Three Things Thursday

Last summer on the long Civic Holiday Weekend, I spent the weekend chillaxing in the backyard sipping sangria.

This summer for the Civic Long Weekend, I'm pedalling my A$$ around Sacket's Harbour, Alexandrian Bay and locations in between.

It will all begin crossing over to the States from Wolfe Island, cycling to the next ferry that will take us to the border crossing and US Customs Office and then we catch the ferry across to Sacket's Harbour where we will begin our epic cycle. 

280K over three days,

Am I nervous? ~ yes!!!  I've never had to support myself on a long ride,

Life's fun if you don't weaken,

Lily

Wordless Wednesday

trying to stay young is sometime frustrating!

What ever you do when you are young comes back to bite you in the .........back.   Back in 2008 I posted about having continuing back issues and up until now, my back has been the least of my issues, between recovering from a torn meniscus, getting over my fear of cycling and just life in general, I've had a slow route to recovery and running, but lately my back is "back at it".  It has been suggested that I swim more...easy to say, but the closest pool is 40km away.

I can't sit, I can't stand, I can't lie down, grrrrrrrr, and just this morning I was sent a picture tag on FB, trust me, it was NOT flattering, I was bent over, and I looked OLD...well, okay I was bent over at the registration desk at the Canada Day Race Day, and truly, I am old but at least I'm trying to stay fit.


What really ticks me off are people who sit on the couch smoking cigarettes or other flammables , drinking beer, eating potato chips and doing nothing in the form of exercise and they look younger and skinnier than me!!!  GAH....

Anyway, who said ageing would be graceful?   Certainly not me, and why should it be?
So this coming weekend I'm going to kick some A$$,  I am cycling a mere 240+Km unsupported cycle tour in and around Up State New York over three days transporting my own ~ well,  everything!!!  Who knew cycling clothes could be so cumbersome and heavy when packed, where on earth can I find miniature dental floss?  And how about packing that extra nutrition bar(s)?  Trust me when I say my sandals take up half a pannier! 

Seriously, It's going to be a blast ....

Life's fun if you don't weaken,


Lily

Good Luck at IMLP

Lake Placid Ironman is this weekend, 

Best Wishes to all those who are competing, 

supporting someone, 

and volunteering!!

Last year I was a volunteer body-marker as well as being there to support a friend who was to become "Iron".  It was one of the most incredible weekends of sights, sounds, emotion, tears and triumph.

You don't know yourself until you've trained for Iron. I started training to give moral support for my friend and injured my knee while doing it, so I can't say from first had experience what the WHOLE training is like, but I do know it takes a very special individual to dig deep and tough it out.

Recently I heard a fellow recreational cyclist slag Triathletes, interesting slant he has on them.  I can hardly wait to meet with him and have a spirited conversation.

I took this photo of a fellow sporting this t-shirt at IMLP last year, and interestingly I received an email yesterday from a friend of mine asking the very same question.  So, I'll ask you......

What will you do with your 86,400 seconds today???

Life's fun if you don't weaken,

Lily

Three Things Thursday

And I'm back. 

I have to admit that I didn't realise the impact of losing two friends within a three month span was affecting me.  Luckily I have my great friends to keep me grounded.  They know when to be around, they know when to leave me to my own thoughts and yet somehow know when to lend a shoulder.  It has been a rough patch, of which I wasn't cognisant of how I was dealing with it, but we all have a shelf life and when our expiry date shows up, we have to go to a higher place and rest in the arms of the Lord.  So thanks girls, you just don't know how much our friendships mean to me.

On a lighter note, I'm training and I've been cycling.  A LOT!   On the running front, I've been trail running every Thursday night with a group who are really, really fast.  There is no way on God's Green Earth that I can keep up with them, so I just do my best and have a blast.  This brings me to ask the question, "if a trail runner falls in the forest, does anyone really hear them"??   Yes, I've fallen and to this date, I don't know what I tripped over!   Other than some bruises, poison ivy and some cuts and scraps, I survived.  I've also been participating in the monthly Beaver Chase Race Series of trail running and have taken well over a minute and a half off my race time.  Yea Me!!!  I'm currently training for two races this fall.  The first race is Melissa's Road Race in Banff, Alberta in September and then roll into a brand new half marathon race in October called 9 Run Run.  It is so nice to be back and have target races to goal towards!!!

Cycling has been great and I'm loving the long distance day trips.  You really get to know every hill, dale and pot hole along the way.  Since getting the new Trek 2.1 I've logged well over 2,000km and I'm loving it, mind you, when a grey haired 70+ year old lady can out ride you it can be a little discouraging, but hey, she rides everyday!

Next weekend I am riding a 225Km unsupported tour in Upper New York State.  This will be the very first time I'll have to carry my own luggage and supplies.  I've been practicing with my panniers and I can honestly say this will be an adventure and I will be taking a ton of photo's.  I'm nervous, excited and ready to go!!  I'm using it as a training ride for the MS Bike Tour the following weekend were I'll be cycling 175K to raise funds for MS.  If, out of the goodness of your heart, would like to support me on my ride for this worthy cause, please find the link to my Rona MS Bike page, I thank you in advance.

Life's fun if you don't weaken,

Lily

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

Tuesday Tidbits

Where is the time going?  It had been a crazy spring for cold and rain, and now we are into summer, it feels as though time is just flying by.  It seemed like it took forever to get some nice weather while training for the Rideau Lakes Cycle Tour and now that is over and we are well ensconced in a heat wave.  The past few days have been hot and very humid, but I have to admit this is my kind of weather, you can keep winter.  My house inside has been over 88(F), I refuse to get air conditioning for just a week or so of hot temperatures in the summer, I can live with the heat.  I LOVE IT!

Don't you just hate when someone abuses?  Whether it is drugs, their partner or just good old alcohol?  I don't know about you but that sort of behaviour really makes me sick.  Believe me, I've had my fair share of over the edge behaviour in the past, but you grow up and really who has time for that when you run, cycle and attempt to keep yourself in some semblance of good shape while sliding gracefully into old age.   Don't you just hate drunk dialer's?  Just because they've conjured up some alcohol fueled fantasy and are wallowing in a pity party, why do people assume you want to be a part of that?  My life is busy and I've surrounded myself with active,  positive minded friends who embrace their life just as it is, yes, we've all had "life" thrown at us, it is how you deal with it that makes you who you are.  No one gets out of this life alive, so it is up to you to make the very most of what we are fortunate enough to have.  Good friends who are positive people, a healthy lifestyle, keeping active and doing the very best you can do.  That's what I'm happy with.............

And speaking of positive friends, the Wooo Hooo's  had an absolute RIOT at the Perth Kilt Run.  It was a hot, muggy evening, but way too much fun none the less.  I have to say that this was one of the BEST races I've ever attended.  Kudos to everyone involved and I'm certain that they will have broken the previous record of the most number of people running a race while wearing kilts.  There were 1,210 of us running the 8K race ~ I'll keep you posted when we make it into the Guinness World Book of Records.

Next up, I'm back in the saddle training for the 175K MS Bike Tour which is being held the beginning of August.   You can find my shameless solicitation for sponsoring me here.  Thanks in advance, it is a cause very close to my heart and truly every little bit helps.

Life's fun if you don't weaken,

Lily

Happy Birthday Canada