Here is what we all got up to in the second half of 2010

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Philadelphia Marathon, November 21, 2010

The Army Run, Sept 19,2010

The Syracuse 70.3, Sept 19, 2010

The K2J Invitational 5K

Mid Summer Night’s Run, Toronto, Aug 21, 2010

K-Town Triathlon, Aug 1, 2010

Ironman USA, July 25, 2010

Bushtukah Bring on the Bay, 3K open water swim, July 17, 2010

 

Philadelphia Marathon, November 21, 2010

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philly

 

This was my second trip to Philly the first was in 2006. Four years and 12 marathons later I went back. They changed the course a little this year. They took out some hills and added a couple of odd out and backs to make the distance work. It’s a pretty flat course the biggest hill is by the zoo between the 8 and 9 mile mark. The unofficial beer stop is still there. You pass it twice on the second half of the course.

We stayed at the Best Western City Centre. I have to say it is not the “best” western I have ever stayed at but the location is outstanding. We could actually hear them calling everyone to the corals from the hotel lobby. No porta-potties, no bag check we went straight from the lobby to the start and from the finish line to get clean and take a shower!

Philly is a little different because they start the full and the half together in the same corals. I was lucky enough to get to start at the front but it was a strange way to start as I was passed consistently for the first 3 miles by men who were in the corals behind me.

The weather race day was perfect. Sunny and cool (40F) at the start. Warm enough for shorts and a singlet but not warm enough to overheat. I think this was the first race in many years were I did not poor water on myself to keep cool. Reminds me why I run fall marathons.

The first half of the course goes through the historic sights of Philly which you can actually appreciate early in the race. The half way mark is close to the Rocky Statue but I did not see it. The second half of the course is basically an out and back along the river which I like because knowing where I am running helps to ease the pain of those last few miles.

I went out too fast. I always do but getting passed for the first 3 miles increased my natural tendency to do so! My spilt at the half was 1.30 something but the results show it as 1.32 something. I am pretty sure the 1.32 is wrong but I will go with that because it makes me look like I ran a more even split! The second half of the race is pretty flat and I am glad it is because after the turn around at 19.5 miles I had no interest in anything except the next mile marker and getting to the finish line so I could stop running! Final time was 3.05.52 which is a PB so I am pretty happy with that.

The results were a mess. They had the full and half results all mixed together (time they hired Sportstats) and nothing was posted but things appear to have been straightened out now.

Thanks and congratulations to everyone. It’s always a good weekend with you all even if I have to run a marathon.

A very special congrats to Brian O’Higgins who won the men’s 55-59 age group in a time of 2:50:23!

Half Marathon

Jean Rock	Tremblay	1.34.26	AG PB, 8th M50-54
Mike	Bigelow	1.37.58
Jeff	Slavin	1.40.42
Heather	Bigelow	1.54.26	PB
Peggie	Slavin	2.35.57
Kathryn	Hill	2.40.38

Marathon

Brian	O'Higgins	2.50.28	1st M55-59, PB
Judy	Andrew Piel	3.05.52	3rd W45-49, PB
John	Tegano	3.07.31
Guy	Beaudoin	3.36.30
Faye	Goldman	3.43.11
Angelo	Fatoric	3.52.11	PB
Colleen	Bigelow	4.36.41	PB
Vicki	Plant	4.38.05	PB
Virginia	Mofford	4.45.12	PB
Stephanie	Dunne	4.48.35
Carolyn	Frank	4.53.04	PB

 

The Army Run, Sept 19,2010

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armyrun2010

 

The course was changed this year and the general feeling was that it was a slower course than last year. That does not appear to have held everyone back! K2J Fitness relay teams placed 2nd, 3rd and 4th in the men’s division, 1st in the coed division and 2nd in the women’s division. Full results are below.

