SisterBirds - Tour de France: September 2012

Saturday, September 29, 2012

Photo update Sept. 22nd & Race Day Sept. 23rd done

go to those post dates and you'll see lots of updates

getting all photos organized and will be posting over the next few days... check back daily

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Sept. 25th - Finally an update!

Hey everyone,

With an intense race prep, the race, fatigue, packing up luggage and bike the night of the race and still having sleep issues due to pain, then a cold on top of it... lack of internet - transition day to Paris by train which meant leaving all luggage including bike and picking up our rental touring bikes, cycling through Paris with huge paniers (including my heavy 17" laptop!) - seeing the sights last night, little sleep again, up at 5:30am to cycle along the Seine to Lyon station, arriving in Dijon and cycling in driving rain... here I am on an night I need sleep in an amazing Chateau in Nuits Saint-Georges... ahhh! Updating blog has been virtually impossible.

Will do a bit of highlights asap.

Bird and I have seen and done so much! We are having an incredible trip of discoveries on many levels.

Just wanted to let you all know that we are safe and sound.

Big love!

Moka

Saturday, September 22, 2012

Photo update - Sept 23 - RACE DAY!!!!

Good morning!

Alarm is set for 5am got up 4 am after tossing and turning for too long. Dr Jeff gave me the same thing to help me sleep since it worked the night before and I actually got 7 hrs... typical and to be expected pre-race eve didn't really sleep last night. More like catnaps.

Have pre race plan which I am about to begin and stick to - all timed out (will add later)

Have race plan which I am determined to stick to - (will add later)

Time to do as the signs I made and put up all around my room say....

Focus

Relax

Believe

I am loved - I am blessed

I am ready

I am strong

I can & will do this

Giv'r

Work Hard

Focus

Have Fun

... here I go - thanks for all the support!

Have some good luck charms in my Fuel Belt pouch: photos of Sealey, charm from Barry, penny from Sandy Pitt's daughter Julia and I am wearing my Road ID Bird got me... and of course she's here as are many of you in my heart ... and my guardian angel, my Mummy "never drive faster than your guardian angel can fly"

RACE DAY PHOTOS... I am truly grateful to my Diana for having captured my entire race on camera. I know I had to have been the most fortunate of duathletes at the Worlds ... being an tri/duathlete herself means she knows where to be and when to be there. Gros merci hairy toed Birdundaloo!

early morning arriving at check in

entering transition after check in

looking for race number in transition to set up

my transition spot is at the far end close to run entrance & exit but far from bike in and out

Nova Scotia's Karen Beazley before her wave which is while I'm setting up. Her wave is 30 minutes before mine.

Golden beauties and inspirations each one of them

Karen & Paula in the corral minutes b4 they start

Race morning schedule and Race plan both keeping me focused and calm(ish)

Minor adjustments

Bird captures me doing some strides after a 10 min warmup jog

After a hug from Birdie, I make my way to the corral

Canadian women's wave 35-49 wave for the camera

Positioned where I want to be

Lap 1 of 4 - feeling strong!

Lap 2

Starting Lap 3 - accident/injury pain is present now

Canadian women 25-34 in corral

Monica & Kasha get ready to start

Cap off & all smiles as Lap 4 and 10km run almost done! Hoping I don't feel as much pain on the bike.

After a slow transition I exit T1

Approaching mount line

Clipping in

Off I go

Lap 2 begins

Negotiating corners lap 3

Approaching dismount line end of lap 4 = 40kms

Toward T2

Very slow T2 - start of 5km run - sucking up the pain

1 lap done, 1 to go!

Kasha leaning into corner

I did it - 2 hr 46 min - dug deep & never gave up or walked once (btw - clock is event running time)

Receiving finisher's souvenir (had to to return for medal as I didn't even know we were getting one). Stretched, headed for the food area.

Gorging on chocolate and downing lots of water! Then a long lovely massage.

Kasha with her finisher's medal & a big smile - then she too hit the massage tent ...

the majority of the Canadian athletes found the 2nd run very tough - lots of cramping. Many stopped running for the first time ever in all their racing years. The bike was stressful - one theory is that we cycled tensed and cramped on the run due to extreme lactic acid buildup.

That said, not everyone found it impossible to do well - Team Canada had 2 silver medalists and 4 bronze!

Silver medalist from Quebec

Beyond the medals ... Everyone of us was rewarded by making new friends

Goddesses Diana & Demeter

An immediate connection was made at dawn between myself & Angie- my transition neighbour from Great Britain - she was telling me how please she was to place 8th in her Age Group 35-39 and how much she was looking forward to coming to Ottawa for the World Duathlon Championships next year!

Brian & Sherry McBarron were the first people I saw when I arrived in Nancy and was dashed to the grocery store. Brian was ever so concerned for my well-being after the accident I had earlier in the week. Everytime I saw him he asked me if he could do something for me. Very kind and very genuine - a lovely couple I look forward to seeing back home.

Kasha was a delight to get to know - she was the 2nd person I ran into in Nancy. Over 4 days we laughed at ourselves and each other... we were onsite cycling and running buddies onsite ... she reminds me of myself at her age (I am old enough to be her mom remember) and yet she is mature beyond her years so that there never feels like there is a generation gap. A beautiful gal I look forward to connecting with back home in NS.

It goes without saying that I can hardly wait until next season to go on long training bike rides with Karen Beazley - she promised she would finally join the Halifax Tri Club. I've admired her running achievements from afar over the years and anyone who starts the triathlon journey by tackling the Ironman distance has my upmost respect and admiration!

Finally, Zack 0 who I didn't get to know that well totally impressed me when he said that during the race he knew he wasn't completely into it as he was daydreaming about his lovely sweetheart Briana. I mean really - what a romantic declaration! I might just have to drop into Bicycles Plus more often.

I was genuinely as proud to be a part of Team Nova Scotia as I was to be on Team Canada.

And precious bonding time with cherished best friends

Stay Tuned for Hilarious, Silly, Breathtaking Highlights of

the SisterBirds Tour de France ...

Photo update done re: Sept 22 - was another busy pre-race day

Had to prioritize prep & Para, Elite & U23 races - weather was perfect!

here are the photos from that day... interspersed are postive reinforcements I placed around my room to help me stay calm and focused.

Team physio & multiple AG World Champ Dave Frake - taped my foot in the morning. It was very painful and although I'd never tried taping I was up for anything. That said, I went for a bike ride to see how it felt in my cycling cleats and I also went for a short race pace interval run with very slow recoveries. It felt amazing!

Bird at race site

Women's Elite Winner

1st & 2nd place Elite Women embrace

My lunch - Gazpacho & gluten free crackers

Delish!

Elite Canadian Jason Jama pre race

Elite Canadian Kevin Smith pre race - ranked 5th in the World, Kevin had injuries that meant he wasn't anywhere near top form. He was pulled after the first bike lap. For the Elite racers only, ITU rules specify a racer is pulled if lapped.