Thursday, October 30, 2008

Our syncro team
Jo's broken leg, her fiance and I decorated
Our tragic granny costumes.

Halloween is coming up and I must say it is one of my favorite holidays of the year. You get to dress up, act like whomever you want and nobody cares. I think I was seriously born to be on the stage, you give me a mic and an audience and I’m pretty sure I couldn’t be happier. My girlfriends and I have started a tradition that we dress up together in some really fabulous outfits, a few years ago we were grannies in our knickers (a costume that was so hideous people couldn’t look away) then it was some tragic 80’s prom queens decked out in some dresses that my mother actually wore and I am quite embarrassed about, and then last year four of us went as an old lady syncro team. Once again it was a wonderfully horrific costume where we went more for the shock effect of others than the usual trying to be all sexy and skanky. This year there is a huge group of us going as Jem and the Holograms and Misfits, a group of awesome punk rockers from an early 80’s cartoon. There will be lots of spandex, fluorescents and hair. Stay tuned for pictures in a few days. I will be rocking some blue hair, sparkly blue tights, purple skirt and hot pink shoes and shirt. Wooo Hooo! However I think the best part of this night is going to be my best friend Jo. OK a little background on Jo, best friend I have ever had, and amazing girl but a clutz! Seriously she is such a clutz, I’m not sure if you can meet someone who bruises more or has some sort of cut or scrape, you really have to love her for it, I think the injury gods are just out to get her. Now last weekend we were at a house warming party for another friend when I felt it would be a good idea to walk down to the beach, (there was a little bit of drama going on and I needed out). All we had to do was hop over this little fence (about 2 feet high) and bam easy peasy, we were outta there. Umm not so easy for our dear Josniff, she started the jump, ankle gave way and well to end the story we were left with a broken foot. Oh dear,,,, well back to the reason for this, Jo is going to be one of the Misfits, Pizzaz, and her character is supposed to have one leg that has a bright green leg warmer on it, Jo having a cast there is really only one way to overcome this problem! We are going to spray paint the cast bright green!! Woo Hoo haha and she is totally game for it, that’s the best part. Oh man, we are so going to win the costume contest.
On other notes, training is going just mediocre as of late. I have asthma, had it since I was 15, which really hasn’t been a problem until late. The pool at UBC for some reason has been all over the place with their chlorine and air quality and it really is making it just crap for me trying to train. As soon as I start doing any sort of hard effort my lungs and throat pretty much close up. Not so good for a professional athlete who makes her livelihood as a swimmer. I am hopefully getting into see a respiratory specialist in the next few days and we can sort this little problem out. As much as I would like to think breathing is overrated, it’s not! I am keeping myself calm, trying to do as much as I can in the situation I am in but for now I am just going to have to deal with not really training as much in the water but making the out of water stuff that I can do as good as it can be.
Toodaloo

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Training session with coach Joe
Women's relay members
Erica Morningstar and I outside the water cube. The coolest pool I have ever been in, and where the fastest swim meet of all time was held.
Inside the water cube, right behind the podium.
Official flag raising inside the village.
Best roomie ever and I glowing with speed! (or just really humid weather)
Our Vancouver Olympic team
Ryan Cochrane and I at a friendly soccer game between our Canadians and New Zealand
My favorite little soccer fans came to see me off to Beijing

Here it is!


Well here I am, starting a blog.
A little about myself to get things started.. Name is Annamay Pierse, age 24, occupation... umm well if you want a real persons job nope don't have one, but I have been a member of Canada's National Swim team for the past 8 years so I guess you could say professional athlete is my occupation. Now, some might say that's not a job, I know it's no pro hockey or pro football, but the 3o+ hours a week that I have to spend consumed with all things swimming I beg to differ.
I live in the best city in the entire world, Vancouver BC, and attend the university of British Columbia.
What else??
I was a member of the Canadian Olympic team this year in Beijing, came 6th in the 200 breaststroke, setting 2 Canadian records in the process, 7th on the medley relay with another record, and 10th in the 100 breaststroke.
The Olympics had been my dream and goal since I started swimming as a rambunctious 6 year old. Let me tell you, it was freekin amazing, everything about it; the competition, the Chinese people, Beijing, everything. It is almost too difficult to put it into words, well writing words, I can pretty much talk to anyone about anything at anytime.
I am completely obsessed with shopping, it is a total addiction, I swear. I could shop for anything and everything and usually do. :) There is nothing better then walking around downtown Vancouver with a Starbucks, heading into Holt Renfrew, or Browns, or one of my favorites, the Runway section at Winners.
Well I should be in class right now, so I am going to head out, get myself a Starbucks, and perhaps learn a little something.
Toodaloo