The very first triathlon I watched was a try-a-tri that my bro and mum had entered. I cried watching people cross the finish line. I LOVE that I know to wear sunglasses, even at the midnight finish line, watching the Ironman athletes coming through, to hide the tears pouring down my face!

I LOVE that having particular goals pushes me to follow through. I would not be active or in shape without a goal to motivate my workouts.

I LOVE that I am an athlete now, something I never really attained despite being on teams in school. I never had good enough hand eye co-ordaination for typical team sports.

I LOVE that when I wear a skirt I know my legs look great!

I LOVE knowing that my slow leg, swimming, won't ruin me from finishing. In fact, I may be a slow swimmer, but I'll pass people in my age group on the bike, and maybe even the run.

I LOVE walking around at events and talking to anyone and everyone. Hearing people cheer on complete strangers, seeing the kindness athletes show to each other.

Right now I race in the 20-24 age group and I've got to say I get a kick out of seeing the super competitive girls throw temper tantrums at the smallest of things... it makes me chuckle. On that note I should mention that there is a team in Ontario called the Hamilton Hammerheads, of Junior athletes. They tend to be overly competitive and a bit spoiled. If they don't become pro or whatever, and go age grouper instead, they have a tendancy to show some of that bad treatment you refered to Lise. Unfortunate for whoever is near by, especially b/c so many people are so generous and friendly. But like I said, its worth the laughs if you aren't at the receiving end of it.

I LOVE waking up the morning of a race and thinking through, planning through the race. Setting up my transition gets me calm for the race.

Last year at the Peterborough Half Ironman in Ontario my brother and I saw many things that were great moments, but this one stands out... we saw our friend Paul walking through the parking lot at the venue with a very broken bike (carbon fibre fork shattered). Jay asked him what happened, if he had been hurt or anything. Paul looked at us and said, "Oh no, its not my bike, I already finished my race (the sprint). This is a guy in the half's bike... I lent him mine so he could finish." "Paul do you know the guy?" "No."

I LOVE the volunteers who make the each race happen, b/c without them who knows how many races I would have finished. At one race the exit from the swim was on a VERY slippery boat launch. Two men were standing on the ramp, hauling athletes up onto safe footing. A dangerous position for them to be in!

I LOVE walking around Lake Placid during Ironweek... you can't make it through town without seeing people you know. The atmosphere is buzzing and the hype is contagious! If it weren't sooo much fun to be in that town during Ironman, I might not have caught the tri-bug!

But most of all, I LOVE watching my mum finish her races. Its then that I see her at her happiest (and she's a pretty happy lady.) I love her honesty about it... "This is 'freakin' hard Laurel!" she called out to me at the Half Ironman last year, in the hot, hot, humid weather. I love her dedication to the sport, and to seeing my brother and I enjoy it. She calls me up with tips, sends me encouring emails, lends me her tri-books... she's my tri-hero... well actually she's my hero in general!