Monday, June 22, 2015

Journeys and Adventures!

Life is a big long adventure. It is what you make of it, and we only live once, so it should be fulfilling.

I always tell myself this when I step out of my comfort zone. Take risks and hopefully you reap the rewards, but if you don't you will have a richer life for the experience.

We have recently chosen a path for a new adventure. It's very exciting for us both. Who knows where the journey will take us, but i have no doubt it will be a enthrawling and rewarding one.

Sunday, June 21, 2015

SA trail running mt crawford challenge

25 kms, freezing cold, beautiful clear skies, good turn out, what more could you want!

Trail Running SA put on another stellar event at Mt Crawford last weekend(june 21st). Unfortunately I was unable to race due to injury, so I volunteered to help with timing. I had a great day! The other volunteers were all well seasoned ultra runners, all taking time out due to injury LOL. I felt like quite the newbie chatting with these guys. They have all done Yurebilla numerous times, most just came back from North Face 100 Australia and they all have numerour races on the horizon! I need to step up and get an ultra under my belt i think!

Anyways, kate raced on the weekend and did exceptionally well. She hasn't done too many long runs recently, but non the less smashed out the 25kms easily. She has really taken like a duck to water with trail running!

Following the event a feast of fruit and delicious snacks were put up be Trail Running SA and a whole lot of free kit and wine was given away thanks to salamon and the running company. 

All up another amazing event. Its great to see the sport growing so rapidly in sa!

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Thursday, June 18, 2015

Blender....broken!

Well this put a spanner in the works of my morning green smoothie ritual! However I'm a clever guy, I'll always try to make the best of a bad situation. I roll with the punches :-)

A food processer can totally do a smoothie right.....wrong. It can do a chunky salsa-esque blend of fruit and greens. What you end up with is a glass of something that would probably go better beside a taco! Oh well, it's still tasty and healthy, you just have to 'drink' your green 'smoothie' with a spoon!

The things we do in the name of a healthy brekky!

Why?

Humans are strange!

Yes, stating the obvious, I know. We are strange in many ways! So let's discuss a few of the many ways that we are so.

The notion of 'if it aint broke, don't fix it'. Yeh, that makes total sense. How about 'the grass is always greener on the other side'.... Well it always is, right?

So i'm as bad as everyone. I see the sense in these statements; accept the lessons that the sayings aim to teach, however I am the first person to admit that I choose to pay no attention to these lessons. Sigh!

I think if we were able to take lead from these lessons we'd find it much easier to make peace with ourselves and to be more satisfied with our lives. I think it would make us appreciate the small things a lot more, and maybe make us realise that we shouldn't take our blessed lives for granted. 

Coming from countries like Canada and Australia we are really very fortunate and have endless opportunities to chase our dreams. Maybe if we take a moment to realise how lucky we are we'll realise that we're already living the dream!

Monday, June 15, 2015

Giving Something Back

Seeming I can't partake in running events at the moment, I figured I'd volunteer at some events. This lets me immerse myself in the sport and with the people while getting that warm fuzzy volunteerin feeling. Trail SA run some great events and as we all know, events would be nothing without the hard work of the volunteers, and it's going to be nice to be on the other side of a race to see what they do. It will probably give me a different apprecition when I next enter a race!

It will also be fun seeing Kate race and just being there to support her! She is running so well right now and it's going to be quite excitin to see where she manages to go with trail running. She's fast and fit and I think the lower impact of trail running is really going to suit her. 

Nikki Kimball watch out :-)

Subaru GL Wagon 1992

In the attempt to fill some time in I decided to start tuning up my Subaru Sports Wagon! It's a bit of a classic and I have had a lot of nice comments regarding the state that she is in lately.

I figured I'd start with a solid clean pass and paint touch up on any rust. I'm in he process of this and it's a big job. However once thats done I'll be able to assess bigger tasks and work out what I want to fix/add/upgrade. Overall I'm really happy with the condition of the car and I really dont think i'll need to do too much unless I want to.

Firstly I think some better speakers that don't look so crap and are actually mounted in the door correctly! I'm thinking just some nice little round ones that match the current trimming and sit nice and flush. The current 6x9's are crap and not mounted well/hanging out of the door. That should be an easy fix. Following that I think I'll get some paint and touch up all the shitty bits of paint and then work from then. 
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I think I'll just take this project slowly and do a timy bit whenever I feel like it and just make sure that it is done really well! 

Pics to come soon!

