HIKES & HAMSTRINGS

Insight, Just ‘Cause…

It’s Saturday afternoon, and I just feel like writing a short blog post. I have a ton of things to do this weekend, but alas, I’ve decided to take a break and make myself a nice cup of pomegranate raspberry green tea. Bliss :). Here are two photos that reveal a little something about me.

1) I spent my Thursday night organizing my shoes. Yes, I keep the shoe boxes, and I’m generally concerned about the carpet getting dirty. Since I’m all about organization in my life, this actually gave me great joy. In “The Happiness Project”, doesn’t Gretchen Rubin talk about cleaning closets and organizing and stuff? I also realized that I have more shoes that I thought I did, yet wear the same shoes every day. Hmm.

2) I’m currently sporting a book on Medical Statistics on my bedside table. It’s true- I’m a nerd at heart. And it’s fun to brush up on the fundamentals of biostatistics. I’m sure everyone agrees with me. Go Normal Distribution!

The moral of the story is: I highly recommend pomegranate raspberry green tea. It’s bliss :).

Rock Climbing at Wasootch Slabs

I have always wanted to try rock climbing. I figured I would enjoy this activity after all those years of climbing trees as a kid…. because you know, trees and rocks are the same thing, right? So when I was creating my List of 30 before 30, “Try Rock Climbing” was an easy addition. At the time, I envisioned I would take a short lesson on a climbing wall at an indoor gym, which would certainly be fun. But then, lo and behold! In April, the Calgary Climbing Centre (CCC) was offering a full-day Outdoor Beginners’ Rock-Climbing Course through Groupon! After some quick research on the company and calling to inquire about safety and the experience of the instructors, I signed up and booked a spot for June 11 (yesterday). Exciting!

The course took place at the Wasootch Slabs in Kananaskis. A lot of climbing courses occur at Wasootch, and it’s a good spot for beginners. I knew I was in for an interesting rock climbing experience when nature decided to send torrential rain for the drive out to the mountains. Luckily, the CCC sent an equipment list, which included a rain jacket and a warm fleece sweater. Turns out these would definitely come in handy.

I met the group in the parking lot and signed my life away. Apparently there are dangers involved with rock climbing… you know, falling or injuries from rocks or the equipment and such. I love adventures. Safety is so important, but there are always risks. After the sky diving, bungee jumping, and canyon rappelling, I’m familiar with signing waivers and taking full responsibility for my (crazy?) actions. Following introductions, we chose helmets, climbing shoes and harnesses, and we were off to the slabs. And of course, I tried to find the nice gear, because you know, rock climbing is a fashion show like running or fashion shows. Since I signed up on my own, I was partnered with a guy name Mike, who was also on his own. It’s amazing how quickly I trusted him with my life within an hour of meeting!

Rock Climbing: It's a fashion show. — Rock Climbing: It’s a fashion show.

Me about to climb while my climbing partner, Mike, belays. — Me about to climb while my climbing
partner, Mike, belays.

I won’t get into all the details of the course, but needless to say it was super fun! The instructors, Scott and Robin, were fantastic and emphasized safety the entire time. As the climber, we learned to fix the rope to the harness using a figure of eight loop, and as the belayer, we learned to exert friction and pull in excess rope using a grigri belaying device. Apparently I can take a belay test now! Self, partner, and instructor safety checks were done before every climb, and communication was a key part of climbing safely. There were lots of “Climb On”, “Belay On”, “Take” and “Lower” being yelled throughout the day. Mother Nature decided it would be fun if we learned to climb on rocks while it rained heavily. Maybe it didn’t make for the best conditions, but it was still awesome. And as the rain let up for lunch and the rest of the afternoon, the rocks started drying and we were climbing like pros! Well, not really, but we had a good enough grasp on the basics that we could climb and belay safely.

Overall, my rock climbing experience was fantastic. I would definitely go again, or take a lead climbing course. So many options!! For now though…. Rock Climbing, you are crossed off the list, w00t!

We joked that it's like being Spiderman :) — We joked that it’s like being Spiderman 🙂

"I'm happy to be climbing!" — “I’m happy to be climbing!”

Almost there! The rocks were a bit slippery.

At the top of a much higher climb later in the day. It was a long way down. Yatta!! Awesome climbs rocks!

A Surprise Birthday Reunion!

Uh, do I know you?? Yeah- that’s how much time has passed.

So we all remember my awesome friend Jen, right? She is a great fine artist living in Ottawa (you can find her website here), and she was responsible for sending me the Double Rainbow shirt of awesomeness. Well, today is her birthday, and it’s a milestone day. Happy Birthday Jen!

