Edmonton ITU 2013

Today I get to post epic pictures because I had my main man and media guy cheering me on at this race.

It was a beautiful sunny day.

I was well rested and trained up.

No flats.  No crashes. Always a few blisters.  Great competition.  Carefully organized course.

And…

I won!  I won with an overall personal best and PB’s in all of my splits!  Finally! Thank you, Lord.  1^st in the Collegiate Championship division for my university Trinity Western, and 1^st overall female!

Total time: 2:06:53.9

Swim: 22:24.7 (my fastest time yet, but looking for a sub 21:00)

Bike: 1:04:17.6 (with hills!)

Run: 37.09.8 (so happy with this time! I’ve known for a while now that I should be able to run a 37:00 or less at the end of a triathlon and finally! Finally! It’s here.)

The next closest female clocked in at a 2:14- (+9min) and I wouldn’t have ended anything less than 5^th place in any male category.  I hope this shows TriCanada that Jackson CAN race elite World Cups!!!  It was tough watching the women’s elite race later in the afternoon because, although I would have been last out of the water, I would have very well passed the stragglers on the bike AND caught the trail pack and….and…who KNOWS what would have happened!  I had to keep reminding myself that I am very happy with my age group overall win and more than that the great time I was able to produce.

Thank you so much to my amazing fan squad: my hubby Alex, Ma & Pa Farkash, my broskie Nathan and miss Terri, Denise Totman my friend and swim butt-kicker ;) and of course the AIA Triathlon team who you could find on every corner of that race course it seemed!!!

ACTIONjackson is very blessed!

AIA racers

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)