OAT Training Days at the PTC

The first OAT Training Day takes place at the PTC Sunday morning.  There are still a few spots left (participation is limited to 40).  More  info is available at the OAT Training Day facebook Page.  Have a look and become a fan.

Cut and paste from the OAT website:

Once again the Ontario Association of Triathletes will be holding a series of Training Days at the Provincial Triathlon Centre, University of Guelph. Participation is limited to OAT members. There will be four groups running this winter:

• Junior High Performance (age 16 - 19) as of December 31, 2010
• Age 12-15 as of December 31, 2010
• Age 10-11 as of December 31, 2010
• New! Adults
• Demonstrated commitment to competing in triathlon
• Please note: this programme is not designed for entry level youth triathletes; some previous experience and skill is preferred

Training Day Schedule for 2009-10

• November 1, 29, 2009
• January 3, 31, 2010
• March 7, 2010
• April 11, 2010
• May 2, 2010

More Information and Registration Form

What are your long-term goals?

But why, some say, the moon? Why choose this as our goal? And they may well ask why climb the highest mountain? Why, 35 years ago, fly the Atlantic? Why does Rice play Texas?

We choose to go to the moon. We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win, and the others, too.

...even though I realize that this is in some measure an act of faith and vision, for we do not now know what benefits await us. But if I were to say, my fellow citizens, that we shall send to the moon, 240,000 miles away from the control station in Houston, a giant rocket more than 300 feet tall, the length of this football field, made of new metal alloys, some of which have not yet been invented, capable of standing heat and stresses several times more than have ever been experienced, fitted together with a precision better than the finest watch, carrying all the equipment needed for propulsion, guidance, control, communications, food and survival, on an untried mission, to an unknown celestial body, and then return it safely to earth, re-entering the atmosphere at speeds of over 25,000 miles per hour, causing heat about half that of the temperature of the sun--almost as hot as it is here today--and do all this, and do it right, and do it first before this decade is out--then we must be bold.

John F. Kennedy - September 12, 1962

Full speech

What are your long-term goals?  And what are you doing today, tomorrow, next week, next month, and next year...in terms of working hard towards achieving them?

Onwards and upwards we go...

Ciociaro Track Resurrected

On Saturday, I attended the The Big Workout that was organized by the Speed River Track Club.  Approximately 200 runners came out for a fantastic community running event over the groomed National Cross Country Course.  I continue to be blown away by how many crazy fast runners reside here in Guelph.

Unfortunately, I failed in attempting to be in two places at the same time--otherwise I would have also been in Tecumseh supporting (in person) the resurrection of the Ciociaro Track, and the formation of the Ciociaro Cycling Club (CCC).  Despite less than ideal weather, over 100 cyclists and triathletes from Essex County came out to support the first Ciociaro Cycling Club ride.  The 1275m track has been re-paved, and the local community can look forward to the resurrection of the popular Thursday night crit race series.  The central location of the Ciociaro Club will now become an even more popular meeting grounds for Essex County's various social cycling and triathlon groups.


 
The ride brought together all of the "Heads of State".  Pictured below from left to right: Alex Rae (East Side Riders), Pete DiPonio (CCC President), Vincent Del Duca (Normany Road Riders).

World Tour Details TBA

Props to Allied Forces Productions for allowing me the honour of presenting Dave's first hit single.

Ladies and gents...2-time OCAA Champion David 'Pre' Sharratt:

Goal Setting

Far more important then the outcome, is the celebration of the journey of the Daily Grind, and the celebration with those who supported and inspired you along this journey.

Annika, push play and dance with mommy and daddy

New LPC Team Issue Jacket

New cool weather cycling and running jackets have arrived. Here for more info.

caught on camera

Rob Tranter and Anthony Paniccia in the zone at mile 4.5 of the Detroit Free Press Marathon.  This pic was taken just before they tossed their extra layers of clothing at me--I swear they don't normally run (and look) like this.  They really are both quite handsome.

Keith Henry enroute to a sub 2h run in the half-marathon--a solid tempo long run to help prep for Ironman Cozumel on Nov 26th.  LPC'ers Helen Robertson and Dawn Van Vlack also had great runs.

Despite wearing gloves, my poor fingers froze while handing out water.  I need to toughen up.  Better yet, next year I will participate in the half.

Club Allied Forces members Mike Hay, Tyler Lord, and myself, after the Guelph Thanksgiving Day 10k.  Mike and I are in the process of creating "Club Allied Forces" -- an informal social network of coaches and elite athletes that live near Guelph -- where the  mission is to discuss our thoughts and experiences regarding tri-geek related matters -- all while engaging in purposeful group training sessions. 

Annika ran 17:00 for 5k with a little push from her Uncle.  She made it look very easy as she slept the entire time.

life = risk

Launch of the Ciociaro Cycling Club

Attention cyclists and triathletes from Windsor & Essex County.  See the note below from the founding members of the CCC:

THE CIOCIARO TRACK --- RE- OPENS !

                East  meets  West rides together!

Cycling friends --- the much anticipated reopening of the Ciociaro Cycling Track is here !

Substantial funds and a great amount of work to repair the track should be complete within a week..

In a great show of Solidarity the Ciociaro Track Bicycling Committee is planning an important ride to show the club about our interest as cyclists to support the Track and the Ciociaro Facilities...