5K

Meg	Bryant	20.45	28th overall, 11th w20-29, PB
Kathryn	Gough	25.56	PB
Mike	Seymour	26.14
Dave	Daze	27.24	ran with Gracie
Jennifer	Murphy	29.11
Stephanie	Dunne	30.41
Patrick	Calnan	30.56
James	Vannier	31.00
Erin	Beasley	31.00
Marie	Avila	32.34
Robert	McIntyre	33.31
Tracy	Seymour	36.40

Half Marathon

Brian	O'Higgins	1.20.01	9th overall, 1stM50-59, PB
Michael	Blois	1.20.32	13th overall, 5thM30-39, PB
Jonathan	Woodman	1.23.35	7th M20-29, 37th overall
John	Tegano	1.24.46	PB
Steve	Findlay	1.24.46	PB?
Jean-Philippe	Pellerin	1.26.42	14th M20-29
Chris	Bright	1.31.53
Jeff	Slavin	1.33.10	PB
Glenn	Poirer	1.33.26
Stephanie	Gordon	1.35.03	30th overall, 12th W30-29, PB
Paul	Mellor	1.38.04	PB
Tamara	Evers- Tate	1.39.50	PB
Face	Wallace	1.43.32	PB
Karras	Hagglund	1.43.35
Guy	Beaudoin	1.44.20
Angelo	Fatoric	1.45.45	PB
Jonathan	Charbonneau	1.45.45
Ian	Govan	1.46.30	PB
Mike	Maclean	1.47.29	PB
Colleen	Crane	1.47.49
Mario	Villemaire	1.48.45
Christine	Turmaine	1.49.42
Lyndsey	Hill	1.49.55
Carmen	Vierula	1.52.10
Karen	Burns	1.54.19
Nada	Milosevic	1.56.38
Chris	Hill	1.56.42
Bradley	Sloan	2.00.06
Heather	Bigelow	2.02.27
Sally	Floyd	2.02.58
Corri	Barr	2.06.04
Colleen	Bigelow	2.08.19	PB
Tracy	Wise	2.08.27	PB
Ellen	Dickson	2.09.32	PB
Marsha	Stapleton	2.10.11	PB
Jennifer	Campbell	2.11.35
Tanya	Mykytyshyn	2.12.15	PB
Carolyn	Frank	2.13.25
Virginia	Mofford	2.13.26	PB
Vicki	Plant	2.14.10	PB
Lisa	Dineen	2.18.39
Karen	Beutel	2.31.47
Neil	Campbell	2.47.23
Mary	Murphy	2.51.06

The Syracuse 70.3, Sept 19, 2010

Michele Herley-Tremblay’s Race Report. Congratulations to Michele on her 5:41:53 finish 11th in her age group!

Syracuse is my second 70.3 (half Ironman), a distance that I can fit in with a busy schedule/work. The day started cloudy with mist.  There was a delay due to heavy traffic of athletes and spectators through Jamesville where the swim & transition venue was located, 20k south of Syracuse.  The run finish was downtown Syracuse Inner Harbour.

The water was 62degrees (no question as to wear a wetsuit or not) a one loop rectangle.  The swim was wave starts with 3 min between, starting with the Pros and then age groups, my wave started almost an hour from the Pros start, a total of 21 wave categories. There were wetsuit strippers along 200m run to transition, always good.

T1 was longer than usual as trying to get socks on very cold feet and with wet arms it was hard getting warmers on as it was cool & misty and I get chilled very easily.

The Bike was the part I was most nervous because of the conditions; mist and wet roads.  Within the first 100m, train tracks on an angle (I hate tracks!). I cross safety but a couple of riders went down in front of me.  JR had to calm a couple of them, one to relax and another needed medical attention. The first 30k of the ride was wet with fog cover up in the hills.  There were short steep hills with bits of long downhill in between, I do love going up & hate going down, especially on wet roads.  I would pass many going up, you could tell who the roadies were.  The middle 30k, I was flying getting into the forties.  There were many 90degree turns again, there was a crash in front, someone took the corner and slid on the cross walk paint – didn’t see her again. I was passing other participants in age groups that started the swim 30-45min before me. The last 30k was getting misty/wet again but the grades were nice and fast towards the finish.

