EQUILIBRUM

With François St-Onge, President of Equilibrum

Hi everyone! I want to introduce you to my new sponsor, Equilibrum. I met the president of Equilibrum, François St-Onge, at Muskoka 70.3 last summer. François and his training buddy, Gilles stood out in the crowd and felt familiar right away with their smiles and outstanding energy. Gilles and François asked me to sign a T-shirt, saying they were fans from Quebec! That was the first time someone had ever told me they were a -FAN- from anywhere and I gladly autographed the shirt. I actualy remember telling them I was not used to this kind of thing! hahaha.
With Gilles, François's training buddy!
Well it turns out, that was not the last time I would talk to François.
I received an email from him at the end of the season in which he told me he had a orthotics company in Quebec and was wondering if I would give him a call to discuss potential sponsorship. Needless to say, I did not hesitate. I loved the idea of the orthotics company (my field of study is running biomechanics) and it just all seemed like a call that was meant to be.
The actual conversation confirmed my impression. François is a great person, full of energy, joy, life, ideas, dreams, passion and I would soon realize that he was also.... someone who makes great things happen.
I am proud to announce that Equilibrum will be my primary sponsor for 2010 as well as a sponsor through 2011. Equilibrum specializes in custom made orthotics of all kinds: For sports, for rehabilitation. You can visit the site at: http://www.equilibrum.ca/FR/images/catalogue.pdf. I am looking forward to visiting the company in May, finding out more about Equilibrum and talking biomechanics and triathlon. I am also looking forward to trying out some orthotics of my own for feedback. Very curious and excited. The plan is to fly out and see them after Wildflower as I make a short trip home before Florida 70.3.
I share two passions with my new sponsor: Triathlon and Biomechanics. I can't wait to race with Equilibrum's logo on my suit. I can't wait to race for the -fan from back home- and his team. To race in honour of the drive and the energy that go into making equilibrum a unique, growing and dynamic company.
François and team, HERE WE GO!!!!!!
Oh...and did I mention I get regular updates on François's training aswell as he prepares for his Ironman. Another coincidence....the first Ironman I was thinking of doing is the one François is striving for.
Cheers to all. Welcome to François and to the Equilibrum team. GO, GO, GO!!!!

Pimpin' up the baby Blue...

I am sorry I have been so bad at updating my blog recently.
Now my mission is NOT to go threw the past weeks and describe them all to you. I want to spare you that painful reading challenge. There are some things from the past weeks that I am dying to share though....may I? I'll make it quick...
CALIFORNIA
I should have taken the time to tell you all about my trip to California to explore the Wildflower course with my awesome friend and teammate Haley Cooper (the one who drove countless hours in order not to let me down. That girl that brought so much sunshine into the whole adventure! Haley, again, THANK YOU so much).
I am glad I did that trip. I Love that course, I have already associated great feelings to it, seeing it, riding it, running it, loving it...I just can't wait to RACE IT!!!!
TRAINING
First, I had been working on a run focus. In training, I have been wanting to feel like a RUNNER, not a triathlete, A RUNNER. I love that idea of tasting each of the three sports INDIVIDUALY. (I have a new idea of fitting in some track races in my schedule, a 5K track run on spikes!! OH MAN!!! I NEED TO DO THAT. Never tried it before. Let's see what Lance says...)
So I have been racing with DA RUNNERS, doing local races, tasting a bit more of that sport I love. Finding inspiration all around me. Running with Lucy Smith when I was lucky in training. Even been reading an amazing book that an even more amazing friend has given me: Born to Run, by Christopher McDougall. I definitely recommend it. Running. Oh how I love running.
The bike focus came later. I started climbing.... faster and faster, up the observatory, time after time (remember, the center of the universe!). I even got to do it on my new Blue roadbike that earned me a record and some amazing new feelings a few weeks ago. I have also been discovering more about cycling through bike sessions from Peg Labiuk an Olympic medal cyclist (WOW), it seems like Victoria is packed with inspiring athletes. I also have been pushing the watts up on the trainer, sometimes hurting alone, sometimes pushing with partners. I had some great times with my friend Hillerie Denning on her outside patio, I also got some new energy biking on the pool deck with Lifesport junior recruit Gaby from Guatemala.
And then there is Dan Smith. Dan (the domestique..heheh) has helped me push through some long, hard rides in the rain recently. Ahh... Dan the metronome, hammering through our 1hour time trials effortlessly at a cadence of 90 or above. From where I was, it sure looked like he was just performing some of that -soft pedalling- he mentionned he wanted me to try.
ANd then, there is my candy.....
I HAVE BEEN PIMPIN' UP THE BLUE!!! Thanks to the crew at Pro City cycling bike shop, my bike is now all set up in SHIMANO/PRO.
I have signed with Shimano and they have literaly SPOILED ME.
I love the way the deal with Shimano happened with Joë Layno and how I had met him a few years ago in Muskoka as I was still definitely a rookie. I love everything about my new sponsor. I am loving the new equipment. Shifting Dura Ace makes me feel race ready. (Thank you to Aaron from Pro City racing bike store for having Switched it all to Shimano with a smile). And those wheels!!! Take a look at the Dura Ace wheels I got just for training on the pics! I also got spoiled with a super light disk that I can't wait to try out and two sets of race wheels.
I am loving this new set-up, it's working for me and I feel like I am geared up for a great season!!

Specialy considering that Bill is working on helping me find the ideal position on my Blue Triad SL and ...it's going very well!! Bill's natural qualities? He's got the eye AND he's got the humour.

Bill Fry (left), Troy Woodburn (right), workin' on the Blue.


Bike position feedback with Bill Fry (above)


Troy (left) is our famous bike mechanic. Yes, he has been with some of the best cyclists and triathletes in the world. Not surprised he came up with quite innovative ideas to support Bill's positioning evaluation.


ANd well...yes I have had some good times at the bike shop as we worked on all of this.
Above, today's special guest-photoshoot appearance from Mr. Jasper Blake. PIMPIN' IT too 4 sure.

And speaking of Jasper, it's getting late (thank goodness for you or I would have kept on writing), and I must be at the pool to swim with Jasper and friends at 7:40am tomorrow.
I should go. But I will keep you....posted. Promise.
Thanks for reading friends 24 days to the first race and I will keep in touch!
I still need to tell you about Equilibrum and about the last Lifesport camp before we start racing!
Mags.
P.S: Special thanks to Regan from Pro City Racing bike store for the pics.