The current issue of Triathlon Magazine Canada has now mostly been posted online.
In it you'll find two stories that I wrote.
One is a profile of my swim coach, Jan Francke. This story isn't yet online so you'll have to buy an issue to read it. He's a very interesting guy and a competitive athlete.
The second story is online and it's advice from two coaches on how to plan the season ahead.
Check it out here.
For previous stories I've written for the magazine see the 'Articles' link across the top of this page.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Missed opportunity in Malaysia
I just read on ironmanlive that there will be no WTC events in Malaysia in 2011.
Ironman was held 11 times in Malaysia and I was fortunate to have had the opportunity to compete there twice. My two eagle inspired finisher medals among my most prized.
The race billed itself as the "Toughest" on earth - and the intense heat ensured it wasn't easy.
The first time I competed there I wilted. It was hot. But I wasn't deterred. I was far better prepared when I returned the next year. I had expected to race well and I did. When I finished, I was sure I had second place. I had gone faster than the guy who won my age group the previous year.
There were three slots for Kona in my age group and I believed I had achieved what I'd set out to do - get a ticket to the Big Island.
An hour or so after I crossed the finish line I chatted with Margreet by phone and heard that I'd finished fourth. I wasn't crushed. Still I decided that I'd had enough Ironman racing. I'd invested a huge amount of time the past six months in particular to prepare. As anyone who races an Ironman knows, it takes a huge commitment.
It's true that there weren't a lot of competitors in the race overall but each age group had a handful who were super competitive. I thought there's no way someone who finished ahead of me would not go to Hawaii. I accepted the reality that I'd put in the best race effort of my Ironman 'career' and yet three others had finished ahead of me. I had done everything I could. I wouldn't have done anything differently.
I went to the rolldown the next day, not so much for me but for some friends. To my astonishment, the guy who finished second in my age group didn't respond when his name was called. My heart skipped. And after the third place guy stepped up, my name was called and I was 'un-retired' before I was standing. It was a great moment for me as an athlete, one I won't ever forget. It didn't change who I am but it did confirm that I had worked hard and excelled and I was going to go to the Show.
Perhaps my experience in Malaysia colors my impression of it. It's natural to link positive thoughts with positive experiences.
Yet I have had the chance to race in many different countries and bar none, the race in Malaysia was as well organized as any other. The enthusiasm of everyone on the ground in Langkawi was superb. Was it perfect? Well, no. But I haven't been to a perfect race yet. Each race has its eccentricities.
Anyone who's read about racing in Malaysia knows that the organizers and the WTC have had a rocky relationship to say the least. I read on the ironmanlive site this morning how the WTC was looking for 'new' partners in Malaysia and 'better' venues etc. It was disappointing to read.
The people who put on Ironman Malaysia for more than a decade did a good job. It was a very solid race, with solid swim bike and run courses and athletes were well looked after. That shouldn't be dismissed. The host hotel wasn't a five-star super luxury one but it worked. The elevators could be busy but all that was required was some patience. No one ever hassled us for wanting to sleep with our bikes or other gear and we had this stunning view of the eagle and the ocean.
Change happens. It's part of life.
Ironman was held 11 times in Malaysia and I was fortunate to have had the opportunity to compete there twice. My two eagle inspired finisher medals among my most prized.
The race billed itself as the "Toughest" on earth - and the intense heat ensured it wasn't easy.
The first time I competed there I wilted. It was hot. But I wasn't deterred. I was far better prepared when I returned the next year. I had expected to race well and I did. When I finished, I was sure I had second place. I had gone faster than the guy who won my age group the previous year.
There were three slots for Kona in my age group and I believed I had achieved what I'd set out to do - get a ticket to the Big Island.
An hour or so after I crossed the finish line I chatted with Margreet by phone and heard that I'd finished fourth. I wasn't crushed. Still I decided that I'd had enough Ironman racing. I'd invested a huge amount of time the past six months in particular to prepare. As anyone who races an Ironman knows, it takes a huge commitment.
It's true that there weren't a lot of competitors in the race overall but each age group had a handful who were super competitive. I thought there's no way someone who finished ahead of me would not go to Hawaii. I accepted the reality that I'd put in the best race effort of my Ironman 'career' and yet three others had finished ahead of me. I had done everything I could. I wouldn't have done anything differently.
I went to the rolldown the next day, not so much for me but for some friends. To my astonishment, the guy who finished second in my age group didn't respond when his name was called. My heart skipped. And after the third place guy stepped up, my name was called and I was 'un-retired' before I was standing. It was a great moment for me as an athlete, one I won't ever forget. It didn't change who I am but it did confirm that I had worked hard and excelled and I was going to go to the Show.
Perhaps my experience in Malaysia colors my impression of it. It's natural to link positive thoughts with positive experiences.
Yet I have had the chance to race in many different countries and bar none, the race in Malaysia was as well organized as any other. The enthusiasm of everyone on the ground in Langkawi was superb. Was it perfect? Well, no. But I haven't been to a perfect race yet. Each race has its eccentricities.
Anyone who's read about racing in Malaysia knows that the organizers and the WTC have had a rocky relationship to say the least. I read on the ironmanlive site this morning how the WTC was looking for 'new' partners in Malaysia and 'better' venues etc. It was disappointing to read.
The people who put on Ironman Malaysia for more than a decade did a good job. It was a very solid race, with solid swim bike and run courses and athletes were well looked after. That shouldn't be dismissed. The host hotel wasn't a five-star super luxury one but it worked. The elevators could be busy but all that was required was some patience. No one ever hassled us for wanting to sleep with our bikes or other gear and we had this stunning view of the eagle and the ocean.
Change happens. It's part of life.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
So you think you’re TOO old to go for a swim
We’ve all heard that 40 is the new 20 and 60 is the new 40 and so on. The bottom line is that we are constantly being reminded that age is simply a number.
