Only Six Weeks To Race Season!

We have had quite a few phone calls from people asking about specific races so in this month's issue we have included a link back to the race season overview from the January newlstter. We also have articles from Coaches and Medical experts that we hope will help with you training and injury prevention. There is also an extensive line-up of not-for-profit races in which you might be interested. If you would like to submit something to a future edition please email us.

John Salt - Series Director

Series News

Race Announcer Wanted

First you should know that Jody Miller will be back behind the microphone for most of our races in 2008, but her personal schedule is very busy so she will not be at every race. We are looking for a race announcer and are hoping that you or someone you know would like to be on the HSBC Triathlon Series announcing team. Previous experience would be nice but if you are knowledgeable about the sport, like to talk and tell stories as well as encourage our athletes while they race, we would like to hear from you. Please email us at info@multisportcanada.com and include a brief description of any announcing experience and the reason you would like to be part of the HSBC Triathlon Series Team.

Race Series Administrator Needed

We are looking for someone who would like to become an integral part of the MultiSport Canada team. Our current administrator, Amy Zurrer, has accepted a position in Australia and will be leaving us in late June. If you live in the Barrie - Orillia area, have superior organizational skills, tremendous people skills, are able to multi-task and work a schedule that allows you to work weekends in the summer months with greater flexibility in the off-season (October to May) we would love to hear from you. If you are interested please email your resume or call 705-832-3255.

The HSBC Triathlon Series needs YOUR help in 2008 - Volunteering Opportunities

We would like to extend our thanks to everyone that that volunteered in 2007 and helped make last year such a success. Events like ours cannot happen without volunteer support and we are looking for volunteers to help at our 2008 events.

We have a number of programs to give "thanks" to our volunteers. We offer donations to support community groups or sports teams that volunteer at our events and High School (and Grade 8 Grads) can earn volunteer hours of towards their required 40hrs.

We also offer FREE Racing for young (high school and university) athletes in exchange for volunteering. We are also offering entry discounts to racers who help recruit volunteers. Helping us recruit volunteers in your local community does not preclude you racing at your local triathlon. If you think you could recruit 8 - 10+ volunteers for your local triathlon, drop us an email at volunteers@multisportcanada.com and let us know. We would be willing to offer discounted race entry fees to athletes who help find volunteers. Who knew getting your friends and family out to a triathlon would help you save money!!

Volunteering at a Triathlon/Duathlon is a great way to learn more about Triathlon/Duathlon events before participating in your first event. We have had several people contact us already this year to volunteer as part of their preparation for their first event. If you are injured and cannot compete, come out and volunteer instead of staying home and still experience the energy of the event.

This year we had Technical Tees at Lakeside, Gravenhurst, Toronto Island and Wasaga Beach. We asked your opinion of the Tech Tees in our Online Post Race Survey after each of the individual races and the response was extremely positive. We have therefore decided to provide Technical Shirts rather than cotton t-shirts at ALL of our races, with No upgrade fee or charges. So with each race entry you will now receive a Technical shirt with a retail value of approximately $40.

The 2008 HSBC Triathlon Series Electronic Series Guide - Preview

For the past six years we have done everything we can at our races to ensure that we are being environmentally conscious. As many of you know we have had recycling at our races since the first year and started bringing compost bins four years ago. You will see more recycling and compost bins this year. We also think it is time to do whatever we can in other ways and are taking very seriously the environmental impact of printing 20,000 paper Series Guides. Next year we hope to drastically reduce the number of Series Guides that we print. In fact this year we took in less advertising so that we could reduce the number of pages in the guide from 32 to 24.

Throughout the 2008 race season, during online registration, you will be given an option to opt-out of having the paper version mailed to your home. Then, in 2009, a full colour version will be available electronically on our website. You will be able to check out all of the series details and only print the pages you need. In this way we hope to drastically reduce the number of series guides printed and still give you all the information you have come to expect from us. The 2008 electronic version is now available for viewing at The HSBC Triathlon Series Guide - Digital Edition

Please let us know what you think of our plans by sending us an email.

