Blogging Break

Something in my professional life has come up that needs all my attention for a while so I will be taking a little blogging break.
Rest assured that I will continue training and raising funds. This is just a "see you later" and I am by no means finished.
I will be back, as the Terminator says... ;)

Putting the Fun into Fundraising Part 2 - Big Lebowski Style

I absolutely love this movie. If you haven't seen it yet, I highly recommend it. 

So I am pretty excited about our next fundraising event that's in the making: 

"Bowl with a Good Friend 

Looking for a fun night out with friends, drinks, food, 2 hours of bowling and a chance to win some amazing prices?
Look no more and join the Guildford Riders on Friday at the Bowling Centre!

Tickets include a drink, a burger, bowling shoe rental and 2 hours of facility use. They go for $25.00 per person and can be purchased by contacting one of the Riders.
Reservations can be made ahead of time.


Most of the proceeds will will be donated to The Guildford Riders, participants in The Ride to Conquer Cancer to benefit the BC Cancer Foundation. " 

Half Way There!

An email from the foundation this morning:

Hi Christina,

We're sending this note to let you know you're half way to your fundraising goal. Congratulations! You've made great progress, so don't slow down now. Use the momentum you've gathered so far to speed ahead.
You'll reach 100% of your goal soon, but if you feel like you're stuck, here are some things ... yadda yadda yadda...

Keep up the great work!


Sincerely,

The Ride to Conquer Cancer®

Benefiting BC Cancer Foundation

Fundraising Goal:
$2,500.00

Total Raised:
$1,270.00

% of goal:
50%"




Ha! That works for me!

Fuel-based Racing from Puerto Rico via Turkey to Germany

As I mentioned before, I like my inspirational music when I hit the gym - either while beefing up for a Ride to Conquer Cancer or any other time. Almost anything that conveys speed, high energy, motion, and testosterone (which you naturally produce/ secret while exercising, woman or man) tickles my nerves.
I am lucky to have access to a wide range of different genres and enjoy this diversity, politically correct or not.
So today's post is about gasoline. Contrary to the modern cyclist's belief system I do draw a lot of inspiration from fuel based songs like the following two. There. Actually, they are not just about fuel, but also about fast cars, girls (no particular order), and politics.

Daddy Jankee may or may not be a household name. I've only known him for a few years and stumbled upon him after he's hit his all time high (I believe). Yes, lots of girls in this video. That's alright to me.  Very nice to work out to if  you just let yourself go.



... and just very recently I discovered the Turkish version! :-o Which is weird in itself as this young man - İsmail Yurtseven -  was born in Hamm,  Germany. I don't think he's spent very much time in Turkey, except for holidays.
That he is still very devoted to his roots does nor surprise me as the Turkish in Germany have their own cultural niche (their neighbourhood is called "Little Istanbul" in my home town). Germans and other cultures do not really blend that well yet. Germany is still far from being a melting pot or a mosaic like North America, even though improvement is to be noted.

Anyway - even more girls and even fewer cars (I find the video rather disappointing. I was getting ready for lots of fast cars, the smell of asphalt, danger, and cops. All I get is this little guy in a dirty jersey, rain, a truck load of over the top hot women, and a car parked in the background) - but the tune is just mesmerizing to me. I've been listening to it a lot these two days while strengthening my thighs and keeping my focus.

Online Check-In is now Open?!

Holy urgency, here's what I've received yesterday in my inbox:

"Login to your Participant Centre to begin Online Check-in today. Everyone can begin their Online Check-in today by completing the video and waiver steps of the process. Don’t forget to complete the emergency contact step so that we can ensure that everyone is safe on The Ride. If you haven’t met your fundraising minimum yet, you can go back and complete the process once you have."

Already?!  I am nowhere near my goal yet. Should I feel stressed?

Back on Track

I am really feeling the motivation this morning. Going to mix me another energy drink and do a first-in-20-years 60k ride today! Noone better try to stop me!



I won't do a lot of boxing, though. And I will stay away from plastic surgery like The Stallion should have as well. I mean he is starting to look a little too much like his mom. Yikes!!

Anyway, that's beside the point, important is "getting strong now!!" Yarrr!

The Down Side of Self-Control

"Self-control is a limited resource, one we cannot go on exercising indefinitely any more than we can run 100 miles without rest and replenishment. A group of research psychologists has been proposing and refining that concept for more than a decade, and in a newly published paper, two of them report it has disturbing moral implications..."
Read the full article here.

