Just one of those days....

hahahaha.....

That was the sound of the uncontrolled laughter that took a hold of us yesterday, as Justin Park (speaking of which, you should check out his new website at http://www.justinparkracing.com/) and I concluded the day, sloshing home in the rainy streets of Calgary at 9:30 p.m.

That wet walk home fit perfectly into yesterday's general pattern.

The day before had been great, it ended at a barbeque at Lisa Mensink's place....mmmm

Lisa cooked us up something goooood! She made sure even Justin had enough to eat!

Lisa's husband, Richard, was a great host too.

The day had started out perfectly, we had gotten some great sleep, decided to start the day late and -sleep in-... luxury we hadn't savoured in a while with the training camp in Victoria!

We ate and headed out to the pool, it was a nice morning walk through those same Calgary streets. We made it to the pool, where I was glad to have Justin's draft for the swim workout.

Oh, the only strange event at the pool was a woman in the locker room who didn't speak one word of english had lost her glasses in the steam room and was crying, running around naked hollering words of desperation. We ended up finding those glasses, and I then remember thinking to myself how lucky I was NOT to be having one of those days...like the woman in the locker room seemed to be having. Little did I know...

So I met Justin, we swam a good set of activation, noticing that as we had predicted, we would feel the effect of the slightly higher altitude in Calgary. Times were good but the effort felt slightly harder. That was fine, and it was precisely why Lance had sent us to the race early. No problem. We stay positive. Knowing everything would be back to normal by race day.

Heading back home, we went for more FOOD. (Thank goodness I dont hang out with Justin more often, I would take on a couple of pounds).

We then realized performing the rest of yesterday's training would be quite challenging.

We had to go for a long ride on the bike course and then a run brick off the bike... we needed to start the training at T1,which was, apparently, a ways outside of Calgary. We were supposed to get a ride out there but were told it was not possible after all. I told Justin, the best idea would be to rent a car. We were told that there were some agencies in walking distance, so....we walked...and walked, then realizing we had been given the wrong directions...

We finaly made it to Budget and were told that...they were out of cars, and that the other agency within walking distance was...also out of cars.

So, we forced the employee at budget to finaly admit that there was an Entreprise car rental agency- not too far away- but there was no way to get him to call them. So...We walked. Again. For quite a while.

Enterprise car rental has always been my saviour and they were once again yesterday. Justin and I were running late but, thanks to Enterprise, were now in a Jeep heading out to pick up our things at the hotel and head out to the workout.

We drove, following the directions from the mapquest copy we had handy which....for some odd reason confused southwest with north. (Long, very funny, story).

This clip will give you a better idea of what was going on in our car, 50 minutes upon our departure from Calgary yesterday, on the way out to T1:

When all of a sudden, a glorious afternoon gave way to dark hominous skies....

We ended up pursuing part of that training through the storm....that bike ride finished late...

The last detail of the day is that our ride could only be a one day rental so we had to unload the bikes and bring the car back with a full gas tank. Apparently, there are not too many gas stations downtown Calgary....we ended up finaly finding one....each of its pumps posted a big -out of gas-sign. Seriously, I am not joking.

We found the gas later, dropped the car off, walked home in the rain and went to bed. Yes, it was just one of those days....that help you appreciate all the others...

CHEERS! RACE COMING UP VERY SOON!!!

TYR

I have been so very, very lucky.
I have come across people that have supported me and that have believed in me, providing me all the positive energy necessary to move forward and build.
I am lucky that the love and support I got from my family brought the opportunity for an avalanche of great things.
I am lucky that I came across Paolo Marinoni and his family and that they offered me their help as I was just getting started in the sport. It was the same for Pierre Vermette and Natasha Cassivi from Pearl Izumi (F3 distribution) who are now friends and have always cheered for me and followed my goals and dreams.
I am so grateful that my search for a coach and team brought me to Lifesport and to coach Lance. My experience in this new team has changed my life.
Lifesport has also introduced me to a new friend and manager, Travis Blanton, who definitely has provided me a lot of support planning my career as a professional triathlete.
Recently, things have gotten even better. This month, I have signed with TYR. That is such a chance as I have always been using TYR products that I very much appreciated and as I know what a reputation TYR has in the world of triathlon and swimming. I take this opportunity from TYR as a great compliment as I know their team of athletes features some of the best triathletes in our sport. I also have to add that the contract I now have will definitely help me to pursue my sport and make a living as a professional.
I have yet to meet everyone from TYR and am very excited to do so very soon.
I have already been spoiled by my new sponsor... very shortly after having signed, I received my BIG BOX OF COOL STUFF. I was like a little girl at Christmas when Shantel from Lifesport called me on the first day of taper after the camp to tell me I had a big box from TYR waiting for me at the office. I got loads of great things!





Taking off with teammate Justin!

Here are a couple of shots from the start of our trip to the Calgary 70.3.






Yes, remember, Justin is the Big guy that eats so much he needs to travel with his food. He got caught with his goodie bag on our way out of the plane.


