For Better, For Worse...

Lennie,

Today is our 20th wedding anniversary.  How the hell did that happen?  No, really, how the hell did 2 crazy, intense, competitive, spazy people make to the 20 year mark?

I remember our wedding day perfectly.  The weather was gorgeous, so many friends and family and I remember freaking out.  Not because I didn't want to marry you, but because I felt weird that I was going to be some ones wife. I had already screwed up things in my life and didn't want to screw this up too.

You have stood by and honoured our wedding vows and, well, I have worked hard too but realize today that I have often contributed to the "worse" part of the "for better, for worse" vow.

I owe you an apology.

I am sorry for making you kill all the spiders.
I am sorry for being a bitch most of the time.
I am sorry you only get to play hockey 3 times a week instead of 4.
I am sorry for never putting the paper in the right recycling box.
I am sorry I backed the car on to a curb ripping the bumper off.
I am sorry that I like flannelet pajamas.
Sorry for making you do all the snow removal.
Sorry I laugh at you when you try to say cinnamon, lightning, and mahogany. It really is funny.
I am sorry for moving to Toronto in 1998 leaving you alone.
I am sorry I don't laugh at your jokes.
Sorry I forget to shave my legs.
I am sorry I am not a hugger.
Sorry for the whole marathon running thing - it's almost over.
Sorry for drinking too much wine at Christmas parties.
I am sorry for doubting you about getting a king size bed, it was a good idea.
Sorry for eating all the chocolate from your Advent calendar making you think the manufacturer screwed up.
Sorry I didn't believe you sooner when you said I should meet Scotty's fiancée Meg.
I am sorry for doubting you about driving across the country in the Aztec, and making you drive all 7200km. 
I am sorry that you don't get to be a dad.
I am sorry for getting sick in 2007 and making you worry.
I am sorry for getting cancer and making you look after me.
I am sorry for not being a trophy wife (but I am sure they are bitchy too)

Although...
I am not sorry for making you eat more salad and vegetables.
I am not sorry for making you wear a hockey mask when all the other kids don't have to wear 1.
I am not sorry for encouraging you to go into education instead of firefighting.
I am not sorry for the numerous Diet Coke interventions.
I am not sorry for making you buy the house in Oakridge.
I am not sorry I quit golf.
I am not sorry we take separate vacations at March Break.
I am not sorry for turning you into a cat person.
I am not sorry for throwing out your disgusting, ugly, filthy, blue marlin while you were away in Michigan.

I am so excited to start our sabbatical together in January and see the world together, I wouldn't want to do it with anyone else.

Here's to another 20 years...for better or worse.

A New Adventure Awaits - The Hunger Dames

Being in true CZ spirit I have decided to take another risk in my life and try adventure racing. 

Long story short, I got introduced to this wonderful person on Twitter, we met after the Boston Marathon bombing to participate in a memorial run, hit it off, and then next thing you know she has me roped into an amazing sports adventure race.

Kelly Ziegner, @kellyziegner lives in London, works for the United Way and is extremely funny and reflective (see her blog here http://3zigs.wordpress.com/.

Saturday, September 14th we are attempting to conquer Storm the 'Sarpment.  This race adventure will not be easy.  www.stormthescapment.ca It promises 8 hours of fun plus I am sure pain, tears, and a few bumps and bruises.

 The format is simple; run, bike, canoe.  Wait, not so simple.  The race is made up of 10km loops of a 3km trail run of an army obstacle course, the bike is 6km of "challenging" mountain biking, and the canoe is 1 km across a quarry.  That sounds simple right?  NOT, you must do that 10km loop as many times as you can in 8 hours.

Kelly has recruited 2 others to be on the team of 4; Michelle and Carol.  We will be broken into 2 pairs of 2.  While 1 pair is on the 10km course the other pair is resting, relaxing and I am sure repairing from their loop.  I will need to pick up my running pace because you must stay in your pair or you are disqualified.  I was hoping we could of just met at the canoe portion to not hold up my partner knowing that my cycling would have been stronger but alas, I will have to move my ass up the mountain quick.

