Into The Semi!

One down and two to go! Feeling good after I got the first race jitters out. It was shakier than I would have liked, but definetly my normal having not raced in a few weeks.

Once again thanks for the prayers and everyone reaching out to say they have my back no matter what! I feel so loved and blessed to have so many people in my corner. Its 1020pm in Berlin and time to take my semi-finalist tail to bed...going hard tommorow!

God is Good!
P

**Click below to see my post round 1 video interview on Flotrack.org.

** Perdita Felicien 1st round 100 hurdles IAAF Berlin World Championships IAAF World Championships in Athletics 2009 on Flotrack

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Ahoy Captains

Gary Reed and myself were named captains of the team, a role I gladly accepted. Yes, it did make me feel a bit old. But when I looked around at our team it is a very young one, and we are two of the more experienced.  Despite the team being young, it's very strong and it's members will no doubt be the faces of 2012.

In a sit down with head coach Alex Gardiner and the first timers we talked to them about how we each prepare and control distractions, etc. We also painted the very real picture that this meet is a big deal, and yet at the end our team we will all go back home to Canada and continue to live well.  However for others this is a matter of survival, an opportunity to change their lives and they will ploy right through you to get there. And to never lose sight of how intense and critical this is for many. It's time we adopt that attitude, and not star gaze and just be happy to be here. Hopefully we injected some inspiration laced with good fear into those that needed it.

So on this first day of competition let me loudly and proudly say:

GO CANADA!!!!!

It's Go Time

It's funny how you work all year for one big goal and before you know it, it's time.  The entire season for me was never realistically going to be my winningest one. Rather it was a season to give chase. To plug away at things, take my lumps and be with the lead pack when things really matter. 

And I feel we have done that.

On this eve of the world champs there is not much else I can do physically in the next four days to be ready. But things can easily become too at ease and care free because the time is now. So in the eagerness to get this party started, I am reminding myself to keep that steel eyed focus until the final hour. Not a whole heap can be gained, but important bits can be lost.

2009 Season

Every step of the way I have savored the challenge that this season presented. I loved feeling my body change back, seeing my training results improve by precious milliseconds and experiencing the rebirth of that stone cold confidence in myself. 


More than anything this year has been really really fun, and guess who needed that the most?!

Quote # 5

My good girlfriend has been sending me a different quote everyday as a 10 day countdown to my race. This was today's: 

Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out. -Robert Collier

You go Robbie!  Because if my middle name hasn't been repetition for like ever!!.  I love this quote and my girl Al Boogie even more for supporting me in this way. And want to thank every one of my friends and family and fans that have reached out to say they got my back.

No one loves ya more,

P

Updated CBC Broadcast Schedule

I just got some more up to date information about CBC broadcast of the World's.  See below for TV and online.

CBC Main TV Broadcast Schedule:
Sat. Aug. 15 @ 14:00-15:00 ET Live
2009 WORLD TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS ON CBC

Sun. Aug. 16 @ 16:00-17:00 ET Live
2009 WORLD TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS ON CBC

Sat. Aug. 22 @ 13:00-15:00 ET Live
2009 WORLD TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS ON CBC

Sun. Aug. 23 @ 12:30-13:30 ET (Manitoba East only)/16:00-17:00 ET (Saskatchewan West Only)
2009 WORLD TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS ON CBC

Sun. Aug. 23 @ 00:30-02:30 Local
2009 WORLD TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS ON CBC

www.cbcsports.ca Online Schedule

Sat. Aug 15 @ 03:55-08:30 ET Live
2009 WORLD TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS ON CBC: Day One Session One

Sat. Aug. 15 @ 11:35-15:55 ET Live
2009 WORLD TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS ON CBC: Day One Session Two

Sat. Aug. 15 @ 14:00-15:00 ET Live
2009 WORLD TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS ON CBC: Berlin

Sun. Aug. 16 @ 03:55-08:00 ET Live
2009 WORLD TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS ON CBC: Day Two Session One

Sun. Aug. 16 @ 11:55-16:00 ET Live
2009 WORLD TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS ON CBC: Day Two Session Two

Sun. Aug. 16 @ 16:00-17:00 ET Live
2009 WORLD TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS ON CBC: Berlin

Mon. Aug. 17 @ 11:45-16:00 ET Live:
2009 WORLD TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS ON CBC: Day Three

Tues. Aug. 18 @ 03:55-06:30 ET Live:
2009 WORLD TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS ON CBC: Day Four Session One

