In my twenty years of racing and at least 16 of serious travel, I have figured out how to survive everything from long flights, long delays and also the fine art of ensuring that not only that my bags show up at my destination, but also in a similar condition to the way it started the trip. FLY AIR CANADA - If you don't, follow these simple suggestions to enjoy the whole experience a little more.
Travel to the various Airports: No matter where you live, expect a delay in getting to the airport. When living in Winnipeg, I always banked on a train on Kenaston or construction closer to the airport. Since moving to Sherbrooke, I ensure that I plan for 2 hours of flexibility for a 1 ½ hour drive under normal conditions based on the grid-lock on the Champlain bridge. Through experience, I have also opted to stay at the Holiday Inn airport hotel so I’m well rested and five minutes from the airport. The free long-term parking pays for the room if I’m gone for more than 5 days.
Checking In - Always be nice, and smile lots. If you have the baby blue eyes, bat them now. As I fly 20+ times a year, I get to know the same people in various positions and a great flight starts with being greeted by name, and with a smile. (and a first class upgrade once in a while also is a nice treat). I also believe that when you know someone’s name, they are less likely to throw your baggage around. ALSO- Although I’ve never paid for it, the maple leaf lounge is glorious. They have 20 TV’s, free coffee and they will even come wake you up when it’s time. I think of all the perks of flying, that would be the most missed if I didn’t have my Elite Status with Air Canada. I'd likely pay for that membership.
Packing: “Pack what you’re willing to carry.” Just because the bag can fit a small person, doesn’t mean that you need to bring the kitchen sink with you. Unfortunately as this time I will be gone for a month, I need to bring lots of crap so naturally my bag is big and when full is heavy. For my racing chair, it’s a good day when it arrives at my destination and in one piece.
Over the years I have packed my chair in various configurations such as:
1 - A fibreglass coffin that was 7 feet long that could double as a sleeping option for an extra person if needed.
2- A chair with throwaway wheels. This option was logical as it could be pushed easily and if the wheels get beat up, no big deal. The flaw with this idea was that the frame is still exposed and vulnerable.
3 – The Cocoon. This idea is still in the works and may be the million dollar idea (patient pending). It would be no bigger than the frame but would reduce the impact of bags bouncing into it in the belly of the plane.
4 – "My new favourite": Take a roll of poly vapour barrier, a roll of duct tape and a fleece blanket and you have what I call my wheelchair burrito. I basically start by wrapping my frame with the fleece blanket three or four times, then roll two layers of plastic to keep everything intact. The duct tape is nothing more than a decorative touch as no good prototype is complete without duct tape.
That’s it. I have shared all my secrets but you need to know my successes are based on a well practiced routine and taking my lumps over the years. I’ve been stuck in airports, missed flights and had my racing chair busted to pieces in order to compile these perspectives.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Almost live CBC Coverage
Today I recieved information about the times that CBC will cover the Paralympics. I am impressed with their commitment to cover it as it comes rather than a 1 hour summary, two weeks after the games end. Can someone tape it for me please..
Below is the exact info forwarded to me.....
CBC/Radio-Canada
The Canadian Broadcasting Corp. will be covering the Paralympic Games on its main English TV network on the following dates:
Saturday, Sept. 6: 19:00 to 20:00 (Opening Ceremony)
Saturday, Sept. 13: 13:00 to 15:30
Saturday, Sept. 20: 12:00 to 13:00
Saturday, Sept. 27: 14:00 to 15: 30
Radio-Canada will be covering the Paralympic Games on its main French TV network on the following dates:
Saturday, Sept. 27: 14:00 to 16:00
Saturday, Oct. 4: 14:00 to 16:00
The CBC/Radio-Canada is also planning to do some webstreaming and may also broadcast some coverage on its English-language digital TV station bold.
Below is the exact info forwarded to me.....
