Hat Trick

Over the weekend I put my first string forwards into the game with great success. There was no substitution and each were in for the duration. We had a plan of attack which involved coming from behind and finalizing our score in the final period. Our rink was the roads of Carlsbad and we were playing against the clock. I had no subs in the box and was hoping that the power plays we had been working on would lead to at least one scoring opportunity. At about the half way point  Lizzie head deked me from behind the goal line and then proceeded to clear the zone. The girls kept their eye on the puck the whole game and their focus and determination paid off with no penalties. They paced themselves perfectly so that I didn't have to call them for icing. All the work we had done on stick handling and passing was rewarded greatly. It was hard being in the box at times trusting that each would execute the plays to perfection but I believed in my players and knew that they would each play from their zones.We closed out the game without going into overtime and  ended up scoring not 1, not 2 but 3 pr's. A hat trick for the coach!

Kiki's Krew

'You miss 100% of the shots that you don't take'- Wayne Gretzky

Too Much of a Good Thing

There really isn't anything more beautiful in the world than that which mother nature has already created. All great designs take parts of nature and try to enhance them. Think of the colors found in a sunset or sunrise, the various shades the ocean takes on and the beautiful coats that animals wear daily. While I oppose actually wearing an animals coat or any other part of it for that matter, I have an appreciation for the fine patterns and designs found in the wild. I have been known to accessorize with a few animal print pieces here and there. The dog has a leopard print bed and of course my snuggie is zebra print (which elevates it from being frumpy to super fashionable!). This being the year that I am going to become a faster runner I have decided to embrace my inner cheetah and all things cheetah. The cheetah is the fastest land animal and who doesn't want to be associated with that?

0-60mph in 3 seconds, I'm only asking for 8mph!

Recently, a new pro cycling team was introduced, Leopard-Trek team (don't call them team Leopard-Trek). Of course, I immediately began thinking of the endless possibilities of cycling kit designs and how the team could present itself. Many of my current favorite pro cyclists are on this team and I had visions of them in leopard print ensembles. Leopard print being much cooler than the simple black spots found on a cheetah in that leopards have more complex patterns. Just let your mind play for a minute at how cool the bikes could be painted. Instead this is what the bikes will look like.

Tell me that disc wheel wouldn't look awesome with a few spots!

Okay, maybe the team didn't want to overdo it too much on the bikes cause their kits were so sleek and cool?

2011 team kits

Now, just to be clear, I am not saying that I don't like these team kits, heck anything the Schleck brothers want to wear to ride their bikes is pretty okay with me. I'm just saying that they missed out an a great opportunity here. An opportunity for fashion design that every retiree snowbird in the desert who owns a be dazzler would have been able to guide them on. Just when I had given up hope of seeing these fine cyclists flashing their spots around the globe, I came across these...

After seeing these, it all made sense. The boys only want to show their spots off the bike! It is said that a Leopard can't change it's spots and now I am thinking that maybe we should let the Leopard keep the spots! (although I'm still thinking a disc wheel in leopard print would totally rock, like 80's hair band ROCK!)

Starting the Climb

Sometimes when we are working towards a goal a mountain appears in front of us. You know, the seemingly insurmountable obstacle that stands between where you are now and where you want to go. I wish this were the case for me right now. I know how to put one foot in front of the other and climb up a mountain. This time instead of a mountain I am faced with a sheer rock face something like this.

My rock face isn't lurking in the distance, it is right in front of me and causing a kink in my neck. Every time I go out for a run right now there it is looming, showing me that I need to start setting a course. I am searching the Internet for Beta on how to proceed on this route I have selected as I am sure someone must have set the ropes and I can just follow. Right now I am confident in my ability to get my mileage up but the crux of the climb comes in getting my speed where I want it to be. I hope to maintain my safety and eliminate all subjective hazards along the way. I may Bivouac for a time at a certain point, but I am determined that I will reach the zenith and enjoy the view. I will be aware of the gravity of this undertaking everyday and I will be free climbing. I promise that I will not bail, even though I am a complete gumby. I will work on overcoming my acrophobia and I will keep looking for my next move towards the top. The one part of this climb that I am confident about is rappelling back to my base! For now, I will avoid further kinking my neck and will just look at the start of the climb not the end point.



'Never measure the height of a mountain until you have reached the top. Then you will see how low it was.'



Back to My Roots

As part of my master plan for making the PR in my half marathon this year, I am returning to where it all began. The place where I took up jogging and some biking. The biking was to get around places since I didn't have a car and the jogging was my attempt at shedding the freshman more than 15, I had gained. I figure that running a half marathon along a route that I once considered a LONG bike ride would provide inspiration. I could catch glimpses of the younger me along the way and smile as I realize that I am running as fast as I biked. The course follows what is still some of my favorite beaches and parts of Vancouver so I will have lots of spectacular scenery to draw strength from along the way.

Spanish Banks

Now that I am running consistently again and I am able to run over an hour, albeit a slow hour run, I am thrilled to be back out on my trails. I have several runs that I never tire of and on the weekend I realized why. Even though I got to enjoy many of these areas on my mountain bike all summer nothing beats the sensory experience of running through blooming citrus groves. I didn't realize how much I missed my favorite running loops. This is going to be a great year because in my quest to get back to my roots I will be back on my routes.

