July 2010
2 posts
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...
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...
April 2010
1 post
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...
March 2010
3 posts
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,...
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...
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...
February 2010
6 posts
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...
Crossing Canada for the kids
One km at a time in my living room! Today was a 50km day. I felt the burn in my legs. I wanted to stop each time I thought about it. But, that is not an option as long as I am committed to succeed. The discomfort now will be rewarded several times over. I will forget the awakening of a unique set of muscles, I will always remember the journey.
I was tired from a listof things, including an...
Cross Canada Feb.18th
And the Olympics role along.
Just a quote today:
“I believe every individual has personal mountains to climb and that anything can be achieved with an indomitable spirit, belief in a dream, and a desire to dare.”
Laura Evans.
Go Canada
Go Canada!!
Is it really nine days since I last wrote on my blog?! The time is flying by! I am finding it very easy to fill in any free time.
Here’s the short version of life as a national cyclist:
I cycle pretty much every day-this week was recovery and though I wanted to get on the bike I realized that I needed a slight break….and I appreciated it! I was just asked to do something on April...
Saturday Training prep to ride across Canada
As we ease into Feb. I welcome the longer group rides at the Malls. It gives me a reason to stay on the bike even longer than our training schedule requires. I must be slightly ‘off’ because everyone else keeps saying how much they prefer the outdoors, than the trainer in the living room model…I do not mind training stationary. It has provided me the opportunity to bond with my...
You can be the difference.
Nobody can go back
and start a new
beginning, but anyone
can start today and
make a new ending.
—
Maria Robinson
220 days
Sometimes I wish we were already on the road somewhere between Vancouver and Halifax-other days I feel like there isn’t enough time to prepare…will I be ready for this trip 220 days from now? What will it feel like to ride between 120-200km each day for 15 days? I have no idea. So, I do what I can to prepare my body.
We are now finished the second week of our formal training program....
January 2010
28 posts
Days are flying by
Wow, Thursday already. Time is sailing by. Every time I look at the count down number I am even more motivated to hop on the bike. You can not fake conditioning and I do not intend to try. Riding across Canada will require great endurance!
I find it pretty easy to sit on the trainer, probably because I have little to compare it to. Meaning it has been 10 years since I have ridden more than a...
The Decision to Ride for Children with Cancer
What an amazing day! Where are all the fabulous people coming from? Someone recommended me here and there to do what I live-speak…more on that another day…
I was tired when I left work tonight. I had a hectic day due to a needed refit with my bike seat that shortened the work day by 3 hours….more on that later….
I headed hm, the maid served me dinner, my roomie gave me a...
Crossing Canada Challenge
The challenge is to take action, not a brief sprint, not tomorrow, not when you feel like it, but take action everyday because that is what is important to succeed.
I often say “Fake it until you make it”, however I am also cogniscent of the reality that I can not fake the level of fitness-mental as well as physical, that is required to cycle from Vancouver to Halifax.
For that...
Watch
Cycling Canada 4hr Training Day
An amazing day! Raising money for kids with cancer…and training. That was the longest I have spent on my bike……..and I feel great tonight….though I am heading to lay down and watch a movie now, 7:15pm. I look forward to the next time out!! Keeping this short, enjoy the video.
Cycling and Raising Awareness 101
What a great day! Preparing to cycle across Canada was fun today….that may change when I test tonight…..
Regardless- I had a great day with 7 women registering and paying for my women’s self-defense seminar Feb. 21 in Toronto, an old friend coming out of the woodwork and saying she would love to help me out with those non-cycling things that take so much time and energy, about...
Cycling with new friends Saturday
Cycling across Canada will have to wait-I am heading to the mall this Saturday to meet new friends and raise money for Coast to Coast….assisting children and their families as they journey through and beyond cancer.
I am looking forward to it-does this mean I should go buy a REAL cycling shirt?!
OH»>how long do I need to sit on that dreaded saddle—I have an appointment on...
Cross Training Workout tonight-heading to the bike...