I for one can only confirm the research psychologists' findings.
Below is a quick overview of my past weekend.
Dang it, I loved every minute of it!

Putting the Fun into Fundraising Part 1 - The Grape Escape!

 I am very excited to announce the following:

"Join local Wine Expert, John Gerum, for an enjoyable evening in support of the BC Cancer Foundation! During this two hour tasting you will sample and learn about six (6) unique wines while John leads you on a virtual tour through different wine regions of the world. Wines will be carefully selected to match delicious light appetizers prepared by the culinary team at the Sandman Hotel. Your $50 inclusive ticket price is 100% tax deductible and a receipt will be provided for each ticket purchased. Only 18 tickets are available for this exclusive tasting so don’t delay in confirming yours! This will be a memorable evening all in support of a wonderful cause. Purchase your tickets online by visiting the West Coast Wine Education website at www.wcwed.com/courses_may.html

Event is sponsored by John Gerum of West Coast Wine Education.

All proceeds will be donated to The Guildford Riders, participants in The Ride to Conquer Cancer to benefit the BC Cancer Foundation."

        

It's Now or Never!

Here's the Foundation's email I've just recieved:

"Due to your overwhelming support, the Ride to Conquer Cancer® benefiting BC Cancer Foundation has reached rider capacity and registration will close Monday, April 19 at 5:00pm.

This is the last chance to get your friends and family registered to ride along with you on this epic journey. Share the news today!"
 
Uh oh, better make up your mind right now and register already! :D
 
 

 

Goodbye Tattoos and Teething Rings

This post has little to do with cancer, cycling, or the Ride.
I learned yesterday that one of my longstanding anonymous Blogger friends has called it quits. Just like that. Really didn't see it coming. I don't think anyone did.
Here's what she wrote:
"It is with a heavy heart and shaking hands that I type this. As much as I have enjoyed "meeting" so many of you and getting to know you, sharing my life and stories, I must end this blog. I'm trying to do it in the least painful way possible, and without a lot of drama. I will absolutely miss the camaraderie and commiserating, the laughter and tears of joy you all have brought to my life, but there are things right now that require more attention than this blog. I have to focus on my health and my family, and I hope that you all understand. [...]

Thank you for all of your wonderful comments and support, it has meant so much to me!"

Tats, you've been nothing but a wonderful Blogger; fun, witty, and extradonary. I thoroughly enjoy your style.
I hope everything will be ok and I hope you're not in some kind of trouble (you do have me worried).
It's funny how anonymous people of the Internet can grow on you. You will be sorely missed and I hope that one day you will miraculously appear again. Your comments and support has meant just as much to me.
Wishing you all the best! Big hug!

Critical Mass!

Whoohoo! I am very excited as I just learned about this: 

"Critical Mass is a bicycling event typically held on the last Friday of every month in over 300 cities around the world. While the ride was originally founded in 1992 in San Francisco with the idea of drawing attention to how unfriendly the city was to cyclists, the leaderless structure of Critical Mass makes it impossible to assign it any one specific goal. In fact, the purpose of Critical Mass is not formalized beyond the direct action of meeting at a set location and time and traveling as a group through city or town streets on bikes."
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Critical_Mass

They have it in Vancouver, too! I wonder when the next event is. I guess I'll have to do some research on that. It certainly sounds like a lot of fun. Costumes are encouraged! Woow...  guess I get to wear the pirate leggings!

Image (c) by Mona Caron

My Way's the Highway

It was a gorgeous day today so I decided to definitely go riding even though I would not attend the official training ride (too early in the day and too much trouble putting my bike in the car to drive to the meeting place for not even getting a snack... But no complaining today!).
It's official: highways don't scare me anymore. They actually give you a great workout as there are hardly any red lights and you can go as fast as you like. Here's a bit of footage:



That was before my chain came off 3 times in a row. Once it got stuck so badly that I had to fiddle with it for at least 20 minutes. I wasn't sure if I could get it loose - it was a total doozy. This was also before my bottle with my DIY Gatorade got away (I was too busy fiddeling to notice) and rolled in the middle of the road. Yes, all that happened right there on the highway! YIKES!! I was lucky there was a break in traffic so I could run snatch the bottle up. For some weird reason it did not get hit by a car. I kept reminding myself that it's just a stupid bottle and that it's really not worth risking my live for it. And I really didn't. I swear. :-/

No, I am not scared and definitely ready to take on that Courier Career downtown I've been dreaming about for years (they make good money and get lots of exercise). 



