Kelowna Senior and U23 National championship Race Report

This season has seen a constant progression from one event to the next, learning from each event in order to get to that perfect race. Although this past weekend was not perfect it was however a personal best. About 45 of Canada’s best put their foot to the edge of the warm waters of Kelowna’s Lake Okanogan for the Senior and U23 National Championships. Again what a course, what an atmosphere! The course was completely lined with cheering crowds and encouraging voices. Although it is a good 3hour drive + Ferry trip away, I do feel I am racing in front of the home crowd. I went in ranked 5th behind Simon Whitfield, Brent McMahon, Paul Tichelaar and Kyle Jones. All very accomplished athletes at an international level.

The event began sprinting into the water. I quickly moved to the front and set a steady pace forming a gap that I would hold to the finish of the swim. I exited the water with a time of 17.52 with a 38 sec buffer to the next athlete out of the water. This allowed me to stay calm, have a fast transition and warm into the ride. I rode up the first climb comfortably keeping an eye out for Simon, Kyle and Andrew Russell. I jumped in with them on the descent. With the first of six laps finished, we really got rolling smooth hard pulls to keep the pace high. Paul Tichelaar and Brent McMahon joined us on the third lap for the remainder of the ride. From then on there were no attacks on the climb just a mutual agreement to keep or increase our lead. Our gap remained hovering around a minute and would dismount with a minute and twenty second lead. My transition was decent and the 6 of us exited transition within a second or two of each other. I began the run quite conservatively setting a pace that I believed I could hold. I felt strong springy and fast so I went with it. Simon had quickly gapped out Kyle, Paul and Brent while I held a 15-20sec gap behind the three of them. On the final lap I did let the gap slip up to about 35 seconds to finish in an all time 10km personal best of 32.15 off the bike, earning me a close 5th overall and the U23 National Championship title.

Full Results can be found Here. More photographs coming soon.

In spite of little taper and nervousness, I am very pleased with the result. It is the perfect motivational boost leading into the U23 World Triathlon Championships on September 11th. I feel nutritionally, I am just about spot on, tactically, I am getting much wiser and most importantly my confidence in my capabilities and ability to perform under pressure has increased.

Ok the final count down; just over 3 weeks left till the big race of the season. I will allow myself a couple of days of soft pedal but come Wednesday we are back at it in full force. I am lucky to have the entire national team going to Australia (and more) join myself and team mates for a Training camp here in Victoria. This will be great! It will be an opportunity to bond with and prepare one another for Australia. We are now not so much competing for spots, as attempting to put the best foot forward for Canada. It should be an awesome 3 weeks of training. Looking forward to it.

Ciao for now,
Andrew McCartney
No Cotton Wool

Pre-Kelowna ITU Report

En rout to Kelowna I will take this opportunity to write a Pre-race report the nerves are turning into excitement and anxiety. Distractions needed! That’s why a blog is such a great way to get what is on my mind out on paper and I bit out of my mind. So what is on my mind….Besides the wonderful food and coffee of the Blue Moose Coffee House.

Well, I have always been one who is good in a crisis, but I was tested Thursday right before leaving. Technical difficulties seem to only be noticed or come about right before the big event, but I guess that is why you test out the race gear out before the gun goes. In Montreal I remember hitting a pothole and I heard a loud crack sound. I checked the wheel there, seemed fine; I raced on my Zipp 303s for Des Moines and San Francisco only so often noticing a wobble. I dismissed it as simply sloppy riding. You can probably see where this is going. I got the bike ready to race, cleaning up the bar tape, spit polish and mount the race wheels. I began riding and as I applied the brakes I heard a dreadful knocking sound. I pulled over to see the carbon rims crumpling under me. This is where being good in a crisis came in… after a couple of token curse words and a consideration of my options I became comfortable with the concept of racing with my trainers, an added challenge. Because of the amazing developments in social networking and the fantastic sporting community I live in, I had 3 offers of race wheels. All very generous offers and very much appreciated. I ended up checking out the Gear swap and picked up a pair of Zipp 404s for a great deal. I was hoping to upgrade to some deeper rims at the end of the season but this way I have a crisis averted some racing wheels for Kelowna and some deeper more aerodynamic rims for Worlds. ;) Can’t wait to hit the roads again, and not just ripping around the neighborhood.

2007 Kelowna ITU

As for the race, anyone who knows me, knows how much I love this course and that’s when it was 4 laps. Now 6 laps of the bike rout including the hill in the middle. What more could you ask? Non-wetsuit swim? Yes indeed. Warm weather? It’s the Hawaii of Canada. A view? We run along the boardwalk of the lake. All in all super excited, little bit of nerves and a little bit of anxiety.

