It's A BIG World!

What an AMAZING blessing to get to compete at the 2012 Triathlon World Championships in Auckland, New Zealand!  I give it a ‘whoop whoop!’

'Sola Cafe' and 'Ben' - favorite coffee stops

The food is YUM.

The coffee is excellent.

The people are ‘Sweet As’.

The race was a good race for me too.  The day was the right temperature, although a bit windy that got stronger as the race went on.

Swim time 24:52.  That is not my best this year but this swim was different.  My best time this year was in a ‘lake’ on a calm day – NZ had wind and waves and a current and tide.  28^th out of the water.

Bike time 1:10:39.  This is a grrrREAT bike time and we had wind and hills! 5^th fastest bike time.

Run time 39:52.  Hmm…definitely NOT my best run time.  I was looking for a sub 38min 10K time.  Did I give it all on the bike?  The run was a flat course with a lot of change of surface to run on, and the wind.  At any rate it was still 4^th fastest run time in my age group (1^st girl was at a 35min and change!).

Next Year World Championships will be held in London, UK.  All the podium spots were taken mainly by Kiwis’, Aussies and Team GB.  New Zealand hosted tough competition and I expect London to do the same.  What is better than 11^th?  FIRST!

Alison, Maori girl, Angela at Opening Ceremonies

Movie Night and Bible Study

Hap-hap-happy to be Chaplains :)

Thank you to all those who supported us through Athletes in Action as Alex, Ian and I volunteered to be chaplains for Team Canada at the World Champs.

Thank you to all those who generously gave in support of my athletic pursuits to be World Champion.

Thank you especially to Wentings Cycle and Mountain Shop in Mission, BC and the amazing group of cyclists with Phoenix Velo Cycling Team out of Mission/Abbotsford BC!  The bike and wheels were AWEsome!!!!!

Thank you to Ma and Pa Jackson for your support in many ways.  Thank you to Ma and Pa Farkash for your sideline support AT THE RACE in New Zealand!  That was amazing :)

Thank you Vermilion Rotary Club for your generous donation in support of a girl who wants to do the best she can for her sport and community.

Thank you Trinity Western University and Mark Bomba for your incredible support and elite level coaching.

Thank you Webbs of Vermilion for your support and excitement of a farm-girl turned triathlete.

Thank you Joanne Martin and the Keith Martin fund.

How many people and groups can I name individually who helped?  SOOOOOO MANY!

Thank you Katie Wallbaum for giving out of your student pocket :)

Thank you Wynand Groen, Bonnie Bauer (the first to give), Farkash Farms, Integra Tire, The Lupuls, Mike Smart, Charlie and Andy Lee “Powered by Lee”, Carol McLean, Val and Ross Neufeld, Bruce and Sylvia Friesen, Louise Cartwright, George and Phyllis Webb, Clearbrook Iron, Scott and Toni Ritchie.

NEXT YEAR: LONDON UK

Our Touring Campervan :)

On Our Hike

At the top of 'The Pinnacles'

"How do I get out? I'm stumped."

A few race stats:

Time: 2:21:42

11/63 Women age 20-24

(1^st Canadian; 3^rd in North/South America)

22/686 Women Overall

(2^nd Canadian overall)

Mark Your Calendars!

*CORRECTION* Wednesday, August 29, 7:30pm – Check out Lloydminster area local news for ‘Around the Area’ to get the run-around on Vermilion’s triathlon group!

Tuesday, August 14, 11:00-2:00 – Bison BBQ Fundraiser at The Edge (near Co-op grocery in Vermilion)

• Bison burger or smokie and support Project New Zealand by sending me to Worlds!
• Bake Sale - grab some goodies from the homemade bake sale and auction
• KIDS bring your bike and test your skills in our bike obstacle course!
• Additionally, sign up for a pledge sheet to help me with various triathlon items

Oops I did it again...

I hiked up a mountain.

Week 'fore a race! 

Oh ouchie, ouchie.

Yes, oops is right for hiking another Rocky Mountain peak the week before a race!  But…but…it was only a 4 hour round trip hike!  I am still not sure why I was so sore and could barely walk 3 days later!  Am I not used to walking up steep inclines? Or was it the running down the mountain that did it?

Ha'Ling Peak (2296 ft)

Anyway, I won’t complain too much about it because I was able to finish the race (I didn’t think I would get any farther than the swim) and I actually placed quite well.

The ITU was a great practice to get ready for elite racing.  Our swim was wetsuit prohibited, I practiced my transitions and ran barefoot in my shoes (without getting any blisters!).  The hardest part was the bike portion where I had no ‘umph’ in my legs for the hill (which are usually my favourite) and it was my aerobic training that got me through the run on a base pace...or was it the AMAZING fans that were there cheering???  My husband being my #1 fan and media man :) 

Thanks to out AIA teammates who cheered and had a cold freezee waiting for me at the finish!!!  ALSO thanks to Amber and Matt, Leah and dog, & Katie and Carrie for coming!!  Yay!!!

Looking forward to training hard for the next 38 days leading up to Kelowna – August 19^th!

Keep A Lookout For:

- Local TV Interview of me!  (They found me on THIS blog!) 

- Fundraiser event in Vermilion August 4^th AND WATCH THE LONDON 2012 WOMEN’S OLYMPIC RACE 

Final time 2:18:17.9 20-24 Age Group Winner and 5th Female Overall

Complete Results HERE

FREEZES . . . FREEZIES? FREEZEES?

How do you spell it?  You know, those delicious-colorful-pipes-of-frozen-sugar-water?

Well, our sign said ‘Freezes’ and kids still came for a refreshing treat.

Here in Vermilion I connected with the man who first introduced me to triathlons and found out that he has a crew of 14 or more kids that he has been preparing to race at a kids triathlon in a nearby city.  Right away I asked if I could help.  On a Thursday before the race, we met the kids at the pool to run through transitions – the heart and soul of triathlon racing.  It was great, the parents set up bike racks and the kids excitedly arranged their gear.  I was given quite the introduction which excited everyone that a small town girl is competing on the world stage in triathlon!

After practice, I made sure everyone got a box of raisins.  It is wonderful: teaching kids about race nutrition AND they like you better!

Anyway, this practice led me to bring our Athletes in ActionTriathlon group to volunteer at the Vegreville iTri Kids Triathlon and set up an AIA booth to hand out…

      Freezes.

Alex and I got there early Saturday morning of June 2^nd to roll out mats and body mark the competitors.  Ian set up the tent. 

Then we cheered the kids on from 7&under to Adult to Special Olympic racers.  I confess, I cheered a little bit louder for our Vermilion kids :)

After the race, our tent was the favorite stop for all the competitors:  It was a HOT day!  And I was so blessed that the Vermilion gang asked me to sign their t-shirts – and I haven’t even been to Worlds yet!

Yup, I love triathlons.

And I love that God loves triathletes :)