Provincials were really tough this year. For the fourth year in a row I was in the events that were the most competitive and was unable to come out on top in any of my events.
My day started off with a win in the medley relay. I swam the butterfly leg and splitted a 27.59 50 fly, which is a best time for me! What a way to start off the day. I was so excited, but I knew I had to go cool down for my individual 50 fly.
I was feeling ready for the 50 fly, I did what I always do. I was well warmed up, had enough fuel in the tank to perform and was coming off a high from my previous event. And I had my Ipod in with Eminem blasting! I had a very bad start but I didn't let that scare me because I'm better on the second half. Well it turned out I wasn't good enough on the second half today, I thought for sure I out touched Wyatt but it turns out that he grew his fingernails out a little longer than mine, .02 longer to be exact.
Now I had a gold medal and a silver. Not too bad. I was extremely angry that I had been out touched for the gold medal especially considering I only swam a 28.06 compared to my earlier swim but this meant I had to redeem myself in the 400. I thought to myself go out easy and build the legs (I knew I still had the 100 fly and was saving myself a bit for it) so that's what I did. Some other people decided that they were going to go out fast and well their plan worked. 0.11 this time for fourth place and I didn't feel like I worked hard enough. I really thought I could beat these guys as long as I was around 4:35. Well I went a 4:35.05, so props to them! They kicked my ass and worked hard to do it. I felt like I didn't push myself to the limit which was a huge disappointment, but I didn't know when to use my legs. It's always a gamble and I lost today. I tried to go out controlled and it didn't work. I didn't have the smartest race, which meant I didn't have the fastest race.
For someone else though, this gamble of going out fast worked. I want to personally congratulate Charles for going out and leading the 400 right from the start. He put it all on the line and it payed off. Now he has a NBIAA gold medal and he went a pretty damn fast time. Charles, you have a promising triathlon career ahead of you!
Finally, the 100 fly. This used to be my best event, until I became a triathlete but I still always tried my best. I haven't been training fly at all, so this felt more like a 200 fly. Instead of my typical balls to the wall approach I tried to go out relaxed. Some people say I looked great, I didn't feel it. I thought I could beat Wyatt this time and I couldn't. So a huge shout out to him.
Luckily we walked away with the Senior boys banner and I had a gold and two silvers. Swimming banners are in our blood at Saint John High, thank god I was able to captain us to another win. I did not see many other NB Juniors race, so just because I singled Charles out does not mean you guys didn't impress me. You made it to provincials, which is an accomplishment in itself. I cannot wait for us to show the rest of Canada that New Brunswick is stepping it up in the national rankings and that we are capable of becoming world class triathletes some day!
Monday 10 December 2012
Sunday 18 November 2012
THANK YOU
Last night were the Pitney Bowes Sport New Brunswick awards in Fredericton. I was selected as a finalist for the President's award, which is an award for someone who represents the future of New Brunswick in sport. I was up against two very deserving candidates a very talented swimmer who I have competed against and a baseball player who had a no hit pitching season. Luckily I came out on top.
This summer I raced three extremely high caliber races against the best junior triathletes in the summer and I was fortunate enough to place 16th in Magog, 10th in Ottawa and 8th at Junior Nationals in Kelowna. These races were the reason I received this award but it is also belongs to Triathlon New Brunswick. Without Tri NB I would never have been able to fly out west or go to Arizona in March to prepare for the races. They have given me the support I have needed as an elite athlete and I cannot thank them enough.
I have many people to thank for the season that I had this year, and the seasons to come. The list is so long that I could note write it out. My friends, family, local shops, my coaches and all of my training partners have contributed to my success. My training partners in the pool, on the track or on the road give me the motivation when I am tired and the excitement to come to practice and perform my best.
This award represents the growth of triathlon as a sport in New Brunswick. Cheers to Tri NB for putting all of the time, funding and energy into our junior. We are the future of triathlon, but this sport is expensive and we cannot do it without you.
Thank you, to everyone who has helped me and will continue to help me in the future. I really appreciate it!
This summer I raced three extremely high caliber races against the best junior triathletes in the summer and I was fortunate enough to place 16th in Magog, 10th in Ottawa and 8th at Junior Nationals in Kelowna. These races were the reason I received this award but it is also belongs to Triathlon New Brunswick. Without Tri NB I would never have been able to fly out west or go to Arizona in March to prepare for the races. They have given me the support I have needed as an elite athlete and I cannot thank them enough.
