Could Gabby Doublas win the 2012 London Olympic Games?

Many are predicting that Gabby Douglas could win the women's Olympic All-Around crown. I am one of those people who believes she's got a great shot.

If you were to ask me a year ago if I thought this phenom from the USA could put it all together and be the favourite heading in to the Olympic Games, I may have been a bit hesitant to say yes. Sure, she had an incredible line and tons of potential, but there were still a lot of little details that needed some ironing out. Some of her skills were a little wild and unpolished and her mental game was definitely questionable.

After a meltdown on beam at the 2011 US National Championships, it was hard to have faith in the psychological capacity of Gabby Douglas. Balking (read: literally freezing before a skill and not going for it) more than once in a single beam routine doesn't often bode well for your reputation. Especially when your every move is being watched and recorded by the USAG staff. I'll admit, I was a bit skeptical when Gabby was put onto the 2011 Worlds team. I wondered, "How can they trust that she won't have a brain fart during Worlds"? Having competed at both a National Championship (albeit, not a US Championships which is a wee bit grander than the good ol' Canadian Champs!) and World Championship on numerous occasions myself, I know that the pressure and magnifying glass at the latter is far superior.

But Gabby Douglas delivered at those World Championships and I ate my words. Not only did she help her US Team to a Gold Medal, but she was 5th All-Around in qualification and made the finals on Uneven Bars. This was her launching pad and she hasn't looked back since.

When I was in NYC for the American Cup, I was blown away by how much Gabby had improved in 5 short months. Her lines were longer, her toe point was sharper, she had gained control of her power and her presence seemed confident and poised. She did not look like the Gabby Douglas who had stood flustered and paralyzed at the end of the beam in the summer of 2011. She looked like the Gabby Douglas who was going to take the world by storm in 2012.

Even though she was an exhibition competitor, she eventually scored the highest out of everyone at the competition and the 'Flying Squirrel' had the entire gymnastics community buzzing with excitement. The buzz was not without some reservations though. Many still wondered if this was a flash in the pan or if she'd slowly begin to crumble as the Olympic Games came closer. The pressure would eat her up, right? She peaked too early, right? She still has to prove herself.

Well, prove herself she has. She's kept on plugging through this year and she's kept on steadily improving. A small ankle injury at the Pacific Rim Championships was just a speed bump in her progress. She has the highest difficulty value out of everyone heading in to the Olympics and her execution keeps getting more and more polished. And after recently winning the 2012 US Olympic Trials, she has become one of the front runners for Olympic Gold in the Women's AA.

What do I love most about Gabby Douglas? I love how much joy she brings to the competition floor. Her smile is vibrant and she seems as if she is genuinely happy and appreciative for the opportunity to show off her hard work. Because believe me, the progress she's made in this past year in terms of her increase in difficulty, her improved mental strength, her polished quality of gymnastics and the performance value she brings to her routines is all because of hard work. Nothing more. Nothing less.

Gabby will face tough competition from Jordyn Weiber (USA), Yao Jinnan (CHN), Larisa Iordache (ROM), Huang Quishang (CHN), Viktoria Komova (RUS) and Aliya Mustafina (RUS) for the Individual All-Around title. I've got a feeling it's going to be a battle royale and I am nearly exploding with anticipation and excitement that I get to call it all with www.CTVOlympics.ca. If everyone hits on the day (which I desperately hope everyone does) then I think Gabby just might have a new title to add to her resume: Olympic Champion.

Successfully manoeuvre your way to London 2012!

It's been a while since I've written and there's a very good reason for that. I have been fully submerged (drowning a bit perhaps) in my research for the Olympics. I have been going over the code of points, reading blogs and message boards, watching copious amounts of videos, absorbing results and recounting history. I'm definitely taking this pre-Olympic 'preparation' to the extreme, but I guess that's what I always do :) My driving force behind this prep is that I want to be ready for any situation that may come up. I feel like my hard work is paying off because I'm feeling so prepared and pumped - nearly at a saturation point. I always said as an athlete that you know you are ready to compete when training starts to get annoying. You are itching to get out there and show off to the crowd and judges. Well, I can tell you that my research is starting to annoy me - I feel like I know my stuff inside out and backwards ;) I say Bring on the Games!

I have experienced a few trips down memory lane during this process of prep. I've gotten more than a few emotional flashbacks to when I was immersed in the final preparation phase as an athlete. My most notable pang of emotion was when I saw pictures from the training hall in London. It brought back intense memories of joy, excitement and anticipation. There is NO BETTER time than right now in the life of an athlete. You are at your peak and you are on the edge of realizing a dream...

Physically, you are in great shape. Your body hurts and your mind is tired, but your desire to achieve success seems to mute any sense of pain and fatigue you may be experiencing. Excuses don't exist at this point in your preparation. You've never had a more clear reason to be dedicated and to show up with a positive attitude. You are a warrior.

Mentally, you are razor sharp and your focus is as narrow as a laser. Little distractions may try to grab some of your attention, but the narrow focus of your goal helps you push them aside quickly and easily. As an athlete, nothing is more important than being at your best at the Olympics and that sense of purpose can create a lot of momentum.