Tues. Aug. 18 @ 11:45-15:00 ET Live: 100m hurdle heats 12:10pm T.O Time
2009 WORLD TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS ON CBC: Day Four Session Two

Wed. Aug. 19 @ 03:55-07:50 ET Live
2009 WORLD TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS ON CBC: Day Five Session One

Wed. Aug. 19 @ 11:55-16:00 ET Live: 100mh Semi & Final 12:45pm & 3:15pm T.O Time
2009 WORLD TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS ON CBC: Day Five Session Two

Thurs. Aug. 20 @ 03:55-11:20 ET Live
2009 WORLD TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS ON CBC: Day Six Session One

Thurs. Aug. 20 @ 11:45-16:00 ET Live
2009 WORLD TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS ON CBC: Day Six Session Two

Fri. Aug. 21 @ 03:00-07:50 ET Live
2009 WORLD TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS ON CBC: Men's 50KM Walk

Fri. Aug. 21 @ 10:25-16:00 ET Live
2009 WORLD TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS ON CBC: Day Seven

Sat. Aug. 22 @ 05:35-08:55 ET Live
2009 WORLD TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS ON CBC: Men's Marathon

Sat. Aug. 22 @ 11:45-15:00 ET Live
2009 WORLD TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS ON CBC: Day Eight

Sat. Aug. 22 @ 13:00-15:00 ET Live
2009 WORLD TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS ON CBC: Berlin

Sun. Aug. 23 @ 05:05-09:00 ET Live
2009 WORLD TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS ON CBC: Women's Marathon

Sun. Aug. 23 @ 09:25-13:15 ET Live
2009 WORLD TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS ON CBC: Day  Nine

Sun. Aug. 23 @ 12:30-13:30 ET
2009 WORLD TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS ON CBC: Berlin

Sun. Aug. 23 @ 16:00-17:00 ET
2009 WORLD TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS ON CBC: Berlin

Ode to 22

I have left Kamen and am now in Berlin. 

So it is now official: let these games begin! I know totally acting like I'm the IAAF president or at best Usain Bolt.

I arrived yesterday evening by bullet train, and I am so glad to be here. I have not travelled by train extensively in Europe, probably twice in 6 seasons. And while this was not an arduous journey with my teammates, let's just say I love me some planes.

This 'plaftform' and that 'platform', carrying your own luggage and the man looking to poke holes through tickets disturbing my sleep...ick.  Not how I like to roll. Usually. But I did. 

And you know what? I thoroughly enjoyed it--not everyday. But this one I did.

Day One in Berlin

Let me set the current scene for you: room 112 (only if u believe it),  a balcony view facing absolutely nothing, new Maxwell bumping on Itunes, sipping my second liter of water, I just gave the maid one less room to prim, and like Roberto Benigni says Life IS Beautiful!

I mean could a day get any better for a jumper of sticks?.  Not this one.

I have been to B-Lin a few times before but find this time around it holds a different appeal, it just feels good to be here. It could be the atmosphere or my gratefulness in being a part of things this year.  Unlike in  Beijing where I was was relegated to the sidelines, an extremely fit spec-lete forced to watch the biggest show on earth rather than be in it.

So Berlin 2009 feels much like Paris 2003 to me: new, fresh, enticing.
 

A powerful adventure that I am craving and wholly embracing, how right it is to be 28 but feel 22.

That's all for now,  heading to the track for a light session with coach.

P

So You Wanna See The World

Howdy,

so I know a lot of peeps have taken August 19th the day of my final off. Thanks & Yipee!

Just know that CBC will not be airing much on TV except on August 15 @ 2pm Eastern. But they are streaming everything live online @ www.cbcsports.ca.

So if there are any thiefs "borrowing" wireless signals, time to hook up internet for a few days, and you can always call  Bell or Rogers on August 20th to cancel...kidding.

But not.

Also www.universalsports.com is showing live coverage online but this may only be available to viewers in the States.  Click here to see Universal schedule.  

NBC will be showing television coverage on the weekends during the following:

August 
15—World Championships (1:00, NBC) 
16—World Championships (2:00, NBC) 

22—World Championships (1:00, NBC) 
23—World Championships (2:00, NBC) 

I compete Tuesday August 18 and Wednesday August 19 but there is a lot of action and great events from Berlin starting Saturday August 15.  Click here to view complete World Championship Events Timetable. I know everyone will want to watch the men's 100m final to see Tyson Gay & Usain Bolt.