The 2008 Series Guide is available at retailers such as Enduro Sport, Gears, D'Ornella's Bike Shop and La Biccicletta.

2008 Race Schedule Race Improvements - We Read Your Survey Suggestions

As we mentioned in our January newsletter we would like to thank everyone who took the time to complete an online post-race survey after any of the 2007 races. Your input was added to what we ourselves learned at each race and this collaboration has resulted in some changes and additions to the races and schedule. If you would like to see the changes and improvements to the 2008 series lineup please take a look at the January Newsletter where there is a breakdown of each race.

Athlete and Special Interest Stories

If you would like to contribute an article or story that you think others would find interesting please email us. This month we have three stories that we think will be of interest to many.

The Faces of the HSBC Triathlon Series - A New Feature by Roger Hospedales

The Faces of the HSBC Triathlon Series is a section we have developed for our website that will introduce you to some of the athletes who race with us on a regular basis. We will feature one or two athletes in our newsletters. We have collaborated on this section with Roger Hospedales, who will be writing these articles. Roger Hospedales is a frequent competitor and familiar face at all of our races. He is also a contributing writer for Triathlon Magazine Canada. If you receive an email from Roger there is a good chance he wants to know a little about you. Pictures courtesy of Mike Cheliak Photography. Please visit our Faces of The HSBC Triathlon Series Web Page

Hollywood Blackwood

Hometown: Hamilton

Age group:  Under 20

Years in the sport: 5

Accomplishments: 2007 GT 12.9 Series Winner

Fave Equipment: New Balance running shoes

Fave Races: Lakeside, Welland

Goals for 2008: Compete in at least 8 HSBC events, do more sprint distance races, and defend her series title.

Interesting info: Two-time high school athlete of the year, former competitive dancer for 10 years, joined the Hammerhead Triathlon Team in 2003, made her race debut in 2004, admires Samantha McGlone, and likes to arrive especially early to races.

 

 

Mike Leader

Hometown: Toronto (resides in Markham, ON)

Age group: 35-39

Years in the sport: 5

2007 Highlights: HSBC Triathlon Series Winner - Clydesdale Men under 40

Fave Equipment: Specialized Tri Vent shoes, Fizik Arione Tri 2 Saddle

Fave Races: Gravenhurst, Bala Falls, and Wasaga Beach

Goals for 2008: As always to have fun, focus on short races, average over 35 kph on the bike, beat his 5 km split time, and defend his Clydesdale title from 2007.

Interesting info: Finished 2 Ironmans, proud father of 2 kids, banker and part time model, member of Team Running Free, and a big fan of Craig Alexander, Faris Al-Sultan, and Simon Whitfield.

Visit our Faces of The HSBC Triathlon Series Web Page for the full story on all of the profiled athletes

Tips and Articles From Coaches and Medical Partners

Every month our panel of coaches and medical professionals give you training tip and injury prevention and rehabilitation advice. If you would like to take a look at their past submission please visit our Training Resources Section - Training Articles. Whether it be mental preparation or nutrition there is something for everyone.

Is Your Stroke Dragging You Down? - By Dr. Scott Howitt

In the last month we have seen several patients present to Sports Performance Centres (SPC) complaining of shoulder pain associated with increasing the intensity or distances in their swim workouts.

While issues of overtraining or a previously injured shoulder which has not been rehabilitated can not be overlooked, the primary reasons you might have trouble in the pool is the result of difficulties with your stroke (technique) and biomechanics (muscle function - strength and balance).

Typical swimming instruction advises that the swimmer try to extend their stroke out as long as possible in order to present a longer line in the water. The rationale is that a longer object will go faster through the water. Certainly, getting long and stretching out your stroke will reduce body resistance and is a good practice. However, stretching out too far forward can put your arm in a bad position if your goal is to actually swim fast. A simple tip for novice swimmers, and one that my coach Steve Bentley constantly emphasizes to me is to swim with a high elbow.

