Black Belt Training
January 30, 2012
I had my MRI on Saturday and I’m really anxious to recieve the results on Thursday. I hope nothing shows up, but even then I still want to know why I’ve been in pain for so long. I just want it fixed. I’m done being injured! Back in October when I first injured my ankle I was patient when I was told that I would be fine by January. Now that we are February, the frustration is starting to sink in more. I do feel very lucky that I’ve been able to do as much strength training and cardio training as possible so it won’t take long to catch up for lost time.
Mr. LeGrow holds a four hour black belt training each month for students in his school to really focus on patterns in more detail. I haven’t been able to participate the past few times so I decided to go on Sunday. I’ve been going absolutely crazy without Taekwon-do. I went and did some of the training and it felt so good to be back in my dobok 
. There are several movements that I am not able to do and I certainly didn’t want to risk anything. I really made sure I wasn’t feeling any pain.
Mr. LeGrow did a really great job going into full detail. I am obsessed with making every movement absolutely perfect so whenever I get the chance to have my pattern picked I am a sponge taking everything in word for word.
Going through the motions of my patterns makes me feel so free and grounded. You put every ounce of energy into each movement that your mind completely gets into the zone and you forget about everything else. I can’t really explain how amazing it feels. You just have to experience it yourself
Nothing feels better than doing a side kick and 180 reverse turning kick
I’m sure I’ll be 100% soon and then watch out…..
Ottawa Sports Award – 2011
January 26, 2012
I was very honoured to win the Ottawa Sports Award for Taekwon-Do. I don’t know who nominated me but I wish I did so I could thank them. This was the 59th annual dinner banquet and there were over 400 guests for the delicious sit-down dinner. The athletes that won have all competed successfully at the Provincial, National or International level. The calibre of individual athletes, coaches and teams were really impressive. The whole evening was televised by Rogers TV and will be aired next week. The two M.C.’s did such a great job at keeping the night moving and they were funny so it also kept the night light and playful.
The awards started with some very important people like Carolyn Waldo for her Lifetime Achievement Award in Sports Media.
I was so happy to see her again. She interviewed me for Athlete of the Week two years and we have kept in touch. She is so amazing at making people feel comfortable in an interview. Her mom was so excited for her award too I thought it was funny how she had just won this huge lifetime award but she said she was so happy and excited to see everyone else win their awards since she interviewed mos tof the athletes in the room at some point or another in her career. She felt that they were all her kids. Very classy!
Jason Dunkerley won for Paralympics – It’s amazing to watch him run so fast with his guide beside him. The must have such a strong bond.
Yves Sikubwabo won for Cross Country. I watched him dominate at OFSAA last spring and it was great to hear everyone chant out his name as he ran.
It was nice to see some of the athletes that I see all the time at the track. I was surprised now many familiar faces there were in the crowd.
There was a slide show of pictures for the Individual Athletes who won awards and they wrote really nice bio’s on everyone and put them in a booklet. It was really interesting reading everybody’s story. The athletes got to sign the booklets and it’s going to be at the Ottawa Sports Hall of Fame. That part was REALLY cool!
I was given my award by Barkley Frost who is on the Board of Directors of the Organizing Committee – I keep meeting up with Mr. Frost at different sporting events and award ceremonies. As I was going on to the stage he tried to demonstrate a kick which was cute but there was no way I was going to do one in my high heels and skirt 
Doug Scorarr is the Chair on the Organizing Committee and he’s a good friend of my Javelin coach so it was nice to meet him.
I had the chance to talk to Ottawa Mayor Watson again which was also nice. It’s great that Politicians are always there at this kind of event.
The Ottawa Fury Soccer Club and Ottawa Lions Track and Field Club tied for Amateur Sport Club of the year. These are my other two favourite sports. I’ve been training with the Lion’s Club since the Fall and they are definitely a great group of people with amazing coaches. I can’t wait to see what happens at the upcoming track meets this Spring. Maybe my soccer club (OSU Soccer Club) will win next year as well.
I share this amazing award with my Taekwon-Do coach Mr. Steven LeGrow since it was all his coaching that helped me win in New Zealand. I also share it with my family. I could never have done any of this without the amazing support of my parents and brother Greg. It was definitely a team effort. I love you all so much!!
Great night!!!!!
Making Life Long Friends Through Sports
January 25, 2012
Last weekend was my 16th birthday and it really hit me how lucky I am to have such amazing friends I have. Most of closest friends are ones I do sports with since we spend so many hours training together and we share the same goals, values and interests. Because I train so much, the people I train with become my best friends. We experience big and special moments together. They become an extended family. One of the greatest things with competing is that you meet so many people from every city and country and when you get together you just jump right back in where you left off. We are all so different from one another but we have a special bond.
