2010 ATHENA video

The Windsor Star and Media Street Productions visited Loaring Physio a couple of weeks ago, and then put together this short video that was shown (right before Charlotte accepted her award) at the 2010 Windsor-Essex Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards.

BJAM blog

My lovely wife has entered the exciting world of blogging...and has created her own blog...all about BJAM. Pronounced Bee-jam, BJAM is an acronym for "Breanne, James, Annika, and Maverick". BJAM blog will share the occasional adventure, and every day non-adventure, of BJAM and their closest family and friends.

The Loaring Chronicles blog has always been a blog that offers "morsels of info concerning health & fitness, coaching, and family life". The Loaring Chronicles will continue to offer morsels that concern these different pees in a pod. However, BJAM blog will focus entirely on the most important thing in life...family.

Pearls of wisdom from Breanne:

"When you look at your life, the greatest happinesses are family happinesses"

Athletics Ontario Hall of Fame

Athletics Ontario have created a Hall of Fame, and my grandpa, John W. Loaring, has been selected as one of the fifteen inaugural Inductees.

From the Athletics Ontario website:

Please join us in Celebrating Excellence in Athletics on December 5 in Toronto to honour the 2009 Athletics Ontario Hall of Fame Inductees:

• 1928 Women’s 4x100m Relay Team (Athletes: Florence Isabel “Jane” Bell, Myrtle Alice Cook, Fanny “Bobbie” Rosenfeld, Ethel May Smith)
• Donovan Bailey (Athlete)
• Ethel Catherwood (Athlete)
• Bill Crothers (Athlete)
• Jerome Drayton (Athlete)
• Fred Foot (Builder)
• George Henry Goulding (Athlete)
• Robert Kerr (Athlete/Builder)
• John Loaring (Athlete)
• Brent McFarlane (Builder)
• Donald Mills (Builder)
• George W. Orton (Athlete)
• Paul Poce (Builder)
• M.M. “Bobby” Robinson (Builder)
• Joseph R. Young (Builder)

Halloween

What a great weekend. My birthday falls on this day, so it was fitting that I went as an old man. It was tons of fun going out for Halloween with my two Wonderwomen.

Annika sprinting towards the the tunnel of terror--her first "trick or treat".

The Leaves Are Falling

After enjoying a bit of time off training after my final triathlon of the year (Elite Nats in Kelowna), I was itching to get outside for some aerobic runs in the trails of Preservation Park. The leaves are beginning to fall and turn colour, and the deer are always eager to play a friendly game of chase. This is my favourite time of the year.

The year sure has flown by, and the summer ended with a jam-packed weekend that maximized time outdoors in perfect weather.

I spontaneously entered the Falling Leaves 7.5 Trail Run on Sep 19th. I ended up having a good run, especially considering that I hadn't completed any speed work since before Kelowna. The Guelph Mercury wrote an article here. Then I had a blast watching Bre push Annika in the 1k kid's dash (Annika walked the final 10m). And then we watched the fast gazelles tear up the course in the collegiate race.

The very next day (sep 20) was the Caledon Running Festival. C3 put on an amazing show, and Annika enjoyed participating in the 1 mile kid's race.

This past weekend was the Guelph Downtown 5k. Like a weekend warrior, I laced up once again, and finished 2nd, sandwiched between sparring mates Derek Snider and Mike Hay.

To the right of this post are a few twitter updates that have links that show a few pics and videos captured from what has been a wonderful couple of weeks.


Laying low before the big race.


All set and ready for battle.


1008 kids take off in the one mile kid's dash


Taking a short rest break to catch a photo with Lisa Bentley.



Epic finishing sprint

Recap

Wow, it sure has been an eventful couple of weeks!  And this weekend is another BIG weekend.  I leave shortly for Windsor, and then off to Shawnee State Park in Southern Ohio to tackle the infamous American Triple-T Triathlon.  I fully anticipate this weekend to be one of the most gruelling weekends of my life.  I can say with certainty, that I am looking more forward to this race, then any race that I have ever participated in thus far.  Training has gone well at the PTC the past month, so now it is up to me to almost die trying to finish Triple-T. 

A quick recap of what has been a wonderful couple of weeks:

Saturday May 16 was the New Hamburg 7mile and 3k run race.  It was Annika's athletic debut!  Annika raced the 3k with Breanne, Janet, and Maverick.  Dave and Brian raced the 7mile.  Maverick outkicked Janet, Bre, and Annika, but Annika was still the star of the show.  David and Brian both ran very well.  Dave took the overall win! 

Here is Annika showing off her game-face and getting ready for war.

Post-race shot of BJAM. 

Champion!