Emotionally, you are ferocious and strong, but also a bit vulnerable. Tensions are high, but you remain poised. Your life goal is on the line and although you are keeping it together, it sometimes feels like an act. You sometimes feel like crying at any given moment because of either fear, stress or pride. You are silently waiting for the straw that will break the camels back, but deep down you know it won't come because you have such a grasp on what you need to do in order to keep it all together. It's a roller coaster ride, but you are buckled in and committed to do your best at enjoying the loops and spins. You know your competitors feel the exact same way so it makes it easier.

Having been through this pre-Games experience three times as an athlete, here are some thoughts on how to manoeuvre your way through this final phase of Olympic preparation as successfully and positively as possible:

1. Stop reading the press…unless of course it fuels you. 

I know that some athletes get fuelled by seeing their name in lights. If this is you, please move to point #2. Personally, I always found I needed to disengage and stop reading the articles about myself in the final weeks. It started to build up too much pressure. I didn't want to read about my journey and what was possible, I wanted to create it.

2.  Limit your twitter and facebook usage.

Make your social interactions purposeful and meaningful. All energy should be spent on training, recovery and being mindful and present. Sure, share your experiences and photos/videos with your network, but don't get lost in Johnny Whatshisnames random photo album. You've got more important things to focus on and you'd be amazed at how much energy and focus mindless surfing can devour.

3. Create a positive mantra.

The Games will present you with some unexpected situations that could throw off your game. Create a positive mantra that will get you back into the right state of mind in a snap. Mine for Athens was "Make it Happen". Having something to ground you when things start spinning a bit too fast is always a good thing.

4. Trust the plan and stick to it.

I'm hopeful that at this point you've got a plan for each day of training that remains. If not, I suggest you make one and stick to it as close as possible. It's very easy to get overwhelmed and feel like you're doing too much or too little when you compare yourself to the other athletes you'll encounter while training at the Games. At this point, you know what works for you so I encourage you to stand deeply rooted in that. A common mistake I see often is when athletes (or their coaches) try to significantly increase the training intensity, but then they hurt for days after. It's easy to get caught up in what everyone else is doing, but changing things at this point is not worth it.  It was two years ago, sure, but not now :)

5. Reconnect to your Olympic dream.

When we are immersed in the Olympic experience, we tend to forget about that little dreamer inside of us who spent their life imagining what it might be like to actually be in this position. Do yourself a favour and reconnect to that version of yourself for a moment. It will make everything that much better...

6. Focus on the performance and let the outcome unfold.

Every great athlete I've talked to has said that their main Olympic goals are always performance based. The outcome is secondary. Sure, this may be a total coping mechanism because a medal is always in the back of every Olympians mind, but focusing on that medal as the only defining factor for success is setting yourself up for some serious post-Olympic disaster. Even if you do end up winning, you'll still feel dissatisfied if you'd don't deliver your ULTIMATE Olympic performance. Create what that performance looks like for you and visualize it often. Whether you leave the Games with a medal or not, if you know you did everything you could to be the best you're capable of becoming then you will feel like you reached the pinnacle!




Much happiness and health to all of the athletes preparing to compete in London! I'm really looking forward to seeing you there :)

Kyle

Olympic Preparation - CTV Style

I've been immersing myself in my CTV Olympics preparation and crazy things are starting to happen…

• I've been having dreams about the Olympics every single night. Sometimes I'm wearing my grips. Sometimes I'm wearing a headset. I guess I'm still a bit stuck in the middle... 
• I've been having flashbacks to the competition butterflies.
• I watch old gymnastics videos for fun every single day.
• My bedtime reading material is International Gymnast Magazine.
• I carry a tape recorder with me everywhere I go to capture that new word, phrase, thought or research update.
• I listen to my yoga teachers and think, "That would be an awesome word to use in my commentary". Latest word: Levity. I love that word.
• I watch a minimum of 50 gymnastic videos on youtube a day.
• I practice commentating while I walk my dog and run. People look at me funny...
• I have a notebook that is full of questions and scribbles.
• I skim results and wiki pages daily.
• I get a burst of excitement each time I get an email from anyone with the CTV team.

I'm putting the same amount of time, energy, professionalism, obsession and enthusiasm into my preparation for this role as I did for my role as competitor. I feel a giant amount of responsibility to help our viewers understand, appreciate and fall in love with gymnastics. I know how powerful the Olympics were for me to watch and I hope that I can contribute to bringing that same sense of magic to the stories at these Games.


A couple of things:

1. Gymnastics rules are way too complicated. Seriously FIG, there needs to be a way to simplify things. Please consider the fans perspective when developing the next code of points. 
2. Trampoline rules, on the other hand, make total sense. Jump the highest, have the cleanest form and do the most flips/twists and you win!  
3. I've noticed that gymnastics has really moved away from being an artistry/orginality/virtuosity based sport to becoming more of an acrobatic/trick based sport. Watching videos from the 70's/80's/90's has really made this obvious. There is no one today who is quite as captivating as Daniela Silivas or Alexi Nemov. Oh the good ol' days...
4. I am terrified that I will get tongue tied while on air. On the upside, I used to be terrified that I would forget my routine and it never happened.
5. Some days I get so excited about this opportunity that I get overcome with happiness. It's going to be absolutely amazing and I can't wait to watch it all unfold!

As of today, there are just 51 days left until the Opening Ceremonies of the London 2012 Olympic Games. I am heading to London on July 20th to get settled in and put the finishing touches on my research and our shows. If you know of any great videos, websites, blogs or articles that I should read, please please please share them. 


