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Fast & Female Ottawa - What a Day!
By:  Sheila Kealey   (2011/06/13)

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Young girls were treated to an amazing day at Sunday's Fast & Female event at the Rideau Canoe Club in Ottawa. Olympian cross country skier Perianne Jones and multiple world championships kayaker Tory Tuttle headlined a crew of enthusiastic local athletes and coaches (that included olympians Sue Holloway and Lucy Wainright) who led the girls through an eventful day.

In the morning, the girls collected their Fast & Female goodie bags that included the signature Fast and Female T-shirt and buff.  Then, girls cycled through stations that included quidditch at Mooney's Bay, dragonboating, obstacle courses, and core workouts. I had fun co-leading the nutrition station with Lucy Wainright, teaching the girls about the importance of recovery nutrition, while Lucy showed them how to make an assortment of smoothies.

After a great lunch, the girls listened eagerly as Peri, Tory, and other athletes shared their stories of how they got into their sport, their training, and their racing. The day finished off with a yoga session and autograph signing. This event also featured a schedule for moms, that included  workshops on nutrition and parenting the young female athlete.

It was clear that the girls were having an amazing day being active, having fun with friends, and learning a lot. The Fast & Female initiative was achieving its goal of inspiring girls to gain the confidence and leadership needed to reach their full potential in life and sports.

Many thanks to organizers and Fast & Female supporters for making these events possible!

Here are some pictures of the day:



















And be sure to check out many more pictures in by Marlis Symington.