There were strange things going on at the Calgary airport...

The perfect taxi for the traveling triathlete.

It was late when we finaly made it to the hotel...but nothing would stop our hungry stomachs from finding a second dinner.

So I followed Justin through the streets of Calgary late at night to find...

SOME MORE FOOD!!!!!

Our Calgary suite is now home sweet home and Justin and I have quickly slipped back into the Maui roomie routines.

My new playground...

Here I am again, thinking back at the wonderful last few weeks, wishing I had put up my posts along the way. Here I am again, with thousands of great moments to share and thinking that I might sadly end up doing another-too long- monster post- today!

A lot has happened in the 14 days and 58 hours of training since the Vancouver Subaru series race.

Leaving Vancouver...taking the Mag mobile for a last spin.

The Lifesport pro camp ended yesterday for many of us. The camp was planned to be a week long, but it seems some of us preferred to hang around longer and stay at the mercy of our ambitious and very devoted coaches. We stayed to climb more hills, explore more of the outstanding bike routes, do a little more heavy breathing and push the lactic acid concentrations to the next level. Perhaps, more than anything else, most of us wanted to satisfy their curiosity and answer the question: How much further can we push?

On the day of the Vancouver race, we had all packed our luggage and once the race was over, we helped close the race site, loaded our boxes and suitcases in the trucks and car pooled to the ferry, on our way to Victoria! (Talk about organized travelling after such a big week-end! I was impressed!)

That ferry ride with the team felt more like a cruise! Of course, since there was a buffet on that boat, I sat with Justin for entertainment. Linsey Corbin was impressive too. Never saw her eat as much desert! ha!

Day one of the camp was wonderful, I think we were all glad to be together again, and it showed. I was very sore from the race and I laugh now when I read my training peaks report on that day -maybe I overdid it a bit on the easy swim, racing with Bree for Justin s draft- (hahah...we just couldn't help it!)

Thankfully, we went to the PISE for a recovery session where we had the real ice bath deal and acquired some knowledge about contrast sessions like that one with the physiologist.

Ice bath with Linsey at PISE

We welcomed new athletes into our group during this camp. Rachel Kiers was a great addition to the group, as well as Amanda Stevens ( outstanding person, great triathlete and very inspiring swimmer!) and Kerry Spearing, from Victoria! Yes, a future training partner for me! She is very strong and lots of fun! Those were great additions to our group. Kerry was good a great guide to help discover all the great bike routes.

This camp was also great because it allowed me to get familiar with the Victoria training and lifestyle, which I fell in love with for good. I feel at home here and am so comfortable. It was all about discovering my new playground. There are hills everywhere for riding, the roads are beautiful.Bree and I even got a nice bike tour with coach Lance! The roads that I prefer, remind me of Maui, there are little rolling, windy routes that take us through the forest and make time fly by on long bike rides. Kerry also took us on a ride along the ocean that I know I will be doing many times again. With Coach Paul Regensburg, we discovered the run TRAILS!!! He took the group on the most beautiful long run ever. Do you know many places where you can run for more than 2 hours in trails and never do the same one twice. Places where you are so spoiled that when you get warm and tired from the forest, you can just head down and find the freshness of the beach in a run along the water?

Riding with coach Lance!

And how about the swimming? More to discover!During the camp, we got to swim in three different lakes and 50 meter pools which are all in such close ranges of each other. I think now it will be very easy for me to get into great new training habits. I just can t wait to call this place home. And it seems like there is so much more to discover.

I surprise myself now, because I am looking back at that hard camp and not saying much about the epic training we all did. After all, the expression -suck it up- I learned at this camp was used more than once, and I remember thinking to myself how funny it was that I felt training in zone 3+ was becoming a habit! But once again, we were all there to support each other and make it look easy, we are so lucky we had our coaches be there for us, in all trainings, making sure we stayed focused, positive and that we kept on fighting!

Team effort on the run intervals

There is also the outside support that makes all this look so easy! There is such a good energy at my home stay, Denise spoils me and I am so proud of her because I remember her telling me how she wanted to take up triathlon in January. Now here she is, training regularly and participating in her first events! Curtis, her son, must be her inspiration. He has only been in the sport for a short time and is doing very well. He has been very helpful to me as well and has come along on some rides too!

And because we recognize the importance of balance....

We also had some great social evenings in the schedule. An evening with Bruce Regensburg (the fisherman!!) and lovely wife Marsha, where Bruce shared his catch and it was DELICIOUS....mmm...

The -very competitive- Lifesport crocket challenge.

(Haley! What a comeback!)

It is a shame I was not regular enough in my blog to talk more about our team training adventures. I can just hope that the blogging will also become one of my new habits!

The race along the ocean...

In order to talk about my Vancouver race experience, I have to go back to the first steps I took out of the airport upon my arrival. I received a phone call and was told Sam from Subaru would come and pick me up!

I remember the last sentence of the person on the other end of the line: -You wont miss him!, The car has your name all over it-he said...

