Fun Hill

Just coming off my first full week of work after vacation and it feels like forever ago already.  But I haven't taken a vacation from my running and since I have been back I have diligently returned to the gym.  I have had a few epic runs (one which included a run over Pattulo Bridge) and this weekends training run route is still up in the air but I definitely plan to challenge myself.
Speaking of challenges I went for a run last night and headed down towards the Quay forgetting that my training run was supposed to be "rolling hills".  Now anyone who knows their way around New Westminster knows that once you head down to the river the only "rolling hills" you will find are those of the large roll size and probably not what my training plan had in mind. 

When we were little kids we would beg our Dad to take us down "fun hill", a gut dropper of a hill at the end of Queens Avenue in New Westminster that goes down really steep and then (God bless those road engineers - but what were they thinking?) has a colossul dip that then continues in a steep descent.  I can remember being in the blue Valiant when it actually "caught air" before we rocketed back to the ground.  Serious gut dropping fun better than any roller coaster or Zipper ride that Playland has to offer.  My little ladies now scream for the "fun hill" experience and my little Mazda likes the thrill too, although my shocks..not so much.

But screaming was exactly what my calves and quads and glutes were doing as I did a reverse up fun hill last night and declare it to be not so fun hill when you aren't in a vehicle.  In fact I would even go so far as to say tortourous, especially as I had already ran about 8km and my legs just weren't in the mood for a hill.

Lucky for me the best song to run hills to came on, Seven Nation Army by White Stripes and I was able to dig really deep and charge up the hill and home.

Road-tripping

The last day of our road-trip ended with a little stress as I struggled to find a hotel late in the night. Not quite finished our shopping and wanting to take advantage of the duty free limits we were one more night on the road. Driving with the camper, I am never tempted to speed the way I do in my little Mazda zoom zoom zoom car, but when the cop with lights flashing came up in my rearview mirror,  I instinctively checked my speedometer and started to pull over. He flew by. I wasn't his prey. Something far ahead had sent him gunning. As I watched him drive away I was awarded a memory from a road-trip long ago. I'm pretty sure it was the Summer of 1979. I was the same age as the ladies are now, just going into Grade 6. Mom, Dad, my brother Miles and my sister Hilary, all heading across Canada to soak up the sites. And we did. There wasn't a museum, parliament building or Catholic Church that we didn't tour, visit or photograph. Province to province across the TransCanada Highway, experiencing what my father felt every Canadian child should - our land from sea to shining sea.
When we hit Port Elgin, New Brunswick we were starting to feel the stress of the cramped van and the long days of driving. My father did all the driving and it must have been exhausting to not get a break. My mother had just as hard a time as passenger. The stress of navigating your way across Canada weighs pretty heavy.
It was late in the night on that stretch of the highway when the RCMP officer pulled as over. I can remember Mom giving Dad heck for speeding and my dad saying he wasn't. The police officer came to the side of the car and asked my father if he knew why he was being pulled over. My father, always the gentleman, said, " I don't believe I was speeding sir." And the officer said, " I see you are from out of town. What brings you all this way? Do you have friends in town?"  Dad replied, "No we were just passing through, enjoying the sites along the way."   The officer informed Dad that the annual parade was the following day and as was the history of the parade, an out of town guest was appointed Grand Marshal and given the key to the City. We were to be the Grand Marshal Family. For my father who spent his life trying to give us moments, this must have felt like quite a coup. The ultimate Canadiana experience. It didn't get much better than this. We obviously accepted and were given a police escort into town where we were treated to a lobster dinner maritime style. The next day it was all business as we had to judge the parade after riding front and center on the Grand Marshal float ( which I believe was horse and cart?). We totally flubbed it up and ended up picking people who had never won before. I am sure the town still talks about the year those coast folk came and sent everything topsy turvy. But what a memory. As was the way of my Dad, he got to know the locals, and even had the local realtor showing him houses and had us dreaming of the maritime life.
 When we got home there was mail from Port Elgin, New Brunswick ,
A Certificate making us honorary citizens of the town and a copy of the local paper with a write up on the parade. I'm not sure what happened to that paperwork but I'm making a note to send an email off and find out if I can get a copy of that newspaper article. Canadiana.

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Winding Down

My five mile run this morning ended on a sandy beach, roar of the ocean in my ears and sand between my toes. I couldn't wait to wake the ladies for a bit of beachcombing. I could only get Gracie up but she was a willing assistant. We found some lovely agates (she says) that she has promised to polish and transform into some type of wearable art. Rachel soon straggled down to the beach and the three of us frolicked for a bit before heading up to camp.

Not only did my early morning exercise afford me one more opportunity to fill my lungs with fresh sea air it also allowed me to splurge on the calories at breakfast. We stopped in at the Newport Cafe this morning and while Dad enjoyed a seafood scramble that was loaded with crab and scallops and shrimp, I indulged in eggs and grilled calamari. I checked first just to be sure it was calamari done the right way (one big slab of calamari, like a piece of fish) and of course it was. Very yummy!
The girls gobbled up all their French toast and we were off. Turns out that Astoria sounds a lot like Albany to members of our party who have full use of their ears ;), so we are headed back to the I5 and to Albany, Oregon to meet up with John and Vicki before shopping and stopping in Portland. Then homeward.


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Tonight we are at Sun and Sand RV Park outside of Lincoln City Oregon on the Pacific Coast Highway. It is a jewel of a place with campsites right on the sand, killer sunsets and outlet shopping just down the road. Yes you can only hold off for so long. It is Oregon right? So no tax and great deals make for fun shopping excursions.
As soon as we got to our campsite we took the camper off and I headed into town with the ladies to shop and shop and shop.
We went to the Tangers Outlet in Lincoln City and got some pretty good bargains. I am still hoping to hit Nordstrom Rack before we head home but as far as the kids are concerned I did pretty good today.
After a quick stop for a few groceries we headed back to the campsite. The girls took their Dad down to the beach while I BBQ'd some chicken and tried a new prawn recipe. I got some chili olive oil in Lodi so I sprinkled a bit on the prawns with the usual lime zest and garlic then wrapped them in aluminum foil and stuck them on the que. Rachel came running up from the beach saying I had to come quick so I left the que for a bit and ran down just in time to catch the sun dropping out of the sky. I might have gone on and on about how stunning the Bryce Canyon. Sunset was but this Coast girl knows there is nothing more beautiful then the sun setting over the ocean! We got back to the campsite just in time for


me to pull the prawns off! They were delicious!

It is nice to be back on the coast! Grace said she felt less homesick today! I have to agree ! A bit more sea air and then time to head home.


