Smile.Tri.Travel.Run.Learn.Live.

Life in the ROK

2011-07-05T06:20:00.000-07:00

Quite simply, life in the ROK rocks my world. Everyday there is a million new little things I discover and love. I'm convinced there is no where like Korea on Earth. I honestly can't even keep up with all the awesome. So today, some summarizing show and tell:

New experience: Techno club with Koreans!

New word: Jinjilbang - the name of a fantastic spa experience in ROK. You strip down and play in hot and cold pools with other nudies. There are also fountains, saunas and cleansing facilities. To be followed with a beer and a round of air hockey. (Canadians always win ;) )

Discovered a little bit of Paris in Seoul

Celebrated Canada Day with two of

my favorite Americans!

And then...the beach race!

All kinds of fun happening on the beach!

Next time I want to fly too!

Canadians are the kind of crazy that dive in the ocean

fully clothed.

Four new friends...bicycle built for four...perfect!!

Hotel room view. Can I move in?

Sunday raceday was not so sunny. But still great!

New favorite Korean food: spicy tofu soup (the local specialty in dreamland Gyeongpo beach)

New favorite Korean beverage: Kin cidaaaa

New status: I'm officially an alien!

Yes, I'd say life in the ROK is treating me exceptionally well. I'm so very happy to be here.

The culture and the subculture.

2011-06-19T04:39:00.000-07:00

The culture.

Last weekend, my buddy Curtis and I spontaneously checked out Gyeongbokgung Palace, Seoul's largest royal residence. It was incredible. We arrived in perfect time for the changing of the guard and we happened to be there on a day when there was a live traditional dance performance. We spent hours there marveling over it all.

Gyeongbokgung Palace was the main palace in Seoul (then called Hanyang) in 1395, immediately after Joseon Dynasty was founded. However, most of the palace was destroyed during a Japanese invasion in the sixteenth century. It was rebuilt in 1868 and restoration is ongoing. It's an interesting juxtaposition of old and new, as it is right in the centre of the city, so there are high rises on three sides of the enclosure.

Amazing. I felt like I was being steeped in tradition, soaked in sights and sounds.

This weekend, I visited the House of Sharing, which is a museum about "comfort women" -- Korean women who were sold or tricked into sexual slavery for the Japanese Army. It is also home to eight Halmoni (the Korean term for grandmother), survivors of this atrocity who are now activists for women's rights. It was a powerful experience. We got to meet some of these incredible women; we sang with them and viewed their artwork.

It is estimated that between 60 000 to 200 000 women were involved in sexual slavery to the Japanese army. These women, often teenagers, were systematically raped upwards of 40 times a day. They often were forced to eat while these rapes occurred, because they simply didn't have any time off. They were taken from their homes and deposited across Asia, and those who were not massacred were abandoned where they were stationed when the war was over. To this day, the Japanese government does not acknowledge these atrocities.

It is an intense and heartbreaking tour. But it is also one of hope, bravery and truth.

***

The subculture.

Noraebangs, all you can eat & drink buffets, makkolli, staying up til dawn...there is an incredible second, foreigner culture here too. You might expect to see soju on that list, but that's not how this girl rolls. But the adventures I've been having with my new crew have been epic. Loads of fun. I can hardly believe I've only been here one week!!

So much winning.

2011-06-15T05:54:00.000-07:00

Public service announcement: that may be the new blog title in the future. That, or I heart Seoul.

I would have to have a camera with me 24-7 of everyday to capture the sheer volume of little awesome things. I just can't even do it justice.

Here's a little more listology for you today:

I love love LOVED how helpful one of the local grocery store workers was. She offered me a sample of tofu, then after placing a brick of that in my basket, helped me find the appropriate beans and sauce to accompany it - all without speaking. Then I love love LOVED how the lady behind me in line helped me carry it all home. We each took a handle of my bag. (This particular combination made me slightly hysterical, because I wasn't sure whether to laugh out of joy or cry for the kindness).

Actually, maybe the new blog title will be incomparable. It's the kindness, the adventure, even the marketing! The marketing over here has me, it really does. Where else can you buy so very many things that promise you happiness and joy and a long life?

My deliciousness metre has been filled. Check it out:

Mmmm. Oh yeah.

And now I can not only be clean, but

pearl shining as well!

Have we discussed red bean bread? I discovered this delicacy whilst in China. Insta-obsession. I have already found and devoured a few red bean items since my arrival, so I decided to bust out and buy a small package to have on hand. Or to eat this evening, we shall see....

So good!!

School, by the way, is going great! I'm teaching now, which was a little scary at first but I think is something that will get easier and better with time :)

Seoul-ful

2011-06-11T20:05:00.000-07:00

So far, I am loving Seoul.

In no particular order of awesomeness:
1) Internet-enabled! Yay!
2) Running on a bridge over the river. Holy boats and birds, batman!
3) Street fruit for cheap. Love the mini bananas of which I purchased about 20, so they really just keep giving.
4) Awesome teachers coming over for a visit right when I arrived. It was so welcoming! And so nice to finally meet some of them in person!
5) Excellent apartment on the 15th floor. View of the river. Flowers wallpaper. Brand new bed. (Pix to follow).
6) Running friends! In Canada, I always felt a certain kinship with other runners. So during my run through the park when I spotted a team of Korean men wearing white and blue singlets, I waved! I was richly rewarded by realizing that other runners feel the same way I do. Waving transformed into the whole lot of us clapping and cheering for one another, simply for being runners :)
7) Baby pigeon and watchful mom in a nest in a window on my floor.
8) Korean ad copy - of course my 'home scissors' will lead to happiness and a good life!
9) Friendly people - aside from the teachers and runners, randoms have been great too. One man wanted to practice his English with me (he wanted to know if I was from Toronto, Canada). And one lovely old lady took my hand and said I was beautiful. What's not to love?
10) Surprise payday advance from the school!
11) Sparkling apple juice. Full of win.
12) Tiny dogs. So many people have them, and don't mind me petting them either.
13) Barely scratching the surface. All this considering I just arrived here 36 hours ago, and have spent a significant amount of that time sleeping. Awesome!

Enough words, you want photos! Here are a few:

Brand new bed!

My beautiful wallpaper...plus my

exploding suitcase.

Kitchen, complete with tea kettle.

Bathroom!

Room with a view! The river is between the buildings

and the mountains.

Happiness always indeed :)

Awesome astroturf fitness path! Complete

with weight training machines to the side!

Momma pigeon checks me out while I check out her

baby bird.

Fun on the floodplain

2011-06-08T14:18:00.001-07:00

If you haven't tuned into any Canadian news in the past month, you might not be aware of all the flooding in rural Manitoba. This flooding happens to be largely taking place in my hometown, Brandon. Although the Assiniboine River typically floods in the spring, this year's flood has been record breaking. More than $20 million dollars has been spent in the province on emergency measures and a project to divert water away from urban areas and into Lake Manitoba. And with record May rainfalls, the river may crest again. It is estimated that it will take years for infrastructure near the river to recover.

Both major access roads into the city

had reduced lanes and speed limits.

Sandbags were 2 metres high and reinforced with

concrete dividers.

Riverside parks have been transformed

into lakes.

The road was also washed out in a

couple of places.

Another floodwater lake west of the city.

Thankfully, my city was prepared. Volunteers gathered in droves to help sandbag the major access roads near the rivers, and businesses and homes were evacuated. By the time I visited, the water level was down from its high point and many stores were back to business as usual. Also thankfully, all of my peeps live far enough away from the river that they were unharmed and their homes unscathed.

So aside from a little hometown flood tourism, I stuck to my original plan of runs & zumba in the morning, fun in the sun in the afternoon and games in the evening. It was a whirlwind, 56 hour trip -- but it was perfect. Amazing times with my favorite folks, and it was so nice to see everyone before my big overseas adventures!! Going home is truly one of the greatest things.

So happy (and sweaty)!

Toronto tourism

2011-06-07T08:06:00.000-07:00

Why hello! I've just had an amazing long weekend chock-full of adventures and the awesomeness of my favorite people. I'm truly the luckiest girl alive. I could not have had a better time hanging out with my parents, my terrific sisters and my super niece and nephew. Getting a send-off or two from my fab friends was also the bomb!

First, let me tell you a bit about my time as a tourist in Toronto. Tomorrow I'll show you some pictures of the flood in Manitoba, which although serious and dramatic, didn't dampen good times with the fam.

***

When my sister Jil was going to school in Toronto, one of the first postcards she sent back to a tiny version of me was of this incredible castle. She recommended I check it out before I left the city, so I ventured inside to discover more about the curious case of Casa Loma.

This magnificent building is not actually a castle; its a private residence, the dream home of Sir Henry Pellatt. This man (also a runner!) spent approximately $3.5 million dollars building his estate over three years, starting in 1911. But just ten years later, his financial situation forced him out of his fancy house. His castle was re-imagined as a hotel and dance club before opening as a museum in 1937.

Everything about the place is majestic, starting with the fountains and sculptures in its gardens.

Inside, most visitors start their tours in the great hall with its towering ceilings, enormous organ and huge portraits. The library, conservatory, billiard room, dining room & smoking room are all housed on the first floor.

On the second floor you find the bedrooms. Many of the 98 rooms in Casa Loma are part of bedroom suites and the one above is part of a set of rooms for Sir Henry's guests.

On the third floor, you can check out the museum for The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada (Sir Henry was knighted for his service) or climb the winding spiral staircases to check out the view from one of the towers. Finally, from a secret passageway in the study, you can head downstairs to view the unfinished swimming pool or take the underground tunnel that leads to the stables.

I'd definitely recommend checking it out. After all, who doesn't have a fantasy about living in a castle? It's really interesting to see what that might be like, and Casa Loma is very well preserved. You get to wander through history at your own pace and absorb as much or as little of it as you choose. I liked this castle so much I even walked by it again on my way home!

Stretching.

2011-05-30T14:08:00.000-07:00

Life is good. Right now I am:
1) Elongating my muscles.
2) Expanding my horizons.

Number 1 involves some foam rolling! Remember way back when, when I bought a roller to cure all my running ills? I promised photos, and I will now deliver. After spending a significant amount of time reading the instructions (some of the poses require a balancing sort of dexterity that eludes me), I have been getting to know my foam roller.

After a 3k in my Vibrams, I decided to

give my legs a little love.

This is the stuff. IT band rollin'.

Grimace and furrow produced by IT band

rollin'!

A little known fact: the roller doubles as

a foot-rest when you are exhausted from

punishing your IT bands.

My IT bands are tight. However, I'm starting to be able to feel the benefits of rolling, and feeling when I really need to roll too. I was really concentrating on my left leg (formerly the injured leg), but I recently found that my right ITB has become tight, so I'm taking a more balanced approach to rolling now. I'm also rolling my feet with a tennis ball. The latter is not only supposed to be as good for you as foam rolling, but it is also significantly less painful, which, as you might imagine, means I do that more often.

***

Number 2 is about my upcoming adventure! I will be Seoul searching in about ten days. It's finally real, and really exciting!! I said a sad farewell to the bookstore over the weekend, and will be working my last shift there this Thursday. Then I hit up the consulate for my visa. And with those two official steps behind me, I'm ready. I can hardly wait to experience a new culture, run my first international half marathon (July!) and meet up with both new and old friends there. Even just getting ready for my journey has been great - I've met several super sweet & helpful people, reconnected with two friends from school and have gone through a legit process with a fab recruiter. I can only imagine how much more awesome is waiting to be had when I finally arrive!

Summer running -- havin' a blast!

2011-05-21T08:46:00.000-07:00

The sun is shining. Birds are chirping. The trees have leaves and flowers are blooming. It's plus twenty outside. It's May long, and I'm in heaven.

Yesterday I raced home from a full day's work to sit in the park and run around in the grass a bit in my Vibrams until the sun set. And today, when the sun woke me by shining in on me, my first thought was to do all of that over again before work today. Cue trail running adventures, geese sightings & a hidden trail treasure topped with a good ol' Starbucks breakfast.

A geese family by the lake!

Swing by the stream!

Mid-run shoe change...

VFFs for the last k!

I absolutely love summer. Even though I've been pretty busy over the past couple of weeks with shifts at work and preparations for next month's adventure, I'm making it a priority to escape whenever possible into the sunshine. Basically, it's against some sort of Carrie law to be inside when it is gorgeous and sunshine-y.

Have a happy long weekend!! :)

Me & My Vibrams

2011-05-10T15:42:00.000-07:00

(This post is dedicated to Jess. And to Christopher McDougall.)

Ta-da! Introducing my beautiful Bikila VFFs!

"I don't want to sound overly dramatic, but reading Born to Run changed my life," I said to my physiotherapist, a seasoned Ironman about to perform a running assessment on me.

"At the very least, it has completely revolutionized the way I run."

In fact, it's changed my running so much I can hardly remember what it was like before, only three short weeks ago. My treadmill test showed me as a healthy forefoot striker with a cadence of 185 and little bounce, shoes or no shoes, short legs or not.

Gone was my rushing, over-striding, heel-striking former self. And the best way I can think of to describe the essence of how I run today is mindfulness. I'm not lost in the scenery or my iPod. I'm as appreciative of each footfall as I am of a lovely tree or a fun song.

I picked up my new kicks just before leaving for California. I officially began running with them this week.

And I love them. I love the heightened awareness of my toes and skin and even the ground I have with them on. I love how light and free they make my runs. I love using them as an excuse to spend time in the park. I love that they make me giggle with glee every time I wiggle my toes into their little pockets, and heck, I even love the double takes other people do at them. They are definitely a conversation starter!

I am introducing them very slowly into my running routine, being careful about doing too much with them too soon. Will I race in them? Absolutely, once I've worked up my milage. Will I do a marathon in them? I think so. But as awesome as my new shoes are, what has been even better for me is the realization that it is within my power to heal myself and prevent further injury. I am thrilled that a change in form can really feel so, so good.

I love that my own body has been the architect of my running success - not something artificial, like orthotics. Despite only learning to run in my twenties and despite having hip surgeries growing up, I now really believe that I too was born to run.

Crazy for California

2011-05-04T08:46:00.000-07:00

Monterey Peninsula. I left a piece of my heart there so that one day I'll have to go back. I cannot say enough good things about it, and words don't do justice to the gorgeous scenery, perfect weather or my utter joy. It was truly a fantastic adventure! Wanna see?

After traveling all day Thursday (and going to two new places - Detroit and Dallas!) we arrived in California. Friday we spent the whole day walking around San Francisco and doing fun touristy things along the way.

Palm trees are my favorite!

Alcatraz in the background...sadly we did not get to go

there because the boat was booked.

So instead we went on this boat - it's a liberty ship!

Also went inside a submarine...

Back on land, my favorite neighborhood was Chinatown.

The wonderfully wiggly Lombard Street!

Coit Tower!

No trip to SF is complete without a walk on the Golden Gate.

Saturday was a full day of Monterey awesomeness.

A visit to the amazing aquarium!

Unbelievable creatures...this one is a dragonfish!

An endangered sea otter. This one was at the aquarium,

but we later saw his cousin in the wild!

We checked out marathon village before the crowds arrived.

We drove the original course to see the great race-altering hole...

And Trev narrowly avoided falling in.

We visited the stunning Redwoods...

...and spent a lot of time lazing on the beach.

Then Sunday - one of the most fabulous days of my life.

Bart Yasso sighting at the start!

A truly excellent race!

Pictures couldn't capture my sheer delight on race day. But it was the sunniest, most beautiful, most endorphin-filled morning I think I've ever experienced.

In my after-race glow, I thought life couldn't get any better. But then it did, with a sea kayaking adventure that brought us into close contact with all kinds of birds, sea plants, otters, jellyfish and sea lions. If you ever have a chance to do this, you must drop everything and do it immediately. Thanks Adventures by the Sea for the experience of a lifetime!! Absolutely amazing.

***

Yesterday, my BFF's grandfather passed away. My deepest sympathies are with the Strahl family after their loss. Pop will be missed.

I heart Big Sur

2011-05-01T09:22:00.000-07:00

Awesomest race EVER. Happy. Sunny. Speedy. Pain-free. The best :D

I felt like I could have gone forever. Beautiful day, spectacular course. I did the 9-miler in 1:18! And got the sweetest medal!!

Thanks so much Trev for the pics and race support! And thanks so much to the volunteers of the race, who were phenomenal. Five stars. Two thumbs up. Wow.

Progress

2011-04-26T16:17:00.000-07:00

Here's how I measure it:

In steps. I have a towel from Stacie at Impossible Is Nothing & Inperspire that reads "a journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step." I don't measure every step I take, in fact I'm chronically bad at updating my dailymile. But I know that every single time I run, I'm getting closer to tangible goals (the next race, an ultra, an ironman!) and intangible ones too (being the strongest, happiest and healthiest triathlawesomer I can be).

In smiles. Today, the sun came out after a full day of rain. I was sitting by the window, and my instant reaction was to shed what I was wearing at the time in favor of my running gear, laundry be damned. Then when I got outside, I thought 'what the hell' and just started givin' 'er. Full-on sprinting for nearly 4k. No warm-up, no easing back, no orthotics, no breaks - I followed exactly none of the rules I've heard over the past 6 months. And it didn't hurt. Not even a little. Cue utter, unadulterated joy!

Okay, so this was last October.

But I was definitely grinning ear to ear like that today!

Yes I am wearing the same outfit as yesterday.

Quick importance calculation: Running in the sun > laundry.

In hard evidence. Sometimes that means making a PR. Right now it means being taken seriously by doctors. It means getting a dozen x-rays and a second opinion instead of being handed an ice pack and told to rest. I won't know what the x-rays say until I get back next early next week, but the fact that there are now pictures is a huge step forward to me.

In sweat & endorphins. Feel awesome after a run? You're doing it right.

Here we are again - I feel the chemicals kicking in...

2011-04-24T15:24:00.000-07:00

Two things you can probably glean from today's title: I'm feeling some big nerd love for a certain musical tv show, and that I just went running!

First run in three weeks after getting benched for my knee issue expanding to include my IT band, a particular form of sharing that made me shake my fist.

But I'm back on the road! And today's run was beautiful. Full-on spring weather perfection. Lots of pretty pooches for dog-watching purposes on my favorite route. New music (songs/artists that rocked my run today: Daft Punk, Sweet Serendipity - Lee Dewyze, Kickstart My Heart - Motley Crue, U2, The White Stripes, Warblers, Black Eyed Peas). What's not to love? Well, knee pain. But the joy of running is bigger than that. Worth it :)

Also, took what I learned from Born to Run (aka The Book) and put it into practice. I haven't picked up my new kicks yet, so this run featured my old, well-worn sneakers from last year's summer & fall races - sans orthotics and without inserts. Really focused on my form and definitely noticed a difference. Think that can only improve when I kick the shoes for good and build milage back up slowly. I'm excited to be that much harder, better, faster, stronger!

