More good into my life...

I have only been in triathlon for a short part of my life, but it has already brought me so much.
I have met so many amazing people through it all. I think that is the way life has to show me that I am on the right track!
All those people have crossed my path and helped me build my confidence and made my desires start to become a reality. If you have already read my blog, you must know that I am talking, in most part, of my new Lifesport family, but I am also talking about the whole range of people I have met, from my old friends from Quebec that I started training with, to my new friends from TYR.

Which takes me back to last Sunday:

At Timberman, I was third. Things didn t go quite as planned as I was very dehydrated on the run and felt my legs nearly cramped more than once. But I am happy about my race because the swim and bike were descent and I gave the run my best effort on that day. I held on, and survived. (Catriona...wowowowow....you were on fire on that run!!!!).
Being at that race has taken me back and had me realize how lucky I was. I have been inspired and more motivated than ever after having been to Timberman, a race closer to my home town. I realized that I had some supporters, people that believed in me and that wanted to see me do well. On the day before the race, two supporters from Quebec gave me their best wishes in transition, we had never met, but they looked so happy for me and gave me their support, that is beautiful.
Later, an other very nice lady came to tell me she would be cheering. I later saw her on the course. It was a big help.
Finally, at the start line on race morning, I encountered old training partners that came to see me to wish me luck. One even had a message from my best friends watching the race from home: -Dominic and Josianne are watching on the computer, they wanted me to wish you luck-. Waw, Dominic is the one I did my first two hour run with...he has always followed and believed in me. That put things into perspective, I had a moment at that point, when I thought of how lucky I was to have all the people supporting me, I owed it to them to have a great race and to put my heart into it! THANK YOU EVERYONE! (Oh, and Sonia, mom told me she saw you!! You are great!)

The best thing about Timberman was that I got to meet my new sponsor s team! (TYR). Ryan, from TYR, was at the race, such a fun, relaxed, person! He spoiled me. He was even on the race course, yelling out splits. Photographer Eric was also part of the support crew.
Speaking of inspiration to race, I got to race Chrissie, which is so motivating, and we met after the race. All those things they say about Chrissie are true. She is inspiring, not only because she truly loves what she does, but also because her dreams, positive spirit and love of the sport are so contagious. She is someone that worries about others and always is seeking to help and to make the world (specially our little triathlon world), a better place. Chrissie also shared a very emotional moment before the start of the race, when she gave a speech in remembrance of the late Jon Blais before spreading his ashes into the lake.

Chrissie was among the four outstanding TYR athletes that I spent the days after the race with for the TYR photo shoot....AND WHAT A GREAT TIME WE HAD IN THE WOODS!!!!

Well, it was not only a photo shoot...at all...! On day one, we got to see the new TYR collection, to comment on the actual line. Designers spent an hours with each of us, asking about the actual products, what we liked, what we thought could be improved, and were very open to our comments. They presented the textures and material they wanted to work with in the future, asked for our perspective and were very open to our ideas. TYR is such a young, dynamic, open, company. It was quite a privilege to have that day to talk with the designer and input our ideas and opinions.
And....WHAT AN AMAZING 2010 COLLECTION IT IS!!! I am not just saying this! I have never seen such a nice collection!
And....they are definitely diversifying the collection and....what is the most impressive are the stylish colours and designs coming up, remember I said this! It was just hard to think those products were not available to wear now, that part kind of felt like a great day of shopping, but...you had to wait to be able to take it all home. Patience! It will come soon!
We got to wear all those fancy things for the shoots, which was goooood!

See, look at that baby blue and white race suit! Got to wear it for shoot 1.

Water shot with the reversible bathing suit!

Becky (Lavelle), Andy (Potts) and I, getting ready for the -pop out of the water-shot!


Team TYR running to the camera!


Photo shoots can be long! Ours was NOT! Chrissie had a great idea....-who wants to play some games in the sand while Andy does his shots?-she asked. And so...the TYR Olympics begun! The wheel barrel competition, was my payback for sunday! hehheeh. Becky was a great partner!


O.k....well, we didn t do so good at the three legged race...

This one was my favorite!!!


Not only was the day at the photo shoot fun, it also ended beautifully, at the lake in front of the house, with a group picture of us just hanging out on the dock. So good.

We were definitely spoiled by the TYR crew during our stay. We had great places to stay, amazing food every night that Ryan s wife and his mom cooked themselves and great support during the shoot. We were also given time for training (I was off for the week, but couldn t resist Becky s invitation to go on a short bike ride, so nice! (and what a great girl she is, just so authentic and nice!!!)). TYR really put their hearts into our racing and gave us the royal treatment the whole time.
Thanks to all the TYR crew and Andy, TJ, Becky, Chrissie...it was so nice to meet you.
Special thanks to Liz, from triathlete magazine, who took all those pictures I posted and was great company during the day. Thank you also to Cat, great fun!
Now I am on a break for a week, I get to focus on school so I can get it done as soon as I can! Next on the schedule, Muskoka 70.3!
Cheers to all. Thanks for the very precious support.
Magali.