GREAT End to a GREAT Season

Well, last time I updated I was about to pace the 5000m at the Diamond League in Stockholm, SWE. Let me tell you- it was the highlight of my Europe trip. Being on the track with all those world class competitors, warming-up just next to Usain Bolt, and most of all actually being able to RUN in front of thousands of people. It was an adrenaline rush in the beginning when I first walked on to the track, but once I got some strides in I had to tell myself to calm down- I had work to do. I did what I was supposed to do; went through 400 in 68, 800 in 2:18 and peeled off with about 100m left of my 1200m pacing to let the other runners get by me with out having any accidents. In all, a great experience and I just hope that someday I will get to race in my own event at a Diamond League.

After the Diamond League we travelled to Karlstad, SWE for the last race of the season. I was a bit nervous going into the race as I had only done one 800m in Europe previous to this race, and all my other races had been pacing jobs. Pacing requires to run at a pace slower than my race pace; which was why I was nervous. I hadn't done any fast stuff for a week at least. However, the race was great. It felt good, and I was able to run my seconds fastest time ever 2:02.80. I'm very satisfied with this season, and cannot wait until next year.

Now I have some time off and spending some time at home with the family. I'm enjoying it all, but getting anxious to get back into the swing of things. It's important to take time off as you need to rest your body after training and competing hard for over a good 6 months.

I will keep everyone updated as much as possible on some training runs. This fall is base season, so no competing and a lot of training (and hill runs) to build for next year.

Talk to you soon!

Melissa

Europe- Finland & Sweden

My coach Dennis, training partner Raeleen, and I arrived in Helsinki, Finland last Wednesday, July 21st. The flight was great and I managed to get some sleep on the way over so adjusting to the 7 hour time differnce hasn't been too difficult. We stayed 3 days in Helsinki and it's definatley in my top 3 places to visit. The weather was beautiful, 30+ with humidity and we were right on the water so there was a great breeze. The country side, water, and all the islands remind me of home in Eganville on the lake. They have the most wonderful farmers market downtown Helsinki with very fresh produce (like Grandma's from her garden), so Raeleen and I couldn't help but buy some fresh fruit and veggies.

After Helsinki, we travelled to a town smalled than Eganville called Lapenlahtti; this is where I ran my first race at the Savo Games. Two days before my race I had a fantastic workout, but perhaps I was still feeling the workout in my legs come race time, as the race wasn't as fast as I had hoped. I ran 2:04.5 and was feeling very tired the whole race. I wasn't too concerned with it, these things happen and I still have a few races to run.

Next we stopped in Joensuu, Finland. We took a bus with some other athletes from Save Games to Joensuu. Our hotel was directly across from the track which is great for race day, I could walk over when I needed to. At this meet, called the Joensuu Games, I was the pace setter for the 1500m race. I ran 1000m of the race, setting the pace for the women behind me. I haven't done anything like this before, or even ran a 1500m before so this was all new to me. It turned out great, I ran well and the women in the race ran some personal bests as well.

Now I'm in Stokholm, Sweden about to run in the Diamond League. A Diamond League event is huge in the track and field world. This is where all the "big guns" (like Usain Bolt and other world class atheltes) come to compete; you get points for placing in certain events and in the end who ever has the most points gets a diamond. There is prize money available along the way and there is about 13-15 Diamond League races all over the world to compete in.

Previously the plan was to run an 800 in another race, but the seed times weren't very fast so it probably wouldn't have been a fast race for me. My coach, Dennis, got a call wondering if I could pace for the womens 5000m race at the Stokholm Diamond League. The pace setters weren't able to make it, so it was very last minute. I need to run 1200m of the 5000m race and then another pace setter will take over for another poriton of the race. What's cool is that the girl we are setting the pace for is trying to break the world record! I'm extremely excited to be a part of this and nervous all at the same time.

I have one more 800m race on August 2nd in Karlstad, Sweden and then I'm heading back to Canada. The season will be over for this year after my last race. I will keep everyone posted on results and how the Diamond League turns out.

Getting internet and a computer at the same is difficult over here at times, so I will update as soon as I can.

Melissa

Hard Work Pays Off!

NEW 800m PB! 2:02.69 and I'm very excited about it. 

Coming off of Nationals I was finding it tough mentally to wrap my head around another race. The workouts I did between Nationals and Harry Jerome were great, but my body wasn't feeling great. In my head I was convinced I was tired and that my legs were heavy. I knew it was all mental because the times were fast in my workouts. 

We travelled to Vancouver Tuesday, June 28 after Nationals and on Friday, July 1st we raced the Harry Jerome International. It was a very good field in the 800m, all of the finalist at Nationals were in the race plus a few others from the USA. The race was great, I was at the back of the pack through 500m and that was when I realized that I needed to make up some ground as I was far off of the lead pack. I moved and moved hard, I had people to chase down and I love chasing. I crossed the line in 2:02.69....my new personal best.

