Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

Nova Scotia revisited...

Every morning before 6 am, Susan was up and out the door at 6:30am to teach some of her students that had to head off to work that day. (the photo's of Jane and Emily are from the 2009 Blainville Dressage Show in July).

I'd rustle myself up out of bed and grab a mug of Gram's coffee (best coffee in the world) and a piece of toast with natural honey before I headed down to the ring to say good morning. I'd watch a little bit of the lesson and then head off for my run.

How amazing to be able to watch riders with such passion for the sport and their horses and be able to go for a run along some of the most scenic vista's Nova Scotia has to offer.

Jane had taken the week off from work while I was there and she was the chauffeur extraordinaire. We spent all of Wednesday busy at the barn and finally after all the lessons and barn chores were done, Susan, Jane and Emily and I went out to dinner at the Port Pub Bistro. I can't believe how stupid I was ordering a pasta dish when I was surrounded by fresh seafood, gah, what was I thinking?

Thursday was another barn day but Susan had asked a fisherman friend if he caught any lobster that day we would love to buy some. Well doesn't he arrive in the afternoon with a cooler of lobster's!!! Needless to say, we had an incredible snack of steamed lobster's and an amazing salad for dinner, of course there were adult BEvERages with the meal, all the while we were looking out over the Bay of Fundy. Wow!

Susan and her student's were heading off to Truro for a horse show on the weekend and we were going to meet up with them on Saturday afternoon. Friday was going to be my **last morning at the farm and it was our tourist day and we would spend the night in Halifax, so I could get to see the sights of the city. Once I got back from my run, Jane finished what she had to do with her horse, I packed up my bags said goodbye to the gang, the horses and the farm and Jane and I headed off across the province to spend the afternoon in Chester at Mahone Bay.

Could a holiday get any better?

Well, yes it could...

What I haven't mentioned is before I left home, I had sent an email to a fellow blogger, saying that I was going to be in the maritimes and wouldn't it be fun to get together if we both could fit it into our schedules. (I'm forward like that!).

We had been in contact by email and then by phone and then upon my arrival he called saying he was from the Provincial Tourism Board wanting to do a survey of my trip so far...I'd just landed....I knew this was going to be fun, but we just couldn't get a set time to meet up. Since the girls had me busy most days and into the evenings and my blogger friend works full time, our hopes of meeting and going for a cycle were going by the wayside. Something had to be done....so after much to-ing and fro-ing we met in Chester at the Rope Loft.

Yes, I was going to meet Bluenoser, aka 50K Loop, aka Thom!! How great is that? We had a blast!! It was a short visit, way too short a time together, but I'll be back. You can take that as a threat or a promise!!! LOL...

Thom is just as I imagined him to be, full of fun, stories, maritime humour, wit and wisdom. He had just become a grandpa the night before and was still celebrating the birth of his granddaughter. We just didn't have enough time to really settle into any one conversation, but it was great nonetheless and I'll be back to cycle the loop...

jeezzz, this is just turning into a long story, too bad the vacation wasn't as long....

**more to come.....

Life's fun if you don't weaken,

Lily

2nd Annual Wooo Hooo Du

Yesterday way our 2nd annual "du". We had been reading the weather forecast all week and keeping our fingers crossed that the weatherman was going to be wrong in his prediction of overcast and rain. I did the Wooo Hooo Du dance to the "weather gods" all week and luckily they were pleased and shone a sunny face with light winds down our way!


There were eight of us this year, a record number! (missing from the picture is Brenda, our photog). Everyone arrived to my cottage type house with their car's loaded with bikes, running gear, bathing suits and of course the mandatory copious amount of food and BEvERages.

After unloading the vehicles and piling everything into the house and donning our personalised race bibs, have a cocktail or two, we were ready to go on our 2.5K trot. Off we went to much laughter, chatting and catching up with one another. Trust me when I say this in not a competition, we all just go out to have a great time and a lot of laughs. There are rules however and there is a start line and bike mount line (hey, there have to be some parameters).

Once back from the run we were ready to roll. The bike mount area was in front of the porcelain bowl ~ hey, you can't get much classier than that!! (yes, my neighbour is doing renovations to their home and they just dump everything and kick it out to the curb). So, with our own personal port-a-pottie as our marker, off we went, for a 10K spin around the peninsula where I live. It was a great ride with a lot to see, there were a ton of people enjoying the beach, there was a fishing derby going on and another function at our Legion. I tell you, it's a happening spot!

Jen was trying out her new Devinci that she picked up on Saturday, it is a really nice bike and you did a great job Jen.

