I Get Around...

A short picture essay of my life as a jet setter, which began at the tender age of 4.

Enjoy!

Perdita

Fashion Faux-Pas'ing in Niagara Falls, ON

My Tax Haven Monaco, Monte Carlo (I kid)

Getting Glam Toronto, ON

Riding the Pony Vancouver, BC

Thin Air in Whistler, BC

Asking for Tetanus in Grossetto, Italy

The Plaka in Athens, Greece

An ex-flame from France

OJ @ The Famous Icebar in Stockholm,  Sweden

The Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland 

Draw Master @ Woodbine

Just a friend! The Air Canada Centre

Miles away from it all in Barbados!

'Sippin On Some Sizzurp'

The first time I ever encountered Canada's national media was on a summer's night in Paris in 2003. I had won a world title and suddenly every reporter wanted to talk to me.

It was cool but very overwhelming, and I didn't know what to say, and what not to say.

I remember talking to Randy Starkman of The Toronto Star while eating all the Parisian delights I could find. I was also having a glass of bubbly and told him that too.

This freaked out our wonderful Media liaison who shot me a look of horror and said to never mention this again! It didn't make the morning press and I'm still not sure if  Randy just didn't hear me or decided it was not part of the bigger story. 

In the six years since, if reporters only knew how many times I was talking to them while sippin on some Spumante Bambino...

Goodbye Inside Track

I don't always love the media aspect of my job,  but I do it and always try to be honest and open about what is going on with me. I have been asked some fluff questions that are easy to answer and I have also been asked some very hard/annoying ones over and over and over...again, and I answer those too.

In all these years of courting the media, so to speak, I have the most fun when I sit down with Robin Brown of CBC radio's Inside Track. and Mark Crawley who makes everything happen behind the scenes. It is a pleasure to speak with someone who is interested in the human side of an athlete. And not just the person who performs. Robin's interviews allow the athletes who go on to expose a facet of themselves that their fans rarely get to see and  that other media don't tap into.

I have no idea what CBC is thinking and why they would let one of their most insightful and peerless programs dissolve. But I will miss the stories that Robin Brown tells every Sunday afternoon at 130 local time, and I am certainly not alone.

Click here to hear my final interview (June 7) on  The Inside Track.

Thanks for all the fun Robin & Mark!

Link: http://podcast.cbc.ca/mp3/insidetrack_20090607_16556.mp3

Ciao,

Perdita

Perdi & the Pumpkins

I am back in Champaign and ready for some more days of training. I am not sure what coach has planned but I’m guessing it’s going to be taxing followed by a much welcomed taper going into nationals.
I usually get really sad when I have to leave Toronto, in fact I have been known to cry upon leaving the BFs while driving a compact Chevy Cobalt back to Enterprise. (Indeed this unexpected display startled us both).

But this time was the complete opposite, I couldn’t wait for 4:20pm to come so I could just beat it! Such was my enthusiasm to train and continue the work I have been doing. Get me to Champaign-Urbana STAT!

But this trip wasn't with out some bizarre encounters.

Tickets to the Gun Show
I am platinum on American Airlines but I wonder why I put myself through all of their crap sometimes. I used the self-check in kiosk and had to wait forever to get my passport verified. I kept motioning for this one free agent to come over to help but she kept darting her eyes away like she didn’t notice me.

Like hell u don’t see me flailing these big guns around sister. NASA can see these biceps from space!

Finally she gives me some lack luster hand gesture to approach an agent beside her, because clearly she is just at her podium for style.

Arghh.

I finally get some assistance but that meant starting the whole process over and also paying $45 for two checked bags. 

This airline is a hot mess.

Michelle the agent gets me squared away and has me proceed to customs. Which I do in a rush because I am boarding in 20 minutes. With my two huge roller bags, a small wheelie and a duffle over my shoulder I get to customs and Officer Dale is waiting.

“Hi” I say in my most non threatening 'why-no-I-don’t-have-organic-crunchy-almond-butter-in-my-bag' sorta voice.

“Citizenship?”

Canadian.

“Oh not Jamaican?” asks the officer.

“Umm…no.”

Officer Dale asks if I am of African or West Indian descent

I mean what does this have to do with me getting some almond butter into the country without being fined.

I’m confused because I am both.

“My mom is St. Lucian” I tell him.

“Ha” he laughs “But you want to be Jamaican don’t you!”