CBC/Radio-Canada
The Canadian Broadcasting Corp. will be covering the Paralympic Games on its main English TV network on the following dates:
Saturday, Sept. 6: 19:00 to 20:00 (Opening Ceremony)
Saturday, Sept. 13: 13:00 to 15:30
Saturday, Sept. 20: 12:00 to 13:00
Saturday, Sept. 27: 14:00 to 15: 30
Radio-Canada will be covering the Paralympic Games on its main French TV network on the following dates:
Saturday, Sept. 27: 14:00 to 16:00
Saturday, Oct. 4: 14:00 to 16:00
The CBC/Radio-Canada is also planning to do some webstreaming and may also broadcast some coverage on its English-language digital TV station bold.
Monday, August 25, 2008
A quick note
As I"m supposed to be tired (which i'm not), but I should still be in bed I'll keep this really short. Today I had a very difficult training split into two sessions to mimic a typical day in Beijing where I will run a semi-final in the morning and then a final in the late program after dinner. The Morning training was "par for the course" in the sense that all my times were within the regular range. I left the track and went to Bishop's to read a little and to take in my Venti Starbucks fix. When I returned to the track at 4pm, I was feeling really good and the second workout was the best I've ever had.
Back in feburary while living in florida I had a fantastic workout where in a series of 150m distances I topped out at 34km/h. That was the day that all future workouts would be compared to.
Today, I did the same workout but this time I topped out at 35.8km/h and ran a time of 16.01 seconds. To put it in perspective, there are a handfull of guy's in the world that hit that top speed on the track and never on this track. Furthermore, he's also never witnessed anyone go sub-16.00 which means that if I can find a single extra push somewhere in that distance I'd be under.
According to my training plan leading up to my departure, I have a few more tries and think with a good solid breakfast and of course my starbucks, I'll be the only one to ever go Sub 15 in sherbrooke history solidfying that i'm not trying to make finals in China but a source of frustration for those who think they're safe.
Off to bed,
C
Back in feburary while living in florida I had a fantastic workout where in a series of 150m distances I topped out at 34km/h. That was the day that all future workouts would be compared to.
Today, I did the same workout but this time I topped out at 35.8km/h and ran a time of 16.01 seconds. To put it in perspective, there are a handfull of guy's in the world that hit that top speed on the track and never on this track. Furthermore, he's also never witnessed anyone go sub-16.00 which means that if I can find a single extra push somewhere in that distance I'd be under.
According to my training plan leading up to my departure, I have a few more tries and think with a good solid breakfast and of course my starbucks, I'll be the only one to ever go Sub 15 in sherbrooke history solidfying that i'm not trying to make finals in China but a source of frustration for those who think they're safe.
Off to bed,
C
Sunday, August 24, 2008
a rough sunday
So today’s entry comes shortly after a lot of excitement likely better spread out over a few days but a good personality builder. I recieved a wonderful letter from my family on Friday wishing me good luck in China, and a silver star for good luck. I immediatly glued it to my racing chair as that is te place I need the luck to be in abundance.
On Friday I was informed that Saturday’s training session would take place at 9am rather than the usual afternoon session.
As I normally wake up at 10am on Saturday’s, I needed to change my "night before" strategy. I was in bed at 10pm and was up at 7am. I realized 2 things in the morning;
1- I had no milk for my coffee
2- that same lack of milk affected my mini-wheat’s.
Needless today I had black coffee and found a dried out tortilla that I smothered in Peanut Butter to choke down.
Once I arrived to my training, I was told that today was to be a mock competition. I was to race a 100m, 200m, 400m and help “rabbit” the 1000m for Diane, Jean-Paul and Basil.
As I warmed up, I realized that although ill-prepared I was not as bad as expected. During the warm-up I did a few 50m accelerations that netted me a top speed of 33.9 km/h. To put it in perspective I hit 34 as a top speed the day I broke the Canadian Record in St. Laurent.
I was surprised that regardless a lack of adequate preparation or advance warning, I still recorded some pretty good times. What was completely understandable after the workout was my nausia and inability to do anymore than the task at hand and I lost what little was in my stomach shortly after….