Happy weekend! And happy Easter, if that's your thing. I just hope you're happy :)

I am....because I'm counting down to California (4 days!)!

Some ABCs

2011-04-21T08:09:00.000-07:00

A while ago, I saw an ABC quiz post going around on some of my favorite blogs. So today I thought I'd do my own version for a fun change of pace and some updates! No pictures of my sickly self today, just pretty colors instead. And it's a little bit of a link farm, but I hope you enjoy it!

A: is for animals, specifically the ones on this website that makes my day everyday!! Cuteness overload!
B: is for books and for borrowing them! I LOVE that my new job lets me do this. It is truly a spectacular perk and one that I plan on getting the most out of. B is also for Born to Run, which is of course, the first book I took out. Thanks for the recommendation Jess, I am loving it!!
C: is for Clif! Because I am hoping to be following their lead to the finish line of BSIM next weekend. And because the grocery store just started carrying my favorite flavor bars in six packs. Awesome! C is also for California adventures, which I so excited for!
D: Decisions. I've been facing some hard ones lately - like whether to switch distances for BSIM due to the ITB that I've added to my PFS and the resulting lack of training this month. Whether or not to hold off on buying a new bike and when to pursue other job options.
E: Eggs. What I'm going to make for lunch today. Because they're eggcellent :) Also for Earth Day! I'm celebrating. Are you?
F: Foam roller. I finally busted out and bought one! Pics of me attempting to use it to follow!
G: Gardein protein. I know I've raved about this before. But their little lunch trios are absolutely the bomb. I've been living on them all week.
H: Home! I am hoping to go for a visit soon. I'm thinking about my fab family on this holiday weekend!
I: Ice baths. These are a fear of mine, because I'm bad at being cold. But apparently they are so fabulous I need to stop avoiding them.
J: June. The month with three very exciting happenings planned: a team D dinner on the patio of a gorgeous winery, my first sprint triathlon with my lovely lady Em and my departure for....
K: Korea! I have accepted a teaching position there. I'm truly thrilled about it. I have been speaking to one of the teachers at the school who is just a terrific individual who I am so excited to meet in person. I've done a ton of research. I just know it's going to be a totally different and unbelievable experience. This one feels right.
L: All you need is love. Hopeless romantic? Maybe. But here I actually mean that you need to love yourself for anything else to be possible. L could also be for letting go. Being zen. Because when you loosen your iron grip, great things might fall into your open palm.
M: Media. I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with social media sometimes. I love the limitless abilities for connection and for learning. But I dislike how it's not always used for the best and most constructive purposes.
N: Naps. I had two on Tuesday. And one is definitely in the works for today :)
O: Orange juice. I am throwing down Tropicana like it's going be removed from store shelves next week. I swear I've already had several gallons just today. Why? It's delicious, and I remain sadly stricken with sick. It's just a cold, but it has made me want to laze in bed all day with my mug of oj.
P: Playtime. I've been having a lot of it with the kids who come into the bookstore. Yesterday involved some story-time and dress-up.
Q: Quote of the day: Recognize and appreciate what you are capable of. Why NOT you? From @SmashFit on Twitter. Thanks!
R: Running. I am going to do some this weekend and I'm excited!
S: Seoul Flyers. Seoul Synergy Tri. Who knew there were such amazing clubs in the city? I thought I was excited before!!
T: Tatyanna. I'm thinking about this awesome wee girl as she undergoes treatment in China. Check out her mom Janelle's great 365 photo blog of their journey here.
U: Umbrellas. I really don't like them. I feel like they never work the way you want them to, perhaps because I have yet to encounter a rainstorm that doesn't also involve wind. So I've been getting a little damp in the rains (and snow!) of the past week, but I don't mind. Beats fighting with an unusable umbrella ;)
V: Vibrams. I really need some. I'm sold. Check out this incredible post from the fabulous P at The Adventures of an Average Athlete about her experiences in VFFs. They helped her keep running in her life. I'm hoping they can do the same for me and keep my knee on!
W: Wisdom tooth. I am growing one. Knowledge is painful, apparently.
X: ....I don't currently have any awesome 'X' items. I'm stumped!
Y: Yogurt. Also on my list for eating today, because I have some delicious peach stuff that is set to expire on the weekend and I plan to consume it to make sure it isn't wasted.
Z: Zuzana! Visit her website for fitness tips, tricks and videos...or just to stare at her abs for a while. Thanks to the lovely Katie at Run for the Bikini for introducing me to my new fitness superhero. Also for Zen Buddhist readings.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a fab Thursday!!

Workworkwork.

2011-04-15T16:22:00.000-07:00

It has been busy, to say the least. But it's a welcome adjustment to my daily life.

I managed to pick up four shifts this week although I was only scheduled to work one, and it's been great! However, it's meant that I've fallen behind on blogs in general. Reading yours, and clearly writing mine too. But I am really enjoying the bookstore, and am hoping to be as lucky in scavenging shifts next week too!

Sleepy but smiling after my first full day shift.

In running news, I am hoping to hit the roads with the RR crew on Sunday for a third or half of their long run. Their fearless leader provided me some invaluable guidance over lunch earlier this week and helped ease some of my fears about running a marathon (in 2 weeks!) after my unbelievably painful last race and taking (more) time off. I'm nervous, even about a 12k. But I'll let you know how it goes.

In triathlon news.... I really need a mentor. Any volunteers? I'd pay you in Starbucks and hugs and good vibes! I'm planning to use my first work money to sign up for my first race of the season - the return to Woodstock - that I will be doing with my girl Em! I'm really excited about it, but I'm nervous about getting my bike back on the road, knowing how much work it needs done on it. Maybe what I need is a DIY bike mechanic book. But then I'd need tools, and those are very foreign objects in my hands!

I'm hoping to catch up on all your blogs this weekend :) And I'm also considering changing the format/content/direction of my own. I'm not feeling it lately, so I'm thinking up some ideas to give it some spice. Have a great one!!

One year ago today

2011-04-10T13:31:00.000-07:00

I did my first race ever, the Run for Retina in London! I ran the 10k and I absolutely loved it. I could feel something new starting as I pounded the familiar riverfront paths: it was the birth of an addiction.

I also had the best number ever.

One year later, I'm wishing I could have been in London doing the half marathon. If wishes were races, I'd be set. Instead, I sent my good luck vibes across the rainy countryside this morning to the folks I know who ran in this year's race.

I can't believe it's been a year since this happy day!

Where were you one year ago today?

OMG Spring

2011-04-08T13:49:00.000-07:00

I think we're emerging now, finally, from the winter of my discontent. And from actual winter, the longest, coldest and most difficult of seasons.

The sun is shining. I spy a little green grass growing. No flowers yet, but some bouquets to the great people in my life for providing little bits of happy when it's been most needed this week: Mom, Katie S., Emtastic, Curtis and Team Diabetes/Awesome.

Since running is currently on the prohibited list, I've been taking advantage of the awesome spring weather by standing on the balcony and opening the door to the balcony. This is especially awesome when combined with a workout. Try this recipe: start with a huge helping of endorphins (can be acquired through a one hour bike ride or fifty minute p90x session or both if you choose) and top off with one cup of chocolate milk. Allow to bake in the sun for 15 minutes. Result: smiles.

I've been a lactard for a significant part of my adult life. However, in recent years it's bothered me less and less, so I decided to test out the whole 'chocolate milk is the bomb post-workout' theory. I'm pretty convinced about it, I must say. Anytime chocolate can be consumed in the name of health is a big win for me.

What else is new? Well, I have a new life plan. I'm not going to go into all the details yet, but having a plan of action always serves to make me a happier and more productive person. Right now I'm trying to convince the bookstore to give me as many hours as possible for this summer. I worked another shift last night and continue to love it. Talking to people about books, playing with kids and grabbing a (discounted) Starbucks on my breaks? Heck yes. I can't believe they want to pay me for it, actually. Of course, every workplace has it's challenges and/or drama, but thanks to my awesome trainer, I've been totally free of all that so far. I'm also re-inspired to work on some upcoming fundraisers with my awesome Team D friends, so that's something else that's on the go.

Also on the go - plans for swim training. I have not been doing nearly enough of that for the past two months. And I really need to get on it, because my first tri of the season is on June 11. That seems like ages away right now, but in training days, it's practically next week. And as you may or may not know, swimming is my weak spot. (It just occurred to me that was kind of an optimistic thing to write, considering I've just been told not to run for a month and my bike hails from the time of dinosaurs.) I can swim one lap across the pool pretty fast. I have a wetsuit for this year. I can swim many laps across the pool....with breaks. I lack endurance in the water in a big, bad way. Did I tell you about the time I did a triathlon with the backstroke? Same tri, last year. I feel like I am not breathing in the water, despite the fact that I do breathe every third stroke. It will take ~~a miracle~~ lots of hours of practice in the pool to feel comfortable in the water.

Also, let's discuss Vibrams. I have been seriously thinking of getting some. I may take the plunge tomorrow, in fact. My friend Jess just got a pair and has been extolling their virtues to me all week. I've also been reading some of your blogs and seeing them pop up everywhere. Are they the best thing since Garmin? Since Gatorade? Since some dude ran a long distance in Greece and started one of the glorious races we run and aspire to run? Seriously, I'd love to know your thoughts on them. Do you know anyone who has recovered from an injury training with Vibrams, or just learned to run faster, stronger and happier using them?

Because here's the thing: I WILL be running Big Sur. And then in July, I WILL be running my first ultra. I've about had it with these mandatory running breaks, and if there is something out there that will help, I am all about it.

How Ch1n@ got revenge.

2011-04-04T08:19:00.000-07:00

Greetings folks from the land of limited and very difficult internet access.

I'm still in Canada. Right here in Ontario.

But my email? Well, it's being rerouted through China.

I first noticed that something was off when I got home from work (more on that later) on Saturday evening. I couldn't get my mac inbox to load any new messages, and it kept telling me my password was wrong, which I didn't think was possible. So I tried to sign in online. When that didn't work, I got gmail to send a message to my phone, so I could get in and change all my settings. I promptly did that, read my mail, and while I was a little shocked and angry, I was over it in about 10 minutes.

Then it happened again. Twice on Sunday, I couldn't access my email. Then I couldn't access my bank account. I have it all sorted out now, but it took some investigative work and blocking out some remote access points that were based out of, you guessed it, China.

It would appear that China is not done with me after all.

What's hilarious is that I barely even got internet access there. There was only a very brief window during which I was actually able to get on the internet during my 72 hour stay there.

So I apologize if you received any sort of sketchy messages from me this weekend. Apparently the blog also went down for a short time, but it seems to be all good now.

*****

In other news, yesterday saw me running (yes, RUNNING, against PT instructions, it's true) through a thunder snowstorm following a fundraising meeting. My Team D fundraising friend thinks I actually am cursed, because the last meeting we had to plan a fundraising event was also followed by a freak snowstorm. I hedged my bets this time, and once I saw the first fat flakes falling, I opted for running through it rather than getting stuck on a city bus smelling of vomit. This actually was sort of exhilarating. Except that I was wearing my glasses, which quickly became a wet opaque mess of ice and snow and non-vision correction. And I wasn't wearing running clothes. My pretend waterproof jacket (that I still adore) was soaked through, and I was wearing khakis that quickly became invisible pants. Thank goodness the snow was so think I don't think the cars could see my underpants.

Okay, okay. Enough recounting of the comedy of errors aka my life ;) Excitingly, I worked my first shift at Chapters on Saturday! It was all orientation, so mainly just signing forms and learning about the company. However, I was beyond thrilled to learn about the special discounts I receive as an employee. I had anxiety about spending my paycheques at the in-house Starbucks and on picking up some irresistible bestsellers, but the discounts will definitely help with that!

In training news, I kicked off round two of p90x on Friday. While I can't run, I'm going to concentrate more on building muscle and hitting the pool, and of course biking too. So far so good - my entire body continues to be sore.

That's about all for now. Make sure you get a great start to your week today!!

Keep on keepin' on.

2011-03-31T11:52:00.000-07:00

That's what I'm doing right now. I'm also learning to let go. Some say that is the one sure path to happiness. Here's some things I've released in the past 48 hours:

1) The physiotherapist told me not to run in April, and that if I do Big Sur it will be at my own expense and take me out of play for an indefinite period of time. Old mindset: cry, scream, rant, set my race schedule on fire. New mindset: let it go, as hard as that is; take it a day at a time.

2) Yesterday a piece of damp garbage blew up and stuck itself onto my face, right around the time the bus driver whose door I was hammering on decided I was invisible and drove away without me. Old mindset: "Wow, I am actually invisible; it's not just me." New mindset: let it go, this happens to everyone.

3) I lost the apartment I wanted so much in Toronto. Old mindset: rage against the person who decided rent was due immediately. New mindset: let it go, you couldn't afford it right now anyways.

4) After having a long discussion about my options, look into pursuing further education to find that the programs I was interested in are closed and full. Old mindset: think it's only natural that I would feel like I had something figured out finally only to find out it was futile. New mindset: let it go, because you know you didn't really want to add to your debt after all.

5) Alarm goes off. Consider getting out of my pjs and doing something productive. Let that go. Still in pjs, listening to my latest fave songs (Locksley, Black Eyed Peas, Panic at the Disco, OK GO, Glee) on repeat and loving H.G. Wells in a big way :)

Releasing my iron grip on my future goals and my past expectations of myself is not as hard as I thought it would be. Truly, no sarcasm, no crossed fingers. I think that's thanks to the continued help of my stellar support network. Sponsors of today's smiles: Emtastic, Mom, Geo, Nat, R, youtube.

In some fun other news, I got my ATB pics today! Wanna see?

Rockin' race rabbit. Thanks, bunny!

Smiling because I outran the reaper.

I did it! Endorphins > pain.

I'm pretty proud that my official chip time was exactly what I wanted it to be (3:15) despite the last five clicks, where I swear I was limping at a snail's pace and sucking back huge lungfuls of air fighting my conflicting emotions.

So that's about all for now, folks. Have a good day!

Lay it on the line.

2011-03-29T16:22:00.000-07:00

Hi, my name is Carrie and I'm having a quarter-life crisis.

If you didn't already know.

Focusing on races and regaling you with nothing but tales of my training would be fine and well if I myself was fine and well. But I'm not.

Physically, because my body is staging a horrible, unprovoked, unnecessary rebellion against my training. I have, on several occasions since booking it, considered canceling my physio appointment tomorrow. I don't want to pay good money for bad news. I know what they are going to tell me, and I don't want to hear it. How can something that makes my heart sing make my body hurt the way it does?

Mentally, because I have hidden the sad truth of my situation even from myself. I only recognize myself in small fragments, but on the whole, I don't know who this person is who stays inside all day and can't find work. I don't want it to be me; I hide my eyes from my own reflection. I'm sick of telling the kind souls who ask that no, I haven't found a job yet. Sick of explaining how yet another disaster has blown up out of nowhere and scattered my flimsy little life all over the place.

When you can't drive, freedom isn't a whim - it's a long series of measured steps, planned hours if not days in advance. You can talk all you like about your healthy, hippy, walking lifestyle, but in the winter you still feel like a second-class citizen when to get to where you need to be it takes two hours on the city bus. When you aren't making money, every single time you enter your pin number into a debit machine, it feels more like you are agreeing to have your blood drawn from your veins. "You can't take it," you seethe silently, "It's mine and it's precious and its in limited supply." When you don't work and don't know the people where you live, and on top of all that, your cell phone provider is even charging you for incoming long distance, you make-believe that the people in books and in tv shows and on twitter are enough for you, that their accomplishments suffice; and that you really value all this time to yourself anyways.

More than anything though, you're angry at yourself. You can't fathom how you got here, no matter how many times you discuss it and mull it over and sicken yourself of both the latter and the former. You second-guess every decision you've ever made. And you curse yourself for not being more grateful. Who are you, after all, to complain? You have people you love you and those same people keep propping you up so that you can eat and pay your bills and take your two-hour bus rides. At least you thought ahead and registered for two races for this year in the last. At least you can walk. At least you can read. At least you have hot water in the shower and cool water to drink. At least you didn't lose everything in a tsunami. At least you're not dead.

I really am grateful for those things. I do know that I'm lucky. And I know that envy is a horrible, no good, very bad thing. But it's awfully hard not to see the things that everyone else has, and wonder why their age group race wins/uncomplicated relationships/travel adventures/photos with friends/happy, successful day jobs/puppies/forward momentum can't be a part of my life too.

People I hardly know are liable to make me all kinds of promises about all the great stuff that's lurking around the next corner for me. But for the past four, almost five months, I've opened doors that lead to brick walls and tried to climb through windows with impenetrable glass. As much as I sometimes feel like I've run out of steam, I know that if I don't keep trying, throwing myself into rejection and potential calamity, that change will never happen. So I push on. I hope that one day I will look back and see a moral in all of this. Maybe, like the Nazca Lines, it will only be visible from far above and beyond.

I wanted to thank you (all of you who know who you are and all of you reading, too) for being patient that this blog has lately been less about awesome than I had once hoped. For caring and saying nice things like this:

Fall down seven times. Stand up eight. -- Japanese proverb.

I am trying my hardest.

Around the Bay!

2011-03-28T09:02:00.000-07:00

The city of Hamilton put on a fantastic race. As the biggest and most famous race I've been to, it's easy to see why it's such a success. And despite being held during the second coming of winter in Canada, it was actually a beautiful sunny day - which couldn't but add to the awesome.

The expo: It was huge!! I didn't have much of a chance to browse, as I got there close to it's close on Saturday afternoon. But I did notice a runner's paradise of shoes, shirts and other assorted goodies stretching on for many, many metres. You have to walk through this area clutching your wallet tightly and shutting your eyes in order to make it to the packet pick-up without having to call Visa for extended credit. I've truly never seen so much stuff. And there were so many volunteers! They were helpfully guided me through the process of looking at the bib number wall and chip check-in. I felt like a race novice, because I'd never had to do those things before, and I feel fairly certain I was looking goggle-eyed at all the runners I wanted to be friends with in all their new expo gear the whole time.

After checking in to the hotel, I immediately tore into my race packet. In this case, it consisted of a shirt and a chip, along with some race-day instructions. In all the other races I've done previously, they've provided a variety of fun stuff - from food and gels to pens and coupons. This race I think made up for lack of stuff by providing such an epic expo, and for the beautiful shirt. I can now happily and proudly say I have two long sleeve technical shirts now.

It's beautiful!!

Then I got ready far in advance for the race.

