Epic Ride, Epic Impact

I signed up for the Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer a year ago, seems like an eternity since then. It was last summer when my cousin Lindsay was going through chemo and we had just buried Gramma Parker with Grampa and we were all optimistic. When I posted on FB that I had signed up for the ride Linds asked if I was doing this for her...I replied "OFCOURSE!" She promised me she'd be at the finishline.

But things change and indeed they did here...Lindsay's condition deteriorated and she began to have unbelievable pain, she passed away in December. It was shocking for all of us, I remember talking to our cousin Chelsey and saying "I honestly thought she'd make it through." The following few months were tough...I still feel like something's missing. It seemed like the ride was so far away...then all of a sudden it was June. I surpassed my goal of $3000 and have raised over $4500 to date in memory of Linds.

The day before the ride I was still running around, scrambling to get stuff done...I went to MEC and was nearly late for work because I decided I should get some chain oil, a new vest and a new jersey. Saturday morning came very fast...breakfast onsite at 6:30am. A very nice (yet, delusional) lady mistook me for olympic speed skater Cindy Klassen.....that made my day so far! The time came to line up at the start for the opening ceremonies...a truly emotional event.

Opening Ceremonies snippets

Needless to say I began the ride with tear in my eyes thinking about Linds and how much she wanted to be there...I then remembered I had her picture in my back pocket, and not just a picture, a funny one at that! She would have told me to "suck it up" and ride my bike. So I did, I left Spruce Meadows with 2200 other riders.

I was good and warm after the first 2 hills towards Okotoks and managed to stay hydrated and refuel as needed. The entire 112KM of day 1 was up and down the whole way...the only thing you could see was the hill you were on and the next one! Highlight of the day was hitting 60 kph on the bike! the whole day was sunny with a cross-wind...no biggie. As we rolled into camp there was a huge crowd of volunteers waiting. There were volunteers everywhere the whole day but this was truly something...someone walked my bike to the rack for me, helped me find all my stuff and told me how the evening would go! I went straight for my gear and my tent and to the shower! Colin and my cousin Shane showed up just after that and we chilled out for most of the night...I made good use of my 2 free beers! I also rolled out all my sore muscles with a tennis ball so I would be limber for Sunday.

Sunday morning...5:45am...people were awake and moving so I figured I should get up and keep warm. Thanks to the power of oatmeal and coffee! Around 6:30 the rain started...everyone's spirits were down...they wouldn't let us start riding until 7 so we huddled in the tent around the propane heaters. At 6:50 I realized I was delaying the inevitable so I zipped up my rain jacket and went out to get my bike. Problem #1...my cleats were FULL of mud, clipping in was interesting! The rain just kept coming, everytime I stopped pedalling a stream of cold road-water went straight into my shoe. By rest stop #1 I was COLD. I refilled my gatorade bottle and a VERY nice volunteer peeled my banana for me because my hands were too cold! At rest stop #2 the rain had kinda stopped...it was depressing there, people were huddled under space blankets, and my right quad was giving me trouble. Again, I refilled my bottle with valuable electrolytes and got back on the road...this time the wind had picked up. It began to rain AGAIN as I pulled in for lunch. I parked my bike and walked over to the food tent...They had a mountain of peanut butter and jam sammies! My face lit up as I grabbed 2...comfort food is THE BEST when you're miserable! I also downed some more gatorade to try and ease the cramping and I warmed up with a space blanket. I decided it was now or never so back on the bike I went. 40km to go, the rain let up, the sun came out, the wind picked up...and we rode straight into it...it's so depressing to ride down a hill into the wind and barely make it above 25 kph! I finally pulled into the last rest stop...my quad was screaming in pain with every push. I refuelled and asked what the last 20km was like...not really wanting to know the answer. They all said it was 4km to the turn, then a tailwind to the finish! I was gone in a flash! My jacket had dried out so I stuffed it in my back pocket and rode the last 14km mostly on my aerobars...It was still hilly but the wind at my back was nice. As I turned onto the road into Spruce Meadows I picked up my speed...I was crusing so fast that I forgot to smile and "fist pump" at the finish!

I unclipped about 100m past the line and just stood there...soon I was surrounded by my family, which was so incredible. I couldn't believe it was over, and that I had managed to overcome the hardships of that day.
We parked the bike and collected my gear...and I did a shot for Linds. She was with me the whole ride, I felt it. I'm so glad I was able to do this one thing for her, even though I felt like there was nothing I could do except be there when she needed me.

What an amazing journey of strength, grit, and humbleness...I am so proud to say that I accomplished this ride and was a part of raising $8.6 million for the Alberta Cancer Foundation!

With some of my cheerleaders

It's all about strength baby!

Me and Linds...