Regardless of how tired I was after I still ran the 100m in 14.9, 200m in 26.2 and the 400m on 50.05. The first two distances felt easy but that last one felt like 5 hours rather than 50 seconds. The only motivating factor was to hear my teammate pounding his pushrim trying to catch me before the finish line.
After this gruelling workout I spent at least a half an hour in shower and then all dressed up to go to the year end shindig at a fellow teammates house before we leave for China. I offered to drive a teammate and as he doesn't speak English, I was forced to work on my french. I had a breakthrough because rather than speaking poorly and being corrected in english, I spoke poorly and was corrected in french. I was very impressed that I only made mistakes once and seem to have built on my vocabulary. It turns out that Basil is enrolled in English classes starting in september. Then it will be my chance to be critical and get him to say all sorts of stupid things to beautiful woman for my entertainment.
After an abundance of hotdogs, chips and a single piece of carrot to compensate for all that meat and greese, I went home and crashed harder than I thought was possible. I lied on my bed and shortly after the opening credits of the dvd Madagascar, I was out like a light.
As Sunday is my dedicated day off, I have decided to sit on the terrace at Caffuchino’s and “read my book”. It turns out that when the sun comes out, so does the entire population of beautiful woman in Sherbrooke. I drank about three hours worth of coffee and although my book was open the entire time, I never got passed the first few pages. It was like Déjà-Vu because as I’m reading the page, I felt like I’d been here before. It turns out I had (about 20 times).
It’s been 4 days without rain and the rivers down to a healthy level and although the mosquitos are out, the patio is still the place to be. I think i've got it down to a science, Florida in the winter and the patio from June until October., if only I could take classes while drinking coffee on the patio.
Well, I have to get back to “reading" that same first page of my book.
Bye for now.
On Friday I was informed that Saturday’s training session would take place at 9am rather than the usual afternoon session.
As I normally wake up at 10am on Saturday’s, I needed to change my "night before" strategy. I was in bed at 10pm and was up at 7am. I realized 2 things in the morning;
1- I had no milk for my coffee
2- that same lack of milk affected my mini-wheat’s.
Needless today I had black coffee and found a dried out tortilla that I smothered in Peanut Butter to choke down.
Once I arrived to my training, I was told that today was to be a mock competition. I was to race a 100m, 200m, 400m and help “rabbit” the 1000m for Diane, Jean-Paul and Basil.
As I warmed up, I realized that although ill-prepared I was not as bad as expected. During the warm-up I did a few 50m accelerations that netted me a top speed of 33.9 km/h. To put it in perspective I hit 34 as a top speed the day I broke the Canadian Record in St. Laurent.
I was surprised that regardless a lack of adequate preparation or advance warning, I still recorded some pretty good times. What was completely understandable after the workout was my nausia and inability to do anymore than the task at hand and I lost what little was in my stomach shortly after….
Regardless of how tired I was after I still ran the 100m in 14.9, 200m in 26.2 and the 400m on 50.05. The first two distances felt easy but that last one felt like 5 hours rather than 50 seconds. The only motivating factor was to hear my teammate pounding his pushrim trying to catch me before the finish line.
After this gruelling workout I spent at least a half an hour in shower and then all dressed up to go to the year end shindig at a fellow teammates house before we leave for China. I offered to drive a teammate and as he doesn't speak English, I was forced to work on my french. I had a breakthrough because rather than speaking poorly and being corrected in english, I spoke poorly and was corrected in french. I was very impressed that I only made mistakes once and seem to have built on my vocabulary. It turns out that Basil is enrolled in English classes starting in september. Then it will be my chance to be critical and get him to say all sorts of stupid things to beautiful woman for my entertainment.
After an abundance of hotdogs, chips and a single piece of carrot to compensate for all that meat and greese, I went home and crashed harder than I thought was possible. I lied on my bed and shortly after the opening credits of the dvd Madagascar, I was out like a light.