The next day we hopped on a ferry to Victoria and arrived late afternoon. I had a competition warm up and was really needing an ice bath. Luckily we are about a 10min walk from the ocean and it's freezing! So me and a few other teammates jumped in there for an ice bath. I raced again today at the Victoria International and it felt GREAT! I have not felt that good in a race, especially in the last 300m, as I did today. To top it off, the time was good too. 2:02.92, not a pb but a good two races in three days. I can't wait to run again in Toronto on July 14th!

We are returning back to Windsor tomorrow and will have about a week and half to get some good training in and then its race time again! 

I'm very pleased with how the West-Coast Trip went this year; obviously achieving a new personal best is a goal every year. But, feeling as good as I did today is the cherry on top. Links to my races are posted below!
Stay tuned for more!

Harry Jerome International Track Classic: http://www.flotrack.org/coverage/238919-Harry-Jerome-International-Track-Classic-2011/video/498832-W-800-F02-Lemlem-Ogbasilassie-20123 

Victoria International:  http://www.flotrack.org/coverage/238935-Victoria-International-Track-Classic-2011/video/499033-W-800-F01-Invite-Smith-202

Melissa

You Can't Always Get What You Want

In most sports (or life in general) things don't always work out the way you would like them to. Everyone has their "day" and it can be outstanding or it can go horribly wrong depending on a number of factors. For my 800m finals on Saturday, it was not my day. 

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to pull through like I thought I would in the end. At National Championships, races can go out to win or they can go out to run fast. My race went out to win; therefore, the pace was very slow right from the beginning. We got out hard for the first 100m and then the breaks were put on. We were 64 seconds through 400m which is quite slow; usually we are between 59-61 seconds. The pace started to pick up again with 400m left and again slowed, but with 200m left everyone started to kick- including me. I was sitting in about 3rd or 4th position on the outside of the pack. I started to pick up speed so did everyone else and unfortunately I didn't have enough gas left in my tank to carry my kick to the finish line. I ended up 8th in the final with a time of 2:06.9. 1st place was 2:05. 

These are the races you learn from. Every race is a new experience and you can't control everything that happens. Stuff happens and I've learned from past experience that you need to keep your head high and keep looking forward. I have 2 more races to run while in the West. I still have every opportunity to better my personal best of 2:03.9 and these races are known to be fast. I will race again on Friday in Vancouver at the Harry Jerome Track Classic, and on Sunday in Victoria and the Victoria International. 

Better gear up and get ready for those because my season isn't over yet- MUCH more to come!

Melissa

Calgary Weather

Well, I've qualified for the 800m finals today at 2:50pm. Thursday we had the semi-finals. 3 heats with the top 2 in each heat advancing to finals plus the next 2 fastest times. Weather was looking great for our race on Thusday, wasn't too hot and hardly any wind. But the weather here in Calgary changes on a dime; 10 minutes before everyone was to check in for the race a BIG wind storm picked up and the temperature dropped about 10 degrees.
My race went out well and I felt good; but I think everyone was having a bit of trouble with the wind on the back stretch. I couldn't tuck in behind anyone either as I was the tallest in the field so it wouldn't have been a benefit to me. I won my heat so that automatically earned me a spot in the final.
Weather is looking...just okay for today's race. I have to remember that everyone is feeling the effects of it as well; not just me.
Remember it's on CBC today!

Melissa

Calgary!

We arrived in Calgary last night, flight was great and we got in at a decent time of day so we were still able to enjoy a late dinner. Once I stepped out of the airport though, I could tell I was in the West. The air is much fresher than Windsor and smells delicious. It's also about 10 degrees cooler here than what I'm used to in Windsor. No humidity here to make it seem hot, it's cool. Good thing I packed some warm clothes. We are staying in a hotel directly across from the Olympic Park; we have a great view of most of the ski jumps.
Races begin on Thursday with my semi-finals going at 7:45pm and hopefully I will be running again in the final on Saturday at 2:50pm.

Saturday June 25 catch live action from the Canadian Championships coast to coast on CBC beginning at 2:00pm- mountain daylight time (4pm eastern).  At the same time the championships will also be streamed on cbcsports.ca.


Melissa

New 400m PB!

The 400 is an off distance race for me now, only racing it maybe 2 or 3 times a year. In high school however, that was my main event. On Wednesday night at the last meet in Indianapolis I raced a 400 again. In a 400 it's a full out sprint the whole way around the track. Being an 800m runner now that's not the case... my first 200 was about the same speed that I would go out in an 800m race but my last 200 I was able to stay strong and have a good finish. My time was 56.00, bettering it from high school which was 56.3. I'm very pleased with the results from Indianapolis and am very much looking forward to getting to Nationals. We arrived home yesterday and will be flying out for Calgary, Monday afternoon.

