I should be sleeping right now but I can't shut my brain off enough to actually relax and get tired enough to sleep.
I am feeling rather overwhelmed and don't even know where to start. My room, my house, school, among others are in complete disarray and instead of an attempt to manage all of this I end up just sitting on my couch distracting myself from it with time wasting measures. It is truly amazing how much time one can waste on the computer and on television.
My house looks like it has been bulldozed,,, mostly because I have so much crap everywhere and no where to put it. I am not organized enough to have places to put my bills after I pay them or the countless number of silly things I keep thinking that one day I will need them or do something with; such as scrapbook. Lets be honest... you need way more patience than I have to do something such as scrap booking. And as things get worse and keep piling up I leave them, because it is easier to leave it than deal with it.
The past few weeks have been quite amazing, I will admit, however my poor organizational skills are leading to very poorly managed time. School,,,, while yes I usually do not put an exorbitant amount of work into, is getting nothing at all. This is not going to help me graduate by December!
I love all the messages people have been sending me, the support has been truly amazing!! I feel that I should respond and let them know how much it means to me, but there have honestly been so many that that in itself is overwhelming. So if I do not get to you soon, I do appreciate it more than you know, thank you!!!
I really just need someone like a clutter expert to de-clutter my life, set me up a time table, get me started,,,, I know I can be organized and clutter free, but need a good swift kick in the behind to get there.
I guess this is kind of like my swimming, if it wasn't for Jozsef turning my training upside down and inside out I never would be where I am today. Sooo,,,, what is needed then is an outside the pool Joszef to get me in order!! haha
The funny thing about all of this is that I am not overwhelmed in any part with my swim! I knew I could do it and had planned in my mind to go that fast since November maybe even earlier,, I can't wait to get back to training and have that structured constant daily routine in my life.
Well I guess I should try and sleep,,,, big day tomorrow! It's the Sport BC awards night, and I am a nominee for Female athlete of the year. I know I am not wining (I am up against Carol Huyng who won not only Canada's first medal in Beijing but a GOLD to boot!), but it is still pretty amazing to be one of the top 3. Plus my good friend Ryan Cochrane will be here as a male nomination!!
So until later...
Toodaloo
xox
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Friday, March 20, 2009
I DID IT!!!!
Well it has been a bit since I updated, and there is good reason!! Life has been a bit hectic after my swim on Saturday,,,, and the reason behind that is........... I BROKE THE WORLD RECORD!!!!!!!!
Yes that is correct, by .25 seconds. What an incredible feeling, to know that I am the best in the world.... not only the best this year but that there ever has been in the history of the 200 meter Breaststroke! This had been one of those times that when it had been made I remember telling my mom oh wow that is never going to be broken. Well lookie here!!! I did it!
Not only that but I won a car for doing it!
The crowd in Toronto was just nuts. Over the whole week I could feel the energy building as more and more people started to find out that this was a viable task for me and it was what I was gunning for. So when we finally got to Saturday, I am pretty sure the entire pool knew what was going on, and I had been asked by almost everyone there was I going to do it!
The day was pretty much just like any other day getting ready for a race, got up, ate breakfast, went to the pool to get ready to warm up. Felt great in pool when I got in for warm up, which is always nice. Everything was pretty normal, it was really just a race, that I knew I could swim fast in. My plan for the morning was just swim an easy relaxed race and make it into the finals. The heat before mine, fellow team mate and friend Haylee dropped a rocking fast time of 2.23! Oh man.... This meant I was going to have to put a bit more effort in haha! Well my morning swim was nice and controlled and 2.21 was the time. Not bad for an easy swim...
Warm down followed and then back to the hotel for lunch and a rest.
Waking up from my nap I knew something special was going to happen. I could just feel it!
Same routine, back at the pool, the only thing that was different was the buzz that was flying around the building. I was feeling a bit over stimulated when I got out of workout, so I went up to our chiropractor Ken and asked him to please calm me down. He had me do some breathing exercises and I was feeling much better. Next task was putting on my suit,,,,,, holy man are they ever tight! 20 mins later with the help of friend Janice I was in,,, and ready to go!
Waiting in the ready room was hectic, all I wanted to do was get out there and race. When the music started for us to walk out, the place went NUTS!!!!!!!! Seriously.... it was Nuts! I turned around to Haylee and just said holy cow! Everyone there was cheering to support me :) I felt like Phelps!
The race went well... I say well because I don't really remember all of it, and I was a little fast on the out and my last 50 ended up being a little slow. The crowd definitely pushed me to the wall in that last 50 and when I touched the wall...... EEEEEEEEEEEEEE I had done it! WOW!!! What a feeling! I had just done something no one else in world has ever done! My sister Hanna was in the race with me (which is totally cool) and my 2 other training partners Martha and Haylee.