The countdown is on!

Marathon: The Finish Line

Part 2:


After the half way mark, I slip into a daze. The next few km's just pass like those minutes do when you're surfing facebook with no purpose :) We have to do a nasty turn around at km 25 and a volunteer apologizes, "I'm sorry guys, it's not my fault!". This is when I notice the struggle that surrounds me and I try to use it as strength. I tell myself that I'm not even close to the point of agony that they are. Racers are starting to slow down. Pain is starting to set in. You can feel a shift in the energy. Feet begin to drag. Steps begin to get heavier. Eyes start to narrow and breathing starts to get loud. One gentleman sounds like a horse in a stable and I feel compassion for him because there is still a lot of distance to go. "He's pretty screwed", I think. But then I see one runner get into a taxi cab…


I walk for 30 seconds through the aid stations and make sure to hydrate, trying to take as short of break as possible because I've seen the 4:15 pace bunny up ahead and I know that I can catch up. Once there, I'll have to shave off about a minute per kilometre for the remainder of the race if I want to come in under 4 hours. I'm always strategizing a plan. This one is very ambitious, but there's a voice inside that believes it's possible. Always listen to that voice…

I see Kristin, Keith, and Kristin's wonderful family at km 28. Keith's already ran his 10K, gone home, showered and changed. Lucky duck! I've been craving what's waiting for me here: a vanilla bean scone! I put it in my pre-race plan for Kristin (aka: my pit crew) to grab one at Starbucks for me. I knew that I'd need a tasty treat and something to look forward to at this point in the race. It's delicious, although remarkably hard to swallow because of the dryness in my mouth. I see their signs that read: "High Five Zone" and "Your feet hurt from kickin' ass!". AWESOME! I think the signs are what keep a lot of racers going. They break up the monotony and give you a chuckle. My personal favourite read: "Because 42.3 is CRAZY!!!". True dat.

After a quick hug and a 10 second hello, I keep the Kyle caboose moving. I'm at the point now where it hurts less to continue running than it does to stop and and get the wheels turning again. Momentum, baby, momentum. Gotta feed it. 

Around the bend, I run past a place called Prema Sai where I'm getting a post race massage on Monday. I get super psyched at the thought. I haven't had a massage in 3 years because I don't feel like I've earned one. I know that I'm earning that bad boy right now. 

I catch up to the 4:15 pace bunny and her energy is infectious. She yells out reminders about keeping relaxed and enjoying the moment. I'm with her at 29km's when she reminds the group that we only have 13km's left! It occurs to me that we are more than 2/3 done. I take a deep breath as I remind myself that I can suffer with the best of them. The pace bunny also encourages us to visualize running from Edworthy Park to Eau Claire and back - that's all we have left. It's a run I've done nearly every weekend in my training and this visualization helps tremendously.

I turn up the heat and start pulling away from the group. I imagine I'm turning up the volume dial. I'm not gonna crank it all the way, but I'll turn it up from a tolerable thump to more on the uncomfortable side. Maybe add some bass. I'm here. I'm in it. Why not push myself a little bit more? I can rest all next week :)

At km 30, I see Michelle again. She's ringing her Cowbell and I can't help but smile. I've ran 20km's since our last sighting and I feel like I've gained speed, rhythm and confidence in the past 2 hours. I pass her and yell, "I'll call you later!!!" 

In between km 31 and 32, there is a rad family who have brought a cooler full of freezies! They deserves some major props because that is exactly what the doctor ordered. The taste of a white cream soda freezie nearly sends me into frenzy. It's so refreshing. In fact, I still have the last bites of my vanilla bean scone in my right hand because it's too dry to swallow and the juice from the freezie helps wash it down. 

I spot someone ahead who looks like they are getting stronger at this point. I feel that way too so I catch up and tell her that she is looking strong. She reciprocates. I suggest we run together for a bit and she agrees. We chat for about 30 seconds and learn that we are both first time marathoners. Sweet! And then she fades in behind me and that is that. I wonder, "Is this what speed dating feels like?" Rejection hurts ;) 

Km's 33-35 are painful because there is another turn back and you can see the faces of those who are ahead of you as they run the reverse half. Some seem to be in quite a bit of pain and it makes me wonder if one measly km can make that big of a difference. I see my friend Kourtney and her daughter on the sidelines. They are cheering super loud with pom poms! It gives me a quick surge of energy, but then the next km feels a bit like torture. My tank begins to empty and this is where things shift...

I feel the wall. My feet begin to shuffle and my gaze becomes a bit blurred. All of a sudden I desperately want this to be over. Kourt runs/skips/jumps/bounces (she's got a LOT of energy!) beside me and gives me some words of encouragement. "Stay focused, Kyle. Take it one km at a time. You've come this far and you're looking really strong!" I think she can sense the change in my energy and I appreciate her efforts to fill my tank. All I can do is nod, smile and say thank you. I put my head down, narrow my focus and start to grind.

Other runners are now dropping like flies. The course is beginning to spatter with carnage. I repeat to myself: You have only 7km's left. You have only 7km's left. You have only 7km's left... 