Woke up early this am and just in from a gorgeous 5 miles into GlenEden State Park then around the Wyndham Resort. Beautiful morning. Now waking the ladies for some beach combing before heading up to Portland.- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Jump Off Joe Creek

Although I do love to plan, part of a vacation and especially a road-trip is best left to chance. You stumble upon great little campsites with incredibly friendly people sometimes when you arrive in the middle of the night road weary and looking for a place to settle in. Jump off Joe Creek Campground Oregon for example. Would you ever actually make this a destination? How would you ever know about a place like this? The for sale sign hangs at the end of the long road and you know they have seen better times. Yet they have planted the annuals in the window boxes, the welcoming lights are on, and the owner eagerly comes down the path to meet you when you arrive.
We left early this morning and the owner waved as we headed out. Friendly as all get out. :)
Then again today hunger struck so we asked the trusty GPS to find us a good breakfast and there it was, Steve's Breakfast & More in Springfield, Oregon. I mean the name alone should bring you in. Although Steve wasn't slinging breakfast or busting his hump like our waitress who was the only one serving in the hopping joint. What a great breakfast though. Huge blueberry pancakes, incredibly delicious sausage and perfectly cooked eggs. Hidden gems that the locals all enjoy and travelers rarely get a crack at are now a little easier to find with gps and apps like flavourtown USA etc.

As our road-trip winds down, over 5,000 more kilometers on the odometer than when we started our adventure, I am thankful that we were able to make it happen for our ladies. I am also thankful for the memories that flooded back to me over the trip. Many road-trips taken, many memories of family and many hidden gems unearthed from my memory.
Watching that waitress today in that diner reminded me of a road-trip with my mom and dad and my
Mom's family. We travelled to Oak Lake, Manitoba for their centennial. We stayed at a bed and breakfast there and the owner of the bed and breakfast also owned the towns restaurant. You can imagine that a celebration of this magnitude in a small prairie town would bring in a lot of extra income for the small businesses. The owner of the bed and breakfast and the restaurant had had a kitchen accident the week before and had been badly burnt. So my wonderful generous father offered to help out and suggested that I help out as a waitress. I was 14 years old and though I had been working at a wedding catering company since I was 12 working in a busy diner was a whole new ballgame. It was HARD work and hot and greasy and so not the way I had imagined spending my summer.
I think I only worked there a few days but at the time it felt like forever. It wasn't all bad as I got a few good tips and made some extra pocket money.
Road-trips....

Sacramento

A busy day of touring yesterday that the girls and I capped off with a late night run/rollerblade around the resort followed by an even later night swim before tucking in for the night. It was a really nice quiet spot and we enjoyed our stay in Lodi. Didn't feel stuck at all.
Today we headed to Sacramento and tried out another DDD, Dad's Kitchen. This one was more my style with lighter fare. It had a gorgeous seating area out back that reminded me a bit of Crave on Main St. I had a really good vegetarian breakfast sandwich and their homemade sourdough was awesome. Dad enjoyed his platter of eggs with chili. The girls shared French toast and thankfully couldn't finish it so I got the honors. Topped with sliced bananas the syrup was an orange zest that with the cinnamon added just enough oomph to send it over the top.





Cream for your coffee -in a baby bottle -cute?.





There was a cute little shop next door with everything half off and a strapless dress in the window that had my name on it.
Of course it was the last one and the sales clerk made a big deal about it being no problem to get it off the mannequin so I could try in on. I should have known it would end up being too tight in the chest so I left the store empty handed and the store was left with a naked mannequin with pasties in the window. My ladies thought it was hilarious...me not so much!



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Posted By Kathryn to irun from home at 8/14/2011 09:13:00 PM

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Stuck in Lodi?

We made it to Lodi,California last night and I would argue with CCR that is not such a bad place to be stuck. We are at Flag Rv Resort and last night enjoyed a pool swim after a long hot days drive. We watched the sunset from the pool and although it was not the same as Bryce Canyon,the colours were spectacular and it was a nice welcome to the California Delta. There are many wineries in the area, pistachio and almond groves, corn fields and fruit trees.
I found out that the Lodi Running club meets at 6:30 am on Saturdays for their weekly run and I sooo wanted to join them...but with the camper on, me the only one wanting to go, and 7 miles between me and the meeting spot...it just wasn't meant to be. Instead I woke and ran two loops of the 2.5 mile recreation area that surrounds the RV park. No long run today. We are planning to head to Lodi this afternoon so I was thinking of running back from there once i see what the road is like.
As I write this we are driving through the California Delta bound for Fairville which is home to the JellyBelly factory. Once my little candy loving detectives became aware of this we decided an extra night here would be fruitful (is that a play on words sort of). We all love jellybellys and apparently you can purchase seconds or should I say "belly flops" here which is definitely a bonus.
We just passed through a drawbridge which was a first for the girls. We are now driving past a large field of wind turbines, huge in stature, they look so sterile against this fertile land and the cows grazing under them look so out of place. Although on the opposite field the electrical lines that have traversed these fields for decades look even more obtrusive." Greener-pastures" is a phrase that comes to mind.

I was driving home..early Sunday morning through...

After what I can only call a stressful days drive we arrived in Bakersfield,California, the song Faraway Eyes playing in my head. We left Vegas with no destination forward. I had planned everything to this point but the road back had always been uncertain. And I'm not very good when there isn't a plan. I like a plan. I like to know where I am going and not just where I have been.
We stopped at a Denny's for breakfast in Primm Nevada home to Buffalo Bills Casino. Let's just say aghhhhhh and move on shall we.
From there we drove. And highway 15 is a truckers highway with a convoy all the way in the slow lane and every crazy California driver in the state in the fast lane. Not fun. Made driving in the rainstorm in Utah a day in the park.
With only a quick rest stop and driver change we made it to Bakersfield around dinner time. Now the stress of finding a good place to camp. There are no state or national parks on this route so we are camping at the rv sites. I have been using the rv park reviews website to find campgrounds but I hadn't researched this area.
I was thinking about when we were kids and went on roadtrips without the luxury of GPS or wifi. Right now we just plug in find a campground and then go by the name. Our first try here in Bakersfield was the Castle Rv park, and let's just say that we ended up in a rather shady part of town.
Second attempt brought us here to the Riverside Rv Park, full hook ups, green grass, beautiful clean facility with a pool, cardio room, laundry and wifi.


We are taking our time leaving


this morning but are heading for
Sacramento area today. Sun is shining. It was 38 at the peak yesterday. Hoping for a bit cooler today! Hope the sun is shining wherever you are!

