The VEAR Challenge

The VEAR Challenge

The VEAR Challenge (Vison, Energy, Attitude and Resolve) has been created as a motivational tool for athletes who wish to improve on some past race performance.

When pursuing any goal, motivation and commitment to the goal are always increased when the intentions are made public. The VEAR Challenge has been designed to serve this very purpose. By including yourself in this Challenge, you are telling the world that you are serious. Once it's out there, there are no excuses. Your results will speak for themselves.

The VEAR Challenge is purely a motivational tool and thus there are very few, if any, restrictions for people who wish to participate. This challenge originated on an Ottawa-based triathlon forum, and therefore the first participants are triathletes with their goals being triathlon based. However, this challenge isn't restricted to triathletes and is certainly open to people who may wish to improve their 10k or marathon run times, cyclists and their race times, skiiers and their loppet times.... whoever and whatever.

Click here to complete the form which will include you in this year's VEAR Challenge

Name: Mike Caldwell
Past Race Result: The 2005 "Canadian" Iron Distance Triathlon race time 12 hours 37 minutes
The Goal: The 2011 "Canadian 226" Iron Distance Triathlon, predicted time less than 11 hours and 30 minutes
Motivating Factors:
1) Improved overall fitness and weight loss
2) Desire to run the entire marathon component with no walking
3) Crush Mike Giles and the other participants in this challenge!
The Plan for Success: Incorporate my Vision, Energy, Attitude and Resolve into every day of my training. Participate in a "Training Plan" that doesn't feel like training at all. The majority of my exercising will incorporate wilderness related endeavors like trail running, mountain biking, canoeing and river swimming. I want to involve my dogs Fred and Jazzy in as much of my training as possible.
My Mottos: Two are stolen from Tony Horton: "Do your best and forget the rest" and "BRING IT", the third is my own... "Giles is GOING DOWN!"

Name: Mike Giles
Past Race Result: Ironman Canada
The Goal: Ironman Canada
Motivating Factors:
The Plan for Success:
My Mottos:

Name: Gary Banks
Past Race Result: 2005 "extrapolated" IM result of 14:07
The Goal: 1. Lose my spare tire plus a bit more of the extra rubber
2. Improve on last years time at the Canadian Forces Nationals (Gatineau Olympic Tri)
3. Run the run at The Canadian 2011
4. Finish The Canadian 2011 in 12:30
5. Motivate the two Mikes out of their current slumps
6. Once they are both motivated, kicking their butts by improving on my 2005 IM extrapolated result of 14:07 by a greater percentage than both Mikes. (my 12:30 goal would give me about ~11%)
Motivating Factors:1. Lose the spare tire I carry around with me;2. Run the entire run in an iron distance race;
The Plan for Success:
My Mottos:

Name: Gary Maxwell
Past Race Result: 2007 Canadian 226 in 13:44:22
The Goal: 2011 Canadian 226 in 12:00
Motivating Factors: To achieve a personal goal that I set for myself back in 2003 - Complete an iron distance race in 12:30 or less.
To kick Mike, Mike and Gary B's butts
The Plan for Success: Train smart
Train hard
Improve my race day nutrition
Lose 20lbs
My Mottos: Never let go of yours dreams
To The Max

Name: Rick Hellard
Past Race Result: lots of good ones
The Goal: Race times are not relevant to me anymore. They are what they are. To me, perfect execution of my race plan is always the goal. That includes fueling, pacing and dealing with whatever comes my way the best way possible.
Motivating Factors:I believe my fastest races are long gone and it is fultile to chase them. However, some days, I prove myself wrong and am happy to do so. What has always been my goal is to control what I can control, and that is how a race develops and happens to me. I can control how I deal with the adversity and want to do that to the best of my ability.
The Plan for Success: race lots, gain more experience
My Mottos: "Get fit, do things right and the rest will take care of itself." "The off season is the on season with no racing." "The best way to get fit is to stay fit."

SBI!