5:30pm Saturday.

The next morning involved a delicious breakfast a couple of hours prior to the run. I had a waffle and a hard-boiled egg in addition to my usual cereal and juice, which was a terrific plan. I didn't have my customary stomach-groaning starvation pains midway through the race. Does anyone else get hungry about an hour and a half into running? Even sport beans don't fully conquer my hunger sometimes. Anyways, I had also packed some of those, as well as Clif Shot Blocks for the run, but I left off my hydra-bet and decided to just grab water and gatorade from aid stations on the go. Got dressed, lazed around for a while, then went to join the massive crowds at the starting line.

The race: Once again, I could not believe how many other runners there were. I heard the starting gun go off just as the pack of people I was in was arriving several blocks back of the starting line. After about ten minutes of slow shuffling forward, we passed the start and I broke into a run. I was loving the feel of the sun on my black tights and the sounds of the crowd cheering everyone on. I slipped in and out of bunches of runners, chasing down a man I was drafting. (I always do this, I pick a running friend who I think has a great pace and hang out with them for a while. In this case it was a man with black shorts, a water bottle on his back and a red jacket.) I felt like I was flying for the first 7k or so. Several times I consciously thought about pulling back my pace and assessing if I felt like I could maintain my speed. But I was completely comfortable.

It was at about this point that I made an amazing discovery. Bobbing over the heads of runners was a sign that said 3:15. I may have laughed out loud. I had thought about searching for a pace bunny prior to the start of the race, but knew it was utterly futile to look for anything in the thousands of runners lining up for the race. But I had found the perfect pace group by chance. So I sped up and joined them. They were doing ten and ones, which I don't normally do during a race, but since I was trying to be so good and remember that I wasn't going to push it during this race so as not to spoil myself for Big Sur. It was just what I needed. We ran along together happily, enjoying the views and sunshine for several kilometers.

However, as grateful as I was to the race rabbit, it couldn't last forever. Well, I actually think it could have if there wasn't an unfortunate crapping incident. Yes, literally; someone running in our little crew was having some seriously awful digestive difficulties. The worst part about it was not the smell, although it was beastly, it was the material running seeping through her tights and running down her legs. I felt absolutely terrible for her but I actually thought I was going to be sick and had to slow my pace. I don't think I was alone, because immediately this poor lady had a big cushion of space all around her. Amazingly, she didn't stop running. She just kept going and going. I don't know if she didn't know or didn't care or what. I think she must have eventually realized what was going on, because when I came across her again several kilometres later, she had tied her jacket around her waist. What a terrible situation -- especially for her.

Actually, I've never been in a more eventful race. I think possibly because it was the first time I've ever ran with others. Other than the above mentioned incident, there was a pretty scary fall on a bridge that pierced a runner's lip, some dramatic relay handoffs and plenty more people watching. I didn't see any Team Diabetes runners, but there was a ton of really enthusiastic Team in Training runners that I was really inspired by.

As for the hill of horror? I actually didn't think it was so terrible. It was the most scenic part of the race, so I kind of enjoyed it. And the grim reapers at the top (well, actually they were located a little ways after the top) were really nice. Overall, a great course and a great day for a race.

Unfortunately, not a great knee day. I have no idea what it was, because last weekend I ran 26k with almost no pain whatsoever, but my knee was killing. Then my hip was really aching and grinding. And then, suddenly and inexplicably, my right ankle hurt - overcompensation, perhaps? As much as I loved the day and the race and just being out there, I had to grit my teeth not to cry during the last 5k. I was gasping and taking 10-second walk breaks every 500 metres or so. But I was telling myself, "mind over matter" and "you can do this anyways." I sprinted down the chute across the finish line but I'm pretty sure the official photos will show the tears of pain in my eyes above my victorious smile. (However, how cool that the finish was inside the stadium? I felt like an Olympian!)

I still made my 3:15 time despite my pain, which rocks. Now I'm going to hit the physio HARD until Big Sur.

Secret-sharing Saturday.

2011-03-26T08:11:00.000-07:00

Good morning! I haven't got my run on yet today, although I have a short one-miler planned. I'm getting pretty excited about the race tomorrow and hoping that this snow-melting sunshine continues!

Since I don't have any training related updates for you today, and because I've spent a fun morning organizing the files on my computer, I thought I'd share with you some secrets. Secret photos, actually, and secret because they're so bad. Brace yourselves....these are from before I was a blogger.

I'm the one with the spiky hair and mesh shirt.

I thought I was a very fashionable 12-year-old.

This may be the one surviving photo of my teenage years.

I'm the goth chick on the left.

My favorite fishy face. Absinthe fairy at a second year

uni party.

About to eat a muffin the size of my head

on my first trip abroad in fourth year uni.

So happy to be exploring my new city

the summer I started grad school.

Shockingly back to a full head of blonde

after more than 10 years at 24.

Sisters. Two years ago. We are celebrating Em's grad and I am

extremely hangry and eager for food, hence the crazy face.

Enough nostalgia and wacky photos for now. Hope you have a fabulous day! :)

Back to Awesome.

2011-03-25T12:42:00.000-07:00

Today I got up early, had a bowl of cereal (my fave!) and went for a 9k run. Ahhh. It was bright and sunny, and actually, the prescription for happiness. My schedule's been so whimsical and out of whack lately that it was great not only to run early, but to scratch off half the items from my to-do list before noon. After boosting my endorphin and vitamin D levels, I got back to my full time job of looking for a full-time job. I've been really concentrating on revamping my resume and writing the perfect cover letter template and had some awesome successes with that. Plus, with the help of my two fabulous, dedicated, part-time job-searching assistants, found some opportunities that I'm really enthused about.

Over my 'lunch break', I wrote a cathartic email to my would-have-been employers and got that out of my system. Ready to move on.

And for today's post, I thought I'd make it a special edition. Let's call it Freaky Friday - or The One Where Carrie Becomes A Zombie.

What am I doing, you ask? And why is my face so shiny?

Because I'm ZOMBIFYING!!

I was actually being a huge girl yesterday and did a purifying cucumber-green tea face mask. As much as it was actually really nice and made my skin glow after, I couldn't resist taking a picture of the hilarity of taking it off. Sorry if you are scared.

But I'm thinking I may revisit this great look come Halloween. Although, it was very appropriate this week because I beat the iPad game Plants vs. Zombies for the second time. So fun.

Anyways, now I'm sipping water and I have nice, pure skin. I sure hope my laptop screen appreciates that ;)

Rehydrated.

PS. I wanted to thank you all for your advice re. my water-belt. I am thinking I'll just leave it at home for the race this weekend, because there will be water stations along the course. For future long runs, I think I'll start with the body glide & bodily adjustment plan. However, I would ultimately like to get a little camelbackpack for my camelbak bladder, because I think having more water and having it more readily accessible will be great for when I'm training for the ULTRA (so soon!).

Have a super fab weekend y'all!! :)

An index of professionalism.

2011-03-24T15:52:00.000-07:00

(With apologies in advance for a non-running, non-smiling rant post)

Is it professional for an organization to contact someone they'd like to hire, offering them a position for two months down the road, then not respond to this person's email or phone queries for six weeks?

Is it professional for said organization, upon finally re-establishing contact, to tell the person they'd like to hire that the position they just offered that person actually hasn't been created yet, and that the person in question is going to have to go through the process of reapplying for a position they've already been offered?

Is it professional for said organization to be so delinquent in returning communications, after the person has applied and continued to correspond with the organization, that it takes a further month to set up a meeting?

Is it professional of said organization to then offer the person they want to hire a verbal contract, further adding that they will be in touch within the day to confirm salary and within the next two weeks to confirm contract details, and then never be in touch with any of those details?

Finally, is it professional for an organization, after stringing someone along for almost an entire calendar year, to then inform them that they've decided they don't have enough money to fund the position after all, so too bad, that's it? And is it professional that the only way the person that they said they wanted to hire had to call, email and everything short of hiring a PI to eventually extract this information?

The answer is no. It is not professional at all. But I suppose I should have known better when these supposed communicators/professionals were completely incapable of responding to an email or providing some semblance of a timeline. Words can scarcely contain my thoughts and feelings of the moment on this particular department in a particular establishment in Toronto.

Why am I so angry? Firstly, at the principle of the thing. Secondly, because I couldn't turn down the idea of a better life, so yep, it's partly my fault too for holding on so tightly to the thin thread of hope they'd unspooled just for me for the game of cutting it off in the end. Apparently that's a game I really love. Hopefully soon I get good at it.

Questions - one for you, a few for me too

2011-03-22T11:42:00.000-07:00

First of all, I really need your advice!

My hydra-belt is abusing me.

See? Ouch!!

Does this ever happen to you? If so, have you figured out how to fix it? I bought my hydra-belt when I started training for a marathon last summer. It looks like this:

It's great in theory, because I have recently realized just how much of a difference drinking while I run improves my post-training recovery. However, I swear my belt hates me. It actually scarred my back last year, and when I wore it out for the first time this year on Sunday, it literally tore a strip off me.

I was especially surprised about this because I was wearing 3 layers of technical gear underneath the belt, which I (wrongly) assumed would protect my skin.

I would really appreciate any input you have, so me and my hydra-belt can work on improving our relationship!

How to avoid bleeding during my long runs is only one of the questions I am dealing with this week. I am also still wondering what to do with my life. Another job interview down yesterday. One call I made yesterday morning answered some of my questions...and created others. The calls I've been making today have not led me to any answers...not yet. I've listened to advice from the opposing camps of beggars can't be choosers and all those in favor of taking a leap of faith. There isn't too much time to lose, but I'm taking my time making this decision. After all, I've recently had a few lessons in the art of making the wrong decision, so I want to make sure my next big move really enhances my life. Admittedly, it's pretty hard because I'm so impatient for change.

However, my awesome weekend made it easy to start this week on a high note, despite all the unanswered questions on my mind. Rest day - check. Delicious, fancy dijon chk'n fake meat - check. Plants vs. Zombies fun - check.

I hope your week is also off to a fab start! :)

Wow.

2011-03-20T18:09:00.000-07:00

That's an acronym, by the way. WOW = Weekend O' Win.

I have seriously had one of the best weekends of 2011, and in my recent and remembered life.

Where do I even start? I would make a list, but I'm not sure what to put first, so I'll try to explain in no particular order.

Today I ran 26k in the sun, smiling and pain-free. Yesterday I got a full-time job offer. Today I made a running friend who shared her shot blocks with me. Yesterday I saw two of my fave ladies in Toronto. I've made some amazing new music discoveries this weekend. I met some cool people and saw some cool places. I had two second Starbucks days in a row. I have the new Jodi Picoult (it was a 'momentum gift'!) I am HAPPY. What a wonderful feeling. I can hardly believe my good fortune. :)

My happy face in another happy place.

I'm making some tricky decisions in the next couple of days, but powered by happy, I know they'll be the right ones.

Fave things Friday.

2011-03-18T20:18:00.000-07:00

Once again, I am so lucky as to be having a fabulous Friday for the second week! Right now, Friday is my day. It makes a nice kind of sense, considering I was born on a Friday. Happyhappyhappy.

So it seems appropriate that I share with you some of my favorite things. Some from today. Some just in general. If I was in charge, I would make these things rules for everyday, because unlike the ones from yesterday's post, I would never break a set of rules involving my favorite things!

1. Second Starbucks days. Yes, I did indeed have one of those today! So lucky. I may even have another one tomorrow! As if you didn't know Starbucks would make it into this list somehow.

2. Running with rad peeps. I had a running date today. I picked the route, too - one of my favorite loops that overlooks the university and passes through a big field. And running is simply another daily life essential.

3. Spring weather. Grass! Buds on trees! Puddles! Temperatures above 0! Sunshine!

4. Seeing old friends. That's on the docket for tomorrow, and one of my favorite things about last weekend too!

5. Tony. I did p90x yoga today because I missed him so much. It's only been two weeks! I am seriously considering starting round 2 sooner rather than later...

6. Gardein. Delicious fake meat. Mmmm protein & veggies. I would like these guys to sponsor me so I can eat oodles of their yummy and quick dishes.

7. Planning things. And the people who help with that. Korean summer school before Bali surfing school 2012? Yes please!

8. Potential. I have an interview Monday and last night I applied to three things that were actually not just okay, but really exciting to me. Also see points 7, 4, 3, 2 and 1.

9. Reading. I have definitely come around to Vanity Fair. At first, I wasn't loving it. Now I chalk it up to just a slow start. I'm really enjoying the wit of the writer and all of the insights into human life that are still very much applicable to today. The classics = the bomb.

10. Awesome messages from you. These come in all kinds of forms. Calls and emails and even job postings from my #1 fan, news and cute animal pics from my comrade in arms, sister emails, tweets from new tweeps, your comments. So thanks :)

In other news, there have been some interesting things going on on the route of my next marathon. I heard about a hole in the Pacific coast highway earlier this week, and today the BSIM race director sent out a sad email. Most importantly, nobody was hurt. But basically, because of the damage to the road, the race is going to be some sort of a loop. They haven't released the details of the course change yet. I am putting my heartbreak about not conquering Hurricane Point and dancing across Bixby Bridge on hold. That's because I believe they have enough time in the upcoming weeks to fix it. This is not entirely selfish, because it's also about tourism, right? They've got 5 weeks. Isn't that lots of time? That's my plan A for them. If that fails, my plan B is that we all just run around the hole in the road. That's only impossible on one side of the road. Surely where there's a will, there's a way? My will, having purchased tickets and hotel and the privilege of doing this for the charity Just Run, is really strong. I believe there are a couple of thousand other runners who might feel the same way.

This is me on the California coast in 2006. I will return!!

Have a happy weekend friends!!

Breaking the Rules

2011-03-17T13:12:00.000-07:00

I was totally inspired by Shut Up and Run's living outside the law post. So here's my tribute.

10 ways I break the rules:

1. I cannot remember the last time I cooked, peeled, or prepared anything. My idea of a snack: apples, cheese slices, a red pepper. My idea of a meal: liquid eggs, salad out of a bag, frozen veg, prepared fake chick'n breasts that cook in the microwave, protein bars or a bowl of cereal. My idea of eating out: Starbucks or Quiznos. It seems like a very long time ago that I was used to pretend I was Ms Domestic and use recipes.

2. I'm religious about teeth brushing, I floss sometimes, but the last time I used mouthwash was in elementary school. I don't think I know how.

3. The new apartment (which really can't even be called new anymore) has never been vacuumed. I don't even own a vacuum. I've had to abandon the five second rule.

4. I am not following my current marathon training plan. Why? Because in the general state of up-in-the-airness of my life these days, I forgot to change it back from when I changed it to suit a May 21 marathon instead of the May 1 marathon I'm actually doing. How have I broken the plan? I was sorta behind on my training, and tried to catch up with two long runs in a week. Somewhere along the way I got confused.

5. I think avoidance is a totally reasonable tactic for dealing with tough situations right now. Healthy approaches be damned.

6. I didn't grow up to be like other adults. I never learned to drive, I don't speak any other languages, I didn't get married, I don't have a regular job and I don't know the first thing about doing my own taxes. Further to that, I think meals are kind of stupid and would rather just snack all day and drink juice boxes. I don't sleep regularly. I make big messy paintings for friends and family members, call it art and insist that they display it. I hate beer and red wine. I'm addicted to m & m's and I think gum is best enjoyed with several pieces forming a giant wad. I could go on, but I'm 25 and I have learned a little about when to stop...

7. Instead of doing the job search dance every day, sometimes I abandon it altogether in favor of youtube watching and adventures-and-beaches planning.

8. I don't do the dishes right after I eat. And the only way I know it's laundry time is when I'm out of workout gear. Sometimes the sheets and towels get neglected in favor of said gear.

9. If there was a limit on internet usage, I would definitely be over it.

10. Six weeks between hair cut & color updates? HA. It's been more than six months. Regular mani/pedi? On what nails? Shaving every two days? Try every two weeks, maybe.

I actually really like rules. Maybe it's just so I can break them.

Pre 10k. Loving the ponytail hole a LOT.

A big bike ride.

2011-03-15T17:56:00.000-07:00

Today I spent almost 2 hours on my trainer. I was pretty excited about this too, because it marks another first for me. The longest outdoor ride I've ever done was about an hour and a half. Indoors? An hour on the trainer alone, although I have done 75 minute spin class. Oh the good old days, when I had a free gym membership! ;) But wait, I digress, today was a great day with a great bike ride.

Cycling in the sun!

I had my new towel ready to mop up a small

portion of the sweat.

Adding media for extra fun.

Setting up my laptop beside the bike was a brilliant idea, if I do say so myself. Not only did I watch some of my favorite youtube videos, but I also watched an episode of Buffy! What a good blend of heart-pumping and nerdy fun for a Tuesday afternoon.

My day was later completed by this delicious blast from the past:

It's a slurpee!

If you didn't know, Manitoba is the slurpee capital of the world. I'm just representing :)

Happy Tuesday!!

Slushy Sunday strides

2011-03-13T15:53:00.000-07:00

(perhaps by overdoing it, I will cure myself of my obsession with alliteration in titles)

Well, hi!

Today has been a great day. I had my longest long run in month - 20k! I'm still super thrilled about this.

Victorious fist-pump!

I also went out with the Running Room run club for the first time in a reeeeeeally long time. I used to go a lot with my ladies in London (I miss it!!). But this was actually only my third run with the local club, because of my knee/going home to the range/China adventures. Lots of fun!

I don't really know anyone at the club yet (the two people I do know weren't there today), but these things take time....and regular attendance, I know. So it wasn't an especially social experience today - I think I spent about 7 minutes out of slightly more than two hours talking to other runners. However, I'm hoping they recognize me when I'm back for more next weekend!

One of the other things that I really enjoy about group running is the pre-planned routes. I tend to run around the same paths and sidewalks around my home these days. Not out of a lack of adventurousness, but because this particular set of routes is mainly clear of snow, slush and ice. When I first moved here, I was really motivated about finding all of the best trails and really exploring the city on foot, like I did when I first moved to London. However, I moved to London in July. There was already snow on the ground when I arrived at my new home, and it hasn't left since. Then there was the knee and some travels, of course. In general, I've been opting for the routes that don't bear much resemblance to an obstacle course in light of my injury and the need to be ready for my next rapidly-approaching marathon.

So getting out with the group meant that I was on some roads less-traveled. Sometimes literally, but when I'm with a pack I feel a lot more confident being actually in the road as opposed to on the sidewalk. The weather was awesome - overcast but warm. On the road it was a little wet and slushy, but I don't mind that - after all, it beats ice! We went kept the pace pretty slow and did ten and ones. It ended up being a recipe for success - I really enjoyed myself and experienced no pain. Happy knee, great hydration...and I put some m & m's in my pocket, which was probably the best idea I've had in my lifetime. LOVED them around the 15k mark!

