Monday, September 10, 2007

2007 Triathlon success!

Well the 2007 triathlon season is over for me and it was great!!
I completed both my half ironman races and qualified for the Provincial Long Course Championships and the Provincial Team!! This was quite unexpected but a testiment to all my hard work in the gym rehabilitating my injuries.
I continued to race the Kelowna Apple Triathlon and placed fifth in my age group missing a spot for the 2008 World Championships by 30seconds!! A little disappointed but more motivated to do better next time!! I also raced the Vancouver Triathlon Olympic Distance race on Sept. 3 the day after my 7th anniversary. I managed to place 3rd in my age group after a very cold swim, a fun bike ride around Stanley Park and a difficult 10km. I enjoyed the day while my husband cheered me on.
Now I have the fall to work on my running speed and enjoy the mountain bike trails.
I am in the process of planning my 2008 season and my next IM.
I am excited about training and racing another IM.
Thanks to all my sponsors this year, Northshore Athletics, Snow Covers, Sugio Brand Champions and my husband Paul!!!

Thursday, May 03, 2007

Race Season 2007

Well the season has already begun and I have managed to test my foot strength at a couple of races. In March I raced at the UBC Triathlon and came first in the 35-39 age group in the Olympic Distance race. My next race was a sprint in Sooke and again I managed to win my age group 35-39 .
This year has been very differnt for me. With my foot still healing from a fracture last year I have had to change my focus from Ironmna to the Half Iron distance.
I am planning to race the Oliver and Osoyoss Half Ironman races this season to see how my body is healing. After those races I will decide wether another IM is in my future!!

Wednesday, November 08, 2006

Recovery

For the past four months I have been living on crutches due to a stress fracture that fractured through. This injury was quite untimely(as they all are) and I was unable to prepare for and compete at the Ironman World Championships in Kona. This injury has had and continues to have a huge impact on my life. When I was told that I had to be completely non-wieght bearing on my foot I never realised the impact it would have on my life. I began to get down on myself and depressed, what athlete wouldn't? I did end up going to Hawaii to support my husband Paul, who was racing and other friends who had qualified. I arrived the day before the big earthquake hit the island. I was there with two close freinds, thank god, or it would have been a even more terrifying experience. That night we decided to celebrate life over dinner with a glass of wine and good food. We continued for the rest of the holiday celebrating life, it was wonderful. During my stay I decided to attend the Sport Medicine Conference held the week before the event. The highlight of the conference was a brief talk from Jon Blaze. Jon was the young man who in his fight to battle ALS completed the race in 2005. His words were my inspiration at my ironman race in Arizona. In fact I ran by an aid station in Arizona and noticed Jon talking to someone. I proceeded to run over to him and thank him for his inspiratiion. In April 2006 Jon was standing on his own and talking with others. When he arrived to talk in Kona his parents wheeled him in, in a wheel chair. They lifted him up to support him as he stood and tried to form the words for his talk. Not an easy task when you are losing control of your ability to speak. He said that he was still pursuing his goal of trying to raise funds and awareness to battle the disease of ALS. I met him after and thanked him for his courage and efforts. What an inspiration!! Then at the carbo dinner a young military officer who had his lower leg blown off in a land mine accident while serving overseas stood up to speak. He was the first military officer to ever be sent back to front line duties with a prosthetic. At the end of his talk he said, " if on race day you are left feeling sorry for yourself you have missed the point", he paused and said "YOU ARE ALIVE". It was like he was talking directly to me. On race day I cried when they sang the anthem to start the race. I thought to myself that everyone was out there living my dream. Pretty selfish I know. After a few moments I realized that they weren't living my dream, they were living there own! For the rest of the day I stood and cheered on every athlete feeling proud of them and especially my husband. As we stood close to the finish line tears came back to me, not for myself, but for every athlete who took part and got to live their dream, reach their goal, and be amazed at their own abilities. I am now able to walk again and am trying to start my raod back to health both mentally and physically. I am glad I had the chance to watch the race and expereince the emotions I did. I am proud of myself for going and watching and being strong and I am also proud of all my friends and sponsors who supported my through one of the toughest times in my sporting career.
Thanks to my husband who felt my disappointment and took my with him, in his thoughts, on race day!