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Fence sitting poolside

I'm sort of on the fence when it comes to Vegas. It is definitely a place to party and people are generally happy and there certainly is a lot to see and do....but...
Maybe it is because of the way we travelled in via car through pristine Utah then gorgeous Arizona then Nevada, where you notice the litter starting on the roadside, the air gets thicker and it just feels so different.
Maybe it is because we just spent days reveling in nature and soaking up all that pure air and pure living and now here we are in Sin city.
Don't get me wrong. I like it enough that I will come back sans 10 year olds. And I see what all the fuss is about. Who wouldn't?
I guess a little bit of me is still standing on the edge looking down into the canyon and taking in those big breaths of clean air.
Yesterday we did a bit more shopping and the heat was killer. So we all just hit the pool until it closed at 7 then dinner at the Rainforest Cafe. The ladies loved that!





I got up early this am and got my treadmill workout in. I woke the girls after and I am typing this poolside as they enjoy their last swim at Mandalay Bay.



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Kid in a Candy Store

My run this morning was completely different from
yesterday's except for the time of day. I woke early. Yes I know. My first time in Vegas and the morning after my arrival I am up before the dawn. Doesn't say much for my partying gene but we did have fun. We arrived at around 5 which was 6 to us as we had been on Utah time. Check in took awhile but our room was nice (on the 13 floor which Grace said was extremely lucky ;) ) with a pool view that made the kids go nuts over the wave pool. But alas this is Vegas, and the pool closes at 7. Seriously. 42 degrees out there and they shut her down at 7. They want your money at the tables and in the barstools.
So we decided that we would check out the strip and in the 42 heat it was hard to fully enjoy our first look at the glitz. Of course we did have two very excited 10 year olds who quickly spotted the large m&m's outside of m&m world.





Yes there really is a store entirely devoted to this delightful candy. Four floors of store. And we checked out every square-foot and the girls parted with their Benjamin that they had been saving for the excursion. But as grace said, as she hugged her newly acquired yellow peanut, this is my dream world. ;)





We toured alot of the hotels then headed back to Mandalay bay and on to the house of blues for a late dinner. After asking for a table switch we were front and center for the band and they played alot of great tunes that the girls enjoyed, sang along and even danced a bit.





Food was fine, drinks were good and the atmosphere was cool. So after that busy day (I didnt even tell u about the outlet shopping in st George Utah ) it was pretty good that I got up for my run and hit the cardio center this morning. After my run I went up to the room and woke the girls and they put on their suits and we were in the 8am lineup to the pool. We got nice loungers close to the pool and the girls and I swam for an hour and a half. Total blast! The pool is a wave pool and so fun with sandy beaches and a lazy river.











After our swim we got Dad up and went for breakfast and now to Shark reef and back to pool and m&m world to return the already broken bracelet.
Very different version of Vegas when you are with kids but I am loving watching my girls together without any entanglements. They are such good friends to each other and they really have a special bond. It is a wonderful thing!

Thanks Utah! And can I just say Wow!

This morning I woke before the sun and quietly slipped into my running gear and out the door. My iPod had died in the night so no pictures this time and I was without music which was odd for me. I wanted to run without music this morning anyway just in case I startled a rattlesnake coming out from a rock. I wanted to hear it's warning sign so I had my hearing aid in.
It's funny how cold it is in the morning. It is crisp and cold. Yet by 8 it will be 30.
There is an awesome bike path that goes all the way into the Red Canyon. I only ran a four mile this am so just to the top of the canyon and back. I was nervous to venture down on my own so I turned back at the two mile mark. The sun had been busy rising behind me and I was awarded a gorgeous run back making the big hill seem flat and the road easy. The air is thin here and a four mile felt like a ten on my body. Everything felt heavy as I heated up with the asphalt.
I'm so glad I got that run in though as we pack up today and head to Nevada. Although I didn't have the camera I will always have a picture in my mind of one of the most gorgeous running routes I have enjoyed to date.


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Grand Canyon

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Bryce Canyon Sunset

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Sunset

Grand Canyon

Today we set out at 9am - destination Grand Canyon - dNorth Rim. Our original itinerary had us bound for Flagstaff, Arizona today but we decided to change it up. With the camper already off, we booked another night here in Bryce Canyon and climbed in the truck for the Daytrip to end all daytrips. A three hour drive each way on a gorgeous curving road leading us to the Grand Canyon.
Worth every minute of the drive we enjoyed the vistas and took pictures galore. It is a sight that leaves you speechless and yet wanting to grab your kids and say wow! Can you believe this?


We had lunch in the Grand Canyon Lodge which was surprisingly inexpensive and afforded us additional time to soak in the view of the canyon. We bought a few souvenirs at the gift shop and the ladies happily checked off three state licence plates on the walk back to the car, that up until now had eluded them. A long drive back and just pulling in now with plans for a pool swim before dinner.


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Hoodoos-not voodoo- but definitely magical

I can't believe how much we crammed in to the day yesterday. It was like a camping triathlon of horseback riding, hiking, and pool frolicking plus the warm up of getting laundry done and the cool down of s'mores around the campfire....oh and the victory lap which was the sunset at Bryce Canyon.
Although the $25 entry fee for the park came as a surprise, the sunsetting over Bryce Canyon is priceless. The sandstone takes on a pinkish hue and the layers of colour across the sky are absolutely breathtaking. So far the highlight of this trip for me and I hope all my pictures turn out.
Here are some from my iPod


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Horses,Hiking and Blue Skies

Today we were booked for a horseback ride at 9am so we were up early for showers. The cowgirls put on their newly purchased cowboy hats and kicked up their heels with their best cowgirl swagger and we headed over to the corral. That's right podnah!



We were a little early, can you say excited? so we moseyed on down to the saloon and rustled up some hot chocolate and coffee while we waited. (sorry couldn't resist)


We were driven down to the start of the trail where we were then fitted for our horses. Grace had Sandy, Rachel had Cedar, and I had Diamond. We were in a group with a family of four from Switzerland who had been in the USA for a month, renting a camper in San Francisco and traveling throughout the western states. They were as awestruck as us by the beauty of the canyon. We had a spectacular two hour ride. I used the Canon to take the pictures so I will have to post when we get home.
After the gorgeous ride through the canyon you would think it would be hard to top that scenery but....we headed back to camp to find Dad had taken the camper off. So after a nice lunch we drove down to Kodachrome Basin and went for a hike up Angel's Trail where we took some more spectacular photos.


Rachel and grace at Kodachrome Basin




It was a hot and hard hike in the blistering heat but it was all worthwhile to reach the peak and take the photos. Glorious view!