Fast swimmers have been observed to quickly anchor their hand and forearm in the water and pull up to push past it. By entering the water at a steeper angle, the swimmer is actually able to get their arm through a stroke faster, and is able to bypass the requirement of pushing down into the water. This high elbow position helps to generate the forearm anchor; however it does require considerable flexibility of the shoulder girdle, as the shoulder is elevated and internally rotated while flexing the elbow.

Common mistakes we typically see among swimmers include: stretching areas that are already flexible and those not required for swimming; or conversely to strengthen muscles that are already strong and to strengthen them in a 'non-functional' way. Recent studies suggest that shoulder laxity is frequently involved in shoulder pain in swimmers and therefore a shoulder stability exercise program, as opposed to a generalized rotator cuff strengthening plan is recommended.

The most common pattern we see among our patients who injure themselves swimming is a tight posterior capsule of the shoulder (the back of your shoulder) with postural alterations (shoulders rounded forward and pulled up) that promote shoulder instability. Eccentric weakness of the subscapularis muscle and a supraspinatus tendonopathy or rotator cuff impingement is also prevalent. Thus treatment involves stretching and strengthening before ramping up your training program to the point where the shoulder aggravation sinks your swim.

Studies conducted at Ball State in the United States which looked at swimmers over the course of a season showed that the athletes who made the greatest improvements were the ones who swam with the highest average intensity. In contrast, there was no relationship between training volume and performance improvement - that is, individuals who swam the greatest distances were not the ones with the biggest performance gains - and, similarly, there was no link between training frequency and performance upgrades. Swimming faster during training - but not longer or more frequently - was associated with significant upswings in performance.

The defining aspect of an elite swimmer versus a recreational swimmer is the athlete's ability to reduce the drag forces that slow their forward motion. There is no consensus on the 'perfect technique' and not surprisingly different coaches have different opinions. Still, consulting a swim coach will undoubtedly help your form and in conjunction with proper exercises, minimize injury.

If you are already suffering from a "Swimmers Shoulder" the proper treatment includes a combination of soft tissue treatment, specific active rehabilitation, and an analysis of your stroke technique to identify abnormal patterns. Of course this advice is only for those who truly have a problem like the one described above. It would be remiss to not acknowledge other causes of shoulder pain (such as labral or ligamentous problems and/or referral from the cervical spine) that should be ruled out before attempting to stretch or strengthen your shoulder. A sports specialist can provide you with the proper diagnosis and advise you on the best treatment plan to groove your stroke.

For more information contact one of the sports specialist at SPC- Sports Performance Centres.

Dr. Scott D. Howitt
CK, CSCS, DC, FCCSS(C), FCCRS(C)
Sports Specialist, Rehabilitation Specialist, Chiropractor, Acupuncture, Kinesiologist
E. sdh@sportsperformancecentres.com
www.sportsperformancecentres.com

 

The specialists from Sports Performance Centres will be onsite at many of our races this coming summer.

If you would like to send us an article for a future issue please email us.

 

Evaluating Your Performance - By Rick Hellard

How important is evaluating your performance?
In a word, very.

In fact, every training session and every race will have good points and bad points. Each of them should be properly assessed using somewhat flexible criteria.

My suggestion when evaluating performance starts with the answers to the five questions below.

 

1. Was the finish time(s) as good it (they) should have been? Better? Worse? Why?
2. Were the objectives realistic given the preparation?
3. How did it feel?
4. What did I learn from this experience?
5. Would I do anything differently? How much difference would it make?
   
   You don't need to fill out a questionnaire after every effort. Assessing the success of the workout should be second nature. For example, if you blew apart in a workout, you should assess whether the goal intensity was too high or were you tired from something else. Similarly, the question to be asked is whether you should have been able to do the workout the way you tried to do it? If the answer is yes, look further into it for why you could not. If the answer is no, then look no further - you were right.
   
   I believe the answers to these questions will help keep each performance in perspective as well as give direction to improve things for the next time. You should also realize that life goes on after a bad workout.
   
   Hope this helps.
   