Friday, May 26, 2006

2006 Race Results

This season is off with a bang for Triathlete Christine Suter.
At her first race this season Christine placed first in her age group 35-39 and was third female overall. Then it was off to Ironman Arizona where she finished fifth in her age group and found out a week after the race that she qualified for the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii in October. Her next race was the 3d Military 10km run in Hawaii where she won her age group and finished fourth female overall. Her lastest race was on May 22, the North Shore Sprint Triathlon, where Christine won her age group and came second female overall, missing the first place by 25seconds!! By winning her age group Christine qualified for the B.C. provincial team.
The next race is June 19, the Victoria Half Ironman.
In the meantime Christine will be busy helping out with the local kids triathlon and continue to coach the kids triathlon camp. She will also be helping out her sponsors with group rides on Tuesday evenings from Snowcovers and evening runs at Lululemon on Wednesday evenings.
Come on out and join Christine for some traning and fun!

2006 Sponsorship

New Sponsors for my 2006 Triathlon Season

I would like to thank my sponsors, Lululemon Athletica Whistler and Snowcovers Whistler for supporting me for my 2006 triathlon season.
Through their support I have been training and racing in the latest triathlon gear that the designers at Lululemon has produced. I am happy to say that their new tri short design is great! The fabric is quick drying and the shammy provides enough protection without the bulk!
Snowcovers has been quick to fix my bike maintenance issues as they arise to keep me and my new Guru Crono on the road! I will also be racing in a great new lightweight Giro helmet, the Atmos, for my upcoming races !

Monday, March 27, 2006

Ironman Arizona April 9, 2006

Christine is off to Arizona to race her 5th Ironman in Tempe Arizona. The race is on April 9th and you can follow her through the race by logging onto ironmanlive.com
I am aiming for a personal best time this race and will update you on my success.

Triathlon Seminar

Saturday Mar 25, 9am at Lululemon Whistler Christine Suter is providing a free seminar for those wanting to get into the sport of Triathlon. She will discuss how to get started, the resources available in Whistler for swimming, biking and running and how to become a member of the Whistler Triathlon Club and Triathlon BC. She will be available for answering questions at the end and will share with you her triathlon experiences.

Thursday, March 23, 2006

Swimming to battle Alzheimer’s

Whistler's Christine Suter plans to get wet for Alzheimer's Awareness Month. She has committed to swim 10 kilometres in the Meadow Park Sports Centre pool on Sunday in honour of her mother in law, who suffers from the disease.
For her swim, dubbed “Swim for Memories,” Suter is asking the Whistler community to get involved and go for a swim. Alzheimer's Disease is the most common form of dementia in Canada and an estimated 435,000 Canadians over 65 suffer from it.
“I decided to organize Swim for Memories because my mother in law (Margaret Suter) has Alzheimer's and I wanted to do something in her honour,” Suter said. “My own goal is 10 kilometres but you can swim as long as you want.”
Other communities are hosting a Walk for Memories event but Suter said a swim was better suited for the icy Whistler weather.
A triathlete, Suter is currently training for an Ironman Triathlon in Arizona this spring. Her husband, Paul Suter, is also on board and has agreed to swim five kilometres on Sunday. Marianne Prevost has also committed to swim in memory of her grandmother.
“I chose to do a swim because I am a swimmer. I have always enjoyed water sports and I have competed in a couple of open-water races from North Vancouver to Kitslano Beach. I know I can do the distance and I think swimming might bring awareness to the disease,” Suter said.
The event runs from 7 to 9 a.m. Suter will continue to swim toward her 10-kilometre goal after the two-hour mark. She said people are also welcome to sit in the hot tub and cheer on the swimmers. Diana Rochon from Dynamic Core Fitness is also helping organize the event and will collect donations and dole out refershments.
Pledge forms are available at Meadow Park and Lululemon. For more information on Swim for Memories, contact Suter at (604) 932-0788.

Wednesday, March 22, 2006

Suter on the move , again !

“I have completed Ironman Canada 4x and will race my fifth Ironman in Arizona on April 9, 2006. Last year I qualified for the Provincial and National triathlon team for my age group. I competed at the Age Group World Triathlon Championships in Hawaii and came 51st in my age group in Oct. 2006. I just place first in my age group at UBC triathlon Olympic distance race and third overall out of all the females. My next race is Ironman Arizona in April where I hope to go sub 11hrs. I will then compete at a few local races like the North shore Sprint triathlon in May and the Victoria 1/2 Ironman in June. I will compete at the Kelowna Apple triathlon in August and try to get an age group spot for Worlds for 2007 in Hamburg Germany. I am a Registered Massage Therapist, level 1 triathlon coach, weight trainer, group fitness instructor, Stott Pilates instructor, and teach aquatic rehabilitation. of Steel race in May. “