I have many people to thank for the season that I had this year, and the seasons to come. The list is so long that I could note write it out. My friends, family, local shops, my coaches and all of my training partners have contributed to my success. My training partners in the pool, on the track or on the road give me the motivation when I am tired and the excitement to come to practice and perform my best.
This award represents the growth of triathlon as a sport in New Brunswick. Cheers to Tri NB for putting all of the time, funding and energy into our junior. We are the future of triathlon, but this sport is expensive and we cannot do it without you.
Thank you, to everyone who has helped me and will continue to help me in the future. I really appreciate it!
Monday 12 November 2012
First Post
Hi everyone.
This weekend I met with Barrie and he suggested that I make a blog so I can update all of the juniors in New Brunswick once every few months.
This summer I was invited to train with Barrie's team in Ontario to improve my performances and gain some experience. I learned a lot and got to train with some very fast people including two time Olympic medalist Simon Whitfield and the Olympic alternate Andrew Yorke. I also got to train with the best woman in Canada, Paula Findlay.
This was an amazing experience but because I was there for the greater part of our short Canadian summer, I was only able to race once in New Brunswick. Next year I don't think I will even get one race in at home because of the busy race schedule we have planned for next year.
I want to be able update all of the juniors to let them know how my training and racing is going as well as letting them know where I am at the moment. Right now I am still training in Saint John with some local guys on the run and our local swim team but I hope to move back to Hamilton, Ontario at the end of January. I really think it will benefit me being there but it will mean I won't be at very many of our junior clinics. I want every junior in New Brunswick to be able to ask me any questions about racing or training whenever they want to. You can email me or Facebook message me and I will do whatever I can to answer your questions. I don't want you guys to feel intimidated by me because a year ago I was doing the same thing as all of you are doing now. And I am still the young triathlete from New Brunswick working hard to get better, just like you!
You guys have to understand the importance of school. Right now school is even as important to me as my training. I want to go to McMaster University and it is extremely hard to get into. They have a great training set up there for triathlon and are also a highly academic school. Without school, triathlon really can't exist. Work hard in everything you do and it will positively affect you're training, racing and more importantly school.
I hope that all of you are training hard and fast for next year's Canada Games but remember it isn't all about the Games. I am hoping you will find the passion that I have found for this amazing sport because it is one of the toughest sports in the world and you should feel honored to be able to complete a triathlon. It isn't all about the medals or the trophies. It's about how much you love our sport and want to make it a part of your life. I have made many sacrifices already and I will continue to do so. This weekend I found out I will be racing in Edmonton the weekend of my graduation but I am extremely dedicated to the sport so it doesn't disappoint me. Find your passion.
Reid
This weekend I met with Barrie and he suggested that I make a blog so I can update all of the juniors in New Brunswick once every few months.
This summer I was invited to train with Barrie's team in Ontario to improve my performances and gain some experience. I learned a lot and got to train with some very fast people including two time Olympic medalist Simon Whitfield and the Olympic alternate Andrew Yorke. I also got to train with the best woman in Canada, Paula Findlay.
This was an amazing experience but because I was there for the greater part of our short Canadian summer, I was only able to race once in New Brunswick. Next year I don't think I will even get one race in at home because of the busy race schedule we have planned for next year.
I want to be able update all of the juniors to let them know how my training and racing is going as well as letting them know where I am at the moment. Right now I am still training in Saint John with some local guys on the run and our local swim team but I hope to move back to Hamilton, Ontario at the end of January. I really think it will benefit me being there but it will mean I won't be at very many of our junior clinics. I want every junior in New Brunswick to be able to ask me any questions about racing or training whenever they want to. You can email me or Facebook message me and I will do whatever I can to answer your questions. I don't want you guys to feel intimidated by me because a year ago I was doing the same thing as all of you are doing now. And I am still the young triathlete from New Brunswick working hard to get better, just like you!
You guys have to understand the importance of school. Right now school is even as important to me as my training. I want to go to McMaster University and it is extremely hard to get into. They have a great training set up there for triathlon and are also a highly academic school. Without school, triathlon really can't exist. Work hard in everything you do and it will positively affect you're training, racing and more importantly school.
I hope that all of you are training hard and fast for next year's Canada Games but remember it isn't all about the Games. I am hoping you will find the passion that I have found for this amazing sport because it is one of the toughest sports in the world and you should feel honored to be able to complete a triathlon. It isn't all about the medals or the trophies. It's about how much you love our sport and want to make it a part of your life. I have made many sacrifices already and I will continue to do so. This weekend I found out I will be racing in Edmonton the weekend of my graduation but I am extremely dedicated to the sport so it doesn't disappoint me. Find your passion.
Reid
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