After the run I had the breakfast of champions at Starbucks, then came home where I engaged in life-planning and youtube-watching for the rest of the day. Good times!

How was your weekend? :)

Fab Friday

2011-03-11T18:03:00.000-08:00

I'm so glad I get to title my post that. Even more excited that it is true!

Today I had an interview at the Running Room. It was very fun times indeed, because turns out I know the area manager from the London store! So we basically discussed destination runs, what it's like to be the newbie runner and the stuff of inspiration. Regardless of whether or not I get the job, I was happy for the experience.

Of course, in order to get there, I had to travel via public transit for nearly two hours through a blizzard. This is how things work for me. I map out a bus route and the clouds roll in ;) Essentially, it meant that I had a lot of time to think - and today that was a really good thing. I was in a positive headspace, making plans for the future. I even busted out the iCalculator to map my route to debt-free life.

Plus, whilst out and about, I got to celebrate Starbucks' birthday. TWICE. Round one: my special smoothie for lunch, plus they gave me a wee peanut butter cup cupcake. Round two: skinny cinnamon dolce latte, and they gave me a mini carrot cake cupcake. Does it get better than two tiny cupcakes? I don't think so. Maybe eating them with the help of a beagle (have we discussed how obsessed I am with beagles lately?).

In between those two treats, I had a 11k run through the blizzard. I felt particularly victorious for conquering slush, wind, ice pellets and running on the road (something I am slightly afraid of doing - especially considering recent tragedy :( ).

Sweat + stretch + Starbucks = runner's high plus!

Happy.

However, I am sad that my happy Friday should coincide with horrible situation in Japan. I am sending all my hard-earned positive vibes from today to the people struggling there. I spent most of the morning glued to the internet for updates. Happy to know that friends on Hawaii are safe, but thinking Earth is sick and that we should take notice and start living like we care. Starting perhaps with a donation to the Red Cross and recycling.

Back to the bright side, if you do not already love this lady and her band, you should. That's my recommendation for this weekend. And I hope that you have a terrific one - you deserve it.

It's Thursday...

2011-03-10T13:18:00.000-08:00

You may want to go to Starbucks to wish them a happy 40th today. Apparently if you do, they'll give you a free "cake pop" - which is essentially a little ball of cake on a stick. Naturally, this is big, tasty news in my world. I would like to celebrate Starbucks' birthday three days in a row because that's what you do when you're in a very loving and committed relationship...which a coffee shop.

In other news....well, there really isn't a lot of news. In my spare time, I've taken up a new sport which I am calling championship napping. Alas, there are no pictures of me engaging in said pursuit, because I have been so heavily involved with it these past two weeks, there's been no time for snapshots. In fact, I've been working myself up to 18 hours a day. Winning, duh!

In the hour or so that I've been awake today, I've had two 12-grain bread and cheese sandwiches, two cups of oj and a 7k run. What can I say, I bring the party.

I forgot! At some point I must have also

sleep-hammered that fishy scene onto

the bathroom wall. I am so productive.

Considering taking another nap now....

<3 C.

A fabulous fifteen

2011-03-07T13:35:00.000-08:00

Fifteen kilometres that is. My longest run since early December (before the knee)! It was simply fab.

Also falling under the heading of fabulousness: my post-run egg and spinach sandwich.

And that is all, because I'm so happy and cold and sweaty I am compelled to dance myself away into the shower now.

Happy Monday!! :)

Running in the rain!

2011-03-04T13:46:00.000-08:00

I´m runnin´ in the rain
Just runnin´ in the rain,
What a glorious feeling,
And I´m happy again.
I´m laughing at clouds
So dark, up above,
The sun´s in my heart
And I´m ready for love.

Let the stormy clouds chase.
Everyone from the place,
Come on with the rain
I have a smile on my face.
I´ll run down the lane
With a happy refrain
Just runnin', runnin' in the rain.


With thanks to Frank Sinatra.


Seriously,how absolutely glorious it is that today was warm enough
for rain! I'd spent the majority of the day working on some job 
applications (for some especially cool jobs, in fact - so I was being 
extra anal), but when the first drops started hitting the the window 
beside my desk, I literally sprang from  my chair into running clothes 
and out the door. And my rainy run was truly fab - I did another 7 
(seems to be the popular length of the week) and I loved it. :) I had 
my new playlist of tunes for a soundtrack and was loving that too. 

Some examples:
The Black Keys (Brothers album)
Lady Gaga – Born This Way – I'm on the right track baby, I was born
this way is a theme I can get behind at this moment ;)
Katy Perry – Firework
Death from Above 1979
Bob Marley
New Glee

Here I am belting out one of the above on 
my return home after today's run. 

Yesterday, I learned how to use APPS on my iPhone. Yes, I know I am the 
last person to jump on that bandwagon. However, I just inherited my
secondhand smartphone this winter. And although it is capable of
doing awesome things like internet and apps, I didn't think I could
take advantage of either of those things, because it's only a
smartphone on the outside. Inside, it's a motorola razor. So while it
may not currently provide me with internet access, I have learned
that I can use apps without being connected. So I downloaded about a
dozen yesterday – everything from push-up apps to nutrition
trackers to the iMapMyRun app.

Here I am being extremely excited about the 
potential of this app before
yesterday's 7k.
It was a bit of a hilarious adventure. First ofall, I didn't know to turn off 
the voice feedback option. And because I had my music from my iPod 
on and my phone was tucked into my jacket pocket, I didn't realize this 
until the end of my route. When I first began running, I thought I could 
hear voices, so I kept twisting and turning, looking around me for 
whoever was following me and talking continuously. Seeing no one, I 
shrugged and kept running. Later, as people waiting at bus stops and 
walking towards me were giving me strange looks, I figured the voices 
must be real. Then I started worrying that I'd pocket-dialed someone – 
like a potential employer.  However, it was just an automated voice 
telling me how far I'd gone.

My verdict? I really liked that it tracked my route. However, since I
was not super adventurous and just running a loop through the park
and around my neighborhood, there was little danger of me getting
lost. The feature I was most excited about with this app was the
potential for me to learn my pace! I have never known my pace
outside, because I don't have a fancy watch. (I used to run with a
polar heart strap, but that is currently sitting on the floor
somewhere with a dead battery.) Alas, I still don't know my pace. It
may have announced my pace without me hearing it, or displayed it
while I was actually in motion, but I missed it. There was a message
about going online to check out “more stats about my run” so
perhaps I will find still be able to find my pace. I am still excited
about knowing it, and being able to not only track it but compare it
to my speed on the treadmill. Do you use this app? Can you help me 
get the most out of it? I want to pretend like it's my Garmin. :)

My sister also sent some pics of my custom Christmas chocolate bars that
I thought I'd share with you today, because it is a Friday after all,
and no better time for chocolate!


The darker one I named after this blog. It contained (briefly, before it
was inhaled by my family members and myself) silver flakes, dried
raspberries, cashews and dark chocolate. The other was Carrie's Berry
Blast, and it was white chocolate with blueberries, rice krispies,
pecans and star confetti. Delicious. :) I essentially did this with them:

Hope you have a happy, run and/or chocolate filled weekend!!

Reverse brick, reading blogs and rambling.

2011-03-02T13:24:00.000-08:00

I think I am almost caught up on my Canadian life. I have unpacked, put things into drawers and closets and responded to most of my messages. I've also been napping to catch up on my sleep but today I'm feeling pretty in sync with the sun - hooray!

Yesterday I had a terrific reverse brick workout. I ran 7k outside (and what an excellent day for it) then hopped on the bike when I got home for about 45 minutes. Super good times! I felt fantastic throughout my workout and really energized afterwards. In fact, I credit cardio for setting my schedule more or less back on track. I had a bit of a headache later on though. Does this ever happen to you post-cardio? For me it usually seems to be related to not drinking enough water before my run.

Now that my China adventure is over, things are pretty quiet right now. Chores, job applications, reading (my book and your blogs) and running/planning runs. Speaking of which, I may have a date with a new running buddy this week! And a few coffee dates too - including one with a marathoning/fundraising lady I am super inspired by! Lots of good stuff to look forward to.

Job-searchy!

In my readings over the past couple of days, I've seen a lot of stuff in the mainstream media about destination running events. I think it was last weekend that the whole life section of The Globe and Mail was devoted to running and travel races. Then yesterday I saw this on twitter. I cannot even explain how much I love how this fabulousness is getting the exposure it deserves! Don't get me wrong, running around your neighborhood is also awesome, but for me personally (and I suspect for many other people), getting to run and travel at the same time is a dream come true. Getting to explore somewhere new while also challenging yourself physically and mentally - does it even get any better than that? I don't think so. Of course, I might be biased, because as many of you know, my first marathon was in Iceland. But it was truly one of the most glorious experiences of my life - and one that I knew I wanted to do again and again!

My next destination event is Big Sur in May - which Bart Yasso says is a must do, so I'm doing it ;) About five years ago I drove all the way down the Pacific coast from Vancouver to LA with my family. So I've briefly glimpsed the beauty of the area, and I am SO excited to experience it on foot. Have you done any destination running? In addition to heading back to China one day for the Great Wall Marathon, I'd also love to do these awesome destination marathons someday: Petra, Everest, Antarctica, Big5 or Safaricom in Africa, Athens, Easter Island, Moscow, Dublin, Queensland and Rio. Wanna join me on one? :) Cruise to Run is also pretty neat. I dream of running races across Canada too. I've traveled from Vancouver to Montreal, but I haven't seen the East Coast or far North yet, and I think racing would be the absolute best way to do it!

Hope you're having an excellent week so far, folks!

Your support and second chances.

2011-03-01T11:18:00.000-08:00

Or maybe ~~third~~ ~~seventh~~ sixteenth chances. But who's counting? :)

First of all, I cannot thank you guys enough. Your emails, facebooks, texts, comments and phone calls have been absolutely awesome. I am truly the luckiest girl in the world to have so many supportive people in my life who want to know how I'm really doing. So thank you all for being the best friends in the world. Special thanks to T & J for the pep talk and China story exchange. And to R & TMC for agreeing to just put this train back onto it's original tracks. I'm slowly getting through all of the fab emails I received, so if I haven't written you back yet, let me tell you publicly that you're the bomb and I'll be sending you a personal email to say exactly that asap.

I'm on a bizarre schedule right now. I couldn't fall asleep until about 2 am, then I struggled to stay awake all morning. I feel like I'm neither on Shanghai nor Ontario time - I'm on mid-Pacific time, I think. So I haven't gotten a ton of stuff done yet. I'm also still battling this sinus infection (there, I said it. I have succumbed to sick. But just a little and just temporarily). The state of my suitcases (my general lack of unpacking my stuff yet) has given R some cause for concern.

Clothespolosion.

I swear I will get to it. I will also get to GO RUNNING today! I've uncovered my tights and shoes and am SO pumped to get out in the sunshine :D And after I return I may hop on the bike to continue the happiness in sort of a reverse brick. Which will allow me to use this awesomeness that I received in the mail:

Fab towel from Stacie at Impossible is Nothing!

Thanks for your awesome giveaway, girl!

I promised to tell you what comes next today. To be fair, I can't tell you exactly what comes next. But I can give you some ideas for what may follow today's run and my next few days of resetting my biological clock. But before I give you a peek at what the future might hold, perhaps a look into the past might be in order.

If you're new to my life, you might not know that my passions change more quickly than fashion. I have set off down nearly as many career paths as there are years in my life. Pioneer, farmer, jockey, musician, actor, writer, photographer, physicist, advocate, professor, psychologist, marine biologist, geneticist, journalist, neuroscientist, domestic, lifelong student, radio producer, technical editor, teacher - I've tried my hand at all these things and more. What I really love is learning new things and having new adventures - and my one other constant is that I've been a vegetarian for 18 years. I like writing about my adventures, I love the people I know, and now that I've discovered running and triathlon, I feel like I've found all the bits of that make up who I am and life's greatest treasures. Of course, in order to maintain my idea of the perfect life of training daily for destination athletic events, reading books and advanced Starbucks consumption, I need an income. So, next up potential jobs: travel agent (maybe I could help other people plan awesome vacation marathons! Win!!), signals officer (because I do really well with being told what to do and being really busy all the time and I heart paperwork), personal trainer (helping others get their sweat on = sweetness), medical writer (yes, I am revisiting the folks from the big city who are terrible with email but who still may want to hire me after my interview last summer), technical editor (despite not loving this job, it was great money and I had lots of time to do the things that I loved - so I'm investigating doing something similar in my new home), professional blogger/athlete (pipe dream alert - but oh what a dream!), dog groomer (or future dog parent) or barista (I think this time, instead of sending resumes, I will woo Starbucks. Like perhaps write them a song or get a billboard about why they should hire me even though I'm not a hipster.)

Lots of irons in the fire, work-wise. Plus freelancing, as I can get it. And, y'know, if you have a job and want to hook me up, I'm open to that too. I'm a very hard worker and I learn quickly :)

And I am so excited to get back on track to doing the marathons and tris that I had planned to do this year - as well as plan a run for charity in my hometown!

The way I see it, I'm taking the scenic route on my life's journey. So glad you could join me :)

72 hours with no showers.

2011-02-28T19:46:00.000-08:00

Prologue: On my flight to China, I watched the film 127 hours. You could say I was inspired by it. This is my jet-lagged attempt to describe my adventure, or rather misadventure, in Shanghai. It's a lengthy account, but it's a full one. So if you're up for a novella, read on, friend. For those short on time, I've included a Clif's Notes at the end, so scroll on down.

Chapter 1 -- The sweaty skies and a sinus infection

The morning of my flight, I woke up with only a little bit of butterflies aflutter in my stomach. Despite my calm demeanor, things started going awry rather quickly.

Things that went awry:

The weather: there was a blizzard.

The highway: it was strangely packed and full of accidents for 6 am.

My health: I haven't had a cold in years, and when I was home in Manitoba, my throat started to hurt. I was totally in denial about it and just blamed the weather in Manitoba. But by the time I got to the airport, my nose was running like a leaky faucet and I was croaking like a frog.

Checking in: one of my bags was overweight, so I had to open it, spilling all of it's contents on the ground in my mad scramble to start throwing things away out of it and ending up still having to pay the overweight fee.

Making it to the plane: I heard the last call for boarding while I was going through security. I soaked through my jacket running across the airport to make the plane. I did, however, manage to make two quick stops for a bottled water and to change 100 CAN to 520 RMB.

I collapsed onto my seat and poured the water bottle down my throat. I managed to shove one of my bags (definitely more than the maximum limit of ten pounds) into a cramped overhead compartment. I spent a significant portion of the flight watching that compartment because my bag forced the door to stick out on an angle and I had serious fear that it would fly open at the hint of turbulence and knock out the elderly lady sitting directly beneath it. The other bag I shoved under the seat, only after my seat mate had moved his jacket out from under the seat in front of him. Five-ish hours later, we landed in Vancouver and I hit the ground running again. I literally had to elbow my way out of the plane because we were forty minutes late and my connecting flight was supposed to leave in five minutes from when the first flight touched down. Naturally, this connecting flight was in the other terminal building, at the opposite end of the airport. So I strapped my bags on again and got my sweat seriously on again by racing over there and making it onto the flight that they held for me. Once again, I collapsed into my seat, this time without water but at least with my deodorant in one of my overpacked bags (which I promptly applied so as not to offend my fellow travellers). I slept for about an hour, total, on this 12 hour flight. Mostly I caught up on my movies and checked out a new tv show or two. However, life seemed pretty glorious, because I had two seats to myself and they served me the most delicious tofu dishes and served me all the water I wanted. Plus I had a package of kleenex and zinc lozenges to fix my increasingly dramatic sinus issues.

Chapter 2 -- First impressions and famous last words

I couldn't see the city for the longest time after we started our descent. The air was so thick with clouds it was hard to believe we were anywhere near land. When I finally set eyes on China for the first time, I was surprised at how unsurprising it all was. We could have been landing in Winnipeg or Toronto. There was no snow, mostly just brown grass where there wasn't apartment buildings and skyscrapers, complete with lots of streets and expressways. We landed, went through customs without a hitch and I gathered my many possessions. The school had emailed to say they would send someone to meet me. I almost missed that someone - I had to do several passes to find who I thought it might be, because instead of having my name or the school's name on a placard, they had the name of the textbook company that supplied the school. The young man meeting me looked to be about 18 years old, and was pleasant enough, except for the fact that he spent our entire seventy minute drive to where I was to stay on his cellphone in Chinese. I tried to engage this young man and the driver in the front seat, but to no avail. I peered out the tinted windows instead, trying to see the sights, but the freeway was walled for the majority of our trip. We bypassed the city centre and headed into something like a suburb. This is where I began noticing the differences between Canada and China.

Interesting differences between China and Canada:

1) Traffic. Lights and road lines are mere suggestions. If you've ever been in bad traffic in a North American city, you might scoff and think nothing of this, but you have no idea. There are bikes and mopeds and people all over the road. The honking is so constant and persistent that I actually stopped being able to hear it after a couple of minutes. Honking is used instead of signaling and instead of traffic lines.

2) Population. Everywhere I looked there was people, shoulder-to-shoulder, front-to-back, all over. It was like the sidewalks and the road and the street vendors and shopped performed this undulating sea of humanity.

3) Language. I had the really interesting sensation of being a child again. Had I have had anyone to question, I think I would have constantly been asking what the signs on all of the buildings said. It was a really cool experience not being able to read anything at all, but seeing readable material everywhere.

4) Laundry and food everywhere. Really, if I had been walking, I don't think I could have gone a meter in any direction without running into a food stand of some sort or making a mess of someone's low-hanging laundry.

By the time I reached my final destination, it totally dark out and I couldn't see much of anything anymore. We pulled into a darkened back alley, and I was unloaded into a darkened, nondescript building. I had been expecting a Holiday Inn Express or even a motel, so I was a little surprised, to be sure. But I kept a smile pasted on, thinking it could only improve from my first impression. The young man who picked me up helped me take my bags inside, handed me a banana, a card for the bus and a card for the phone. He also wrote the address of a building I was supposed to appear at on Monday at ten am down on a scrap of paper, then beat a hasty retreat. I was suddenly very much alone.