The Faja

It's Father's Day on Sunday, and if I do say so myself I have the best Dad ever. Period.

First of all, he's absolutely hilarious. This doesn't even begin to include the fact that he "mis-hears" us quite often, even though he wears a hearing aid or that he will walk in the door and ignore everyone else except for the dog. He is the Duke of Corn (-y jokes)...Uncle Doug (my dad's brother) being the King of Corn. AND he takes the worst ski pictures on the planet...yet, he always has the camera on ski trips...and when my Mom got a Blackerry and we are all adding everyone to BBM he kept putting off adding her...the man is a legend! And have you seen him dance? Epic.

Second of all, he has been through a lot and he's still awesome. 14 years ago my dad was in a serious fireworks explosion and he lost all the fingers on his left hand (leaving him with a palm) and his thumb and index finger on the right...leaving him with 3 fingers total. From day 1 he was making jokes and he had an amazing attitude. He still does, refusing to ask for help and doing all of the things he loves to do including skiing, golf, hockey, sailing and water skiing. He does amazingly well with his prosthetic hand...which also doubles as "the claw," and without it...he can even stick his whole stump in his mouth...yuck.

He has always supported me no matter how crazy my idea, goal, or next decision was. He never tried to change my mind or tell me what to do. He always says "Well, it's up to you." He also understands that i'm passionate about my sports and my fitness and never questions why I run in -20 or why i'm out checking my bike for the 10th time before an event. He's also an amazing teacher...and he's patient, he taught me how to drive and do all my own car maintenance...no one else I know could put up with me for that!

Cheers Dad, Happy Father's Day!

Dad and his Nissan 350z

Surfing on the prairies

After having the same boat for 23 years my parents invested in a new all singing, all dancing, bells and whistles, Mastercraft. I'll admit I was a little skeptical, I love our old boat...I have spent every summer since my brother was a baby behind that boat. You could almost say it's a part of our family.

Being May long weekend and also boat delivery day we spent the weekend at our family cottage. The nicest May long I can remember and the lake temperature was PERFECT (64 F).

About 5 seconds after my parents purchased the boat my brother bought a surfboard and a rope. Sounds strange but it's true. The surf rope is quite a bt shorter and you arent's more than 3 feet off the back of the boat... I even had a conversation with my brother while I was surfing and he was IN the boat! The tricky part is to find your "sweet spot" and ride the wake, then you drop the rope and stay there..."surfing." After 2 outings on the surfboard i'm sold...so farewell old boat, hello Mastercraft! (Complete with its on-board cooler, heaters, cruise control, sectional couch, USB port, and remote control boat lift)

Did I mention it's a heck of a workout?

If you don't engage your core, who will?

I had an interesting dicussion last week with some co-workers. We were trying to figure out why people still think they can just do some crunches and get rid of their flabby tummy. I'm only going to say this once: THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS SPOT REDUCTION!

We then discussed the only exercises you REALLY need to do to be perfectly fit...they are as follows:
- Push ups
- Pull ups
- Squats
- Lunges
- Plank
- Rows
- Dips
(and cardio)

And if you really think about it...every other exercise out there is a variation of the above, add a ball, a BOSU or a step and that's how we stay in business! We change it up and create new exercises to keep it fun and exciting, and obviously if you are training for something specific we would find a bunch of different ways to target the muscles of the arms or glutes, or whatever the case may be.

As always, if you want to improve your core strength, start with posture...shoulders down and back, chest out, stand up tall, ENGAGE YOUR CORE!!!! (everyone has one).

10 years...

Tonight is my 10 year high school reunion...yikes! Where has the time gone? What have I done in the last 10 years? What did I want to accomplish when I was 17?

10 years ago I had just been accepted to College, I was winning rugby championships, studying for diploma exams, being on again-off again with my boyfriend for the 10th or 19th time, and doing some under-aged drinking. I had no idea what kind of adult I wanted to become.

Today I have a fantastic job, an awesome boyfriend (we've only broken up once!), I have managed to remain incredibly active, have found my own style and am comfotable with who I am.

The following several events have gotten me to that point...
- My Grandpa Clark passing away
- Graduating with honours from college
- getting in my first and only car accident
- joining the ski patrol
- moving across the country for someone I loved
- buying and learning how to take care of a house
- making friends in a place where I knew no one
- Completing basic military qualification
- Planning a wedding mostly by myself
- Travelling to the UK and fitting everything I wanted to see in one week
- Driving a 1984 Land Rover across canada and the northern US
- teaching myself how to drive a manual transmission
- getting 3 speeding tickets in 2 months with my new car (oops!)
- Surviving 3 spousal deployments to Afghanistan
- taking up triathlon and learning how to train
- persevering through injuries
- learning how to un-freeze pipes in -40 when you have no water
- Heartbreak
-Packing up everything I own, arranging a moving truck, and driving home to Alberta
- moving back in with mom and dad
- getting my Marmot patrol rating
- my Grandma Parker passing away
- Being there for my cousin during her battle with cancer
- more heartbreak
- my "aha moment"
- My cousin losing her battle with cancer
- figuring out what I wanted in a relationship and career in the same week
- challenging my PT exam
- getting my dream job
- Love

Grade 12 Grad Picture

Spa Lady Personal Trainer Shot

My Yoga Challenge

I have always been intrigued by the concept of "hot yoga." I sweat enough as it is during a normal workout, why would I want to voluntarily do one in a hot and humid room?

