Baydog Annual General Meeting a Great Success!

We had an awesome turnout at our AGM this past Saturday.  Alot of new members have joined the Baydogs this year.  Our new member sign ups are way ahead of plan.  All 2014 members received a complementary black Baydog T-shirt with their membership.  New apparel items for this year include a fleece lined hat and high quality swim cap - both only $10.  The Baydog love of all things sweet was evident with the announcement of this year's annual ride to Shaw's Pancake House on April 12th, and Butter Tart Festival ride in Midland on June 14th.  Group workouts for 2014 confirmed as Monday stairs/hills, Tuesday bike time trials, Wednesday speed workouts, Thursday brick workouts, and Saturday group rides.  The new Barrie Triathlon Club Mentorship program was also announced which is FREE to Members and will launch on March 1st.  Baydog members were encouraged to sign up for the Triathlon Ontario Club Championships on the Guelph Lake weekend of June 21/22.

For more information about the Club or what happened at the AGM, please contact the club at info@barrietriathlonclub.com

2014 Online Membership Registration is Open

Membership is $75 until February 15th, then goes back to $85. Fee includes club dues of $30 and Triathlon Ontario dues of $45 (which is special club rate). Memberships are good until March 31, 2015. We are also offering an Associate Membership for $25 which is good for friends and family members who want to be part of Club activities but will not be training or racing. Go to the website now and sign up in minutes. Goodbye paper!!!!

Baydog Annual General Meeting Sat Feb 22 10am

Come out for our Annual General Meeting where we will discuss our plans for 2014, meet other triathletes, and buy some Baydog swag. Graham Fraser will be our Guest Speaker. We are thrilled to have him join us. Graham started Ironman in North American, pioneered the Subaru Triathlon Series, heads up Centurion Cycling, and is responsible for bringing the E-Games to Barrie with Simon Whitfield last summer. Hope to see you there.
Location:  Barrie Free Methodist Church 284 Cundles Rd E. Barrie, ON

Happy New Year!!

Tomorrow marks the start of a brand new year. January 1st is typically the day we set resolutions to eat healthier, get more exercise, and embark on new journeys. May 2014 be full of greatness, good health, and may you achieve all the goals you set for yourself.

Year End Social!

Everyone had a great time at the year end social. A very special singing performance by our Ironmen (Ironpersons). They did a fabulous job of Black Sabbath's Ironman. It was a great opportunity to discuss our victories, whine about our injuries, and make commitments to our future goals, while enjoying good food and cold drinks!

Come out and celebrate the end of a great season of training and racing. This is our annual year end social and is always a great time. The club is picking up the pre-ordered food tab too! All club members, significant others, new members, and alumni welcome. Party is at the 'Ol West Wing on Hurst Drive (different location than last year). Please RSVP on facebook if you are joining and number of guests so we can get the food right.

Joanne Merkley: What Makes This Sport Great!

Being a veteran of multiple Iron-distance races (2009 IM Canada, 2010 IM Lake Placid, 2011 The Canadian 226 (Ottawa), competing at the World Championships out west in 2008, and placing in her Age Group at a variety of triathlons across Ontario, Joanne has accomplished a lot as a triathlete. But, she does not rest on her laurels, and would like to give a big thanks to all those that have helped her overcome an injury that cancelled her 2012 season, and helped her prepare for IM Mont Tremblant on August 18, 2013!  The funny thing is, Joanne has inspired so many local triathletes, that we owe her a big thank you!!

From Jo Merkley,

Thanks…

It’s my turn to say “thanks” to all of you who have inspired me and motivated me throughout the winter and the summer training and racing seasons. Last year, I was forced to the sidelines for the summer. That meant I had to give myself a big kick to get back into the game. Thanks to all of you for the fun along the way.

My 2013 race and training line-up included:

• The Chilly Half- PB for this race and almost PB for a half
• Sheri Fraser’s Training Camp/Spring Break Fun- met lots of great people and loved getting outside on the bike in the winter
• Around the Bay-PB
• Goodlife Marathon- PB and met BQ standard
• Spin the Lakes- always a grind
• Centurion- nasty day of torrential rain and cold, slowpoke but got ‘er done (may have been wiser to let that one go…)
• The horrendously hot Welland Half Iron- met my goals
• Niagara Training Weekend with the London group in Welland where I found out that there is amazing, difficult cycling and unique landscapes along the edge of the escarpment; Baydogs excursion next year?
• Peterborough Half Iron- PB at this distance
• Lots of long bike rides, swims, runs, Time Trials and Speed Workouts with Baydog friends

I am most grateful for:

• all of you guys (you know who you are) who let me draft during our long training rides and who didn’t ditch me after I fell behind on the climbs
• good cycling shorts and chamois cream
• during or post-ride buttertarts
• those of you who do all the extra work to keep the club going strong

Highlights:

•  arriving at the bike rack 2^nd at the Peterborough Half and getting in from the bike and seeing only 1 other bike there…
• exploring new cycling routes
• smiles of fellow athletes and fans before, during and after races
• running with a herd of youngsters and introducing them to Simon Whitfield at the EGames

Biggest Duhhhhsssss:

• Warming up for the Centurion by going up the hill by the Horseshoe Chapel only to find that my shoes wouldn’t clip out due to the sand and mud in them from the flooded parking lot and having to keep going even though I had run out of gears and the ride was about to start. Not having enough speed to even make the 180 degree turn, I had to turn into someone’s drive way, ride up to their side balcony and hang on tight with one hand, hold the brake with the other, get my feet out of the shoes and jump to the ground without toppling over or losing my bike down the slope
• Having both calves go into full spasm at the same time while carrying my food after the Toronto Marathon and helplessly falling to the ground

Looking forward to:

• Tremblant. I plan to take my time and enjoy the scenery! Can’t wait to see many of you complete your first full.
• Some trail running, getting back into the hockey season, skiing and boarding  and the Winterlude TriathlonJ
• BEER and WINE and CHOCOLATE

Push On, Finish Strong

Jo Merkley