We have big goals set.  Last year there were 4 women's teams entered and we plan on being in the top 3.  The average last year was 5 loops.  I am sure we can do 6 if we are well prepared.  Knowing Kelly, me and now meeting the other 2, I think we are pretty unstoppable.

This past weekend we met up to do some chatting and trail running practice.  Here we are after 45 minutes through the woods. 

The best part of our run was that we came up with our team name (apparently you can not enter without a name).  On Twitter we were calling ourselves #teamnameTBD but while out in the woods Carol said it felt like we were competing in the Hunger Games, I said we should use that for our name, Michelle said something funny and then Kelly had it...The Hunger Dames. 

Awesome or what?!!??

Lennie is working on the logo based on this...but we will use food/wine icons instead. 

(something the team has in common is food and booze)((that's why I liked them all right away)).

The jury is still out if I will complete the Chicago Marathon this year, just not feeling it, but I think the training for this will help no matter what I decide.  Cross training is fun and now that I have others to train with it is not so boring. 

What have I gotten myself into?  Have you done any adventure racing?  How was it?  Any tips?

Failure IS an Option

Let's be honest.  I am not what you would call studious.  I have never been and probably never will be but, I have always respected smart people and admired their ability to think.

In January I did something that a lot of people will think is nuts, I did something that some will not believe...I applied to Western University to start my Doctorate of Education.  (I'm still surprised I completed a Masters of Education).

"That is not big deal", some might say.  But if you knew me, my educational background, and the fact that I am not so bright, this application will come as a shock.  Why would I apply for such a tough program when I am not so bright?  Well, because I can.

Here is a picture of my grade 7 first term report card.  If you look closely, you will see that I failed math and my work habits sucked! IMPROVEMENT NEEDED across the board.

While preparing the application for the EdD I spent a lot of time reflecting.  I realized that I have overcome more than my share of failures along the way to this new goal.




- I realized that I failed a few subjects in school and even a university course but that didn't make me dumb, just pointed out that I was lazy.
- I realized that I had a few meetings with people who I greatly respected telling me that I should never be a school administrator but that didn't make me not a leader.
- I realized that I have lost friends not living up to their expectations but that didn't take away from me being a best friend to Megan.
- I realized that I shed way too many tears over relationships that I thought were "the one" on my way to meeting Lennie the true "one" in my life.

By Merriam-Webster's http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/failure definition I am a failure;
       1 a : omission of occurrence or performance; a failing to perform a duty or expected action
          b (1) : a state of inability to perform a normal function (2) : an abrupt cessation of normal functioning
          c : a fracturing or giving way under stress
       2 a : lack of success
          b : a failing in business
       3 a : a falling short
          b : deterioration, decay
       4: one that has failed

I have failed to perform, I was not successful, I have fallen way too short of many goals (just read my blogs about trying to break 6 freak'n hours in the marathon).

My failures have been hard times, often with me figuratively falling down.  What is your natural instinct when you fall?  To get up, brush yourself off, walk straighter and faster right?  Well, I have gotten up every time.  Some times more slowly than others but I always get up - usually with the help of great people in my life.

I can hardly wait to start Western for the EdD program (yes I got in).  It doesn't mean that I am a success but it does mean that I have overcome failure.  In my world, failure IS an option in order to grow, learn, and be better than you were yesterday and that is something we all should be striving for and modelling for those around us.

When was the last time you failed and what did you do about it?

The ABCs of Running

Just my thoughts on running...this week was National Running Day and even though I don't love running, I do consider myself a runner.  Here are my ABCs of running.


A is for attitude.  Running really is all in your head.  If you believe you can do it, you can.  If you think you can't, you are right too.  Change your attitude and voila, a better runner.

B is for breathing.  Three beats in, three beats out.  Breath from your belly.  It works, trust me.

C is for chaffing. Yep, I said it. It happens in the most unlikely and likely of places. Investing in the gel, roll on, or any sort of anti chaffing stick and slather it on. Nothing like thinking you didn't chaff and getting into the shower after a run finding out you missed a spot - ouchewawa!