There's a yoga studio close to the gym I work at so I thought i'd check them out...$30 for an unlimited 2 weeks? I'll go for that! So far I have completed 2 hot yoga classes and 1 75min Hatha class at this studio. WOW! I am completely hooked!

I have been practicing yoga on and off for 5 years, never anything formal, and mostly on my own. I have been to a few classes but nothing has ever stuck...and price is always a factor. I already feel like I am sleeping better and craving these classes when I have a day or two without yoga.

My goal after my 2 week pass is up is to try and go to hot yoga once a week. Once a week I will take time out of my crazy schedule and devote myself to my practice. I used to use yoga primarily to stretch and prevent injuries but this time I am appreciating the mediation part more and more.

Before class begins everyone lays out their mats, towels, water bottles, and face cloths, takes a Savasana pose and meditates. The first time I attempted this I found my mind wandering to my appointment book, my emails, anything but yoga. So I forced myself through a mediation. I used all my years of team sports experience to visualize an "ideal triathlon." I started from waking up in the morning and went through every detail until the finishline. I told myself I would feel stronger with every swim stroke, the hills on the bike would be gentle and rolling and I would fly over them, I made my transitions smooth and flawless, I was well hydrated and got into my running groove with ease. When the class began 15 min later I was in the moment, feeling the poses, holding my muscles and joints stronger than any other yoga class i've ever taken. When we finished the real savasana my mind was clear and I was ready to face the rest of my day.

As a person who generally stresses and worries about things that usually end up working themselves out I feel like this is what has been missing. Why did I never think to meditate myself into a positive mindset in the first place? Whatever the excuse is, it doesn't matter now, because I know how to overcome...I wish I had figured this out 2 years ago! Live and learn....and Namaste.

Where would I be...

So I got to thinking today while helping out with measurements for a weight loss program...where would I be without fitness? The answer is pretty scary...I could be unhealthy, overweight, unmotivated, tired, unhappy...any of the above!

Having been an active child and teen with ringette, hockey, soccer, basketball, rugby, skiing and badminton I developed a comeptitive spirit that had stuck with me throughout my adult years...I hate to lose and I have to be the best! In college I went to the gym, I took step aerobics, I continued to play ringette and hockey...but the cometitiveness faded...for everyone else. I joined the ski patrol in hopes of skiing more often but it wasnt' enough, I needed something more.

When I started running I hated it...really hated it. I couldn't go for long and I had pains everywhere afterwards. My average distance was about 2Km and I remember having a couple pairs of running socks, one pair of shorts, one pair of tights and a couple dry-fit shirts...

My friend Rena and I decided to run the Ottawa Race Weekend 5Km...it was an amazing feeling to cross the finshline with the crowds, the race numbers, the finishers medals and a new passion. Running has always been about me. I race against myself and my own previous times.
It became obvious to me that running wouldn't be enough...there was this all women's triathlon...untimed, just for fun...ofcourse I had to try it! I was hooked instantly and the rest is pretty much history!

I learned how to sport-specific train, I read anything I could get my hands on about triathlon, running, cycling or swimming, and I trained. I bought the gear, I developed my own "race day routines" (which some would call picky) and I raced in every race I was able to. Eventually that wasn't enough either, recreation just wasn't going to cut it...but going pro seemed unrealistic, so what next?

When I finished my AFLCA Exercise Theory and Resistance Trainer course I knew someday I would have to do something with fitness as a career...but not totally sure what. When my career path wasnt' going where I wanted it to I made a decision...if the opportunity ever came up to change careers to something in the fitness industry I would take it and run.

I met some managers at Spa Lady Fitness and spoke to them about career potentials, they all liked me but I needed more credentials...almost immediately I registered to challenge the CanFit Pro exam and began studying. 5 weeks later I passed with flying colours and am now a Personal Trainer Specialist!

I absolutely LOVE my job and all my clients. I love thinking up new exercises, new workouts, and new ways to sweat...for once in my life, I know exactly where I need to be, and that's AWESOME!

So to answer my question...Where would I be without fitness???? I have no idea.

Just after a 10Km PB