Testimonials

Feedback from 2006

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I was just re-reading the tri talk newsletter and was chuffed to little mint balls to see my name up there!  I still can't get over getting series winner, and I agree, the competition was hot! 
 
Even after getting 1st place at Orangeville I was not sure that Anne Campbell wouldn't just fly past me at any time at Grimsby!  She very nearly did though, right at the finish chute! My husband has all my races on the camcorder and Anne is always there hot on my heels at the finish line!  She did get past me at Milton too, but it was not enough to take the series title!  I have all my finishers medals pinned up on my desk at work, and also have the series winner certificate framed with a photo of me wearing one of my 1st place finishers caps.  I only started doing multisport, (in fact any sport of any kind!) in August of 2003 after losing about 50 pounds, so I am extremely proud of all my "trophies".

I would be very interested to see training plans.  I recently bought myself a new book "Duathlon Training" by Kuno Hottenrott but haven't got round to reading any of it yet.  I got a tri training book late in the season and found it great to just come home from work after being out of the house 6am to 6pm and just look at the plan and do what it said.  Previously I have only come home and decided at the time whether to cycle, run or if there was a lane swim session at Milton that night.
 
I wish that I had bought the book BEFORE the season started and I could have maybe been more confident in my abilities and perhaps have done a few more of the Subaru Duathlons aswell as the OWTS ones.
 
I am very much looking forward to seeing something from the OWTS on training plans.
 
I also took your advice on trying something new over the winter, I signed up for a beginners Pilates class and just had my second class last night.  It was great until we got to the leg exercises when I could really feel my leg muscles after doing the 60km "Share the Road" charity bike ride last Sunday at Milton.  Still, it was a good ache, if you know what I mean!
 
While chatting to one or two of you at various events, I got the impression that you may be looking for a new race venue to replace Grimsby?  If that is true, you might like to consider Guelph Lake Conservation area.  I have done several of the Subaru "Try-a-Tri" and two Sprint distance Duathlons at Guelph and I love the venue.  The lake is so clean with no motor craft on there to leave that nasty oily film on the surface like at some lakes. The roads are extremely quiet with some quite challenging rolling hills.
 
Anyway, it is almost bedtime now so I'd better go and get something out of the closet for work tomorrow.  I can never decide what to wear at 5:30am before going off at 6am for the GO train to Toronto.
 
I hope you don't mind me chatting on like this, but I'm just so proud to be a part of the OWTS and want you all to know what a huge difference you have made to my life. Without the OWTS I'm not entirely certain I would have kept my weight off and got my fitness level up.
 Margaret

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Thank you for your email. I was matched with Susan, although our schedules didn't match because of work and children, we did manage to get together a couple of times to swim, bike and run and we communicated regularly via email, and met up at the tri clinics. The communication was wonderful because we provided support and encouragement and we also planned to travel together to our first triathlon. For those of us who did this solo, it was nice to have a face that you knew when you arrived at Orangeville. While Susan did the tri-a-tri and I did the Sprint, we crossed paths during the bike and run and cheered each other on. It made the event so much more enjoyable for me and I am sure Susan. And I have met someone that I would like to get together with again.

I received an email from Fiona in May about getting together to cycle. She was going on vacation later that month and said she would get back to me. Unfortunately, we never did connect for training. Perhaps it was work. I didn't come across her name at the Orangeville Triathlon because I wanted to introduce myself. Perhaps she's training for Milton.  I have since emailed to see about getting together to cycle for ongoing training/pleasure. Thank you for the match.