I could see my dad in the stands going nuts, knowing that he was calling absolutely everyone he knew (including all the relatives in Ireland), my brother Michael was up there too, tons of friends, and all the Canadians who were screaming to help me to the record.
Two of my other sisters were at the side of the pool (Grainne and Fionnuala). I made Grainne cry!! haha which never happens... My coach Joszef, all the staff from SNC. It was awesome!
For the medal presentation I was presented with flowers, and a huge key for my new car, and a bottle of champagne to shower over the other competitors.
All in all, I have to say it was a pretty spectacular day. I could keep writing for probably ages going through every little detail, but I think my fingers might fall off. :)
So I will leave you with a link to my race on youtube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-GbxMDBvmw
Enjoy, it was a day I will remember forever!
Photos are from Scott Grant
Toodaloo
xox
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Hells YA!!!
Canadians are KICKING AS*!! That's right!! There has been some serious domination going down here in the T-dot. I think so far 15 plus Canadian records have gone down the drain, which is totally awesome.
Yesterday I had the 50 breast, went a best time 30.32, under the old Canadian record but,,, I was second,,,, Amanda Reason, a little (well not so little) 15 year old went super fast 29.96! Totally great for her, and great to see the younger generation of Canadians coming up to challenge us old geezers :)
Today was the 100 breast, had an easy and relaxed swim this morning, with a 1.06.9, pretty much just went in there to make the final and get ready for tonight. Felt quite fabulous in warm up, and was super excited to race. First up for the night was the men's 800 free; Ryan Cochrane had a dominating swim breaking his own CR by I think 9 more seconds.... what a CHAMP!!! Next up was the 100 free,,,, fellow teammate Brent Hayden had another world class swim, posting a blistering 46.27, knocking a second off the old record of Colin Russel.
Then it was me!!!! Race felt relaxed and in control, second 50 could have been a little bit more controlled and streamline but overall, touched the wall at 1.04.67!!!!! Wooo Hoo!!! That puts me FIRST in the world this year, and 3rd all time EVER!!!!!
Such a great set up for my 200 on Saturday. I am soooooooo excited to race!!!! (but pretty glad to have a day off tomorrow)
In some other swims, Tanya Hunks had a fabulous swim in her 400 IM breaking Joanne Malar's CR, and lil sista Hanna having quite the race as well going 4.37 best time by 3 seconds, a bronze medal and all in all just a fantastic swim for her!!!!
Well, time to try and get some sleep. Stay tuned for some more fabulous swimming from the Canadians!!!! (Check the results online at www.swimming.ca)
Toodaloo
xoxox
Yesterday I had the 50 breast, went a best time 30.32, under the old Canadian record but,,, I was second,,,, Amanda Reason, a little (well not so little) 15 year old went super fast 29.96! Totally great for her, and great to see the younger generation of Canadians coming up to challenge us old geezers :)
Today was the 100 breast, had an easy and relaxed swim this morning, with a 1.06.9, pretty much just went in there to make the final and get ready for tonight. Felt quite fabulous in warm up, and was super excited to race. First up for the night was the men's 800 free; Ryan Cochrane had a dominating swim breaking his own CR by I think 9 more seconds.... what a CHAMP!!! Next up was the 100 free,,,, fellow teammate Brent Hayden had another world class swim, posting a blistering 46.27, knocking a second off the old record of Colin Russel.
Then it was me!!!! Race felt relaxed and in control, second 50 could have been a little bit more controlled and streamline but overall, touched the wall at 1.04.67!!!!! Wooo Hoo!!! That puts me FIRST in the world this year, and 3rd all time EVER!!!!!
Such a great set up for my 200 on Saturday. I am soooooooo excited to race!!!! (but pretty glad to have a day off tomorrow)
In some other swims, Tanya Hunks had a fabulous swim in her 400 IM breaking Joanne Malar's CR, and lil sista Hanna having quite the race as well going 4.37 best time by 3 seconds, a bronze medal and all in all just a fantastic swim for her!!!!
Well, time to try and get some sleep. Stay tuned for some more fabulous swimming from the Canadians!!!! (Check the results online at www.swimming.ca)
Toodaloo
xoxox
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Recap
Been a few days since I posted last... and quite the week it has been.
First off,,, thank goodness for light poles!