   Rick

 

 

 

Iliotibial band syndrome: Common Knee Injury in Endurance Athletes - By Dr. Kenneth Lau

In recent years, endurance sports such as triathlon have started to become mainstream among the public. As such, the incidences of running and cycling injuries have also increased. It has been estimated that two-thirds of runners would suffer an injury that would disrupt their normal training program each year. This number can rise up to 90% for those individuals who are training for marathons. Some of the most commonly cited factors for injury are: (i) an increase in training mileage too quickly; (ii) previous injury; and (iii) a competitive training motive. Another high risk factor for injury has been associated with runners who train more than 20 miles per week. These factors contribute much to the musculoskeletal injuries found in the knee region of endurance athletes. One common knee injury is known as iliotibial band syndrome.

Anatomy and etiology of Iliotibial band syndrome

The iliotibial band is a thick band of tissue that originates at the side of the pelvis. It is supported by the tensor fascia lata and gluteal muscles, which help in stabilizing the hip during walking and running. From the pelvic region, the iliotibial band extends to the side of the knee, patella and part of the hamstring tendons. During walking and running, this section of the iliotibial band slides over the side of the knee when the knee is bent to approximately 30 degrees. It is this action that contributes to iliotibial band syndrome. Excessive sliding of the iliotibial band over the knee can result in potential friction and irritation of the iliotibial band. Some common causes include leg length differences, repetitive bending of the knee (i.e. walking, running, cycling and squats), pelvic and knee muscle imbalances, running or walking styles, and running on a slope over a long period of time.

Clinical Presentation: Sign and Symptoms

A patient with iliotibial band syndrome will have a primary initial complaint of diffuse pain on the outside of the knee. The area of pain is usually not one specific area of tenderness, but is over a broad area on the outside of the knee. Over time, this diffuse pain will become more sharp and localized to an area just outside the knee joint. It is typical for a patient with iliotibial band syndrome to start feeling the pain after several minutes into the run or after the completion of the run. However, as the condition worsens, the patient may start feeling the irritation even while at rest. In addition, the patient may note that running downhill, lengthening their strides, and sitting for prolonged period of time with their knees bent may aggravate the existing pain.

Treatment

Treatment for iliotibial band syndrome varies depending on the stage of the condition. In the initial acute stage, the goal of treatment is to decrease pain and inflammation by using ice. The patient can also consider asking their medical doctor for a prescription of anti-inflammatory medications. In addition, any activity that requires the patient to repetitively bend their knees should be minimized to prevent further aggravation of the iliotibial band. To maintain cardiovascular fitness, the patient can begin a swimming program. However, the patient should place a pool buoy between the legs and only swim with their arms to reduce further aggravation of the iliotibial band. Once the swelling and inflammation has decreased, it is important to begin stretching exercises on the iliotibial band as well as other musculatures in the hip and knees. If the condition is still irritating at this stage, it is recommended that the patient seek care from a healthcare practitioner that specializes in musculoskeletal injuries. The practitioner may prescribe certain treatments to help manage the pain. Strengthening programs are also given to assistthe patient in a speedy recovery.

For more information on how to return to healthy running and cycling in 4-6 weeks, contact Dr. Kenneth Lau at Absolute Endurance Training and Therapy, 416-483-2388, drkennethlau@absoluteendurance.com.

The specialists from Absolute Endurance will be onsite at many of our races this coming summer.

Clubs

There is a list of clubs on our Clubs page in the Training Resources Section. We are happy to publish information for any club whether it is an overview of the club on the Clubs Page. If you are a member of a club please take a moments and read about our Club's Reward Program.

Coaches, Camps and Clinics

A Training Camp For the Whole Family

Mark Hummel, a 6 year participant in the Multisport Canada and HSBC Triathlon Series, is hosting an unofficial training camp from August 3 through to August 10 at the Bayview Wildwood Resort just south of the Muskokas. The focus of the training camp will be the Olympic Distance, and is a great training week leading up to Cobourg and Wasaga Beach. This is a great opportunity to get away with the family, friends, or just by yourself and enjoy a fun training and relaxing week.