I hadn’t been to boot camp since pre-Christmas, until this evening…and it felt great. Well, my legs felt great and my upper body felt like it had been somewhat neglected. I have been focusing on time in the saddle-when will that seat break in?!
I was thinking that maybe I should try to break it in via the spoon method. LOL.
Didn’t you ever have a pair of skates that left...
Cycle across Canada to raise money 4 kids with...
That’s what the gal said at the canfitpro conference back in August. I leaned forward, watched the video and listen as she talked about her experience. “I am going to do that”! I declared to myself.
What is your definition of perseverance—peddle peddle peddle and learn that it is a process, not a challenge.
I recall so often as students and friends would question how ...
237 Days Until we Begin our Cycle Across Canada
It seems like it is right around the corner and yet, is seems like it is so distant. As I settle down for the night I am feeling the fear of having the responsibility of raising $25,000. There are so many worthy causes….Coast to Coast Foundation is raising money for children with and beyond cancer…it is one.
A couple of guys saw a need and they used cycling as their vehicle to make a...
Cycling-how far??!! Jan. 13/10
I just read Matthew’s post. I have cut a bit out to share:
“There’s nothing I like better to end the work day than the run home. I have the privilege of living 1 mile from work. This means I never have to drive (sorry to those who dislike their long commutes). Its a quick bike ride, ~5min depending on lights..”
Wow, I wonder how that would feel, day after day commuting for 5...
Cycling with the biggest losers
Heading to the trainer to spend time watching the biggest losers. They inspire me by their dedication to change their habits. I can’t imagine loosing half of my weight-though I can not imagine weighting enough to loose that much either…
“Some people say they haven’t yet found themselves.
But the self is not something one finds: it is something one created.”
Thomas...
The Fund Raising Part of Cycling Across Canada
Have you ever felt like there was a possibility that your head could literally pop if subjected to one more piece of information? I am referred to as a Creative Profile and there is no restriction to the number of ideas I have to raise money for this cause. The foundation is becoming pretty solid and the number of supporters increase daily.
I look forward to simply climbing on the bike trainer,...
Like a Child I Cycle...
Like a child in the candy story I mounted my shinny new bike with my heart monitor and cadence counter wrapped around my welcoming upper rib cage….the movie started and I teased the peddles into motion. After a short warm up I embraced the task and got down to business. “One and a half hours to go”, said the personal trainer in me to the willing student also within me.
Stand...
Cycle College
What do you do when you spin at home??
I’m listening to Tony Robins!
“The Quality of your life equals the quality of your state of mind”.
What are you focusing on in that world of your mind??
me you ask?
Health…1-the children-a cure for all cancers.
2-my health….get spinning!
Sat. Morning Thoughts About Cycling Across Canada
Hunter asked me about the challenges. As I tidy up this beautiful Saturday morning I am hearing that inner guidence system firmly whispering, “Do not let this day slip away busying yourself with other tasks”.
There are constantly a barrage of things to-don’t get me wrong, I enjoy life to be filled. However, a new priority has encompassed my world.
The challenge is to prioritize...
Preparing to Cycle Across Canada
(cont. from the 3rd of Jan)…………I am fit, but I have no idea how I will respond to the physical demands of preparing my body to spend 8-10hr days, 15 days in a row on a bike. I am practising every day and eagerly await to learn the real road game as the weather turns. I feel the pressure of a new sport amongst seasoned vets-yet, I do not fear the unknown. I come with an open...
Cycling Across Canada
The challenge this morning was sitting on the bike seat for 60 minutes. My legs felt great, I was awake (even at 6:30am) and I was having fun watching my new heart monitor and cadence counter…but, my dear friends
it hurt! I was adjusting my butt constantly-never a problem with the stationary bike cushion?
Can someone explain the proper pelvic tilt as you ride? Does that exist?
For the...
Cycling to Raise Funds for Kids with Cancer
I have been asked again why I am riding across Canada, so here it is again for those folks who are just begining to follow.
Please follow along at http://apps.facebook.com/blognetworks/blog/debscrosscanadacyclingjourney
Why am I cycling across Canada?
