Thank you

My first race in 2008.. looking more like a bodybuilder than a triathlete

There was a moment before Monday's ITU World Championships Standard Distance race when I escaped from the chaos to a quiet hallway, closed my eyes, and thought about all the days it took to get there.  It was dark, it was early and it was cold.  But I'd been here before.  Many times in fact.  I thought about all those mornings the alarm went off before 5am.  I thought about all those days swimming outside in the cold, the dark (I've never missed one.. not one morning did that alarm go off and I shut it off).  The morning I swam alone at the UBC Outdoor pool because the heater was broken and I was the only one who would get in.  The days I pushed myself through one more interval to try to match Ryan or Steph or Martina.  I thought about all those days riding my bike in the rain, the wind.  Pushing myself harder to stay with Jeff or Clarke or Rob or Dylan.  I thought about those training camps in Whistler.  The year I was in so much pain due to yet another stress fracture that I couldn't so much as walk. But I kept pushing.  I thought about waking in the middle of the night in pain and taking tylenol-3's to fall back asleep and the endless rehab it took to get stronger.  I thought about all of that and I knew.. that no matter what, I'd done everything I could to get to this point and I was ready.  I didn't feel even a twinge of nervousness because in my mind, I had trained for years with the best and there was nothing that anyone could throw at me that I couldn't handle.



On the surface triathlon is an individual sport. But to me, it really isn't.  I couldn't have become a World Champion without the help of so many people.  I want to take the time to thank those without whom this accomplishment wouldn't be possible.  I'm sorry if I miss anyone.. this list is long :)

First almost victory in 2010

Alan Carlsson - my first coach.  You taught me so much about training, about preparation, about everything really.  You gave me a chance to compete and train like an elite athlete even though I wasn't one.
Noa Deutsch - my current coach.  You pushed me incredibly hard.  I'll admit I've cursed you on more than one occasion over the last year.  But I trusted you and I know you trusted me. You surrounded me with the best training environment any age group athlete could possibly ask for. I absolutely couldn't have done this without you.  I'm feel incredibly lucky to have had such knowledgeable and passionate coaches in my short time doing this.  Thank you


Jeff, Clarke, Rob,Ryan, Facundo, Martina, Steph, Amy - the original crew.  We suffered together so many times.  You pushed me to get better because you guys were better than me but more importantly you made this fun.  I'm so lucky to have such great training partners, teammates and friends.

Starting to look like a triathlete now in a tri suit! 2011

Dylan - you pushed me to become a better cyclist and you inspired me at Ironman and let me know the I could this.  When I was down and doubting myself you sent me an email just when I needed it.

Carsten, Michael, Rowan - you guys keep getting better and in turn you push me to keep up!  I'm enjoying watching you guys succeed and can't wait to see what you do in the future.

Disappointment in Auckland 2012

The rest of the pacific tri works gang - we truly have the best training group going.  We support each other and have fun and we kick some serious ass (seriously.. If you're looking for a group in Vancouver to train with and you have some big goals.  Look us up!)

The Leading Edge gang (Andrew, Stan, Paul K and everyone else back home cheering) - for treating me like a member of your family.  Stan for selflessly driving my bike to Edmonton and driving me around while there.. took a lot of the stress off of me.

Pointstreak + Dominik - for putting up with me coming into work at odd hours.  For giving me the ability to do this. For letting me ride my trainer at the office. For getting me into this crazy thing in the first place (I'm not sure I should be thanking you for that).

Jeremy and the Speed Theory Gang - for putting up with my complete lack of bicycle maintenance knowledge and incompetence and for supporting me throughout this.  You guys are passionate about this sport and are there for so many when they need it.

Where did my biceps go?

The Pierse family - for providing Victoria and I with an amazing homestay in Edmonton.  I felt like I was racing at home because you made your home our home for the week.  Can't thank you enough.

The Byrnes family - there are way too many of you to mention!  But I know you are all following me and cheering me on and I really appreciate it.

Everyone else in the tri community - you keep this fun!

