Making Time to Play

The last two days in England have been great. Chilled out and hung out in England yesterday. Went to a Club (Jumping Jacks)...not a pub...not a bar but a Club. It was great! They had dancers on the stage and they did 'Thriller' as it was halloween, then they had two guys playing and singing dance music on their piano's. Never quite heard Wham quite like that! Then retro music blaring including an Ice Ice Baby and U Can't Touch this back to back dance session. It was here were my accent turned up and everyone asked me were i was from. Neat but they kept asking me what I was doing in Harlow.

Today we went back to London and went to London Tower. Talk about history and a castle. I saw the Crown Jewels and too much gold and diamonds to fathom. The underground was not all working today so london was not quite as organized as it was on thursday.

And so lies the journey. Three things accomplished...sight seeing...check....first marathon....check and visiting friends...check. Going home tomorrow and that will only take 18 hours (yuck).

I anxiously await waking up tomorrow morning and finding out that it is the fourth quarter in BC and the Riders are winning by 13 points. Hey why can't all my dreams come true this holiday?

Frozen Flatland here I come. A new adventure and journey awaits....what that may be....only time will tell.

Well I made it Harlow very easy. Great to see my friend again in the "shire" as she calls it. The house is very old with low ceilings. Quite the cabs they have over hear to. They are unmistakable.

Yesterday we were in London. Took a train to the Liverpool station underground. So easy to get around with the tube. Just follow the colors. It is a endless system of stairs, lifts and escalators from floor to floor underground. So we got off the first car and walked up the stairs and boom there it was....Big Ben! yes just right there. Like a regular part of life in front of me. A little surreal is tell ya. Then of to the House of Parliament, Westminster Abby and Buckingham Palace. We saw the changing of the guard but really had no idea what was going on and it was kinda a boring ceremony. Shopping in the Market area in Convent Gardens were everything is super expensive. Shoe are 50 pounds which converts to 125 dollars. After this I actually saw Vincent Vangough's Sunflower....the original just sitting on a wall in a amazing art museum. Just like the one in my house but the original.

Last stop was going to be London Tower but we want three hours there and will see that on Saturday. Walked across the Tower Bridge (the famous landmark on) and then made it back home on a PACKED train to Harlow.

Observations are that London is a very well organized city, very busy city and very expensive city. I love it. The best part was my tour guide was amazing. My legs held up and conversation with a great personality can never be underestimated. As weird as it may be there is something so normal and comforting about hanging out in London together.

Today we are off to Cambridge, I'm getting a haircut and then we are off to she what the nightlife has to offer.

My star is not fading!

Ahhh Dublin. A great city indeed. A few interesting observations is that all the women smoke (yuk), everyone is addicted to the cell err sorry mobile phone and text messaging is all the rage. People even had their mobile when we were running yesterday taking call. That is crazy. Everyone drives on the wrong side of the roads and the turnarounds are nuts. No corners so go in slow and come out fast! Last night we wandered around Temple Bar which is full of restaurants, pubs and hotels. Guiness is good for you. People from all over the world over there.

Today I stayed in Dublin and checked it out. Spend time at the Guiness Brewery, off to Grafton Street, Stephen's Garden, Dublin Castle and St. Patrick's Catherdal. By far the highlight was St. Patrick's. Amazing building with so many beautiful things, structures and window. Wow. Getting around Dublin is quite easy as long as you don't have to drive yourself!

Ireland is a very friendly place, just like home. I guess they have England to be big brother as we have the States.

I am absolutely beat right now. The Marathon high is indescribable. Still glowing from this and it kept me going all day. My legs ache ache ache right now and it was funny to see other tourist going up and down stairs. You could all tell who ran the Marathon. My finisher shirt and medal are beautiful. Ray and Colleen did amazing with me. This was Ray's first marathon and we have a great picture of us showing number one with our medals.

Well I'm off to London tomorrow as the Emerald Isle has been grand.

as they say around here "good on ya lad"

I just entered a new world and removed the world can't from my vocabulary. Ran the marathon in 4 hours 33 minutes and 59 seconds. Unbelievable. I never hit a wall and excellerated after 20 miles. Had the best partners you could ask for. I can't explain the feeling of running the last 1 km in downtown Dublin with everyone cheering for you and the power to finish. Words can't describe the smile on my face.

