As I sit here on Saturday night relaxing with a glass of red wine, sitting at my new patio set I am feeling a little reflective. I am also feeling happiness and contentment. Content is not a word that would normally be associated with me or I would use to describe how I was feeling. I am going thru some health issues and at this stage we are not sure what exactly is going on. Before I go any further it's nothing major... Well I hope anyways it's just dealing with my left knee. This pain is nothing like I have felt there before. It's also located in a different spot too. So my personal trainer and my chiropractor are talking and it could be a bone bruise or a tear which is much worse. It happened in Montana at the Spartans. When I came home it was OK and my whole body was sore. But the knee felt good then bad, good and now it's staying at bad. Now the old me would be pissed, frustrated and mad at the world but where does that get me? Is it really being productive and helping anything being that way? No it's not so right now I am focusing my positive energy watching what I do and the most important thing is to get this to heal. I am doing everything that is recommended and actually resting it too. I am switching to no impact workouts and will be getting back on my bike again. I can do this and I can get this to heal without surgery (if it needs that). I have a game plan for my races and decided to do these races either alone or hooking up with Mudd Queens and Kathleen too if we are doing the same races together. I am not scared to go alone as I always make friends along the way and will find someone or a group to hang out with. That's what makes it more fun. Meeting new people and at times enjoying the location of the race. I am nowhere near being an elite athlete so why not take this time to improve my skills and meet others in the amazing race world. I have met and have become friends with some really cool and awesome people! I am always grateful for that.

I still haven't heard if my temporary contract will be turned into a permanent one yet. The old me would be bothered by it but for me everything happens for a reason. If it doesn't work out then there is another path I am to follow and I will make something else work. If it does it's great and a perfect fit for me. I love working where I do and work with some great people. Despite my challenges I do have the perfect home and work life right now. I thought it was funny that they wanted me to be in a promotional video showing a healthy work life balance thing. I got to play badminton while they filmed it. We will see how it turns out. Should be entertaining.

Since December I still can't believe I am still feeling this way. Calm, happy and content. I have also enjoyed the single life discovering myself. I haven't been in a relationship since October, this is the longest I have been single and it's been great. It's given me time to find out who I am. I know what I want and don't want and I don't need a man to make me happy, I can make myself happy. I want a man to compliment my life by adding some new stuff but also finding that thing we like doing together. Also want to be able to have my own thing and they have theirs. We don't need to be joined at the hip we can still be independent in a committed relationship. Travel together at times but not all the time. Just someone who can support me in my thing and I would support them in theirs. No drama or mind games. Just open and honest and likes to do a variety of things. A person that likes getting out in nature and experiencing life. Someone who I can talk to and laugh with. When it's right it will be right. Until then just enjoying the journey. I don't think I am asking for a lot. I found out thru dating and past relationships that people lie. What ever happened with honesty. I rather be hurt with the truth then hurt with a lie. I am a pretty smart person and can read people pretty good. I listen to my gut and it's almost always right. I may never find out the truth right away but eventually the truth does come out. It hurts and it stings but at the same time I am working on how I react to the situation. What that person did is no reflection on me as a person. They chose to lie and they have to live with themselves and the outcome that may happen from that lie.

So I started to write this Saturday night but like most blog posts they don't get finished right away and it takes me a few days to get what I want to say out and written.

Sunday morning I met up with a friend and we went biking together. Went about 7 miles and for most of it wasn't bad and not much traffic which is always a good thing. First time out on my road bike after my Olympic Triathlon in Banff back in September last year. Before I got sick looking at it and it brought back mixed memories of pain and happiness finishing. I had no accidents and the knee did OK until we were heading back and had a strong head wind. I was able to relax the rest of the day but then at night pain sets in and I can't put pressure on it going up stairs. Hurts and throbs. I haven't felt pain like this in that knee before so I have to admit I am slightly worried about it. I haven't been feeling the greatest and still get pretty tired easily. I now realize that my body is focusing it's energy on my knee to try and help it. I am taking supplements to help with the energy and the knee issues so I am on the right track. I have my next race June 20th and it needs to be better by then, even if I have to walk it. It's only a fun 5km so isn't a major concern. I just want to do it. lol 

I see my Doctor later today so not sure what is going to be said but maybe I can get into places to get it looked at. Wish me luck!

Until Next Time...

So many different titles I could use or say but it was an epic and a brutally hard weekend. Spartan Race said it was the hardest race since the World Championships in Vermont last year. Norm that created the Vermont one created Montana. So for me to say I did both Founders Races in Montana is a massive honor and a major accomplishment. My times sucked for both but I went with the mindset to just finish and make it thru both in one piece. I did and that's all that matters and time doesn't mean anything when I am not trying to win money. For being as hard as it was and for only deciding two weeks prior to run both I did awesome... we did awesome! I also had amazing race partner Kathleen that put up with my no filter goofy mouth and a amazing group of ladies (Canadian Mudd Queens and an honorary Mudd Queen man Dustin). I met some really great ladies & Dustin that helped me in so many ways and for that I am truly grateful for. Without their support, help and encouragement I am not sure I would have completed it. Sunday was so tough that at one point I almost wanted to call a medic and get taken off the course. I was so dizzy, nauseous and another asthma attack happened. My poor lungs were so sore and worn out. We had plenty of laughs and plenty of cries but those memories I made with everyone will last a life time and that is what being a Spartan is all about. Pushing yourself and helping others! We are one big family!! AROO!

