A 2 week hiatus

/ Amélie's Blog, Blogs / 3 Comments

Funny how time flies!!!  Two weeks ago I was @ Dorval airport anxiously awaiting my departure for Edmonton and the Junior PATCO championships and today I am on my way home from my second National Junior Series race in Penticton. The race in Edmonton was the second PATCO championships of my triathlon career and my best!!!  A sixth place finish had me running well clear of the mosquito invasion in Hawrelak Park last weekend.  My first visit to Edmonton made me understand why the West Edmonton Mall was built….Endless rain and wind had us wondering just where summer had gone during our stay. Despite, as I mentioned previously, a very good race (fifth Canadian as well as 6th overall), I was happy to vacate the university dorms for sunnier shores in Penticton last Monday.  Ironically, the weather followed us to Penticton, rain and unpredictable wind gusts challenged our daily training and made me realize that I will never be a sailor…..Swimming in awesome waves in Okanagan lake for up to an hour brings a whole new meaning to the feeling of being sea sick!!

Race day came like the Western Canada winds; fast and furious!  A tough, choppy (surprise, surprise) swim saw me 5th out of the water and fighting for position on the bike.  My run off the bike was somewhat disappointing, but all in all, my efforts awarded a 5th place finish in my second National Junior Series Race of the year.  Less than I had hoped for, but respectable none the less.

Post race I rewarded myself with some of the best ice cream on the block and a good evening with some of my other junior competitors around a BBQ (Western hospitality @ it’s best!!).  A hasty, but promising good-bye (I will be back to watch my dad trying to qualify for his fourth time at the world championship in Hawaï @ Ironman Canada (in Penticton) @ the end of August), now finds me already reminiscing on the better of the last two weeks with melancholy.  Till we meet again Penticton!  You were just peachy!