We went for a nice swim in the pool when we got back and felt very refreshed. BBQ chicken fajitas for dinner around the campfire and now we are set to drive up to Bryce Canyon where we are told nature puts on a light show in the form of a sunset that is out of this world.

over the top

I have been worried that I won't be able to keep up my training over the holidays. The last few days I have
found it easier to not run especially after the long days of driving. This morning I woke up and quietly put on my gear laid out the night before. The campground was
quiet and the sky was blue. I ran in the direction we had come in the night before. The neighborhood of Kaysville sits among the mountains of Utah and is immaculate and pristine. I ran through a neighbourhood much like a Street
Of Dreams, gorgeous brick homes set against rich landscaping.




















Manicured lawns, backyard pools, basketball courts and huge decks, and yet you won't see a BMW or a Porsche in these driveways. They buy American here and fly their flags high. Patriotism and religion surround you in these parts.
I got a good hour run in and was able to enjoy the local landscape and take in the sunrise over Salt Lake while others slept. I love being an athlete. I did some sit ups and pushups back at camp before everybody woke up and felt completely refreshed and back on track.





















After coffee and a game of 7 up with Grace we headed out. The Blue Plate Diner was calling us for a late breakfast. Deep in the heart of Salt Lake city the diner was featured on Diners and Dives and did not disappoint. It was a funky little diner with cool local artwork on the walls, postcards hanging from clotheslines across the ceiling, licence plates hanging behind the soda bar and an ecletic assortment of chairs and tables throughout. It was a fun stop. Next stop Bryce Canyon.

a grain of salt?

On August 05 we set out from Dillon Montana (we stayed at the Best Western in Dillon where we enjoyed the luxury of decamping and the kids splashed in the pool plus the added bonus of wifi totally made my day) with Salt Lake City our next destination. We have been averaging 500 miles a day and yet are managing to "keep it real" . The ladies are excellent travel companions and get along better than others in the vehicle ;). Having their itouchs has certainly helped keep them busy when the scenery doesn't keep them occupied. As you can see they pass the time in some unique ways. I love how their exploration of backseat photography has brought together the toys of yesterday (slinky) with the technology of today (photo taken with Grace's itouch)

















We drove through Montana and back through southern Idaho. I took the wheel just before Utah and while Dad slumbered,the snoring drowning out the radio, I drove. Of course the rain came hard at this point and there was fresh paving being done for 17 miles. Probably the most brutal part of the drive to date. I white knuckled at points as the road narrowed considerably with only one lane open and me with the camper!!
But the Utah skies were blue and the outside temperature was 40 when I pulled into a rest area just before Ogden Utah. There were only two campgrounds in this area and neither was a run of the mill campground. Both were destination style rv campgrounds. One,called Lagoon, was the site of the largest amusement park in the northwest states. The other park called Cherryhill had a waterpark on site. Luckily Lagoon was full as it would have been next to impossible to say no to that one and at $40 each even though we were arriving at 6pm it would have been a major unnecessary!
We ended up at Cherryhill where they had everyone packed in like sardines but miraculously our electric site sat alone with no neighbors. The waterpark had an after 4pm rate so we donned our suits and headed over. The lazy river was refreshing after a long hot day of driving and the views of Salt Lake city below were beautiful. The ladies had a blast and it was well worth the price of admission. I had some chicken strips in the fridge that I had marinated in a teriyaki sauce and we BBQed those for dinner with grilled peppers. We sat outside playing cards marveling at how quiet the campsite was for 930 until we realized it was 1030 :( and we still had our music and lights going. Rule breakers are not very welcome in this state so off to bed.

More than just potatoes

Had a gorgeous day of driving which took us from Washington through northern Idaho and ended in Dillon Montana. Spectacular scenery throughout the journey. Coeur d'alene is absolutely gorgeous and as home to an Ironman Triathlon :))) I can see this as an awesome destination event for someone planning to really test their mettle.

We passed through Idaho and entered
Montana...say it with me m
mon tan a. We pulled into Missoula set the Gps to find us a park and it did. Right on the Clark Fork River
I made a late lunch while we watched the locals tube down the river.
. We then found a post office and mailed some postcards.
So far we have held off on clothes or gift shopping but Montana is tax free and I just couldn't resist the cowboy hats for the girls.


They remind me of one I used to have which I think I got on a roadtrip across Canada when I was little. A lot of this trip reminds me of that one actually. I have a lot of pictures to post just have to figure out how to post more than one.

Lazy daze....cont.

Day 2 was a nice and easy day with just a short drive. I started the girls off right with a perfect on the go camping breakfast in the form of a fried egg and bacon sandwich and then we headed out on the road.  I had booked a campsite in Spokane but we were unsure if we would stay there given that we had made it farther than we expected the day before.   Finding the booked campsite was not that easy even with the gps.  If you ever stay at riverside state park be warned that there are two different campgrounds that are not very close together.  When we finally arrived at our campsite it was well past lunchtime and we were all famished.  Our campsite was at 9 miles recreation site which is right on the lake.  The sites are very close together but you are steps from the water so with temperatures in the high 20's who is complaining.  We decided it would be a good idea to just have a lake day and that is just what we did.  A very good decision.  Too hot to run and the trails weren't optimal for running alone so I opted for a lake swim instead.

lazy daze

We had a really great day for our first day of the roadtrip. I seriously did not look at my watch all day. I read Harry Potter to the girls when I wasn't at the wheel and before you knew it we were in Osoyoos. We stopped there and parked on the jetty at Haynes Point and had a refreshing swim. We then crossed the border at Oroville where the camper search was a small inconvenience given the fact that had we crossed in Blaine we would have endured at least an hour wait before submitting to same.
After a fun shop in Oroville: red
vines and giant
jawbreakers
for the ladies, chocolate for mom and cheap beer for Dad we drove on. We stopped at Grand Coolee Dam and I made a nice pasta salad and we barbecued steaks at the picnic table with the roar of the dam filling the air. Truly amazing to see and to have as
your backdrop while dining. A marmot came to say hello while we were eating, startling us as he came up from the bank of the dam
under the chain link fence. What's for dinner? he seemed to say. It was cute and the girls were quite excited at their first spotting of the little varmint.
After dinner we pushed off in search of a campsite as this was an unhooked night of our journey. Dad went to pull into the kings cross rv park but I forced us on and wouldn't u know it but a state park just ahead in spring canyon awaited us around the bend. At the top of the canyon over looking beautiful Lake Roosevelt, $10 got us a spot for the night.