T2 was faster, running shoes on and go.

It took the first mile for blood to reach my toes. The first 4 miles of the run was scenic & rollers until it settled onto the long straight away to almost mile 11, never thought we would turn in another direction.  The last mile started with a down hill and settled to flat for the finish.  I was passing mile 10 and the guy (must be Canadian) beside me commented only 5k to go and I agreed whole heartily.  Traffic continued through out the run with local police directing and keeping control, you couldn’t help but thank them.

Syracuse was a good race overall, good for strong cyclists who can handle a challenging bike.  The run course was ok, not the most scenic. Considering the conditions, I am quite pleased with my race results; I improved my time and felt good at the finish.

Michele

 

The K2J Invitational 5K

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k2J invitational

 

Origionally planned as a workout the K2J Invitational turned into a race. The weather was perfect and the times were impressive! Lots of PB’s on a flat course which we will have to change next year but the race will be back. Special thanks to Samantha, Harold, Irvin, Stephanie and Mike for volunteering.

Jonathan	Woodman	17.30	1st overall, 1st M20-29
Brian	O'Higgins	17.35	1st M50-59, PB
Michael	Blois	17.44	1st M30-39
Steve	Findlay	18.11	PB
Jean-Philippe	Pellerin	18.14	PB
John	Tegano	19.19	1st M40-49 PB
Glenn	Poirer	19.38	PB
Carlos	Vervloet	20.01	1st MU20
Stephanie	Gordon	20.14	1st overall, PB
Chris	Bright	20.26	PB
Peter	Foley	20.31	PB
Paul	Mellor	20.56	PB
Jonathan	Charbonneau	20.59	PB
Karras	Hagglund	21.21	1st W20-29
Lyndsey	Hill	21.59	PB
Kanako	Imuyama	22.23	PB
Angelo	Fatoric	22.44	PB
John	Mitchell	22.51	PB
Alison	Jones	22.56	1st W40-49, PB
Christine	Turmaine	23.55	PB
Karen	Burns	24.29	PB
Tracy	Wise	25.03	PB
Heather	Bigelow	25.14	PB
Colleen	Bigelow	25.40	1st W50-59, PB
Jennifer	Lisowski	25.54	PB
Mike	Seymour	26.04	PB
Nathalie	Belair-Jones	26.07	PB
Trina	Harper	27.16	PB
Carolyn	Frank	28.07	PB
Vicki	Plant	28.57	PB
Robert	McIntyre	32.02

Mid Summer Night’s Run, Toronto, Aug 21, 2010

Six tutu clad fairies participated in the Midsummer Night's Run on Sat. Aug. 21 in Toronto. Colleen Bigelow, Virginia Larkin, Kathryn Hill, Mary Murphy, Carolyn Frank and Stephanie Dunne ran the 15k race. Stephanie Gordon was the first woman to finish the 30k run in a time of 2:14 (check) and was awarded a huge trophy! Although the rain held off for most of the race, it was pouring for the beer and bbq festivities. Great swag - a beautiful black hoodie jacket, stainless steel water bottle and impressive medal. Although we didn't win the costume contest, we will be back next year to try again.

30K

Stephanie

Gordon

2.14.36

1st overall

15K

 

Colleen	Bigelow	1.30.49
Stephanie	Dunne	1.31.18
Carolyn	Frank	1.35.43
Virginia	Mofford	1.36.31
Mary	Murphy	1.52.10
Kathryn	Hill	1.52.10

K-Town Triathlon, Aug 1, 2010

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This race has always been on my to do list but it’s first time I have managed to fit it in. It’s a OAT sanctioned race with a long and a short course. I did the long course which is a 2 km swim in Lake Ontario followed by a 56 km bike and a 15 km run. This swim has a reputation for being choppy but at first we were fooled into thinking it was a clam day. That changed when we got away from the breakwater and further out into the lake. Just past the turn around point the waves were so high you could not see the buoys marking the course. I actually had to stop and look for the buoys to make sure I was swimming back into Kingston and not over the boarder to the USA! (Note to self next time put your passport in your wetsuit just in case). Although the water was choppy it’s a 2 wave start and the swimmers are well spread out by the turn around  so you only have waves to worry about. When you arrive back at the dock two helpful volunteers grab you by the arms and haul you out of the lake. Unfortunately I was not quite prepared for that and my left knee smashed into the dock on the way out which made the rest of the race a little more challenging.

