Inspiration

Thanks for all the well wishes about my dad.  He is still in hospital waiting to get a surgery date.  Even though the heart surgery is pretty complex, the specialist is saying the overall risks are relatively low.  Coupled with the fact that my dad DOES want to have the surgery, this is a positive thing and we are just keeping hope on our side.

With all that has been going on, I have been running my little heart out of late.  As I said before, running is my stress relief and lets me have some control when life goes a little south as it tends to do.  I have been thinking a lot about how I got to this place of being in the best shape and healthy I have ever been in and I find for me it boils down into two basic areas:

1.  “Success isn’t the result of spontaneous combustion.  You must first set yourself on fire.”

Yes, you have to start with YOU.  I used to be the Queen of the do-overs – the diet starts Monday, no big deal if I don’t get off the couch today, I’ll workout tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow.  I have had the ‘ah-ha’ moments a few times but never made the commitment to me.  It takes a bit of selfishness to get there so grab it.

2. Get people in your life that inspire you and are positive.

Sound contrite?  Sure it does.  Does it work?  Sure it does. 

So who do I have in my life?  A lot of people actually and I am truly grateful to have all these freaks in my life.  I owe them big time.

The hubs – he supports me, I support him so it is a win win.  I don’t always listen to him bitch about how sore he is after a race but at least I can fake that.  :)

An official photos from the hubs race on Sunday – qualified again for the National DU team. 

My friends/family:

My friend complete yet ANOTHER IronMan at Lake Placid this weekend.  Want to see what loving life/friends/racing is about?  

THIS:

Another friend who did her first half IronMan in seriously stormy conditions: 

And another who did his first sprint triathlon and who makes me laugh. (and is my golf buddy)

My trainer who kicks my ass and is truly excited to see his clients/friends succeed.

My 90+yr old Grandpa-in-law on his daily bike ride:

And all of the others such as those participating in the World Triathlon Championships in New Zealand and the ones who just show up for every long run and listen to my inane stories.

So get inspired to do SOMETHING.  It took me too long but can’t wait for the rest of the journey. 

"I hope you live a life you're proud of. If you find that you're not, I hope you have the strength to start all over again."

F.Scott Fitzgerald

Four for Friday – the sad/happy edition

1.  My dad was admitted to hospital on Saturday.  He has gone through (successfully) a bunch of tests but we now know that he is going to have to have heart surgery.  We are just waiting to get the date – most likely next week.  Sad.

2.  I have gone through the usual emotions of sadness, anger, hope, resignation etc.  My family doesn’t deal with these kinds of things well (i.e. let’s not talk about it and maybe it will go away) so I have been ensuring that I at least try to talk about what is doing on – good or bad- and deal with the stress in my own way.  Call me selfish I don’t care but getting out for a run is the best thing I can do right now.  I’d explode otherwise. I’m also pretty proud that running is my go to stress reliever – not food, not tv, not wallowing etc.   Sad/Happy

Post run Sunday – 17km of heat, humidity and solitude.  There were tears, yelling and singing on that run…good thing I was alone.

3.  My pops was doing well in the hospital and chatting up all the nurses so I went ahead with my plans to race last night.  I needed to do it for me and ran with him in my thoughts…and busted out an almost 4 min PB.   Though it is still 3 min away, I have the hour mark in my sights for a 10km race.   Happy.

The hubs was nice enough to come along and take some photos of my sweaty self.  I’m surprised I could even smile in the first pic, this was at the finish line and breathing was a challenge!

4.  Waiting to hear when the operation will be scheduled is brutal. The operation itself is going to be stressful.  Knowing that this is the best thing for my dad and the only way he can have some quality of life for his remaining years is my hope.  I am making this my Happy.

 

Hit me up…what’s your Sad/Happy right now?

A bunch for Friday – June Recap

(I just realized I didn’t do a May recap which is probably a good thing as there were some dark times in May.  Glad that the skies have cleared….)

KM ran:  167

Cross training/spinning sessions:  8.  I have been a bit of a slackarella this month in this area.  I need to get back on track…

Favourite June workout:  I went did 3 hill training sessions in June with some friends that were brutal but a lot of fun.  I still suck on the uphills but am rocking the downhill.  Guess a need for speed is growing.

Current reads:  Juliet by Anne Fortier.  I just started this and while this isn’t something I would usually read …so far so good.

Current Shame-Inducing Guilty Pleasure:  While for the most part I still eat vegan, there were a few forays into ice cream land.  And not low fat ice milk/yogurt stuff.  THIS was worth it:

Current Song:  Sabotage by the Beastie  Boys.  I love me some Beasties (RIP MCA)

Current Wish List:  Keep my current love of running up.  It isn’t always easy and I still struggle but when I lace up my runners right now I have a spring in my step and grin on my face.

Current Bane of my Existence:  crazy times at work won’t slow down..

Fav Recipe: nothing stands out but I am eating watermelon by the pound of late.  Can you OD on watermelon?

Current Blessings:  that this old body is still hanging in.

Current Excitement:  I am still on a total high from last week’s skydiving adventure.  I would so do it again….

Watermelon - yeah or nay?  That’s the deep question for this Friday…

A flight of fancy on a windswept field

What a spectacular long weekend!  I took Friday off to make it a 4 day weekend and also because I finally ‘cashed in’ on my bday present. 

Yes…I got into a perfectly good plane and jumped out of it.  And it was awesome.  Since the jump I have probably said the word “awesome” at least 1000 times but that is the best way to describe it. 
I was supposed to jump at 2pm.  The day was gorgeous – sun was shining, barely any clouds in the sky, very hot…but very windy.  I ended up having to wait until almost 6:30 for it to be safe enough to jump.  The hubs and I just hung around and chilled.   I kept waiting to be nervous and it just never happened.  Not waiting around, not getting suited up, not in the plane…nothing.  The only part that freaked me a bit was in the  initial free fall.  It was really hard to breathe and I just wasn’t expecting that so it scared me a bit.  Once the chute is deployed, it is completely peaceful and just amazing.    I paid the extra to get both pictures and video and I am glad I did - the quality of both the pics and video is amazing.  The pics I posted here don't do them justice as all.   The guys @ Skydive Swoop in Dundas did an amazing job and overall gave you a fantastic experience.    They also encouraged my potty mouth so there are a few “F” bombs on the video which is just so me. 

Getting ready to go up in the plane the size of my car:

Just about ready to jump:

See ya later bitches!

Ass over tea kettle @ 11,000 ft:

Free Fallin’:

Coming in for a landing:

My awesome tandem master Chris..thanks for not letting me die.  I found out after that "I" was his 1500th jump.  Again..awesome-ness.


I am so happy that the hubs gave me the nudge to do something way out of my comfort zone and for me doing something I truly wanted to do. 
It.was.awesome. 
Have you done something that scares you?