Please see the details below on the resort and the surrounding area, and why it is well suited for training.

Venue: Bayview Wildwood Resort (www.bayviewwildwood.com)

Bayview Wildwood is a family friendly, all inclusive resort. My family has been going there for almost 10 years, and have been vacationing on Sparrow Lake for 50 years. The Resort is located on Sparrow Lake, part of the Trent/Severn waterway, located about 15 minutes north of Orillia (almost dead centre between Orillia and Gravenhurst)

The Resort has been owned and operated by the Stanton family for over 100 years. The resort offers many hotel and cottage style rooms, with breakfast, lunch and dinner served every day in the main dining room. At meals you can expect:
Breakfast: buffet style with: different egg options every morning, either pancakes, waffles or French toast, bacon, sausage, omelets station, fresh fruit, yogurt, juice, cereal, pastries, bread and area to toast with jams and spreads. You can eat as healthy as one wants
Lunch: usually two option every day: buffet style and BBQ outside. Buffet has again several options, usually some kind of meat, vegetarian option, fruits and veggies, salads, dessert, sandwich area, and pasta bar. There is always food catering to kids as well (ie chicken fingers).
Dinner: menu style, usually 2 appetizers, 4-5 main courses, desserts, and children meal options. Chef usually does a great job.

Recreation: One can keep themselves busy all day long in activities, or do nothing except sit around the lake or heated pool. They have many different activities, usually some kind of fun competitive events going on, such as badminton, horseshoes, shuffle board, tennis, baseball, etc. They have activities for all ages. In addition, there are many water sports available, ie sailing, canoeing, boats etc that are all free, and then waterskiing and wakeboarding which are an additional cost.

In addition, they have organized day care and age specific child program services. They divide the ages into infant-3, 3-5, 6-8, etc and you can choose to put the kids into the program almost all day (there are morning, afternoon and evening program times available) My kids look forward to going into them every year.

Finally there are always activities going on every evening, both for kids, teens and adults. For example, last year there was an animal show, bird show, magic show, casino night, karaoke, and movie nights.

Training Venue

The area surrounding the resort is fantastic for training. The water is clean, and given where the resort is located, has some protection from the wind. The temperature of the water during the first week of August, is usually low 70s. The roads are almost all pristine, and a mix of great flats and rolling hills. First thing in the mornings the roads are usually not busy at all, as the majority of residents are cottagers. I have always found the drivers very courteous, and never had to worry about it. The roads wind north, and would easily accommodate a 100KM+ ride if anyone was so inclined. Finally for running, I use the same roads. There is one direction that, while not good for the bike (extremely rough road) is very challenging for a run, as there are some short steep hills. Again, easy to go 10-20KM+ no problem at all. There are also many trails through the forest for trail runs.

What I would like to do, and the resort has agreed, is finish off the week with a very unofficial sprint tri. There is an area that we can use on property to do transition, that will take us both quickly out of the water, and onto roads for cycling and running.

Typically I train first thing in the morning (before breakfast) as this way I get it out of the way, and then can spend the rest of the day with the family and friends up there. Also, there can be some wide temperature swings (ie 10 degrees) which makes the morning rides and runs very comfortable.

Cost: Cost is generally $1100-1200 per person per week, for a 7 night stay. There are 5 night stays available as well. Again this includes all meals. Children are less expensive.

If anyone is interested, please email me at mark-triathlon@rogers.com.

Here is a link to a number of camps that are being offered by NRG Performance Training, Healthy Results Training and Oannes Swims.

Partner Events and Races

We are very happy to help promote and support your event. If you would like to have your event listed on our website please send us an email with an overview, descriptive paragraph for our website and a high resolution graphic.

Wasaga Beach - Phoenix rising from the ashes is a circus

Many of you have asked about how the fire last November in Wasaga Beach might affect the race. The answer is it will not affect any of the races at all. In fact beachfront developers unveiled plans to bring a circus to the main beach area of Wasaga this summer, to fill a void left by the Nov. 30 fire that destroyed the Main Street pedestrian mall. The full story can we read at the Wasaga Sun website http://www.wasagasun.ca/wasagasun/article/72519

 

Friends of the Collingwood G&M Hospital..........we need you STAT !!!!!!