D is for www.dailymile.com my favourite running tracking site that allows you to post workouts, talk to other athletes, and celebrate successes.

E is for Epsom salts. Love, love, love, my Epsom salt baths after all my runs.

F is for Fuzzy Peaches. My running buds Lish and Lindsay got me on these. Instead of buying those sports chews, hit the Bulk Barn and load up on these awesome treats that are sweet but covered with salt. Delicious and something to look forward to on long runs
.
G is for Garmin. I love my Garmin watch. It tracks distance, time, pace, etc. and it only helps keep you learning and improving.

H is for hungry.  Running makes me NOT hungry right after but REALLY hungry a couple of hours later - be careful that your intake and outtake are balanced.

I is for ice.  I ice my knees and it really helps with pain, swelling and soreness.

J is for jumping.  It is vital to helping building your quads.  Here is me working the quads with some box jumps with my trainer. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHVY64dU1HU

K is for Kleenex.  Bring them everywhere because so some strange reason you nose will run and your sleeve is not a good option.

L is for long runs. They are a must when training because it shows your mind that you can go the distance.

M is for marathon. Not the traditional one that we all think of but any run that to you is a long one. Whether you want to run for 20 minutes none stop or 20 miles GO FOR IT. But, I continue to say that if I can run a marathon ANYONE can.

N is for NUUN. Nuun are tablets you put in your water, they are magical and help with hydration and loss of electrolytes.

O is for orthotics. After my first marathon I spent some time with a podiatrist to make sure my feet were healthy and not letting me down when the kilometers get high.

P is for training plans, it is imperative that you use one to plan for your next race. There are so many free ones online or through your local running store.  P is also for pace, partner, and plank.  Knowing your pace, having a running partner and doing so planks to keep your core strong will all lead to running success. 

Q is for quick step.  I learned that a quick turnover of your feet gives you a couple of seconds off each km/mile and having some great music to push you along helps too.

R is for rest. Ever since I read an article about people over 44 shouldn't run back to back days, I have had much better success, recovery and no injuries.

S is for Saucony. I only wear Saucony shoes and love their Guide series.

T is for training on hills.  You must build hill training into whatever plan you have.  They work your cardio, quads, and help with your posture. 

U is for Under Armor. Even though I am a "Clydesdale" "Athena" runner, Under Armor is one of the few clothing companies that makes a lot of 2x stuff that fits well, lasts, and looks good.

V is for vest. I love running in a vest as it helps regulate your temperature and wear less bulk.

W is for water. Really is there any other beverage pre, during and post run? Well, maybe NUUN with water but hydration is key.  Practice drinking from a cup before you enter a race as running while trying to drink from a tiny cup is near impossible - fold the cup in half to make a channel and you will not miss your mouth or choke like I have a million times.

X is for x-rays.  Make sure that if you are in pain that you ask for help from a doctor in the form of a x-ray so that you know if you have done some damage or if the pain is normal wear and tear.

Y is for YASSO. Bart Yasso is a hero to many as the originator of RUNNERS WORLD and its empire. Plus, his Yasso 800s are amazing predictors for your marathon time.

Z is for zany. When picking a race, the zanier the better. The Flying Pig marathon in Cincinnati is our favourite because of the costumes and fans. The crazier the better!!!!

Life Lessons from a 90 year old

Written by Regina Brett, 90 years old, of the Plain Dealer, Cleveland, Ohio. 

"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most requested column I've ever written.  My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the list once more:"

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short – enjoy it.
4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and family will.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Stay true to yourself.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye, but don't worry, God never blinks.
16.. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful. Clutter weighs you down in many ways.
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19.. It's never too late to be happy. But it’s all up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative of dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
41. Envy is a waste of time. Accept what you already have, not what you need
42. The best is yet to come...
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44. Yield.
45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

Boston 2013

In the fall of 2006 my best friend Megan had the hair brained idea that we needed to get out of the house and do some sort of activity through our city's Spectrum magazine.  A magazine that offered activities ranging from cooking to martial arts to language studies.  We had tried to sign up for cooking classes but they were full.  The year before we did aerobics and dance classes but we sucked at it so she suggested a "learn to run" program.  I told her, I don't run, fat chicks don't run.  But, because I knew I needed an activity and wanted to hang out a couple of times a week, I reluctantly signed up with her.

