AdreaMade Rebrand

AdreaMade Brand: 2015 Origin

In Spring 2015, Adrea graduated from U.Regina with a bachelor of arts (english), business administration diploma, prestigious Female Athlete of the Year, a couple Cougar T+F records, and an invitation to move to Victoria, BC to train for the Olympics. 

Fall 2015 marked the move West to Victoria, BC. Upon landing in Victoria, the AdreaMade brand was developed and created as a way to document the athlete journey of an Olympic hopeful, and founding athlete of National Training Centre, Athletics Canada West Hub.

 Fall 2015 - Spring 2019: 

Four years on the island included: The 800m debut, formally training as a full-time athlete, and helping innovate the brand of the training group, Vic City Elite. For performances, each year results improved from a 2:10 time to a 2:03 time in the 800m. On paper there was progress. But the body was aggressively signalling change was necessary. 

Summer 2019 - Fall 2023

In Spring 2019, the decision was made to move back to Regina, SK for coaching expertise of Alger Seon. With that move began the summer of 2019 breakthroughs including: rewriting top 10 performances, first 2:02 (1100+ world athletics points) results, and making the first 800m Sr. National final. This opened a competitive summer of travel across Canada, USA, and Europe, setting up a great base for the next summer stop: 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Where the path forked:  

Covid-19 was an unexpected wrench for everyone, which delayed the Tokyo Olympics, and closed tracks/ facilities for one year. Despite the challenges and setbacks, Adrea made it to the Olympic Trials final in the 800m. Unexpectedly, during Olympic Trials her body shut down, and her mind blacked out in this race resulting with a dead-last finish- not making the Olympic team. 

The return home, was devastating. After exhausting professional answers for what was happening in the body, the referrals landed with a top psychologist in Canada. 

The diagnosis: c-PTSD, caused from the former training environment. Present-day symptoms were being triggered by being on the track (environment) as track access was being made available again post-pandemic. 

Despite numerous breakthroughs, formal treatments, CBT Therapy, and more, the underlying reality is there is no cure for this diagnosis, one just learns to live with it and manage the symptoms: including memory loss, blackouts, physical shut-down, nervous system activations, severe fatigue, panic and anxiety attacks, and more. 

The Missing Chapters: 2021 - 2024

After being cyber-attacked during the pandemic, paired with the delicate nature of the diagnosis, the AdreaMade brand went largely offline to prioritize wellness, and navigate the next steps with close friends, family, and new-found team. The solutions being developed went beyond making an Olympic team or recovering from a physical injury. This offline chapter was focused on rewiring the brain, healing trauma, mastering energy-work, building a holistic life outside of sport, and a fierce determination to race amongst Canada's best again. 

Many criticized the 400mH and 800m double during these years, but this criticism lacked the insight that the 400mH didn't trigger c-PTSD symptoms and was a key strength and endurance strategy to get back into 2:03-shape in the 800m along with PB's in the 600m, and 400mH. More importantly this double proved rewiring the brain is possible, as is being reconnected mind-body despite trauma pathways that were deeply forged. 

Both 2022 and 2023 Senior Nationals Adrea was a double finalist in both 400mH + 800m in Langley, BC.

2024: Closure & Making Peace

2024 in Montreal, was the second Olympic Trials 800m Adrea auto-qualified for. She didn't advance to make the Olympic Final. What should have been heart-breaking moment, turned out to be the greatest full circle gift. 

- In 2019, Adrea made her first 800m National Final (in Montreal) with a personal best time, but afterwards felt empty, and unfulfilled in the accomplishment. When confiding this in a former coach, the feedback was "you better figure it out." 

- In 2021, Adrea ran her first Olympic Final (In Montreal, same track), and unknowingly about to start her journey of healing from c-PTSD, after an 8th place finish.

'- In 2024, Adrea competed in her second Olympic trials (In Montreal, same track again!) crossing the line with an unremarkable time, and no advancement to the final. What should have been devastation, ended up being a full-circle moment of realizing the inner-success of accomplishing what it took to get to that day's start line. The outcome didn't matter as much as the start line did. 

The next morning there was a beautiful meditation experience, where the essence of peace fully engulfed Adrea's body, to the point where folks commented there was "a glow" around her that day. Upon reflection, Adrea confirms this peace, brings closure and full circle appreciation for the original AdreaMade 10-year journey.