Now what could that have meant? I understood fast enough once I saw the Magali Tisseyrere mobile (yes, that it how it was spelled...hahaha) approach the passenger pickup zone of the airport with my name in white letters all over the car. Wow! (I have to post a picture of that car a bit later.)

Sam popped out with a smile! Was this for real? There was even a Subaru team race jersey in the car. Danger!
We made it to Subaru, and I was handed the keys to my week-end ride and drove out into the sunset. Well... not quite. That would have been boring. Rather, John Botelho told me to follow him to the beach (site of the transition zone of the Vancouver half Ironman) and showed me the bike race course on the way (he definitely also would have deserved a race car Jersey, I had to toast a couple of yellow lights on that -visit the course rally-! Ahhahahah(I hope my mom is not reading this).
That is how, within two hour of my arrival in Vancouver, I was already driving along in the Tisseyrere car, studying the course!!! I just knew that this was going to be a very nice week-end!
Thanks John! Needless to say, when I got to the beach, I went for a run on the course along the ocean. It was so beautiful (though a bit confusing!!) at that point I knew, I couldn't wait to be racing!

But my adventure was only getting started. Now I needed to get to my homestay, Coach Paul Regensburg would have been a good help for that as he was heading down town. I was handed a map and told to follow for part of the way. Only problem was, I didn’t quite know when that –part of the way- ended. Anyhow, long story short. I got to discover Vancouver on a 1 hour drive up to my home stay which was about 30minutes away ....hmmm.

So I made it to coach Mark Shorter’s place and got to meet his lovely wife Cara. They live in a very beautiful place overlooking the bay and with a good pair of binoculars; I could have seen the race site from the balcony.

I had such a good time with my Vancouver home stay! They have been so helpful, Mark gave me the CO2 101 clinic to make sure nothing could stop me and helped me make sure I had all my equipment for the race. He also let me into the recovery secret of the foam roll. Mark is famous for his ability to recover fast after his Ironman races and he has all these recovery habits he follows religiously (like the foam roll session, which I am now an adept of!). We had so much fun! Mark is everything BUT boring!

My home stay, Mark Shorter, is all about ACTION! hahaha

Race day:

I was very nervous on the morning of the race. Mostly because I wanted to prove to myself that I could race a similar time than the one I did in Boise. Lucky for me, my friend Linsey and all the coaches were there to cheer along the course. My teammates Bree Wee and Haley Cooper were also going to be tough competition, that was going to help me push up the pace.

The gun went off and the SHOW started. Show is the right word, really. The race organizers had planned to have great media coverage for this race, the cameras were everywhere on race day, it was almost funny to see those pop up all over the place! Even in the forest! It was the paparazzi race! Which made things even more fun!

We had each done a pre-race interview in which we had to describe a –not so secret anymore- race strategy. Mine was to start by swimming with Bree. She is an excellent swimmer. And boy did I suffer trying to keep with her during that swim.

I was so proud coming out of the water because I had never fought so hard and managed to stay with her. On the second loop, I was in her feet all the way and she found sea creature Justin’s feet, which made that Hawaiian chick even more hard to follow. I lost her once...fought back, swallowed some water...back to her feet, was safe... lost her again...and then stuck with her until the run out of the water. THE SWIM WAS AN ALL OUT EFFORT.

On the way onto the bike!

My legs felt tired from the swim on my way out of transition but I fought threw it because I have recently realized that even if I went hard out of the water, the legs will eventually come back. So I completed the first lap at a good effort. Wondering if I might have gone out a bit too fast? The course was great for me, the first part of each loop was a gradual climb which I liked. I also loved that there were two turnarounds where I could see my competition and teammates. I could hear Bree and Lance yell encouragements to me with big smiles on their faces.

The run was my favourite part of the course, part of it was cross-country, which made it exciting (even though I fell flat on my stomach at one point, but that was kind of funny!).Then it was the run along the ocean and beaches that inspired me to give the extra effort. It was the most beautiful run course I had ever done. And my team was there to yell at me to go faster!

Now the Lifesport team was reunited after a beautiful day of shared passion! Ready to take the ferry to Victoria to start another BOOT CAMP!!!

Loving the West!

I have made it to the west coast and am writing from beautiful Vancouver Island, what amazing memories arise from my second visit to square one of my -learn to train like a pro- adventures. I am now starting to understand why I always hop on the plane with such a smile on my face when I head out to training camps or races that involve the Lifesport crew. It is inevitable: each plan on the schedule is bound to turn into an unforgettable adventure. I now know that is what happens when you are surrounded with great people with big dreams. My West coast adventure started in Vancouver, where I enjoyed one of the most (if not THE most) amazing race day of my life. I raced on the most unforgettable course so far at the Vancouver international Half Ironman. What an experience that was. I think I was more nervous about that race than I was about any other because there are many things that I needed to prove to myself. I m looking forward to giving a full report about that race and about what a great time I had on Sunday. I am now back to my home stay in Victoria, staying with the Champions and training harder than ever considering the race was on Sunday! It is back to push, push, push! And what a perfect environment to do so.