Just before km 36, I see my friend Dave Holland. He takes the photos for us at KSGF. He's sporting a bright yellow shirt (I think - colours do not exist to me at this point) and hanging with the fine folks from Right To Play. I wave to Dave and feel a new spark of energy. I high-five Ginelle and Sarah, my friends with RTP, and I use the $2600 I raised for Right To Play through my 30th Birthday Challenge as ammunition in this battle (side bar: thanks everyone who donated!!!). Grind through this, Kyle. Come in under 4 hours!  

 

I run the next km fairly fast - around 4:30/km, but then I quickly realize that I won't be able to sustain that pace for the remaining 5km's. I won't cross the finish line if I try. So I concede to the "under 4 hour" gods and decide that I will finish strong rather than push myself beyond my capacity and splat before 42.2. I want to finish this race and I've heard horror stories of people passing out at 42km's with 200 metres to go. Someone also told me that you can't crank it in to high gear with 5km's left. Not even with 3km's left. You've got to save some juice for the final kick…

I find a girl in front of me who is running smooth. I don't try to catch her, but I try to emulate her stride. One foot in front of the other. I scan my body. My ankles, shins, achilles, feet, lower back and traps are starting to feel like they might combust. One foot in front of the other…

I round another bend and someone has a sign that reads: Hurry, they're running out of beer! I want a beer so bad that my mouth starts to water in anticipation of that first cold sip. Street curbs begin to feel a few inches higher. Km markers start to feel farther and farther apart. I wonder if someone playing a bad trick on us? I'm fading…but I keep putting one foot in front of the other. I AM finishing what I started. There is no other option. I reflect on Thich Nhat Hanh's saying about "doing the dishes to do the dishes rather than doing the dishes to be done" and I desperately try to find peace is each step.

A gentleman in front of me grabs his right butt cheek and starts to run with it clasped in his hand. Another dude cramps in his calf and his leg starts dragging behind him as he cringes and yelps. I look over and yell, "You've only got 2 K left, man. You've got this. Don't give up. Focus and fight!!!" I feel energy come to me from my encouragement of someone else. This is no longer a race. I am no longer gaining strength from other's demise. This has become a game of survival and I don't want to see any of my fellow warriors fall victim to weakness or injury at this point. We've come too far.

I turn the bend and there is one painful km left. I let go of any sense of conservation I've been holding on to and I launch into my final push. I know that I can suffer like a madman for the final 1000 meters. My gears shift and I have a lightness to my stride. I put on invisible blinders and there is nothing around me. I can feel the finish line pulling me in. The battle between good and evil no longer exists. There's only encouragement swirling through my mind. You're almost done, Kyle! Don't think, just run! Glide. Be Swift. Power up. Feel this. Love this.  

I gasp for air and I bawl my face off all at the same time…except no tears come out. There's no more liquid in my body. I trip over my breath and make weird noises the entire last km. They feel like honks and grunts, but who knows what they actually sound like. I feel overcome with emotion. I'm proud of my commitment and drive through out the training. I'm getting a filmstrip of flashbacks to the process. I picture running in London, Idaho, New York and Yellowknife. I'm reminisce about those long runs with my running mentor, Martin. I picture that day when I ran in the rain and nearly froze. I remember running stairs in a snow storm. I remember all of those days that I felt resistance,  but used this exact moment as my purpose and reason to get up and go. I knew I'd be here. And here I am. 

I'm also feeling joy and relief to nearly be done. No matter how much I want to pretend this feels great, I am in Pain with a capital P and I want to be out of this "uncomfortable" zone as quick as possible. I know that the faster I run, the faster it will end. I kick it into an even higher gear and my turbo pack blasts me into a new dimension. My legs are going faster than I feel like they should be able to go. They look slightly hallucinatory and I wonder, "are those actually mine?" 

I see the finish line. It's right there in front of me and it looks glorious. I turn up the dial to full blast. I'm not leaving an ounce of effort unused. GOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!

I let out a loud growl as I zoom over the timing strips and my face grimaces in complete and utter angst. It's finally over.

Thank god. 

Did I make it in time for the beer?

I get my medal and look to stands on the right. I see my cheering section - Kristin, Keith, my parents, my brother, my sister in law, my aunt, my nephew and my little cousin! They are jumping up and down and screaming my name. GO KYLE GO!!! I am overwhelmed and so so so happy to see them. I grab a drink of water and my post-race blanket. I hear my name being announced over the speakers as they say it's THE Kyle Shewfelt. Ya, that's right. I'm THE Kyle Shewfelt. The one who used to run 24.65 meters towards a vault table…and now look at me! I'm a freakin' MARATHONER!!!! 

4 hours 4 minutes and 39 seconds. That's my official time. I know deep inside that my legs could not have gone a second faster. That's got to be the BEST feeling in the world.

My legs begin to buckle. I have a couple near spills, but I'm okay. I kind of want to pass out, but I also want to get hugs from my fan club:) I make my way over to them and, although I'm slightly dazed, I am so appreciative for their support. For them to take time to celebrate and share this with me means so much.

 

I feel like I need to bend my legs so I do a deep squat. This feels like my knee caps might shoot right through my skin. I'm like a creeky ol' door that needs some WD-40. Creeeeeeeeeeek. I know it'll take a while to recover from this one. I hug everyone a hundred times over and try to be really present. I can't quite conceptualize what I just accomplished. I know that it will take a while for me to process the importance of this moment. So I just smooch my little munchkins and thank my amazing support team for helping me conquer this huge personal victory. 