Join the "Friends of the Hospital "who are participating in the Wasaga Beach Triathlon on September 6th,2008 and pledging funds for their efforts to go towards a new ultra sound for the Collingwood G&M Hospital. Go to the Hospital site www.cgmhf.com to register pledges....it's that easy.

We have many medical staff participating in the Triathlon this year. You can support your Hospital by pledging one of our staff, forming a team of your own or participating as an individual. To see a list of participants you can pledge and get more information go to the www.multisportcanada.com.

This year we are trying to increase the pledge funds from $15,000.00 to $30,000.00 and we need your help to achieve that goal.

The Ministry of Health and Long Term Care does not provide any funding for the replacement of the G&M's old ultrasound unit. All costs ($185,000) associated with the purchase of the new ultrasound unit and the upgrading of the existing ultrasound must be funded through community support of the Collingwood G&M Hospital Foundation (CGMHF). Although the new ultrasound unit is already in place and functional at the G&M, the CGMHF will be fundraising throughout 2008 to cover the cost.

The new generation of ultrasound uses three dimensional imaging and can even be upgraded to four dimensional. This advanced technology provides a much more lifelike image to the radiologist, making diagnosis of a wide variety of medical conditions much easier. In addition to prenatal examinations, ultrasound is critical to the accurate and timely diagnosis of many illnesses including cancer, thyroid and kidney disease.

Joe's Team - ONE EXTRAORDINARY DAY. TWO EXTRAORDINARY TRIUMPS.

The human spirit is a powerful thing. It can show us how exceptional we can be as individuals - and how extraordinary we can be as a community. An extraordinary day where you can swim, bike and run your way to two triumphs: The individual triumph that awaits you at the finish line and the community triumph that will see $600,000 benefit The Joe's Team Fund supporting the head and neck translational research program at The Princess Margaret.

On Saturday, July 5 join 400 athletes on Lake Joseph as we TRI to conquer cancer. Participate in the Sprint Triathlon or Duathlon as an individual or as a part of a relay team. To join this event and register

To learn more about The Joe's Team Triathlon!
www.joesteam.ca

 

 

Bike 4 Betty

Thank-you for supporting The Gears 24 Hour Spin, in the past. We missed you this winter as we took a small break from our Indoor Event (look for it again next winter). We have been focusing our attention on a one-day, outdoor, family charity bicycle ride called Bike 4 Betty, raising funds for the same cause, The Betty Wallace Women's Health Centre at Trillium Health Centre.

I invite all of you in the Greater Toronto Area, who would like to go on a meaningful bike ride on Sunday May 25th, to go to our website, www.gearsbikeshop.com and click onto the Bike 4 Betty link. The ride is for everyone, there are different routes of different lengths; 2km, 15km, 30km along the waterfront trail, a 40km mountain bike ride on the Mississauga Trail system, and a 75km road ride for the road enthusiast. There is something for everybody in your family.

If you are unable to ride, but are willing to volunteer, we need support in different areas, including ride marshaling, please contact mmyers@thc.on.ca to volunteer.

The Westover Shore To Shore Relay

The Westover Shore to Shore Relay is a 332 KM journey for teams of 10-12 runners or walkers which begins at Port Stanley and ends at the beach in Grand Bend. This unique event takes place May 30-31 and benefits Westover Centre for treatment and recovery from tobacco, alcohol and other drug addictions. Join the experience! Register your team at www.shoretoshorerelay.com.

 

 

 

The Ride to Conquer Cancer

Looking for a challenge? Join the thousands of cyclists gearing up for The Ride to Conquer Cancer benefiting The Princess Margaret. The 2-day, 200 kilometre course from Toronto to Niagara Falls, approved by Olympic Silver Medalist and Tour de France yellow jersey rider Steve Bauer, is both fun and demanding. And if 100km per day isn’t enough for you, Steve will be leading the Afternoon Afterburn, an additional 50km ride that leaves from Camp on Saturday.