A few months ago, her husband Jeremy contacted me. He wanted to do something big for Jen, and he asked me: “What’s the possibility of you being in the Southern Ontario region around the time of Jen’s birthday?”. He knows that Jen and I hadn’t seen each other in forever, and what a great surprise it would be if we could reunite. After discussing the details, it was decided that I would go to Ottawa directly for her birthday weekend and surprise her. There wasn’t much convincing needed- I love surprises, and this one would be epic! You see, I hadn’t seen Jen in about 7 or 8 years, so the trip would be a great surprise for both her and me. We went to the same elementary and high schools, and we both attended The University of Guelph. There would be much catching up to do, lots of hijinks, and many hours of reminiscing.

Hijinks: A Strange Woman offers you a cup of coffee. If you accept, turn to page 36. If you refuse, turn to page 47.

I arrived in Ottawa on Saturday morning and Jeremy was there to greet me. After a quick stop to pick up some flowers, we were off to their house where Jen was waiting. Seven years was definitely far too long. When she came around the corner and saw me standing in the foyer, we immediately hugged. And I’m not going to lie: it was an emotional scene with laughs, expressions of disbelief, many hugs, and happy tears. An epic weekend followed from there. We all talked into the wee hours of the night, shared some great meals and stories, and just enjoyed our time together.

YUM! Cheesy garlic bread… :P — YUM! Cheesy garlic bread… 😛

The thing is, Jen and I are different people now, and yet everything felt the same between us. We would talk for hours in elementary school, and we talked for hours this weekend. Sometimes time doesn’t change the fundamentals of who people are, but instead crystallizes them to who they’ve always been. A lot of time had passed. Jen and I are more mature and incredibly silly at the same time. We made similar kinds of jokes that were familiar to us, and found ourselves in shenanigans that we missed.

An ill-timed jump shot taken by a newb? Being crazy after humming “Crazy Clock” from our high school music class? Or just prancing around Parliament Hill?? All of the above I suppose :) — An ill-timed jump shot taken by a newb? Being crazy after humming “Crazy Clock” from our high school music class? Or just prancing around Parliament Hill?? All of the above I suppose 🙂

Thank you, Jeremy, for orchestrating such a wonderful surprise, and thanks for a fantastic weekend. Jen, you are one of my oldest and closest friends, and spending the time together was priceless. I miss you already! Let’s not wait another 7 years to see each other again, Mmkay? 🙂

Stylin’ in some garden crocs. Oh no I di’nt! But I did.

You’re Off The List, Half Marathon!!

Since running my first 10K in 2008, I have wanted to complete a half marathon. However, it had always seemed so daunting, and I just couldn’t bring myself to commit to it. When I was creating my 30 before 30 list, I knew that I needed to add this task. So in January, I signed up for the Centaur Subaru Half Marathon, part of the Scotiabank Calgary Marathon. At that point, run day was so far away! But before I knew it, the run was just around the corner, and I still didn’t feel quite ready. Days prior to the race, Mother Nature was not so kind to Calgary. It rained and rained, and I monitored the forecast closely. Regardless, rain or shine, and whether or not I was ready, I would be running the half marathon on Sunday May 29th, 2011 :). And in the end, I would be running with two of my awesomely awesome friends, Paul and Shari. Team 403, as we sometimes called ourselves! We would also continue to tell ourselves that “We’re Awesome!” and “We Got This!” to help psych ourselves up for the big day :D. True words, true story.

The 21.1 km half marathon course is quite nice. Starting in Bridgeland, the run passes by the Calgary Zoo, the Stampede Grounds, along 17th Avenue, through some neighbourhoods and parks, and then on to Memorial Drive along the Bow River. Race day turned out to be gorgeous and sunny (Praise the Lord!), and with such a great course, I was getting pumped…

On the morning of the half marathon, I was up at 4:30 am to try to get my insides sorted out. Honestly, my biggest fear was having to go to the bathroom during the race! Yes, this is share-worthy information, and I’m happy to say that my insides co-operated :). For breakfast, I ate a bagel with peanut butter and a banana accompanied by a nice cup of Earl Grey tea. I’m not sure if that’s a great runner’s breakfast, but it was good. Paul and his wife, Vanessa, who was running the 10K, picked me up and we headed down to the race site where we met up with Shari. The energy was amazing- so many excited and crazy people thinking that it’s a great idea to run for hours starting at 7 am on a Sunday morning! I can identify with these people :). Naturally, I had to go to the bathroom right before the race started. I did that last year before the 10K too. At least I’m consistent. Afterward, Paul, Shari and I lined up and the run was on!

As expected, the start of the race was packed, with everyone trying to find their stride and with so many runners of different paces. It was a bit difficult to navigate through the crowd, and it took some time before we found our pace, but eventually we did. It then dawned on me- “I’m actually running a half marathon! This is awesome.” And even though I was focused on my breathing and running, I was able to take in the sights around me. As we meandered through the course, I was reminded why Calgary is a great and beautiful place… when it’s not -40 degrees Celsius, of course.