The bike course is a rolling out and back. No major hills but we had a head wind all the way out. It made for a grind on the way out but a nice ride home. The run course is also an out and back along Lake Ontario. Lots of well manned aid stations with sponges, water and e-load.

An excellent race which I highly recommend. The post race food was great too!

Results:

Long course Tri

 

Judy	Andrew Piel	3.33.55	7th W, 1st W45-49, Long Course
Jennifer	Ethier	4.32.21	Long Course

 

Ironman USA, July 25, 2010

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If you have never witnessed the drama of an Ironman it’s worth the trip to Lake Plaicd to check it out. To say that we are all very proud of Nada would be the understatement of the year. Here is the whole story in her own words.

From JR and me, congratulations Nada you are an Ironman!

Short Report from IRONMAN Lake Placid

14:33:34 overall time

3.8 km swim -1:38:36

transition 1 : 11:00 min.

180 km bike-7:38:50

transition 2 : 6:46 min.

42 km run - 4:58:22

“Nada Milosevic, you are an Ironman!” is what I heard crossing the finish line at the Lake Placid Ironman Race after 14 hours, 33 minutes, and 34 seconds. It felt unreal… the dream came true. My family… most of them, my friends, my coaches, we all dreamt about this moment from 4:00 a.m. that morning. At 9:33 that night I needed someone to pinch me in case I was still dreaming.  What an accomplishment – VOW!  I am still on cloud nine, happy, excited, stiff, and a bit tired at the end of the day. Itching to go for a run, but instead, I’ll go for rest, rest, rest.  My body served me well, my mind did not sabotage me, my cheerleaders gave me strength in the way I could never imagine. We all did it together, and I wish I got a medal for all of them.  I will cherish this experience forever. 

Huge thanks & love to all of You,

Your Iron-lady, Nada

Full Report:

Ironman Race Lake Placid, July 25. 2010.

Where do I start… if you are reading this, I hope you are sitting in a comfy chair.  Many of you know of my long journey that got me to the Ironman Lake Placid - many of you do not. Many of you will shake your heads and simply say, “you are crazy”. Some of you I might inspire to follow your dreams and try something that is impossible.  A couple of years ago I was reading a 14-page long report from the Ironman that a friend of a friend wrote. I read it, I laughed, I cried, and I laughed again – I read it again and again - and I started my impossible dream to do the Ironman. It looked do-able, but the swim part was trouble.  Valerie, from my running group, invited me to join her for a swim (not knowing how bad I was).  she got herself a job to teach me how to put my face in the water and how to blow the bubbles. Poor Valerie, she also had to listen to how I am going to join the master swimmers and do the Ironman. Nobody had heart to tell me how bad I was in the water, until I met dear Ben, the masters swimming coach.  Once I managed to do some full lengths swimming the pool - so called - “breast stroke”, I showed up in the master swim class.  Ben watched me for a few laps and said, “You would be better off if you take some swimming lessons.” In other words, “What in the heck are you doing here!?” I said, “Thank you.... I will be back.”  After six months of swallowing lots of swimming pool water, some adult swim lessons, joining Gloria and Rick for their swims (to get as many hints as they were offering), I headed back to see Ben, hoping he wouldn’t remember me. He did.  He took the challenge and perhaps hoped I would give up anyway. He became my very dear friend, great motivator, and an excellent coach. His lovely wife, Colleen, encouraged me so many times by inviting me to join them for Ottawa River swims. I made new swimming friends that helped me to leave my warm home late at night and go for a swim from 9 to 10:30 p.m. - it was late.  I wanted to slack off so many times, but Ben was watching.  Valerie was choosing to join me in the slow lane to push me harder, and Frankie (Val’s husband) was watching from the window above the pool to see how I am tackling the task.  Swimming was hard for me.