She wrote, ‘I hope you are sitting down.’ I was as I was at my computer checking my emails. “I have cancer. They say no one lives longer than 5...
Cycling Across Canada Adventure
( I will get to that con’t blog very soon.)
Today was special in the world of giving so I want to share what I experienced.
What I have realized is I like the world challenges and the people that belong to that world with me. I have only seen the good in people since I took on such an enormous task.
Thank you to Steve and Krissy for running the pools to make money towards my minimum...
WatchThe Bike that will Cycle Me Across Canada!
Cycling Canada
FYI Technical difficulties with the video…will try again tomorrow.
Cycling Across Canada for the kids...however
tonight - I’m excited, I’m excited! MY bike is home! This feels like Christmas Day! and “I” am the youngest kid!
happy happy happy happy………really, come on!
wooohooo!
Seriously, was fitted and finally brought my new bike home this evening. It took a long time for the fitting-fussy girl…this rookie had a ton of questions and things to learn about...
Cycling Across Canada Raising Money and Awareness
Is it still the 3rd of Jan? Wow, There was so much accomplished today. Isn’t it great when the pieces seem to flow together?!
I want to take a few moments to respond to comments on my blog today. I will take a few days to reflect on what was asked/ said and share it here.
First, I love the comments and questions. Thanks so much for making the effort.
Jean, yes I will continue to post...
What to Do?
This blog was set up to write about my journey to ride across Canada-and all the I will undertake to make that a reality. Already there have been challenges, fun and learning’s to keep me more than attentive.
However, the interesting thing that transpired was that I signed up for a challenge to write on a blog everyday. I simply do not know enough about cycling to make this an interesting...
2010
The first day of the year is almost at it’s end.
I am rather embarrassed to say that I didn’t even pull myself out from under the sheets until noon. It was not because of New Years Celebrations, which would be a good excuse I suppose. Rather, I got wrapped up watching a late movie, “Knowing” and turned in later than most people who were out, I suspect. It has been some...
Another Year Has Passed
Today I have been asking myself “Did you accomplish all that you wished for in 2009?” The answer must be no, the expectations are always pretty high. Yet, I feel good about 2009. I feel like I learned and grew and flowed and experienced many different flavours throughout the year.
Actually, my most recent list of desires (typically called goals) was written in Oct-here are some of the...
December 2009
42 posts
Why am I cycling across Canada? (re-post)
She wrote, ‘I hope you are sitting down.’ I was as I was at my computer checking my emails. “I have cancer. They say no one lives longer than 5 years with this type”. It hit me like a train. I flashed to the soccer field-us meeting as kids in public school, to playing records, to laughing, to almost setting a forest on fire playing with matches, to always keeping in touch, to her parents, to...
when I said...
…I would write 100 words in my blog every day for a month I did not anticipate exactly what that would mean.
For example-I would spend 10 hours fighting a snow storm and have to write…..and….I would be on the road at 7:30am (today) heading to a meeting in Rochester, which went about 3hours longer than planned, then battle the traffic to get to Buffalo for another meeting-1.5...
traveling
7:30am-Heading to Rochester for a business opportunity.
I really pushed myself last night with some difficult interval training. The focus was on heavy gears. It was tough, but felt great!
Unfortunately my knee feels a little tender this morning-ice massage. I will be give it extra tender care for a few days-ice on ice off………..
No step is too small, no dream is too big.
It is time to cycle
I have been sitting at the computer all day-sore neck. I need to move into another room….the bike room-formally the living room! I love the 90 minute workout, but boy is it a sweat producer. Very challenging, though Debbie Bland would say it is only a warm up, I think it is a good beginning….LOL
Interview
Home sweet home. Right back at things after a wonderful ‘sleep-in’.
My intent was to head to the computer first thing this morning and finish a chapter in the book I am writing-failure right out of the gate! LOL. I made my delicious cookies with dark chocolate on top! I then downloaded my pictures which I will share here-the Sears toques I made for everyone. Great picture guys!!
I am...