224workouts

Working out for 224 days in support of the dedicated athletes of CanoeKayak Canada

23 May 2012

Almost 4000 blue noses!

Well to say it was a success would be understating the participation at last weekend’s Doctor’s Nova Scotia Kids 4.2km run, an annual warm up to the Halifax Blue Nose Marathon. The youth run had the largest-ever number of runners, with 3,483 kids taking part – three of which were my great kids Oscar, Max and Phoenix. The initiative taken by Doctor’s Nova Scotia to partner on this event and others like the Kids Run Club, are fantastic proactive initiatives that help us have a healthy community – their vision as an organization is commendable.

Oscar has long passed my speed and Max was kind enough to slow down for me until he saw the finish line and darted away in a full out sprint. Phoenix ran with Steve in their first ever road race. The day was beautiful, sunny and full of fun, but best of all was how it set us up to feel great for the long weekend ahead.

In addition to gardening my way through the rest of Saturday, Sunday and Monday, I was taking time to follow the fantastic results of the CanoeKayak athletes who were competing at the first World Cup of the season in Poznan, Poland. This event was used by many countries to help finalize the selection of their Olympic team which means that the best of the best were on hand to compete. The final medal tally showed Canada and Germany on top with 9 medals; Belarus came in second with 6 medals followed by the 2012 Olympic host nation, Great Britain with 6 medals.

Canada’s Mark Oldershaw won gold in the C1 1000m event  ahead of Sebastian Brendel (GER). Ben Russell (CAN) followed in third place. This result by Mark earned him a spot n this summer’s Canadian Olympic Canoe Team.

This feels incredible,” said Oldershaw, an Olympic team member in 2008. “The last few months have been such a build-up and to get it done on the day feels so good. The headwind was strong and I tried to not let it get to me. I knew I was as good as all these guys and once I reached the 500 I made sure they weren’t going to get to me.

In another great Canadian performance, Adam Van Koeverden (CAN) finished with a bronze medal with Rene Holten Poulsen (DEN) and Eirik Veraas Larsen (NOR) who came in first and second respectively.

‘’It was good overall but sometimes early in the season I forget the pace a little bit,’’ said Van Koeverden, a three-time Olympic medallist. ‘’I knew Rene was going to be fast in the end so I just tried to stay relaxed and save some energy. I know my last 300 metres will be much, much better come August.’’

For the fist time since the start of my 224workouts challenge, I was able to follow the great results of all of our Canadian Canoe and Kayak athletes and see the results of their daily efforts. In a very small way, it helped me reflect on the effort I have put in since the start of the year and the benefit it has given me.

So today, in closing, is a special day because there are 100 days left of my 224 workouts challenge. I have started tweeting my workouts on a daily basis and plan to do so until the end of the challenge.

For those of you who have not yet joined (Rick Fair), now is the time! Let’s support our great athletes who are giving everything they have to represent us this summer in London…and all it costs is one hour a day of our time (never mind all the benefit we get back!).

To read more on the Doctor’s Nova Scotia run read the Chronicle Herald article: http://thechronicleherald.ca/sports/98107-got-my-nose-blue-youth-runner-exults

For a complete list of the Poznan World Cup results can be found on the event website – http://www.kayakpl.com/2012/WC/index.htm

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09 May 2012
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I am Canadian: the War Canoe.

I went to my first war canoe practice this morning at 5:45am. Painful but great, and definitely worth writing about.

Remember this gem? Feel the Canadian pride?! We all come together with the mention of the beaver, hockey, tuques, peacekeeping and beer but we are missing a great Canadian symbol…the War Canoe.

The War Canoe is a Canadian boat in the flatwater racing family which traces roots back to the indigenous peoples’ large canoes intended for war. It is not sanctioned by the International Canoe Federation but is an important part of Canadian canoe clubs and regattas coast to coast. If you haven’t seen it, take a look at this ware canoe race from the 2011 Sprint National Championships.

The large wooden boat carries 14 women and/or men with a cox in the back to steer the boat and paddle as a part of the team. Each of the 14 paddlers (7 on the left and 7 on the right) kneel on one knee with their back foot wedged between ribs of wood, toes curled and hanging on to help keep the body from falling into the water as the paddler stretches out with all of their reach to drop the paddle into the water.