After chowing on a banana, popping some advil and drinking what feels like gallons of liquid (no beer :( ), Martin comes in about 30 minutes after me. I find him, hug him and thank him. I feel very fulfilled. 

I embarked on this quest to prove that there is still triumph and there is still possibility in my life. I wanted to show myself that I was capable of taking on a challenge that seemed insurmountable. I wanted to increase my capacity to be with discomfort. I wanted to enforce some discipline and drive back into my life. I wanted to face fear head on and show myself that there isn't anything in this world that I can't accomplish.

And I did it. I feel like I've gained an extra layer to my personality and character for seeing it through. I am no longer a wannabe marathoner. I am in the club and it feels just right.

Thanks for following my journey. 

Marathon: The Start Line...

Sunday May 27th, 2012 - 5:30am


My alarm rings and I throw off the covers and spring out of bed.
"YES!" I enthusiastically proclaim. Kristin looks at me through the corner of one eye like I'm a crazy person and rolls to the other side of the bed.
"Today is the day that I've been training for!"


I bounce to the kitchen and toast my bagel. Half gets avacado, half gets peanut butter. I drink my coffee and pray to the bathroom gods. Success. A quick face wash, tooth brushing and I change into my gear (thanks Lululemon!). All of my things are laid out. My watch and ipod are plugged in. My bottles have been filled with water and Nuun tabs and my pretzels/cranberries/Stingers snack has been packed. I am ready to rock this race!


I'm nervous about the last 10km's. Maybe afraid is more appropriate. I know it's going to hurt. Everyone who I've talked to with previous Marathon experience has told me that nothing can prepare you for the pain involved in that final push. I've had pings of anxiety over the past week thinking about what might come up. I've also been really excited about facing the challenge head on.


There's one small thing I'm dealing with that I didn't really account for in my plan five months ago when I embarked on this journey. My throat is scratchy and my nose feels a little plugged. It's just the beginning of a cold and I know it's because I was interacting with a lot of people the week before while at Canadian Championships in Regina. It wasn't the most ideal pre-race week in terms of energy conservation, but I think I did a relatively good job of sitting when I could, washing my hands often (shaking lots of hands can get you sick as a dog) and getting lots of sleep. I also did a major carbo load with the winner of the Gym Revolution Video Challenge! 


My buddy, Kim, was going to pick me up at 6:10am, but some jerk put something in her drink two nights previous and so she had to withdraw from her half-marathon start. Instead, my buddy Keith grabs me and we head down to the start line. He's doing the 10K which starts at 7:30am, but he is such a nice guy that he didn't mind arriving a little early at the start line. 


After we park and walk to the start line, it becomes very apparent that this is the 'it' event of the day. Massive amounts of people are herding in to Stampede grounds. A very fitting venue when you come to think of it;) You can identify all of the marathoners by their RED bibs. Half Marathoners are wearing  blue, 10K'ers are wearing purple. I look around and start to eye up my competition. I'm also particularly proud of everyone who's wearing red…I know the journey they've been through to get here. I wonder how many people will struggle. I wonder how many people are aiming for sub-3 hours. I wonder who will be put on an IV at the end of the race. I wonder how many people have done this before. I wonder how many people are shakin' in their cowboy boots, just like me, worrying about those torturous last 10km's…


Martin and I have planned to meet at the 4:30 pace bunny if we don't find each other before. The race announcer calls all runners to the start line. It's 6:45am. I haven't found Martin, but I find the 4:30 pace bunny and settle in. I look around and finally see my Marathon Man wearing his Right To Play gear. Relief. 


The gun goes off. We start the race at an easy pace. I meet some of Martin's friends and for the first 2km's things are hunky dory. But then I unconsciously break off and start to find my own stride and pace. I've got to pee like a race horse, but there's no way I'm standing in a 10 person deep line to get a chance at the port-a-potty. I'm not known for my pee holding skills, but I figure I can hold it until things start to thin out or I see a few trees to hide behind.


I'm all alone, but I am focused. In fact, I'd much rather be alone right now. I'm feeling easily irritated by those who are stopping to take photos with their iphones. When you're training, no problem, but this is a race. I have a feeling that I'll never be able to break myself of my competitive mentality. I feel the need to put my head down and to be fully immersed in the game. 


The first 5km's feel like nothing. I'm just getting warm. I see a few friends running the half. I have a quick chat with them and then get back into my world. It feels eerily like a meditation - always coming back to the breath. In this case, it's my stride and my positive self talk that is the centre of my focus.


Some km's feel like they melt away. Other's feel a little more conscious and challenging. At a few points along the way, I realize how much I love my city. Thoughts of, "This is AMAZING!",  "I've ran here before" and "I know this loop" run through my mind. I'm a chatter box on the inside this morning, but pretty quiet on the outside. I'm in warrior mode.


At km 9, the half marathoners take a sharp right as the marathoners turn left. I imagine the signs reading "Half Marathoners turn right" vs "Hardcores turn left". The pack was pretty dense during those first 9km's, but as the groups separate, it's incredible how things thin out on the Marathon (aka: Hardcore) side. The rapid pitter pattering of feet becomes more like the leftover rain drops at the end of a storm. It's silent. It's haunting. This is when it feels like the real race begins.