breakfast special

cowboys get it

sorry everyone but the ability to blog became next to impossible given that the clearest signal came in the dead of night or 4
km up the road. I did manage my long run on Sunday and survived injury free..that is if you don't count the massive mosquito bite on my ankle that was threatening to cause problems until I benedryl Ed up. Seems better
today and I managed a smaller run yesterday.
The kids had a fantastic time at the lake and we are now on our way to the states. We packed up early and after huge thanks to our host we headed off on our adventure.
We planned to stop in Cache Creek for breakfast but after a short drive we realized that we had lost one of the camper hooks from the chains so we needed to stop in Merritt at the Canadian Tire.
I was dying for a coffee and the kids were getting hungry as we approached Merritt and signs directed us to a great place for breakfast "the hitchin post". We don't eat breakfast out that often as I make a mean waffle :)) but when we do the kids like the fluff i.e. kids menus at ihop or jiffywiffy waffle house ...so they weren't too excited when we stopped but it looked clean and just busy enough.
Well imagine ordering what you think are boring old hotcakes and bacon and getting this....and to top it off they make mean mushroom cheddar omelets...stop in there next time you are in Merritt! Blaze
a trail!

benefits of iphone4 when running

I know....but when technology allows us to catch a moment ( and the signal is strong here in this one spot lol). running along and saw a couple standing in the road ahead of me...wondered but continued...until she stopped me like a traffic lady and
right in front of
my eyes

mosquitos frogs and rain oh my

Doesn't sound like much from our angle does it...but to six 10 year olds and their 6 year old helper it is game on.
Give me Green Lake on a sunny day and I will give you the best BC has to offer. I forgot though, how quickly the clouds roll in here. The rain comes down hard and before you know it you are soaked to the bone.
This year I am letting the children set the tone for my holiday. So as the rain soaked our fire and interrupted our marshmallow roasting I watched in pleasure as they quickly switched gears from s'more fest to frog quest. As fast as they could grab flashlights and don their hoodies they were down to the waters edge on a mission. It is easy to get caught up in their enthusiasm so I'm happy to say I'm doing just that. There was another thing I had forgotten. I am a wicked frog finder. :))
Off for my run now. This is the second time I have written this as
Blogger died on me and with the lost signal I lost my script. Got smart this time and used my notebook first then copy and paste. I am unable to download pictures on this weak signal but promise to add later.
Cheers!

Mosquitos, frogs and rain. oh my

Doesn't sound like much from our angle does it...but to six 10 year olds and their 6 year old helper it is game on.
Give me Green Lake on a sunny day and I will give you the best BC has to offer. I forgot though, how quickly the clouds roll in here. The rain comes down hard and before you know it you are soaked to the bone.
This year I am letting the children set the tone for my holiday. So as the rain soaked our fire and interrupted our marshmallow roasting I watched in pleasure as they quickly switched gears from s'more fest to frog quest. As fast as they could grab flashlights and don their hoodies they were down to the waters edge on a mission. It is easy to get caught up in their enthusiasm so I'm happy to say I'm doing just that. There was another thing I had forgotten. I am a wicked frog finder. :))
Off for my run now. This is the second time I have written this as
Blogger died on me and with the lost signal I lost my script. Got smart this time and used my notebook first then copy and paste. I am unable to download pictures on this weak signal but promise to add when I can. cheers!

and away we go

I planned to get up early this morning and get a run in before we set off for our family adventure but instead I woke up and finished making the sandwich spreads I was
too tired to finish last night.
The start of our annual Green Lake long weekend escape is always a production. Over the years we have had convoys with as many as six cars/campers/etc. This year we are just two families making the journey together. The rest of the travelers will trundle in to green lake over the next few
days depending on their work schedules etc.

Since the Summer of 2003 we have
spent the August long weekend at Green Lake. Years ago we added another tradition of stopping in Cache Creek at hungry herbies for burgers and onion rings....that was
one family tradition I wanted to part with. Driving from cache creek to green lake with a belly full of grease does not make for a comfortable ride for anyone!

So this year I took the bull by the horns and said enough is enough, which meant of course that there were sandwiches to be made. So this year we will stop in Cache Creek so the little ladies can burn off some energy but this year we will feast on fresh crab ( thanks Uncle John :) sandwiches, salmon and dill ciabattas and egg salad sandwiches. :))) much better
I say...and the kids...they don't really care what they eat as long as they are together.
The sun is shining! Let the road trip begin!

good habits

I had an awesome spin class yesterday and was feeling so pumped after it was over I continued on to the gym for a short weight workout concentrating on arms and core. That jazzed up feeling continued to the car and when I pushed play on the cd it lingered loud. :).
I am hearing impaired and I always love a beat before I hear the lyric which is ironic given my admiration of the written word in whatever format.
When I hear a song I like I am not adverse to replaying that same song numerous times in order to figure out what they are saying. So it wasn't until the second play through of Jeremy Fisher's "cigarette" that i had the chorus down. Driving home from spinclass, hand strumming air guitar out the window, I sung along with gusto. I walked into the house singing the song and sure enough Grace and Rachel came
downstairs singing it too. So funny. I should have known their big sister would have already introduced them to it. If you haven't heard it check it out. And after listening to it celebrate all your good habits!http://www.onlylyrics.com/hits.php?grid=11&id=1006407

Sunday, July 24, 2011

sunny Sunday

Pileated woodpecker

This morning's run was an enjoyable 1 hour and 15 minutes :))...felt like a walk in the park after last weeks adventure. This week I begin the section of the training called the aerobic capacity phase...designed to increase the speed at which you can run with a focus on increased duration (better fat burning coming into play here...this is where we lean up a bit) and increasing speed at the high end of the aerobic zone.
I have used this training plan before with success and I am enjoying following it again this time around.

I am glad to be blogging again. I didn't tell u about the woodpecker on my long run a few weeks ago. I started off from home and ran down to Canada games pool. I spotted the woodpecker before he spotted me. He was only midway on the telephone pole for some odd reason but he saw me and flew away. I took a swing by the cemetery and you guessed it there he was again. I ran down to Burnaby Lake that day via North Road and came upon him again at the entrance to the trail. Once more as I climbed that brutal hill on Cariboo Road he pileated away on another telephone pole.
I was thrilled with the company and the flash of red throughout my journey. Since his second showing occured by the cemetery I of course will believe that Dad was missing me the way I miss him everyday and decided to say hello.
I sat down to write as soon as I got back from my run this morning so I have to get moving now and get breakfast ready. My sister and her husband are coming for breakfast. They recently uprooted from Winnipeg and are living just down the street from us now.
I will try to write a bit later. Ciao for now!

