Penticton.  My favorite place on the planet earth – which I now call “home.” 

This mural found in the heart of the city may be a bit dated...but it speaks volumes

 I remember the first time I came to this magical place in the spring of 2008.  I had, only months before, decided to leave “the marathon” behind in search of greener (or at least less injury prone) pastures.  I was still teaching at the time, had never raced a triathlon, but was training to experience my first ever season of triathlon in the coming months.  I had two weeks off for spring break and at the last minute I found myself packing my bags for Penticton to meet up with some training partners I had never before met – The Tribalistic gang from Winnipeg – some of whom have become my dearest friends.  I do believe that I fell madly in love with Penticton during that week of ‘riding the course’, running through the KVR trails, and I remember driving back to Calgary thinking I now had two “musts” in my life:

  I must move to Penticton some day.

  I must find a way to train and race full-time so that this can be my job.

Interesting how life has a way of making things happen when you truly want something and are willing to do what it takes to make it happen.  Two years later…here I am.  I am no longer chasing a dream, I am simply living it, and I haven’t a complaint in the world – not a single one.

Before I go any further, and JUST in case you weren’t already aware, Penticton is also the home of Ironman Canada.  IMC is one of the original Ironman races, and has maintained its solidarity among a sea of new Ironman and 70.3 races.  It remains special because of how the community lives, sleeps, eats, and breathes this race.  Ironman Canada is not a 1-2 week event within a community, instead it is a year-round experience which is appreciated and respected in a way that is so very special and rare.  And as a professional triathlete, it’s tough to find better stomping grounds than this. This morning were two prime examples.  As I was finishing an easy spin through town I came across a group of young kids were walking along the sidewalk as part of, what looked to be, a summer program.  Several of the young elementary school aged kids started cheering as I passed by them.  Then later, I stumbled upon a couple having coffee out by the beach who asked me if I was “training for the Ironman?”  I told them that I was, and they asked my name and race number so they could cheer for me on race day.  Welcome to Penticton. 

The Peach - symbolizing the start and finish of IMC

Best little bike shop around....

  Beyond that, I swam this morning with my coach and a group of Factor 9 athletes.  The swim has remained so elusive to me, and a majority of that has been based around the fact that I haven’t had my coach there with me often enough to keep my stroke on track as it develops and improves.  Living in different places makes this a bit tough!  This morning, however, was spent sighting, working on my stroke, and continuing to feel comfortable in the open water – all the while under the watchful and keen eye of my coach.  Finally.  This is now something we can do several times a week vs. the previous ‘few times a year’ scenario.  Scott and I both call this the “new chapter” in my swimming.  Bring it – as I’m getting awfully tired of chasing out of the water with deficits much larger than they need to to be;-)

Skaha Beach - where Janelle is going to learn to make peace with the open water;-)

  So, I continue along on the same road I have been travelling for the last year, but definitely on a new and improved pathway.  A pathway which I know with every fibre of my being that I am supposed to be on and couldn’t be happier to have finally arrived - another ”finally.”  Tough to beat that.

Can’t wait for IMC, where the TIMEX truck and affiliated gang will also be coming up to be part of the EXPO, cheering, and racing squad!!  See you guys here soon!

PS – THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU to all my super duper moving hands…and especially to Jenny Ayers who has done more than her share in making sure that this moving experience has gone on with as few glitches as possible. I couldn’t have done it without you, good buddy.  Thank you.