Darkhorse at Ironman Canada

For the past two summers, I've been on awesome training rides with Scott Neyedli from Scotland while we were both in Kelowna. I'm rooting for him in the Penticton Ironman tomorrow August 29!

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Lean & super nice Scott in black riding with Evano (L) and James (R) on an epic ride on the backroads of Penticton - I took the photo while riding!

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Talk about darkhorse... Scott came a close 2nd in the 2009 West Australia and 2010 Australia Ironmans and didn't even get mentioned in the 2010 Penticton Ironman preview.

I have Edmonton cheers going to Paul Tichelaar if he is over his injury and decides to race. All the best to Edmonton friends Mark Woodhouse and Gary Eggan in their pursuit for sub-10 hours!

Myself, I chose to opt out of Alberta Provincial mountain bike champs this weekend with the smart decision of healing fully! I'm healing up my body with amazing work by manual physiotherapist out in Kamloops Claudia Scrivener. With the cranial sacral work on my face, my fractures from June are settling where they need to be. After each treatment, I am wowed how the skull can be manipulated and shifted. Way better then getting surgery!

I saw Claudia reduce the Smurf-size swelling in my finger ligament in front of my eyes, just by pressure and manipulation. I'd recommend her and will definitely see her if needed in the future. Wish I knew about her months earlier...

Whole Food, Plant-Based TALK - Sep 4 Edmonton

Brendan Brazier, professional triathlete, plant-based nutrition expert, and bestselling author, shares how to thrive on a whole food, plant-based diet.
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Date: Saturday September 4th
Time: 5 - 6 p.m.
Place: Planet Organic, southside, Edmonton
Cost: free
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Other Alberta event info here.

How to Thrive on a whole food, plant-based diet - Brendan Brazier shares his tips for losing weight, reducing stress, and staying healthy, the whole food way found in his bestselling book The Thrive Diet.

It's a great way to "be"!

Not so fun part of a Stage Race!

photos courtesy R. Haskell

Stage 3 Tour de Bowness - Criterium

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Fun course as the roads are super rough on the backside corners. Hung in there. Took the hill hard a few times. Good attacks by everyone which made it another fun race.

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After the last corner, tossed the little gremlin away that said "I'm too small to sprint". Sat hard in my saddle in the drops and stayed on Tanya's wheel for the final 200 metres. At the line, I was behind by a nose though pretty pleased I made the effort to sprint!

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Gathered overall omnium points for 3rd with Pepper commanding an awesome win with her efforts at the crit.

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Bow Cycle put on a wicked event with Niklas Group as a main sponsor. In the Women's field, almost everyone left with a prize or cash. Thanks Bow!

Fun Part of a Stage Race!

Marg, Heather & Pepper - photo Al Black

Stage 2 Tour de Bowness - COP hillclimb
It feels different to climb this hill in a race situation with strong racers. It's a 3-up time trial format. Pepper, Heather and I were seeded together as the top riders from the previous days's road race. From the start, I let the race unfold and followed Heather with Pepper glued onto her wheel. I actually lost my normal drive to scamper up. Just different focus for me in a group than challenging myself alone.
The climb goes up the road in Canada Olympic Park 1.3 km and 345 feet elevation gain. The pace dropped slightly halfway up. I took the lead maintaining the same pace stand-climbing.
On the final corner which is the steepest of the course, I heard what sounded like an engine revving up! Off goes Pepper gutting it out to the top. Cool, I thought and had no desire to challenge. At that point it's all a mental game to go through the lactic acid build-up. Been there, done that!
Racing at 7:30 pm gave shadows ahead of me from the riders behind me. Made sure I kept Heather's shadow behind and rolled to the finish. It was awesome to see the focus Pepper raced with.