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October 09, 2017
2017 ITU Age Group World Championships - Rotterdam (5 of 9)
Good morning, Rotterdam. Today is a day to take it easy, maybe do a boat tour. Reflecting on how fortunate I am to have reached this race in good health. Spoke to two teammates last night who are now only spectating... both were hit by cars while riding their bike before they left Canada. One just a week ago. Just finished chatting with another in the lobby, who was blown off her bike on Wednesday - when I saw her then, she didn't think she'd been seriously hurt and even went for a run (sidenote, this lady is easily in her 50s and is way more hard-core than me). Her arm is now in a cast and sling, and her race (and rest of the season) is over with a broken wrist. I'm going to try not to trip on anything today. Don't worry, I'm in Holland - there's plenty of wood furniture to knock on.
2017 ITU Age Group World Championships - Rotterdam (4 of 9)
Another full and exciting day here in Rotterdam. Encountered microburst storm conditions on the course familiarization ride this morning... hail, driving rain, extreme wind gusts. So much fun, that I decided to stand in a hot shower for about half an hour instead of changing into my wetsuit to go for a swim afterward. The video I posted yesterday gives you an idea of the water conditions… I gather someone was pulled off the course into a safety boat during today's practice. More importantly, we had our team Canada meet and greet event, followed by the opening ceremonies and dinner at Laurenskerk. This massive and beautiful church is the only medieval structure in Rotterdam that wasn't bombed to the ground during the war. All the pews have been removed, and now it is used as an event space. Had a great time meeting triathletes from all over the world, who I'll share the course with on Sunday.
The breakfast buffet on the ship is delicious
I'm not a regular coffee drinker, but I love a good espresso or cortado. Turns out the machine in my hotel room makes the best espresso ever. They even have a little single servings of organic milk.
The stir stick stayed up by itself in the crema. So good.
Race kit pick up was predictably busy this afternoon. Especially since all the athletes were looking to get out of the rain.
At the Team Canada meet and greet. Unfortunately, due to the nasty weather, the parade of nations was canceled. — with Hilary Iwanowski at Westelijk Handelsterrein Rotterdam.
Hilary signing a teammate's flag
Best accessory award goes to… The moose stuffy
It's Colette's wedding anniversary today. Good thing her husband is also a triathlete!! — with Colette Hopkins.
Yay, team OTC! — with Bryan Lemire, Jenn Bushelland Rachel Heft.
Yes, I bought a toque at the world triathlon shop. And came to realize that if I say the word toque to anyone who's not Canadian, they have no idea what I'm talking about.
The beautiful former church of Laurenskerk, at the opening ceremonies — in Grote of Sint-Laurenskerk.
In this shot, I can spot athletes from Great Britain, New Zealand, Belgium, Netherlands, and Norway
Having some fun with athletes from the Mexican team
Brazilian athlete getting into the spirit of things
Fellow athlete, from Japan
🇯🇵
Who cares that it's pouring rain outside… This is awesome
Had to get a shot with someone from team Ireland! This is one of their team managers.
Team Canada (you probably figured that out)
The breakfast buffet on the ship is delicious
Team Canada setting out on a course familiarization ride. We were all a lot wetter when we got back.
I'm not a regular coffee drinker, but I love a good espresso or cortado. Turns out the machine in my hotel room makes the best espresso ever. They even have a little single servings of organic milk.
The stir stick stayed up by itself in the crema. So good.
Race kit pick up was predictably busy this afternoon. Especially since all the athletes were looking to get out of the rain.
At the Team Canada meet and greet. Unfortunately, due to the nasty weather, the parade of nations was canceled. — with Hilary Iwanowski at Westelijk Handelsterrein Rotterdam.
Hilary signing a teammate's flag
Best accessory award goes to… The moose stuffy
It's Colette's wedding anniversary today. Good thing her husband is also a triathlete!! — with Colette Hopkins.
Yay, team OTC! — with Bryan Lemire, Jenn Bushelland Rachel Heft.
Yes, I bought a toque at the world triathlon shop. And came to realize that if I say the word toque to anyone who's not Canadian, they have no idea what I'm talking about.
The beautiful former church of Laurenskerk, at the opening ceremonies — in Grote of Sint-Laurenskerk.
In this shot, I can spot athletes from Great Britain, New Zealand, Belgium, Netherlands, and Norway
Having some fun with athletes from the Mexican team
Brazilian athlete getting into the spirit of things
Fellow athlete, from Japan
🇯🇵
Who cares that it's pouring rain outside… This is awesome
Had to get a shot with someone from team Ireland! This is one of their team managers.
Team Canada (you probably figured that out)
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2017 ITU Age Group World Championships - Rotterdam (3 of 9)
Today started with a 100-110km/hr wind warning. Some went out on a short ride -- spoke to some teammates who got blown off their bikes, one into a car. I gave that outing a hard NOPE and had a latte instead. Two team course familiarization rides cancelled. Went for a run/sightseeing jaunt this afternoon, learned a tiny bit of Dutch after a trip/sprawl incident (see pic of sign for details). More friends arriving... kit pickup is tomorrow. Race day's getting close!
Clare braving the conditions
Where's Waldo? Hint: near the middle, talking to her friend in the fluorescent yellow helmet, with a book tucked under her elbow rather than a bike in her hand.
Given the gale force winds and my lack of sleep, this seemed like the reasonable thing to do
Apologies for the half finger in front of the lens, but even with both hands on my phone the wind was threatening to rip it out of my grip — with Hilary Iwanowski.
Only thing flying on the deck today was patio furniture. All flags were put away.
Strategy 1: use a taller friend as an anchor — withHilary Iwanowski.
Down in the bowels of the ship. Hilary and I agreed this is the creepiest pool we have ever seen (only used on historical tour now, not open for use).
Awesome Jetson style staircase
Lucie and Catherine, glad to be off the airplane!
Still a beautiful day
During my run: "Hey, that ends in a "!"… I bet it's something important. I wonder what it means?" - moments before I catch my foot on a 4" metal lip and go sprawling into a guard rail. My educated guess is the sign says "don't trip on this!" Idiot move of the day.
Setting up the finish area
Sometimes it changes out of the lycra and goes out to dinner
The water taxi pontoon at the SS Rotterdam
Clare braving the conditions
Given the gale force winds and my lack of sleep, this seemed like the reasonable thing to do
Apologies for the half finger in front of the lens, but even with both hands on my phone the wind was threatening to rip it out of my grip — with Hilary Iwanowski.
Only thing flying on the deck today was patio furniture. All flags were put away.
Strategy 1: use a taller friend as an anchor — withHilary Iwanowski.
Down in the bowels of the ship. Hilary and I agreed this is the creepiest pool we have ever seen (only used on historical tour now, not open for use).
Awesome Jetson style staircase
Lucie and Catherine, glad to be off the airplane!
Still a beautiful day
Tough to see in this photo, but there is a wind vane on top of this tower (on the Hotel New York) shaped like a sailing ship. As it moves, the dial indicates the wind direction.
During my run: "Hey, that ends in a "!"… I bet it's something important. I wonder what it means?" - moments before I catch my foot on a 4" metal lip and go sprawling into a guard rail. My educated guess is the sign says "don't trip on this!" Idiot move of the day.
Setting up the finish area
Sometimes it changes out of the lycra and goes out to dinner
The water taxi pontoon at the SS Rotterdam
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