2006 Multisport Race Schedule

I'm in the process of putting together my summer race schedule right now. Looks like I'm going to be racing a lot! I'll be adding my cycling races once I have figured out which ones I'm racing. The below dates are still tentative, and there may be some additions/deletions, but here's the list as it stands:

Dalhousie Aquathlon - March 26
Navy Tridents Sprint Tri, NS - June 4
Cyclesmith Duathlon, NS - June 18
Canadian Triathlon Championships (Brampton,ON) - July 1,2
Fredericton Triathlon, NB - July 9
TBA - July 23
Bridgetown Triathlon, NS - August 6
Parlee Beach Triathlon, NB - August 20
Sackville Triathlon, NB - August 26
TBA - September 3
Shubie Park Triathlon - September 17

This morning's workout was a 3000m swim followed by 45 minutes of weights. Planned 1hr steady on the trainer this evening.

Who are you, really? (Pontifications)

I fear this will be more of a philosophical rant than anything, so read at your own risk.

Searching for essences, is essentially where this all ends. Are we all just part of one giant mass, moving in unison for the same reason, relying on each other to break the wind when it gets too strong, relying on others to shelter us when we are in need?

After a conversation with a friend today, we were commenting on our similar tendency to shy away from big group events. I'm not an introvert, by any means (as many would attest!), but I'd rather stay in and watch a movie than hit up a bar any night. However, my friend's comment to me as we were walking across campus today really hit a nerve: "Meg, I've known you for almost 2 years, and I don't really know anything about you!" Hmmm...I thought. I won't bore you with the precursor to that comment.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not in the midst of an existential crisis, and I think I have a pretty good sense of who I am. My favourite colour is blue. My favourite bands are too many to name, but Tool and NIN are a start. My favourite make of car is Subaru. I'd rather work at home or at a coffee shop than in my office. I gave up drinking coffee over a month ago. I eat eight or nine times a day. I work out twice a day, 4-6 days a week. I like watching movies, playing guitar, and spending time with those who are close to me. But these things aren't who I AM. They are a list of preferences, what I do. So who am I?

How does one differentiate oneself from the peloton? How do you proclaim that you are someone distinct, different, and unique - just like everyone else? Is it possible?

I don't really have an answer to the question of who I am. I'm not sure I'll ever really know, since I firmly believe that we are here on this earth to figure it out. Who knows if we ever actually do.

Like everyone else, I carry the weight of bad choices, good choices, happiness and sadness, of love gone wrong and love going right, of living life to its fullest and seizing the moment. I can't do anything more than continue to take this journey one step at a time, and to be happy with my choices. To live with no regret.

Sport allows me to feel strong, powerful and in control of my self and my body. It gives me confidence and a feeling of invincibilty. A feeling that I can take on all of the challenges that throws life at me.

Being a triathlete is certainly part of who I am, although it is not who I am.

out of the night that covers me
black as the pit from pole to pole
i thank whatever gods may be
for my unconquerable soul

Vampire or Werewolf?

We went to see Underworld: Evolution last night. What an entertaining movie. A lot more gore than the last one, and almost devoid of plot, but it was visually stimulating. It also got me thinking. If you had the choice, would you rather be a vampire or a wereworlf (lychen)? After a long deliberation (while swimming this morning), I've come to the decision that I would rather be a vampire. Ok, so I'd get to never see the sun again - that would be a serious hindrance to my well being. But I think vampires are a lot sexier than werewolves. Werewolves are gross and hairy. Vampires can fly. And if you're a Kate Beckinsdale-type vampire, your eyes turn bright blue when you're mad. And...you'd look hot in leather. Uh huh. I'd choose being a vampire. Definitely cooler. Oh yeah, and go see Underworld if you like that sort of thing. I give it my full two thumbs up sci-fi recommendation.

Today's Stats:
AM Workout: 2500 short course meters, including 8x100m on 1:40 (clocked a 1:26 today!), followed by an hour of weights. Ran home (~2km)

Currently comsuming: post-workout smoothie. Mmmmm.

Currently listening to: the new NIN CD - With Teeth. At this very moment, the song "The Collector" is blasting away.

Planned PM workout: 1 1/2 hours on the trainer

Currently reading: J.M. Sime's Sister Woman. It's for class.

