So here is an update on what went on......
Trials- Overall I was pretty happy with how trials went. My 200 was on the first day, which was a little bit weird, but nice to start with something good. The morning swim was so smooth and easy and actually a really good time for this time of the year, 2.24.1 it was just a little bit slower than I finished the year last Aug, and after everything I have been through the past few months I will take it. The final really was not as easy and fun as the morning swim..... First of all I had teammate Martha McCabe right there on my heels clearly looking to beat me, and I was not
in good enough shape to be head to head with someone and still be able to swim my own race. The last ten meters were deathly hard, but I managed to get to that wall and won with Martha right behind me having herself a great swim as well. The 100 was, well..... as it tends to be when I am not at the top of my game. I finished the final 5th (I think) and it was a better swim than my trials last summer, but unfortunately I will not be swimming it at World Champs. As unhappy as I was Joe my coach was ok with it and told me that perhaps this is the first sacrafice I am going to have to make to get the 200 to where I want it to be. My 50 was surprisingly good, I have to get it down about half a second so I can swim it at Worlds but I was happy with that finish. One of the surprising things that I did at trails was swim the 200 IM as a time trial, something I haven't swam since 2007. It was so much fun, went 2.15 which would have put me in a great spot for that final. Maybe next time I will get entered properly and race those girls for real.
So the week after trials was CRAZY!!! I moved into my new apartment which may I say is AWESOME!!!!!! I love it! Living on my own in a place that is all mine and I can make look however I want. It really is great. I was so lucky that my mammy came out from Edmonton to help me move, because let me tell you, that woman is a genius! I don't know how she does it, but I have never met anyone who can organize better than her. It was a bit overwhelming at times just how much stuff I had and how I was possibly going to fit it in everywhere, but she just got right too it and sorted everything out. The best part about my new condo has to be my walk in shoe, purses and dress closet! Yup that's right, I converted the den into a fashionistas dream room. The finishing touches still have to occur in there until it is perfect; I have to paint, and get a great big mirror and a better light, but other than that it is quite fantastic. My family was awesome at helping me put everything together, I can't imagine what it would have been like if I was doing this all by myself. I do NOT want to move again for a very long time, it is just way too much work. I mean it has been a month and I am still not finished everything that needs to be done. I guess there is no rush and I shouldn't exhaust myself with it all, I need to focus on training more than anything. I also need to somehow stop spending money on this move, wow my credit cards have been on FIRE!!! It really is all sorts of expensive to move, one of the other reasons why I do not want to do it again for a very long time.
My wall of the world with Vancouver, London, Beijing, New York and Paris time and 2 of my World record posters. As well as my living room.
So that was the move, after that, I had my very last University exam ever! Wooo hooo I am finally graduated, way to go me! haha It took a while but hey slow and steady wins the race right? Well that is what I will keep telling myself.
The day after my exam I flew out to Moncton NB for the Canadian Olympic Committee Hall of Fame dinner. It was an amazing weekend with 50 other Olympic athletes from across Canada and amazing people from Moncton and really all across this country. It was so much fun to see the friends that I don't get too see that often, and not only that but to get dressed to the nines and walk the red carpet with all of them.
A lady after my own heart with her Louboutins Lise Poirier
Apparently I am sort of a party animal and was leader and organizer in some of the great times that were
had. A bunch of us went to laser tag on the Sat afternoon before the HOF rehersal, now I don't know if you can picture it, but Olympic athletes tend to be a bit competitive... and you put us together it was to the death!! I will say, I am HORRIBLE at laser tag, and the sneaky little short track speed skater boys were killing me non stop!The gala was just incredible with Canadian heroes being inducted including swimming's own Curtis Myden. It really was an honor to be there and see one of my childhood heroes be inducted. Overall an amazing weekend, thanks so much to the COC for having all of us and putting on a great show, I cant wait until next years.
Continuing on.....
The next weekend, and it was the Pierse's take Vancouver.... Mamma, Papa and the baby came out for Easter leaving only my younger bro Conal at home to fend for himself. It was great to have everyone together and we did Easter dinner at my new apartment. It was yes, a little squishy but hey isn't that how you want the holidays? Smooshed between all of your family members??
On top of all the family time, Joe decided that he was going to go from 0 to 160 in a day. Training was ramped to the nines and really it was just ridiculous! I am still trying to recover two weeks later from the 2 weeks we did after our break from trials. I am getting seriously jacked (my arms are MASSIVE) and finally getting back into the shape that I need to be in to compete this summer at worlds. It really is nice to finally be healthy and able to train like I could before my disastrous 2010 year happened. I can see things getting better almost daily, and although I have some set backs things are generally moving in the right direction.
The first week of May the entire World Championship team met up in Phoenix for a week training camp. It was the first time we had done something like this before a meet, and it was really great. My swimming that week was just horrible, but everything else was really fun. We had some great team bonding, a silly hike up Camelback (I HATE heights and scaling parts of a mountain, not what I find fun. Had a few paralyzing moments, if it wasn't for some awesome team mates talking me through it I might still be stuck on that mountain.)
We flew home that Sat and I managed to get myself on the earlier flight from Calgary back to Van so I could attend one of my besties stagette party up in Whistler. It was a total surprise for her, she had no idea that I was going to be able to make it up on time. It was just amazing! We were channeling the 80's movie Girls Just Want to Have Fun, and that is exactly what we did. I was so glad that I could make it back and be part of her last celebration of singledom.
And here we are....... all caught up on my past few weeks. They have been jam packed, making sure I am getting enough rest has been a challenge, hence why the blog has suffered.
Last night I was fortunate enough to attend the Red Cross' Red Carpet Soiree, it was a fabulous fundraiser for the Red Cross and I got to get dressed up red carpet worthy. Of course I wore some fantastic shoes because... well that's what I do!
Heading down to Seattle tomorrow with my little sister Nunu to do some more shopping for the house, and meeee :)
Until next time, keep smiling
xox