*Just wanted to thank everyone involved with the Women's Triathlon series - once again, I am flying high on my own success!   I completed the Milton event today, and despite yet another 'panic attack' in the water....the very cold water!.....I still have nothing but positive feelings towards the event.  I had been in touch with Sue L about getting some open water swimming under my belt....so please do keep me in mind if you have something like that going on in the Orangeville area.   Sometime before the 2007 series I will be purchasing a road bike, and I intend to support Spokes n Slopes.....and I will make sure they know it is because of their support of the WTS.   Both my daughter (volunteer) and I won a raffle prize today.....a racing shirt with MoGo on the front and Brooks on the back, as well as a Brooks towel.  Were they donated directly from Brooks?  I am a firm believer in positive reinforcement, so I would like to email Brooks (if it was their donation) and thank them for the gifts and encourage them to continue to support such worthy events.  If it wasn't Brooks, perhaps you could direct me to the donor so that I can thank them.   I was surprised to see Maple Lodge at the event today.  I actually emailed them after Orangeville event (I think I cc'd  you) and they responded that they had been doing the WTS for many years and felt it was time they supported something else - I was sure they said they would not be at either the Grimsby event nor the Milton.  Dare I wonder if my email helped them rethink their position?  or had they committed to just the Milton event this year?   Well, this thank you has gotten quite long-winded!  So, I will thank you again, from the bottom of my heart.....I really seem to feed off all the positive thoughts and words at these events.....I am truly hooked!  And I have recruited a few new triathletes/duathletes as well.....I am always 'spreading the good news' about the series.   Hope to hear from you regarding some open swim advice/workshops, the Brooks question..... and I will definitely see you July 2007!   Stephanie

*Thanks so much once again for your help in facilitating my participation in the Super Sprint. My friend and colleague Nicole had a great outing. She finished the event with a HUGE smile and that was my goal. I told her before the race that since this was her first triathlon, her goal was to finish  "upright and smiling" as upright and smiling  makes the best for pictures!! I have lots of great pics of the event. I even won a door prize from Robena. The bag went right to my birthday girl daughter and she was delighted. She made a great neon green sign that read "Go Dr. Didyk and mommy". I love the Womens' only venue and will try to do all three next year as opposed to focusing on the Subaru series as I have done in the past. Once again, thanks Sue, you added a lovely, personal touch.  Patti

*I am not sure if you are the person to email about Sunday's event in Milton, but I just wanted to let you know what a great day it was.  This is my third time up there (doing various events) and this was by far the most well organized.  Two years ago, I was turned off the event because of disorganization, but thought I would give it another try this year. Getting into the park was great, the announcements were clear and continual which was wonderful.  The lady announcing all the runners as they came in did a great job, and the student volunteers were excellent.  My only concern was the relay start time was not announced, but we were able to find out quickly. Because of the great job everyone did this year, I am going to try to
inspire as many women as I know to Tri a Tri next year...
Thank you again, and to everyone for their hard work.
Andrea

*I wanted to send a quick "Thanks" for allowing myself and so many women the opportunity to participate in such an amazing event.  I am now a 'runner' turned Triathlete thanks to the Ontario Women's series.  I
absolutely love the sport and plan to devote my training to Triathlon. Thank you, and all of you help and volunteers not only for the events but the clinics you provided.  You have added a new dimension to my active
lifestyle, and to so many others!!
Addicted Triathlete, Aubrey

*Thank you to all the ladies again for this Tri-Series!!!  Milton was another fantastic learning experience, we had a great time.  We are hitting the gym hard for the winter and looking forward to competing next year in this series. 

*I just wanted to drop you a line to say what a great racing year it has been, and how well everything has gone this race season.

*I can't tell you how excited I was to receive series winner in the 50-59 SSD, I still haven't stopped grinning!
 I have always worn my tee-shirts on Fridays at work (casual day) and was doubly proud to wear my series winner shirt last Friday, it got quite a few comments mostly about the colour, but then it gave me the opportunity to point out that it was my winners shirt!  Hey, if you've got it, flaunt it!
 I was glad that we got the opportunity to chat a little while at the bike shop in Milton on race kit pick up Saturday, I look forward to seeing some of your ideas come to fruition!
  I very proudly show off my OWTS swim cap at Milton Leisure Centre, my great purple water bottle on my desk at work and now my spiffy new sports bag too!  I have another suggestion for an OWTS "logo" item, a decal to stick on my car window, right next to the Subaru Triathlon sticker! 
 If you are interested, I have lots of photos of all my races on my website at www.pbase.com/neweyma click on the "Margaret's Races" gallery image and all the races are in there. Click on each gallery to see lots of photos of each race.  You are very welcome to drop in any time, and feel free to add comments to any photo or gallery, you don't need to enter your email address even though it has a place for it.
 I look forward to meeting up with you again in the 2007 season. Margaret