Friday 11 May 2012

Saturday 28 April 2012

first ride in a LONG time

not too happy, just super excited!

he likes me because I brought carrots!

I survived, barely!

Life's fun if you don't weaken

Lily

Thursday 26 April 2012

anxiety or am I listening to the voices in my head?

You just never know where life will take you.

Back in 2008 I posted "In my past life".  A segment of my life which I thought was closed, gone, forgotten and never to be re-addressed.  Well, the past couple of weeks have seen a window of the past re-opening.  I would have never imagined that I'd let all those negative thoughts rattle around in my head again, but I have...temporarily.  Every single demon I have let drag me down in the past tried their nasty little game again.  This time I have to say, I've only let them show themselves for about a week or so.

The I'm not good enough, I'm not competent, the I'll never be able to do that again, the I can't afford it.  Everyone will think I'm crazy.  The nay sayers, the negative nellies, the ones who bring you down because of their own insecurities.  You know when someone tells you that "you can't soar with the eagles if you let the turkey's get you down"?  Well, after much mulling about, throwing myself a major pity party and almost falling back into a pattern of self destruct, I am rising above all of that and looking at this opportunity in a whole different light.  I'll be soaring with the eagles!

Thankfully, I have grown as a person, and I can honestly say that running, cycling, swimming and triathlon have all taught me that.  Funny how you can compete in all those elements and only feel as though you are competing against yourself, not against anyone else.  That is how I'm going to handle this new / old adventure.  I'm heading back to the barn!

dusting off the riding boots
Don't get me wrong, I'll still be running, cycling and hopefully still churning it up in the pool.

What this new / old avenue will give me is some peace of mind that I'm still getting some exercise, some much needed horse hugging, meeting some new people, and it also allows me to be close to home just in case I get one of "those" phone calls that has me heading the Emergency Room to meet up with my dad.  (yes, I've had those when I've been out running and 21k from nowhere and had to run to the nearest place and beg for a drive home).

So, to those old demons who were trying their hardest to deter me from taking up the sport I walked away from, I say begone! I'm a bigger, better person than what I was way back then, the past is just that ~ "past" and I'm in it for totally different reasons now.  I'll be just fine!!!

Life's fun if you don't weaken,

Lily

Monday 16 April 2012

I'm still here!

Just a quick note to let you know I'm still here!  As if I'd go very far!

I sort of lost my mojo the past few weeks due to duress of real life matters and the up and down weather has been a killer for me.  One day it is nice, the next it is cold and crappy and really, what's with this wind we've been having?  Brutal!  Running has been small distances but consistent  and cycling has been sporadic due to the weather and wind, I know, what a wimp.

Trying to find all the income tax information for my dad has been an adventure as well, let's just say I have one final bit of information to have filled out by his doctor and I believe the accountant will work his magic, but in the mean time, Tick Tock on the filing date.

Wonderful Easter

Speaking of dad, he is doing as well as can be expected.  His dementia is escalating so I'm trying to spend as much time as I can with him while he can still recognise me and while he can still enjoy doing some fun things.  He loves gardening so I think this is why I'm trying to hurry up the Canadian spring weather!

My new Saucony's are creating blister's, what's with that?  I've worn the Saucony brand for over ten years and never had a problem.  I'll try to switch up my socks, the way they are tied or figure out something before I write the company and ask for some suggestions.



I've also committed to riding the GrandFondo in July, I'm debating the Bring on the Bay, 3k swim also in July, I just need to find the time to hit the pool and get some serious swimming done.  September seems such a long way a way, but I have volunteered to be a ride guide again for this year's Ride the Rideau.  Cancer can be beaten!

Well, that's it for now.  I must get on line to stalk my friends who are running at Boston today.  One being a very good friend and considered my "Blog Daughter", Marlene at Mission to a(nother) Marathon.  Both Marlene and her husband Mark qualified for today's race!  Good Luck you two, have a great race and make some wonderful memories.