I run by my friends at Impact Magazine and wave to my buddy Chris who's on the balcony cheering everyone on. I feel a lot of pride. I've talked about this with them and now here I am, actually executing it. It's always a great feeling when you follow through. For some reason, it feels even better when you have witnesses.  


At km 10, I see my friend Michelle on the sidelines with a cowbell. She brings it to World Cup ski races and now she's here cheering for me. I am so overcome with joy when I see her that I give her a giant hug. She says, "I'll see you again by my place at km 30". "Wow", I think, "I'm not even 1/4th done!"


I've set an ambitious goal of finishing the race in 3 hours and 45 minutes. I figure I'll start off nice and slow and then pick up my pace after the first 10km. Every time I look at my watch, I'm calculating. A part of me says, "Dude, just let it go. Run at a pace that you are comfortable with and enjoy this". Another part of me says, "Pick up the pace!!! If you want to come in under 4 hours, you'll need to start shaving off some time". I don't know what voice to listen to. I'm torn because I want to have some juice left for the end, but I also want to ensure that I reach my potential in this race. 


I run through our dog park and laugh at how sweet this is. I come here everyday. I practically own this course :) At km 14, I calculate that I am now 1/3 done. My knees are feeling a little bit of somethin' somethin', but I immediately revoke any sense of permission I've given myself to feel pain. Pain? What is pain? 


At km 15, I see a port-a-potty door swing open and I swiftly jump in. I nearly barf at the stench!! It's the worst one I've ever been in ;) Seriously people, why didn't you pray to the bathroom gods before you left your house?! I gag as I whiz and jump out of there as quickly as I possibly can. Note to self: pee outside for the rest of the race. Shudder. 


I know that Kristin, Cooper and my parents are going to be at the next aid station at km 18. I contemplate my jacket removal which takes about 1/2 a km;) Funny how nice a distraction can be. I can feel my anticipation and pride building as I round the corner to where they are standing. They've only really heard me talk about my training. They've seen me hobble around at family dinner on Sunday after my long runs. Now they get to see me in action and I feel kind of like a superhero. 


I round the corner and there they are. Coops is vigorously sniffing the grass, but his ears perk up as he see's me zooming towards them. I'm sure he wants to join me - he's been an awesome running buddy during those 10km runs - but he's not allowed. I take off my jacket and pass it to Kristin. I take a sip of water and have a 10 second visit. "How are you feeling?", Kristin asks me. "Good. Feeling a bit of pain in my legs, but no big deal." 18 km's down, 24.2 to go. 


I high five my neighbour, a former marathoner himself, and then run past my alma mater, Mount Royal University. I see some impatient driver riding the ass of a runner and then I see them get scolded by a police officer for being losers. Seriously people, respect the runner! It then occurs to me that all of these police officers and volunteers are taking time out of their day to support our goal. I'm moved and my eyes well up a bit. I make a point of thanking everyone I pass who contributed to this day.


I run through 21.1km's, the "halfway" point, and think back to October when I ran my first half marathon. On that day, I remember asking myself, "Could I do this distance all over again, right now?". The answer was a big "Hells no". But here I am, halfway done and embarking on the second 21.1kms. Sometimes it amazes me how far we can progress if we really set our minds to something. This moment makes me feel like I've grown and it's nice to have some sort of measurement to reflect on. Makes it feel more real. Looking back can be valuable sometimes, especially when it provides you with evidence of just how far you've come. 


To be continued….

Taper time!

It's Friday and I run my marathon in only 2 more sleeps. Ahhhhhhhh!!!! I've been trying to be super diligent with my training program in this final phase and these past couple of weeks have been focused on tapering and getting my body rested up and ready for the big race.


Tapering is when you significantly cut back on your workload or mileage so that your body can recover and the hard work can settle in. It's a difficult time for me to manage because as I start to feel good and rested, my mind starts telling my body that I need to move. Holding back has always been a hard thing for me to do.


Last weekend I had a great confirmation that I am ready. Martin and I ran 16km's on Saturday morning and it felt like nothing. I felt like we had just started our conversation when our watches starting beeping that we were done. I had tons of energy to spare. Perhaps I went a little overboard when I hiked in Canmore and went out for a little dance party on Sunday night, but whatever, fun is important too! I figured that as long as I wasn't running on pavement, then it was OK.


This week I ran 6km's on Tuesday, 10K on Wednesday morning and I've been "resting" for the past 2 days. I'm at the Canadian Championships in Regina so I have been doing lots of promotional activities, but I've been trying to stay off my legs as much as possible. I just took an hour and rolled out on my travel roller and drained my legs out by putting them up against the wall. Tonight I am going for dinner with the winners of the Gym Revolution Video Challenge and we are going to carbo load! My favourite part of pre-race preparation is being able to gorge on pasta and not feel an ounce of guilt.


I'm starting to feel myself slipping into my zone. I can feel the nerves coming on and the adrenaline starting to build. I'm starting to reflect back on the work I've done and really appreciate how far I've come. I'm doing a lot of positive self talk, but I'm having a little bit of fear because one of my friends who's a doctor told me that at least one person dies at every marathon she volunteers at. Gulp. I hope it's not me on Sunday! Don't worry mom, it won't be ;)


I have a bunch of friends who are running the half-marathon, 10K and 5K so we are going to have a little post race celebration on Sunday. Kristin also booked me a massage as a reward for my dedication and hard work. I haven't had a massage in 3 years because I have this thing about earning them. This one will be very well earned.