Saturday, July 23, 2011

tales from the trails

just FYI....I plan to blog and travel utilizing wifi where possible. I am going in search of a camera today and plan to take lots of pictures of the ladies discovering America...:).

true meaning of back

The nice thing about not having any followers on my blog page means I can get away with a statement like,"I'm back baby" then fade into oblivion for a month with no one the wiser. But of course that is the reason for the minimum fellowship.

dare I say it again....

I am definitely back when it comes to my training schedule. Had a glorious long run last week that took me all over town. No aches. No pains.

I have been busily preparing for our upcoming vacation and I am not looking forward to long runs in higher altitudes and hotter weather but I will have to suck it up. With careful planning at least all long runs will be followed by a swim in the lake or the pool depending on the location at the time.

Good news for me today. Over at Canadian Running magazine they had a ryders sunglasses slogan contest and I won a pair of shades! Hopefully I will get them before we take off.Canadian running

my slogan was ....my ryders have taken me from fit to fabulous ...from low mileage to high
fives...from the back of the pack to the finish line....from cloudy
mornings to sunny afternoons!

enjoy the sun....

Sunday, June 5, 2011

I'm Back Baby

No excuses forthcoming.....Just back.

Today I had an awesome run....1 hour and 45 and it felt good and I felt strong and I feel like I have turned the corner.  Let the Marathon training begin.....Lots more tomorrow!

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Metamorphosis

All I really wanted to do after Sunday's half marathon was cocoon. Although mother nature was on board serving up a perfect weather day, the run did not go my way. I am well aware of the importance of eating right the day before, and the even more important mental preparation needed for such an event. This time I beat myself before I started. After months of prep work I did everything wrong the week of. Strike number one - I tapered way too early and then enjoyed a prerace week of luxury which included night time snacking. Strike number two - I had a very busy Saturday with not much water intake. Strike number three - A horrible sleep the night before. Then after I had already struck out - Up early with a breakfast that didn't sit well. Packing my running belt with different fuel then I had used all through training. All the "what not to dos" that a veteran runner should know not to do.

I was excited to be doing the run with three of my sisters and was stoked for a fun event. I started out at a good pace and managed to keep it up for most of the race. I was on track for a 1:55 time, just before mile 11, I checked my time and it was 1:38....of course things don't always go as planned and just after the marker I felt a twinge in my ankle. It felt like I rolled my ankle even though I hadn't. I couldn't run on it as it was too painful. I walked for a bit but it just hurt more. I walked to a bench and tried to stretch it out. It just ached. I stretched it for a few minutes more, watching as runners past me, avoiding the eyes of the small groups of spectators gathered along the seawall. Volunteers asked if I was okay and I nodded and kept walking, hobbling really. As I shuffled up the hill widely discouraged as my under 2 hour goal slipped through my fingers, I felt a soft rub on my shoulder as my sister ran up behind me and said in my ear come on Kath, run with me....I told her I couldn't and to keep going. I watched her run strong up the hill and turn down heading to the finish line. I knew I couldn't walk the rest of the way. It would take forever. So I just started running. I ran hard till the end. I had never before felt the feeling of "bonking" during a long run. But here it was. Finishing well over my two hour goal. But finishing.

I told you a few weeks ago that I was becoming different..I was referring to my dedication to my training and to myself. It had been awhile since I had committed to a goal and I was proud that I was finally getting back in a goal oriented frame of mind. So I hope that explains my disappointment in Sundays run.
But sometimes in order to become diffferent we have to cocoon for a bit. Regroup. Rebuild. Retreat.

So I have taken my days of rest. Taken care of my injury by icing and elevating. I will slowly emerge and restart my training. I will learn from my mistakes and make my prerace diet and mental preparation a priority for my next run.

You can see from the above picture that the best part of the day was enjoying some sibling time over good coffee and delicious crepes. So definitely not all bad. :)

[Posted with iBlogger from my iPhone]

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Becoming Different

The name for this blog came to me on one of those "moments of clarity" I  get when I run.  Often I will have ideas that run through my mind as my feet run their paces.  During my first  Marathon I planned an entire coffee shop/running business with my running partner that had us serving up lattes at the Runners Lounge.....:)....ah yes...moments of clarity, brilliant ideas but not often the gumption or dollars to bring the ideas to fruition.
When I came up with the name of the blog I was thinking about how much I enjoy running from home.  Often as runners we drive to our take off point and for the longest time now I have done almost all of my training at Burnaby Lake.  It is by far my favourite place to run.  The routes are straight forward, you can go short or long, and the scenery is spectacular no matter what the weather.
Since moving to the Moody Park area of New Westminster though, I find myself just wanting to run from home.  I love running through Queens Park and around the neighbourhoods.  There are some terrific hills for hill repeats and lots of scenic views of the Fraser River and the mountains. 

I enjoyed an awesome run with my sisters the other day.  We ran from the top of McBride Boulevard in New Westminster to Bonsor Recreation Complex in Burnaby and back. Covering just over 10.75 miles of terrain we were all feeling pretty good about our upcoming Half Marathon on February 13th.  Running from home has some added perks when you are a New Westminsterite....if you run down one of the royal streets of New West...you will happen upon a "thought of the day". Lovingly written in chalk on a blackboard hung for the perusal of passersby, a daily motivator for those of us who are enamoured of the written word.  The quote written couldn't have come at a better time for those of us becoming different.

Not sure if you can make it out but it says...

 “If you want things to be different, perhaps the answer is to become different yourself..” - Norman Vincent Peale
Tomorrow a little bit more about how I am becoming different myself...

Blaze a Trail...

Monday, January 17, 2011

stronger...harder...faster...

Now don't get your runner laces in a knot....the title is not an attempt to lure new readers with a soft porn teaser.....
I'm talking mantras people!..I had a really nice fast paced run at Burnaby Lake on Saturday.....doing the loop in a respectable 49 minutes and finishing very strong and with the title words above ringing in my head.  I had found a new mantra;..stronger,harder,faster.
This months issue of Runner's World has a story on the magic of mantras and their importance to the runner....Finish Strong...Blaze a Trail....I am power....Things we tell ourselves to keep our bodies in gear and on track.  The brain is a powerful thing and words are a powerful tool to anyone, but especially to the athlete. 
I have been trying to focus on core strength and hoping to pick up my speed.  I was previously content to just finish, and I think this new mantra will help me embrace the change.  Stronger. Harder.Faster.

