Deborah Maybury

SNKCR have arrived in Vancouver

It has arrived!

We are in Vancouver, at least, most of the riders and volunteers.

There is a real buzz in the air. 

It is raining.

My bike is back together and it is tempting to ride….but, my extra gear is ‘somewhere’ in a truck and I don’t want to get the ‘good’ stuff wet just yet.We ride tomorrow as a group, so I am laying low another day-unless the rain stops.

Here is what the schedule is looking like, as per my buddy David’s post. For more details you can check out the web site at Sears National Kids Cancer Ride.

DAY 1: Sept. 9th Vancouver - Hope

- Whilte Rock Park 7-9am

- Sears Langley Willowbrook Mall Ride Along 9:45-10:15am

- Abbotsford 11:15-12:15am

- Chilliwack 3:00-3:30pm

- Sears Hope 4:30-6:30pm

- Revelstoke Days Inn 10pm - 8am

DAY 2: Sept. 10th 
- Albert Canyon 10-10:30am

- Glacier 12:30-1:30pm

- Beaver Mouth 3-3:30pm

- Sears Golden 4:30-6:30pm

- Medicine Hat 10pm - 8am

DAY 3: Sept. 11th

- Walsh 10am-10:30am

- Piapot Saloon 12:30-1:30pm

- Tompkins 3:00-3:30pm

- Gull Lake Sears 5-7pm

- Regina Distribution Centre 10pm-8am

DAY 4: Sept. 12th

- Viabank 11:00-11:30am

- Montmartre 12:30-1:30pm

- Kipling 3:00-3:30pm

- Wawota 6:30-8:30pm

- Winnipeg Polo Park 10pm - 8am

DAY 5: Sept. 13th

- Richer Rock Garden Campground 10:00-10:30am

- Reynolds 12:30-1:30pm

- Falcon Beach 3:00-3:30pm

- Kenora possibly Days Inn 6:30-8:30pm

- Quetico Park 10pm-8am

DAY 6: Sept. 14th

- Kashabowie 10:00-10:30am

- Shebodowa 1:30-2:30pm

- Kaministiquia 4:00-4:30pm

- Thunder Bay 5-7pm

- Marathon Rec Centre or Campground 10am-8am

Day 7: Sept. 15th

- White Lake 10:00-10:30am

- Sears - White River 12:30-1:30pm

- Paint Lake Road 3:00-3:30pm

- Wawa Home Building Centre 4:45-5:45pm

- Spanish 10pm-8am

Day 8: Sept. 16th

- Espanola 10:00-10:30am

- Little Current 12:30-1:30pm

- Manitowaning Guardian Pharmacy 3:00-3:30pm

- South Maymouth Carol and Earl’s Restaurant 4-5pm

- Sarnia Lambton Mall 10pm-8am

Day 9: Sept. 17th

- Hwy 7 10:00-10:30am

- London Sears Masonville 12:30-1:30pm

- Ingersoll Dealer Store 3:00-3:30pm

- Woodstock 4-5pm

- Woodstock Dealer Store Ride Along 10pm-8am

Day 10: Sept. 18th (The Toronto Area)