I am flying home from Regina tomorrow night and arrive in Calgary around 10:30pm. Kristin is going to pick me up and I've already laid out my clothes, bought my breakfast food, packed my snacks and she picked up my bib today. I'm number 985. I love that my name is on it because there is nothing better than hearing people cheer out your name when you feel like you need a little push!


I've got my race plan mapped out too. I'm going to take the first 10km's nice and slow. I'm aiming to run the second half faster than the first. I am going to walk for 30 seconds through every aid station. My goal time is 3:45, but based on my long runs thus far I will be thrilled with anything under 4 hours.  


I've invested a lot of time and energy into this journey and I am really excited to get the race started. I'm nervous about the last 9km's because they are completely unknown to me, but I also know that I am strong and determined and I can push through anything. Accomplishing this goal is going to confirm that and add some depth to my life portfolio. 


I can't wait until Sunday after when I can finally get rid of the "wannabe" and start calling myself a MARATHONER. 


Wish me luck!


Kyle

23km's with new friends in Yellowknife

One of the things that I love most about running is the opportunity it provides for connection. Depending on where you’re at, you can connect to community, to people or to yourself.

Chaim and I hanging out at the Trade Show

I was in Yellowknife over the May 12/13 weekend to sign autographs at the Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce trade show and to visit with young gymnasts from the local Gymnastics Club. While I was sitting at the autograph table with my buddy, beach volleyball extraordaire and giant, Chaim Schalk, I met a really nice couple who were telling me about their son, Mike Argue, and how he used to cross country ski on the Canadian National Team. They also mentioned that he just ran the Boston Marathon. My ears perked up with excitement.

“Did I hear you say Marathon??", I asked. "Is your son here today?”

“Yes, he’s right over there” they said as they pointed in his direction.

And that was the moment I met a new running buddy.

It couldn’t have been more timely….

You see, when I woke up on this fine Saturday morning, I felt a lot of resistance to doing my long run. The excuses were flying pretty rampantly.

First excuse: I usually do my long runs on Sunday, but because of my schedule, I wouldn’t have time to squeeze in a 3 hour jaunt on Sunday in between my professional commitments, a flight home and Mother’s Day festivities. Therefore, Saturday was going to have to be the day of suffering and my saboteur really liked to attach itself to that ammunition.

Second excuse: I didn’t know how to get around Yellowknife and I was a bit afraid of getting lost, attacked by a cougar or running the same loop over and over and over and driving myself insane. 

Third excuse: I was a bit tired – I’m curious why that one always comes up!

And my final excuse: the artic air is brisk and my running attire might not keep me warm enough.

So, to cure this sense of (seemingly too common) resistance, I set up a meeting time with my new found running buddy, Mike, and there was no backing out. Amazing how some accountability can push you, isn’t it?!

After a great afternoon at the trade show, I met up with Mike and his friend Cory (a sub 3 hour marathoner, btw) at 3:45pm for a 23km run around Yellowknife. 

They were awesome tour guides and slowed down their speedy pace to keep up with little ol' me. I’ve got to say, seeing a town by foot is really the best way to do it. I saw Old Town and Ragged Ass road. I ran the Frame Lake loop and saw the sight where Prince William and Princess Kate made their remarks last summer. I even saw the Tim Hortons (Canada’s busiest!).

This was my first trip to the Great Canadian North and I must say that I loved it. The people were incredibly nice and hospitable. The food was amazing (Bullocks rocks!). And the running was spectacular.

Thanks Mike and Cory for leading the way and thank you Yellowknife for an awesome weekend.

Kyle

Thirties Manifesto

On May 6th, I turned 30. In celebration, I ran 33km's. It was my longest run yet and it felt pretty awesome. I may or may not have been a bit hungover, but a friend who ran Ironman gave me some sound advice - she said that running a hungover long run gives you a taste of what the actual race will feel like. I liked that advice so I had a few beers with friends on Saturday afternoon/evening. It was brilliant, but I always find it remarkable how thirsty I get the night after drinking so much...


While running, I had some time to think and ponder what entering my 30's means to me. First and foremost, it does feel a bit weird. I can remember being a kid and imagining what I would look like at 30. I always thought I'd be a little taller and have some sort of 5 o'clock shadow. Well, I'm short and I only have to shave once every 3 days :) But I'm cool with it because it's me. I feel like at 30, I know who I am and what I stand for. 


Please enjoy my Thirties Manifesto below.


In my 30's, I will:


Be FEARLESS: I am over being afraid of failure. I am going to be courageous.


Be decisive: I've wasted a lot of time in my life going back and forth trying to decide what is right for me. I know myself. I will make decisions faster.


Let go of my perfectionism: Details will remain a priority because they are important to me and they always will be. Gone are the days, though, when I let my perfectionism stand in my way of success.


Manage my time and energy more wisely: I have the tendency to say YES to everything and spread myself too thin. I will only commit to things that are worthwhile to me and I'll leave a little room on my plate for fun. There are a few projects in my life currently that deserve less of my time and I will be working towards trimming the fat on those...


Make health and activity my #1 priorities: I want to eat well, sleep well and exercise daily. These things are the foundation for everything moving forward and I must make them my biggest priorities. I also need to maintain my handstand because it's starting to get harder and I don't like that :)


Take on new scary audacious challenges: This year I am running a marathon. Next year I am…
I still need to decide on my goal beyond my marathon, but I am going to pick a big physical challenge and commit to seeing it through. Goals are essential in my life.