When I ran the Royal Victoria Marathon in 2008, I trained alone, I ran alone.  But I had a mantra.  Big League Jam.  It meant a lot to me.  On one of my long training runs I had a spectacular rolling wipe out down Cariboo Hill (if you don't know the hill it is fairly steep) that saw me sprawled on the cement looking up at the sky.  I got up and shook it off, rubbed some grass on the blood, and ran for another hour and a half.  Big league jam.

At the marathon in Victoria, New Balance was the title sponsor and they had their awesome love/hate campaign underway and a huge board in the street outside the store for marathoners to write their own love/hate.  I wrote mine ...hate injuries....love big league jam..

When I was running the marathon itself and approaching mile 19 and desperately trying to find that Big League Jam...there it was on the sign....19 mile marker.....hate injuries...love big league jam....I could have cried.  But I laughed and found some jam and carried on.

They sent me a shirt a few weeks after the race was done.  I guess it was a contest and I won.  But the real victory was the medal hanging in my car.  The real victory was reaching my goal, through hard work and training and perseverance   The real victory was the Personal Best time achieved.  That weekend in Victoria was very special to me.  I achieved all these things as a runner sure, but I also got to know me a little better along the way.  Can't wait to do it again this year!

Blaze a Trail.

Monday, January 10, 2011

To the Core

There were no Monday blues today.  The week started off with a bang and I am looking forward to the rest of the training as the half marathon gets closer.  I am enjoying running in this nice crisp cold weather.  Speaking of nice, crisp and cold, the ladies and I had a long discussion about apples when picking our lunch selection at the local produce store today.  So many varieties, colours and shapes.  Our in house favorite right now based on store availability is the Royal Gala.  I seriously love this apple.  You have to make sure you pick one with a nice shiny skin to ensure maximum crunchiness.  It is my favourite after workout snack.
I was thinking about another part of the apple tonight when I hit the gym.  The core.  Just like apples we all come in various shapes and sizes, and those of us blest with children have had our bellies stretched to the limit at one point or another, and a select few of us who were blest with twins.... well if I showed you a picture you would be mesmerized....but don't hold your breath.
A strong core is even more important to those of us over 40.   Core strengthening develops the muscles of the stomach, back and hips.  Bonus of course is a toned tummy but the benefits to the rest of our body are huge. On top of all the health benefits comes the added benefit of paving the way to our inner "stronger and faster" runner.  So spending time to strengthen your core is a "no brainer".
Tonight I tried a completely new core workout courtesy of Women's Health Magazine.  I managed to go through all the exercises and it was a really great workout.  I definitely felt the burn and I am going to continue doing these sets for awhile and see how I progress.  I did my regular routine on top of these exercises and started the whole session off with a 30 minute run on the treadmill
I know that the core exercises I have done to date have improved my running performances as well as my form.  I also know there is room for improvement.  If I keep it up, I might just transform this "mother of four tummy" to a washboard stomach by summertime.
Enjoy your apples.....and don't forget the core.

Sunday, January 9, 2011

Blue Sky and Sugar Blue

Gorgeous day out there!  I decided to come out of hiding finally.  My  sister posted a link to my blog on her very popular blog and I have to admit I cocooned.  It is funny because obviously when you blog, the whole point is for people to read your blog, but the thought of people other than family reading your blog can make you freak out a little bit.

Anyway....I'm back.

I have had a really good week of fitness in spite of the rainy weather.   I took my workouts indoors for the most part and I have been diligent about sticking to my schedule and gym routines.  Luckily the work gym allows me to take more than the normal allotted 30 minutes on the treadmill due to lack of users which is a big plus for me.

Yesterday my son Gavin had a game out at UBC.  He has to be at the game an hour before so I "geared up" and brought warm woollies to change into after the run.  I had a really nice run all around the UBC campus.  It was cold and crisp and beautiful.  I just followed my legs and ran 25 minutes away from the arena and then 25 minutes back.  I didn't hit the trails although I was sorely tempted, but instead just stuck to the roads.  I finished in time to change and take in his game.  Perfect way to multi-task.

This morning the girls had a game at Britannia Arena on Commercial Drive.  If it was not so early I would have enjoyed walking "The Drive" before the game and doing a little window shopping.  I settled for coffee instead and hunkered down in the bleachers with my warm fleece blanket.  Britannia wins the award for the coldest arena in town.

When we arrived home the older siblings were just rolling out of bed.  After everyone was settled in I headed out for my run around Burnaby Lake.  Absolutely spectacular there this morning.  Perfect running weather for a long run.  Crisp and cold and clear.

After ensuring that I as well as the family had enjoyed at least some of the winter sunshine I firmed up plans with my sister for an indoor outing that was all about ambiance.

I have often talked to my siblings about the music acts at The Yale and an opportunity arose to take in a show with my sisters today.   The Yale is known as the home of Vancouver's Rhythm and Blues and is renowned for playing host to some amazing talent.  Tonight's 5o'clock show featured Sugar Blue, who Rolling Stone magazine referred to as "one of the most foremost harmonica blowers in all of blues".  I was able to talk my sisters into taking in the show with me tonight and only wish we had rounded up more of our siblings as I know my brother Joel would have enjoyed the unbelievable sounds that came from that harmonica.  The only negative was the smoke smell in that old building.  Hard to shake.  We were able to enjoy the first set, as well as the eclectic crowd, before heading home.  Good fun for this "baby" sis to be able to introduce new experiences to the older sister. ;)

As it was I was home in time to enjoy a great movie with the girls.  We had watched it the night before but I had been only half watching as I folded laundry etc.  Grace sat me down when I got home tonight and said you have to watch this movie.  I am so glad she did.  Flipped is a Rob Reiner film with a great ensemble cast which includes Aidan Quinn (I have loved him since Reckless) and other familiar faces.  It is a coming of age story told from both sides of the coin.  Beautifully directed it is a wonderful tale of young love.

Only 35 more days until my half marathon.  I feel like I am doing everything right and so far no injuries. 

Blaze a trail!

