With the craziness of indoors I didn't get a chance to post some links, so here they are.

Canada Reads 2010

The winner was crowned last week, unfortunately it wasn't my pick Fall On Your Knees. Congrats for Nikolski. If you missed the debates they are online, with full audio, video and one on one confessionals.

I know how big the Canada Reads brand is across the country and I worked very hard to be well prepared. So I was disappointed I could not get my book further in the competition. Yet despite not winning the top prize, I had a blast being a part of the 2010 edition.

This is what the Torontoist had to say about my role:

"Perdita Felicien, however, wins Canada Reads MVP for her passionate, no-holds barred commentary that shocked nearly every listener.... “I did not see Perdita Felicien coming,” Julie Wilson, former CBC Book Club guest host and current BookMadam, admitted. “For all the performance of what makes the ideal reader, the most thoughtful reader, the best-prepared reader, she just balls out loves Fall on Your Knees and that’s that. End of story. Say what you want, she’s leaving there with her fave book of all-time on her arm, and she got to debate it on behalf of one of her favourite authors. How bloody cool is that? I loved her. I absolutely loved her.”".

The producers and entire team made the experience one I won't soon forget. A special thanks to: Anne, Sarah, Barb, Rosie and the whole team at CBC!. And of course (my) author Anne-Marie MacDonald.

The Score Celebrates Black History Month

I was happy to be a part of The Score's Black History Series, which aired last month. During taping I had no clue the finished product would be as thought provoking and commanding as it proved to be. So glad I was able to lend my own female African-Canadian perspective.

What If?

Money Management

Education

Back in Action

I'm back in action. I had two days of nothingness on Monday and Tuesday. So beautiful this nothingness...

I had a grand old time sleeping while normal people were at work. And at night it was just me, cookie dough and infomercials. Gotta love Doha jetlag.

I could have got used to this...

Except before I knew it Wednesday came, and with it a text from coach, for me to get my tail back into gear. Dude would ruin a good thing.

Chaa.

I can't lie though, this week is very light, a mental break from the rigors of training. However, that means the next 5 weeks before my first outdoor race are going to be torture.

This is the phase that mimics fall base training. So think longer, faster intervals, more weight room days and hills. Basically more volume, intensity and puking track side.

Yes!.

Time is flying, my season opener is already just around the corner.

P

Dita Does Doha: Pics & Video

Photos

Medal Ceremony Begins

In the mixed zone

Canada on the podium

Silly shot

I like sparkly things

Can't lie, I loves a podium

Canadians from the Canadian school in Doha

Picture for the Canadian School students

Lots of pics post medal ceremony

North America rules the podium

Press conference name tag

They held our flag high during each round, awesome

Killing time before press conference...still got doping control and media

My manager Renaldo Nehemiah came to congratulate

Go Canada!

Medal Ceremony Green Room

Look how MC showed up at the airport

I had no idea he was coming, loved it!

Video
Women 60m Hurdle Heats

Heat 2 Lane 4 @:23

Women 60m Hurdle Final-Rear View

Women 60m Hurdle Final-Broadcast (No Sound)

Dita Does Doha

Happy to report I won the silver medal at the World Indoors in Doha, Qatar. I ran my fastest time in six years, 7.86!

I can admit that based on my preparations going into Doha I didn't expect a whole lot. I just wanted to end the season on a strong note and compete as best I could.

But I hadn't broke 8.00s all season and had contemplated packing it in a few weeks before worlds, to focus on outdoor. Atlanta weather was crappy, and really affected our training. On top of that I had been dealing with a bout of osteitis pubis since January, and I just wasn't where I needed to be technically. But I could burn the rubber off a treadmill though. lol.

I confided this indecision to the BF, forgoing Doha to focus on outdoors. And I was totally caught off guard by his tone with me. Rudeness. Dude totally crashed the pity party.

Chaa.

It definitely wasn't the soft place to fall, more like: "Chick if you don't get on that damn plane to the Middle East, you and me...we're gonna have a problem...".

A very mild paraphrase. But it worked and my dude was right. It is my job to compete, no matter the circumstances. No one cares. Thanks MC!

I have a few other people to thank, on the eve of Doha, for being on the podium. They buoyed my confidence and never let me count myself out.

My BFF Nicole G., the best inspirational email writer circa 2004. They don't know about our nub! And of course, her hubby The R. my technical sounding board.

Dr. Kelsick the best friend a hurdler can have, and did I mention the world's best chiropractor. Dude kept potentially cramping calves, cramp free!

And of course the most tyrannical-get crunk-wants it bad-knows his ish coach I have ever had in my 20 years, Rana Reider. Looking forward to outdoors...

But if you ever tell me "You're in 7.8x shape!" again, after I just clocked another 8.0--we're gonna have a problem. :)

And thanks to everyone who emailed, facebooked, telepathied and sent word via my fam. Mr. D who gave me some words of wisdom at York, before I left. And Tony S. for getting my osteitis to calm down, and left glute to fire, just in the nick of time. Thank you, thank you and thank you!

**Ok extremely corny post. I admit this. But very necessary.**

Medals are forever, grateful to God for another one!

Perdita