Mom, dad, Teresa, Derek, Ryder, Reid, Marlene + Alec, Grandpa J - you guys are my biggest fans.  This is a selfish sport and you have worked around all my crazy requests.  You've come to my races, you've followed my races and you've supported me when I was tired and frustrated and needed someone to vent to.

Victoria - I absolutely could not have done this without you.  If someone were to ask what had changed this year over the other years that allowed me to take the steps I have this year, I would say without question it has been you.  You've kept me smiling when I was tired and frustrated and didn't want to do this anymore.  Watching you train in the early hours, the rain, the snow, the cold.  Watching you come back from your injuries.. has inspired me to keep going.  You've learned to give me cookies when I'm hangry.  You stood in the cold and did everything possible to make sure I only had one thing to think about on race day.  I share this with you.

The days you don't see

Back in January there was a video put out by ASICS that featured 2008 Olympic Gold Medalist Jan Frodeno.  It was your standard training video featuring spots of Frodeno swimming,biking and running and talking about his motivation and why he does what he does.. inspiring stuff for someone like me.  At one point in the video he makes a comment that really resonated with me at the time. Everyone sees what comes together on the day of the race but what they don't see, and what makes up the vast majority of what it is to be an athlete, is the incredible amount of time and effort that goes into getting to that place.  At the time I was in the midst of training during your typical Vancouver winter - cold, wet, dark and windy - and what he said really stuck with me.

.For me that means...

The endless mornings out at the UBC Pool during the fall and winter.  The days the heater was broken but I still got in and swam even though I couldn't stop at the wall for instructions because I would start shaking and go hypothermic if I did (this happened a few times).  Learning to do flip turns and butterfly so I could look like a real swimmer.  The mornings that no one else showed up and I was the only person in the pool at 6am.  No lights, no heat and sometimes not even a lifeguard, reminding myself that no one else is tough enough to do this and that's why they're not here and that's why I'll beat them when it counts.  Running from the pool deck to the shower that didn't work, to my car and straight to work.  6 days a week, every week of the past year (except that one week when I had major dental surgery and the dentist wouldn't let me train).  I went from a 'can barely do front crawl' to a 'back of the second pack' to a 'front of the second pack' and finally to a 'first out of the water' amateur swimmer over the past three years by putting the time in..

The 6 months I took off from running after suffering (and then re-suffering) a fracture in my leg and foot.  Popping tylenol-3's so I could sleep because I was too stubborn to stop (the pain of running on a broken leg is, to me, less than just not running on a broken leg.. go figure on that one) until the other side broke and my body forced me to.  Finally building back from a walk, slow and steady one minute at a time until I could run for an hour straight.  Running circles around the track, lap after lap, at a pace I didn't think I could keep going at but pushing one inch at a time until I could.  Running 12km last week at that pace made it all worth it though..

Getting out on my bike in the rain and cold.. not really wanting to but knowing no one else is doing it and because I knew I'd regret it if I didn't.  Riding my bike on the trainer at the office, staring at the wall the whole time because fighting with my neighbours wasn't worth the energy.  Climbing Cypress in the rain.  Descending Cypress in the rain!  Getting to the point where I could keep the lead I worked so hard for out of the water was worth that too..

The missed social events, the 9 o'clock bedtimes, the chicken breast and salad instead of sandwiches I ate for lunch.  The skipped lunch breaks I took at work.  The hours spent stretching, doing core work and rolling when I'd rather just lay on the couch.  An average of over 20 hours a week (peak of 32) actually training with who knows how many others spent packing for, getting to, getting home and cleaning up from those training sessions (I think it's another 10-15..).

I'm really not selling this sport here am I! I guess the point of this is that.. a lot goes into achieving a goal.  A lot of time, a lot pain, a lot of energy and a lot of sacrifice. Whatever that goal happens to be, and the only person that can really appreciate what went into achieving that goal is the person that took the journey to get there.  I'll be remembering all those moments when I line up on the start pontoon in Auckland.  Confident in knowing that no one else has done what I've done and confident in knowing I did whatever it took to achieve the goal I set for myself back in October.