Dublin and Ireland is awesome! Went to Naas and Gatway to see the green fields, sheep and stone fences. Amazing.

Gunnius in not the same over here. Much better and you have no idea how much I enjoyed it.

So feeling a little sore but we are off to enjoy a night on the town in Dublin.

I'm a Dublin Marathon Finisher!

well i made it to heathrow. no big deal. every thing is fine. just need to kill some time in terminal 1. nothing that unexpected at all. will be in ireland soon enough. met someone from melfort in line. we are everywhere.

you can learn alot about people when they travel. some miserable others happy. travelling and how you treat your mom says alot.

this is too cool but 26.2 miles keeps your head in check. playtime in full effect!

Well this is it. 6 weeks of training, personal lent and all my bags backed for my trip to the Dublin Marathon. My first marathon and I leave tomorrow. I'm getting very excited. My plan is to update as much as I can when I'm over there. To anyone who asks why I found this:

Top Ten Reasons to Run A Marathon:


1. A marathon isn't a race, it's 24,000 races.

2. There's no logical reason on earth to run a marathon. Cool, huh?

3. Self-Confidence. Available in a handy 26.2 mile dose.

4. The road to salvation is exactly 26.2 miles long.

5. The Marathon. How an average runner becomes more than average.

6. Marathoning. Or how to single handedly remove the word can't from your
vocabulary.

7. Want to find out who you really are? Try a marathon.

8. Another marathon. Another chance to be your own hero.

9. Trophies rust. Self-esteem doesn't.

10. Marathoning. The triumph of desire over reason.

-as seen on a New Balance Poster

Wish me luck as every sucessful effort needs it!

So everything is ready for my trip to Europe. Biggest thing was getting my Passport but that was really nothing to worry about. My advise to anyone that does not have a passport is to get one for no reason that to have one ready to go. Now I can focus on the 26 miles and getting there. Yesterday I was up late sewing Canadian Flags to my bag, coat and my running gear. First time I have ever really felt like a Canadian. I’m trying to stay focused here but I’m afraid I’m counting time instead of making time count. This is the biggest playtime event of my life so far and all the online calculators indicate that my time is going to be 3:45. Yeah right. Try 4:45. I’m working on motivation again and my pre-week diet. So far so good. Just need to pack tonite and ready to roll. I have my race strategy all ready to go.

I must admit I kinda like feeling of the unknown that I am entering. A personal test that only I can answer or do. Everyone needs a challenge in life and this is one for sure other wise what are you living for? See ya at the finish line.

Outside the box. Someone told me once that I need to think a little more inside the box once and a while. I I mean he was joking however, it did say something for my imagination. Want to run your first marathon. Me thinking outside the box decided to do it in Ireland. Maybe a little to outside the box but hey that is me.

This weekend was hilarious. Still stuck to my personal lent and it was temping but being so close to race day that it was easier then two weeks ago. Ahh Watrous surrounded by people like me in Cowboy hat, bottomless beer steins and the Arrogant Worms. Too much fun…then off to a small town bar with another group of nurses dressed up as bunnies, angels and devils. I would of tried to table dance if my Wranglers were not so tight. Seriously a buddy gave me his pants that were so tight on me I could not tie my shoes. Of course I had to wear them. Why? Just because. I also found some new training partners and wow what partners they are.

Then off to a snowy sold out Taylor Field for a fantastic game. I mean we kicked the crap out of Edmonton. To bad we did not clinch a home playoff game but we will just you wait. Excellent company and best 2nd quarter ever with 4 touchdowns just like that. Amazing. Then off to Earls for a great supper and even talked to Scott Schultz of the Riders about the big win. Too cool.

The evening was also topped off by a conversation with a cutie that I will be talking with when I return.

I don’t get the blues because the blues don’t get to me!

Sometimes the stars refuse to shine. What can we do about it? Not much. Same thing in life when we worry about things that we can’t really control. We still do worry though. Worrying is as productive as sawing sawdust but at least it gives us something to do. A coping mechanism to battle the impossible fight? It gets me thinking that fate is a huge part of life. We react to life but the things we can’t control we leave to fate to look after us. Just a thought. Maybe Alfred E Newman had is right all along with “What, me worry?” So many sports vs life comparisons. We can’t control what happens just prepare and react.