2 out of 5 Canadians will be diagnosed with cancer this year. The Princess Margaret, recognized as one of the top 5 cancer research centres in the world, is dedicated to finding a cure in our lifetime. But we need you to take us across the finish line. BE THE CAUSE FOR THE CURE. Register today Call 416.815.RIDE (7433) or visit www.conquercancer.ca

The Underwear Affair

Hit the streets of Toronto on August 23, 2008, for Sunnybrook's Underwear Affair! Join runners and walkers of all ages and athletic abilities, dressed in everything from briefs and boy-shorts to t-shirts and tracksuits, and help fund life-saving research for cancers like prostate, colorectal, cervical, ovarian, and others that occur below the waist. After you cross the finish line, enjoy dancing, a few well-deserved drinks and an outrageous costume contest at the EXPOsed Afterparty!

 

Swim For Kids

Shaun is a Toronto firefighter and wants to raise funds for the Toronto Sick Kids Hospital Burn unit a charity close to firefighter's hearts considering the horrific number of recent childhood fatalities and injuries in fires this winter. Shaun will attempt to swim across Lake Ontario, which is a sanctioned event.

The first swimmer to have successfully completed the distance is Marilynn Bell in 1954. The swim starts in Niagara-on-the-lake, and ends at Marilynn Bell Park in Toronto (Ontario Place), covering a distance of 50km (31miles). The water is usually very rough and cold, even in August. Shaun would be the second oldest swimmer to complete this difficult crossing and will take anywhere from 16 to 25 hours. All crossings need to be monitored by Solo Swims of Ontario (see: www.soloswims.com) There are many requirements over and above proving that you are fit enough to try (with a 16km trial swim 2 weeks before) such as needing lots of equipment and a large support crew, made up of 5 other firefighters, two zodiac boats, a sailboat and speedboat and team of volunteers. Shaun will not be allowed to have any support other than to be handed food/water if he is to be successful.

Shaun has been diligently training his weekly swims are now 6 hours straight in the pool and over 14 hours/week! He is being coached by a master swimmer, John Scott, who holds the amateur course record. Shaun is also a husband and father of two young kids. He values the incredible care that Sick Kids Burn unit provides children in need and proud that this hospital is one of the world leading hospitals, on leading edge of burn rehabilitation. Shaun will have some costs to cover such as equipment rental and registration fee. All proceeds will then go the Hospital for Sick Kids Burn Unit. Shaun's Swim for Kids is registered with this charity (see www.sickkids.ca). Swim for Kids is registered for charitable donations (BIN# 171299654).

Donations can be made directly to Swim for Kids. Shaun's Swim for Kids website has more information www.swimforkids.ca. Please send your e-mail address along with your contribution so we can confirm your payment. We will also keep you up to date with Shaun's progress as the swim approaches in August and will not give your address to any other party. Your support would be greatly appreciated. We would appreciate any donation by cheque, credit card or email money transfer.

Send to: "Swim For Kids"

167 Sweeney Drive,

Toronto, Ontario M4A 1V1

Shaun Chisholm
www.swimforkids.ca

 

Tri-Adventure in 2008

The Tri-Adventure in 2008 will be held on August 15 - 17. It consists of a 3 km swim (or 15 km run) on Day 1, followed by a 15 km canoe on Day 2, and a 140 km cycle on Day 3. Participants are bused from Toronto to just north of Orillia where we have our swim on Lake Couchiching. On Day 2 we canoe to a campsite off the shores of Lake Simcoe. On Day 3, we cycle back to Toronto. The Tri-Adventure started in 2005, and since then, we have raised over $160,000. More information about the event can be found at http://www.triforafrica.org

Change your life while changing the lives of children in need

Race 4 Kids is a triathlon organization in Ontario which provides training programs, support, and coaching for every level of triathlete, and for every distance of race, from a super sprint triathlon to an Ironman. Race 4 Kids athletes will compete in various events throughout 2008 and 100% of the funds raised will go to POGO, who provides programs and support for children with cancer and their families.