- Brandford Lyndon Park Ride Along

- Burlington Mapleview Community Event/Ride Along 12:30-1:30pm

- Sears Oakville 3:00-3:30pm

- Sherway Gardens Community Event/Ride Along 3:30-4:30pm

- Sick Kids Hospital Community Event 5:30-7:30pm

DAY 11: Sept. 19th

- Rockland 10:00-10:30am

- Hawkesbury 1:00-1:30pm

- St. Placide

- Carrefour Agrignon Community Event/Inside Ride 3-5pm

- Levis 10pm-8am

DAY 12: Sept. 20th

- Montmagmy 10:00-10:30am

- St. Jean Port Joli 12:30-1:30pm

- Route Lauzier 3:00-3:30pm

- Riviere-du-Loup 5:30-7:30pm

- Nackawia Home Hardware 10pm-8am

DAY 13: Sept. 21st

- Fredericton Regent Mall 10:00-10:30am

- Tracy Sears The Tracy Store 12:30-1:30pm

- Welsford Golf Course 3:00-3:30pm

- Saint John Sears McAllister Place Mall 5:30-7:30pm

- Sears Moncton Ride Along 10pm-8am

DAY 14: Sept. 22nd

- Sackville - Sears Appliance Store 10-10:30am

- Springhill-Ross Anderson Pharmacy Ltd. 12:30-1:30pm

- Londonderry - Section of Streets off Base Line/Broadway 3:00-3:30pm

- Truro Sears 5-6pm

- Lower Sackville Sports Stadium Ride Along 5-9pm

Day 15: Sept. 23rd

- Halifax Shopping Centre Community Event/Ride Along

- IWK Community Event/Inside Ride 2:30-3:30pm

- Point Pleasant Park - Wheel Dip 1:30-2pm

WOW, is all I can say.

Hope to see you somewhere along the route!

Sept. 9th will be hear in a Heartbeat

As I rode south I felt the crispy cool air and wondered what the weather conditions will be like as we cycle coast to coast in Sept.

I stopped for a red light at Bloor and noticed most folks had on a light jacket. I was thankful I had put on my arm warmers.

At that moment a feather floated by my right should and gracefully landed just beyond my front tire to my left. I warmly smiled inside as I thought about the scene from Forest Gump. I was so tempted to release my foot clip and pick it up…..”Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re gunna get.”

That has truly been the case for me. I’ve often found myself heading in one direction, only to be drawn, moved & pulled into quite another. This past year has evolved into much more than I could have imagined. 

Yes, it has been one of mental and physical demands-the training, the fund raising-the complete shift from one way of life to another…this is a full time job! Yet, that is only the half of it.

I feel different. I have been asked what I will do when I return from Halifax, return from the incredible journey cycling across Canada-seeing children and families with and beyond cancer- I don’t know. But I do know that I will not be the same gal I was last Aug. before applying to be one of the riders selected for Sears National Kids Cancer Ride. 

There is so much more to life than the typical day to day demands.

I have always known that we accomplish far below our potential, there are exceptions of course. I am no long content to be less than someone who makes a difference, who reaches out to others and who pushes myself towards excellence in this area.

I have so much to learn…wow, have I learned a lot the last few months. Everything and everyone that has touched my life throughout this experience has been a gift from the Universe….a manifestation of all that I have and wanted to experience.

I am so excited and anxious to begin the ‘actual’ ride with an exceptional group of people!

Glancing at the clock, it is 2:30am. I was sleeping much earlier….needed to write my thoughts.

The words of Roger Hamilton just came to mind:

Some people are spectators, some people are in the game….which are you?

A Seagull landed on me!!!

Who said that training to ride across Canada would be easy?

It has been 11 months since I leaned forward and listened to a young woman talk about her experience riding in the Sears National Kids Cancer Ride. I immediately told myself I was going to make the trip in 2010. I applied & was selected.

Well, the count down is on and I can not believe we are 30 days away from when I get on a plane to Vancouver!

The last few weeks has been quite the experience-the miles & miles of training…the humidity. It has been a  lot of fun riding with the other SNKC Riders, as well as members of various clubs. Thanks to everyone that has helped out this rookie! I feel like I have come so far, yet, there is much to do.

I am feeling pretty good…today. It took all  my discipline to pull myself off my bike for 2 days. I road extra miles during my holiday a few weeks back and never really gave myself time to rest. By Sunday at 106km my legs felt like they had traveled through a meat grinder. Sore to the touch and I could not walk downstairs without discomfort. I made the decision to not do the 94km that remained.

I was feeling guilty until I got out of bed this morning for my pre-work ride, and bounced down the stairs with my bike on tow…yippy, no struggles! It was great to ride without the ache in  my muscles.

Have you ever had a seagull land on your belly??!! I did, as I was riding this morning! I was warming up, so I was going about 25km. I saw it hover towards me. It drop between my arms and landed. I leaned back (a touch of holly crap going through my thoughts), and it started flapping like crazy and took off. Did I laugh! It was pretty cool to feel the strength of it’s wings. (No poop, so all is good).