Stop trying to please everyone: I am who I am. I do what I do. I hope you like it. If not, I'm sure you have some great relationships in your life that fulfill you. I know I do.


Have more productive screen time: I'm kind of over responding to every blackberry chirp and going on random internet surfing tangents. I am ready to commit to more productive use of my time with technology so I can spend more time doing the other more important things in my life :)


Simplify email: I'm checking it twice a day and that's it. The act (and horrible habit) of constantly scanning my inbox is driving me a bit nuts. I don't like the way my body and mind respond when I react to the ping of a new message. I will not let my email inbox dictate my life.


Take BIG risks: I feel a big risk is on it's way in my life. I don't quite know what it looks like, but I feel it brewing. I feel like I'm going to take a giant leap in September-ish. The courage is building.


Create opportunities rather than wait for them to happen: Gone are the days when I wait for opportunity to knock. I'm going to start banging on it's door.


Do things rather than think about doing them: Recycling, laundry, etc, etc…I spend far too many hours of my life trying to muster up the motivation to get things done. Instead, I will just do them.


Publish books: It's time. I'm going to stop self-defeating and procrastinating and start writing.


Finish what I've started: I have always had a ton of respect for those who finish what they've started. I have far too many incomplete projects mulling around inside my mind. I will start focusing on creating plans to finish them.


Re-organize and down-size: I'm pretty much over STUFF. I am going to get rid of it if I don't need it. I will also create some better organization systems because I can be a bit of a cluster-you-know-what sometimes. My life will be: Clean and Simple.


Take more pictures: I love photos. I will start capturing my life.


Have more dinner parties: I love my friends and my family. I want to share more time, more laughs and create more memories with them.


Have less stress: I'm over it. A little is good, but not everything has to be stressful.


Be more appreciative: Life is pretty rad. I will remind myself of this more often.


Enjoy my life: There is no turning back. This is it. It's my choice how awesome it is. I will take time to be present and not get so caught up in the past, the future or the unknown. I will be here now and enjoy it.






My 30's are going to be goooooooood.

Spontaneous Speed Work

This week marked the shift from strength work (hills!) to speed work (fartleks). For those of you who think that fartleking may involve power boosts caused by farting, you are wrong ;) I tried the theory out and it has the potential to end badly :) 


Fartleking is the wonderful technique of bursting into a speedy spurt for as long as you feel like it, when you feel like it. There is no prescription to fartleking - it's a totally freestyle activity.


As you've probably come to understand from reading my blog, I am someone who loves a plan. I like to know where I'm going, when I'm going and how I'm going to get there. Therefore, fartleking is a very difficult exercise for me and far away from my comfort zone. It really forces me to listen to my body and to trust my instincts. For someone like me, grinding and pushing through is often easier than going with the flow because grinding and pushing through has a distinct beginning, middle and end and I really like that. I like to know that there will eventually be some closure.


When I haven't clearly defined my task and purpose, I can be pretty fleety and easily distracted. But when you give me some boundaries and guidelines, I will exceed them on nearly every occasion. The worst tends to come out of me when I am left to my own devices with no parameters. 


I started out my first 10km fartleking session with a nice easy pace for about 4 minutes to get a bit of a groove on. I was slightly dreading the moment when my mind would tell my body to pick up the pace because I didn't know exactly how it would respond. I could only picture my hamstring coiling up to my butt as it ruptured and me lying there helpless (without a cell phone again!) as Cooper licked my face and gave my those, "what's wrong with you, dad?" puppy dog eyes. But the moment came where my mind rather spontaneously said GO and I turned up the heat and kicked it into high gear. It was like a game of red light/green light. Green Light! I ran so fast my cheeks were cold, Coopers ears were like Superdogs and my legs and lungs were screaming for mercy. Then I slowed down and jogged for a bit. Red Light. When I felt recovered, I pumped up the volume and took off like a lightning bolt. GO! And then I slowed down when my lungs were bleeding and I couldn't maintain my speed anymore. STOP. I jogged so slow that my grandma could have caught up with me. And then when I felt energy again, I blasted the turbo jets and my legs spun faster than Fred Flintstones in his Flintstone mobile. Yabba Dabba Doo!


At about 7km's in, I was starting to run at a tortoise pace much more often than that of a hare. But I was listening to my body and it was telling me that I needed to take longer rests in between my rapid fire bursts of speedy speed. And from everything I've heard and read, this is what fartleking is all about. It's about knowing how to turn it on. It's about knowing when you need to conserve some energy. And it's about developing a relationship with your body and mind where you can take a cue to nuture or push when it's needed the most.


Fartleking definitely made my 10km run more stimulating and thought provoking than my other seemingly monotonous runs. I completed the distance pretty fast too in just over 48mins. If I was following a prescribed plan of "run 400 metres at 3:30min/km, run 200m at 6min/km, run 300m at 3:45/km, etc" it might have played more into my regimented "follow the plan" mentality, but it definitely wouldn't have been as spontaneous and fun. Two things I have been craving at this point in my training and two things that I think I need to be more open to in my life…


Especially since I'll be the big 3-0 in a few days time. 


Kyle