Some things you should know about the room and the "hotel": my room was on the fifth floor. The elevator stopped and I was stuck inside for 20 minutes until it was called back to the bottom floor, by lucky coincidence, by a man who looked like he was there doing maintenance. I elected to walk up the stairs, but by the second floor, it was pitch black, so I went back downstairs and tried the elevator again. I made it to my room, which was down a darkened hallway. Inside the room was two beds, a desk and an old tv. Pretty standard. I tried to take a shower, but the water didn't work. I tried to have a sponge bath, but the water came out only in spurts and was orange and contained flakes of some unknowable material. I sat down on the bed and tried to think calmly. I tried to use the phone card, but the phone in my room didn't work. I went downstairs and looked for someone I could talk to. There was no one at the desk at the front and it was dark. There was no restaurant and no other people anywhere in sight. I peered out into the alley. No people in sight. I was hungry; I looked for a vending machine. None in sight. I went back to the room, sat on the bed and cried.

Some things you should know about my impressions about the contract: I was told there would be other teachers - there were none. I was told there would be food, at least on the first night - there was none. I was told there would be an immediate orientation - but I wasn't to have contact with anyone from the school at all for approximately 56 hours. They just left me in this unnamed place by myself with nothing. I was told that they were going to take us on outings to see the city - but all I would see was this hotel room, the freeway and some smog. I was told this room would be free - but I had to sign a piece of paper that looked like they were going to dock my first month's salary for it. I thought that they were going to help me find an apartment before the week was over - but the young man who dropped me off said that "might" occur, if it was "necessary". I felt like the terms of my contract had been broken, and even more, I felt like I had no support.

I pulled out my phone from home and dialed the number for a friend of a friend of a friend that I'd never met, but who had offered to help me if I got into trouble in Shanghai. No answer. I called back until the phone was answered. Enter the hero of this story: H. Despite a bit of a language barrier, I was able to explain to H that I was in some trouble. I hadn't eaten for hours and I actually didn't have any idea where I was. I eventually found a pamphlet for the place I was in inside one of the drawers of the desk. H came to where I was and came into my room (after having the similar experience of getting stuck in the elevator). She called the contact number I had for the school and spoke angrily into the phone. Next, she gave me her spare phone and explained how I could use it. She took me out of the room and into her car and we drove to a hot pot restaurant. She ordered for us, and I devoured some delicious green beans, rice and other assorted vegetables. It was the middle of the night, so she took me immediately back to the room. But not after giving me a small bag of apples, red bean bread and bottled water. She said she would call me tomorrow. I agreed, and said everything would be better in the morning.

I did not sleep, because I kept the lights on to ward of the bugs that I had seen and heard coming out whenever I shut them off for a moment, and also because I was still on my Canadian schedule. So I turned on some Chinese tv, played gameboy and read. There was no internet. So mostly I just waited.

I also used photobooth to capture my increasingly

loony hours of waiting and variations in my mood,

along with the things I had and did to amuse myself.

Chapter 3 -- Day two and giving it a fair shot

When I could see the sun, I did some p90x kenpo (one of my favorite fun workouts) to get my spirits up and my heart pumping in a healthy way. I tried the shower and taps again. I had a sponge bath with the icy orange tap water. I felt dirty, but I laughed it off as part of the experience and figured eventually it would be resolved. Things did seem better in the morning after all. I sent some texts to fam and the bff with H's phone. I opened up my computer and wrote the first of what would be several pro-con lists. I looked out the window at the buildings around me. I thought I could see a park and I resolved to try to find it eventually. I waited some more for H's call. I ate some apples and red bean bread. We connected just before noon, and she invited me to find a taxi and come over for lunch. So I did, and that was mostly uneventful because she had written down her address the evening prior so I was able to simply hand it to the taxi driver.

Her home was beautiful, and her family provided a beautiful meal. Lots of veggies, even tofu! Plus, I was able to go on the internet and send 'hi I'm safe messages' to my family and 'omg is this really what I signed on for?' msgs to the course instructor and my Canadian contact for the school. I was pretty calm, but I was still not sure about my situation. Commenced with another pro/con list. As terrific as H was, I wasn't able to communicate my concerns to her as well as I would have liked. Plus, she was extremely busy with work and couldn't hold my hand. Not that I wanted my hand held, what I really wanted was to talk to another teacher and for the school to provide me with a decent orientation, as I believed they would. I was not in panic mode, I was still open to my experience, still willing to keep trying and hoping things would improve.

Shortly after our meal, H dropped me off at the place I was staying (I can't call it a hotel because it had no sign, no front desk staff and no amenities - nor a hostel because it didn't seem to have any other people aside from myself) on her way to work (ish - she was working but the place was about 40 minutes from the city proper and longer from where she lives). She warned me not to spend too much time walking the streets around there because people might try to take advantage of my obvious foreignness. I actually felt comatose tired at this point, so I climbed into the bed, fully clothed, and had a nap.

When I woke up, I was disoriented. It was dark. The phone H gave me had completely stopped working. I couldn't charge it, so I couldn't text or call anyone. The hotel phone still refused to work. I grabbed my iPhone, and saw that it's battery was very close to dying. I rummaged through my bags, only to discover that I left the cord that I could use to charge it at home. I sent off a msg to the bff and H explaining the situation. H said we could deal with it in the morning. When the phone died, I went downstairs to try to find someone at the front desk so I could maybe make a call to someone at the school for help or maybe just a rant. It was pitch black and there seemed to be someone sleeping on the floor in the corner. To be honest, I was too scared to investigate further, because I had no way of knowing who this person was, if they spoke English, or how they would react to being woken up. Remembering H's warning, I was wary about going outside. So I went back to my room (after a couple of false starts in the elevator) and ate the rest of the apples and bread. I spent another sleepless night. I passed the time eating the m and m's I had packed, writing pro-con lists, watching Chinese tv and reading. My nintendo system was also out of power. I left the lights on. I started rambling stream of consciousness to myself. I walked around my room. I tried the taps. I tried finding a wireless connection. I tried sleeping. I did not meet with any success.

Chapter 4 -- Elation and despair and decision making

When the sun rose, I went downstairs and found someone at the front. With the use of a picture of a computer on a safety card I found in the desk, I asked for the internet. Half an hour later, still nothing. But suddenly, a young girl came in to talk to the woman at the front. She explained that under the desk or somewhere in the room there might be a cord which I could plug into the wall and into my computer. Not in so many words of course. But I was thrilled. I literally squeaked and ran up the stairs to my room. I got on my hands and knees, bugs be damned, and started searching for this cable. I found it under the cart that housed the tv. I plugged it in and hopped on gmail chat faster than a speeding bullet. I could not have been happier about my newfound internet access. I chatted a little bit and was feeling really good. But the time difference meant the chatting was pretty short-lived. But it gave me the mood boost I needed. I decided to try to make an adventure for myself. If the school wasn't going to provide me with a tour, I would do it myself.

A quick assessment of my finances made me realize I could only afford to do a tour on foot of the nearby area unless I could find a bank machine (I had spent nearly all my RMB on the taxi ride to H's on the previous day). I did not find a bank machine, so I was not able to take a cab to the touristy areas of the city. But I thought, what the heck, and set out for a hyper-local adventure.

During this adventure, I saw someone riding a bicycle in the street get run over and killed. At close range. Not caught in the blood-spray range close, but close enough. A man with only a few remaining teeth grabbed his crotch at me, and when I turned and continued walking, ran up behind me and thrust himself against me. With surprising strength and pushing me up against the wall of a building he grabbed at me until I pushed, clawed and kicked my way out and raced down the alley. At the end of street, I could see the entrance way to the park, so after a few moments to calm and collect myself, I continued onwards into the park. I had my jacket zipped over my camera, and I had high hopes of maybe taking some neat pictures. Pushing through a mass of people, I realized one of my pockets was unzipped. Thankfully not the pocket that contained my passport and visa - sheer luck that only my remaining RMB was on the other side. Gone.

Inside the park, there was a lot of neat stuff going on. After watching to make sure pictures were allowed, I pulled out my camera to capture some of it.

The river in the park.

For 8 RMB, you could go in one of these tubes

and float on the river.

People were largely just hanging out on benches

near the river, enjoying the (admittedly somewhat

smoggy) view of the city.

Interesting plants!

This apparently was a school.

I checked out this path....

...which led up a hill to this view.

Kites were a big thing in the park.

As was music. There were so many people playing

brass instruments around the river it was a cacophony.

Folks fishing.

At this point I almost lost the pictures because someone came up behind me and tried to grab my camera as I was taking a picture of another kite. Due to the way I had strapped the camera onto myself, he didn't succeed, but it was my second struggle of the day and I was kind of panicked about the whole thing. I hightailed it out of the park at this point, breathing heavily and feeling upset. But I wasn't upset with the country in general - every place has bad people and good people. Anywhere you go you could get mugged or molested. And considering, I felt like I'd gotten away relatively unscathed.

I couldn't get into the building housing my room when I got back for about an hour. When I finally did get inside and went into my room, someone was already there. A woman with her hands in my bag of dirty clothing in the bathroom. It was at this moment, standing in the doorway of the washroom that didn't work clutching my camera to my chest, sniffling away and agahst, that I realized that I was leaving.

Chapter 5 -- "The best follies are the shortest-lived" (Alexandre Dumas)

I tossed my possessions into my bags quickly, haphazardly. I checked to see that I still had my degrees and my computer and since I did, I was satisfied. After I was packed, I sat on the bed and tried to figure out a plan for H's phone. It was at that moment that she happened to call the room and by some miracle, must have got through to someone at the front, because the call rang through to me. I answered and told her that I was leaving and she instructed me to take the phone and said she would pick it up from Canada (she travels back and forth a great deal for her work). I piled my bags one on top of the other, and slowly, walking backwards, lugged all 120 pounds of them onto the elevator and downstairs. I stopped at the front and handed the key to the woman sitting there. She didn't say anything to me, but immediately got on the phone to what I presume was the contact at the school. As for me, I heaved my luggage out of the alley and into the street, where I hailed a cab and set off for the airport. An hour later, I was there. Two hours after that, I was on a plane coming home. Twelve hours, and I was back in Canada. Two more hours in the car and I was in my home, sleepily inhaling a bowl of cheerios before having the best shower of my life, then subsequently having a complete coma.

Epilogue

What did I learn from this adventure? Invaluable life lessons.

1) I learned about trusting my gut - when something seems sketchy in Canada (not being told what hotel no matter how many times you ask, the wrong dates on the contract that the school claims is just an error, not being given the contact information for other teachers on the ground, etc.).

2) I learned about what I like about traveling. I like being super busy, I like doing really active adventures, I enjoy the touristy spots, I like having the comforts of home when I get back at the end of my day of active adventures. I thought what I wanted was to live in a new place and another culture. And maybe I still would, under the right circumstances. For instance, with a friend (new or old, but someone I could talk to and share experience with). I'm independent, but spending 48 hours alone is not fun at all, especially alone in a hotel room. Also, with access to a gym and the internet (and if I can be really greedy, maybe a Starbucks occasionally). I'm open to new experiences, but there are some things that I love and truly cannot live without. Even then, I could live sans gym and internet if I knew beforehand that I wouldn't have access and I had enough adventures to fill my time. But at least for now, I think I'd rather have a backpacking journey through Europe with my sister or spend a well-planned week in the elephant sanctuary or sign up for another destination marathon.

3) I also got perspective on what I love about home. I'd been feeling so awful about my circumstances for so long that I didn't appreciate what I did have. Some of that includes the above, like gym and internet. But I also really appreciate the people and the opportunities in my life here in Canada. When I was writing my pro and con lists, I kept getting really excited about the thought of getting to run in Big Sur like I planned to and finally get my driver's license. LIke, really excited, even joyful. I didn't ever feel homesick, because I genuinely do like to have my own adventures and I've done so before. But I realized how much I love being home and being with the people closest to me. Before I signed the contract, my idea of a perfect life was getting a dog, working up to an ultra this summer and doing longer triathlons, doing destination marathons once or twice a year. When this opportunity arose, I thought maybe this teaching abroad thing could be a ten-month part of that perfect life. I had wanted to try this since I was 16. And now I have. And I really feel like I have it figured out.

Going to China was not a mistake. I learned and experienced so much. I feel like it set me on the right track.

Clif's Notes Version

I went to China and spent 72 hours in hotel room by myself with no sleep and no showers and very little food. I wrote pro/con lists, contacted a family friend who was able to help me when I was absolutely desperate, and tried to stay positive and make rational decisions. However, the fact that I saw nothing, did nothing, had no support and was staying in the sketchiest circumstances available eventually convinced me that I needed to leave. I had a tough time and I really tried to make it work. But it did not work. Not for me, not there and not this time. So I'm home and I'm okay and I'm excited for what comes next.

And what is up next: I'll tell you tomorrow.

Vanishing Act - The Dress Rehearsal.

2011-02-23T05:51:00.000-08:00

If you're wondering where I've been for the past week or so, you are definitely not alone. Truth is, I've been so busy getting ready for my big move catching up on all my emails and bloggy biz hasn't been on the top of my priority list. Of course, it's also in part because of Family Day (it's an Ontario/Canada thing), which I did in fact spend with a bunch of family members in multiple places. It is always really good to see loved ones, and it was especially nice to spend time with people I don't see often normally...and will see a lot less of this year! Lots of good quality time over the weekend and more to come over the next day or two. Lucky me :)

Anyways, it's sort of my dress rehearsal disappearance, because I have been reading up about internet access in China. You know how when you read about rules in other countries, and you might have thoughts/opinions/feelings about those rules, but they are so far removed from your own life? Well in this case, something kinda big is going to practically affect my life. Facebook, twitter and blogger are frequently blocked sites over there. And while I should still be able to blog (by email - don't worry, I set this up already!), I will have to get used to turning the social media in my life down. Or off. It's a little wild, but I plan to survive by doing a lot more in the real world! Oh, and email.... :)

So, my big news is that I now have my flight tickets. So it's official: I will fly away on Thursday morning. Yup, that would be tomorrow! In less than 24 hours, in fact.

So I really need to pack my giant suitcase!

It was the biggest possible option, because I am trying to put a bed (blanket and pillow!), towels, protein and accelerade in there. And gym stuff, of course!

A smattering of other updates:

1) I had a fantastic time at the Y, as I always do when I'm there. I did several rounds of p90x (the most recent of which was legs...and today my butt hurts A LOT). I also had a bike ride and two great runs - including a ten-miler, which I ran at a slower pace in 80 minutes. I have to say I love the treadmill because I know so much more about my run - like my pace! So I know that I am actually slowing down for my longest run on the treadmill, whereas outside I always go by feel, and I'm pretty sure that's always about the same pace, whether I pretend that's the case or not. But! Best news of all, I found the one treadmill with NO time limit! :D Oh, how I loved that machine. If I'd brought my iPhone upstairs, there totally would have been a picture of me showering my love on it. How lovely it is to run as long as you want. Also lovely: NO knee pain. Long run + happy knee + tunes = bliss.

Happy post p90x + 6k!

Happy again post long run and shower!

2) The people I know rock. I have had so much support and help with my China prep these past couple of weeks, it's unbelievable. Mom got me the awesome big suitcase and some of my favorite treats to take along (vitamin c's and cinnamon hearts!); Dad provided some tunes and the means for a visit; Em provided her room, yeggs (yay eggs!), Starbucks and driving over bumps really fast adventures; Mike looked up international triathlons with me and we chatted tri stuff for hours; Rudi has provided me with rides everywhere and helped me get the tickets (not to mention the course itself!): the Strahls took me out for some fine dining and drove through a whiteout 90k/hr wind blizzard for me; and Jil candled my ears, was hostess for fun times and made deliciousness:

Lots of family day celebrations - or Louis Riel Day, as it is known in MB.

Despite what it might look like above,

I spent very little time in my pjs this weekend!

There was too much gym and rum to be had.

3) Some things I'm loving right now:

My custom chocolate bars that just arrived after they were ordered for me at Christmas (pics and ingredients to come)!

New music - World is China, Adele (thanks to the Brit Awards, which I caught on the Y cardio tv), LMFAO, Radiohead, P!nk, Robyn, Justin Bieber (I might be a little late, but I have caught the fever) & revisiting old tunes - Basshunter, K'naan, Death from Above 1979 - and that's just a sampling! :)

The surprise luggage lock that was hidden in my luggage!

The idea of being in a subtropical climate before the week is over!

4) I had an appointment with my sports doc today yesterday to find out how my knee is doing. However, I'd just gotten home and I hadn't had time to shave in a while. Okay, maybe a long while. So I put on my knee-high compression socks before my appointment, thinking that when she pulled up my sweatpants to look at my knee, she would see it and only it.

That did not go exactly as planned. Not only did she pull down my sock when she had me lying, helpless, on my back - but there was a medical student doing observations with her. For a dreadful couple of seconds, she actually paused in the middle of a sentence she was saying to the student, and we made eye contact. I said "I was really hoping you wouldn't do that...." There was some awkward laughter and the examination proceeded. The news, other than my leg hair, is that I still have PFS, but that it's slowly getting better. I'm still allowed to run (YAY!) but I should do more miles on the treadmill where I'm not feeling as much pain. I'm also supposed to continue strengthening my leg. So overall, pretty positive. (And I came straight home to have remedy the hairy situation).

That's about all for now, because I still have to pack and run around doing errands today. Wish me luck, and I hope you have a great day!!

Reality shows

2011-02-17T05:13:00.000-08:00

Reality shows up in my life, that is.

My funemployment is coming to an end. Thank goodness. Although I've spent the past three weeks being thrilled about my upcoming adventures in China, I've still been suffering from an acute case of Newton's first law. That's right, not from money worries or stress as much as a lack of inertia. My self, having been at rest so long, was simply continuing to cruise along at a restful pace of blog-reading and living on my own schedule.

Now things are finally ramping up because everything has gotten a little bit more real - I'm ready to get my plane ticket. I've been in and out of the big city, getting my visa, and in and out of the small city, setting up my final appointment with the sports doc; buying supplies (apparently it's always good to stock up on some things you and I take for granted...like deodorant...when traveling to the Far East). I'm almost totally packed. Plus I've been doing some general cleaning house type of things, and you never know how unbelievably many of those there are until you are about to up and move your life halfway across the globe.

Exhibit A: Three years worth of bank statements & such =

one giant garbage bag of shredding.

Of course, no week is complete without p90x. And chaotic hair.

I also discovered an amazing bumper sticker in the parking lot yesterday that I think you will appreciate.

Hehe.

When I haven't been working out, running around all over Ontario getting ready for my trip or refueling with egg sandwiches, I've been reading The Count of Monte Cristo. And I love it! I find it very hard to put down. I'm pretty excited about it because it's the first French fiction I've ever read. And I love epics. Without exception, all of my favorite novels are epics. And this is definitely an epic; it's keeping me well entertained.

Hope you're having a wonderful week! :)

Inspiration and perspiration.