Last Thursday after dropping my sisters off from a lovely dinner together, I get home, am sitting on my couch and about 5 minutes later some drunk idiot decided to smash into the cars parked on the street outside my building!! I don't think I have ever heard something so loud, no screeching of breaks just a slam! crash! Instantly I ran outside to see what had happened. A poor girl sitting on the steps of our building, lucky to be alive was the first person I ran to and check to see if she was alright, thank goodness she was more in shock than anything.
One of the pictures I took on my phone of the truck that crashed into the parked ones didn't load so you will have to make believe it was there. As for the white truck you see below; it was parked where I almost always park my little car, smashed into the silver car in front of it, completely totaling the back of it and then swinging around on to the pavement. The drunk trunk had so much force and speed it caused the white truck to spin off the road; if there had not been the lamp pole there the truck would probably have had so much force it would have flown down the pavement right towards the living room of my condo. Thank goodness no one was hurt including the drunk idiot who crashed. Who by the way had open alcohol in his truck.
I really don't get drunk drivers,, seriously you are an idiot!! Not only do you put yourself in danger, but everyone around you. He had better not ever get his license back is all I have to say!
Above is the divet in the ground from the drunk truck flying up on the pavement.
On a different happier note,,,,,
I'm in Toronto for our spring national, woo hoo!!! Taper is in full force and I am feeling speedy :)
Racing starts tomorrow, can't wait to race!
As well, on Sunday night, Grainne and I went to a dinner at Jane Roos (Can Fund founder) for International Women's Day. It was such a wonderful inspiring evening. Jane had us dress in black and white and when we arrived she had a photographer there to do a photo shoot with all of us. Sooooooo much fun!!! Dinner was delicious, cooked by Jane's lovely husband Conrad, the table talk was incredibly inspiring; being at that table with 8 other wonderful accomplished strong women was quite something. Just when you think Jane Roos couldn't possibly be more amazing, she goes and throws a dinner like this bringing great people together, has a wonderful dinner planned and then on top of all that she makes you walk out of there feeling like you are so special, unique, incredible and make a difference in the lives of so many people.
This is just one of the photo's from that night, when I get more I will post them. :)
Well I will keep you all informed with my results this week! If you want to watch, there will be live streaming Internet feed from the Swim Canada site. www.swimming.ca
Bed time for me :)
Toodaloo
xox
First off,,, thank goodness for light poles!
Last Thursday after dropping my sisters off from a lovely dinner together, I get home, am sitting on my couch and about 5 minutes later some drunk idiot decided to smash into the cars parked on the street outside my building!! I don't think I have ever heard something so loud, no screeching of breaks just a slam! crash! Instantly I ran outside to see what had happened. A poor girl sitting on the steps of our building, lucky to be alive was the first person I ran to and check to see if she was alright, thank goodness she was more in shock than anything.
One of the pictures I took on my phone of the truck that crashed into the parked ones didn't load so you will have to make believe it was there. As for the white truck you see below; it was parked where I almost always park my little car, smashed into the silver car in front of it, completely totaling the back of it and then swinging around on to the pavement. The drunk trunk had so much force and speed it caused the white truck to spin off the road; if there had not been the lamp pole there the truck would probably have had so much force it would have flown down the pavement right towards the living room of my condo. Thank goodness no one was hurt including the drunk idiot who crashed. Who by the way had open alcohol in his truck.
I really don't get drunk drivers,, seriously you are an idiot!! Not only do you put yourself in danger, but everyone around you. He had better not ever get his license back is all I have to say!
Above is the divet in the ground from the drunk truck flying up on the pavement.
On a different happier note,,,,,
I'm in Toronto for our spring national, woo hoo!!! Taper is in full force and I am feeling speedy :)
Racing starts tomorrow, can't wait to race!
As well, on Sunday night, Grainne and I went to a dinner at Jane Roos (Can Fund founder) for International Women's Day. It was such a wonderful inspiring evening. Jane had us dress in black and white and when we arrived she had a photographer there to do a photo shoot with all of us. Sooooooo much fun!!! Dinner was delicious, cooked by Jane's lovely husband Conrad, the table talk was incredibly inspiring; being at that table with 8 other wonderful accomplished strong women was quite something. Just when you think Jane Roos couldn't possibly be more amazing, she goes and throws a dinner like this bringing great people together, has a wonderful dinner planned and then on top of all that she makes you walk out of there feeling like you are so special, unique, incredible and make a difference in the lives of so many people.
This is just one of the photo's from that night, when I get more I will post them. :)
Well I will keep you all informed with my results this week! If you want to watch, there will be live streaming Internet feed from the Swim Canada site. www.swimming.ca
Bed time for me :)
Toodaloo
xox
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