The technique of the stroke is very different from a standard canoe or dragonboat. It involves twisting of the hips, holding a straight top arm, and keeping the paddle underwater until it gets to the hip at which point it is snapped out of the water and driven back to achieve maximum reach. All the time keeping in perfect sync with the other paddlers in the boat. The trick to keeping the heavy boat at top speed is to be on top of the water for as much of the race possible. This means that the paddlers must put all of their weight on the paddle as they pull through the water so their weight is not in the boat – a bit of a game of trust for first timers. I have seen (and admittedly have been a part of) a couple falls out of the boat over the years.

War canoe is not for the faint of heart or mind. It takes everything out of you physically and once that is gone you have to draw from something else to finish the race or practice. I have often heard great coaches say that by the 3/4 point in a good war canoe race, crews don’t have anything left to give physically and at that point it is just heart that pulls you through.

But I don’t want to scare you. For me there is no better team sport. The war canoe brings people together as teammates who have to rely one one another for everything from balance and timing to encouragement and fun. Some of my best moments have been in the war canoe crews I have had the pleasure to be a part of over the years. And one of the best parts is that it is a life long sport with generations of families signing up to their local canoe clubs to be a part of the team year after year.

What a lot of people don’t know is that in Flatwater racing, the sport of canoe and kayak you see raced at the Olympic Games, the canoes are referred to internationally as ‘C’ boats. The canoe with one athlete is the C-1, with two is the C-2 and with four is the C-4. The ‘C’ in the title of these boats stands for Canadian and is used by coaches, officials and athletes as the common term for the sport all over the world.

Canada has really made their mark in the sport of Sprint Canoeing.

In addition to the name of the boat, Canada has been successful over the years in producing some of the World’s top coaches and athletes in the sport of Canoe. In my lifetime some of the greatest athletes that have come out of Canada in Canoe have been: John Wood (Olympic Silver medalist), Larry Cain, (Olympic Gold and Silver Medalist), Steve Giles (Olympic Bronze medalist), Tom Hall (Olympic Bronze medalist), Laurence Vincent-Lapointe, and Mallorie Nicholson (Gold medalists at the World Championships).

But it is not just results that have made Canada important in the international Canoe movement. With a desire to promote and achieve equity in what has traditionally been (and continues to be) a male dominated sport, Canada has been instrumental in the promotion of women’s canoe. The efforts of CanoeKayak Canada and the Canadian female canoe athletes have been tireless over the last 3 decades and have shifted the International Canoe Federation’s thinking on women in canoe. This effort has led to the inclusion of women in international racing and a push for inclusion on the Olympic program. Canada has supported international camps and coaching seminars to promote canoeing in countries who do not have a history in the sport and CanoeKayak Canada staff help lead international committees to understand the importance of the sport of canoe and the importance of equity in the sport.

The visible positive shift in the international canoe culture can be attributed in large part to the efforts of people who love the Canadian canoe.

In addition to the Canadian Canoe athletes competing for medals in London, some of the younger members of the canoe community will have a unique opportunity this summer at the Olympic Games to profile Canada’s great boat – the War Canoe. By winning the 2011 National Championships (race in video above) the Cheema War Canoe won the opportunity to be the face of the Canadian War Canoe for the world to see in London.

This weekend at the Cheema Aquatic Club in Waverley, Nova Scotia the newly built war canoe the team will take to London will be unveiled and the crew will take their fist paddle in the new boat for anyone who is interested to see. Here are the details for all those interested in attending:

We would like to invite you to a boat launching event as fourteen young paddlers from Cheema Aquatic Club and their coach will take the war canoe they will paddle in London this August for its maiden voyage at Cheema Aquatic Club on Saturday, May 12 at 11:00 a.m. The team was nationally selected to show the uniquely Canadian war canoe to the World as a demonstration event at the CanoeKayak venue at the 2012 Olympic Games.

Local builder Robert Fraser has just put the last few coats of finish on the wooden boat and will proudly unveil his brand new craft at a ceremonial launch in true Nova Scotia fashion. Community members, media and paddling enthusiasts are invited to attend.

Date: Saturday, May 12 at (11:00 a.m.)
Location: Cheema Aquatic Club, 1390 Cobequid Road, Waverley, Nova Scotia

Sadly I won’t be in London this summer to cheer the Canadian Canoe’s (and Kayak’s) on in person but I will be cheering as loudly as I can from the couch at home and in the meantime, it is 5am war canoe practices as a part of the 224workout challenge to support those who will be there!

