Life Changing Event

Last weekend I attended the wedding of a good friend of mine, Kevin Gregg.  Kvein is now married to an amazing woman, Kate MacLellan.  While attending their wedding in BC I met Kate's sister Rosie MacLellan.  For those of you who don't know, Rosie recently competed in the 2012 London Olympics and was Canada's only gold medalist.  I have met many medalists before and have had the chance to view and hold multiple Olympic medals.  As amazing as the medals are there is something even more special each Olympian I have met has.  Each Olympian receives a small gold ring with the Olympic rings engraved on top.  A token only available to a special group of individuals.  The ring is what is stuck in my head. 

In 2005 I was working for West Edmonton Mall and was actively promoting myself in order to obtain sponsorship from my employer.  At that time my goal was to compete at the 2012 London Olympics in triathlon.  Somewhere along the way I lost sight of that goal.  Whether it was work, school, or personal life I am not sure.  As the London Olympics happened that once forgotten goal was sitting in the back of my mind.

I cannot get the feeling out of my head that I am running out of time.  The entire 5 hour drive home I was running through scenarios in my head that would make it possible to attend the Rio 2016 Olympics as an athlete.  In high school I threw Javelin with little to no coaching or technique advice.  I ended up finishing 4th in the city that year and thought that was the end of my javelin career.  I turned to football after high school and triathlon soon after.  The last 11 years my athletic career has been dedicated to triathlon.  Don't get me wrong it has been an amazing journey.  I have attended 4 triathlon world championship events and completed 2 Ironman events.  I love triathlon and Ironman events, but I want to be an olympian.

Back to the car ride home, javelin popped back into my head and it has been all I have been thinking about for the past week.  Researching local track and field clubs, javelin workouts, technique and qualifying standards have taken up all of my free time.  For those who think this is not a serious thing, I have placed my $7000 Timetrial bike up for sale in order to prepare for the next 4 years.

My workouts this week have changed from 4 hour bike rides to sprints, strides, weights and medicine ball training.  My search for a coach continues and will hopefully be over soon.  There is a major track meet in Edmonton every summer and I hope to be apart of it next year.  I already have my sites set on IAAF World championships in bejing China 2015 leading up to Rio 2016. 

Please join me on my journey to Rio



David