2011-02-14T15:22:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentine's Day! <3

Today I inspired some running. Isn't that terrific? No, I have not converted my nearest and dearest to winter running (yet), and I did not drag anyone out into the wild wind with me today (it was enough of a struggle psyching myself up enough to get out in the ghastly gusts). What happened was I inspired a trail-walking Beagle to kick his cardio up a notch or two. Truly, it was the cutest thing. I wish that I'd brought the iPhone running.

I spotted this cute pup and his teenage owner coming around the bend on this pretty trail though the woods I take on almost every run. I pooch-watched for a moment or two, as I am prone to do, then turned my head back around to avoid crashing into the trees or falling into the stream. After about a minute, I heard a little jingling and felt some warm breath on my calf. The wee fellow had decided to join me on my run! He kept looking up at me with the biggest doggy grin on his face as he ran right by my side. I stopped and petted him and let him give me a kiss, then I grabbed his leash and ran him back to his owner. His friendliness and enthusiasm for running put a huge smile on my face that stuck around for my entire run.

I had a lot of reasons to smile today. I ran 12 for the first time in 8 weeks, first and foremost! Plus, although it was pretty intensely breezy outside today, it wasn't cold - it was just hovering around freezing. And it hasn't snowed in a couple of days, so the sidewalks were mercifully clear. Plus, I saw two other dogs on my run (can you tell I want a canine companion?) - and these guys were super neat! Again I wish that I'd been able to grab a picture. They were the fuzziest, biggest blonde dogs hanging out on the ground beside an igloo doghouse. Cute!

I got home and had a juice box (I told you I'm a kid!) while still red in the face (there's the perspiration part of this post). That was not quite sufficient, so then there was this:

I was also really inspired (read: giddy and excited) about getting my visa. It totally made this whole thing feel real.

That's it! And why-I'm-a-youth fun fact #253: Not only do I

let my hair air dry, I brush it basically only under protest.

And still more inspiration: I love the fact that my twitter was lighting up with all these messages of love. Simple love tweets, triathlove, and animal kisses = awesome. I love Valentine's Day - I think it's very sweet. It makes my day when people embrace and celebrate the good things in this world, of which love ranks highest of all. "Love is a many splendored thing, love lifts you up where you belong, all you need is love!" My V-day was reallyreally awesome too - I'm a lucky girl. See?

Starbucks and almonds and chocolate and smiles...

these are a few of my favorite things!

Hope you had a lovely Monday that kick-starts an awesome week, folks! :)

Five Things Friday!

2011-02-11T14:08:00.000-08:00

I'm making up my own rules today :)

1. The accelerade is always over too fast. It's just so tasty - it's fruit punch flavor! Perhaps I should whip up two bottles for every workout. Then I'd have a workout nerd's version of what's it called? Double fisting?

2. I start my workouts with my hair neatly tucked away into a ponytail and secured out of my face by a headband. And yet, every workout, it simply explodes out of my restraining devices. My hair: rebelling without a cause since 1985.

3. Today I've eaten 5 fruit to go's and 5 cheese slices. Earlier this week on twitter I explained how to make grilled cheese and cheesy eggs - which are two of my favorite dinners. I'm actually a five-year-old, trapped in the body of an adult.

4. I am learning Mandarin! My favorite things to say so far are fruit juice and newspaper. I was also delighted to learn the phrase for running in my very first lesson! Running is universally understood to be an imperative to communication, I love it.

5. I have spent more than a full working day poring over this website and making wishes related to getting to do this. Prettyplease I have a week-long break this summer? SO awesome, I NEED to do this.

Have a terrific weekend - you deserve it!!

What the hell

2011-02-09T13:36:00.000-08:00

Considering I'm not an Avril fan usually, it's a strange anthem/earworm for me. It's upbeat pop, which always gets me in the mood for running or other adventures. And what the hell, it works for me right now :)

I'm feeling really fabulous because:
a) I just had an awesome p90x workout, during which I did clap pushups until failure twice (love that, makes me grin every time)!
b) I am going to have friends in China in April!
c) I have a new fish friend who is doing a great job of cleaning the tank (I'd show you, but he's napping hidden under the water heater).
d) Earlier today I finished part two of my course and wrote the online exam. I am done, and China is becoming more and more real!
e) All of the above!

What a great day. Now I'm off to beat the bank in round two! Hope your day is just as happy!

When I grow up

2011-02-08T20:13:00.000-08:00

...I'd like to be Ben Southall. Or Ben Southall's BFF. Or a student at the Ben Southall school of awesome (because there should be one).

About two years ago, people around the world were competing for the best job in the world. Who wouldn't want to take care of an Australian island for a few heavenly months? I desperately wanted this job, but someone who truly deserved it ended up getting it.

Ben Southall. Marathoner, fundraiser, adventurer, blogger-vlogger-tweeter, kayaker, awesome dude extraordinaire. I'm truly in awe of his life and want to start rocking my own version of it. He travelled around Africa to raise money for charity, run marathons and climb mountains. All while meeting new people, exploring the world, and living life to it's fittest, fullest best. Then he tackled the best job in the world. Now, because this man has truly raised the bar to the moon for fabulousness, he's doing the best expedition in the world.

If you don't follow him on twitter, you are truly missing out. But I am here to help: @bensouthall is his name. Prepare for a mega dose of inspiration! And awesome videos like this one that he posted earlier today:

So awesome!!

Since Ben hasn't offered me a job kayaking/running/blogging yet, I've just been running around the snowy streets of Ontario. Today they were plowed however, and the sun peeked out! I was very happy to get out there, even though I only had a 6k on the books. I was pretty tired afterwards, which I thought was odd because running usually gets me super pumped up. I chalked it up to the combination of coldness (-25 with windchill today!) and general sleepiness. So many of the folks I've encountered the past couple of days have been sick or fighting something, so I'm wondering if maybe I'm doing the same.

Yesterday I was in the big city briefly applying for my visa. I decided to spare you the details because it was basically mostly a ton of walking around in the snow. However, once inside, I found everyone to be extremely helpful. One gentleman told me all about Shanghai while we waited outside. Then inside, another visa applicant showed me where to get my forms and ushered me into the correct line. Turns out that was not only helpful, it was necessary, because I couldn't read any of the instructions taped to the walls! And because the photo line and the forms line were separate, yet another nice young man let me join him and his friend in the queue - and they were right at the front! I'd say it's about time I get on learning the Mandarin though. I was a little surprised that they wanted to keep my passport until my visa application goes through. I'm still new to all of this - it's my first visa! But definitely not my last.

(Because there's a whole world of beaches waiting to

be explored by me in the near future! :) )

Chillin.

2011-02-06T19:27:00.000-08:00

You know you're having a mellow Sunday when you wear your pjs ALL DAY LONG. Seriously, I got out of this outfit for about an hour today, then got right back into it after a shower. I'm mixing up my daily photo to include the occasional non-sweaty version of myself. However, the non-ponytailed version of myself has ceased to exist, so don't be looking for me to mix it up too much in the hair department.

My hour out of my pajamas was originally intended to be a run. That proved more complicated than I had hoped, due to last night's snowfall. I stepped out into a light sprinkling of snow, and was pretty proud of myself, considering it was the first time I've set off into a snowstorm for a run. I was supposed to run 12k, and conditions seemed like they could be in my favor. The weather network said it was only -1 degree. The street I can see from my window looked clear and the sidewalks shoveled or melted. Plus, yesterday's snowstorm was pretty short-lived - it cleared up right after I got home from my bus adventure, so I figured there couldn't have been that much new snow. And on top of that, it was early afternoon by the time I was hitting the pavement - lots of time for the snow plows to have cleaned off the sidewalks.

Or so I thought. In reality, only the streets had been plowed. And where did all the slushy, dirty snow from the plowing go? Up onto the sidewalk, completely obliterating any hint of a path and leaving a thick sticky mess almost up to my knees to tread through. The moment I turned off the residential street, it was like I was treading water. I was determined, so I tried to slog through it, but I felt like I was moving a kilometer an hour. Running rapidly turned into shuffling which degenerated into an awkward, slow, high-knees walk. My shoes filled up with slush, my lower legs were damp and cold, and the snowflakes settling on my eyelashes were no longer feeling as cute as they were when I stepped outside my apartment. For the duration of my slow creep back home, I was cursing mother nature and swearing that if I never saw another snowflake again, it would be too soon.

But then, later on, eating my evening eggs in my pjs, I saw an adorable pooch romping chest-deep in the snow. Despite the foot and a bit of snow covering his back yard, he was having a blast and he was getting his cardio for the day in. In fact, instead of it being a nuisance, it seemed like he was even enjoying the snow. I aspire to be more like a puppy on my future winter runs and remember that snow can be, if not always the most fun, at least a bonus workout challenge.

A not so simple Saturday Starbucks.

2011-02-05T16:51:00.000-08:00

Today went a little something like this:

Wake up, devour pb and banana. Lounge around in bed reading Fall of Giants for ~~20 minutes~~ 2 hours. Do legs, back and abs workout. Get clean. Enjoy an egg sandwich which I slaved over only to drop on the kitchen floor (5 second rule!). Decide today is a Starbucks sort of day and catch the bus downtown. Have good times with a chocolate smoothie, sudoku, texting and fundraising planning. Go outside to wait for the bus back home (and here's where it gets fun, folks).

Suddenly, out of the clear blue sky, a blizzard arrives. Suddenly, the temperature drops from -1 C to something much, much colder. The wind starts blowing the falling snow directly into the bus shelter, down my neck and into my handbag. My bus transfer disintegrates into tiny pieces in said bag. The bus, I had confirmed, was scheduled to arrive a mere 7 minutes after I arrived at the stop. Half an hour and several other busses later, it is still nowhere in sight. Another ten minutes pass. Meanwhile, the father and his two children in the bus stop are starting to get upset. The boy is bawling and keeps telling dad he "feels real bad". The girl is screaming and refuses to be set down. Dad says, "I know how you feel. I'm cold too." Five minutes. Finally, the bus emerges out of the white. The four of us are elated. The crying stops and we get on the bus. The bus driver mercifully nods at my soggy pieces of transfer ticket and I take a seat. Feeling returns to my fingers and toes. I am now hungry, so I'm glad I had the wisdom and foresight to purchase this:

(cookie inside)

The bus route diverges from the main roads to take a tour of suburbia, on the other side of the expressway from more suburbia where I live. We head down between the rows of houses, and someone pulls the bell for a stop. A woman gets off. We start to pull forward when the bus lurches sideways and abruptly the lights go off, accompanied by the sound of a buzzer. This only lasts a minute, but when the driver turns the lights back on and starts trying to move the bus forward again, it is apparent that we are stuck in the snow. The driver rocks the bus back and forth a few times before being convinced of its futility, and opens the doors of the bus. He gets out, walks around, inspects. Several passengers follow him out, but when their offers to help push are rejected, they return inside to sit down, dripping into their seats. Some abandon ship altogether, and set out into the storm. The driver gets salt out of a compartment in the bus, and heads outside again. While he is outside, the little boy who complained of being sick in a bus stop proves he's for real. He starts retching, which rapidly turns into throwing up into the plastic department store bag his dad is carrying. Despite the wind and snow blowing into the open doors of the bus, the bus begins to smell. Several other passengers get off the bus. I am lost in this side of suburbia, and at least a half hour's walk from home. I have no hat or scarf. So, despite my paralyzing fear of vomit, I somehow manage to maintain my cool and stay on the bus.

Twenty or so minutes elapse. The driver goes in and out, alternating salt-depositing with rocking the bus and calling our situation in on his radio. Rock, rock, repeat. We move forward. We get stuck again. The family and sick child get off the bus. The window I am sitting beside seems to have sprung a leak of some kind and cold water is sprinkling down on my knees and phone. Another fifteen minutes. Finally, miraculously, with the power of cursing and with four people left on the bus, we start moving forward. We cheer jubilantly! And five hours after I set out for a protein smoothie, I arrive safely back home.

Nature, my plan for you tomorrow is sunshine. No more snow. I want to run, not shuffle and slide my way through a 12k. While I'm pipe-dreaming, can I also ask that it be spring now?

Today's a two-fer!

2011-02-04T18:07:00.000-08:00

Contrary to how it may seem, considering the fact that I'm blogging at 9 pm on a Friday night, I'm having a pretty swell day!

I find sunlight extremely motivational. I am sure I am not unique in this - I'm sure in fact that there is a legion of fair weather runners out there - but there is something about the sun's rays that make me want to do more, push harder, go longer. Today I kicked my butt out the door into a cold, windy and grey day - but I was rewarded with some sun at what was originally supposed to be the end of my run and ended up being more like the middle. Sunspiration.

Don't worry, I wore a jacket and mitts too!

I got back home and decided to do yoga (also in the sun). Ahhh. Talk about a great combo.

Within the past 24 hours, I have also talked to the majority of my family members via skype! I'm feeling awfully lucky to have such great peeps in my life. My bff is with family in person this weekend, but I'm distracted from major missings or envy because I've been trusted with Operation Eat All The Groceries. So far, so good, in case you were curious!

I'd also like to do a bit of a follow Friday here, unconventional as that might be. Who am I to tell you what to read? Just someone who has discovered some awesome blogs, that's all! If I could only pick three, I would highly recommend you check out:

1) I just discovered this cool woman's blog today. Am totally fascinated by her career and love her dog and mad endurance skills. But this post made me laugh until I literally cried. (Fab find courtesy of another awesome blog, btw - Adventures of An Average Athlete!)

2) If you're a running blogger, you already read her. But Janae is my hero and her blog Hungry Runner Girl wins the highly coveted Carrie's choice award for awesomeness. Even if you don't run, you should read.

3) On a non-running note, my friend Janelle is doing a 365 challenge here. She's an amazing photographer, a terrific mom and a heartbreaking story to tell that will move and motivate you.

It's been a long time...

2011-02-04T05:00:00.000-08:00

...since I was up before the sun. I know, I know, all of you that have regular 9-5 jobs or are mothers (or both - dang, I applaud you!) are shaking your fists right now. But I've been on a bit of a winter hibernation schedule for the past two months. It's not exactly what I'm used to (I used to do all of my best workouts before the sun rose) - but it's been really working for me. It can be pretty spectacular to be woken up by the warmth of the sun on your face and your walls being washed in gold!

It is red, however, that is the color of the month. So many festivities I am celebrating this month feature this vibrant color. Lunar/Chinese New Year (my belated best wishes for the occasion to you all!), National Wear Red Day for Heart Health (today! Are you participating?), Valentine's Day, Team Diabetes does Family Day (you haven't heard of that one? ;) ). Today I'm up early to get some things done related to all of the above.

However, since I haven't done much yet other than nom a bowl of cheerios and put on a sweater, here's some pictures from yesterday.

There is nothing quite so glorious as working out in the sunshine. Especially when it doesn't seem like it shouldn't be possible to do so. Yesterday's bike workout was spectacular. I absolutely loved feeling like I was in a greenhouse for my ride. I plugged into some tunes, and although the snow was blowing wildly outside my window, I was being toasted by the the sun!

The combination of sunshine and sprinting on the bike = very sweaty hairs. The p90x ab-ripper also always ensures that a good portion of them escape my ponytail by the end of my workout. You know you've just had a fabulous workout when you're hair looks like this, right?

In other news, I am procrastinating with Ken Follett's Fall of Giants these days. I have been very lucky to have so much time to consume books!

This weekend marks the official start of my Great Wall training. I haven't officially registered yet, nor do I have an official training plan. However, I think I'm just going to adapt my plan from marathon numero uno and see how it goes. Well, I might toss in some stair-climbing too, for good measure - I understand a lot of climbing goes down during this marathon. I'm so excited!

Hope you have a fabulous Friday that kicks off a wicked weekend!

Snow Day.

2011-02-02T19:12:00.000-08:00

I feel like I am betraying my Manitoba roots, but I stayed inside today to avoid 30 centimeters of snow and blowing winds. I will argue, if anyone asks, that Ontario has not made me soft, it has made me appreciate a good snow day.

Which I definitely did. Spent the day reading (started and finished Secret Daughter), playing Mario, having a small chocolate indulgence (Mini Eggs!)...oh, and writing a test for the government.

I also did this:

Which is of course, a work in progress. I'm excited just looking at maps!! I do this everyday with a giant map on my wall - this being staring for hours, sticking up post-its on places I want to go and different colored ones on places I've been. So I made this digital version, which neatly encompasses my list of destination marathons and National Geographic's top destinations. I would of course check out the grey areas too. They are just places where I don't know anyone or I don't know much about. But I'm always open to recommendations....

Today was a day off for me. I was hoping to get outside for a run, but the storm made me long desperately for a home treadmill. Or at the very least, a gym membership. Going back to the above, I swear I haven't gone soft. This is actually the first winter I've done any outside running, and I'm pretty proud of getting out there on the cold, snowy days - despite the fact that I don't have Yaktrax (though I wish I did) and though I don't have a running pack for encouragement (though I wish I did) or appropriate -20 running gear (is there such a thing?) Yes, I want to run the Antarctica Marathon one day. But until I'm officially registered, I think I'll be preferring the treadmill during the worst of Canadian winters.

Did you have a snow day? What's your favorite thing to do with a day off?

Adventure!

2011-02-01T09:12:00.000-08:00

The cat is officially out of the bag. My big news: I'm moving to Shanghai in 3 weeks!!

Words can scarcely contain my excitement. This will be by far the biggest adventure I've had yet! I can hardly wait to get it started.

On Thursday afternoon, I found a job offer waiting in my inbox. The instructor of my course had told me on the first day that he thought I was a very qualified candidate and asked if he could submit my resume package to the agents he works with. He told me not to be surprised if I got a job offer right away. But of course, I couldn't help but be shocked when only hours after they'd received my information, an agency wanted me! So the awesomeness began. I replied that I was interested in the position they were offering, and over the next few days we negotiated my contract. I officially signed it and sent it in yesterday.

The sweet deal: I will get to work with kids (ages 6-15) in the government school system. They are hiring several of us at the same time, so I will get to meet and hang out with other English speakers during an orientation week before I officially start teaching. They're offering free Mandarin lessons and they want to take us out on tours of the city and surrounding area. Oh yes, and they want to pay me!

So the next 3 weeks are going to be action-packed with bank and medical appointments, packing and auctioning off my possessions, and researching things to do and places to see. Some of the latter has already been done: of course the first thing I did after signing was to look up gyms and Starbucks locations in Shanghai!