Last BIG weekend coming our way. Many of the cyclists are gather in Collingwood to ride the HILLS, should be fun. I know those hills will be tough. I will be watching everyone’s technique…much to learn!

Riding on the Lakeshore

The miles continue to collect and I continue to feel stronger. If you had told me last July I would be training to cycle across Canada I may have laughed in your face as I secretly envied those doing it.

Enjoyed the view of Lake Ontario as I rode back and forth on the bike path this morning for two and a half hours. There was very little traffic-bikers and joggers mostly, and I love the fact that it is 2km from home and I do NOT have to stop for a light or stop sign!

My 2010 holiday does not feel like a holiday. Everyday I ride, I fatigue, I eat, I sleep. This is the first time I have found the time to sit and take care of a variety of emails and personal business…yet, I haven’t felt this happy and satisfied - ever!

 I was reminded why I am doing this last Saturday. Erin and I were riding away time at the QUIET Oakville Mall. I was enjoying our chats, yet all the while wishing I was on the road verse collecting such little in terms of dollars and cents.

A woman approached us and put some money into our container. She thanked us and said ”I lost a child”….my heart missed a beat or two and I felt a lump in my throat as she turned and walked away. We looked at each other and knew why we were in the Mall-it’s good to have those ‘timely’ reminders. Suddenly my ‘wishing I was somewhere else riding’ turned into ‘I am thankful for the health of all of my siblings, nieces & nephews…and that I have the opportunity to participate in this amazing event: Sears National Kids Cancer Ride Sept. 9th-24th, 2010-in support of Children with and beyond cancer.

56 days left to prepare!

Donations appreciated

http://deborahmaybury.snkcr.com/

I remember when

I was writing on my blog pretty much daily-then live did a big 360 and well, priorities do change, no?

Regardless, I am back and will be writing on a regular basis. Much has happened and I will fill you in.

Today I must be brief…..I just finished a short ride and need to head home to prepare for our riders call. I road a whole 20.9km and almost felt like my head was going to pop. This is very unusual for a gal that never even gets headaches.

I do recall my head spinning during my black sash 3.5hr attack/sparing session due to overexertion and heat. Hey, what’s with the heat and air quality here in Toronto. LOL. Pretty typical I suppose. I sure hope that this wave passes quickly as I have big plans for the next 9 days-holidays!! Or shall I say RIDING days.

Gotta run!

I’m Back

It is hard to believe how quickly time passes. It has been almost a month since my last entry here-please accept my apologies. I have been busy, to put it mildly…there was also a problem with my computer, I’m not one for excuses so I will stop here!

I am often feeling a little overwhelmed with all there is to do. As the milage increases my free time and work time disappear-it  is not a surprise, more of a reality check and reminder what all of the riders participating in the Sears National Kids Cancer Ride have signed up for. Thirty to 100km daily and building.

I continue to get stronger and feel more comfortable on my bike, yet at the same time I know how much I must improve to keep stride day after day with more experienced and fit riders-15 days, 8-10 hour days. 

I had a bit of an epiphany yesterday. The difference between pushing  and spinning my peddles hit me on the side of the head as I was cycling in a big circle over and over again in a quiet industrial area near my business….I had just had my gears fixed-they were driving me crazy slipping for two weeks. All of a sudden I was comfortable in every gear-those sweet ones I needed resumed their purrrr. 

I felt the difference in power-in propelling forward more easily, when I ‘spun’ vs ‘pushed’. It is hard to explain, but easy to feel once you get it.

As a result, tonight I sought that feeling as I worked to increase my cadence and speed maneuvering up and down the winding roads north of the city.

Love being outside cycling, though a little lonely at times. 

I can pretty much say what my heart rate is based on how my legs feel-that is interesting.

Spinning at the Scarborough Mall tomorrow,100km to complete Sunday. I look forward working on my technique.