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Weighty Subjects

Going back to work is always tough after a long stretch that includes lots of family and downtime.  It is also welcomed by those who like to adhere to a schedule and enjoy the routine events that make up the work/school week.
I have had a lot of flexibility with my running schedule over the holidays and my weight training has not been consistent either.  So today I renewed my membership at my work gym for the full year.
It is such a great perk when companies or office buildings offer an on site gym.  Mine is so affordable.  For less than a Starbucks coffee a week I have full use of a facility complete with free weights, nautilus, bench press, treadmills, elliptical and bikes.  It also has a really nice shower and changing room as well as lockers.  The hours are great too as it is even open on the weekend.
Tonight I opted to come home first, get dinner on the table (homemade chicken soup - yum), and get the down low on the day. 
I headed to the gym after promising the twins I would be home in time to tuck them in and read them a story before lights out.  Their bedtime on school nights was a discussion at the dinner table tonight.  Grace broached the subject by saying, " I would like to propose an 8:30 bedtime".  I asked Rachel if they had discussed their approach prior to dinner and Rachel said, "I am completely in the dark here".  So funny.  And in actuality I just hadn't  really reevaluated.  It is not like they actually ever go to sleep at 8:00pm.  As twins who share a room they often chitchat back and forth and more than 4 nights out of 7 they end up falling asleep in the others bed, flashlights under the covers, writing notes back and forth.
After a debate that was mostly for show, the bedtime was extended to 8:30 and 9:00 on Glee nights

But back to the gym.  I had the entire gym to myself which was a bonus tonight.  My scheduled run for tonight was 6km at 6min km pace.  I did that on the treadmill at no incline.  Then using my ipod application for Women's Health, I did two new weight training workouts that I really enjoyed.  If you have an itouch or iphone I highly recommend downloading the Women's or Men's Health workouts.  The descriptions of the exercises are clear and the pictorials are helpful.  It also allows you to log your sets and look back at your history.  There is a stop watch in the app so you can do timed sets as well.

All in all a successful day back to the routine.  Home in time to read two chapters of Silverwing and tuck the little ladies in.  I even managed a little accidental siesta right after reading.

Hope you carved out your me time too.

Monday, January 3, 2011

I was going to post yesterday ..."Until this sun goes away...Blogging cancelled due to weather" but then Results for the Resolution Run were posted today and I am happy to say I shaved almost 2minutes and 30 seconds off my time.   Last years run was very wet, but it was freezing this year (-2) so let's just say I am very happy with my time of 41.25.  I was the 15th woman finished overall.  My sister was the 7th woman finished overall in an awesome time of 38.34.  Pretty good start to the year for the two of us.  The race report on the Peninsula Runners website makes a neat observation, "A couple of performances of note were the fine run by Lenore Montgomery at age 80 in 52:38 and Abbotsford's Callum Pilgrim running 38:28 at age 13. " A good start to the year for a lot of runners.

I did manage to get in two runs yesterday.  The first in the morning was a recovery run around Burnaby Lake.  Burnaby Lake is probably my favourite place to run.  It is relatively flat and excellent terrain making for a scenic recovery run. It was an absolutely gorgeous morning for a run. Perfectly chilled.  Beautiful scenery. 
When I arrived at the lake an elderly gentleman in a track suit came bounding down the road headed for the trail.  He slowed down as he saw me unravelling from the car, just setting up my ipod, putting my water belt on ; gearing up I like to call it.  I said , "Good morning" and smiled and he surprised me by not just saying good morning. ( I have to tell you that I often find when I am out for a long run I have moments of clarity. Ideas come to me (like the name of this blog) or I solve problems (like scheduling issues). ) The gentleman must have met with the same moments of clarity as he looked like he had been waiting for just the right runner to share with...He said with a strong accent , "It is a beautiful morning.  And we are out here enjoying it.  Just think of those poor people at home on the couch drinking more than 3 glasses of wine, eating too much food, watching  tv, everything to excess.  Instead you and I we choose to get out and exercise.  I am 74 years old..I run 14km three times a week, I go to the gym twice a week. I eat healthy.  Then I can drink the wine." I am sure I will see him again, and I am surprised I haven't seen him before. 
So keeping the track suit mans thoughts in my head when I returned home...I was happy to oblige the girls when they wanted to take their play date out on rollerblades.   After a respectable amount of time we headed out for another roller blade with the added company of their friend Delaney.  We went all the way to Queens Park and they played a bit there before roller blading back home to watch the gorgeous sunset.

While I agree with the track suit man's statement about excess, I also see the benefits in indulging, whether it be with what I call a "fluff" novel (my son recently treated me to the latest Maeve Binchy - definitely fun fluff) or "fluff"television (any reality tv show - leaning towards Housewives of New Jersey here).

I indulged big time last night in a splurge with all four kids to La Casa Gelato ( the last few times I have been disappointed with the actual product, probably because we recently tried Bella Gellateria and were won over by the freshness of the gelato there - but I love the picking, and the sampling, and watching as the kids decide what flavour they want, and the resigned looks on their faces when they see me always ordering the same "death by Mango on the bottom, licorice on the top" ).   Ice cream on a cold day.  Perfect way to end this Christmas vacation.

Today was all about packing up Christmas for another year.  Tree stripped.  Mantles dismantled.  Stockings stored.  Boxes packed.
As we begin the long haul from January to Easter and all of our schedules begin with earnest make sure you schedule your "me" time and don't forget to add some all important "fluff" - you choose the flavour.
Blaze a trail

Saturday, January 1, 2011

Resolution ......Run!

Rachel Before the Race

I am happy to say that I started 2011 off exactly the way I had hoped.  Although it was hard to get up this morning ( getting up later than originally planned) I still managed to get out the door, warm up my car (soooo cold), pick up my sister and get us to the Resolution Run on time this morning!  I know it didn't start until 10 so I shouldn't complain (but I did have a houseful last night - and Rock Band rocked the house until the wee hours - good thing I am deaf because I was able to tuck in before 2) but getting there felt like a huge part of the accomplishment today.

I have done this race a few times and always enjoy it.  It was nice to have my sister join me today as I am usually on my own.  Race times have not been posted and my gps was acting up in the cold so I will hold off on saying my time until it is posted.  I felt a lot slower than last year but have to wait and see.  Rachel and I both felt good about our runs on the slippery course (there was even a bit of snow).  My calves are sore, which is normal considering it was my first cross country run in awhile.  My calves aren't used to so much side to side, log jumping, rock avoiding.  But it is definitely a fun way to start the year.

I planned to come home and veg out and then prepare a lovely roast and yorkshire pudding dinner, but when I got home I realised I had forgotten to take the roast out. Settling on the idea of leftovers tonight, roast tomorrow I  had a nice soak in epsom salts, while the rest of the household was just waking up.  The ladies were up for an outing so I decided that the couch could wait and set out with the twins .

Our original destination was Deep Cove for Honeys doughnuts with a stop at Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge...but Lynn Canyon was a zoo...everyone was there.  So instead we headed to Ambleside Park for a nice beach walk.  We enjoyed a nice play on the beach, and the three of us watched the first sunset of 2011 together. 

Perfect way to start the New Year.  Hope your introduction to the New Year was just as perfect.

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