We had a couple of practices clipping in and out and shifting gears, and then Jen and I headed off to catch up with the others.

We all made it back safe and sound with waves and smiles.

We still had the next run portion to do and then it was officially deemed complete with the ringing of the cowbell.....

After another beverage, most everyone headed down to the river for a refreshing swim and to enjoy the sunshine. Brenda and I stayed back and got the food prepped for their return. When they came back and changed into their civvies, we were going to sit outside in the backyard as I had scrubbed and cleaned my patio furniture, however, there were so many wasps and stinging things out there, the Wooo Hooo's came barreling back indoors (with wasps following them) and that is exactly where we stayed for the remainder of the event. Swag bags were opened and photo's were taken, it was a real hoot.

Never, ever is there an event where we lack food or beverage, I'm just so sorry I didn't get a chance to take a photo of the desert table!

It was getting dark when we started cleaning up and putting things away, the gals loaded up their bikes and headed home...the last of the Wooo Hooo's left around 9:30 p.m.

It was a great day of friendship, fun and laughter and that is what the Wooo Hooo's are all about. We leave our troubles and attitudes at the door and just have a great time appreciating life!

after all;

Life's fun if you don't weaken,

Lily

Wise or a Whoosie, now I know...

...Wise!

This weekend was the Rideau Lakes Bike Tour and truth be told I was still sort of wallowing in my pity party.

Some of the Wooo's Hooo's bowed out of the event and sold off their spots quiet easily and in no time flat. I on the other hand tried to sell mine, but for some reason no one was interested. I took it as a sign that I really was suppose to go and enjoy the time being Sherpa extraordinaire to Karen and Nancy, which I happily did.

If you recall, Nancy started Chemo on March 31st of this year in her ongoing battle with Lupus. Even though she is struggling with the effects of the chemo, it certainly is NOT keeping her down. Two weeks before the cycle tour Nancy ran the Half Marathon in 2:30, right along with Karen during the Ottawa Race Weekend. You girls ROCK!!




We all go through life struggles and Karen is certainly going through her fair share this year too. 2009 has been a life altering year for many of the Wooo Hooo's but we all support one another in what ever fashion we can. We are all like sister's, we laugh, cry, get along, have differences of opinions and sometimes get ticked off with one another, but we always support one another when the going gets tough.

What an amazing group of women. I'm so very proud to have ALL of you as friends.

Saturday morning dawned bright, sunny and a little cool, but the kind of day you knew would warm up. The girls left early to meet at the Perth Curling Club and get on their way. A 100K ride would take awhile....

I left later in the morning after packing up the cooler with fruit, drinks, chocolate milk and a couple of bottles of adult BEvERages and and made my way to the Curling Club to collect my bib number and the tour route.

WOW!!! I honestly can say I've NEVER seen so many cyclists! All shapes, all sizes, all ages. Spandex and Lycra for days!!! Every type of bicycle imaginable....WOW! Pretty good eye candy too! After ogling, I headed off to find the girls...

The tour is meticulously monitored with designated rest stops, pit stops, food, drinks and shade! There is a roving bicycle maintenance truck that covers the entire route, back and forth depending upon where they are needed. There are water stops with CB operators talking to one another giving updates as to how the masses are moving. There were bike clubs from all over Ontario, Quebec and the USA, there were families, recumbent's and bicycles built for two...

Since there are various distances involved and various levels of capabilities, the tour is touted as this.

"This tour is intended for experienced and mature riders who are able to ride both days. There is no return transportation provided on Sunday.

Although en route support includes sag vehicles, communications, police escorts and mechanical support, riders must be self sufficient as only the disabled riders can be accommodated in the rescue vehicles.

Participants under 18 years of age must be accompanied by an adult who will assume full responsibility for them. "

Our other friends Anne and her husband Dean were cycle the 177K distance with a bike club they often ride with, so I didn't even see them until we reached our destination.

Since I am at work and without the rest of my photo's and because there is just soooo much to write about, I will continue this story at another time...

It is where the Wise comes in.....

Life's fun if you don't weaken,

Lily

Scotiabank Half Marathon lilliputian

WAY TOO MUCH FUN!

WAY TOO MANY LAUGHS!

AWESOME WAY TO MEET FELLOW BLOGGER'S

WAY TOO TIRED TO WRITE A PROPER POST!

will catch up with you on Thursday!

OH MY GAWD!

Life's fun if you don't weaken,

Lily

Wordless Wednesday

8 on the 10th

After much deliberating with the oh so wise monk, the garmin issue was explained, recharged and stripped of its information, ahhhh grasshopper!

