Let the party begin!

ADVENTURE NUMBER 1.

There is something very special about Florida.


It keeps me coming back....
And I'm not just talking about the 70.3. We vacationed in Florida every winter with my family during all of my childhood and that place just gives rise to beautiful memories.


Training on the course before the race, feeling strong and definitely back into the game.

I hadn't felt the sun and the heat in a while. I love the Florida sun, the oranges, the sand, the humidity....(oh and here's a secret: THE ALLIGATORS...I prefer to say the crocs cause it's more fun). There is something unique about the Long road stretches, speeding down white sprinkeled pavement inmy aerobars to the sound of my new pro wheel (hehe...sorry if I just broke the romance by saying a brand but you have to know, they are truly amazing). No better place to get the legs back into action. It is a course I want to own because I have it in my heart. I want to come back and own my course, everything about it just makes each Florida adventure a bright memory. And it is also a magic race, a race that starts and finishes in the fantasy world of Disney.



Cheer leading crew! Mom (kiki) and Lucas Tisseyre!! haha.


The beloved Lucas Tisseyre the first. haha.


The great Lucas the first.

Me and my ultimate weapons.


But yes, I'll have to admit, Florida is not a course for me, dead flat, swimmers race. But again, I just have it in my heart. I was third again this year and chances are, I will keep coming back and trying to win no matter what. There is not much I can do about drafting, I have tried to talk to officials before the race but it seems that it is something that is hard to control. Maybe on a good day, it is possible to stay -even- with a pack on a solo 90K time trial but it wasn't for me this time. The swimmers rode away with the pro men. Maybe I just had to be prepared and not let it affect me. I let it make me mad at each turnaround, I let it get me in a bad mood and get into my head. Next time, I will accept it and come prepared.


The run course is one of my favorites, you get to run by transition on three loops and the energy of the croud is just unbelievable. I was still in a pretty bad mood on the run, i won't lie, but each time I got to the croud, my smile was back. YOU PEOPLE ARE AMAZING.


My focus on the run was to fight to stay positive and get back into the game, also fight the heat (I had not done much acclimatization but had gotten to Florida on tuesday night so that probably helped). I still had good form on the run and enjoyed the last loop. I always like the loop where everyone is on the course. On the last loop, we had the age groupers out there. I like it because, strategicaly, you get to hide, blend into the croud and also, they always cheer for me as we all suffer together in the sun. They work just as hard as I do. It makes me strong. I still remember a woman calling to me: Go QUEBEC. Crazy to say...but that really helped. Made me so proud. Made me forget about my hard feelings and think that I had to give it my best.



There a great moments at every race. Another great moment at this one was, well, my favorite part of every race. Coming threw the cheers and crossing the finish line. No matter what the race, I will smile when I cross that line.

Another great moment was when I got to see my manager Travis Blanton before the race and some. Travis is my guide, he is not only the best manager one could imagine, he is also one of the most amazing, extraordinary people I know and a great friend, someone that always makes sure I am smiling and I don't get to see him very often so that was a treat. Another great thing was when Lifesport teammate David Kahn told me... he had come in 5th pro man. I knew that was coming. But still...this guy is a full time student, David is studying to be a dentist and still manages to be fifth. WATCH OUT people, he is coming!!! (Remember I said this!)


Another great thing about the race is that our friend, Anders Hamilton came to watch, cheer and hang out with mom and I. We met Anders randomly at bike shops two years in a row in Clearwater, where he lives.
One of those coincidences that are just too obvious. Anders saw me wish for a top ten one year and get on the podium the next once I had joined Lifesport. He is part of the adventure for sure and is of great support.
Anders is now also getting involved in triathlon. He has a busy life but is drifting into try- tri -mania, he has done some training since we last saw him in Clearwater and I feel he will be addicted very soon.

So Florida was still a treat and a definite learning experience. I felt sour for a couple of days, but in the end, the good things always stand out and they are the ones that stay on the record. The rest just goes into making a better plan for the future.

coming up this week: ADVENTURE NUMBER 2: BLUE BIKES AND THE WIND TUNNEL!!! and...ADVENTURE NUMBER 3: MEETING THE EQUILIBRUM CREW!!!
Got lots of pics and lots to share. Promise.