Biking was natural, easy; we all rode bicycles since childhood.  I thought, that’s it - and then I met Tracy: enthusiastic, happy, and fun spinning coach.  She taught me so many new and important things in her classes, and I loved every moment of it.  I had a great time while she was making me a stronger rider.

Running was the 3rd sport in the race and my first choice in training.  I always loved long runs, loved my running friends, loved seeing Dragan (my husband) supporting us on the roads with a picnic basket in the car, extra clothes, and lots of water. He was always part of our long runs… so many of them. He read numerous books waiting for us on the roads.  The best supporter ever!

I followed, religiously, my training schedule organized by JR (my coach) and Judy. JR kept re-organizing it over and over, trying to fit it in between my work schedule, my family life, and of course socializing… cannot stop partying ;) Months and months of training flew by, and race day was around the corner.  Two weeks of resting before the race made me quite nervous, and I kept looking back in my notes to see if I had missed any training.  My very dear friend, Heather, flew from B.C. to support me … she managed to give me her calmness, and we had a great 6-day holiday before the race. Soon more friends started joining us in Lake Placid.  Theresa (my buddy for long rides and runs) arrived with Valerie, then Marko and Mia (my son & daughter-in-law), then my dear Angela and Jeff (Angela taught me how to run 7 years ago), and then Karen and Angelo. They all made me feel very special.

The night before the race was very humid and the rented house was way too warm… the sleep would not come… After midnight I remembered, “icepacks!”  They helped to cool me off, so I did get 3 hours of sleep.  At 4 a.m., cappuccino was great - but oatmeal & toast were forced at such an early hour. Dragan drove me to the transition area where volunteers were more than happy to help me out with where to go. I checked my bike, pumped up the tires, packed food on the bike for later, and hoped not to get a flat.  I saw Gloria.  A bit later I got my body marked with the number “2935”.  Dragan and I walked nervously towards the lake.  We dropped off my special-needs bags packed with sunscreen, deodorant, glide, extra shorts, shirt, jacket, socks, hammer bars, salt tablets, gels, sport beans, and mint chewing gum… Time was flying, and some people were in the water already.  Dragan went to the car to drop off something, and panic was building in me… “Where is he? …Where are my cheerleaders?”  Dragan arrived, and tears were coming down involuntarily.  Angela and Jeff just made it …got warm wishes, hugs, and positive energy from them, and then I had to go.  While heading towards the water, I saw Paul and Pierre; they just arrived from Ottawa.  Paul was crying, and we were all overwhelmed with such an event. I saw J.R., his wife Michelle, Ben, and his wife Colleen. Judy is somewhere in kayak volunteering . Then I heard Dragan’s whistle, and I went back to see…  All my cheerleaders were there, wanting to give me good luck hugs! Marko, Mia, Theresa, Valerie, Angelo and Karen - we all had pouring tears on our faces.