By contrast, this was my serene Easter ride last weekend. The noise is actually a waterfall! Pretty, hm? Beautiful but not much of a challenge. Mixing it up is a good thing I'm sure.



Here's Rusty # 2's (I finally decided on a name after the 3 mishaps today! :D) first big outing to Canada Place. That was today as well.

Note the adventurous and very lucky bottle in the holder. That's the one!

Things that Make You go Hmmm...

I wrote it before and I am writing it again. Since this is my Blog and I am trying to keep it real, I think it's ok to share my opinion about the following with anybody who might be interested. 

First a little summary about the last training ride I attended a few weeks ago. It was wonderfully organized, there were a number of volunteers helping with the bike clinic, showing the riders the way, and cheering us on; there was a pit stop with fresh fruit, cereal bars, drinks, motivational signage, and supportive people all around.  They also printed out maps for the riders to take along so no one would get lost as one sometimes ends up all alone and confused.

Loved it and I started to understand what my $ 75.00 registration fee was for and how very justified it is, considering there are going to be a number of these rides and we all get a free T-Shirt, a high quality jersey (well, only the ones meeting the Foundation's goal get the jersey), a manual, and online- and telephone support (I am not sure the Ride Guides are being paid for their services, though. Some might. Others may not.)

Anyway, I felt looked after pretty well, even though I found myself all alone on the highway at one point. But I do digress now.

So I was looking quite forward to the training ride that is planned for tomorrow. Imagine my surprise when I read the following footnote in this email I received from the Foundation an hour ago:

"Please note: As this is a training ride, there will not be any signage posted on the route.  As well, all roads and trails are open to vehicles and other cyclists.  All riders are responsible for bringing their own copy of this map with them on the ride along with any food, water, and other gear required.  There will not be any food or drinks provided.  This ride will be a great opportunity for you to meet other participants and train in a group setting."

My question is: why would I roll out of bed at an ungodly hour on my day off to attend a training ride  - that I could easily do with my Guildford friends (or at least some of them) at a more convenient time -  if I don't even get a snack, someone to show me the way or at least a black and white Google maps printout?
Great opportunity to meet other participants? That didn't happen last time. Train in a group setting? Hello? Remember? Me? Alone? On the highway?
Hmmm...

I really don't mean to be a nag and party pooper. I am trying hard to stay upbeat, fresh and motivated - but these things don't exactly turn me on.
Is it me?
Maybe a long hard workout will help...?
I will definitely have a chat with my European twin tonight to see if she may want to go somewhere else a little later tomorrow.
I don't think I'll go to that. I just don't see the point.

Goodbye Mrs. Q

I just learned that my two young coworkers' mom has passed away on Tuesday morning peacefully and surrounded by her family.

You will not be forgotten, Mrs. Q!

About Rusty...

Some may remember my (t)rusty companion of 15+ years. The one I went through thick and thin with, the one I shared countless joyful hours with.
Well, that one left for the big farm up North on the weekend...



Oh, who am I kidding! I gave him away!! To a reckless young woman. I didn't realize just what I've done but it would soon dawn on me. I showed the young woman how to work the gears and how to use the brakes properly. She didn't pay much attention and was eager to get going already. She tried to get on from the right side. So explained to her how to get on a bike. She looked at me like I was crazy and chose to get on the way she originally intended with the use of her husband as support. I started to feel quite sick in the pit of my stomach. A friend started joking about release and waiver agreements. Oyvey. She went for a little spin which went surprisingly well - until she came downhill. Everybody watching screamed "Brakes! Braaakes!!" She smiled widely and looked a bit puzzled until she ran over her husband and kissed the pavement hello. Luckily she didn't hurt herself or anybody else. DH caught everything on tape and intended to post the video in Youtube. We also thought that we would send the footage to America's Funniest Home Videos and share the prize money we would win for sure.  But then he didn't really tape the crash as he had pushed the wrong button. Aw. Well I guess it's for the best.
Two days later the proud new bike owner was completely out of commission. She must have overdone it grossly as she was flat on her back with sore legs. Couldn't walk anymore. Had to stay in bed! :-o So the story goes. I swear I am not making this stuff up!

You take good care of Rusty, you reckless young woman! Take it easy - and wear a helmet for crying out loud!

God, I feel guilty on so many different levels...