'Til next time,
Melissa

Bed Bugs

A few mornings ago I awoke to some large bites on my arms and back. Didn’t think anything of it as the bugs have been bad outside and just thought a mosquito had bitten me. Throughout the next day or so the large bites kept appearing. My roommates Heather and Andrina looked online to see what bed bug bites looked like; they were similar in ways but nothing that we could tell was a sure sign of a bed bug bite. Just on a whim, Heather says let’s check the beds. Sure enough, the first corner we check we find a bed bug. After some loud screaming and shouting, we decided we should confirm that it was a bed bug. Turns out it was; we immediately went to hotel management and they switched us rooms and offered to have our clothing and bags dry-cleaned. We did NOT want to be bringing those bugs home with us. You can bet the first thing we did when we arrived in our new room was check all the beds. The bites still continue to show up- on me only, my roommates were lucky enough to not be a feast for these pests.

INDY 800

Last Friday, a few team members and I travelled to Indianapolis, Indiana for the American Milers High Performance Series. This meet is known to produce some fast results and some good competition. Last year I came to this meet and ran a personal best…this year I ALSO ran another personal best 2:03.96… the 2:04 barrier has been broken and I’m very excited about it. It’s a positive boost into nationals which will be occurring a week from today, June 22, in Calgary, Alberta.

A fellow team mate of mine, Andrina, was the rabbit for 400m of the race. She took us through our first 400m in 59, which was right on target. I was sitting behind another strong competitor, I knew she would be able to work the pace from 400-600 and that’s really where I need to concentrate on improving. We went through 600 in 1:31 and from other race experiences, this is the fastest I have been through 600 (in an 800). I could really tell we worked hard to get to 600 because I found it difficult coming home; usually I have a little more juice left in my legs to carry me to the finish line, but I was really working hard to move my arms and stay relaxed. It all turned out well with a new personal best.

I am racing again tonight, but it will be a 400m. I have already attained FISU standard twice now and need to finish in the top 2 of those declared for FISU at Nationals next week. My coach Dennis and I have decided that a few off races, like the 400m tonight, are important during the season as it's a change of pace for an athlete and gives you a little break from focusing JUST on the 800m.

I have posted the link below to my race, so feel free to watch.

Womens 800 Section 2 American Milers Club Series June11 2011

Melissa

The Valley

Growing up in Eganville, Ontario, or as we like to call it “The Valley”, I was always involved in some type of sport; hockey, volley-ball, basketball,  but it wasn’t until I joined the Pembroke Soccer Club  and my coach, Dr. Mike O’Grady made it very clear to me that I could run. He suggested I try out track and field. Throughout elementary school I did track and field; however, just before high school I decided to take running seriously and travel 2 hours each way to Ottawa to train with the Ottawa Lions. I would practice three to four times a week and my parents graciously drove me every time; sometimes Grandma and Grandpa too.

In my last year at Opeongo High School, I decided that it was time to take the next step in track and move to Ottawa to train full time. I would sacrifice my friends, school teams, and most importantly my last year of OFSAA. With a bit of luck on my side, I was fortunate to have a former training partner, Ms. Anne, take me under her wing by allowing me to stay with her. She treated me like her own; she fed me, got me to school on time (occasionally writing me notes to explain odd absences) and everyday made sure I was never late for practice. Till this day I am grateful, for Anne

Six years later, after some injuries, numerous practices, long drives, and a lot of success, I find myself at the University of Windsor. It wasn’t until I came here, that I realised how much I enjoyed track and field and the opportunities that were available as an athlete. I was a Windsor Lancer for 4 years and accomplished many things…3 National Championship titles, 3 school records, and numerous OUA and CIS medals. Among being a Lancer, I still compete for the Ottawa Lions during the outdoor season. Deciding to come to Windsor was possibly the best decision I could have made to better my running; the program, and my coach Dennis Fairall, have helped me to gain positions on 2 National teams. In 2009 I travelled to Beirut, Lebanon to compete for Canada in the 800m at the Francophone Games. Following that, in 2010 I competed at the North America Central America and the Caribbean (NACAC) Championships in Miramar, Florida.

After graduating with a Bachelor of Human Kinetics and my Bachelor of Education I find myself competing for ME again. This is as solo as it gets. There is no team huddles before a race, or a cheer to pump you up- it’s just me and the track.

I’m really looking forward to this summer. Our schedule has never been busier than this year, and it’s an opportunity to gather some great racing experience and excellent competition. The season has been going great so far; I ran a season’s best of 2:04.8 at our home meet 3 weeks ago… my personal best is 2:04.1 so I know I’m not far off; a few hot races and I should be in business.

So stay tuned for some updates!

Melissa