In closing, a more recent piece of Canadian pride beautifully written and spoken by Shane Koyczan for the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver…enjoy.

Posted in CanoeKayak Canada and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
24 Apr 2012

Hiatus Mexico.

I did think about writing a blog during my week, but the mohitos beaconed and good intentions quickly fell by the wayside. That being said, I am happy to report the daily workouts on the 224 trail were maintained (workout + blog is a whole other level of commitment than workout alone).

Steve and I were at our friends, Bethany and Peter’s, wedding held on the Mayan Riviera at the Dreams Tulum Resort. To get there you fly into Cancun and drive just over one hour down the east coast on a highway dotted with grand entrances to beachfront resorts every 10 kilometres or so. The last major resort you reach is Dreams, located just minutes away from Tulum, a small historic town that boasts one of the sites of the Mayan Ruins. These are not the most spectacular ruins you can find on the peninsula but they were the ones that acted as the fortress to protect the coast from unwelcome visitors arriving by sea…not unlike Citadel Hill in Halifax. One of the benefits of these ruins is that they sit on top of one of the best beached in the Mayan Riviera.

Steve and I cooled off in the ocean after walking for an hour in the sun through the ruins.

Several people have asked me about the safety of Mexico given the assault of a Canadian woman several months ago (which follows several other publicized reports of violence in the past few years). We left the resort four times on 2 guided tours and 2 unguided tours and let completely safe on all. In our experience the Mayan Rivera was not only a beautiful but safe place to visit.

So, the workouts…

I spent one hour of the first two days at the resort gym running the treadmill or using the weights but the anxiety of missing out on being with friends (or just reading on the beach) drove me to find new ways to keep active. Throughout the trip we played beach volleyball, participated in water aerobics, ran on the trails around the resort (oh, so hot!), hiked underwater caves, snorkelled the world’s second largest reef and did yoga on the beach. Making workouts social was the key to success in Mexico.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
One of the most memorable experiences was hiking through the underground cenotes (underground rivers). Unique to the Yucatan peninsula are kilometres of underground rivers that have been formed over thousands of years. One of these river systems was only recently discovered and has been carefully regulated as a nature reserve to guarantee its preservation. We were able to visit this cenote in a very small group and following a series of strict rules that assure we were causing as little damage to the environment possible.

One we were showered to remove all chemicals we were fitted with a wetsuit, helmet and headlamp and off we went into an underground world that was fantastic.
Back at the resort we spent most of our time at the pool playing games or just floating around with a drink in the sun.

What a great trip, with great friends! You didn’t want it to end…..except to get home to the kids – who I missed terribly and who decided with me that we should all run the Bluenose marathon newt month. So I have registered an the kids and myself and I look forward to seeing everyone out this year.

Enjoy your week everyone!

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06 Apr 2012
4 Comments

Hal Johnson and Joanne McLeod (and Buck)

Hal Johnson and Joanne McLeod. If you are Canadian and were able to access television in the 70s, 80s or 90s, I would put money on these two names being forever a part of your psyche.

I thought about Hal and Joanne a bit more this week after having the absolute pleasure of having a conversation with Kelly Murumets, President & CEO of ParticipACTION. Conducting an informal poll in my office among very savvy marketing and communications prowess, there was unanimity the BODYBREAK campaign must be the most successful television marketing campaigns of our personal history.

I give this next video a special shout out because of its highlight of CanoeKayak :)

It can’t be riveting production or special effects, nor is it award winning copy that pulls at your heartstrings or makes you fall off your chair in hysterics. I don’t think it is the uniqueness of the recipes or the special guest stars (like in the public service announcement below)…no, I figure it must be because of three things:

  1. The lovable Hal Johnson and Joanne McLeod
  2. The consistency of their message
  3. And our deep down belief in the importance of physical activity

We all know that physical activity and healthy living should and must be a part of our lives and Hal and Joanne made it so simple in their series of PSAs produced over three decades. They made us see that healthy eating and getting active was easy and fun with no barrier to entry.

Officially the production of the segments shut down on 2001 but we can still find them playing on tv today for a new generation to appreciate.