On Saturday - at the Victoria masters’ swim meet - I learned that 80 is the new 40-something.
As Jan was powering - impressively - through his 200-metre butterfly, an announcement was made: an 80-year-old man had just set a new world record in the 100m freestyle. That’s right 80.
No need to clean your computer screen. No need to have your eyes checked. Don’t worry about the water in your ears.
What time was that? Really? No, really?
Yup, 1.16.
Hmmmm. That’s two seconds faster than I had just swum and that was a personal best for me, and I was - and am - stoked about how well I’m swimming.
I’ll get back to that 80-year-old in a minute because as impressive as his performance was, he wasn’t alone.
There was a 90-94 age group at the meet. Yes, that’s right. A 92-year-old man who swam the 50m, 100m and 400m events. He outswam, easily, athletes less than half his age. (Thankfully I finished ahead of him - comfortably - in all three distances.)
Unfortunately I can’t say the same for the 50m breaststroke, which clearly is my achilles heel. I touched barely 3 seconds faster than a 76-year-old man. And I was slower than two of the three men in the 65-69 age group and the two men in the 70-74 age group. (Note to Jan: I’ll focus on freestyle, I think.)
Hmmmm.
No regrets. This was my first swim meet.
But this story isn’t about me. It’s about all the motivation that any of us need to be active.
Graham Johnston is the speedy 80 year old. He was born in South Africa and apparently learned to swim before the age of one. I’m not sure of that but I gather he’s been swimming for a long time.
Johnston, who now lives in Texas, has set more than 80 world records. He won a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games in 1950. He swam at the 1952 Olympics. At the age of 60 he attempted - though was thwarted by cold temperatures - to swim the English Channel. He wasn’t deterred. At the age of 74 he became the oldest person to swim the Strait of Gibraltar - the 14km gap from Spain to Morocco.
You can’t help but be impressed. Here’s a guy who’s made being fit and healthy such a key part of his life that at the age of 80, his biological age is far far lower. That’s what I want. He can keep his records. I don’t need any records. Though I still plan to get faster so I’ll be back in the pool looking for more advice from Jan.
If I can feel as good as I do now when I’m 30-plus years older, I’d know that I’d really accomplished something - and hopefully I’ll have inspired, encouraged or helped motivate someone else to take better care of themselves.
It’s within all of our reach.
Thanks Jan and thanks Graham.
On Saturday - at the Victoria masters’ swim meet - I learned that 80 is the new 40-something.
As Jan was powering - impressively - through his 200-metre butterfly, an announcement was made: an 80-year-old man had just set a new world record in the 100m freestyle. That’s right 80.
No need to clean your computer screen. No need to have your eyes checked. Don’t worry about the water in your ears.
What time was that? Really? No, really?
Yup, 1.16.
Hmmmm. That’s two seconds faster than I had just swum and that was a personal best for me, and I was - and am - stoked about how well I’m swimming.
I’ll get back to that 80-year-old in a minute because as impressive as his performance was, he wasn’t alone.
There was a 90-94 age group at the meet. Yes, that’s right. A 92-year-old man who swam the 50m, 100m and 400m events. He outswam, easily, athletes less than half his age. (Thankfully I finished ahead of him - comfortably - in all three distances.)
Unfortunately I can’t say the same for the 50m breaststroke, which clearly is my achilles heel. I touched barely 3 seconds faster than a 76-year-old man. And I was slower than two of the three men in the 65-69 age group and the two men in the 70-74 age group. (Note to Jan: I’ll focus on freestyle, I think.)
Hmmmm.
No regrets. This was my first swim meet.
But this story isn’t about me. It’s about all the motivation that any of us need to be active.
Graham Johnston is the speedy 80 year old. He was born in South Africa and apparently learned to swim before the age of one. I’m not sure of that but I gather he’s been swimming for a long time.
Johnston, who now lives in Texas, has set more than 80 world records. He won a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games in 1950. He swam at the 1952 Olympics. At the age of 60 he attempted - though was thwarted by cold temperatures - to swim the English Channel. He wasn’t deterred. At the age of 74 he became the oldest person to swim the Strait of Gibraltar - the 14km gap from Spain to Morocco.
You can’t help but be impressed. Here’s a guy who’s made being fit and healthy such a key part of his life that at the age of 80, his biological age is far far lower. That’s what I want. He can keep his records. I don’t need any records. Though I still plan to get faster so I’ll be back in the pool looking for more advice from Jan.
If I can feel as good as I do now when I’m 30-plus years older, I’d know that I’d really accomplished something - and hopefully I’ll have inspired, encouraged or helped motivate someone else to take better care of themselves.
It’s within all of our reach.
Thanks Jan and thanks Graham.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Victoria masters results
400m free first half in 3:11 .. finished in 6:39
100m free 37:44 and 40:97 for 1:18.41 PB
50m free 34.14 PB
I won my age group in the 400m (two competitors), I was second in the 100m (three competitors) and I was third in the 50m (four competitors).
I also was third in my age group in the 50m breaststroke (four competitors) but it hardly was my strength.
And I swam the anchor in our mixed 4 x 50m; we captured fifth.
It was superb. I can't think of enough superlatives for accepting the challenge of entering the meet. I had a blast.
100m free 37:44 and 40:97 for 1:18.41 PB
50m free 34.14 PB
I won my age group in the 400m (two competitors), I was second in the 100m (three competitors) and I was third in the 50m (four competitors).
I also was third in my age group in the 50m breaststroke (four competitors) but it hardly was my strength.
And I swam the anchor in our mixed 4 x 50m; we captured fifth.
It was superb. I can't think of enough superlatives for accepting the challenge of entering the meet. I had a blast.
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