3000 swimmers were in the lake.  Many of them looked quite comfortable.  I headed towards the edge of the opposite end of the lake.  I cannot waste energy just staying afloat in the water. One man, as nervous as I was, shared a rock to stand on and wait for the start of the race. After Anthem was done playing, the starting gun went off! The water suddenly became a white-caps zone of strong, forceful swimmers.  I was hoping to stay behind and avoid too many human bodies around me.  It didn’t work. We were like sardines packed in the water; so many feet, hands, and moving bodies. I kept telling myself, “they don’t like this as much as I don’t.”  Someone swam over my lower back… “just keep swimming… get out of the way,” I thought. Someone’s elbow hit my goggles but they didn’t come off.  My foot hit somebody .... “sorry”.  My first loop is finally done: 1.9 km.  I ran out of the water quickly, pulled a shot block from my wetsuit, and ate it while getting in the water for the second loop. I waved to the spectators, hoping that Dragan would see me and ease his worries.  The second loop wasn’t as crowded, and I could see the rope in the water.  All I had to do is to follow it as fast as I can without sky-rocketing my heart rate. Cut off time is 2:20, and I should be out of the water just before 2 hours. When I finally touched the sand, I stood up and ran out of the water. I glanced at the big timer above… it cannot be… 1:38:36. “Oh my God!” is right… huge smile on my face.  My swim coach, Ben, was crying and laughing at the same time – none of us would ever imagine this. Volunteers helped me to fly out of the wetsuit… I managed to forget it, so they had to run after me to give it to me… kissed Dragan, managed to hug Frankie (he just arrived from Ottawa), Alison, and Fritz. My support group is getting bigger and bigger.  Nothing could make my smile bigger than my swim time for 3.8 km – 1:38:36 – VOW!  I am already in the tent, changing into dry bike shorts and shirt (I’ve never see so many naked bottoms!). Gloria is here too.  What a happy moment.  It took me 11 minutes until I was on the road, and that was just fine with me.  I didn’t forget anything, and that is most important. Big downhill at the beginning was too sudden, and I wanted to go slow anyway so I could see my family and friends. They were going nuts cheering me loudly. I headed out on the first loop of 90 kilometers very cautiously, not to wear myself out too soon. The riding course was rolling hills, following beautiful rivers on and off.  Even the weather couldn’t be better.  Every 16 km volunteers were handing out cold water, sports drinks, bananas, and gels.  I was taking it all.  In my bike pouch I had my Hammer bars and salt tablets. Chewing gums were helping me to keep my tummy happy. My bike, that I love, got a good tune up and new tires before the race.  I was hoping not to get in trouble with the other riders and not to get a flat. I practiced a lot: taking wheels off, changing tubes, and then back on… But, it always frustrated me way too much – I wasn’t good at it at all.

On the road many spectators were cheering us loudly, offering free beer, to sit in the shade…  J.R. and Michelle were waving me from their bikes, while riding in the opposite direction of the course.  It’s so nice to see faces I know. I saw Gloria too - while I was changing socks to keep my feet happy.  First loop is done. My cheer leaders are more than happy to see me in one piece and with a big smile. I didn’t have a watch, but I should be o.k. time-wise …just keep it steady. On the second loop the roads were not busy at all. Fast racers are long gone, and I can let my bike go down the hills as fast as I can go.  I am for long time on the bike, and I am still smiling while thinking: how lucky I am to be able to do such a big race; how blessed I am to have so many dear friends to support me being here; friends that weren’t able to come and yet I know they are sending me all these positive vibes; …waiting to hear from Dragan how I am doing. Milos and Maria (my other 2 children) couldn’t make it but they are here with me in my thoughts, and texting dad to here where am I.  My family in Croatia was also worrying way too much. 

It is 160 km already, my calves are feeling it big time …keep drinking, take more salt tablets, & it will go away. Last hills are really hard, but hey, everything else is good and I’m loving it!  My brain was coming up with all these positive things: life is good, legs are strong, I am healthy.  Last stretch on the bike is easy - perfect flat road to spin out my legs and relax them as much as possible.  It’s so uplifting to see everyone again.  In the tent I am getting help from great volunteers; they smear sun screen on me and collect all my stuff for me while I am putting running shoes on, changing shorts (I have to be comfy), …taking advantage of the empty port-o-potty, …walking for a minute (just to remind my legs of what is next). 