The more I continue on this challenge, the more I am inspired by my productive state of mind and just feeling overall great that was evangelized in the BODYBREAK, and it has often had me thinking about what is lost when we don’t stay active. Before taking on this challenge on January 1st, I had really fallen off the wagon of being physically healthy. It wasn’t that I was running less or hitting the gym only a couple times a week, but I was going weeks, months even, without so much as a 30 minute walk.

As with everything in life, it is hard to gain perspective until you have moved on from a point in time or circumstance and for me in 2010, I had no grasp on the effect lack of activity was having on my life. Some specific examples that were not all consuming but have since all but disappeared are:

  • making excuses for why I would prefer watching the games the kids played rather than participating,
  • not sleeping as well as I had in the past,
  • losing motivation by the end of the day to do anything productive,
  • being a bit short tempered at times and feeling frustrated,
  • inspiring positive thinking and general creativity about problems and opportunities in my life.

This last one is a big one and probably the biggest benefit I have had from being active on a daily basis. My 224workouts have turned into my thinking time and there is something about being physical that makes you feel like you can take on any challenge. When my running shoe hits the pavement, my neurons start connecting and without direction, I seem to start thinking about exciting opportunities and how to tackle them. I have even at times taken an iPod to record my thoughts when I think they are really good :) fyi…when exercising outdoors, I have chosen to never listen to music and I would suggest it to anyone as the key to this great thinking.

The first person to suggest working out music-free to me was a great man who had a big impact on my early life, Mr. Buck Dawson.

Buck established the International Swimming Hall of Fame in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida but for me he was the heart of AKOMAK, the swim camp I attended of 5 wonderful summers as a kid. And since there is no way to do justice to how wonderful of a man Buck was to I have linked the story of his life posted on the Camp Chikopi website (it is better than the one in the New York times).

At camp I wore a silver bathing suit and he liked to call me the silver bullet. I was never short of time to listen to what he had to say and much of his advise sticks with me today. Buck lived sport and physical fitness and right up until the end of his life he would be out at the crack of dawn to hike the trails in the Ontario woods as the swimmers hit the water for their early birds swims.

I remember Buck stopping me one morning as I was out for a run. On his face there was a look of seriousness he would present if he was not at all happy with what he was seeing. I was told to take off my earphones and put my disc-man away because I would never be able to truly appreciate the birds and the trees around me with all that noise. I listened to Buck, and I still listen today and when I see people run past me with their music pumping, I wonder if they can hear through the noise.

When writing this blog I took some time to look back at some old camp pictures and read some pieces on line, all which gave me some smiles. I know there might be some of you reading this who had a chance to know Buck so I thought I would post a tribute video I found online. And for those of you being introduced to Chikopi and it’s sister camp AKOMAK (the greatest sports caps of all time), I have posted a “day in the life” video just to give you a taste.

This Sunday, Steve and I head to Mexico for one week!… I bought a new bathing suit (thank you 224workouts). This trip will be a true test of will as the morning choice will be 1. workout a the resort gym vs. 2. Drinks at the pool. But, I am committed and will update the blog with any interesting workouts worth sharing.

so….Until next time, keep fit and have fun!

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24 Mar 2012
2 Comments

Running with Moose.

The day started today with my son Max (or Moose as his friends and football opponents call him) wanting to join me on a run. Instead of our regular visit to Shubie Park – which we love – we decided to mix it up a bit and visit the Cole Harbour/Lawrencetown Coastal Provincial Park and what a great idea that turned out to be.

The park is beautifully kept by volunteers from the Cole Harbour Rural Heritage Society, and since I moved to Halifax in 1996, the park has been improved upon to be one of the best to visit in the HRM. On one of the well kept signs (found throughout the park) we learned that this 400 acre provincial park was originally used for its beautiful hardwoods, easily transported out of the deep channels by schooners (rather than over the rough primitive roads of the time). Later, Cole Harbour was a prosperous, well cultivated market garden and dairy community serving the city of Halifax, and the farm was one of the most successful of the 1800s. Two centuries of farming left a picturesque landscape which now can be used by anyone with some time and a desire to get out and active.

So, Max and I started to run and expected to do a short 30 minute loop but the day was beautiful and the trails kept us wanting to see more so we kept going.

