Honeymoon Hike replaces Apple Triathlon

The Master Plan

August 13^th:

• GET MARRIED

August 14^th:

•  :)

August 15^th-18^th:

• SWIM & BIKE & RUN: total 6-7hrs
• Swim at Jasper activity pool and Banff Fairmont hotel 50m pool
• One road cycle
• Early morning and/or late afternoon runs
• Cross-training: Mtn Biking and Hiking

August 19^th:

• AQUATHON: 2.5K run-1K swim-2.5K run (in association with Apple Triathlon)

August 20^th:

• RACE PREP: 30min run drills & 1:15 quick interval course cycle; pick up race package and check-in bike at transition
• Eat well and sleep well

August 21^st:

• 5:00 Transition Opens
• 9:35 Race Start

The Real Deal

August 13^th:

• GOT MARRIED!!!

August 14^th:

•         :) :) :)

August 15^th-18^th:

• Swam at Jasper activity pool (1:20); no road cycle; 3x runs
• Mountain Biked (one fun afternoon)
• Hiked Cascade Mountain in Banff: 3,000m; hiked an extra 5K loop (why? Too eager at the start); 1hr later we are on the right trail; 5hrs later Alex’s legs have died but we want to summit (the mountain); 6hrs we got to the top (no tears); 8.5 hrs later we are at the bottom and I have to drive because the mountain destroyed my husband’s legs; 16hrs later we wake up and each step is painful for both of us

August 19^th:

• AQUATHON: Yes, I still want to race it...but I will just use it as a warm-up (it is a really casual race)...but I am too competitive and I win...then Alex and I continue to shuffle around like old people.
• ICE BATH

August 20^th:

• RACE PREP: 30min run drills & 25min ride my bike to transition; pick up race package (that they didn’t have for me) and check-in bike at transition
• Both sets of parents and arrive and we eat bison and makes a new plan

August 21^st:

• 5:00 Transition Opens
• 6:00 Alison wakes up
• 6:15 Alison still does her run drills
• 7:00 Alison has breakfast
• 8:00 Alex has breakfast and we repack the car
• 9:35 Race Start
• 9:40 Alison and Alex cheer on the Women 20-24
• 11:20 Alison and Alex meet their parents at the beach for family time and a swim in the Okanagan Lake 

I am very happy with the decision not to race.  I really wanted to race, but with a good pair of legs.  I don't need to race just to know I can finish.  I want to race to do well.  Looking at the results I should have been close to the overall podium if not on it.  Looking at the Elite Women results I have raced and beaten two of the women that competed which is very interesting...!

Cascade Mountain

Lake Chaparral Win

First off: Multisport Canada (MSC) has for 13 years put on an exceptional race at Lake Chaparral with a great course.  In fact the entire triathlon race series that MSC put on are well run, have great prizes and a good turnout.  They improve upon event managing every year, and have chosen excellent venues that offer different challenges from race course to race course throughout the summer.  

     This was my third year at Lake Chaparral and I look forward to racing the course every year.  The course is set up around Lake Chaparral, a lake community in South Calgary.  The lake is clean and made for swimming in and the cycling hill this year wasn’t as steep as I remembered it.

My goal was to have a fast start in the water...and to win.  I really had to race smart this weekend because of the slow training week before it.  My body has been stressed out a little bit I think and my legs have been super heavy and really tight.  The week before I spent my training times stretching, rolling and swimming with a band and pull buoy (and...I tried to sleep a lot more too!).  By the time the weekend came I was feeling pretty good but not 100%.  The night before and on race morning I spent extra time in Lake Chaparral to get really comfortable with the open water.

I came third out of the water but the real battle was out on the cycling course.  1^st lap: I watched and waited, gauging #1’s strength.   2^nd lap: I challenged the lead and we rotated through the #1 and #2 spots.  3^rd lap:  I beat her on the hill again.  4^th lap: Held the #1 spot.

 My thoughts on the run were focused on chasing down the lead bicyclist and staying ahead of the ghost footprints behind me.  Still, my legs were tired and I only pushed enough to pull off the win and a 42:28 10K.

Top 5 Moments of the Weekend:

1.       A Sunny Day!

2.       My Cheer team: Alex, Pa Farkash, my Auntie Linda and loud cousin Jason with his beautiful wife Kirsten and children Teyah, Jamieson, and Logan

3.       Overall win and ca$h prize

4.       The announcer kept announcing that I was getting married next week

5.       I realize I am getting married next weekend!

Full Results: http://www.resultscanada.com/results2011/2011_MSC_Lake_Chaparral_Triathlon/2011_Lake_Chaparral_Triathlon_Olympic_Overall.txt