My best friend and National Team Mate Steph Boivin organized a surprise birthday party for me in Montreal. It was the best time ever! Lots of my TKD buddies were waiting for us at a Japanese restaurant and I was so happy and shocked with their kindness.
Steph
Alex M, Philip and Vincent
Alex D, Anne-Sophie, Michelle and Catherine
Alex S
We had the whole top floor of the restaurant and the chef put on a private show for us. It was sooo cool!
Getting a little lovin from the Chef
Soooo cool!
The chef had us laughing all night
After the restaurant everyone went back to Steph’s house for a party – good times 
Steph had a professional scrap book made for me with all the pictures from this blog. it included all the special people, moments, quotes and expressions from the last couple years. I couldn’t stop crying looking through it. I was overwhelmed with the amount of thought that went into it. It’s a book that I will cherish forever!
On Sunday we went to Magog and I went snow shoeing for my first time. Wow, it’s fun.
Traditions are meant to be kept
It wouldn’t be a TKD visit/outing without a side kick thrown in. OK I know my form here is terrible but give me a break – I felt like Bambi on ice 
At least Steph can show you one with true form!!!
The views were spectacular no matter where you stood. I just wanted to take it all in. I loved it there!
It was so peaceful and relaxing
Thanks again Steph and all my friends for making it such an amazing experience
Check out the beautiful mountains. Just breath-taking
Live It Up Pragram
January 18, 2012
I’m really happy to be a part of the ‘The Live it Up Program’ which is supported by Ottawa Public Health. It’s all about learning how to live a healthy lifestyle both physically and mentally.
In the fall, myself and only a small group of selected student were chosen to represent the Live It Up Program at John McCrae High School. Every Wednesday at lunch we meet with Ms. Rusch and Ms. Talbot (our phys-ed teachers). We created a questionnaire that every high school student filled out. The questions were to find out what resources or guidance students were looking for and what’s missing in the system. It took weeks to enter all the results into the computer to come up with a summary. Now we can come up with the best resources possible to help the students in our school.
In our survey we found out that the topics that were of most concern were, mental illness, depression, drugs and alcohol abuse. It’s so important to get the information that we as students want instead of what adults think we want. With the rise in teen suicides this is obviously a subject that students need help with.
We are going to be having specialists in mental health come in to meet with us to educate us more on certain topics and then we can decide if we feel they would be good to present to the school for everyone or if just gathering information from them is enough.
Today we had our first group come in to talk about stress and different ways of dealing with it. I found the presentation really cool and I loved contributing to the conversation and drawing from my own life skills. Everyone has something of value to add and we can all learn from each other.
The last few months have been more in the organizing stages but next semester will be exciting to share all the information that we’ve gathered with the rest of the school. It’s been a great learning experience and I hope it will help a lot of people. It’s fun to meet different representatives from the City of Ottawa. I am seriously thinking of being a Sports Psychologist so all these programs give me the chance to see if the topics interest me and so far it’s been great.
I was also happy to find out that I was accepted into the Leadership Program at school again this Spring so that means more workshops and an overnight camp.I’m SO EXCITED!
Re-Evaluating Goals
January 11, 2012
I am a pretty hard headed person, especially when it comes to goal setting. If I say I’m going to do something, I follow through. The thing I hate most is going back and changing my mind, especially if it involves taking a step back to re-evaluate things or pull myself out of something. Sometimes circumstances take over that are out of my control like injury, timing, and location but I believe everything happens for a reason. I have learned the hard way, that it’s ok to re-evaluate goals and to change my mind. I need to follow my gut and instincts. Somehow, things always work out with determination, an open mind and hard work.
My big goal for 2012 is to make the TKD Canadian Team as a 3rd degree in patterns and a hyper-weight in sparring so I can compete at the next World Championships in Spain 2013.
So far, I’m not off to a very good start 
I injured my ankle in November and I haven’t been able to do much TKD training at all since then. I wasn’t able to compete at the Nationals in Calgary in November or attend a Pattern seminar by Master Laquerre last month. I was supposed to test for my 3rd degree in a couple of weeks but that is not going to happen since I still can’t do my stances in patterns or do any hard kicking. Board breaking is out of the question! Even after I test I will need time to learn and then perfect my new patterns in order to compete. I highly doubt that I will be ready for the Eastern Canadian Championships in March.