There are two major impacts on my training plans. First, I may need to put my sprint triathlon plans on hold. I'm not sure how much triathlon-ing goes on over there, but I am definitely going to endeavour to find one nearby, or at the very least, keep training. Who knows, maybe I'll be able to do so much training, I'll be ready for a half-Iron when I get back! Secondly, sadly, I will not get to run Big Sur or Around the Bay this year as I had planned. And unfortunately, I learned that race organizers are pretty strict about not allowing runners to defer their registration to another year. However, I have taken this in stride, and am determined to run them both when I back in Canada, I'll just have to re-register. Those were the only two races I had registered for so far, but I'll also have to put my plans for the others I wanted to do this year. But while I'm overseas, I'll console myself with the Great Wall Marathon. That's right, I am going to be able to run not only one but TWO of my ultimate destination marathons this year! Istanbul is still on the books for October, and the Great Wall is timed so perfectly that I will have just enough training to race it at the end of May. Perfect!

Despite all this crazy life stuff, I still kicked off the third and final month of p90x with a bang. I have never done as many pushups as I did yesterday. I had complete failure: I kept going until I literally could not remove my face from the floor and had to roll over onto my back to get up again.

So, another big mission I have for before I leave is updating my playlist in a serious, serious way. I've been listening to mostly the same songs since my first marathon in Iceland. They're great songs....but I really need a fresh tunes injection. I was recently inspired by listening to the 90s on 9 satellite radio station. And of course I love pop because it's usually got such a terrific beat and danceable, move-your-body vibe. Do you have any recommendations for me? The more upbeat the better!

Also, any volunteers to send Clif bars and magazines to China in exchange for souvenirs? ;)

Hope you're all having a great week so far!

Home again

2011-01-30T17:45:00.000-08:00

Five crazy days/evenings later, I return from my course. Whew! What a whirlwind!

When I last posted, I was sitting in Starbucks enjoying an afternoon of leisure before my course began. It's been so busy and so much has happened between now and then it feels an awful lot longer than just five days!

First of all, Friday was my wee sister's birthday!! I couldn't be home to spend time with Emtastic, sadly, but instead we skyped until Starbucks kicked me off the application, and then we chatted on the phone. She also sent me photos of her bday festivities (which I loved because I felt like I was there too!) and a pic of her in the snowboard stuff I sent.

Friday was also the day of the Team Diabetes dinner in London. I got updates throughout the night from my friend Trevor, and I'm happy to report an awesome success that looked and sounded like it was a ton of fun for everyone involved. I must admit for some of the course that particular evening I was looking at the clock a lot and wishing I could be there. But we raised over $2500 for diabetes research, which is terrific news in my books :) Thanks to everyone who supported our cause...and a special thanks to Trev for being a fabulous fundraising partner!

The course itself was complicated. Not the learning, but the atmosphere and method of learning was something very different than I'm used to, and at first I was pretty surprised by it. There was definitely a lot of interesting things to do and see and discuss. I'm thrilled to have done it and I loved getting to meet some new people with interesting travel stories and plans for adventures. There were truly some awesome people in the course that I was very inspired by. Plus, I got to practice my teaching skills - and of course I taught a lesson about fitness and demonstrated some running and boxing. Fun stuff!! Technically though, I'm only half-way through. There's an online component to the final certification that I'm going to get started on tomorrow. Most astonishing of all was getting a job offer! I'm looking at a contract right now, and it still seems sort of surreal. I'll tell you more about it when my ink on the dotted line makes it real.

I also got to spend some quality time with Em. We managed to sneak off to a yoga class when neither of us were at school and it was AWESOME! I hadn't done hot yoga for two months, and this class put my body and mind in a phenomenal place and made me realize how much I miss it. Even better was spending time with a lovely lady that I don't get to see very often. We did a lot of chatting in the wee hours of the morning and it was fabulous.

Are there pictures of the yoga? The course perhaps? My chilling with Em? Of course not, as I seem to be incapable of busting out the iCam when other people are around. (Can we pretend this is a good thing and doesn't make me look like I don't have any friends? Let's call it being too engaged in real life when I'm offline.) Instead, here are some still-life pics of my time in the city, plus some mirror photos as per usual:

Of course I had to take this picture. I had

Many of these during my stay. I know you've

seen this beverage on my blog before....

but look how beautiful in a mug! I'd actually

never had it that way.

I am barely containing my excitement here because

I am about to go have one of the best runs ever,

and certainly the best of the year so far. Five fast

miles with not a single stop or ounce of

pain. This occurred moments later on the

treadmill in Em's building in front of an

awesome glass window. Oh yeah, and the sun

was shining too!!

A Gould star for my BFF! Six years ago

I stood in the same spot and did the low-tech

version of this - I borrowed a crayon and paper

from the conference room of my hotel and took an

etching!

At Em's, just before leaving for class day two.

I don't know why I took this picture. I was down

on the floor tying my shoes and it seemed like a good

idea at the time.

This picture is truly awesome for my ability

to frame the subject. I may have to strike photographer

off of my list of potential careers. I sadly did not

go to this exhibition because it was open

when I was in class and closed when I was not.

But I needed to take at least one pic for Emtastic.

A photo to prove that I did not eat

Starbucks for every meal of every day

while I was in the city. Nor did I survive

on Clif and Fruit-to-go's. See?

Where I've been hiding.

2011-01-26T13:32:00.000-08:00

I do, in fact, have internet access. No, I haven't been trapped in a remote area. I have not suddenly produced offspring or gotten three jobs to juggle. I just realized that I haven't updated my daily mile in a very long time...or my blog. This twinge of guilt I feel is amplified by not having a good excuse for it.

Here's what's been happening offline:

I had to make a really tough decision this week, between sticking to a commitment I made months ago and starting a new one. A friend and I have been working on a fundraiser for almost 6 months - it's an awesome dinner party for an even awesomer cause. It's this Friday evening. The exact same time, unfortunately, as a course I decided to take in another city. I really hate breaking my promises, and even more, I hate disappointing people. However, this course (along with it's amazing job guarantee) are step one towards a job and simultaneously step one towards a major life change. Ultimately something I have to do. The journey to this new life starts in 45 30 minutes. Wish me luck.

I've had a couple of days off working out. My knee has been fine but my hip is acting up. Do you remember growing pains? That's what it feels like almost constantly, deep inside my joint, although it gets worse at night. It's something I want to talk about with my physiotherapist and sports doc next week. Thank goodness it's the lower intensity week for p90x too. I'm thinking I may do a couple of shorter runs, perhaps to and from some hot yoga. Also, I have learned that I really dislike oatmeal. Trying to make it for the BFF is good, but reheating it and mixing a big scoop of pb into it is my idea of mouth vom. Bad news. I had to lie down and read most of the day after that delicious experience.

I've had some awesome chats with friends and family, and had some really good times playing games and chilling with the BFF.

I've been deeply immersed in a book my older sister lent me called The Passage. It's fascinating.

This week has been pretty busy, especially considering the pace of my life lately. I was pretty sure about this course, but talking to the instructor really sold it for me. I officially signed up less than 48 hours before it began, so the time since then has been spent attempting to organize getting to the course and my stay in the big city.

I've been chilling in this Starbucks for over three hours. My first 45 minutes here were spent waiting to get a table and bust out my laptop, so that doesn't count, right? I've had my mini latte and egg sandwich and enjoyed some people watching. Later tonight, I get to spend time with an awesome Em, which I'm very excited about.

I have great intentions right now about being better with my daily mile(s) and keeping you in the loop. But now I'm off to get more education. I used to joke about being a career student...I'm starting to realize that I really am.

This is really old. But since it's my best face and I

don't want the people in Starbucks to think I'm creepy

over here, voguing for the camera, this is what you get.

Wicked weekend.

2011-01-23T19:15:00.000-08:00

I've been having a fabulous weekend. I'd love to show you some pictures of the fun I've been having, but apparently I only bust out the iPhone camera in my bathroom to take sweaty photos of myself (bloggy friend Tatiana posted a link about why that might not be the best plan ever...but until they invent a TriPod, they'll have to do).

The most fun: meeting up with friends for food two days in a row! Got together with some friends who happened to be in town on a skiing trip for one friend's birthday and had an awesome catch-up session. Plus I ate parmesan-encrusted eggplant, which was delicious and a dramatic change from my taking-the-shredded-wheat-out-of-the-box-and-dipping-them-in-the-pb-jar eating habits. Then today, Thai and lots of laughter with two more fab friends. Excellent fun.

Super fun: yoga with the BFF in the middle of the night. Hilarity with headbands and new poses including the farting frog. (There were pictures. I have sworn not to post them or face serious consequences).

Fun: p90x kicking my butt - really. Adding plyo to an already grueling lower body workout guarantees you'll be feeling it days later. I hung out in a wall squat until my legs turned to jelly and dumped me on the kitchen floor.

Yes, I took a photo that did not involve my bathroom mirror.

Impressed? I'm really mixing it up!

Also fun: Skyping with awesome younger sister. A book called The Passage that my awesome older sister lent me. Starbucks breakfasts. Selling tickets (yes, plural!) to next week's fundraising dinner. Making plans to see friends and go to a potentially life changing seminar in the city. Loads of laundry. Playing with the shredder. Good times.

Hope your weekend was just as fabulous! You should tell me about it :)

Thanksgiving in January

2011-01-21T07:49:00.000-08:00

Top 5 things I am grateful for right now:

1) This:

This is one of the absolute best gifts I've ever received, as well as one of the sweetest things that anyone has ever done for me. Until recently my degrees (and these two pretty posters) lived in a stack of other papers on my desk. One day they were secreted out and yesterday they came back all gorgeous and official-looking. I don't even know how to say thank you for this awesomeness, but I am very, very grateful.

2) Staying in touch: Yesterday morning I got an awesome email from my older sister. Overnight I got an awesome flood of texts from my younger sister. Earlier this week my mom called, and so did my friend Trevor. Em and Nat have sent along supportive messages via fb, and I've been lucky enough to be in contact with other far-away friends too. I really appreciate long distance communication, especially because so many of my favorite people are in other places.

3) Your support: I love reading other people's blogs, and it's super exciting to know that people read mine too! :) Community is fabulous. And even better are your comments - I'm totally delighted by them. Tatiana, Janae and Nelly especially - thanks for your kind words!

4) Sunshine: Despite the fact that it is snowing, windy and -10 outside - the sun has managed to peek through first thing in the morning three days in a row. I love it.

5) Running: As any of you who have ever had an injury or had to take time off already know, coming back to running is the best. There might be some pain involved with getting back to your old running self, but it's so worth it. I have a renewed appreciation for just how awesome it is to be able to simply run. I had such a great time yesterday I think I might have to go on the smallest of runs today - just to get out there again.

An excellent recipe.

2011-01-20T18:31:00.000-08:00

...for running!

You will need:
-the brand-new running outfit you got for Christmas that makes you feel sexy and strong and speedy
-a pair of orthotics
-good tunes on a charged iPod (Timbaland, Glee, Rolling Stones, etc. - feel free to substitute as desired)
-a bobcat scraping the snow off of and depositing gravel on your running path
-a detour through the forest and over a pond

Mix all the above ingredients together vigorously and remove from the outdoors 15 minutes prior to snowfall. Top it off with 400 meters of striders (optional & awesome!).

Result: 7k of awesomeness!

I loved every minute of my run today. I had absolutely no pain, I managed to dress appropriately for the weather (a gift that often eludes me) and DJ shuffle chose nothing but awesome upbeat tunes for me on my run. Happiness is the simple freedom to run.

In other news, I picked myself up a magazine to chill with on the couch between p90x, running (I also did 4k last night), fundraising and planning various around-the-world adventures.

Despite my weird face (not to mention out-of-control hair) here, I was excited by this impulse buy. I totally have a girl-crush on Olivia Wilde. And I actually love magazines: Runner's World, Triathlete, Canadian Running, Oxygen, Shape...I love them :) I know most of the content is available online, but it's easier to read a magazine on the couch while consuming peanut butter sometimes, you know?

Hope you are having an awesome week of running and happiness too! :)

The return. (Triumphant? To be determined)

2011-01-17T09:41:00.000-08:00

One of the best lessons I learned really well as a wee person was not to say anything at all if I didn't have anything nice to say. This is totally a good strategy when it comes to making friends and not insulting strangers. Possibly not the best strategy for blogging.

I'm an all or nothing sort of person. I've been criticized for seeing life in black and white. What that usually means is 110% commitment to people, tasks, goals; it means fierce loyalty, epic ambition and total passion for whatever has captured my interest. But the flip side also means that I can take things pretty hard - getting overwhelmed when negative things start piling on top of one another until they're more cluttered than my kitchen counter.

Lately I seem to wait until every dish in the house has

been used before I wash them - it's terrible news.

In my defense this particular mess is (mostly) the debris of

a birthday breakfast - happy you day, BFF!!

The unfortunate truth of the situation is that I've been so focused on what I don't have, the ways that my new year is not living up to the big expectations I had and the fact that my life in general is not fitting into the plans I painstakingly made for myself. It's easy to get caught up in frustration and sadness, but it's a terrible excuse for living. Blinded by unemployment, injury, debt, loneliness and probably the post-Christmas-at-home blues too, I've completely overlooked what could be the greatest opportunity of my life. I have been on the lookout for over a decade for an opportunity such as this. Never before have I been so completely free of binding commitments to work, school and life. I hearby and wholeheartedly resolve to make the absolute most out of this once hidden, now obvious chance of a lifetime.

Which leads me to three quotes from which I am currently drawing inspiration for a truly epic kickstart/restart to my life. Here's one, appropriately enough for any US readers on MLK day:

Faith is taking the first step, even when you don't see the whole staircase. --Martin Luther King

Taking a chance means stepping off into the unknown. The status quo is comfortable - a terrifying thought when the status quo means being unhappy. Change requires bravery, hard work and faith. But it can reap the greatest rewards. Especially when that faith is accompanied by an absolute determination:

Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any one thing.

--Abraham Lincoln

It's not about the tools you have, the people around you or the best-laid plans. Of course those things help. But you have to be ultimately, completely committed to making it happen in your own head before you will ever see any changes that you want to make. And finally, perhaps most importantly, that resolution should be directed towards finding peace, contentment, maybe even joy, because:

Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be. -- Abraham Lincoln.

Someone, I can't remember who, tweeted that quote recently. Through the fog of discontent that settled around my shoulders last week, I saw it and was struck by it. I truly believe in our own power to make ourselves happy and to make the changes we want to see. It's amazing how sometimes the simplest things like that can get lost, but maybe they're all the more powerful once found again. I'm planning some race-displacing, training-altering big life changes that I really think will make me happy - and I'm starting to get excited about it.

I spent my unplugged time doing some serious thinking, but also more of the same old stuff:

I biked.

I drank enormous protein shakes and braved

the extreme cold.

I did p90x and read. Not at the same time.

I got The Long Run for Christmas, and I loved it. I remember reading an interview with Matt Long in Runner's World magazine years ago, and being captivated by the story. It's truly an amazing tale of survival and indomitable will. I would have been moved to tears reading it regardless, but I felt like it was just what I needed, when I needed it. Last week I received permission to test out my orthotics on two short runs. So I did. And realized I was going to need to borrow some of Long's amazing willpower to get back to doing what I love most in life.

My first run was a 25 minute loop around the neighborhood. The sidewalks were a mix of snowy, icy and clear, challenging my footing. And although I felt the support of my orthotics, I didn't feel any knee, hip or foot pain. Sweet first steps. My next run, a few days later, was inside on the treadmill - 1% incline at a nine minute mile pace (my regular speed). I was told that I could go longer here, because I would have the option of stopping and/or taking out my orthotics if they hurt. Unfortunately, I did start to hurt. In my knee. Again. At about 33 minutes in, my knee started to fill up with awfulness. I focused on my form and tried to breathe through it, but it began to grind and send pains up and down my leg. Angrily I punched the treadmill's speed down to 3.5 - a slow walk. Ninety seconds later the pressure had dissipated and I ramped things up again back to where I was. I felt like I was reliving the crummy memory of my last run before my doctor-ordered break, because just like before, the pain built up faster on the second round - I ran for ten minutes before I had to stop to prevent my knee cap from taking off out of my joint like a rocket. Run ten, walk one. Times three. Anger, denial, sadness - I went through all the steps - again - on the treadmill.

However, I did not break down in tears or throw the orthotics into the trash. I got off the treadmill and got onto the bike and did an e-spinning workout, to remind myself that there are other athletic activities that I love. Then I went in the steamroom (for the first time) to sit and think. After several lungfuls of water vapor, I concluded that even if I have to use the Jeff Galloway method, and run-walk my way through my next marathons, hell, all my marathons, I will do it. This pain will not doom me to a life of not running, and it will not limit me to doing 5ks and 10ks. And it will not put a stop to my ambition, my dream of cracking 4:00. I can do that even with little walk breaks - I'll sprint-walk! And I will get better - even if I have to spend every day doing physio. If Matt Long can be an Ironman after being run over by a bus, surely I can with an incomparably minor knee issue. Nope, this is not the end. It's still just the beginning.

My bad.

2011-01-12T19:06:00.000-08:00

I obviously mistook this Wednesday for another day altogether. Wednesday was not wonderful at all.

I debated whether I should write an update today, in my black frame of mind. However, here I am, for better or worse.

I woke up with a headache today and looked out the window to discover a whiteout snowstorm. The trees were blowing into the side of my apartment building and pulling clumps of snow off the roof. And from the looks of the roads I could see from my windows, the street cleaning machines were waiting until after the storm to come out. Now, I'm from the prairies, so I'm not normally intimidated by a snowstorm. However, running in my new orthotics in more than a foot of snow seemed like it might not be the kind of trial my pedorthist and PT thought I should be getting today. I was disappointed, but I figured I would have another opportunity to go tomorrow after some shoveling and snow removal had occurred. After all, what's one more day after more than a month? Plus, I thought to myself, even if the streets and sidewalks are still snowy tomorrow, the access card that lets me into the pool on certain days at certain times also lets me sneak into the gym...where the treadmills live!

Problem solved and happiness restored, I decided to test my endurance on the bike. Today's workout called for a 45-55 minute bike session, but I decided to crank it up to 75, which made for my longest ride on the trainer to date. And I had a great time!

I took this photo during my warm-up to save you

from red and drippy cool-down photos. Also to save

my phone from hitting the floor whilst taking sweaty

photos...again.

On my way to shower, I thought I would check my email to see if anything important (job stuff, fundraising stuff) had come in while I was offline. Unfortunately, it had. I got my first rejection letter of the day. One/two for the day. However, right when I was about to throw myself a peanut butter powered pity party, I got a call from a radio station wanting advertise my fundraising event. I got pretty excited about that and threw myself instead back into some fundraising work.

However, what the evening held in store was rejection letter number two and a serious and unpleasant talk with my BFF.

As much as I love getting to concentrate on my training, I've been struggling with a lot these past two months. A huge heartbreak, the big move, not running and approximately 90 job applications later, my eternal optimism is definitely being tested.

