Racers' Corner - Brendan Morgan

I distinctly remember the first time I saw Brendan Morgan competing in an event. It was the 2007 TransRockies, and I was at the finish line in downtown Fernie alongside hundreds of other supportive residents, fans and family members. Among the crowd were two women dressed to the nines. I asked someone who these beauties were. “Angela Morgan and Jocelyn Sombrowski.” How cool! They were celebrating the accomplishments of their husbands, cheering them on as they biked in and passing them a bottle of veuve when the congratulatory hugs and tears were out of the way. When we learned more about the duo (most memorably that they had just started mountain biking the season prior) and saw the expressions of happiness and success on their faces, it gave us “I wanna do that” feelings in the pits of our stomachs. A feeling that’s still with me to this day, especially when putting together this feature each month!

Brendan and his wife Angela lead very busy lives in Fernie. One a full time fire fighter, the other an acclaimed artist, the duo run a household of four busy kids (ages six, eight, and two nine) alongside their careers and athletic endeavors. They encourage their kids to be athletic as well, leading to their involvement in a wide range of activities including figure skating, hockey, soccer, golf, running and biking. “Our family definitely leans towards the active side!” says Brendan.

Being an early riser, Brendan takes care of the kids in the morning after his morning swim. “Ang generally takes care of them in the afternoon/after school. After supper, she heads to the studio until around1am so I can squeeze in a bike ride and head to bed early. It works out well where the kids are concerned,” he says, although he admits he doesn’t get to see his wife nearly enough!

The family supports one another in their pursuits. Even the kids are excited about dad’s iron man and mom’s marathon. But outside of their family Brendan recognizes the support and inspiration found in the community. While he is super appreciative of his fellow firefighters, supporting his training and watching his pager to allow for longer rides and runs, it’s also about what the people of Fernie have taught him and provide him on a regular basis.

“When I moved here, I thought my days of athletic competition were over. But you move here, and you see people like Jimmy Vallance going for his bike rides. Linda Socher cruising down the highway on her ten speed. You go for a ride with Mark Kanane, and he kicks your butt and you think… ‘I’m not old!’ And I was 31 at that time. Now I’m 42, and realize Fernie is amazing for keeping you young.”

Good luck this summer Brendan! We’re rooting for you.

What is it about competing you love?
Growing up in South Africa where sport and competing was an integral part of youth, whether it was marbles during recess, the makeshift soccer match every lunch break with a tennis ball, or the more formal tennis or cricket, it was about winning or trying your hardest to win. I always had sleepless nights of exciting butterflies for the next day’s soccer match or sports day - I love pre-race nerves, anticipation, and the settling into athletic rhythm. Crossing the finish line with the hopes of winning or achieving a personal best and analyzing how my splits and results compared to the previous races/competitions are also what I love.

Take us through a typical training day.
A Fernie winter training day is all about cross training, heading to the ski hill for a skate ski on the perfectly groomed loop, then a hard swim workout at 10:15 in the one swim lane next to the aqua aerobics class. Once the kids go to bed it’s time for John or Jean to put me through the paces in spin class.

A Fernie spring training day is all about triathlon specificity. I might start the day off with Coach Heather and the FEAT (Fernie Endurance Adventure Triathlon) group at 6:30 am, with a pool workout, then hit Mugshots for a jumpstart (two shots of espresso in a mug of brewed coffee) before I get the four kids into uniforms, fed and delivered to school. Then head to Doctor Mike for an adjustment. After which time I call on one of my fellow fire fighters to cover my pager so I can head down Cokato Road for a 10km run. In the evening I would maybe meet Arthur for a two hour road ride to Olson Crossing and back.

What are the events your are competing in this summer?
July I do my first Half Ironman Triathlon - The Desert Half Ironman in Osoyoos (notorious for being the hardest in North America) concentrating on pacing, nutrition and thermoregulatory control. Then in August it’s off to Canada’s only Full Ironman held every year in Penticton. In October I will join about 400 hundred competitors in the Fernie Half Marathon a great scenic run through Fernie’s trail systems. Then completing my year joining my wife for her third Marathon in Dublin, Ireland.

What are your main goals when competing?
As a power/sprint athlete in my youth the goal while competing was all about holding perfect form and going as fast as you could as long as you were in control. As a neophyte endurance participant, I tend to go out way too hard in training sessions or races, eventually losing form through fatigue; also I have lots of trouble with cramping and bonking. I learned the hard way in my first TransRockies in 2007 after bonking on the third of seven days , leaving me run down, fatigued and not very happy for the final four days. In the last two years my main competition goals are proper pacing and adequate race nutrition. I have had many people like Heather Kerr and Cory Fagan, my coach in Calgary from TCR Sports Labs assist me with proper pacing and proper nutrition.

How do you think Fernie’s Recreational side has changed since you’ve lived here?
When we moved here there were many great recreational outfits or even groups of hard core mountain bikers or whitewater kayakers. When I think of recreational changes over the last ten years, it’s extraordinary. Here’s a list of just a few of the things my family has had experience with:
1. The Fernie Nordic Society was formed, providing great groomed crossed country skiing trails at the golf course, the City dike system and Island Lake Lodge, all provided by volunteers. This along with the great trails Fernie Alpine Resort grooms free to all locals and tourists.
2. Fernie Mountain Bike formed, with numerous volunteers spending countless hours providing more and more trails, putting Fernie on the map as a mecca for mountain bike enthusiasts.
3. TransRockies, the world renowned mountain bike race. Proof that Fernie is a hub for outdoor enthusiasts.
4. Formation of F.E.A.T. (Fernie Endurance Adventure and Triathlon Club), with over a 100 members strong.
5. Fernie Half Marathon (formally Fernie Runaround), one of the very few full trail half marathons.
6. The City’s increased leadership in recreational upgrades. When we moved here the pool had just been completed much to the chagrin of many citizens, I can’t imagine Fernie now without that amazing facility. Then it was the skateboard park and the bike park, where much of Fernie's youth hang, along with all the upgrades to the City trail systems.
7. Then there is the increasing number of Physiotherapists, Physicians, Chiropractors, Athletic Therapists, Kinesiologists, Acupuncturists, and Massage Therapists who all have a great understanding of athletic and recreational activity injuries, treatments and exercises that prevent them.

Racing Mantra: My Triathlon Mantra:
Swim: “Pull hard and rotate.”
Bike: “Full circles and smooth.”
Run: “Chin up, chest out, light and quick.”