Tuesday Tidbits

Where is the time going?  It had been a crazy spring for cold and rain, and now we are into summer, it feels as though time is just flying by.  It seemed like it took forever to get some nice weather while training for the Rideau Lakes Cycle Tour and now that is over and we are well ensconced in a heat wave.  The past few days have been hot and very humid, but I have to admit this is my kind of weather, you can keep winter.  My house inside has been over 88(F), I refuse to get air conditioning for just a week or so of hot temperatures in the summer, I can live with the heat.  I LOVE IT!

Don't you just hate when someone abuses?  Whether it is drugs, their partner or just good old alcohol?  I don't know about you but that sort of behaviour really makes me sick.  Believe me, I've had my fair share of over the edge behaviour in the past, but you grow up and really who has time for that when you run, cycle and attempt to keep yourself in some semblance of good shape while sliding gracefully into old age.   Don't you just hate drunk dialer's?  Just because they've conjured up some alcohol fueled fantasy and are wallowing in a pity party, why do people assume you want to be a part of that?  My life is busy and I've surrounded myself with active,  positive minded friends who embrace their life just as it is, yes, we've all had "life" thrown at us, it is how you deal with it that makes you who you are.  No one gets out of this life alive, so it is up to you to make the very most of what we are fortunate enough to have.  Good friends who are positive people, a healthy lifestyle, keeping active and doing the very best you can do.  That's what I'm happy with.............

And speaking of positive friends, the Wooo Hooo's  had an absolute RIOT at the Perth Kilt Run.  It was a hot, muggy evening, but way too much fun none the less.  I have to say that this was one of the BEST races I've ever attended.  Kudos to everyone involved and I'm certain that they will have broken the previous record of the most number of people running a race while wearing kilts.  There were 1,210 of us running the 8K race ~ I'll keep you posted when we make it into the Guinness World Book of Records.

Next up, I'm back in the saddle training for the 175K MS Bike Tour which is being held the beginning of August.   You can find my shameless solicitation for sponsoring me here.  Thanks in advance, it is a cause very close to my heart and truly every little bit helps.

Life's fun if you don't weaken,

Lily

Three Things Thursday

• Rideau Lakes Cycle Tour has been and gone.  What a fantastic time!!!  Hilly, hilly, HILLY!  If someone tells you that there are just some rolling hills, don't believe them, because a roller coaster has rolling hills too!!!  One hill I went down doing 52K per hour and on the up side I was down to 9K, there may have even been some swearing!  Fantastic weather on the Saturday ~ Sunday not so good what with monsoon rains, gale force winds and a temperature of 9C.   (a full report on that to follow).

Good friends, of course we never have any fun.  

Because there were so many of us riding, I didn't get the chance to see some of the Wooo Hooo's until we got to Kingston, but they had a great time and stories of their own to tell!!!

• Tuesday night was the second in the Beaver Chase Trail Run Series, I shaved almost a full minute off of last months race time.  Whoot!!!  Tonight is the second trail run with a group I joined.  Holy schnitzzzz they are fast and over rough terrain.  I hope I can keep up!!!

• Hopefully they will come to dig my well next week, I'm still hooked up to my neighbour's house via garden hose.   I'm on vacay this week and boy you just don't realise how much you depend upon clean, fresh, running water.   I had prepared  everything to make a nice vegetable soup and  realised I didn't have enough bottled water to put in the pot!!!!   So, I'm off to buy more water...

Life's fun if you don't weaken,

Lily

Blizzard has become a touring bike...

story to follow

Richmond Road Race Report

As mentioned, we were experiencing extremely cold temperatures last week and it didn't look as though it was going to give us a reprieve anytime soon. It is a well know fact that the Richmond Road Race is usually held on the coldest and windiest weekend in January.

Hardy are we Canuks, we just add another layer of neoprene and go. The only skin you'll see is when we are back in the school gymnasium and people are shedding their layers. It is not uncommon to see runner's with duct tape over their shoes to prevent the cold, snow and slush from getting into their kicks and thus the risk of frostbite. Also unusual and yet a very Canadian plight, only in Canada, would the policemen move out of their way to make way for people dressed like terrorists running within 10 feet of the seat of power of the nation, while running downtown...glad to be in a free country.

But, back to Richmond.

Sunday dawned to snow, snow and more snow, my drive to Richmond was slow and treacherous, with nary a snowplow to be seen, HELLO City of Ottawa, it is winter here! Get the damn plow's out!!

The drive is usually at least 40 minutes, so I left extra early and I slip, slided my way to the school and headed for the gym, most of the 10K runner's were making their way to the start line and I knew I had 15 minutes before I had to line up for the 5k. This is a very fast race, held by the National Capital Runners Association. They are hard core speed runner's, unlike me who goes out and lopes along.

The gun went off and we were on our way. The footing was very snowy, which was turning to slush with all of the runners ahead, we headed down one of the main streets past the school and we were channeled into one lane of the road, the footing was very slippery and some runners were really starting to slip and then walk. I kept my even pace, although slower than I would normally start off, this actually paid off because the road we turned up hadn't been plowed at all. By the time we got to that road some of the 5k and 10K runners were headed back to the school, (told you they were fast!!).

I ended up running this part with a great lady, she had me laughing the whole time we were together up the snow laden road, we hit the turn around and made our way back to the main road and straight into the wind. The 10K runners were really flying at this point, so I picked up my pace, said so long and headed towards the finish area. You wouldn't believe the support we had for this race, there were so many volunteers out on the course it is amazing. Spectators lined both sides of the roadway as we neared the school. It is truly unbelievable to have so many people cheering you on in subzero temperatures.

This is always a fun run for me, I was slower this year due to the footing and I really haven't been training all that much (even though I have a Half Marathon on Sunday), I was happy with my time 32:41, not too bad.

I headed back to the gym to warm up and changed out of my running gear while I waited for the 10K Wooo Hooo's to come back. The scene in the gym was incredible, there were runner's and running gear everywhere, there was hot soup, plates with muffins, cheese, banana's along with drinking boxes and hot coffee, all handed out by the never tiring group of volunteers. Hats off to all volunteers, for without them, we wouldn't have races!! While the girls were changing, the race director was handing out door prizes, race prizes and recognition to those who had made this race possible. This is a such a great race to kick off the new year!

But we had to get going, as with any race the Wooo Hooo's attend, we had a party to go to! Yes, you should know by now, there is always a party, food and usually the odd adult BEvERage after our races!!!

Life's fun if you don't weaken,

Lily