The run was uplifting, exhilarating and more fun than one could expect. Runner's were excited that it wasn't raining and very excited that it wasn't 90 degrees Fahrenheit with 91% humidity.

The "ultra" run took us along Cat Tail Trail, (again) then we headed back towards civilization where we had a quick pit stop, adjusted ourselves and headed back out to the Trans Canada Trail, hey, wait a minute, aren't we suppose to be in Beijing??

Past Lily ponds and junks, (well, junky cars), we were chatting and laughing and discussing everything Olympic. Women's volleyball, men's basketball, on and on.....

But, alas, all good things must come to an end...our 8 miles or 12K run in 1:20 minutes was done, but we continued on to finish up our required 16K.

Upon completion of our run we stretched, discussed the benefits of Epsom salt baths, upcoming races, and then had our much needed rest....

Thanks Nancy for your wonderful race, thanks for all the fun and thanks for looking after all of us.

Life's fun if you don't weaken,

Lily

*no Jess, I didn't fudge the numbers, but it sure would have been easier, LMAO*

**pictures from travel china**

Three More Sleeps!

Utica Boilermaker in three more sleeps. I wasn't getting too inspired until this morning when:

• an excerpt from Jeff Galloway’s Marathon You Can Do It! (Shelter Publications, 2002), hit me in the face.


• last years pictures, I went through them in a slide show ~ too cool.


• there are only three more sleeps!!

Unbeknown to me, I was still suffering from post race let down!!

Who'd have thunk it!! It's been six weeks since the marathon and I've been running as a pace person for a Half Marathon clinic, but I have to admit, I was going through the motions and not "feeling the love". The feeling I was experiencing is exactly what was described in Jeff Galloway's excerpt I was reading...whew, I'm NORMAL, well, as normal as I get!

The pictures from last year are great and even though some of the Wooo Hooo's aren't going to be with us this year due to other commitments....we will be thinking of them, especially during the race.

Who could forget....

The Sports Expo....

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the port-a-potties

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having lunch at Elwood's....

(which unfortunately burned down in December)

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THE HILL.....

and








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the PARTY at the end!

Okay, now I'm getting excited!

Three more sleeps....

Life's fun if you don't weaken,
Lily

ps, I intentionally left out some exciting photo's of the race so I wouldn't spoil it for any Utica newbies!!!

Woooo Hoooo Saturday!

Due to the extreme weather system that went through our area yesterday I could not post about our Saturday get together. Pictures and stories to follow later today!!

Woooo Hoooo

Life's fun if you don't weaken,

Lily

My Man Buster....busted.....

As I previously posted Buster Martin finished his first half marathon in March and was 101!!!

He said his time would have been faster but he stopped for a puff and a pint along the way....you gotta love that! My Kind of Man for Sure...

Buster then decided he would run his first ever marathon and picked the Flora London Marathon, in London, England on Sunday.

I got up extra early on Sunday morning so I could watch part of the marathon (well the results at the splits) before I headed off for my run. When I got back I couldn't find anything about Buster and his run, so I thought, well that's great at least he didn't pass away!!

So I get a post from my photogfriend Babooshka that indeed he did race, he did finish and of course had a puff and a pint to celebrate.....

Well, granted Buster ran the marathon, heck, he even finished BUT instead of the reported age of 101, he's ONLY 94!!!

Yup, he fibbed...he told a lie and he was supported in his lie by his employers to get some free publicity. As reported in The Mail on Sunday Darn them!!!

Here I thought I'd not only found the man of my dreams, but one who wouldn't lie to me....

Well, back to the drawing board for me...

but as was commented in The Mail;

"So if Buster has been busted, and he's only 94, then could the people from Guinness tell us, who really is the oldest person to complete the London Marathon?- Scarr, Dublin

Okay Guinness, who is the oldest person to complete the London Marathon if it wasn't my man Buster??? **

(hey, maybe he meant the Beer Guinness not the World Book of Guinness)

Lifes' fun if you don't weaken, oh and

CONGRATULATIONS BUSTER, NO MATTER WHAT YOUR AGE, YOU ROCK!

Lily
** Buster eventually finished the course in just over ten hours.

Guinness World Records lists the oldest man to complete a marathon as the Greek runner Dimitrion Yordanidis, aged 98, in Athens in 1976. He finished in seven hours 33 minutes.

The oldest woman to complete a marathon listed by Guinness World Records was Jenny Wood-Allen who completed the London Marathon at the age of 90 in 2002. She finished in 11 hours and 34 minutes.