So as you can tell Sunday sucked for me in so many ways physically, mentally and asthmatically (if that is even a word lol). Saturday was a different story. I felt good for the first part less the hills and having three asthma attacks during the day. Body wise I was good and for the most part felt strong, it was just the going up the mountains and carrying stuff that sucked. I had one melt down during the bucked brigade and thought I would never get that dam bucket back down. Thankfully Kathleen came up and helped me carry it down. Another time was going up the last really big climb towards the end. I was so worn out. I was tired of climbing.... we climbed a ton. Kathleen and I had a very pretty spot for our picnic to fuel up and hydrate to push till the bitter end. That's where we met up with Claire and Dustin. Kathleen's fuzzy peaches were soo good and just what we needed while racing. I hope she brings them for the rest especially in Seattle at our last and final Spartan Race. We both are doing the same races and going for our double Trifecta!! 

Here is an approx recap of what we did in two days. Nothing official and all hear say. But took the averages from what others said. Plus took data from my own Garmin watch as well.

Those are some crazy stats and was a huge honor to be apart of it and be at the first Montana Beast! It truly was epic! I don't have many race pics yet but will post them later once I get them all. I am adding a few for now.

Now that I am home and I survived the rest of my races are looking fairly easy. Montana might have temporarily broke me but it just broke me in for the rest and I found my spark again! This is what I love and this is who I am. I am a race junky! I am a Spartan race addict! There could be worse things to be addicted to and if I keep getting stronger and better while still enjoying these then why not! You only get to live once and it might as well be on your terms doing what you love! 


Until next time...

Yes that's right... One week until my Spartan race weekend. I am always looking forward to getting away and taking time off of work but also excited to race again in my 2nd homes backyard. My favourite place to visit and go several times a year!

So it's been one week since I registered and made the decision to change directions and find a new date to accomplish my other dream. I gotta say I am back on the right track. With that busy weekend last weekend I came down with a head cold. So workouts had suffered bad as I couldn't take time off work to get healthier fast with so many projects on the go. Was a super busy and stressful week and on top of had to go to a funeral to say goodbye to a great lady that will be missed very much.

I was really tempted to cancel my workout with my trainer with feeling crappy Friday night but I went and boy was I glad to go. Towards the end of it I felt things in my head turn around and find my new focus for working out. Things were getting better and I felt great for going as I always do. It's also always great to talk about what's going on and it gets my head back into the game. I am enjoying the new month of workouts so far... Well I only got one day in. We both agree that to accomplish that other dream of mine we want to go about it smart and not deprive my body of what it needs or do anything drastic to reach my goal. I don't want to have issues after it either. We are still modifying and tweeking my diet and haven't found the right pieces of the puzzle yet that work for me. So between the diet part and my head both are not in sync to complete the puzzle and see more changes. It will happen and I can wait and keep trying to get there. I know a major component is stress. I need to aliviate a good protion of it. It's getting there but taking a bit longer. I'm not in a rush so it's ok too. I am learning to be ok with it.

While I was sick I decided to go with a friend at lunch to try the new tanning/spa place out that just opened Monday. We went Thursday at lunch and they have this hydration system you go in. It heats you up to 48 degrees and vibrates. It's a 20 min session and wow I felt so relaxed and amazing afterwards. I will be adding that into the "take care of me" plan. I still see my Chiro once a month, get my massages once a month and then will be adding this into it too. They also have a sauna and a hydro massager too. So lots to do to take care of me. While in the hydration I am going to use that to learn to meditate and start to turn off the nonsense that runs thru my brain. I need to be able to turn it off so I can sleep better and de-stress faster. It's all about the physical, mental and spiritual well being for myself plus adding in the stuff I love to do like live life and race. I love variety and I need my down time but I also enjoy getting out there trying new things and enjoying the great outdoors too, the world has so much to offer. I also want to spend more time with those I care about too!

My Sunday was amazing... I finally am feeling much better and my cold has finally left. I have energy and my mind is in a good place. My son and I ran into the city after his friend went home from sleeping over. We went and ran the stairs like we did last time and as always had a lot of fun. Went to Fitness Depot to buy more things for my home gym. I am getting a few more Spartan training items and really want to buy a rope to learn to climb for my races but I have no place to install it. I bought some sand disks, kettle bells and a TRX system. Then we went to my other favourite store the Running Room. I needed to get some gels, bars and other stuff for my back to back Spartan races. I rather bring too much then not have enough like I have had happen before.

Will be a busy short week with two soccer practices and a couple of nights of packing and laundry stuff. Looking forward to leaving Friday morning and having three days off of work but can't forget the races that NBC will be at filming the elite racers so you never know my son and I could be on TV. Lol

So on that note I leave you and will possibly post an update on the weekend. But if you follow me on Instagram I will try to post updates there.

Until next time... AROO!