I remember the pivotal moment very clearly.

We had attended biweekly lectures on running form, socks, and nutrition.  We had been taught and mastered the run/walk method.   We had pushed ourselves to the classes when we were so tired after teaching all day and kept going even when we both learned that we were not natural born runners.

Our group had met at Springbank park for a 5km run on an October morning.  We were jogging along with the group and were pushing our way back to where we had started after finishing a loop.  Lots of runners were passing us, dogs were barking and sniffing everywhere, bikes and strollers were exploring when I clearly remember seeing it.

In front of us, like a beacon, was a tall, thin guy walking with his family.  Since our running group was all ladies, everyone was chatting and not paying attention to much of anything, but I saw it.  I can see it in my mind so vividly.  As we approached the man I knew what he was wearing.  I knew the logo, colours, and meaning underneath the blue, white, and yellow jacket.  It was a jacket that only special people earned.  Special people who were runners, but not just any kind of runner, a marathon runner.  Not just any kind of marathon runner, but a Boston Marathon runner, and not just any Boston Marathon runner, but a Boston finisher.

As we approached the man from behind I remember saying to Megan, look, look at the jacket, it is a sign for us.  It is a sign that we will run a marathon some day.  She laughed and laughed because we had just suffered through a 5km.  As we got closer to the man I remember he looked so large and proud.  I remember him talking with his family and he looked so good in his jacket.  Then in a moment of some sort of running hysteria, I remember I reached out and touched him.  I remember that as we were passing him I rubbed my hands on his back touching the logo.  He quickly turned around and wondered if he felt something but I had moved to the other side of the path to pass him and his family.  I remember I looked back 25 meters later and said to myself I will run a marathon some day.

3.5 marathons later (I call cancelled NYC my .5) I am deeply sadden by the events in Boston today. I am sadden because most of the injured are spectators.

If you have ever been married to, lived with, or loved a marathon runner you know the sacrifice YOU have to make to support your runner. You wake up at a ridiculous hour to see them off for their long runs. You buy gallons and gallons of Gatorade at Costco only to be sent back for only the purple kind. You worry when they are limping that they have injured themselves. You listen for hours about running, racing, and chaffing. You watch as they miss parties, go to bed early, and try to eat well during training. And you stand for hours as they attempt to run a 'personal best' that will or won't come, and then you endure the months of reflection on what went well and what they could of done better to gain 1 minute.

I have watched in awe for years the Boston Marathon and yesterday was no different.  I set up my computer at work to have the broadcast live, sent messages and tweets to my favourite runners and running buds, and announced to my department as the race was progressing.  I cried as the finishers crossed the line in amazing feats of athletic prowess. 

The Boston Marathon is special, it saved me from deep depression when I got cancer. I watched the race live from home when I recovered from surgery and set goals to return to marathon running when all that crap was behind me. This marathon is magical to everyone, runner or non runner, marathon runner or non marathon runner. Even if we never have the opportunity to run it, it is annual sporting event that earned everyone's respect.

The people who died or are seriously injured in Boston are those people who have stood by their runners and supported them through the brutality of marathon training.  Up to 19 weeks of pain and suffering, and hours and hours of difficult support...and they don't earn a jacket.  Thank you supporters and spectators for your sacrifices so we can earn ours.

#prayforBoston

Amazing Race Canada

My buddy Renee from work and I applied to the Amazing Race Canada for 2013.  We had our friend Kenji tape us talking and then we took pictures of us doing fun things.  Our friend Scotty then put it all together for us with music and titles.

It was really fun to make and even though we didn't get picked we think our video is funny (watch all the way to the last second) and I think Renee and I would have been awesome on the show.

What do you think?