Another Sunday Bloody Sunday

It is another big weekend of racing for Team LPC.

Check out the Team LPC event calendar for upcoming events:
http://www.loaringphysio.com/LPC_events.html

The following events this weekend will be represented by LPC athletes:

Aug 22-23
ITU Kelowna Premium Pan American Cup Triathlon, Canadian Age Group & Elite Triathlon Champs, Junior Elite Sprint Triathlon
Kelowna, ON

Aug 22-23
24 Hours Hot August Nights Mountain Bike Race
Bolton, ON

Aug 23
Bulldog Triathlon
Chatham, ON

Aug 23
Northern "Orillia" Triathlon
Orillia, ON

I am writing from beautiful Kelowna, site of the 2009 Canadian Triathlon Champs (for age-group, U23, and elites).

The junior elite race took place this morning. Travis Goron had an excellent swim, exciting the water in third place, and set himself up for a great race. Unfortunately, he incurred a flat tire on the 3^rd of 4 laps on the bike—which ultimately ended his day. Although disappointing, Travis can walk away from the event pleased that he set himself up for a great result. You can only control the controllable, and Travis put himself in position for a good day until the uncontrollable took him out. That is racing. That is life.

Tomorrow morning will feature the Canadian Age-group Tri Champs. At 11:15pm the Elite Women start. And 1:45pm will start the men’s elite race. I look forward to competing in another National Championship. Last year I had a solid 4^th place finish over the exact same course. This year will include Simon Whitfield, and Paul Tichelaar, who were absent last year as they were competing in the Beijing Olympic Triathlon on the same weekend. Rumour has it these two guys are pretty fast :-)

The race will also feature last year’s winner Brent McMahon, and virtually all of the top 20 ranked Canadian triathletes. The weather is going to be ideal. It will certainly be an exciting race!

If you are in front of your pc this evening, you can tune into the ITU Yokohama World Cup online live coverage beginning at 8pm EDT:

http://www.triathlonlive.tv/index/home

Everyone have a fabulous weekend!

9.58

I eagerly anticipated the showdown between Tyson Gay and Usain Bolt.  I told Annika to pay attention, as something special was about to occur.  But I have to say that I did not expect 9.58.  Wow.  I was in the stands when Michael Johnson obliterated the 200m WR, running 19.32 at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta.  I said at the time that it would take at least 25 years before another specimen challenged that feat.  And then of course a Bolt of lightning eclipsed it last year (only 12 years later).  It will be interesting to see if Bolt can also bring done his 200m WR this coming thursday.  And it will certainly be interesting to see if this young remarkable talent can continue to bring down the 100m and 200m world records for years to come.

73 years ago, my grandpa, Johnny Loaring, arrived in Berlin as an relatively unknown 20 year-old young man, and left Berlin as a 21-year-old Olympic medalist.  His first of nine races in Berlin, the 400m hurdles heats, coincided with his 21st birthday -- 1936-Aug-03.  Still to this day, he is the only Olympian to compete in the final of all three track events involving the 400m distance (2nd 400m hurdles, 6th 400m run, & 4th anchoring Canada's 4 x 400m relay).  WWII deprived him of additional potential Olympic opportunities during his prime years, as the 1940 and 1944 Olympic Games never came to be.

Johnny Loaring moments after claiming the silver medal in the 400m hurdles at the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games.

And of course, 73 years ago also featured a fellow by the name of Jesse Owens...

Although the "blue ribbon" event of the IAAF World Track Champs has cemented itself into the history books, I look forward to many events over the course of the next week!

Tecumseh Triathlon Recap

The Tecumseh Triathlon Weekend was another successful event that raised many thousands for Fitness For Hospice. 

Unfortunately, I caught a bug a couple days prior to the event.  I was in rough shape Saturday evening, and it took everything to get out of bed race morning.  Not showing up to help support this race was never an option.  However, I knew that it would be wise to tempo the swim and bike and then cheer everyone on.  When I arrived at the race course, I really wanted to race, and tried to convince myself that I was going to have a great day.  I felt good in the swim, but knew as soon as i jumped on the bike that the power numbers were off.  With Nationals on the horizon, I had to use discipline and make the difficult decision to throttle right down and "fight another day".  it was shame to not be able to have a go, as the pro men's field was without question that deepest and most talented of any triathlon in Ontario this year.

Although I was a bit under the weather, I was VERY excited to cheer on a huge Team LPC / Loaring Physio contingent of about 40 athletes. 

A few random pics that I hope capture the spirit of the event:

 
Me with my beautiful Bre.

 
Gramps during the 6.2k run on the hottest day Canada has experienced in 2009.

Paniche, Raquel, Colleen, and Coach Jeff Cowan.

Travis Goron exiting T2.

Supermom and Annika cheering on Team LPC.


Pete Diponio shortly after a smashing bike leg.


Janet and Maverick taking a break from supporting Team LPC, and finally finding the only piece of shade on a scorcher of a day.

Dave finished 5th overall, a solid result that served as a tune-up for his upcoming HIM.  Don't act like you're not impressed.

Gramps and Auntie Cha-cha.
  Mike and Dawn Van Vlack.  Mike participated on one of a dozen LPC relays, and Dawn had a solid performance, winning her age-group, and taking home a nice pay cheque.

Jim "Warrior King" Cooke and his Team LPC-Lighthouse Cove relay team enjoying the day after battle.

Tecumseh Triathlon Weekend

I am looking forward to the Tecumseh (formerly Windsor) triathlon this weekend.  The venue has changed to Riverfront Park in Tecumseh, which is only one mile north of Loaring Physio.  Although I am now a guelphite, this race (along with Leamington) will always be considered a hometown race.  Team LPC and support crew will participate in several relays, with another dozen racing individually.  I look forward to Sunday's race, and cheering on Canada's future starts the day before at the Kid's of Steel Triathlon.  It will be a big weekend for Team LPC, as several LPC'ers will be participating in Trisport's Niagara Triathlon. 

A few random pics:

 
Top 3 men at the Sarnia Chase Oly Tri.

Learning how to shoot a bazooka at CFB Borden during a one day ExecuTrek Tour. 

Annika at 9 months with Gramps.