Halloween

Jack-o-Lantern Row

On Friday night, Elisabeth came over and we carved our pumpkins.  Elisabeth hustled us, like a pool shark:

"Oh, I'm not very good at this.  I'm not sure what I'm going to do."

Then she pulled out her own carving tools, and began sharpening...

Ok so she didn't actually have her own tools.  But she did whip out some pretty nifty carving tricks!  And her pumpkin ended up being the winner.  Even though it wasn't a contest...

Mummie monsters, which Clint was calling "Yummy Mummies"

Creepy Witches fingers

Pumpkins!!

What's this new tasty treat?

Oh Ya!

What?

Happy Halloween!!

Early Morning Vancouver Romp

The morning was spectacular...
The sun was rising.  It was a clear crisp day.  We were watching the morning slowly rolling over the city. We were admiring the beautiful mountains on the North Shore as they delicately awoke ...

But I just couldn't get Pearl to pose properly!!

Another marathon?

I hope yes!

When I watched those finishers in the Victoria Marathon the other weekend, (especially the top three Vfac men! Wow!) I was inspired.

Setting a marathon as a goal, then executing the training program and race has got to be the most fulfilling endeavour I have ever done ... and I've only ever done it three times!

I've been saying that I want to run another marathon for almost three years now, but with injury it just hasn't been possible.

However, things are feeling better lately, (holy cow, I've said that just a few times before!) I've started a new strengthening "program" (if you can call doing strengthening exercises and yoga in your living a program), which seems to be having some benefit.

I've been able to run 90min, with no issues. And whopping 3-4 runs a week! It's been tough with Pearl, but I am figuring it out. Very early mornings are the only option and longer on the weekends.

[Sidenote: I have also taken up commuting to work a couple times a week! I thought I would never be a commuter, but since having a little puppy, I've had to take up any opportunity for exercise possible!]

So back to my marathon, I have set a goal in my head, and so now when I write it down, it will be even more real: Vancouver marathon 2:55 (or under...of course!).

It wasn't too too long ago that I ran a couple marathons under and just over 3 hours ... so we'll see.

I'm looking forward to the training-trip!

This or That?

Training or Puppy?

The other day Colin commented that I'm a little puppy-crazy. That all my updates and blogs are puppy-centered.

"Well, yes ..." thought I. "... but what do I usually write about?"

Training, racing, triathlon and frankly I am sick and tired of reading about training reports... (because it's only interesting when I write them!).

Either way, I'm happy that I have something else in my life to blog about!

So I haven't even done much exercise since Pearl came, let alone "train", even though I only ever averaged about 6-8hours a week, and I'd like to think I do pretty well on that amount of training!

[A side note of remaining bitterness to a certain coach who made fun of the fact that I won "age group nationals" and didn't race as an "elite"... well I didn't WANT to! No I won't forget that one! ; ) It's a choice made because I'm not a professional triathlete, I have another full time profession, and I believe I did mention I only train about 6ish hours a week. And I've been struggling with persistent injury since the last marathon I ran in 2007! Bitter rant over.]

Anyways, it's fall, and winter is coming soon. Time to put aside triathlon and find something else to get excited over, for Colin it's running, cyclocross is also on the go ... but for me it's Pearl!