At one point in the run Max said, “mum the trails are like the different levels Mario Kart, they are all so different!” It was true. The trails offered everything from well kept crushed gravel to soft paths through the fields to obstacle cart-like rock and root paths in dead forest. There were bridges and benches to jump over, streams and lookouts to reach.

The blog idea for the day was done. A photo album off the trails from the park to hopefully encourage anyone interested to get out and experience them in person.

Unfortunately, I didn’t have my camera with me on the run so Max and I encouraged the rest of the gang at home to get off the Wii Mario Kart (ironic I know, but it is true, that is what they were doing when we got home!) and join us for a second round through the park – this time walking.

I hope you enjoy the photos and maybe even get out to the park!

This first one is Max and me at home ready to go for our run.

The start of the trail…a hill of course :)

Level 1: The forest.

Level 2: The ocean view.

Level 3: Over the streams.

(funny enough, this trail was appropriately labeled “the run”)

Level 4: Farmer’s fileds

Level 5: The pick-your-feet-up-before-you-wipe-out. (Moose and I both wiped out :) )

Level 6: The success…and the fail. Who knew 8 year olds are so fast and for so long.

Workout complete. Tomorrow a completely different experience awaits with the ViPR Bootcamp at Banook (12:30 for those interested). I am actually a bit nervous about this one – I hope I make it through without too much pain :) The update will come.

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22 Mar 2012
1 Comment

Healthy communities (part deux)

This is really the thermometer on my back deck in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada today – March 22, 2012.

I love seeing everyone out and about, the city is alive. If there was a happiness meter measuring happiness levels in citizens of Halifax (and all other above seasonal city temps citizens), I am certain it would be off the charts. And with great temperatures come activity, with activity come socialization, with socialization come innovation, with innovation come opportunity, with opportunity comes happiness, health and prosperity…too easy.

It is perplexing to me that this concept is not better understood and better funded. In the Genuine Progress Index for Nova Scotia that was assembled a decade ago it was reported that:

If just 10% fewer Nova Scotians were physically inactive – that is, if the rate of physical inactivity were 56% instead of 62% – the province could save an estimated $4.6 million every year in avoided hospital, drug, and physician costs, and $7.5 million in total health care spending. Added to an estimated $17 million in productivity gains, total economic savings to Nova Scotia from a 10% reduction in physical inactivity amount to $24.7 million

I had the pleasure of meeting with Farida Gabbani yesterday. Farida a Senior Director in Physical Activity, Sport and Recreation, and a woman I respect very much. We got to chatting and I was floored to learn that less than 1% of the Nova Scotia Health Budget goes to physical activity sport and recreation. And in a current sampling of grade 11 girls in Nova Scotia only 1 (one) girl of 2000 reviewed was meeting the optimal levels of physical activity for that age group. This is a serious problem.

To bring it to a more personal level, one of my three wonderful kids has been sick since January. After spending the new year in Main (as you would know from the blog) where she had a fantastic time filled with skiing, playing and laughing, we returned home to a head cold that she just couldn’t kick. Already a picky eater, the cold make her want to eat less. Her empty stomach combined with medication she takes daily for another condition led to painful stomach aches and vomiting. As you can imagine activity dropped off and we were into a downward spiral of sickness, fatigue, loss of appetite and then more sickness.

Many trips to the doctor have led to more prescriptions and more fatigue and more sickness. The result is a really unhappy seven year old and parents who are at the end of their ropes :)

Recently, I have decided that we are going to combat this sickness not with medication but instead with physical activity. It is painful getting her out for a walk with complaints of stomach aches, but the results have been that she is starting to feel hungry after the activity and after three months of suffering I think (I hope) we are going to get back on track.

I remember when my kids were little and sick with a clod, my mum would always say “bundle them up and get them outside for a walk”. Mum was right and her advise holds true today.

And as soon as we get back on track with my daughter, she and I will be focusing just a little bit more on staying healthy through physical activity…and no more trips to the doctors! My newest recruit to the 224workouts challenge!

As for me, I have been really feeling great working out. Running has been my workout of choice as the weather is great, and looking at the lake gets me felling like I should get out for a paddle. I see on facebook that this Sunday from 1230-130pm my friend Erica Bowie is hosting a ViPR Bootcamp at Banook Canoe Club (17 Banook Ave, Dartmouth). I don’t know what it is but i’m game. If anyone wants to come and join me I am sure it will be a great time.