Me and Marlene at the Oasis Zoo Run
Life's fun if you don't weaken,

Lily

Friday 30 March 2012

Finally Friday

Another crazy, stressful, exhausting week.  Well, what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger I suppose.
  • My running has been sporadic to say the least, but at least I'm running.  Three times per week is just fine for me considering I don't have a target race to train for.  My new kicks are really nice and quite a bit lighter than the previous Saucony's I was wearing.

  • Two weeks ago I took the plunge and signed up for the GrandFondo Bike Tour this July.  I'm pretty excited about it especially for the fact that I don't have to train for it in craptastic cold spring weather like you have to do if you are cycling the Rideau Lakes Tour in June...bonus!  Once I registered I took my bike to "the Toy Store" for its annual spring tune-up.  I just called and they haven't even started to work on yet!  I told them I'd be there after work to pick it up and it had better be ready.   Nuff said, I think that two weeks is plenty of time to have to work on a bike!



Davey, it is one of my designs.  Since I was born in the Year of the Snake and I am also a Gemini, it consists of two snakes.  The numbers depict the Half Marathon (21.1k) and Full Marathon (42.2k) distances I have raced over the years.  Hope this little explanation helps.   I'm still undecided as to what I will create to commemorate the Half Ironman I did last year (distance of 113k or in the USA, known as 70.3).

Hope everyone has a great weekend.  I'm off to remove the snow tires from the car and put on the brand new seasonal tires (If we get a snowstorm any time soon, it isn't my fault), and to pick up the "better be ready" tuned up bike.  I want to get rolling this weekend!

Life's fun if you don't weaken,

Lily

Wednesday 28 March 2012

Friday 23 March 2012

Finally Friday

What a crazy week, how can it be Friday already?  Time flies when you're having fun ~ Right?  With any luck I'll be able to take a long walk / run on the beach this weekend.

Where I live
It is a busy time trying to get not only my income tax crap  return information prepared but now I have had to put on my detectives hat to try to track down all my dad's tax information too.  Let's just say that I caved and called a co-worker's accountant who is going to handle it all once I get all the sh*t information together.  What I am learning in my Alzheimer seminars is to accept the help of others.  See, you can teach an old dog new tricks.

Speaking of accepting and allowing others to help you out, another one of my co-workers had given me a Christmas Gift Certificate for a massage at Absolute Massage Therapy which happens to be situated right next door to my office.  I took the opportunity to use my certificate and add on another half hour.  Holy Hannah, I was in heaven!  All the tension and stress I have been carrying around for the last six months was ripped and stripped, gently massaged out oh so tense muscles and left me feeling totally body stoned.  Honestly, I had to sit in my car for about five minutes just to get my bearings.  It was FANTASTIC!!!

Wednesday was a visit with my Chiropractor at her new InTune Chiropractic office.  Again, just being able to totally relax and have my adjustment is helping me overall.  I also learned that I am not breathing properly while in a relaxed state.  I've been breathing with the top of my lungs and not using my diaphragmatic breathing technique that I use when I swim, bike, run.   Who knew!  So, another lesson learned and definitely one I shall continue to practice at all times.

Since my old running shoes were pretty much at the end of their life span after all the Half Iron training and actual event.  I took the opportunity of using one of the discount coupons you receive when you sign up for any of the Running Room Clinics.  So I sprung for a new pair of my ever faithful Saucony's....ProGrid Triumph 9's.  I can hardly wait to get out this weekend and see how they feel.

Saucony ProGrid 9
On another note, I've recently found a running blog of an Expat Canuck.  Canadian Runner in Exile.  Caroline is now living in SoCal with her husband and kidlettes and is currently giving away a fabulous book just in time for the Boston Marathon!!  The book is "Young at Heart", the story of Johnny Kelley who was a 2 time winner and 7 time 2nd place finisher of the Boston Marathon.  So you can understand my excitement to be able to put my name into the mix to be the possible winner of this book.

Young at Heart book give away
Marlene!  My little Blog Daughter, perhaps you'd like to get your Boston Bound Tushie over the Caroline's Blog too!!

Well, there you go, another action packed week!  Hope everyone has a great weekend and for those of you headed to Hamilton for the Around the Bay, have a fabulous race and keep your eye open for the Grim Reaper...because you know he's looking for you!

Life's fun if you don't weaken,

Lily