There are many plans new for the next cycling season... But first we want to say thank-you to the Board and the newly formed Cycling Committee and its Executive with Pete DiPonio as the current President !

So here's the drill...

1st -- arrange to ride with us on Saturday October 24 -- from the Ciociaro Club..

arrive early to get ready for the ride - about 70-80 km.... No-One- Dropped..but an average of 30 km sustained..

9:30 the Official re-opening of the Track with publicity Photos... So wear your Club or Team Jerseys if you want..

10 am - we set out for the loop around the west portion of the county..

2nd - A reminder to bring some money ... for Pizza afterwards...

          ALSO memberships for the new Ciociaro Cycling Club will be available for all to join..

             only $15 for social membership to the club and $5 for the Cycling Club.. so a total of $20 for those wanting to join

3rd - Send back a reply so we have an idea how many will show so the Club can accommodate us...

            Everyone is welcome... spread the word around and bring as many cyclists as you can

SEE    YOU     AT      THE     TRACK !

Thanksgiving Day Races

What a beautiful venue for a run.  The picture above is at the 3k mark of yesterday's 10k race.  I am at the back  hanging on for dear life (about to be dropped) as the Speed River gazelles used this event as a tempo tune-up for the Canadian 10k Road Champs this Saturday in Toronto.  The highlight of the day was watching Annika run a 16:59 5k with a little help from her Uncle--but more on that later.  First, here is an article of this wonderful event in today's Guelph Mercury:

tsaxon@guelphmercury.com

GUELPH — A new location and the threat of nasty weather couldn’t stop the Thanksgiving Day Races from being a big success Monday.

Roughly 650 people of all ages participated in six different races at Exhibition Park as the rain held off and a little morning frost on the pumpkin did little to dissuade a large number of people from registering the morning of the race.

“I’m very pleased. The turnout was great,” race director John Marsden said.

“Weather was my main concern. We’ve had three weeks of rain and it wasn’t looking good for today. We were ready for the rain if it came, but it’s hard to convince people to stand out in the rain and run.”

It was cold, with temperatures hovering in the single digits all morning, but with little wind to make it worse, nobody was complaining.

The star of the day was Exhibition Park, a new location for the event brought on by construction in downtown Guelph where the races have been held the past few years.

“I just love this venue, it’s perfect,” said veteran runner Scott Cameron, who took part in a new 10-kilometre race that was added to this year’s lineup.

“I really like having it at the park,” said Brian Sharratt, who watched his son David win the 5km race. “You don’t have to have police blocking off roads and it’s very spectator friendly.

Full Article

Windsor's Brannagan to join Virtue on tour

By Bob Duff, The Windsor Star, October 9, 2009

During the 2005 season, when back issues began to bother Canadian figure skater Tessa Virtue, she sought out relief from the Fowler Kennedy Sport Medicine Clinic in her hometown of London.

Instead of treatment, they offered her a recommendation, telling Virtue if she was interested in the best, she needed to get in touch with Mary Brannagan of Windsor’s Loaring Physiotherapy & Health Centre.

“They said, ‘She just gets it,’” Virtue recalled. “It was the best referral I’ve ever received.”

Since that day, it’s Virtue who gets all of her physiotherapy work done by Brannagan and as she preps for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, one of Canada’s best medal hopes - Virtue and partner Scott Moir are two-time world championship medallists in ice dancing - she plans to have Brannagan aboard for the ride.

Next week, Brannagan will travel with Virtue to Paris, France for the Trophee Bombard, an International Skating Union Grand Prix event. It’s part of a new program in which the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Committee is working with Canada’s elite athletes to give them as many creature comforts as possible leading up to the big dance.

“They asked me what I wanted and one of the things I asked for was to have Mary travel with me,” Virtue said. “She knows my body, she knows what needs to be done to keep me right on top of my game.”

Full Article

Kona Predictions

I have looked into the crystal ball and here are my picks for the podium:

WOMEN:

1. Rebekah Keat
2. Chrissy Wellington
3. Miranda Carfrae

Darkhorses:
The field minus CW

Why not Chrissy for the win?  Because the entire world is picking her to win, and I think just maybe she will finally prove to be human and have an off day.

MEN:

1. Craig Alexander
2. Eneko Llanos
3. Rasmus Henning

Henning is a big uncertainty and is has the talent and ability to run with Alexander.  It will be interesting how he (and his hand) performs in his first crack at Kona.

Darkhorses:
Raelert, Bozzone

champions are everywhere

This is a wonderful story.  And Jason was already a champ long before the tip-off of this game:

rio2016

For the first time in Olympic history, a South American country will host an Olympic Games.  I am not the least bit surprised that Rio De Janeiro won over powerhouse bids from Madrid, Tokyo, and Chicago.  I am surprised that Chicago was eliminated in the first round.  However, in my opinion, Rio had the strongest bid, and the politics always swayed in favour of Rio and Madrid.  Since it was very unlikely for the IOC to award consecutive Olympics to the same continent, Madrid was considered a dark horse, and Rio was deemed a clear favourite by many.  There is no doubt that the world will be focused on Brazil in 2014 (FIFA World Cup) and 2016 (Games of the XXXI Olympiad).

I spent a week in Rio in 2004, where I competed in the Rio World Cup Triathlon.  Of all the amazing cities that I have visited over the years, Rio De Janeiro might be at the very top of the list.  The culture, beaches, and churrascaria buffets, are simply spectacular.