The Journey

May 28, 2002

Exercise what is that?

It was 8 months before my 40th birthday. Officially, I started as a couch potato, just over 265 pounds and totally out of shape.

First accomplishment in September 2002 was to ride my bike 273 kms from Toronto to Kingston in 2 days...took the train back of course, but I was on my way!

Year 2004
After my 1/2 marathon success I thought I would go longer and completed the 30km Around the Bay Road Race. Ouch! What was I thinking? I had signed up for my first marathon 2 months later and now I had doubts about finishing it.

I also joined JeansMarines, a marathon training group for women (and a few good men). This experience was exhilarating and I made life long friends. Hi Tara, Barb, Sue, Laurie, Karen, Micheline, Chris and Geoff!

I completed my first marathon, the Mississauga Marathon on May 16, 2004. Yes, I cried like a baby near the finish but I think it was when I realized I had 200 more meters at the 42 km mark!

I completed 7 triathlons, sprint, olympic and long courses during the season including my first 1/2 ironman in Parry Sound. I won the HSBC Triathlon Series award for Athena 40 +.

To finish off the season, I completed the Scotiabank 1/2 Marathon and the Washington Marine Corps Marathon with my JeansMarines crew. Go Beaches Blue group!

Dang Im tired!

Year 2003
Back in 1994, I dabbled with triathlons as a method to lose weight. Only stuck with if for that summer, but it worked then maybe it would work again.

I completed my first sprint triathlon in Mississauga in July. Lake Ontario was freezing but the fuse was lit.

Could I run a half marathon?... yep completed the Toronto International 1/2 Marathon that fall. Hmm, could I go longer?

Year 2005

Oh, oh, I expanded over the winter! It made the Around the Bay and the Mississauga Marathon difficult to run at over 200 pounds but I'm stubborn and completed them.

I grew out of my wetsuit so I decided to do the Ontario Women's Triathlon Series this summer because the venues didn't require one. This series offers a supportive, warm environment for beginners and veterans.

I finished off the season once again with the Scotiabank Half and Marine Corps Marathon.

Year 2006

You know the story by now, started off with the Around the Bay and the Mississauga Marathon.

I still hadn't shrunk into my wetsuit, so I went back to Endurosport and got a larger one. I need a faster bike as well, and this was taken care of at my favourite bike store D'ornellas.

I finished a couple of sprint triathlons and the first 1/2 Ironman at Peterborough. During the Parry Sound 1/2 ironman, I crashed at the 70km mark on my bike. Good news, the bike wasn't hurt, bad news, I broke my collarbone. I finished the bike portion and decided to not do the run because there was no chance of a personal best, the hospital was a better option.

The season was over. After surgery and physio,

I was as good as new by the end of the year.

Year 2007

The year of personal bests! I finally finished Around the Bay in less then 3:30 and 5:00 for the Mississauga Marathon. If my garmin hadn't died I would have been under the 5 hour mark.

I completed 7 triathlons including 2 1/2 ironmans in Peterborough and Ottawa. I am the Subaru Triathlon Series champion for Clydesdale 40 +. I am attempting not to be a clydesdale in 2008!

I took a trip out to Penticton and signed up for the ultimate challenge Ironman Canada 2008.

Finished off the season with the Angus Glen 1/2 Marathon with another PB by 6 minutes.