 

Fighting cancer is a huge undertaking and that is why we picked Ironman Lake Placid for our primary fund raiser. Have you ever thought about completing an Ironman? Would you do it to help children with cancer and their families? 6 spots left for the 2008 Ironman event in Lake Placid.

Our new program in 2008 is *Race 4 Kids Everywhere*. This program has you picking the event you want to compete in and Race 4 Kids will support you with a training program and coaching for *FREE*. Have you ever thought about completing your first triathlon or reaching a personal best? This could be the motivation you need.

Head Coach and Race 4 Kids founder, Richard Pady, is a triathlete who has 20 years of experience in the sport, raced at 5 world championships as a professional,and 6 Ironman's to his credit, is himself a parent of a child with cancer. Childhood cancer is a devastating diagnosis that affects both the child and the entire family. Each year, in Ontario, 400 children are diagnosed with cancer and 3,000 children receive active treatment or follow-up care. *Sadly, two of Ontario’s children succumb to cancer every week making it the leading disease-related cause of death in children.* It is the goal of Race 4 Kids to make a change in the lives of these children and their families. When children with cancer win, we all win.

In 2007, our first year, 40 people raced at Ironman Lake Placid. They swam 2.4 miles, biked 112 miles and ran 26.2 miles and together raised over $150,000. In 2008, the goal for Race 4 Kids is to raise $200,000 for POGO.Come be apart of our team!!

For more information go to: www.race4kids.ca
Slide show from 2007 go to: www.race4kids.ca/photos.htm

Events and Camps for Children

The Healing Cycle Kids4Kids Triathlon - Ontario's newest Kids Triathlon Sunday June 22, 2008 Mississauga , Ontario

The first annual Healing Cycle Kids4Kids Triathlon will take place on Sunday, June 22, 2008 on the Mississauga Campus of the University of Toronto (UTM). The Kids4Kids Triathlon combines swimming, biking, and running in an exciting race format that promotes fun, fitness and self-confidence. This is a great way to introduce children and youth aged 3-15 to the popular sport of triathlon.

Each athlete will receive a race t-shirt, race kit filled with all sorts of goodies and a finishers medal to recognize their effort. This chip timed, non-competitive event will award participants with a healthy boost of self-esteem and an experience to last a lifetime.

Sanctioned by OAT (Ontario Association of Triathletes) this event is a fundraiser for The Healing Cycle Foundation. With the goal of raising $1 million, this nonprofit organization provides support to patients and families in palliative care at Mississauga's Credit Valley Hospital.

The triathlon is all about kids helping kids.The Healing Cycle Foundation is a non-profit, volunteer-based organization that raises awareness and funds for Palliative Care Unit at Credit Valley Hospital. The Foundation, with their goal to raise $1 million, believes that terminally-ill patients and their families should be supported throughout the palliative care process. The Healing Cycle Kids4Kids Triathlon is kids supporting kids through this process and contributing to the goal of a $ 1 million. Visit www.thehealingcycle.ca for details and registration.

 

 

Swim, bike, and run your way to a fun and fantastic summer! - Triathlon Camp for 7 to 15 Year Olds

Camp You Can! is a triathlon-based day camp for children aged 7 to 15, designed around a recreational approach to the sport. Headed by an Ironman Triathlete, Personal Trainer and Fitness Instructor, our exciting and exclusive camp provides campers with a fantastic and unforgettable summer experience while keeping them happy and active through enjoyable, cardio-based sports that can be used to stay healthy and active for a lifetime. We offer an exclusive 2:1 camper to staff ratio, allowing every camper to enhance their personal health and fitness through individualized programming. We are located at the beautiful, 110 Acre St. Andrew's College in Aurora, and camp begins July 1st and runs until August 8th.

For more information, please visit our website, www.campyoucan.com and take a look at our brochure. You can also contact us by phone (416.806.4388) or email campyoucan@gmail.com. Spaces are limited, so contact us today!