Monday, November 16, 2015

I can't wait for Christmas music!

Big snow flakes, Frank Sinatra playing at breakfast, and shooting guns.... No better way to bring on the winter than breaking in the race skis with World Cup Trials and dumps of snow! I had the pleasure of racing both Tuesday and Friday this past week at Biathlon Canada WC Trials against Canada's best. Polar conditions were an added challenge to Friday's competition as Tuesday offered bluebird skies and crisp corduroy contrast to Friday's offering of a blanket of wet snow. Naturally, the weather resulted in anything but a firm track (winning time was 6:40 slower over equal distance).
 I had a reasonable race on Tuesday, but spent significant time between Tuesday and Friday looking for spots to reduce the gap on course as I felt I had more to give! In the range I was looking to make up 2 targets and calculated a few seconds here and there on various segments that I could realistically move through quicker...


The preparation I put into Fridays race paid off in the form of confidence as I arrived on race site thinking, "What a beautiful day to race!" The sloggy track was no doubt a challenge but nothing I wasn't ready to embrace. At the end of two days, I ranked a spot out side the 5 man World Cup team. Not to be disappointed, I will use the result to motivate improvement and will have my first chances early December competing on the IBU Cup circuit in Austria and Italy! 

Happy skiing...Now... where did I put my passport?


Thursday, November 5, 2015

My Fall Addiction

The abrupt passing of a childhood friend 2 months ago triggered a need for change in my life. Nothing was seriously wrong, in fact everything was great...and that was presenting the precise "issue". I needed a kick in the ass. I had a complaisant attitude setting over each day as I passively slept in, I trained, I ate...but I needed a reminder, a passionate wake up for the value of life and the most important people in it. I celebrated his life on Sept 9 with an event I will never forget...a 332km bike ride which gave me exactly 11:12:53 in my saddle to contemplate whatever subjects, questions, or issues I chose.

I made a commitment during my ride to make monthly lifestyle goals in his memory. His life planted a seed in me and I wanted to find a way to use this opportunity after grieving such a crisis. I have incredibly addictive tendencies that have been present for most of my life, but that has also tested my determination and focus, and ultimately strengthened my character. In the last few months I have stepped away from some increasingly addictive dependencies...but picked up a few more.

One of Merriam-Webster's definitions of addiction is "an unusual great interest in something." So, yes, I am a guilty culprit. My newest addiction?? Take a look...



Truly no better high than taking a day in the most beautiful place on earth: the Canadian Rockies. 


Embrace the weather...



Embrace a friend...



...or two...




...or three...


Keep it simple, just your runners...


 Probably a rain jacket....


Definitely a snack (Egg Mc Muff at the top of Mt Bourgeau 2931m)....


....and never forget to look up...


...to show gratitude...




...and take a break if you need it...



Skip some rocks on an icy lake....



 ...but rule number one in baggin peaks...




Get froggy...


Love what your doing... 


And have fun!