Check it out here:

http://www.facebook.com/events/206374306133421/?notif_t=plan_user_invited

Enjoy the weather and stay active!

Posted in CanoeKayak Canada
16 Mar 2012

Healthy communities

Normally at this time of year, you would expect to drive down Prince Albert Road in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia and see something like this…

Or more recently, in the heart of Halifax you might pass by the thousands of skaters on the new Emera Oval - a wonderful legacy of the 2011 Halifax Canada Games…

Unfortunately, this year was a short one for skating. The lakes on which we live were completely opened weeks ago, and last weekend the city of Halifax announced due to warm temperatures, the oval was closed for the season. Halifax Citizens walking to work with skates on their shoulders (a sight traditionally only seen along Ottawa’s Rideau Canal), will have to be a memory until the ice freezes over next year.

But active life goes on in Halifax. In fact last weekend it was remarkable how many people hit the pavement for a Saturday run.

Driving along the boardwalk on Lake Banook, it was hard not to make notice of the numbers of individuals and groups getting out and getting active on the beautiful 10 degree day.

It got me thinking….”why are there so many people running?” I quickly slipped into RocketScientist mode and answered my own question. “It must be because they are preparing for the  Bluenose Marathon”.

Later in the day when it was my turn to run around the lake (thank you 225workouts), I got to thinking, if a local event like the Scotiabank Bluenose Marathon can inspire so many to get out and get active, maybe all we need is more events for a healthier community. I’m not talking about high performance sporting events, as much as I love them, rather community “get out and move your butt events”. Maybe we should host the worlds largest boot camp on the Halifax Commons or just a group walk in one of our beautiful parks…(I have linked the NS Parks resource as a one-stop-shop)…

  • Shubie Park
  • Point Pleasant Park
  • West River Sheet Harbour Picnic Park
  • Taylors Head Provincial Park
  • Sir Sandford Flemming Park
  • Queensland Beach Provincial Park
  • Porters Lake Provincial Park
  • Oakfield Provincial Park
  • Musquodoboit Valley Provincial Park
  • Moser River Seaside Park
  • McCormack Beach Provincial Park
  • Martinique Beach Provincial Park
  • Long Lake Provincial Park
  • Kidston Lake/ Rockingstone Park
  • Jerry Lawrence (Lewis Lake) Provincial Park
  • Hemlock Ravine
  • Elderbank Provincial Park
  • Dollar Lake Provincial Park
  • Crystal Crescent Beach Provincial Park
  • Cole Harbour -Lawrencetown Coastal Heritage Park System; Lawrencetown Beach
  • Cleveland Beach Provincial Par
  • Clam Harbour Beach Provincial Park
  • Bedford Lions Sandy Lake Park
…all this thinking got me thinking :) about how we might engage people to get out and active from a government or community perspective.
There is no doubt a looming healthcare crisis with an aging population – compounded by a generation of YouTube craving, video gaming couch lovers with a back seat consideration for fitness – creates a future that none of us want to bear. Please don’t let this sound judgmental…I am as guilty as the next mum who will spent hours on the computer with my kids enjoying the greatest soccer plays of all time instead of creating them. But how do we make ourselves want to get active?
It is about opportunity, incentive and routine. Make sure people have the opportunity (gym membership, access to registration…), show them the incentive (weight loss, disease prevention, just being able to play with my kids and grand-kids, tax credits…) and watch the routine produce results.
My mind is still reeling, but I have to get to bed. I have promised to workout early tomorrow morning with a girlfriend and I am certain that burst of activity will make my day feel great. To all the 224workout challengers…join me tomorrow for a workout and lets get this weekend off to a great start!
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13 Mar 2012

Rough week.

This will be short and sweet because I am sick.

On a positive note…our Halifax Recreational Sport League Team “Wasted Potential” used our height for good and not evil as we took a 29-18 win over the opponents. This puts us at 8-2 and second place in the league and absolutely takes all the fun out of it because we are too close to #1 :)

On a final note… I am looking for help. My partner Leah and I are working on a site idea to help fund Canadian Amateur Athletes but first we are collecting data about why people donate. If you have 5 minutes, please fill out the following survey:

https://docs.google.com/a/blondiefish.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dG1vVVNydlJPYjIwV1FZRjY5VE52a3c6MQ#gid=0

I will update the blog with the progress of the site and if all goes well we should have something up by early summer.