Challenge # 4 - Teambuilding

The Easter holidaze is definitely over and the Guildford Riders are getting busy.
Everybody has been emailing back and forth which is really wonderful. 
Now it's just a matter of getting all team members together, which seems to present yet another challenge. 9 different people with 9 different jobs working varying days and times of the week living in different areas in the Lower Mainland. Some of them have never met in real life and most don't really know what this pink haired symbol of a person looks like in reality. And I am not sure how they look. So how are we going to pick each other out on the training ride on Saturday?  Will some of us have to take time off so we can meet? (I hope that won't be necessary.) Will I have to post a real photo of myself somewhere?

For heavens sake, will my more or less secret identity finally be uncovered?!  

(What will they think of the real me with my hybrid bike of mediocre speed, my fundraising troubles and sugar animosities...? I'd better do another 3 hour workout just now...)

Inspiring People: The Man who started it all

This Blog just wouldn't be complete without him. Every man, woman and child in Canada knows him and he is a national hero.

The one and only Terry Fox.

Just reading about him brings tears to my eyes. What an amazing person he was...

Definitely watch his documentary if you get the chance. It is simply awesome.

"Terrance Stanley "Terry" Fox, (July 28, 1958 – June 28, 1981) was a Canadian humanitarian, athlete, and cancer research activist. He was a distance runner and basketball player for his Port Coquitlam, British Columbia high school and Simon Fraser University. His right leg was amputated in 1977 after he was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, though he continued to run using an artificial leg. He also played wheelchair basketball in Vancouver after losing his leg, winning three national championships.
In 1980, he attempted to run across Canada in the Marathon of Hope to raise cancer awareness. Fox hoped to raise one dollar for each of Canada's 24 million people. His effort began with little fanfare as he left St. John's, Newfoundland in April and ran the equivalent of a full marathon every day. Fox had become a national star by the time he reached Ontario; he made numerous appearances with the public, businessmen and politicians in his efforts to raise money for research. He was forced to end his run outside of Thunder Bay after 143 days and 5,280 kilometres when his cancer spread to his lungs. His hopes of overcoming the disease and completing his marathon ended when he died nine months later.
Fox was the youngest person ever named a Companion of the Order of Canada, the nation's highest civilian award. He won the 1980 Lou Marsh Award as the nation's top sportsman and was named Canada's Newsmaker of the Year in both 1980 and 1981. Today, millions of people in over 60 countries participate in the annual Terry Fox Run, first held in 1981 and now the world's largest one-day fundraiser for cancer research; over $500 million has been raised in his name. Considered a national hero, many buildings, roads and parks have been named in Fox's honour across the country."
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terry_Fox

DIY Gatorade

I'm a purist and not a sucker who would spend a lot of money on a chemical brew with questionable value to my health. But I still get pretty exhausted from my 3hr workouts. That's why I believe Liz Applegate when she writes in her Encyclopedia of Sports & Fitness Nutrition that " in workouts lasting an hour or more, you need carbohydrate replenishment as well as water. Sports drinks provide both."
She continues that "Sports drinks are scientific marvels, and few natural foods or beverages can match their formulations." Grml... I'm not sure I like this last sentence very much. I certainly won't just take Lizzie's (if I may) word for it. " If you want to try to make your own, however," However! I do like howevers and am all ears!
"mix

• 9 teaspoons of sugar" Sugar!? Yikes!! Can't I use Stevia?
• "1/8 teaspoon salt, and
• the juice of one lemon into
• 3 cups of water.

Aim for 5 to 12 ounces every 15 to 20 minutes for workouts lasting more than 60 minutes."

So I gave it a try. Lucky my MIL forgot her sugar at my house last time she visited.  I don't buy the stuff. That's why she brought her own.
The homemade sports drink tastes just like lemonade and actually really works! I was able to keep cracking jokes after my last 3hr monster workout and even went to get the mail and drag in the garbage bins after!  It certainly wasn't like that before. I would just sit in the corner, hate myself, the world and everybody in it for an hour or so.
If sugar does the trick, so be it. I shall drink salty sugar drinks with lots of water in order to make it to Seattle!
But after I will switch right back to my beloved Stevia.
Sugar remains pure white evil in my world.

Here's reason # 1, the other ones are common knowledge.  I will definitely buy fair trade should I run out before the Ride.

Getting Backup!

Whoohoo! The Guildford Riders have a new team member! And I recruited her!
She's an abbrasive and stubborn European like myself, still hasn't raised a penny, her bike looks nerdy, and I am sure our training rides will be a lot like this:

I couldn't be happier!

(I wonder if she'll  object to this post? I don't think so, it's just our way of jankin' each others' chains...)