Some local knowledge for those back home, Berlin is 6 hours ahead of Toronto or Eastern Standard Time. 

Hope this helps, see CBC schedule below & be sure to double check this info!

P

CBC Sports Streaming Online Daily Schedule. 
Eastern Standard Time  All Live 

IAAF World Championships Berlin

Saturday August 15

3:55-8:30 ET LIVE 
11:00-12:00 ET LIVE 
12:05-15:30 ET LIVE 

Sunday August 16

3:55-7:30 ET LIVE 
11:55-17:00 ET LIVE 

Monday August 17 

11:45-16:00 ET LIVE 

Tuesday August 18 

3:55-6:30 ET LIVE 
11:35-15:30 ET LIVE 

100mh Heats @ 12:10PM Toronto Time

Wednesday August 19

3:55-7:30 ET LIVE 
11:55-16:00 ET LIVE 

100mh Semi & Finals @ 1245 & 315PM T.O Time

Thursday August 20  

3:55-10:00 ET LIVE 
11:45-16:00 ET LIVE 

Friday August 21

3:00-7:00 ET LIVE 
10:20-16:00 ET LIVE 

Saturday August 22 

4:50-8:00 ET LIVE 
11:35-15:30 ET LIVE 

Sunday August 23

4:50-11:15 ET LIVE 
12:30-13:30 ET 
16:00-17:00 ET 

I'm leaving training camp in a few days and will take the bullet train to Berlin. I have competed in Berlin a few times for the ISTAF Golden League meeting, which is always a great show. So I can only imagine what they will do to make these Worlds even more spectacular. 

I plan once done competing to take a few days and really explore the city, I am not much of a tourist on the circuit, but think it's time to go beyond the hotel room. The BF will be there and it's always a lot more fun to explore a new place with family and this will be his first trip to Europe.

Here is an good read on Jesse Owens and Luz Long, it really gives one perspective to the historical significance and location of these championships.

Training continues to go well and I'll update again soon.

P

Charge It To The Game...

Finally some footage of the DN Galan race in Stockholm is up (I nub new "numbersix8"!). It is the final and not the heats where I ran a bit faster. I have been gleaning the internet for this all week trying to extrapolate the good and not so good parts. Video for a hurdler is priceless, because the race goes so quick and sometimes what you "feel" is not always how it went down.

It actually wasn't that bad, besides the fact that I kept twitching my backside in the set position! WTHWT?!. But I did think it was a total gong show.  Now not so much. 

I needed to apply the same mental focus to that final like I did in the heats, instead of relying on muscle memory to carry me through the final. How ludicrous was that, I should  really have known better.

But a fierce race for all, and great feedback for me as I go into my fifth consecutive World Championship.

xo

Pdiddi

**Click here to see 2009 Dn Galan Results**

This "holding camp" business (I know I make it sound so sexy) is good for procrastinators like me.  Since there is nothing to do besides eat, train, eat, eat some more, this leaves a lot of nothing time. Yes I know what those of you who know me are saying: "You get a lot of nothing time at home, you ain't got no nine to five job!". 

Shhhh!. 

Indeed I do not, but these nothing hours are usually occupied by Direct TV. Namely Golden Girls re-runs, followed by Macgyver.

But lucky for me everything on TV here is in German, which I don't speak. And CNN is the only thing in English and I refuse to watch because I just cannot take anymore of the Pop King....until August 29, when I will be celebrating both our Birthdays..."Hee hee".

So today I was able to cross off four major items on my very long "To Do Eventually List", see below.

1. Finally, I got to shape my finger nails from square to round...always thought this would make my knuckles look less 'nubby'...indeed.

2. Try to beat my 23 second record for a head stand...nope, it still stands, pardon the pun. 

3. Remove a random piece of chewing gum from my spikes...I suspect Dentyne vanilla mint, gotta be worth a millisecond or two.

4. Find an unconventional way to spell the name of my first born: "Susannnagh", "Soozannah", "Süe'sannah"...personally I'm impartial to the last one.

See what holding camp can do for you, so much progress and achievement in a single day. My mother would be so proud. And to think people were saying how stir crazy and delirious I would become by being cooped up like this.  

Bahaha I'll show them.

Off to pick lint from my socks....then fold them, again.

P

The Little Hurdler That Could

Boot Camp Kamen Style is officially in full swing, we had our first session on the track yesterday. The session was 2000m of tempo running and explosive medicine ball throws, nothing too taxing.

