Kind words from Gran...

I always enjoy emails from my Grandma (a very technologically- savvy lady, who had a computer before I did!)-- And every now and again, she writes one that tops everything. I always print them off and tape them near my desk for inspiration.

Yesterday she wrote:

Time is running down on your Ride to Conquer Cancer program and I wonder if you are going to reach your goal. Moreover how much does that matter?

I think you have already met the most important aspects of your plan. You have raised an enormous amount of money for cancer research and honoured the memory of your cousin. You have alerted many to the need to concentrate on the cancer scourge. You have embarked on a dedicated fitness program. You have got a new bike! You have been part of the publicity events which would be fun.

Most importantly you have spent most of your life, and especially now at Blush Lane, promoting healthy eating which will probably do more to prevent cancer and other ills than all research done to eradicate same.

So I think you and Derek can enjoy many bike rides on your fitness program knowing you have made a difference - much more than most of us!

Thanks, Gran!

Glorious Mountain Biking!

I was up in Edmonton this past weekend for some family time and meeting some wee cousins. I was lucky to be able to get two great rides in.

I met my friend Michelle down in Terwillegar Park on Saturday morning just in time to miss a running race that surely would have put a damper on riding. As I rolled into the parking lot I could see that door prizes were getting tossed into the crowd so I knew the trails would be clear.

It was great to rip up trails that I rarely ride anymore but were a staple years ago when I lived up there. And even though I rarely find myself on these trails I still know most of them like the back of my hand: although there seemed to be quite a few new trails, so it was fun to explore those too.

I also took an hour on Monday to ride some river valley and Mill Creek ravine trails. I had another great ride even tough it was a very hot morning!

All and all it was a great trip.

Great Week!

We have both been doing our final fundraising push and it has met with great success! We should have worked this hard on it months ago and who knows where we could have gotten.

Speaking for myself (and I know Teri feels the same) we have really enjoyed our 6am boot camp experience. It is hard to roll out of bed that early but it feel pretty good to be coming home tired and energized.

10% to go!

Thanks to those of you who have so generously responded to our final pleas for cash, we only have $515 to go!

Thanks for putting your confidence in us completing this event. I am proud of us for having such supportive friends and family, for having the motivation to get ready for the big ride, and for undertaking something to raise money for such a worthwhile cause.

I'd like to take a moment to remember the first reason that I am doing this, which has nothing to do with fitness or fundraising. As most of you know, I am completing this ride in honour of my cousin Trevor Pascal, who passed away in October 2008. Trevor was a shy, reserved person, and I can honestly say that I knew him more through his wife Karrie, who was my hairdresser, than through our family bond. Anyone who knew Trevor could only say that he was a great guy. He was the kind of guy who would do anything for anyone, and loved his two little girls, and was never anything but honest.

At the time Trevor passed away, there was an obvious outpouring of support from family and friends to his family. I am completing this challenge a year and a half later, to let Karrie, Jordyn, Kaylee, Auntie Elsie, Uncle Roy, Colin, and Dale know that Trevor is still greatly missed and will always be fondly remembered.

SURVIVOR BOOT CAMP Day 4

(I truly think that the extra energy that I am getting from boot camp is making me giddy. This is what I did this morning after I got home!)

So, Friday was the true test of if I could make it through boot camp or not... We had to boot camp from 6 until 7 am and then I had to be at work as soon as possible following (I normally get there by 7:30 at the latest). Then, true Farmer's Market style, work until 5:30 at least.

Well, I made it through, though I started work a little later than usual, which was no harm done. (In fact, I have found I have so much more energy that I probably got more done in the time I was there anyhow!). I'm probably driving everyone at work nuts, demonstrating lunges while carrying apple boxes, doing dips off the sides of the carts, and flexing my biceps when holding the sample tray! Honestly though, I feel great, even though the workouts are hard and sometimes I just want it to be over!

Today was a lot different, as Derek is in Edmonton and I went all by my lonesome. It wasn't a big deal, but it did make me realize that I really do appreciate having a "buddy" in boot camp, and it would be a lot different if I was just doing this on my own (mainly in the fact that I probably wouldn't be doing it in the first place!)

Keep on truckin'!

Teri :)

My legs...

I laughed at Derek last night when we went for a walk because he was walking funny, and then I woke up this morning, and I know his pain.

Ow, my legs. My abs. My arms. Muscles I didn't even know could be achy.

Almost there!

Between us, Derek and I have raised $4045.00. That means $955 to go!

Thanks everyone for being so generous, not only is this helping people with cancer, but it is helping Derek and I with our fitness goals. Every dollar you donate helps motivate us to keep putting our feet and pedals forward.

THANK YOU!!

SURVIVOR BOOT CAMP Day 1

So, Derek and I signed up for "Survivor Boot Camp" on the weekend, which is a franchise owned by his friend Michelle. Today was day 1, 6:00 am at Weaselhead, which is part of Glenmore Reservoir just south of us. We could ride our bikes there if we were that motivated. We were not.

It was tough, but great! I discovered a talent for running and a distaste for burpees. Derek liked the guided workout but could have done without the 4:30 am alarm.

We will be going 3 days a week, and hopefully it warms up, because it was eff-ing freezing this morning, and we did not think to bring gloves. The frost was just settling in, and those hand weights get really cold! There were 4 other new people, and one of them didn't make it through the entire workout, so that's a good sign for us. We made it through, and I feel great! Derek's legs are very sore, but he didn't crawl back into bed when we got home, so hooray for small victories!

Nap time is later this afternoon!

Early spring riding

Derek has been out riding quite a bit this spring (and I have joined him when I can). We were really enjoying the above seasonal temperatures, until it decided to snow again. We've recently moved to SW Calgary, and have been enjoying the trails around Glenmore Reservoir... Pretty easy stuff, but it's sitting on the bike that counts. Those mountains still look pretty snowy in the distance, so no mountain-biking yet.

I have recently been to see the naturopath, and hope to cure all that ails me-- some new hay-fever symptoms and chronic infections. I highly recommend it for anyone fed up with conventional medicine and its over-prescription of antibiotics. Working on building up my gut, and will likely be on a Candida cleanse/diet by the time the bike ride rolls along, which will be really annoying for being fed... No dairy, gluten, or sugar, including fruit sugar.