Currently pining for: Summer.

More bike pictures

I've been going a little digital camera crazy. Here are a couple more pics of my new bike:

Cranks:


Wheel:


Yesterday I did a 17km training run. It was s-l-o-w, but my endurance is finally coming back!

New Bike!

May I please introduce...

My new bike! A Trek 5000 WSD, carbon frame, Ultegra, with FSA Compact Carbon Cranks, and Bontrager Race X Lite wheels. A true beauty!



Yes, those are mountain bike pedals. I still have to get a few things, and do some fiddling around with fit and such. Yesterday I went out for a ride to try out the new machine (ie. my super-cyclist boyfriend - who is also uber-mechanic and is the reason I have this amazing bike - dragged me around for 65k! Tiring, yes, but fantastic). What an amazing ride. I can really feel the difference of the lighter bike, especially when climbing. The shifting is different, too, with the compact cranks. But I can see how much more power I will be able to apply to the pedals once I am strong enough. I'm sooo excited!

Since I'll be racing Criteriums and Road Races as well as triathlons this summer, it made sense to get a road bike rather than a Tri bike. Especially if I plan on racing draft legal triathlons at some point. A better choice for the hills around here, too.

And yes, it, or rather, she, already has a name: Ciesana (pronounced See-ah-san-ah), Goddess of Flight. Boy are we going to have a lot of fun together. I'm just itching to go ride again!

A Day in the Life

I received my contract from Rudy Project today, so it's all official! Hurray for sponsors!

I haven't been posting much lately, because there really hasn't been much to report. Classes and Training are keeping me busy...

Suffice to say that training is going well and I'm exactly where I want to be at this time of year. I'm putting in a lot of solidy quality base miles right now, and getting some baseline numbers for the season. It's going to be a fun year.

Purposefullness

co·na·tion

1) The aspect of mental processes or behavior directed toward action or change and including impulse, desire, volition, and striving.

2) To act purposefully

---

I'd like to be able to tell you that I'm motivated all the time. I'd like to be able to tell you that getting myself out the door for workouts is always a joy. But to tell you both of these things would be to tell you falsehoods. Motivation is always not always forthcoming. Especially this time of year.

On the one hand, I am just itching to get back in shape and ready for race season. On the other hand, pushing myself out the door in the cold darkness of winter to head to the pool, or to run, is less than appealing. The joy of summer training, sun-filled runs and lake swims, the abundant motivation concomitant with race season - these are easy aspects of being a triathlete.

January, February, and March, the cold months, when the sky is thick with clouds, and the snow threatens, attacks, abates, and attacks again, while the damp cold wracks through the body and seemingly never ceases; these are the months that build character.

-- It is only through purposefulness in training that one arrives on the other side of winter a stronger athlete. --

My dedication to triathlon exists in simplicity during these winter months: getting dressed for a cold run; walking to swim practice in the predawn chill, and climbing on the trainer for yet another indoor ride (all the while staring out the window wishing only to be outside).

After fighting with myself for half an hour this evening about whether or not I wanted to go for a run (knowing full well that I must NOT miss my workout), I finally bundled up and headed out. 8 kilometers and some 40 minutes later, I sit in front of my computer in my pajamas, sipping a protein-smoothie.

When I was outside tonight, I thought about how happy running makes me. I berated myself for my reluctance to run. But then I realised that the question should not have been whether or not I *wanted* to run. Of course I wanted to. I love running. And then I came to a realization: it was *getting dressed* to to run that was the issue. Once I made that decision, the running part was easy. I need to remember this.

-- Sometimes we just need to take things one step at a time. --

I think it's going to be a mental battle for the next few weeks as I slowly get back into the routine of training, and more specifically, back to running full time now that I've finally healed up completely from the ankle injury. I have to get used to two-a-days again. I have to get used to getting up before the sun in order to get my workouts in so that I can spend the days concentrating on my classes.

So this leaves me with the word with which I began this post. Conation: a psychologist term for the mental process directed towards an action, including impulse, desire, volition, and striving. It's a new year. My resolutions: to be more adventurous, to work harder than ever before, and, most importantly, to do it all with passion.

I will shape my 2006 through:
Determination.
Commitment.
Persistence.
Risk.
Perseverance.
Vision.

Happy New Year!