITOES!  We were only allowed a small dip in the water before the race began which was too bad because I wanted to get a good feel of the water and swim before the race.  Each age group of athletes were escorted to the water's edge by bagpipes (that is how important we are)!

Fiance Alex said I had a very hesitant swim start - like I just let the girls go because they were faster - which is really too bad because I swam the whole race on my own!  No feet to tickle :(  I came 10th out of the water but that is more than 4minutes behind the lead girls!

Transitions were fast, and my cycle faster!  I really am good at hills (that little steep one and the long gradual one).  Each lap I could tell that I was gaining on the girls in front.  I had my eye on Racheal Edwards from Saskatoon, SK, (who beat me in the Saskatoon Sprint earlier this year) and just before coming into transition I passed her.  She (and another girl) beat me out of T2 but I came up and passed them right away and continued to pull away during the 3 lap run.

The run course was flat and fast.  Again, at each turn around I could see four or five women in front of me and pushed to catch and pass.  I wasn't sure if I was going to get all of them...and I guess I didn't because I came in second overall.  Marcy Edgecumbe from Sherwood Park, AB, beat me by just 44 sec in the end (and it was all in the swim!) (Note for Brian: We've got some work to do!).

2:13:31
2nd Female Overall
1st Female 20-24
Fastest Female Bike AND Run Time for the day
...and Another Qualifying Spot for Worlds...so I think we'll go!
Swim   24:27  1:38/100m
Bike  1:09:19  34.6 kph
Run     39:45   3:59/Km
Full Results at resultscanada.com

News Articles on the Big Win!

4 other authors write about me!

Rocky Mountain Outlook - Justin Brisbane
TWU Athletics - Mark Janzen
And in our two local papers!!
Vermilion Voice - Catherin Lee
Vermilion Standard - Francois Biber

Alberta Champion

I had my very first overall win on the weekend at the Canmore Triathlon hosted by Tony Smith for SmithEvents. This overall win dubs me the 2011 Alberta Olympic Champion not only in my Age Cateogory 20-24, but also over ALL the woman racers!

Race day was beautiful and my cheer team was, as always, very enthusiastic spreading themselves about the race course. Mom Farkash, Mom Jackson, Pa Farkash (volunteering, woot woot!), Pa Jackson, and Sister Nicole. Canmore's Three Sisters Parkway and Nordic Centre posed a challenging up & down course for all the athletes. On my practice ride I knew that whoever was going to win this thing would have to be a strong cyclist and runner on these hills. Good thing I love hills (just check with Nigel, Chris, Geoff from Phoenix Velo)!

I held onto feet most of the swim, although I was a bit sloppy in the water I made it out alright. During the bike I felt good. I was really able to push the pace both on the ups & the downs. T2 was fast for me (I just got quick tie elastic laces). I past an 'O' woman right away on the run and then just ran and ran and ran...despite the hot spot blisters I could feel building on the bottoms of both my feet.

My 'team' warned me I was first...but I was skeptical so I kept my eyes locked on whoever (male or female) was ahead and made efforts to catch and pass.

Then I finished.

And I won!

1st Overall Female 2:20:46.9
(4th including the men)!
with the fastest female bike and run time for the day
Full results at http://www.smithevents.ca/Race_Results.html