Escape from Alcatraz: November 2012

Ever since I actually got into trialthons there has been one Tri that has stuck with me.

The Escape from Alcatraz

After I completed my first Olympic distance I thought to myself.. I'm almost there!

Alcatraz is just a wicked cool epic race. I thought to myself, you are doing all sorts of things you considered impossible.. why not do this too?

The swim. The reason the prison is inescapable because of the icy cold, heavy current, shark invested water. That's where this triathlon starts. They take you out to Alcatraz and you have to jump off of a boat and do that swim. 2.5 Kms. About 11 degrees C water.

The bike. This is San Fransico. This bike is full of climbs and twists. Not a prairie road. 30km.

The run. This run is up and down again. There is stairs and sands and some terrible sand ladder up a cliff. This terrible sand ladder seems to be a death trap and everyone complains about it the most. 13 km

In this tri there is the golden gate bridge, the coast, the skyline and the city. It is very beautiful.I am feeling pretty good about my abilities level and I was looking into this event because I knew it was within my reach capabilities wise. It's really just a modified Olympic with added challenges.

I had it sighted for 2014. I was looking into it because I knew about the lottery process. It's all very exciting. It is so popular you. must be selected. There is another way to be registered for the event. That is by being on a charity team. I looked at the charities and I thought maybe this how I would go about it for 2014. Im not a bad fundraiser and I like to give back where I can.

I went to submit my info so that I could get more information on that route for 2014. I filled out the request. Next thing I knew I had been selected for the team. The team for 2013.

The freaking out began..... Should I ? Or Shouldn't I?

Well the swim would be the problem. How do you go about training for the ocean swim in Saskatchewan? I got selected this for year... What's stopping me? You'll never be ready so just do it.. nothing to lose...It's San Francisco! Can I do this ?

Posted with Blogsy

The 2011 Resolution…

After a particularly bad fitness in year 2010, I decided to get in better shape. In a resolution type-cliché I got a trainer at Gold’s Gym, Mark. Jan 2011 I began working at it. I was determined to get into shape and be a better me.

My Inspiration…

My little super star sister, Katie, is a runner. She was known for running around the track at the U of R. Complete strangers knew her from her waving pony tail. I admire her and I made a new very ambitious goal to someday fit some of Katie's clothes. She happens to have an enviable closet.

On Running….

Despite my best efforts I was embarrassed of my lack of ability when it came to running. I stuck to the elliptical because I could do that effortlessly. I loathed running. I would start running and within 3 minutes it felt like a heart attack.

I wanted to be able to run. I would go on the treadmill and run for 4 mins and walk for 4mins. Those 4 minutes were extremely painful. I was convinced I had asthma or some ailment. I kept at it. It did get easier but not overnight.

See Jane Tri Challenge 2011…

My friend, Lesley Sawa and I were talking about goals we wanted to accomplish. We were both scared of running and shared a background in swimming. A run such has a half marathon or marathon would be too painful to think about. The See Jane Tri was appealing to us. We liked it because it wasn't just about running. 300m swim 12k bike and 3k run. This was a goal that was achievable. A 3K run was something we would be able to train for. An unexpected challenge was getting into the race. The See Jane Tri sells out in hours. Lesley and I missed out on the initial selection. Enter Paul Cutting…

Paul Cutting…

I was campaigning for Monica Lysack in the 2011 Federal election. I went with Monica to an event where we meet up with her friends. One of these friends was Paul Cutting, he was on a similar journey with his first Tri, the see Dick. It happens that I left my water bottle behind and Paul picked it up and texted me about it. We became fast training partners and friends. Paul was able to get Lesley and I, in that first See Jane Tri.Paul was my first guide into the triathlon world. We were soon in Renae's beginner Tri class. I was training every day and I learned to conquer my fear of running outside. Eventually I was able to run around the whole lake. My first time running around the lake, was with my personal idol my sister Katie. I found 2 more running buddies in Marshall and Tyler. Those boys helped get to my first 5 and 7k. Myvery first race was with Marshall, a 5km, I heart Regina run.

Triathlons...

Eventually the See Jane Tri was completed in June 2011. It was amazing. I was hooked. It was a life changing event for both Lesley and I, Paul and I continued to train and I did my first sprint distance in August 2011, in Clear Lake Manitoba. 750m swim, 20k bike, 5k run. Later in the fall of 2011, I went on to meet Myra Trenker and Jessie Webb. Laura England taught us hills and drills and swimming.

2012 Races...

After a great 2011 I made the resolution to do both a Half Marathon and Olympic Distance Triathlon for 2012.I completed my first half marathon (RPS) in April 2011 with Myra and Paul.

In June 2012 I competed on my 30^th Birthday the See Jane Tri. My time went from 1:00:03 in 2011 to 52 in 2012.

In Aug 2012 Jessie and Stephanie joined me in the Riding Mountain Triathlon where I completed my first Olympic distance. 1.5k swim, 40k run and 10k run. In Sept 2012 Myra and I went to Banff and competed in the Subaru Western Series Triathlon.

Other Races completed in 2012 were the Icebreaker Sprint triathlon, Perogy Run 10K, Xterra Run, Flatlanders 10K

I became a member of the newest cycling team in Saskatchewan. The all ladies “Spoke n’ Hot,” Mark and Theresa Gibson are great coaches.

The AMAZING thing…

The amazing thing about all of this is doing something you never ever thought was possible. If I went back to Jan 2011 and said this is what you are going to do I wouldn't have believed it. There is nothing like smashing the limits you had set. There is nothing like the feeling after you have finished an incredible race.

2013…

2013 is around the corner.. which brings me to my toughest goals yet and a new sport..

In fall 2012 I joined Water Polo. It is a great way to train for the swimming and it’s incredibly fun. Im in both the beginner adult and master adult league, this means I’m either decent or way behind the pack depending on the day of the week. My first provincial’s tournament is Dec 7 2012. I am very happy to be doing this journey with my favourite training buddies, Jesse, Myra, Katie Steph and Paul. Susan Cameron is an amazing coach and player!

2013 Goals...

The Escape from Alcatraz and the “chin-up.”

Oh and I’m still trying to wear Katie’s clothes.