May 2013 – Page 3 – The Daily EO

The Daily EO: May 1st, 2013

I’ve not participated in enough exercise to merit the results I got in the Sun Run. When I looked up how fast I should have been able to run it based on my fitness level and training level, I got “the average time for runners to complete a 10K race generally falls between 75 and 80 minutes”. Not only that, based on a bunch of internet “calculators”, etc, considering my best time on a 5K (running regularly), my time was pretty darn good for a 10K (um, also considering it was the second time *ever* I have run a 10K.) considering the lack of training. 75 minutes is quick average and I feel pretty good about this.

So, I started thinking about what if I was actually training? What the hell would I be able to pull off then? Whoa. I could be sub 1 hour. That’s crazy talk I know, but . .. hmmm. . I wonder. . .

Aside here, am I the only one who 2 days after a race forgets the pain and only remembers the glory and starts looking for the next race? Really, how many technical tees do I need?

Anyways, since I really hate May for many reasons – though the Spring melt is not a May problem here in Vancouver, loving that – I thought that I need to do some exercise and training. So for the month of May, I am going to try to run every day (a min of 2 kms). Today I started out with 4.6 kms (shortened from 5k only because I was distracted by a big event in Victory Park with police presence and torches, and flags, and ambulances! I couldn’t take the long route home – I had to Check! This! Out!)

May 1st, 2013 Extra-Ordinary: A challenge to keep my superstitious mind occupied, and my ass a little tauter.

May 1st: 4.6 km
May Cumulative: 4.6 kms

The Daily EO: April 30th, 2013

Today I am thinking about summer. It’s been so sunny – but cool – hints of what is to come. A summer of possibilities and reasons to go places. I’m looking forward to this summer, and the hope to see more, and promises of friends and family to visit.

I’m talking about possibilities a lot, I know. I’m getting into my grove finding my place, feeling better, getting to see the light often.

On the West Coast, Ferries represent freedom, isolation, destined to somewhere special. I love riding one, with the wind whipping at my hair, watching the kids walking against the wind. The seasoned travellers who have a routine. We’re all going some place together.

April 30th, 2013 Extra-Ordinary: A ferry to any where is a good day. And I am going places.

The Daily EO: April 29th, 2013

I watched “Super Size Me” before any one had ever heard of Morgan Spurlock. I enjoyed the ridiculous debate in a dozen locations within in Europe all claiming to be “The Centre” of it all. I watched with concern and skepticism the “World according to Monsanto“. I wondered what was wrong with Americans in Michael Moore’s “Bowling for Columbine” and “Roger & Me“. I got sucked into Al Gore’s message in “An Inconvenient Truth“. I fumed and shook my fists at the idiots who destroyed the financial stability of the world in an “Inside Job“.

I am a sucker for a documentary. Everyone can relate to the human condition, and yet every person has their own story. But in all my years in Ontario, I only ever got to Toronto’s Hot Docs Festival once. So, when I saw Vancouver had a smaller, but similar festival coming up, I bought tickets immediately. For some reason, watching documentaries make me feel like I belong in the educated world where gossip is shunned, and ideas are examined. Possibilities abound for a better world.

If you’re looking for me, here’s where I’ll be (because I took into account some of Emile’s tastes too):

The Manor

Wrong Time Wrong Place

Fire in the Blood

Occupy the Movie

Two Nil

April 29th, 2013 Extra-Ordinary: Striving for Self-Actualization in a movie theatre. *Love* a documentary!

The Daily EO: April 26th – 28th

I went to Whistler this weekend. It’s been 15 years since I’ve been and Emile has never been. The sea to sky highway – while still amazing – seems much more robust. I guess that is the Olympic legacy. This trip had all the makings of a disaster: We left on time, but our travelling companions didn’t, so we spent a bunch of time waiting. Our suite was occupied when we arrived as the company had made a mistake on the confirmations. The weather was awful – rain, cold and wind. The mountain was socked in with fog – we couldn’t tell that we were in a mountain resort. The children decided to awake at 6 am the first morning after being up until 11 pm the night before.

Emile and I spent an hour or two enjoying ourselves at Howe Sound Brewery pub in Squamish. The people who were in the suite were really considerate and worked with us to solve the problem. The weather stopped our friends from skiing, but also made it much easier to justify staying inside and getting an Indonesian style massage. The kids were so bloody tired on Saturday night that they went to bed with nary a peep. Sunday’s weather was warmer, dryer and stiller than Saturday and in comparison seemed downright lovely compared to the day before. Our friends went skiing, Emile got a pic or two and we had an early departure, getting us home to Vancouver just in time to receive our final ice cream delivery, have my nails done, catch up on chores, get some groceries bought and wind down the weekend before the work week started again.

Had a really good time and glad we went.

Last Weekend in April Extra-Ordinary: Silver Linings