At first I was very upset since my big goal seemed to be slipping away but I have to keep things in perspective. As soon as I stopped worrying about competing at Easterns, I was able to look forward to the Can Am’s that are in June. I’m also pushing the date of my 3rd degree test. I would much rather heal properly now and fix my ankle and then test and compete later feeling 100% instead of rushing into things and making the injury worse. I know that things are going to work out. I just need to stay focused, patient and optimistic.
My big javelin goals this year is to win at OFSAA. I’ve been really enjoying my training and I learn so much every time. Fortunately I’ve been able to continue with a lot of the drills even with my ankle so I don’t feel like it’s been too much of a set back. The drills that we are doing are so different and interesting.
Soccer has been a big disappointment since it’s the one sport that I haven’t been able to do at all since kicking is the worst thing for my ankle. I have been going to all the games and practices but I’m sick of being on the side lines. I’m a little nervous since the winter season is almost over and the spring/summer try-outs are around the corner. I didn’t go to Florida with the team for the Disney Showcase so I really feel like I’ve missed out.
I went to the doctor again this week to get my ankle re-evaluated on the recommendation of my physiotherapist. I’m going on close to 7 weeks now and my ankle should have been healed by now. I’m definitely better, but there is one area that has remains the same. I am on the waiting list for an MRI to make sure there isn’t any other cartilage damage that could be more serious.
The injury has been really tough because with so many amazing things going on, I don’t want to be stuck on the side-lines. It effects my mood, sleep and health. I’m starting to get really anxious and just want to heal. As a serious athlete, these are some of the challenges I go through.
Also, if you have noticed, I haven’t had any pictures on my blog for a long time either. I apologize for that but with the injury, there are no pictures to take because I’m not doing anything exciting. As soon as I am fully healed I will have tons of new pictures
Highlights of the 2011
January 4, 2012
2011 was the best year of my life so far! I love looking back at my blog over the last 12 months to remember all the amazing experiences I’ve had. Things happen so fast so it’s really important to me to have a record of the events so I can truly appreciate everything that I’ve been so fortunate to experience.
All my Taekwon-Do dreams came true. I met and trained with the most amazing people from all around the world. I challenged myself to do things that I didn’t think were possible. I tried new activities like guitar, singing and song writing. I even did a lot of public speaking and interviews. I’m working really hard on new sports like Javelin. I played on team sports and individual sports since both have their benefits. I’ve tried to give back to my community by coaching and fundraising for charities that I believe are important. I was especially pleased with maintaining my good grades in school during such a busy year. Thank you to everyone that has contributed in any way for such an amazing year!
January:
- Hosted a huge successful fundraiser for the World Championships at the Legion in Barrhaven
- Trained with the National Team and the Team’s sport’s physchologist to prepare for New Zealand (Best Birthday ever!)
- Trained around the clock every day with Mr. LeGrow and Miro Mostovac to prepare for competition. I was so lucky to have them to train with and share the whole experience.
- Ms. Trigger spent so much time coaching me on Power Breaking
February:
- Had to handle three rounds of antibiotics for my bronchittis. Had to work really hard on staying positive before competition and work on my visualization skills. This was probably the hardest thing to overcome in all my training. I couldn’t let all the doubts creep in so close to leaving.
March:
- Had last training session with Master Laquerre from Quebec before competition which helped get rid of any last minute jitters.
- Blackburn TKD had an amazing farewell ‘good-luck’ dinner for Mr. LeGrow, Miro Mostovac and me.
- Received the most thoughtful gifts, cards, and letters from everyone before I left. I’ve never felt that much support in all my life.
- Had the priviledge to meet Kevin Frost – blind and deaf speed skater. He was very inspirational and we still keep in touch.
- WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS – my life long dream came true by winning the Junior 2nd Degree Pattern World Champion title
- Silver medal for Sparring
- Silver medal for Team Power Breaking
- Had the pleasure of exploring New Zealand and truly enjoyed every single second of the trip with my whole family.
- Met several polititians, gave speeches, and had lots of interviews when I got home
April:
- Interviews continued with newspapers and I gave a speech at a Visalus meeting, a Royal Canadian Legion meeting and was talked about at the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in Queen’s Park Toronto by Ms. Lisa MacLeod
- Track and field started at John McCrae High school
- I was a guest at Trigger’s TKD to assist with their black belt testing
- Coached several coloured belts from two different school to help prepare them for the Eastern TKD Championships
- Applied and was accepted to attend the Leadership Camp for John McCrae High School
May:
- gold in sparring at Canadian Eastern TKD Championships
- gold in patterns at Canadian Eastern TKD Championships
- coached at Canadian Eastern TKD Championships
- played on the John McCrae High School Varsity Soccer Team
- Overal Midget Female Athlete at the National Capital Secondary School Track and Field Meet
- Overal Midget Female Ahtlete at the Ottawa West High School Track and Field Meet
- Broke City Javelin Record for my age group
- Qualified for all three thowing events at OFSAA
June:
- won the bronze medal for shot put at OFSAA in Sudbury.