I love marathons - but this one is going to be slow, hard, and steady. How much do I have in me at this point? We’ll find out soon. It feels o.k., I start running, see my family and friends again, give them hugs and high-5’s - I am good to go.  It is a bit hot to run, but every mile has ice, and I am taking it with water and sports drinks. Oranges look good, grapes too, but it’s hard to swallow them. Pretzels taste great; I just cannot eat them …but I licked salt from them, and that was good.  I am on kilometer 8, and the legs are heavy, so I am looking for a distraction. There was a young lady with a beautiful shirt on, I complimented her, and we started chatting.  She told me about her cute boyfriend. She was from Newton, Massachusetts. I told her I was 4 times there, running the Boston Marathon… the kilometers were going by… there is Theresa and Valerie, and I told them, “I have to go – I’ve got a running buddy.” Later on I heard Theresa was joking, “I have been replaced.” Very soon, I was running alone, and it was good – slow and steady.  I chose to walk the hills and not waste energy that I might need later. Spectators were great.  Sports drinks were nasty at this point, and my tummy wasn’t happy.  I knew I had to drink more to get rid of that bloated feeling.  Sports drinks helped, and I was ok again. I see Marko and Mia in their cool t-shirts that say, “Go Nada 2010!” It was so good to see my son so emotional every time I approached him.  I felt bad for spectators standing all day long, cheering us on, and giving us what we all needed: that positive energy. Sun came down, and it’s getting fresh. Some people are wrapped in foils, and I knew I’d have to keep up the pace not to get cold. My outfit is soaking wet from sweat and ice that I was putting in my shirt earlier.  7 more kilometers to go, and the finish line sounds very good.  “What time is it? I know I will be there on time.” Crowds were going nuts, and my pace was much faster at this point. My face hurt from smiling and laughing, thanking spectators, strangers, and volunteers. All of them are telling me I am doing great. I do feel great, and I am having blast. In distance I can hear the noise from the oval, and it is getting closer and closer. “How is my hair? That finisher picture better be good.”  I am so proud of myself; I am in the oval, and I can hear my name on the speaker.  I see everyone jumping off the ground, screaming their lungs out. The timer was showing 14:33:34. I can hear, “Nada, you are an Ironman!” What a priceless moment. 3.8km swim, 180km bike ride & 42.2km run is done. Volunteers are escorting me, giving me finisher’s medal, shirt, water, and blanket. I see my family and friends – cannot wait to hug everyone. We are all laughing and crying - we all did it together. I am so ecstatic, cannot comprehend all of it, and I am savoring the moment.  Marko suggested pizza, and I wanted it badly! There is a loud chatter at our table, and I am so content. Half slice of pizza for my tummy was plenty. We are all celebrating. It’s 11:00 p.m., and I suggested that we all go the finish line to cheer in the last finishers before midnight.  Music was blasting - dancers and spectators were dancing. We are all dancing and cheering up 2 brothers finishing up 10 minutes before midnight; a young girl getting in, 2 minutes before midnight; a 65 year young woman just getting in. The view is spectacular! It gives me goose-bumps and it’s something I’ll remember for the rest of my life.

Today is Sunday and  I started my day with 5km run. It was such a good feeling.  Seven days ago I did the race of life time. I am rested, injury free and very proud. Many off You helped me to achieve  my dream and I just want to thank you all once again.

Love,  Nada

Bushtukah Bring on the Bay, 3K open water swim, July 17, 2010

more pictures

This event is in it’s 5th year. I believe they had 10 or 15 people the first year. This year there were over 180 of us. The swim starts at the Nepean Sailing Club and ends at the Britania Yacht Club. It’s a point to point swim which is fairly unique. The water was really warm, so warm in fact that I almost wished I had not worn a wetsuit and a number of swimmers did not. The first two swimmers out of the water were women and the last swimmer out of the water was mayorial candidate Alex Cullen. He got a big round of applause as he exited the water so being last out may have been part of his champagne strategy! The race was followed by an excellent breakfast of bagels, muffins, yougart and coffee. An excellent event. I will definately put it on my race callendar for next year.

Judy Andrew Piel 43.49 9th W overall

Trina Harper 1.05.28