This weekend is turning out to be so full that I wish I was not so busy. That is all gonna change when I get back from my trip. Speaking of that I figured out all my travel arrangements, have my cash all in line and thank god the passport office is no longer on strike so I can pick that up on Monday. I’m headed to Watrous for a conference. A big learning op but also a big party. Once again I will be tempted to indulge but being so close to the race I’m good. Once more short run and then it is rest rest rest.

Life really is like a box of chocolates. I want the green mint rider pride one!

Well I returned from a weekend of home and I got to spend it in a Combine. It was great because this was really the first time that I actually got to run the Combine as I always get to haul grain. I was one of the three Massy Combines in the field plugging along up and down the field. How can sitting in an air conditioned cab with the radio for 14 hours be so bad? No complaints here. We even managed to get to sit down twice for a turkey meal. 3 days just went like that....that and 900 acres of crop.

Points to ponder

If you would of told me a year ago that I would get up at 6:30 am on Holiday Monday to run for two hours, I would of laughed in your face.

Pregnant sisters are not to be picked on or denied jobs they used to do.

Turnips are not my friend.

AM radio sucks. It is country, talk or oldies.

FM radio on Saturday Night rocks.

The gift of family on a farm at harvest is a beautiful and chaotic thing.

Climbing on old plywood bins and darkness is not a good combination.

Dogs really are a man's best friend.

The beauty of a Saskatchewan sunset cannot be describe. It must be experienced.

Finally, no one really dies...they live forever in the memories of those who loved them.

Down here on the farm, everything is bigger, cleaner and tastes better than in the City.

We can curse the roses because the have thorns in the City but we praise the thorns because they have roses on the farm!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Well now for those of you who have been hanging out with me you will have noticed a big difference in my behavior. Since I have dedicated the last 6 weeks to full marathon training I have not drank since Labour Day. This has been an interesting experience but not a real problem. On the other hand I have also given up fast food, junk food and women. Yes it is my personal season of lent. Well the diet has not been a problem (even with my friend showing off his McDonalds as I was running!) but the women, well I slipped last night. I was completely avoiding the dating game and the phoning. Atlas I failed last night and made a phone call. It was great and very worth the time. See the problem lies that basically I will be away until the middle of November but still when someone is “stalking” you as she put it and you like it, you need to respond.

I can’t say that I have ever been more focused on anything than 42.2 km than anytime in my life. What a commitment and I sure can tell were all my time and energy is being spent based on my poor house, garden, backyard and other volunteer activities. Right now everything is on hold until my trip. Motivation is what gets you going but habit is what keeps you going. However I need to mind the present and not focus only on the future. Does that make sense and is that even possible. Guess I’ll find out like everyone else….just play it out. Never wanting to close a door maybe.

The best part of this is when someone asks you why you are not drinking and you say that I’m running a full marathon in Dublin…..they got nothing.

New pictures are up of the last rider game and the pub crawl. Enjoy!

Interesting day yesterday. First I was part of a Train the Trainer Class and not as a student. This happened to be me teaching teachers on something. I’ve come to the part in my life were I actually have a level of understanding that I teach teachers. Weird concept but nothing I can’t deal with. Then off for hill training which I love. I love the burn in your legs as you run up and down hills. Nothing compares. Such a beautiful fall day but once the sun went down…yikes it was chilly in the valley. So since I taught and exercised I figured what else could I do today? How about save 3 lives? Done no problem. I made my 23rd blood donation today.

You will never be hear the words "thank you" more than when you donate blood. I recommend it for anyone who can. Still giving more and expecting less idea.

Ahh the weekend. A four day weekend of training, driving and early mornings. So throw a pub crawl in there with crazy co-workers, a meeting and a presentation making a busy weekend. However the Rider Game was by far the best game of the year and the crowd was electric. I was expecting good company for the game but none the less what a game. Riders in black and behind 18 points after the first half. Crowd was groning for sure. Then it happened. Not sure what but we scored 34 points. For the first time I actually saw our whole section dancing and jumping in our seats. My buddy behind me asked me since he was well on his way and me being of clear mind....this is the best game every right? I was glad to say yes!

I'm so excited about he next three weeks of football. Life is peaking right now. Got to love when things go your way that you don't control. It is what being a fan is all about.

Yeah 3 days without a trip on the highway ahead!