- overextended my knee in soccer which required complete rest
- started the OYSL Soccer league travelling to Toronto for most of our games all summer long
- trained with the US national TKD coach from California and three of their team mates that I was with in New Zealand
July:
- After two intense years of training for the Worlds my motto for this summer was ‘it’s all about the experience’
- I travelled to Montreal to visit and train with my TKD buddies for a week
- Instructed at the TKD summer camp
- Travelled with the soccer team to Toronto 5 times plus our home games and had a blast and enjoyed the high level of soccer that we competed against at the Provincial level
August:
- August was all about soccer, soccer and more soccer
- I went to support my friends at duathlons and track events and I kept noticing how much it appealed to me.
September:
- Back to high school and loved playing on the JMSS varsity basketball team.
- Was introduced to former Olympian Bill Heikkila who agreed to coach me for the Javelin – very exciting.
- Trained privately with Bill to see if this is something that I wanted to continue to take seriously or if he thought I had any potential.
- Trained with Grand Master Lan from Germany for a two day TKD seminar. He is so insightful and wise. I love being in his presence and he helped me make some important decisions.
- Trained with several instructors from California and Conneticut for two days.
- Celebrated Blackburn TKD 10th Anniversary. Congratulations.
- Soccer season finished – unfortunately our team was relegated from OYSL back to the Regional level for next year. It just means that we have to work hard all winter and place well next summer so we can return to the OYSL level.
- I was a guest and participated in a demonstration at Black Belt Excellence TKD fundraiser for the Ottawa Royal Mental Health Hospital and met Councillor Hubly and Ottawa Mayor Watson.
- I was selected by my high school teachers to help lead the ‘Live it Up’ program at school. The program is designed to help promote healthy lifestyles both mentally and physically on an ongoing basis. The City of Ottawa has a staff that comes in to help use design the program as well.
October:
- Tried-out and made the OSU Force soccer team. We have 6 new girls for the winter training session so it will be interesting to see how the team develops and gets stronger.
- Signed up for the Lion’s Track and Field Club and started to train twice a week – love it!
- Started guitar and singing lessons. I can’t stop practicing since I love it so much. I’ve been writing songs as a way of expressing myself.
- Trained with a World Champion MMA fighter, Rich ‘Ace’ Franklin for a day seminar. It was amazing to meet him and learn some of his hand drills for speed.
- Attended the two day International Instructors Course in Halifax. Another definite highlight of the year! It was great to train with Grand Master ( Germany), Grand Master Morano (Argentina), Master Norman (Alberta), Master Laquerre (Quebec) and six other Masters from the States. The room was full of the best TKD practitioners in the world so it was so inspiring. When I got home all I wanted to do was train more
- Attended academic awards ceremony for the report cards from Spring 2011 - I received:
- Honour Society – Awarded to students who obtain an average of 80% or better in eight subjects
- Outstanding Achievement Award – Healthy Active Living 2010-2011
- John McCrae Secondary School Bulldog Pride Award – awarded to one student at each grade level who demonstrated the achievement of a goals that are in keeping with the spirit of Bulldog Pride such as exemplary citizenship, academic perseverance, co-operation and commitment.
- I was especially proud of these awards since I had to work so hard to keep my marks up as well as all the extra training while I prepared for the World Championships.
November:
- Basketball season ended
- Winter soccer started
- Indoor track started
- Helped coach students to prepare for the Blackburn TKD tournament
- Injured my ankle in soccer but had great phsyiotherapy with Dr. Aiello and I actually feel stronger with all the excercises he suggested
- Worked out at the gym every day instead of doing my phys-ed class to maintain my cardio and weight training
December:
- I really started to see an improvement with the javelin throwing. Love working with Bill and all the other throwers
- Was a guest and was part of a TKD demonstration at Samguk TKD in Montreal
- Was unable to do any kicking (meaning sparring and soccer) due to ankle injury
- My soccer team went to Florida to compete in the Disney Showcase tournament
Happy New Year everyone!!!! I have so many personal goals that I’ve set for 2012 and I can’t wait to see how things turn out.
