Running has been a huge part of the last 3 weeks.
I participated in the Around The Bay Road Race in support of St Joseph's Healthcare. As many know, I have benefited from the care provided by Hamilton Health Sciences in 2007 when I broke my leg and crushed my ankle. Last summer, my Papa Bear also benefited after is accident on the farm. The team I was on last year for the relay decided to run the full 30K this year along with another Mntce guy in our group Jason.
This year was the best fundraising year to date! I hosted 2 breakfasts and the annual bake sale and was able to raise $2430 for our team. Thank you to everyone who gave what they could and supported a great cause.
This race was a bucket list race for me. It was the farthest race distance I have ever ran and the reason that I had started training on Friday nights and Saturday mornings since January to build up my endurance. I have learned from this process that endurance and speed are different training plans.
Here is a pre-race picture of the PCR Mntce Contingent! Norm, Lew, Jay and I
And the 2015 Relay Team completes the full distance as individuals in 2016.
I was so fortunate to have the woman who started me on this running journey be at the finish line to walk me though to the medal area! Lynn...all this running is because of you! You believed I could run when we only walked on lunch and you started my addiction to race morning energy with the Around the Bay 5K 4 years ago! Thank you for being there at the finish of my biggest race. xo
Another huge thank you goes out to my best ever race cohort, Theresa. You have been an on going inspiration in my life with your true authenticity and continual drive to be a better version of yourself every single day. xo
Me, Theresa and Mel at the post race celebration in Gibson Lounge.
Prior to the Bay Race...Theresa and I also ran the Good Friday 5K in Burlington.
Since the bay race, I have ran 2 longer distance long slow runs to continue building my endurance distance to 42.2K...next bucket list check and goal is the marathon!
Last weekend I ran from home to Hewitt's Dairy the local ice cream parlour! It was a 28K journey with some hilly terrain and cooler temps. Having a delicious destination certainly makes the distance fade away!
Ran 35K as my last LSR...from the start of the Brantford to Hamilton Rail Trail. I was dropped off at the trail head in Branford adjacent to the Grand River and followed it all the way to Ancaster. This time A&W was the big reward!
Endurance running has taken me into a new realm of needing running fuel and lots of water on course to prevent the nasty muscle cramping from dehydration. After some experimentation, all natural maple syrup fuels are the best! I started off with some common commercial gels. The ingredients I couldn't even pronounce and they really left me feeling unwell about 2 hours after I stopped running. I did a bit of research and the great people at Runner's Den, on King in Hamilton helped me out with these natural fuels when I told them about my GI upset. Instead of the gummy gels that add the sugar and sodium on a long run I have switched to dark chocolate with sea salt from Lindt! Way tastier and as you all know chocolate has no ill affects on my GI tract!!
Gear for my last LSR. (New shoes, Garmin watch, New Yurbuds headphones, water, maple syrup fuels and Lindt chocolate individually wrapped).
Riding has started to creep its way back into my daily existence. Erla's training has been slow to start but even in the limited number of rides she has gained ground on so many fronts. Her ground work is really getting obvious and under saddle, she is becoming straighter and more forward. After several rides with improved steering and stopping, we attempted a successful first time cantering! We even ventured outside to ride in the big outdoor ring. This old loving soul is softening the rough edges on my broken heart. She's got her own broken pieces that I hope to help her with...at least as much as she is helping me.
Here she is on her first trip outside.
And this is my view from her first adventure to the bush and back.
With spring now here...the hope of new growth and new life are drifting in the wind.
#1 pasture has been over seeded again by DH in the early morning hours. The seed was likely laid a bit too late last fall and missed the germination cycle. Fingers crossed that this new seed catches and provides the bloom that only fresh spring grass can provide to the coats of horses. This pasture will be closed for most of 2016 as the pasture matures and regenerates.
The dust which seems to creep into the footing of the indoor over the cold winter months has been damped with MAG again this year. With less traffic in the arena than normal this winter, the dust control was laid a few months later than normal.
Here is DH and his side kick harrowing prior to the MAG being spread.
Me spreading the old fashioned way!
The final product…arena is closed for a couple days now as the footing absorbs the product.
This lovely orchid that we received as a gift at our farm open house from Tony and Linda is blooming again.
This mini beauty greets me with its radiance every morning when I first wake up. It's in the upstairs bathroom and serves as a gentle reminder that growth sometimes isn't beautiful in all of it's phases through the cycles of change. The pasty leaves and the dead stalk that once displayed beautiful flowers for several months withers and breaks. After some time to rest and rejuvenate, without any coaxing at all...a new leaf begins to form and a tender new stalk rise from the roots. The reminder...to be gentle with ourselves and have courage to bloom again when our original flowers have faded. The blooms are worth the wait and shows the resilience of nature to bring forth beauty.
And of course a blog post just wouldn't be complete without something regarding the 2 fur kids! They visited their Aunt Terrie and had a spa treatment!
Marley in the tub
Molly fluffy and clipped
