Showing posts with label racing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label racing. Show all posts

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

FISUgandALISON: see what I did there?



One crazy week in Entebbe, Uganda
I can’t believe that I travelled 31 hours to get to sleep in sticky-hot Uganda for just 4 nights before competing in a 6km cross-country race against all sorts of languages, nationalities and personalities, and then leave the next evening to travel 34hrs back to Abbotsford.  It was crazy, but that is what makes this world beautiful: adventure, challenge, friendship and a good attitude.   I came in at 17th place, 3rd Canadian and our women's team took home the bronze (woop! woop!).
 
Team Canada in 3rd behind Uganda 1st and Japan 2nd
As it turned out my roommate was very beautiful ;)


Girls Team: Colleen, me, Victoria, Julie-Ann, Grace

Allow me to share a few moments Uganda moments - ha ha - where it was necessary to make the best of every situation.

  • Loooooooong travel: get to know Canadian Team, homework compression socks, airport yoga
  • Sticky-hot heat of Uganda: turn on the air conditioning in the hotel room
  • Weird food options: eating small and non-adventurous until after the race
  •  Eating dinner at 9:00pm: Buy bananas for inter-meal satiation
  •  Having so-called-dinner at the mayor’s house: call it a dream and giggle with teammates
  • Race in the heat and altitude: drink lots of water the day before, wear sunscreen
  •  Closest safari is 5hrs away: go to the zoo and take animal selfies

 
The mini bananas - sweeter than regular bananas

Finally eating...in the dark...after 9:00pm the day before Race Day.  Options: potato mash (matooke), boiled potatoes, sweet potatoes, potato medley, squash, white rice, brown rice, spaghetti noodles, flatbread, chicken, fish heads, beef stew, and steamed green stuff

Jackson with Jackson - animal selfie
Dressed up for the Safari
Rhino in the wild safari...while we continue wearing our yellow suits and imaginations
A black and white stripped painted horse - a zebra
What was the race like?

  •  Hot – but with a breeze and a bit overcast
  • Tough competitors: good athletes from all over but no one would know who at the start line
  • Raced on Africa’s oldest golf course and had us run through a couple of sand pits
  • Lots of African security, no porta-poddies and no bushes to hid behind…until they brought poddies 15min before the race started
  • Some teams shared start boxes even when some boxes were empty randomly between teams
  •  LOADS of Ugandan children watching and cheering Canada on!
Entebbe Golf Course served as the race course
 
Signing autographs for our Ugandan supporters

What kind of people did I meet there?
  • We flew the 10hrs between Amsterdam and Entebbe with the Suisse team and adopted their small team as honorary Canadians
  • Lots of East Asian boys’ teams that wanted to say hello to us white Canadian girls
  • The Oliech family (Canadians from my Church that recently moved to Uganda) I got to shower them with gifts from Canada and give them hugs and they pulled out a Canadian flag to come watch the races
  • Rachelle Briscoe!!  A friend from TWU who is living and working in the nearby city in Uganda saw my facebook posts and came out to watch!
  • In general, most everyone spoke English (at least a bit of English) which made it easier to make friends from all over
Oliechs and me
This girl - Rachelle Briscoe :) TWU grad

What did I learn?
  • I can run well in the heat
  •  I don’t like matooke (plantain aka banana mash)
  • That being married is surprising news
  • Some Australian slang
  •  Amsterdam has the best Americanos and coffee cookies (stroopiewaffels) of all time
  • I LOVE my Canadiam teammates!!
Thank you all who supported me to get here through financial aid, words of encouragement, shared excitement and prayers!
 
Now for MORE PHOTOS!!!
 
Smart and casual

In a Dutch teacup in Amsterdam airport
Grace and I with our Dutch coffees :) The best americano ever (fullstop)
It was sooo good that I had two!!!

Saturday, January 25, 2014

Indoor Weekend 1 - 3000m

For the CIS Track & Field athlete, it is indoor season (which means running around tight ovals in a dry building).  Last weekend we were lucky enough to run on the 307m indoor track at the University of Washington (307m? Ya, we don't know why either).

Most of my teammates would agree that the first meet of the season is terrifying.  Will I best my PR (personal record)?  Did I remember my spikes? What pins should I use? 
Should I take a nap?
Did I eat too much breakfast?  Do I remember how to race?????  Yes, I thought these things before my season opener 3000m.  I was happy to get to run in the fastest heat of the weekend with my teammates Sarah and Regan as we were all going for the auto qualifying time to make Nationals.  Sarah took it out hard with the pros.  I ran even paced right on target, pulling Regan along all the way.  It felt steady and controlled (ha! I do remember how to race!)