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05 Mar 2012

What a great day #65 turned out to be.

It was a wonderful day today with a fun article in the Chronicle Herald highlighting the 224workout challenge!

http://thechronicleherald.ca/business/70154-sheepdog-president-puts-busy-business

The article led to record hits on the blog and a number of people reaching out to send their support and well wishes. It was great hearing from different people from different parts of life past.

This comes on the heels of what I must say was probably my worst three days of working out to date.

Traveling and working out can be near impossible and when it is cross continental travel it takes some serious will power to pull it off. Take last Friday as an example, a 500am start on the west coast with a stop over in Newark for four hours led to an arrival time of 1045pm Atlantic Standard. My Friday workout consisted of about 45 minutes walking up and down the Newark terminals (stopping because I was feeling conscious of the fact I looked a bit crazy) and then a series of leg lifts and crunches when I got home. Pretty weak. Airports should have gyms – Goodlife take note!

Even worse…Thursday I was in meetings all day at Google and tried justifying lunchtime bowling as 30 minutes of my daily workout – really weak!

Here is a pic of the Google bowling alley…

Back home now and back on track. Today I got a great run in on my favorite running loop and followed it with an hour in the pool with the kids. It is amazing how much an hour in a pool with kids can take out of you.

But my most exciting part of the day was spent with Ian Miller (Marketing and Communications, CKC) and Andrew Russell, 2008 Olympic Canadian Canoe team member going over what will be the first “CKC Club to Club webinar” set to happen this Wednesday, March 7th, 2012 at 200pm AST. The webinar initiative is to get clubs sharing information with other clubs about how they have made their system successful and how we can build a healthier club system in Canada.

Andrew and his family have been long time leaders and supporters of Banook Canoe Club in Dartmouth Nova Scotia. Although fundraising can be a souse of struggle for many amateur sports organizations it is a key part of the success. Banook Canoe Club, driven by Andrew and a small group of friends, has been a leader in this area hosting events that have raised tens of thousands of dollars to support operations and drive awareness of canoeing and the canoe club (all while having a lot of fun).

On Wednesday Andrew has prepared a 30 minute presentation to any CKC member interested in joining, to share his insights on what makes a great fundraiser and how to bring people together. We already have over 20 people registered but the more the merrier. If anyone is interested, please reach out to Ian Miller at imiller@canoekayak.ca to get signed up.

A special thank you to Andrew, who is taking time out of his training in Florida to help share his love of the sport to make the system better overall. He is a super example of the great athletes we have in CanoeKayak.

So with the workouts done for the day it is time to enjoy a night on the couch and an episode of Castle. Night all.

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28 Feb 2012

i’m back.

I have been wondering when I would be back to write my latest blog, and today the inspiration came inspired.

John Demont from the Chronicle Herald called to see if I would respond to an interview. I answered thinking it wouldn’t be possible given i’m heading out to San Francisco in the morning, but John surprised me. He said…”well,, what are you doing today” I explained that I had a busy day and then I had to complete my 224workout so there would be no time but John suggested he workout with me.

FANTASTIC! If only life could be this easy all off the time? I am thinking maybe it can?! Next time you have a meeting, see if the  person you are meeting is willing to do it over a treadmill? I promise it will get the juices flowing! I think so many of us are just trying to fit working out into our daily life….the fact that our minds are super productive at these times is just a bonus.

I will post the article when it comes out, but kudos must go to a reporter who had to stop cycling because he is sweating on his notes :)

On another note, one of our great Athletes Andrew Russell, will be leading a CKC webinar with me on Wednesday March 7th, 2012 AST to talk about how clubs can fund-raise in creative ways. The webinar series is one of the new initiatives the ckc is doing to help clubs share valuable information learned as they develop in the club system. Andrew and his family have been a great supporters of Banook Canoe Club and are examples of parents and athletes giving back. If you are interested in registering for Andrew’s webinar, or if you want to check out upcoming topics for future webinars please contact imiller@canoekayak.ca.

I am off to Google headquarters tomorrow and maybe I can find a cool way to work out….stay tuned and I will post pics!

Night all. Julia

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