I think it is time to have my ‘stroking of the peddles’ analysed. Need all the technical expertise I can get whilst on this mission to be the best I can be as fast as I can get there.

Preparing to ride coast to coast

Wednesday was my first significant out door ride. I was excited to get going!!

25 years refereeing ice hockey, 20years of playing ice hockey, 17 years of martial arts, a lifetime of physical activity….they all said it would happen, but really folks-5 minutes into my first ride and I fell!! Cut lip and a scratched up left knee. 

Years ago I summed up life-everything comes down to timing, angles and directions. 

Sandy said stop, my breaks where rubbing against the back wheel. I slowed, went to grab her handle bars to balance (BIG mistake). They moved, I missed, I she reached to balance me, I relaxed and thought she would, she didn’t quite reach me, my energy was heading towards the handle bars (oh so slow motion). I began to smile as soon as I new I was going south.

wambam. I am bleeding….”yup, you cut your lip”. Smack on her handle bar.

Oh, well. Off we went for a 2hour ride, I with my lower lip tucked under my upper lip to stop the blood, my first fall under my belt and my ego blushing.

I can’t wait to get out there this weekend….well, two Mall rides first!

I am officially a cyclist!

Cross Canada Ride for Kids

Where is the time going?

Here’s a brief update:

Road at the Sears in Barrie last Saturday and Sunday. What an amazing staff!

Linda, my wonderful volunteer was/is terrific! Thanks to Jim and Brad for joining in on Sunday!

I was not sore on Monday!

I was sore Monday night after Sandy introduced me to her Yoga buddy, Jean. I am no longer at boot camp fitness and need to maintain my upper body strength as well as improve my breathing and flexibility….oooh did I learn a bit about that. LOL.

David H. is planning a self-protection event in Bracebridge and I am really looking forward to heading up there and raising some money for SNKCR.

Another weekend coming up in the mall in Mississauga.

I went for an out door ride yesterday-wow, that was exciting. First time out and about…a lot different than spinning on the trainer.

Tomorrow is my birthday, woohoo-47. Holding up pretty good. Looking forward to an amazing year and all the wonderful people, experiences, challenges, rewards & laughter.

It feels great to be alive!

Riding Across Canada-the Unknown Rewards

You just never truly know where this journey of life will take you. Far too often we plan all for not, as roads twist and turn into unpredictable destinations and  lakes spill into streams that flow into areas beyond our current awareness.

As I sat riding my bike at the Amazing Women’s Day in Toronto last weekend a young women determinedly walked towards me. I had had my time on stage an hour earlier, before a 100 plus women, and had spoken about riding across Canada to raise money for children with cancer and beyond.

She jumped in with her heart leading the way….”I have been trying to decide about whether or not to enter a cycling fundraising event in London” (the one found over the big pond). “I’m not a cyclist”…on and on she energetically went.

 ”What does this bike cost? How this, what that, can, if, how…she went on and in my limited experience I attempted to answer all. They were not really important questions in my mind because, all that I heard and saw was that she really wanted to go and the doubts of life were getting in the way.

I, in my own way, placed a little gas on the fire and smiled and she said

I inspired her. I get a little tickle in my throat when that comes my way.

We all make a big difference when we follow our heart.

The following session was open mike. I watched her raise her hand, I knew what was to be declared. She said with conviction that she was registering for the cycling event in London and pointed in my direction to explain why….this is what I received on Monday:

Hi Deb,
It was such a pleasure to meet you on Saturday -what a way for the universe to send me a sign!!  So I have officially signed up for the Right to Play Cycling event in July and am now eager to get the ball rolling.  I would love to take you up on your offer to go to Gears!  Is there an evening this week that works for you?
Thank you so much for your encouragement - I am so excited!!
I look forward to seeing you again,
Cheers,
Jill

So now, she inspires me. More than she knows. And all of those that learn of her journey are blessed by a woman who stretches beyond her comfort zone to make a difference in this world. She has a gift, a special something she wants to share. Herself.