The following day was a special day, not only because it was Mother's Day, but because it was Annika's Dedication.  Mother's Day is an emotional day for me, having lost my dear mom to breast cancer over 5 years ago.  However, I found comfort in being surrounded by such amazing people.  I am a lucky man to have the best mother-in law in the world, to have a wonderful wife (who is now a mom!), to have a precious adorable baby girl, and to have amazing family and friends. 
Our closest family and friends all congregated at BJAM house, the Salvation Army Church, and Janet and Brian's, for a packed day of celebration.  I eat so much food that I starred at the ceiling all night.  Annika slept 12h non-stop after her BIG weekend.  Imagine that, after 7 months, she has her first huge continuous sleep, and I did not sleep a wink.

Major Abbott and Annika conducting the service.

The god-parents Steph Neil and Miro Tot.

This past Monday was the Victoria Duathlon.  Dave had a huge performance and won for the third year in a row.  It was really nice conditions, and I had a blast cheering everyone on.  Annika got to fly across the line with the help of her favourite uncle.

Her is Brian about to start the bike.  He also had a great race!

That is it for now.  I look forward to Triple-T this weekend.  In addition to racing, I am so excited to help cheer on LPC's Dennis Masse, Jane MacLeod, and Keith Henry.  LPC 'alumni' Shelley McKee is also competing.  So stay tuned for a Triple-T update(s) OR just one long report after I have recovered from exhaustion...

An Olympic Legend Inspires Proud Memories

The latest issue of Windsor Life Magazine arrived today. A feature article by Kevin Shea focused on the athletic accomplishments of Johnny Loaring. The article was written to help promote the upcoming 80th anniversary of The Hon.W. C. Kennedy Collegiate Institute.

The cover of the magazine provides the caption:

A Salute to John Loaring
An Olympic Legend Inspires Proud Memories

Click the image below to take you to Windsor Life's virtual magazine, and then type "22" in the page box to take you to the beginning of the article:

by Kevin Shea, Windsor Life Magazine, May/June 2009, Pages 22-25

Nope, You Lose

In this video, I am the fellow on the left and David Sharratt is the mule on the right:

Random Blabber

The purpose here at the Loaring Chronicles is to provide "random blabber concerning health & fitness, coaching, and family life...onwards and upwards we go..."

So here goes...

Training blabber:

The past week of training at the PTC has gone really well.  I did a fun long bike with Dave this past Saturday.  We rode the "Rattlesnake Loop" from my house.  It is such an awesome 90k loop from Guelph to Milton, up Rattlesnake, down Appleby Line, up Sixth Line, and back home.  I forgot just how steep Rattlenake is!  We tried to keep the effort down as much as possible on this climb without falling over.  After looking at the data from my Quarq CinQo powermeter, it said the climb is 690m long at an average grade of 13.2%.  In my easiest gear, at an average rpm of only 56, I still had to produce 330 watts to get up it.  I have a 25x12 cassette and think I might need to get a 27 tooth cog for Triple-T next month.  Soon I will have a go and see how fast I can ride up Rattlensnake.  Who wants to have a go with me?

CoachCT had us smash a couple of hard back-to-back sessions on Tues and Wed.  I think my fitness is starting to come along, but it still has a loooooong ways to go.  Lots of time.

Coaching blabber:

Team LPC continues to roll along.  7 LPC athletes made it out to the annual Running Factory 100k Group Friday Bike Ride.  I was sad to have missed this ride.  But it is awesome to hear that the ride attracted 67 triathletes/cyclists on what was a chilly and windy day. 

Pat Hayes and Dennis Masse will be participating in Sunday's Paris to Ancaster Bike Race.

Dawn Van Vlack and Jim Cooke are competing in the Boston Marathon on Monday.  I look forward to viewing the live online coverage.

A huge congrats to Travis Goron for being awarded an academic entrance scholarship to the University of Guelph.  Travis has maintained a 95% average throughout all of high school!  Beginning in September, Travis will be training at the Provincial Triathlon Centre (PTC) while studying Biology at the University of Guelph.

Family blabber:

It was a wonderful Easter Weekend at The Sharratt's.  Once again, Brian and Janet cooked up a wonderful storm of food.  Annika was once again the center of attention.  She just had her ears pierced.  Oh no, it starts now!

Huge monster props to my little bro Dave "Pre" Sharratt for being awarded Conestoga's Male Athlete of Year.  This is the second year in a row Dave has been given this honour.  However, I am even more proud of him for resurrecting his popular blog.

So that is some random blabber from the past week.  No doubt I am missing a few points.  Until next time, onwards and upwards we gooooooooo..........

BJAM & The Fam in the South

Here are some captured moments from a wonderful five weeks in Florida.  We are all excited to head back home sweet home to the north and continue to grow onwards and upwards...