This was a statement not a question and Mr. Officer was getting all excited in his swiveling chair. To this I say why does everyone assume that all West Indians hail from Jamaica.

His response “Because Jamaicans are running tings!”

WOW! Is this a joke?

I chuckle nervously while looking over at Booth #8 for help, pleading with my eyes. No one meets my bulging, blinking, twitching eyes.

Not sure what to say I babble that my mom was born in a small village that I have been to only twice in 28 years. And while I love my St. Lucian roots, he really should know I was born in Oshawa.

I wasn’t really sure where I was going with this story but his response to it was: “Why do you look so strong?”.

???????!!!! 

Now I'm just waiting for Ashton Kutcher and MTV cameras to tell me I am being Punk’d.

No Ashton.

Sensing that this is clearly a very loose exchange we are having,  I decide to play his game: “I eat people's children, which makes me lean”.

He doesn’t’ look up.  

And I instantly regret the sentence and yelp out “Just kidding!”. Realising that was a very stupid joke considering the present setting.

After a long seven minutes he lets me go and I hear him laughing as I leave.

Feast Your Eyes Fellas
Next up I approach the group of officers who are supposed to take my customs form. But before they do the three of them exclaim and make some delighted noises. The one refuses to take my form, throwing his hands back and cheesing he says he “doesn’t want a piece of me!”

At this point I’m thinking three things:
1. Is dude allowed to say that?!
2. What are they feeding the officials in this airport?!
3. Oh really. You think this is swole fellas? Come check me after some Tuesday afternoon cleans, pumpkins.

They take my declaration form and ask what sport I do for Canada. I respond and they let loose some ooohs and aaahhhs.

At this point I’m not sure if I should be flattered, troubled or just book my flights out of Kitchener the next time.

Glad to be home again,

Perdita

Thanks Everyone!

Those who have approached, emailed IM'd, texted, called or got a message to me via six degrees of separation, to say good job on Thursday night. I really appreciate the amount of people who were able to watch the broadcast or listen on the radio.


I don't make post race commentary a habit, but it was funny to see the two kinds of reactions after Thursday's race.

1) Those who were keeping their own reaction in check until they could feel me out. Was P, happy with this performance?...hmmm, better play it cool.

Example - "Good job P, how'd you feel?"- J.H

2) Those who didn't give a rats booty if I was happy or disappointed with the run, because they were too over the moon for me (the vast majority).

Example - "Oh my gosh girl, you ran awesome!! I don't care what you say..." -M.H


I haven't won a single race all season but that is so far from my focus and not what is important in early June to me.

Of course I would love to and always aim to win, but my impetus is on following the course of my own season and the gradual build to Worlds in mid August. Every single race is important, but simply a stepping stone. The field assembled was world class and it was a joy to line up against a great bunch.


The last time I ran 12.88 was on April 25th with a +3.0 wind, to run that again into a -1.8 is something to be pleased about. I've already taken out the positives and negatives and kept this thing moving.


Click here to see race on YouTube




Click here for pre-race CTV Video



Click here for Meet Results

Steady on the grind,
P

Hats Off to Festival of Excellence

Wow! And that's not a word I use very often, and usually only when I see something totally inappropriate.

However, this time this use is to sum up my astonishment and amazement of last nights International track meet in Toronto. Other words that come to mind: bananas, ridiculous and are, you, kidding, me?

Yes yesterday was a hit on all levels. The depth of field, the enthusiasm and turn out of a crowd that weathered rain and wind. Wonderful volunteers that showed how world class this city is. And for an inaugural event the organization seemed like a well oiled machine. To race on home soil for the first time in my professional career, felt so right and long overdue. 

I'm kinda sad it over.

Well done T.O and thanks to everyone that had a hand in making it happen! I have been all over the world as a pro and last night affirmed, there ain't no place like home.

Same time, same place next year?

I sure do hope so, because I've already saved the date!

Super proud,

Perdita

It's Race Day!

Don't forget to watch the meet tonight on TSN @ 730pm Eastern if you live in Canada. 

Espn360.com is also streaming it online @ 7pm Eastern.

Tickets can still be purchased at www.ticketbreak.com and at Varsity Stadium tonight.

The meet website is: www.festivalofexcellence.ca

Hope you get to experience world class track and field in Toronto.

Off to war,

Perdita

Pandemonium
Today's press conference was bananas, I have never seen so much media show up for a track meet in Canada, thanks of course to Usain Bolt. It was completely not what I was expecting and I have to say I was a bit blown away, and to boot Usain had to be escorted by his own secret service--Obama style.