And, if you think that is all, you are wrong! This is another message I received Monday:

Deb,Okay, I did another 25 kms yesterday on the bike. I have to admit that this time I did keep my eye on the odometer a lot more than the last time. I guess the hockey game had more appeal then day time TV!

I definitely feel the burn in my legs but it is manageable. The worst is how much my butt hurts. I have a gel pack and even put a towel on top of that. However, it still hurts.

Today I’m going for a long walk since it is sooo nice out.

I am training for a 10 k walk and roll! It’s called a walk and roll since some of the population we are raising money for are in wheel chairs. The fund raising is for “Extend a family”. Its a valuable program in Kingston for children with special needs. They run excellent programs for the kids so that parents can get some respite. Ex. Saturday fun program every two weeks, summer camp, Friday night pj party for teenage girls, etc… We have been using their services extensively so would like to give back. They also run Monday to Friday day program for adults with special needs.

Everyone will be working in teams! So our team is Dennis, Trish, myself and Sara. I don’t think that Sara will be able to do the 10k walk so she may have to hang out with grandma on the sidelines. She’s a bit heavy for a wagon. But who knows.

My goal is for our team to raise $1000. The overall goal for EAF is $25,000. The actual event is in June so I have lots of time to get my act together.

I plan to cross train which is my usual training program anyway. Twice a week 25K cycle. Three times weekly 5 k walk until I build up to 10 k, and my usual elliptical at the gym once or twice weekly. I also do core training on a stability ball. I use small 10 lb weights for upper body training in addition to tubing. I already have a walking buddy. We used to walk at least 7 km together once weekly until the snow came. Its time to get back at it.

I’m quite sincere when I say that once again Deb you were my inspiration. If you can raise the kind of money you have to for cycling across the country than we can certainly aim for 1,000!

I hope that your training continues to go well.

Have a fantastic weekend and get out to enjoy this beautiful weather. I’m sure that you are already planning on it.

Leslie The ripples of inspiration continue to be passed from one unsuspecting friend to another stranger. In the end is does not matter who originally dropped the pebble that began the ripple, only that the ripple continue to flow……….

Crossing Canada via bike 101

I have come to the point where I where I feel pretty comfortable on my bike.

Now the business begins! On the last riders call someone said, “Don’t just do the miles, do the training. It has been ringing in my ears for two weeks. I had figured out my training zones as best as I could and have been “doing the training”. Discipline. This is not typical training for me. I am programed to go hard, take a short break and go harder. That is what I do over and over and I have learned to push harder and challenge myself ,not because I have to , but because I love to.

That is not what will get me across Canada though. I am retraining my brain and body to work within zones. heart rate 132-135 steady!

Because of the importance of this type of  training , I bit the bullet and paid $300.00 to be tested by a professional, get a little coaching and book a follow up in May to make certain I am on the right track. I have included my chart for feedback and comments.

I was pleased when he said I am “One fit chick”. I actually found the test a lot easier than the ones I have been putting myself through. I think my bike trainer may be significantly inaccurate because compared to their set up I work a lot harder at home and it takes more effort to clock the miles. The good news is I would rather be working harder than not hard enough. I will continue without changing anything.

I have been looking forward to an outside ride…by the look of things that wiil not happen for some time.

I am looking forward to another ‘little’ fundraiser this Tuesday. In a nutshell, a new friend will be talking about resiliency. He is a two time cancer survivor and his daughter also won the battle as a youngster. He speaks professionally and every time we speak I am inspired by his positive energy.

On another note:

The Canadian gals won in hockey tonight!! I am so proud of how far the sport has come over the last 30 or so years. I played for 20, refereed for 25…that footage that they showed in 1990-in PINK…oh, I remember it so well. I refereed the bronze game and it was a highlight for sure….it was more amazing watching the arena fill up that evening. 5-2 Canada over the Americans-go Gerry, what a goal that was-Bobby Orr style!!!   Becky would have been so happy tonight. She was the biggest fan ever-miss you girl…this ride is from me to you-we go across the country together!!