As Sunday is my dedicated day off, I have decided to sit on the terrace at Caffuchino’s and “read my book”. It turns out that when the sun comes out, so does the entire population of beautiful woman in Sherbrooke. I drank about three hours worth of coffee and although my book was open the entire time, I never got passed the first few pages. It was like Déjà-Vu because as I’m reading the page, I felt like I’d been here before. It turns out I had (about 20 times).
It’s been 4 days without rain and the rivers down to a healthy level and although the mosquitos are out, the patio is still the place to be. I think i've got it down to a science, Florida in the winter and the patio from June until October., if only I could take classes while drinking coffee on the patio.
Well, I have to get back to “reading" that same first page of my book.
Bye for now.
Monday, August 18, 2008
The fine art of fighting
The fine art of fighting
In the last 8 months, I have devoted my existence to getting stronger, having better technique and of course stamina. Although the strength and technique were intentional and very tangible in practice, I also have mastered the fine art of fighting till the death.
In past seasons the middle of the race was always my best but mainly because my start and finish were a lacking. Now, I have the ability to start strong, hammer through the middle section and still have a kick at the end if it’s needed.
I believe that this ability to fight (till the death) can only come with proper training and faith in the preparation process. All athletes regardless of distance (or even sport) hit a wall of lactic acid where their muscles cramp and their lungs burn. The unknown question is always “where and when will it happen”? I want my wall to come at about 410 meters
In a 400m, some athletes keep a little reserve for the end by coasting through the back straight and picking it up in the final corner or straight. My new goal and future tactic is to be in such good shape that I am able to start strong, keep my same top speed in the back straight and start my attack for the finish with 200m to go rather than in the final straight. I think this will force anyone beside me to change gears and stray from their game plan which was solely designed to survive the gruelling 400m.
This new game plan is only possible on a fast track because I can plan to survive for 400m, but I can’t calculate dying early based on a slow track or wind. I tried this in Ottawa this past weekend and although it didn’t work flawlessly, I saw the merits in spite of the track not being fast. I realized that the other factor that drastically changes the plan is the wind. If I hit the wind too early in the race, I spend all my energy fighting that and have nothing left for the final 200m. In an ideal world, I would have a tailwind in the first 150m-200m and then have momentum to help cut through the wind in the final straight.
My favorite new line....."we will see"
In the last 8 months, I have devoted my existence to getting stronger, having better technique and of course stamina. Although the strength and technique were intentional and very tangible in practice, I also have mastered the fine art of fighting till the death.
In past seasons the middle of the race was always my best but mainly because my start and finish were a lacking. Now, I have the ability to start strong, hammer through the middle section and still have a kick at the end if it’s needed.
I believe that this ability to fight (till the death) can only come with proper training and faith in the preparation process. All athletes regardless of distance (or even sport) hit a wall of lactic acid where their muscles cramp and their lungs burn. The unknown question is always “where and when will it happen”? I want my wall to come at about 410 meters
In a 400m, some athletes keep a little reserve for the end by coasting through the back straight and picking it up in the final corner or straight. My new goal and future tactic is to be in such good shape that I am able to start strong, keep my same top speed in the back straight and start my attack for the finish with 200m to go rather than in the final straight. I think this will force anyone beside me to change gears and stray from their game plan which was solely designed to survive the gruelling 400m.
This new game plan is only possible on a fast track because I can plan to survive for 400m, but I can’t calculate dying early based on a slow track or wind. I tried this in Ottawa this past weekend and although it didn’t work flawlessly, I saw the merits in spite of the track not being fast. I realized that the other factor that drastically changes the plan is the wind. If I hit the wind too early in the race, I spend all my energy fighting that and have nothing left for the final 200m. In an ideal world, I would have a tailwind in the first 150m-200m and then have momentum to help cut through the wind in the final straight.
My favorite new line....."we will see"
Friday, August 15, 2008
Sunburned in Otttawa
I can't believe that my first real sunburn of the season comes in Ottawa. For those that don't keep up with Quebec weather, we had about 50 days of no sun and rain everyday. I was able to have quality dry training most of the time, but it was due to waiting for those moments whenever they came.