Maybe I am naive but I had no idea it was that deep, until I went to the track and happened to be training at the same time. Well, there was so much attention and people staring his way that I had to leave that area of the track and go train on the other side. It was just way to much energy for me. But he handled it well and didn't seem to skip a beat during his own practice. The sheer site of him doing an easy 50m acceleration had the crowd screaming and cheering.

Incredible.

The Breakfast

I was up at 6am today to get ready for a TV segment on CP24. It was Bryan Clay and I promoting Thursday's International track meet. We had a great time on air and because of Bryan I am exploring the possibility of joining Twitter...but we'll see.

Perseverance

I had the pleasure of talking to 400+ Donview Middle School students this past Monday about perseverance. Here are a few shots of the event that was hosted by Right to Play.

Ciao!

P

I'm in Toronto and it wasn't easy getting here, I was stuck in the Eugene airport for hours. Drama. Which i'll spare you, but it was looking like "Freedom" all over again!

But I made it to town just in time for my afternoon assembly at Donview Middle School much to mine and many other's delight. I had a blast talking to the kids about their character theme for the month of June: Perseverence. Which we all know I know a thing or two about. And being an ambassador for Right to Play and all the ways they use sport to make the world healthier and safer.

I am slowly getting back into race mode, though I am finding it is hard doing that in Toronto. I spent the afternoon at my sister's house with her kids and our other sister and I was having a blast. I took everyone to Baskin Robbins and bought 8 ice cream cones, I went to pay and the cashier said "You buy ice cream for everyone, and not yourself!"...if Rita only knew.

That's all for now, my coach and chiro get here in the morning and that always signals "Go Time".

If you are up early Wednesday morning I'm on CP24 with Bryan Clay at 7:50am.

Ciao,
P

"You guys know I didn't win right?"

Hey ya'll,

hope you got to watch the track meet on NBC, there were some really great performances. I can't complain I'm officially in the "12.seven" club now and it's always sweet to get a season's best.

The field was stellar and it is always good to test yourself against the best, I am taking the positives out of todays experiences as well as what I need to work on for next time.

Most importantly my body is terrific!

Post Race with media & www.Flotrack.org

Click here to view official Prefontaine website results and video

That's all for now, I still need to ice bath before I catch my red eye to Toronto tonight.

Peace out!

P

On the Road Again

What a busy girl I’m about to be, so I’ll have to beg your pardon if I don’t update in a timely manner. But I aim to. ;-)

 Today was the last day of practice in town, coach, my training partner and I are leaving Friday morning for Prefontaine.

 I had a mentally tough workout to see me off, it was twice over 12 hurdles.



Doesn’t sound like much but considering a race is only 10, and in most practices 9 is the most I do, today was not your average day at the office. I did well and feel good going into Sunday’s race.

 What's Coming Up...

 Friday June 5 @ 1:30pm Eastern I am traveling but will be on the radio during one of my layovers. Toronto’s The Fan 590 to talk about The Festival of Excellence meet on June 11.

***Listen Live***

 Sunday June 7 @ 1:30pm I’m again on the radio, this time CBC Radio One (local time all across Canada).  Sadly I will be on Inside Track for the last time, since CBC has decided to no longer have the show. I’ll give my take on this in a soon to come post. 

The show is wonderfully hosted by Robin Brown and is a candid look at an athletes’ existence beyond the field of play.



As many times as I have been on I have never found myself get this emotional during parts of an interview. But it’s me and I’m real.

***Listen Live***

Sunday June 7 @2pm Eastern Prefontaine is broadcast live on NBC, I race at approx. 2:30pm. Go ahead and watch!

Monday June 8 I arrive Toronto at 6:45am on a red eye and have the pleasure of going to Donview Middle School that same afternoon for an assembly. There will be 400+ students in grades 6 to 8 and I get to speak on one of my favorite topics: Perseverance!



Along with my ambassadorship for Right to Play and all the good that they do for underprivileged children a world away.

Tuesday & Wednesday June 9, 10 The rest of the week at home will be devoted to promoting the Festival of Excellence Meet and hanging with my family.

 Thursday June 11 Racing well in my home town in front of my friends and family. Festival of Excellence tickets can be bought at Ticketbreak, and it will be televised live on TSN.

So host a track party and watch the fun!

Be back soon!

Cheers,

Perdites