“Perhaps all the dragons of our lives are princesses who are only waiting to see us once beautiful and brave.” – Rainer Maria Rilke

I arrived yesterday, Rode what I thought was the course and was pleasantly surprised to find I was correct. Then after dinner and before dusk went for an Urban run, through the streets of Kelowna. I am feeling quite springy and ready to go.



This is the life,
Ciao for now,
Andrew McCartney
No Cotton Wool.

A song that I have had in my head lately is a catchy new tune from Green Day. It will probably get in your head too.

Green Day - 21 Guns.

Here is another Catchy tune, This song has attitude. I really like the mix between the male and female voice. You are really seeing this more now for example the collaboration of Robert Plant & Alison Krauss or The Stars. Both highly recommended.

Band of Skulls - I Know What I Am

New Race Suit

Just in the nic of time my new race suit arrives. Just the motivational boost I need. Thanks Kiwami.

Ciao for now,

Andrew McCartney

Be Powerful Beyond Measure

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a Divine child.

Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people wont feel insecure around you. We are born to make manifest universal glory that is within us. It's not just in some of us, it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others"

-Marianne Williamson

The Harder you work, the luckier you get.

JOY

"You can have anything you want if you want it desperately enough. You must want it with an inner exuberance that erupts through the skin and joins the energy that created the world.

- Sheila Graham

I've said it before but I believe life is simply a number of tests. One right after another and the more we pass the closer we get to our goals. That can also be defined as process.

There are going to be so many tests in life and in sport. My IT band injury being one that sticks in my mind.

"When it is dark enough, you can see the stars" - Charles Beard

I knew it would be a hard battle back and it wages on. My favourite course Kelowna is this Sunday. It is both Senior and U23 Nationals. However with Australia no more than 3 weeks after nationals, it has been advised that we train through it and focus on worlds.

Since I have last reported, I have forged on with my final drive to the climax of this season. From solid rides on the Bog loop with race like tactics, to countless track workouts. The integration has been fantastic. Quote of the week comes from Simon, "Boy We Work Hard" And that we do and is very much embraced.

It is crunch time and nerves have come into existence. It is what occupies my mind to the point where I am getting rather ornery. Sorry mom, dad and training partners. He he. On the whole, I just get quiet, dabble around, clean the bike (Absolutely Spotless!) and bury myself in sports psych.

The positive thinker sees the invisible, feels the intangible, and achieves the impossible" -Anonymous

Here is an interesting song, short but a pretty catchy tune.

Here is another that I have been trying to find for quite some time, I heard it first from the movie, "Into the Wild" I came to the conclusion that it didn't exist, but I FOUND IT! It is written by John Prine but it is the voice of Bonnie Raitt that I was looking for. Here it is:

For now, I better get back to dabbling.

Hope all is well with you,

Ciao for now,

Andrew McCartney

No Cotton Wool

Photo from Des Moines:

Still Fighting.

En Garde! (Austin and I)

Preparations are going well.

I am learning about myself mentally and physically. Mentally because training is hard, nothing more mentally beneficial then working yourself to your breaking point then expecting more. Physical because I have been doing these V02 Max tests. I have had quite a few Maximal efforts as of late. Some solid track sessions and hard work on the bike. The big highlight on the bike would be Hurrican Ridge, where I rode up in 53.37. Exceding my goal of sub 55. I would however like to give it another go with what I know now of it and since I am over my cold. My milage on the bike has gone up with plenty of moto pacing. (planned or not...he he he)

I had the absolute pleasure of having Sarah-anne Brault as my billet during the visit from Team Manitoba. So that was fun, I hope she didn't mind my attempt at cooking.

Well I continue my build into Nationals this week with some solid sessions. Lots of running mileage and hard efforts on both the bike and the run. Yesterdays efforts on the bike with a well motivated pack of riders and todays efforts on the Lochside trail.

In and out of the sporting world, life has been treating me well, with regards to many adventures with the sea. Last week a friend and I walked along the lower ledge of the peer as the ocean waves crashed over our heads. Ended up soaked but what an adventure.

Although for now, my adventures will have to remain in my dreams as I call it a night and hit the hay.

Hope all is well with you out there,

Ciao for now,

Andrew McCartney

Here is something new:

Misstress Barbara feat. Sam Roberts - "I'm Running"