Sarah got the auto.  I got the auto and Regan was less than a second off...except...then the times were converted from the 307m track to a 200m track and that put me off the auto by a second. (*sad face).  We were so close though and since I ran so controlled I'm looking forward to running 15sec faster than THAT next time! (At least THE coach thinks so!)  So thankful for team, and athletics, and sweating and TWU and God's grace!

Next up......Seattle Feb.1 - The Mile
(watch on flotrack.com) <---but you might need an account

Also don't forget about my trip to Uganda to race for Team Canada at the World University Cross-Country Championships!  I'm in need of some help to get there and I am raising $$ support through the CIS Adopt-an-Athlete program.  Check out my last blog for details on how to donate for a taxable receipt!!

Thanks All!

Saturday, January 11, 2014

En Route to run in Entebbe, Uganda

I am very excited to announce that I was named to the Canadian National team going to race in Entebbe, Uganda in March!

Ah ha!  I bet some of you thought I was trying to run TO Africa but actually I am hoping to fly to Africa and then run the World University Cross-country Championships.  What a tremendous blessing and opportunity I have to be fast enough to run for Canada in a World Championship as such.  I am the only athlete from Western Canada (on the girl's side) and will be the one to represent Trinity Western on this Canadian team.  I so look forward to sharing faith and hope with my teammates and spread joy throughout the team.  I do not know any of the other team members besides their name, school and 6K run time so I look forward to making some friends.

Another exciting thing about Uganda, is that a family from my Church is moving to Uganda at the end of January so I will get to be their first visitor!  AND they are all going to come cheer our Canadian team on to victory!!! (I mean...we hope for a victory).



Now, as a student and athlete, I am committed to studying and training. While the Universiade / World University Championships are a tremendous opportunity to compete at an international sporting event and to meet and influence athletes from other countries, unfortunately, they also create a huge financial burden. I am looking for help to fund my trip that will cost about $3,500 (which includes travel costs, accommodation, food & team fees).   This financial commitment is unrealistic to achieve unless financial support is found. This is the reason for my post today.

If my story somehow inspires you or excites you, I ask that you would adopt me!  A donation as little as $25 to the CIS Adopt-an-Athlete program in my name will get you a taxable receipt!  Just follow the instructions listed below before February 12th to collect the tax-break benefit.


Adopt-an-Athlete Overview

  The Adopt-an-Athlete Program was developed with two objectives in mind:

  •      To aid Canadian post-secondary student athletes in finding financial assistance to enable compete in international sporting events.
  •      To provide a means by which individuals and/or the corporate sector can "invest" in Canada’s student athletes.
     Why Donate?

  Financial constraint is one of the main reasons an athlete leaves national or international sport. It is incredibly time consuming for the majority of student athletes to attend university/college and to train for and compete in sporting events. Thus, after studying and training, there is little time or opportunity to earn or save money.

  Many post-secondary student athletes are of such a high athletic caliber that they are able to represent Canada at international sporting events such as the Commonwealth and Olympic Games. However, to do this, outside support and financial assistance is required.

  Once they retire from competitive sport, many athletes take up careers in the sporting arena. Attending international events gives these athletes the opportunities to make more contacts to aid in their job search.


     Your Donation

  Your donation will assist CIS international programs by contributing to the following expenses:

  • Accommodation and meal costs
  • Transportation fees (to/from and during the Games)  
  • Administrative and entry fees and team fees
     Procedure for Donating

  In order to obtain a tax receipt, the following procedure must be followed:

1.    Make your cheque payable to Canadian Interuniversity Sport.

2.    Attach a covering letter for the unconditional donation with your cheque. The attached letter/form must be used.

3.    Forward cheques, along with the covering letter, to:

CIS International Programs Office

 Adopt-an-Athlete Program

801 King Edward Ave., Suite N205

Ottawa, Ontario, K1N 6N5

Attention: International Programs Services

Any questions or concerns can be directed at the athlete requesting sponsorship or CIS International Programs Services – (613) 562-5670 or canada@universitysport.ca.


The official cover letter to attach with your cheque payable to the CIS Office:
CIS International Programs Office
Adopt-an-Athlete Program
801 ave. King Edward Ave., Suite N205
Ottawa, Ontario, K1N 6N5
Attention: International Programs Services

Dear Sir/Madam:
We are pleased to provide support for CIS International Programs Services Adopt-An-Athlete Program. Enclosed, you will find a cheque in the amount of
$_________________. This donation is made unconditionally, and without any right, privileges, or personal benefit to me, and/or my organization, and/or my immediate family.
Without limiting the unconditional nature of my donation, I would suggest that support be provided to __Canadian University Cross-Country Team________ (sport).

Sincerely,
  
______________________________
Signature
______________________________
Printed Name
______________________________
______________________________
______________________________
Address
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This request for donation was made by ______Alison Jackson_______________________
(Athlete/Club)