Oops.

I have been informed by Depot Security that Cadet blogs are no longer permitted to be posted, due to security issues relating to training and police techniques, which are classified information, being posted on the internet. Therefore, the policy was changed, and I am no longer allowed to post RCMP related things here or I will be in breech of my Cadet Training Agreement and would then be terminated from the program.

This sucks, because I wanted to keep all of my friends in the loop about what is going on in my life, but I entirely understand point of this policy on the part of the RCMP.

As a result, my blog is officially closed until further notice.

Sorry.

I've arrived.

I'm here. RCMP Depot Division, Regina.

Holy shit, I'm HERE!

So much was going through my mind as I drove into town, I can't even begin to catalogue it. I'm early, So, I've met one other member of my troop, I've met most of our "Big Brother" troop, and I've met the members of the troop that I'm sharing a dorm room with. Everybody seems cool and laid back, helpful and friendly.

I am bunked in a dorm room with 31 other guys. There is absolutely ZERO privacy. It turns out that my bunk is about 50 feet from the dorm where my Father was bunked when he was here in 1965-66. Small world...

I am going to get much more of an orientation over the next two days, so as I learn more I will be able to post more.

Time to go.

I'm pretty much packed, and I'll be on the road to Regina in about ten hours or so. Which means I should probably get some sleep, but that is fairly unlikely, considering everything.

I went to Edmonton again today, back to the Division headquarters for Enrollment today. I signed a lot of paperwork, including my Cadet training agreement, and some assorted administrative forms that make everything work the way they should. Busy day.

Need sleep now. I'll try to, at least.

My ride to the Ironman!

This is the new aluminum horse that this Mountie will be riding when I get out of training:








She's a 2003 Cervelo Soloist that I Bought used in Edmonton from a dealer there... My thanks to Tom from Way Past Fast for hooking my up

There is no need for me to find any other bike until I start doing multiple Ironman races in a season. And let me tell you that is just not likely.

4 days to go!

I just woke up a few short moments ago. The holy and sacred giver of mental function coffee is still brewing, but I thought I'd share this.

I dreamed about being in Depot last night. Having the uniform on and being a cadet. I don't remember what I was doing, but I was there. In real life, I will be there in a matter of days! I leave Friday, stay with a buddy half way, and arrive Saturday. As in this week. Holy Scheisse!

I spent a lot of time last night reading other people's blogs of their time in Depot, and it seems like a great way to chronicle your time there. You are only there once, so make the most of it right? One of the things that I did find yesterday was this: Ironcops for Cancer Canadian Police officers who raise money for cancer research by racing in Ironman Canada. Guess what, I found how I'm going to do my (first) Ironman in 2010! Both my girlfriend and I have family members who have been affected by cancer, so it makes perfect sense. The Ironcops effort has raised over $2 000 000 so far, and I plan to add to the total: My girlfriend hates my mustache. I like my mustache. For $10000, she can shave it off.

Speaking of Triathlons, I'm actually going to Edmonton this morning to get fitted for my new-to-me racing bike... Pictures will be up this evening, I can't wait!

Nerves

I'm nervous. Not about getting to Depot and the training ahead of me; I'm nervous about the packing and cleaning to get out of my apartment. Dammit, I have a lot of crap!

Run!

I ran today, inside at the gym. I did 8km total, but I checked some benchmarks as I passed them...
1 1/2 miles 11:30
5 km 24:30
8 km 41:23

If I had kept up my current pace I was holding at the end, I would have finished a 10 km run in about 50 minutes. My previous personal best on a 10k is 54 minutes flat. I really didn't want to go any further - I had only planned an 8k and my heart rate was faster than what it should be for proper training. (I saw 208 bpm at one point. I haven't checked my telemetry to see if it was any higher. My highest ever recorded max was 215 bpm, so I'm way up there. Hell for that matter, my lowest ever resting heart rate was 33. One beat every 2 seconds. That's in the olympic athlete level of resting heart rates - I have a pretty amazing heart. It's funny to watch the expressions on some peoples faces when they take my pulse!)

I'm pretty confident that I will be able to handle whatever running they throw at us in Regina. it's a long ways from where I was 2 years ago when I started getting in shape. I hated running and I sucked to be honest. I think my first time out trying it I managed to get in about 18 minutes and then I just HAD TO STOP! Now I'm thinking about a half marathon this year and a full marathon next year. I am starting into triathlon with dreams of finishing an Ironman - 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run. In 12 hours or less is my goal!


Next goal: strength training.