Why Wednesday will be wonderful!

2011-01-11T18:38:00.000-08:00

Today's top headline: tomorrow I can go for a short RUN! Yay!! I have been granted permission to road test my orthotics for twenty minutes! Such happy news - I have a sneaking suspicion I'm going to be either up all night with impatience or having twitchy dreams of stretching my legs outside tomorrow. I'm thrilled :)

That news is so fabulous it may eclipse the rest of my day, but today was actually a great day in its own right - probably because it began with eggs. After, I did some strength training with Tony (my workout buddy who tells the same jokes every session, but hey, I still laugh!) and hopped on my trainer (my neighbors must be getting irritated by my repeated playing of the Britney/Brittany Glee episode, but I can't seem to get sick of it). Followed by recovery drink - "it's the reason why I do the workouts":

Delish. Then off to physio. Today's session involved some electrodes, which I, in my skinny jeans, was not prepared for. There were, however, shorts for borrowing and a room to change in, with this cute little sign:

Then home in order to, much to the household's general delight, do laundry. True story: this had not been done since we left for our holiday trip home. Yeaaaah. Four and a half hours, seven loads and $17.25 later:

I also did some work for my rapidly approaching Team D fundraiser (can it really be only 17 days away?) with my fellow fundraiser and friend Trev.

And now it is that excellent time of day that calls for reading accompanied by graham crackers with peanut butter on top - carbing up for tomorrow's run, of course! Have a great night!

Manic Monday

2011-01-10T16:50:00.000-08:00

Today's post inspired by Amanda's excellent suggestions for blog titles featuring alliteration!

And the past 24 hours have indeed been crazy! Yesterday was full of running around doing everything from the mundane (getting the tag off one of my lovely lulu gifts so that I can - eventually - run without looking like a petty criminal) to the crucially important (getting money back from some driving lessons I was unfortunately unable to attend after my big move, and working hard for potential money in job apps). Yesterday continued the awesome "s" trend I explained on Saturday - Sunday was a second-Starbucks day, for one thing! I am trying to reduce the number of times I go to Starbucks to once a week, but when you're flying around and run out of car apples & carrots, it doesn't count, right?

(What's funny is that I've realized that you might picture me as a coffee fiend - to the point of maybe needing a caffeine IV. Actually, I'm the opposite - I can barely tolerate a normal tall sized drink without getting jittery, and a grande makes my blood feel like it's boiling and has the potential to keep me awake for 24 hours. My addictions at Starbucks are the following: #1 - spinach feta wraps.

I sincerely hope you live in a part of the world where your Sbux offers warm food. These are seriously so delicious they should come with a warning about becoming addicted and having to claim bankruptcy after eating them every day. The Eggs Florentine is a close runner-up. #2 - chocolate smoothies - protein, banana and chocolate, oh my! #3 - decaf skinny cinnamon dolce latte. #4 - nonfat, no-whip, extra chocolate curls raspberry mocha frappuchino - although this is typically reserved for birthdays or after-races because it so excellently extravagant. Anyways, long, rambling, unpaid advertorial over.)

Back to tales of yesterday. My highlight of the day was getting to go to the gym! I haven't been going to the gym since I moved to Waterloo. I got to take advantage of the Y in my hometown over the holidays, and it inspired me to go in for the day to do my legs and back workout. I have weights and bands at home, but what I do not have is my own pulldown machine (True story: while I do have a pull-up bar - it fits in exactly zero of the doorways in my apartment, unfortunately.). So I took full advantage of the machine, some heavier weights and a bench. Oh, and the mirrors! I got to really check out my form while doing squats and lunges, which was really helpful for my different hips. Between all the legs and back stuff and ab ripping, I spent a good two and a half hours there.

Today's news headline: I got my orthotics!!

So this is what they look like! Basically just replacement shoe inserts that are customized for my feet. I'm really not sure why - ignorance, perhaps? - I was picturing something bigger and bulkier, sort of like leg braces for my feet with lots of straps, maybe, and moving parts. I like that these can just be slipped out of my runners and into my crosstrainers (aka my old runners) or winter boots.

I also got to take home these:

Should I put my weird feet molds on display? They are pretty pricey ceramics, after all. I'm not sure what the blue biz is - ceramic toe jam? The biological kind of mold?

Immediately after my orthotics appointment, I hit the pool for a swim session with Koach. I made it to the pool a little ahead of schedule, so I hit the observation deck to see if I could learn from observing the pro university team swimmers. What I saw instead:

Hello long course swimming for the first time in my life! I definitely did a double take. I noticed I was breathing about as hard as I do in the water just standing on deck. So I reminded myself that I swam a continuous three hundred metres - in open water, no less! - only six months ago. Fifty was going to be no big deal. My mind right, I went downstairs, changed in the showers due to the crazy overcrowding of the tiny change room, and hopped in. Had a great workout with lots of drills - although none of which included flippers, so I am feeling especially delighted about my long course skills. Like the last time I swam with Koach right before Christmas, my pace was reaaaally slow - but I find that helps me with endurance and heart rate. When I first started, some of my team members actually commented on my speed, which delighted me despite the fact that I felt like my heart was going to hammer up and out of my mouth at any moment. I'm slowly learning the fine art of pacing myself, in and out of the pool. Just like running is not synonymous with sprinting, swimming should not be short form for "how to get your heart rate over 200 in 30 seconds or less". Needless to say, feels a lot better, even if the pros in the lane beside me repeatedly lap me.

Approximately 75 minutes later, I was ravenous and had narrowly missed my bus, so I got a chocolate smoothie and some change from, you guessed it, the Starbucks conveniently located across from the pool.

I got home for a date with the plumber who was fixing not one, not two, but all three water fixtures in the bathroom. He was a happy, chatty fellow who wanted to tell me all about what he was doing, the result of which I now feel like I could explain, with a reasonable amount of accuracy, why air in your pipes is a bad thing. And the more tangible result of which is that the toilet flushes without me needing to stick my hand into the tank and the bathtub drains in a minute instead of 30. Hooray!

After all that, I found that I had a ton of email to read and reply to. The most noteworthy message was a note from a potential employer inviting me in for a chat. I would be pretty pumped, but this is the same employer I've been in contact with for a couple of months now, and I'm still not sure if they want to give me the job or if they want to interview me again. Of course, either would be good news! I am just so eager to know already. I know it's patience and not impatience that's the virtue...but shouldn't enthusiasm be on the virtuous list too?

Good things start with s and the BQ dream.

2011-01-08T16:07:00.000-08:00

Like, for instance, Saturdays!

Yay, weekend!

Sushi (all you can eat!) - especially seaweed rolls. And soybeans (edamame). And a sweet supper date!

And my weekly Starbucks...

I had my favorite after-run treat after yoga instead today.

This picture expresses my cinnamon dolce latte adoration appropriately

while making me miss my summer runs in London LOTS.

Sister messages. A good sleep. Are you seeing this pattern too?

Also, swimming! Wait, wait...that's tomorrow.

Or perhaps sweaty hair?

Okay, definitely not sweaty hair. Or stinky lulus. ;)

Today I did an editing test, did p90x yoga, some cleaning and life organization and enjoyed two of my favorite treat foods. Saw a bunch of runners out today, and gazed longly at them out of the passenger seat window. I am starting to get impatient now. I have tried extra hard to be good at not running, but it's such extra good glue for a great schedule, not to mention the awesomeness of rundorphins. Orthotics Monday, then physio Tuesday. One week of wearing them around my day-to-day life, then *prettypleaseihope* an okay go for running?

I am especially antsy today after yesterday's conversation with my newest Team Diabetes friend - a run clinic leader who thinks it is totally within my ability to not only break 4 hours in the marathon this year - but even BQ!! I have kept the fact that I, finisher of a total of one marathon, aspire to run the legendary and elite race, pretty close to my chest up until this point. I heard echos of laughing voices in my head, questioning my sanity for believing wholeheartedly in my ability to knock over half an hour off my time in a year...visions of my victorious mounting of heartbreak hill dancing in my head as I sit immobile on my couch, alternating icing my knee and stretching my hip.

But seriously, I think it's pretty easy for a runner who's been freshly bitten by the marathon bug to dream of wearing the Boston jacket, just as the triathlete dreams of getting the iconic Ironman tattoo (I dream of both, because when it comes to dreaming for me, I go big or go home). Yes, I would love to BQ. But what's even more important to me is getting to run in the coolest places in the world. For me, it's all about the experience - last year I truly began to live for my training. And I loved knowing I was making a difference by fundraising. And at the end of it all, the trip of a lifetime in Iceland! What more could a girl really ask for? Well, maybe one day, in the next two years or so, a BQ. But that'll just be like the sugar sprinkles on my cinnamon dolce latte - delicious, but just the topping on an already wonderful addiction.

Thursday is for threes!

2011-01-06T20:19:00.000-08:00

Three quick updates for today:

1. It was a super productive day, filled with fundraising, advertising for the fundraiser of the year, and a couple of great job chats! Getting ready for my big day:

See, I swear I'm not always sweaty!

2. The return of the eggs! My favorite food - I eat my weight in liquid egg whites weekly. Delicious! I was inspired by Hungry Runner Girl's breakie picture to throw some spinach in mine today:

Shortly after this photo was taken, this was flipped,

flopped onto my plate & smothered with salsa.

My avocado hasn't ripened yet - maybe tomorrow! :)

3. I am doing my physio like a good girl...and because I am SO excited about running again SOON. It might not be beautiful, but my homemade leg "weight" works like a charm. And I am definitely appreciating the bands I was sent home with.

Fixing the hip flexor.

For leg lifts. Hey, at least I know it's exactly 1kg -

it says on the package!

Hope you had a great Thursday! I'm off to rest up for another big day tomorrow - this one involving another exciting new p90x workout and meeting a new Team Diabetes friend!

Day One of 2011, round two.

2011-01-05T17:02:00.000-08:00

This day one went better, I think I'll keep it.

I still haven't quite managed to unpack everything, let alone put it all away or do laundry.

Gifts & stuff heaped on the bed. I had good intentions

before I was distracted by month 2 of p90x!

You know you're behind on life (aka blogs-reading) when you don't realize that you've WON something! That's right, I won something!! Check out the sweet towel I will be receiving courtesy of Inperspire and Stacie from Impossible is Nothing:

I absolutely love it. Thanks so much Stacie & Inperspire!

I'm ~~nervous~~ excited about sweating all over it. Okay, maybe a little nervous too. I absolutely love sweating, but I have a bit of a weird thing about sweating on something brand new for the first time. This led me, in previous years, to be the worst dressed person at hot yoga (think cotton t-shirt and knee-length, dudely basketball shorts in a sea of lulu microshorts and sports bras). I had lulu outfits of my own (at first, generous castoffs from a friend who bought more than she could wear, then finally my own selections) that I would start off at the gym for a weights workout. Then they might be introduced to the bike, to outdoor running, to the treadmill, and then finally to yoga. I chalk it up to my non-athletic background and my continued awe that such pretty things are actually made to get sweaty. So pictures to follow as I gradually acclimatize this towel to my sweaty lifestyle!

In other breaking news, I have one potential job offer (I think - several rereads later I'm still not entirely sure what exactly an email from an employer means...I'm waiting for clarification) and one job interview - which is tomorrow bright and early! Pretty exciting stuff!

Other than that, my day was full of emails, filling out forms for fundraising, chatting with the bank (they call me with ever increasing frequency to ask if I'd like any new services - home insurance, auto insurance, life insurance, health insurance, credit protection, bank account protection, a personal security team...), eating (I did have the time to get groceries - priorities!) & doing a p90x + biking workout. How was your day?

Back in the real world, day one.

2011-01-04T19:16:00.000-08:00

Although I've pretty much decided that I will start 2011 off freshly tomorrow. I call a redo of 2011 real world day one. Today was not all I had hoped it would be in terms of getting things done, in part because I was super sleepy. Like, reaaaaaaaally sleepy, sleeping-through-the-alarm sleepy. I think it was a combination of ~~getting~~ attempting to get back on a regular schedule, lots of traveling and the realization that it's not only back to the real world (where sadly, my fave peeps don't get together every night for games and spiced rum + vanilla coke zero and ensuing hilarity; and where, also sadly, people don't make omelets for me in the morning and cut up all manner of veggies for me to munch on all day) but the new year, and high time for me to broaden the scope of my job search while buckling down into it. I was really missing the good life:

Lazing on my sister's couch, covered in pillows.

Ahh...sweet, sweet holidays!

Which is not to say that life in the real world isn't any good, I just got pretty darn ~~used to~~ spoiled by my ten days of hittin' the gym in the middle of the day, games all night and lots of quality time with the fam!

My favorite thing awaiting me upon return, besides the 30 degree Celsius temperature increase, was a huge stack of mail! I got this awesome Christmas card from my friend Jim in Korea:

So pretty! And thoughtful!

And this one from the contract agency I worked for last year:

Thanks Jenn!

My mailbox - a pretty small one - was bursting at it's welded seams with this awesomeness from California:

It's a training shirt!

I thought it was pretty exciting! And last but not least, there was a copy of the magazine that contains my first long-form freelance article. Here's a sneak peak:

I also got to have a Thai dinner with two of my favorite ladies yesterday in the city. It was especially fabulous because we have only seen each other once since the summertime. We reminisced about how terrific our twice weekly group runs and weekly hot yoga sessions were and plotted how we could get them back this year.

All in all, a great way to start the year, and some pretty good times to come home to. I really can't complain.

After I gave myself a swift kick in the rear, I got my day in gear (ha! I rhyme!). Eight job applications and a smoke alarm test later, I headed to my first physio session. I spent an hour with Nadine, who felt my leg muscles and watched me balance and squat. She noticed a difference between my legs in my medial quad thickness/strength and my IT band tightness. However, the hip and all other things considered, she said she was impressed by my strength and range of motion. Yay! She also said that because I haven't been experiencing any pain (other than the fullness during long runs) and because the differences between my legs aren't dramatic, she has high hopes that a strengthening and lengthening program (to be used in combination with the orthotics I'll pick up on Monday) will fix my knee issues and get me back on the road in no time. She sent me off with a couple of stretchy bands, a daily exercise program for my left side and a reminder card for my appointment next week. My first experience with physio, it's true, but a good one! The only thing I learned today that made me sad was learning that all the ellipt-ing I've been doing might be causing the pain that has relocated to my hip in the absence of running. Yes, it's low impact. But apparently it's high on the hip rotation. Boo.

I'm off to bed now to rest up for a full day of training, fundraising & more job apps tomorrow! Hope you are having a fabulous first week of the year! :)

Home again

2011-01-03T18:30:00.000-08:00

Fresh off the road. And an awesome dinner with the girls.

So very much email and snail mail and calendaring to catch up on. Plus it's fitness rest day, so I may have to take a rest from this too. So until tomorrow, all! Have a good night :)

Life Lessons of 2010 & Show'n'Tell Part 2

2011-01-01T22:21:00.000-08:00

I'm huge into resolutions. Truly. I look for opportunities to make new ones not just every new calendar year, but also every school year, every fiscal year, every birthday...you get the idea. I think it's exciting, the idea of remaking your life, starting fresh, and taking aim at all your greatest goals. However, I was thinking that there is something lost in the making of resolutions and concentrating so fully on what's ahead. I think it's just as important to celebrate what came before. For me, as much as I want to do some new and different things in 2011, I want to bring certain thoughts and life skills forward from 2010 while leaving other things behind. So instead of just listing my do-overs, I'd like to take stock of some important carry-overs.

For instance, I want to carry over my four weekly runs into 2011. I want to carry over my determination to finish new distances with my own personal best times. I want to carry over my rediscovered love of blogging; I want to carry the relationships I strengthened last year. I want to carry on with p90x and I want to carry on freelancing. And maybe most importantly, I want to carry over the way I learned to be more self confident and proud of my skills last year. (A secret: I'm a little shy in person, and I'm awfully critical of myself. So being able to say "dang, I did great in 2010" is a bit of a big deal for me.)

In other news...my wetsuit has arrived!! Truly an over-the-top amazing gift - I'm too lucky!

OMG thanks Mom!!

Rushed this box to my home-away-from-home to bust it open and hop into it! Well, maybe not hop. I've never put one on before, so I had several helpers standing by while I shivered in my bathing suit and inexpertly inserted myself into my gift.

The verdict? I love it!! I can't wait to actually test it out! It is much much too cold for outdoor swimming in my part of the world, so it will have to wait. Although I've heard I can get an inkling of what it feels like by wearing it in the tub. All I know is, even if my race times are not elite next year, I am going to feel so pro.

And now I'm off to adhere to my New Year's resolutions - tracking my workouts and nutrition. I will do this. Oh yes.

Another year over...a new one just begun!

2010-12-31T19:31:00.000-08:00

First of all, happy New Year!! I hope you are all enjoying a fabulous end to 2010 and kicking off an excellent 2011 :)

I haven't had a lot of time to really ponder my resolutions this year - it's been a whirlwind of friends and family and fun. However, I love them and there are some that have been on my list for a while. I would be happy to share them with you. As long as you promise not to judge me for my OCD.

In 2011, I will:

Running
-run a 4:00 marathon
-raise another $6,000 for diabetes research & run the Istanbul marathon
-run my first ultra...on a trail!
-finish my first multi-day, multi-stage race
-shave 10s off my mile (from 9 to 8:50 ish)

Triathlon
-complete 4 sprints
-finish 1 olympic
-swim 3x a week (my ultimate goal is getting more comfortable in the water)
-give my bike triathlon upgrades (specifically clipless pedals and aerobars)

Other Fitness
-do 13 consecutive pull-ups
-do 33 consecutive sit-ups
-do 15 consecutive deep dips (triceps! I want 'em!)
-curl 15 lbs
-do yoga once a week
-do bootcamp for the first time
-finish p90x
-try 3 new fitness classes/sports
-LOG MY FITNESS! (this one gets all caps because I am so terrible at it. I love other people's milage measurements - but I have not even a ballpark estimate for mine. I started daily mile...then forgot about it. But 2011 will be the year I get on the ball. For sure)

Health
-limit my Starbucks to once a week
-eat clean
-take my vitamins everyday
-drink 4L water daily
-eat protein with every meal
-get regular checkups
-kick my chocolate addiction (just to prove that I'm in charge...not the ovations or almond kisses)

Life
-daily blog posts
-get a job I love
-pitch stories to 10 different magazines (aka get more freelancing)
-meet more people where I live
-take my camera out at least once a month
-stay in touch with the people I love more often
-get my global Tesol certification
-adopt a puppy

Thanks for reading my blog this year - you guys rock!! :)