Train Time - Blog Time

Yay, my moment to write something creative. The train home is pretty auick so it's gotta be short and sharp.

Whats been going on this week.

Last night I took the coaching duties of Adelaide Running Crew. It was a great session of hills and everyone smashed it for a solid 25min effort. Coaching is a great way to stay intouch with running while recovering from this annoying injury. It is also noce to be getting involved with a not-for-profit organisation. I feel like I 'm giving something back to a sport that I've taken so much from.

To teach is also to learn. Teaching forces me to re evaluate why you run the way you do, what training works and why so I can give the correct info to everyone.

I've been good this week. Avoiding anything which is pissing off my injury! That means no swimming either :-( but I've been enjoying abs and core workouts to fill in a minor part of the void that remains after removing running, riding and swimming.

Friday, June 12, 2015

Week Off...

So last week was my first full week with no running, cycling or swimming since well before I left Vancouver. Now I think about it, that is ridiculous. I honestly cannot think when I last had a full week off those three disciplines.

My last 'big' injury was in Vancouver after the Victoria marathon, but that injury did not stop swimming or cycling. Then before that my achilles put a holt to riding and running, but that didn't stop swimming. So all that being said, I think the last time I had a week totally off was when Kate and I went to New York for Christmas 2011 or when we went to Montreal in 2013. Either one, that makes 2 weeks of total rest in 4 years...wow.

But to the point at hand, I'm starting to feel good now with some rest. The leg still hurts, but I can finally feel some improvement and I am starting some leg stability work now. Fingers crossed this week reaps some good rewards for the rest and I can test out some skipping and run-walk training maybe next week.

Until then I'm being well restrained and keeping up the core stability work and getting back into yoga which has been really nice.

The free Lulu Lemon classes have been great as they are just below my work so are super convenient for a nice Tuesday evening yoga session.

Namaste :-)

Wednesday, June 10, 2015

Team Bloke

The June long weekend ended up with a last minute commitment that turned the weekend into one of the most wholesome camping trips I've had for a long time.

A mate of mine was nice enough to invite me to partake in Team Bloke! Hosted at harrys block of land on the Yorke Peninsula. It was one of the most beautiful pieces of land i've ever seen. 

Team Bloke is a yearly event in which a bunch of top blokes get their leave card stamped by the missus so they can have 3 nights of wholesome bloke time.

I was a bit unsure en route to the trip. I knew no one, and being a vegetarian that doesn't drink too much i wondered how i'd fit in with a group of Aussie blokes :-) what i found was a group of rad guys. It was such a great time and no one had any expectations or attitude. It was just chill bloke time.

My tent was set up so the door would look over the most amazing sand dunes ever. Each morning i'd open the tent and lie in bed looking at the view. The stars at night were un believable. Such clear skies; the milky way was absolutely stunning.

It was a much needed chill weekend and i am thankful to all the blokes for making me feel so welcome at team bloke. It's been running for 11 or so years and hopefully I'll make it each year from now on.

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Friday, June 5, 2015

Waiting!

As I stand on my lonesome by a pedestrian crossing in the evening I start wondering what all the passers by think I'm doing.

I create different scenarios that they could be imagining!

Obviously in the coolest one I'm waiting to go for a run :-)

List!

This week I had a list! On that list were 3 things to do! Of the things on the list I've only done one of them, two days in the week left.

I think i should be able to get it done :-)

Update: Done two of them :-)

Thursday, June 4, 2015

The train station

Commuting on public transport the first time in a year and a half! It does bring back memories of the Skytrain in Canada, although far less convenient :-)

It's interesting though that taking the train does offer a bit more chill time, and although I miss the bike commute, the time spent wandering to and from the train is relaxing!

The commute offers interesting opportunities for people watching! For example, four rows ahead of me, facing me is a dude with an epic mustache! I don't know him, but well done sir! I just noted i am one of the plebs that can't put their iPhone down! As I look around everyone is tweaking with their phone. Its such a different image to what would have been even only 10years ago.

I gaze aimlessly down the aisle, contemplating. I see all the other commuters. I wonder whats going on in their lives, what they do, what hardship or joys they are experiencing. Ahh, Waterpolo SA, i can tell that's what that dude by the ticket machine does. How? Its written up his trouser leg! I guess though to an alien, thy may see 'Nike' written up a trouser leg and make the assumption that they do 'Nike' :-)!

It's June 5th, I'm commuting to work and this is my random train of thought! Have a good day, the train has almost arrived!