However today will be quite the opposite, I have an appointment with lactic acid. If you have read my blog you know this is a necessary evil in my world, but not one I ever get used to or actively volunteer for. 

"Follow Fashion Makes a Donkey Lose It's Tail"-Mama

Last Monday, four days before Stockholm I had 4x 200m runs, and I was alone with no coach. Luckily Shana Cox and Monica Hargrove were also at the track doing a gang load of 150m runs. They are world class 400m runners and looked oh so graceful and pain-free...I watched them longingly as I warmed up for my session.

In the world of speed, I would be a wombat to their impala, no doubt.

Anyhoo, I'm not sure if I wanted to impress them or look the part too but whatever it was, it was stupid...and I would pay for this  mimicry later.

My first 200m should have been a low 26 seconds, to keep me comfortable but moving. I was being timed by someone else and whenever there is a clock on me, I get a bit possessed.  And with coach missing and not their to keep me in check, I was at the mercy of my own devices.

I promise there was a little winged creature sitting on my shoulder with spikes on. And instead of a pitch fork, buddy had a stop watch, talking about: "They have never seen you run, better look right Felicien...lest they talk about us.".

I came thru in what I was told was "25.8"...ok that is a seasonal best and very comfortable. 

Sweet.

A few minutes later I did another one in "25.9".  Really?!, wow. Another sub 26, for me. Maybe I should take on Allyson Felix this weekend.

Shut it....I was only joking.

But for a lowly hurdler that is some good running, based on my recovery time in between. But I spoke too soon because a few seconds into my rest my backside was locked. I mean pure immobilization. The gluteal region was burning up, like someone had me squat in a boiling vat of Tiger Balm for two days straight.

Frick.

The Little Hurdler That Could

I was in trouble.  On the last one I made the executive decision to shorten the run to 150m.  If my coach was there he would have signed off on this order.  I had to preserve my running mechanics and keep some integrity of the run.

I was steady rolling around in the grass, squirming like a moist worm suddenly exposed to a burning sun. Someone said something like.  "Let's go Perdita, rolling around like that is gonna make you feel worse".

Huh?!....Owww....it hurts... As I steady continue to stop-drop-and roll.

Isn't that what they taught children to do in grade two when on fire. Well thank you Mrs. Baker, 22 years later, this tool finally comes in handy, because your girl is burning up. The Pickering Fire Department would be so proud of my technique.

I guess Shana had seen enough of this pathetic display of N.S (No-Shame).  She marched over and grabbed my hands and pulled me to my feet.

Noo.. noo...Im not ready, I still have 3 seconds of rest left...U cant make me...!

Actually yes she could. Shana took charge of the situation and asked me what I intended to run this weekend. Oh no.  Was she was calling me out?!. 

Gasp!

This was a call to action, a 'Shall-Aunge' so to speak, I had to respond. So from parched lips I mumbled a scratchy and feeble "twel..ve ..f..ive".

She walked with me to the start line reminding me that "The last one is the only one that matters anyway". Right on sister, twelve five needs me.

...well I really need it.

The Final Frontier

So with burning buns of steel and Shana's pointers in my ears, I took off like a quarter miler incarnate. Arms swinging furiously. Steel eyed. Focused on the finish line. Mouth greedily sucking air. Feet digging into a hot track.

50m...GO P!....80m...MOVE!....110m....DON'T YOU DARE BREAK DOWN TRICK!....125m...EEK I THINK I'M LOCKING UP....141m...OH MY, HOW THINGS HAVE COME TO A SCREETCHING HAULT....150m....I DID IT!!.

Of course I was going nowhere fast that whole time...however it was the effort and heart that counted. I am sure they had to be laughing a bit inside, I knew I would have. 

Never before have I felt these two emotions at the same time. So sad and totally triumphant, and I loved every pain filled minute of it. Come to find out my first two splits were not 25.8 and 25.9 but a ballsy 25.1 and 25.4! I am glad they did that to protect me, if I heard the real times I woulda freaked out. 

Thanks to my fellow elites!

But the whole point of that true story is whenever I have something challenging on the horizon. A workout, a meeting, a major championship. I reflect on past successes and the times I have come through. I replay what I thought, how I felt and what made the difference. 

And I use that to pad my confidence going in to what ever is next.  So today's lactic acid is a microcosm of what's to come. If I can make it here, I can make it anywhere! In the corniest phrase I can find: BRING IT ON!

Perdita Felicien-I Eat Lactic Acid For Breafkast