Around the 12 km mark, Paul and I were absolutely thrilled- we had caught up with the 2:00 Half Marathon Pace Bunnies! We knew if we ran with them, we would finish in about 2 hours, which seemed like a lofty goal at the start of the race, but a goal that we really wanted to achieve. So we ran 10s and 1s with them for a few kilometres, and then around the 16 km mark, we forged ahead. At 17 km, my right foot started to cramp a bit, and my left foot would do the same a few kilometres later. The end was a bit rough, but Paul and I kept to a good pace (thanks Paul!). Overall, with our pacing and determination, and with the help of well placed Gatorade stops, some sports beans/honey stingers/energy gels, and the well-timed voices of Beyonce, Katy Perry (Firework, of course!), Gaga, and Britney, Paul and I crossed that finish line in under 2 hours! Shari would cross not too long after with an amazing time! As expected, I was hurting afterward, but incredibly elated. I am so proud of Team 403 :). To Paul and Shari: It was amazing to run our first half marathon together. We rocked it!

To say that I am happy to have completed my first half marathon within my goal time is an understatement :). Thanks to my family and friends for all of their support! And with that, I am now able to cross off what I think was the most challenging on my list of 30 before 30: #11, Run a Half Marathon. Right after the race, I thought “OMG, never again!”, but as I write this, many hours later, I can’t help but think when the next run will be. Maybe I’ll run another one at the end of the summer. And my ambitious goal is to run my first marathon in Honolulu, December 2012. Anyone interested?

In another note, I want to say congratulations to my awesome friend Dan of Consumed By Wanderlust and face-smashing fame. He completed the 42.2 km Ottawa Marathon on Sunday with an epic time of 4:08. Amazing! I give you a face-five smack to the centre of your face for finishing your first marathon :).

Oh, and what’s a big event without a planking shot, just because. It’s very rare to see Memorial Drive closed off and with no cars in sight. Sometimes you just need to seize opportunities when they present themselves…

(UPDATE: My net time was 1:55:23.50. W00t!!)

The Calgary Farmers’ Market

FarmersMarket1 — http://www.calgaryfarmersmarket.ca

Oh the Calgary Farmers’ Market (www.calgaryfarmersmarket.ca/). I’ve been wanting to go since arriving in Calgary over two years ago. So as usual, I just never went. In reviewing my 30 before 30 list, I thought about community-oriented activities that I want to do (…yes, it’s pretty open-ended). And since the Calgary Farmers’ Market (CFM) recently re-opened at its new Blackfoot Centre location, I knew this would be a place to support and visit. The CFM prides itself as a venue where Calgarians can get the best local food and products. Now, for convenience, I’m definitely one to go to Superstore and load up my entire selection of groceries. The fact is it can be quite expensive to buy all groceries from the market; nevertheless, I’m also all for supporting local farmers and vendors. So off to the Calgary Farmers’ Market I went.

I entered the CFM at around 3:30 pm, and I hadn’t even had my coffee for the day. So it was great to see Fratello Analog Cafe near the entrance. According to the website (www.fratellocoffee.com), Fratello Coffee Roasters is a second-generation boutique coffee roaster with experience sourcing beans chosen for their desirable taste profiles. Their coffee is consciously chosen, responsibly purchased, and carefully roasted. Sounds good to me! The staff was incredibly friendly, and though it was quite busy, I received my coffee in a timely manner. I ended up ordering a 12oz cup of Sumatra Aceh. This blend has a sweet clove aroma with a syrupy body and flavours of milk chocolate and roasted almonds. Sounds good to me. I’m a huge Starbucks fan, but I definitely enjoyed this fantastic blend much more!

After wandering with my coffee, I stopped at Simple Simon Pies (www.simplesimonpies.com). Simple Simon Pies is a locally owned and operated company that’s been producing pies for more than 20 years. They make 4″ individual serving pies which are all made by hand using the freshest ingredients. After taste-testing a chicken dijon pie, I was sold, and so I bought a chicken shepherd’s pie. Yum! I didn’t feel like cooking dinner Saturday night, so this made a great treat to myself.

My last stop was Gull Valley Greenhouses (www.gullvalley.ca). I was told by a colleague that their tomatoes are to die for. The tomatoes there are picked fully ripened, and handled only at the picking and selling stages. All of the produce is grown without the use of pesticides and herbicides. Sounds good to me! I still had many tomatoes in my fridge, so I opted to get Three Amigo Bruschetta to eat with some nachos I had at home. The bruschetta is now half gone. It’s really good.

After I bought the bruschetta, I headed out of the Farmers’ Market quite content with my purchases. I had a great cup of coffee, supported a local company by buying a pie for dinner, and now had some bruschetta made from local produce. I’ll definitely be going back to the market again. (To my breakfast buddy- If you’re reading this, we must go here! The coffee and food options are awesome!!). Does this mean I can now cross #26 off of my list? For the sake of the list, yes I will, but doing community-oriented activities doesn’t end with just one :)…

In an unrelated but much more important note, it is Mother’s Day today! Happy Mother’s Day to all the Mothers out there. And a special shout out to my Mummy! Thank you for everything, and I love you!!!