The trip to Ottawa has been fun so far and I'm back to the grind in Sherbrooke tomorrow. Although fun, this trip is nowhere near the excitement and entertainment I had the last time I was here. The track seems a little slower when dry which still after 3 days of pondering still doesn't make sense. Although I"m not "peaked" yet, I am still performing at about 95% of my best which is ideal because my energy level seems to be around 90%. I am very excited to see what 100% looks like when it's time.
I was sad that the whole team didn't show up because it's things like this that start the team building process and help everyone be on the same page, based on the same information. It would have also been a great time to start looking at the relay rather than trying to coordinate it while we're in China. Based on the lack of spriters, there may not be a relay anyway.
Anyway, I'm done racing until Beijing and I'm attending a fancy function tonight that I have to get dressed up for.
Other than the odd luxury of a clean and good smelling track suit for a hard practice, I haven't had to get dressed up in ages. It took me 3 tries to get the tie looking decent and hope it's appreciated.
Bye for now.
C
The trip to Ottawa has been fun so far and I'm back to the grind in Sherbrooke tomorrow. Although fun, this trip is nowhere near the excitement and entertainment I had the last time I was here. The track seems a little slower when dry which still after 3 days of pondering still doesn't make sense. Although I"m not "peaked" yet, I am still performing at about 95% of my best which is ideal because my energy level seems to be around 90%. I am very excited to see what 100% looks like when it's time.
I was sad that the whole team didn't show up because it's things like this that start the team building process and help everyone be on the same page, based on the same information. It would have also been a great time to start looking at the relay rather than trying to coordinate it while we're in China. Based on the lack of spriters, there may not be a relay anyway.
Anyway, I'm done racing until Beijing and I'm attending a fancy function tonight that I have to get dressed up for.
Other than the odd luxury of a clean and good smelling track suit for a hard practice, I haven't had to get dressed up in ages. It took me 3 tries to get the tie looking decent and hope it's appreciated.
Bye for now.
C
Friday, August 8, 2008
So many races, so little time
Today I recieved the "final" draft for my races during the Paralympic Games. It appears that if I were to make the finals in everything I should be racing 16 times in 10 days. My first event is the 400m which happens to be the event I feel strongest in. This could positivly set the mood and elevate my excitement for the rest of the races keeping my mind off of being so tired. Although the Relays have not been named yet, I anticipate being on the team, but it has a lot to do with the timing of my individual events which are the priority. Unlike some public perceptions, there will be no sightseeing or likely even trips outside the village for me.
September 08 09:00 400m Heat
September 08 17:00 4x100m Semi
September 09 17:00 400m Semi
September 09 17:00 4x100m Final
September 10 17:00 400m Final
September 11 09:00 800m Heat
September 12 09:00 200m Heat
September 12 17:00 800m Semi
September 13 17:00 200m Semi
September 13 17:00 800m Final
September 14 09:00 200m Final
September 15 09:00 100m Heat
September 15 17:00 100m Semi
September 15 17:00 4x400m Semi
September 16 17:00 100m Final
September 16 17:00 4x400m Final
I am not sure how much CBC will cover, but I've heard it will be better than ever before so keep a watch out.
Take care
Colin
September 08 09:00 400m Heat
September 08 17:00 4x100m Semi
September 09 17:00 400m Semi
September 09 17:00 4x100m Final
September 10 17:00 400m Final
September 11 09:00 800m Heat
September 12 09:00 200m Heat
September 12 17:00 800m Semi
September 13 17:00 200m Semi
September 13 17:00 800m Final
September 14 09:00 200m Final
September 15 09:00 100m Heat
September 15 17:00 100m Semi
September 15 17:00 4x400m Semi
September 16 17:00 100m Final
September 16 17:00 4x400m Final
I am not sure how much CBC will cover, but I've heard it will be better than ever before so keep a watch out.
Take care
Colin
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