Gazzola third at world duathlon championship
Nov 8, 2008
Gazzola third at world duathlon championship
The Brampton Guardian
Thursday November 6 2008
By Frank Juzenas
BRAMPTON - Laura Gazzola gives credit to a lot of people who helped her to finish third in her age category at the recent World Duathlon Championships in Rimini, Italy.Even though she was the one who did the long hours of training she said there were so many others who made her good showing possible.Whether it's the coaches who assisted her, her friends at the Fletcher Meadow Cross-Training Club, or even those who she teaches in a 6 a.m. spin cycling class Gazzola said they have all been helpful to her as she wound up third in the women's 30-34 category. That also put her seventh overall in the age group competition, out of about 350 women. She was one of only two Canadians to break into the top three in their respective categories.But it was her own determination over the long hours on the bike and running that paved the way for her strong showing in event that includes a 10-kilometre run, followed by a 40 kilometre bike and then a five-kilometre run.A runner when she attended Cardinal Leger Secondary School, Gazzola went to her old high school coach Rick Landry to design a running program and also got help from another retired teacher Glenn Kirby with her cycling training."When I was in high school I didn't appreciate my coaches,'' said Gazzola. Although she did run while in school she started to take things much more seriously when she graduated from the University of Western Ontario and decided to train to run a different marathon each year. This year by entering the recent New York Marathon it's the 10th year she has completed one.But after she started doing triathlons and duathlons she became hooked on those."This has become my new passion,'' she said.After doing a number of triathlons she qualified for the World Duathlon by competing at an event in Parry Sound last summer.The Fletcher Meadow's Cross Training Club, founded in 2003, has been a tremendous help. The Brampton-based club encourages its members to do their best in the grueling multi-discipline sport, among its activities are weekly time trials during the summer. She now feels the cycling portion is her strength.Three days a week Gazzola teaches a spin cycling class that runs from 6 a.m. to 7 a.m. at LA Fitness on Steeles Ave. She said she gets inspiration from the 15 or so regulars at that class."There is just so much energy in the room. They ask me about my latest races,'' she said.After those morning classes it is just a short trip over to Turner Fenton Secondary School where she is a phys ed teacher and coaches cross country and track and field.She said the staff and students there have also been supportive."I hope I can be a role model for my students,'' said Gazzola.Among those cheering her on in Italy were her parents, Ferruccio and Celestina, natives of Italy who decided to take a vacation in Italy while she was there and were able to watch their daughter compete for the first time.Next year the World Championships are slated for North Carolina so Gazzola is hoping to compete again. She is also planning to enter her first Iron Man Triathlon in Lake Placid, which includes a marathon run and will give her another one of those.She has some advice for those who want to try the sport of duathlon or triathlon, contact the Fletcher's Meadow Cross Trainers at www.fmct.ca. There you will get the help to get you started.