Payment in Red

I feel kinda bad. While most of North America is covered in snow and having blizzards (and not the delicious DQ kind) we had an amazing January day. The kind of day when you leave the house at 7:30 am for your bike ride and you are wearing shorts. The kind of day that you actually go through your water bottles by the time you reach the replenishing stop. The kind of day where for just a brief glimpse you remember what summer is and how much you miss it. It was glorious, and I enjoyed every pedal stroke along the way. When I hear about snow days, and icy cold ski hills I should get a pang of guilt. Guess what, I don't. I love that I have a slight tan line on my leg, overlooking how unattractive a bike short tan line is, and it is from a ride in the middle of January. Instead of being remorseful as I thought about those of you suffering through real winter temperatures, I rejoiced and soaked up every minute of it for all of you. I even had some extra minutes to enjoy the balmy weather because although mother nature was looking out for me, the universe still thinks that I should hit every red light on every route that I take! Hey, if I my penance is a few (read, A LOT of) red lights for a day in the high 70's in January, I'll keep paying!

And So It Begins

This year I have set a goal of running a new personal record in the half marathon. It is a lofty goal as my current PR is from eleven years ago. Eleven years ago, I was eleven years younger (funny how that works) but also had eleven years less experience. Since that time I have managed to be very consistent in my running and racing times but I have never gotten even close to that magic number and now I want to get below it. You might be asking if I was so content to sit on my laurels for the last eleven years why I want to do it now. If you are expecting some profound answer, stop reading now. The truth is I challenged my nemesis from high school to run a half marathon and I want to skirt him. I challenge you to find a purer form of motivation;)

Currently there are a few glaringly obvious obstacles in the way of reaching my goal. Firstly, did you read my last post. Rubbing thighs does not bode well for being a lean mean running machine! Secondly, I have gotten complacent and comfortable running at a certain pace. I need to get comfortable being uncomfortable. So with the help of my fancy high tech speedometer I have embarked on the long road to getting faster.

my speedometer, I know I am going faster when she has to run and not look around so much

The other night I ran some half mile repeats, two whole miles worth. I ran them slower than I hope to run the whole 13.1 miles. I have no disillusion that this is going to be easy and even if I reach my goal and run my fastest time to date, it doesn't mean my nemesis won't beat me. Afterall, he has a job that pays him to run and he has young recruits to keep up with! And so my journey down the long road ahead has begun, and you can only finish something that you have started.

Hey Patty, does the frozen tundra of Alberta offer this on a winter evening run?

If you find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn't lead anywhere.-Frank A Clark

Bird Song

I don't often run with music, instead I like to immerse myself in the sounds of nature. I try to run on trails as often as possible so I am not inundated with the cacophony of automobiles whizzing by me. The other day while running along I noticed that there was a particular bird chirping that I hadn't heard before. I didn't give it much thought at first, just enjoyed it's song. After about 15 minutes I realized that I was either being followed by this bird or there was a flock of them in all the bushes along the trail. I thought, how nice that this bird is providing me with a symphony today. Still 15 minutes later I could hear the bird and the song hadn't changed much or stopped. That is when I realized that there was no bird but the lovely chirping song was the sound of my tights rubbing together in my inner thigh region. Might be time to get out and enjoy a few more bird songs!

1 Mississippi, 2 Mississippi, 3....

Lately I have been noticing how fickle 5 seconds can be. Make up your mind 5 seconds, either you fly by or you don't. I am here to tell you right now that you have to make a choice. I need to know which it is going to be. I'm not asking for much, you don't have to change who you are or how we measure you, you just have to be consistent when dealing with me. I am fine with whatever way you decide to go, I just need to know how it's going to be. When I was on the wall doing wall sits the other day, you took forever to pass by, but when I was on another wall in the pool you zoomed by! I can't take it. You are so hard to take off of my mile time on the run or my 100 time on the swim but so easy to add on. Come on you're only 5 seconds. I have heard of the 5 second rule but in my world lately I'm being ruled by 5 seconds! Like every good ruler you need to make your ways clear or there will be a revolt, I may just start to court 10 seconds!

Remembering the Moments

Memories are made up of moments and 2010 had so many amazing moments for me. When the movie of my life flashes before my eyes the 2010 highlight reel is going to be spectacular! 2010 is now in the can and here are some of the climaxes.

10) At the end of August I received a package in the mail. It contained the finishers medal from the Ironman Canada kids race and a note. The note said -We watched Ironman and it was so windy from the north. We got sand in our teeth. You picked a good race to miss. PS. Last year there was an annoying announcer whenever someone crossed he would say you are an ironman. PPS I ran in the fun run. We got sand blasted. Erika. I was so touched that they sent me their medal that I cried. Yup, my little buddies are amazing! I love them!

Thanks Lindsay and Erika!



9) Watching my friend Jess bowl. I swear, I have never seen someone so violent, and that was Wii bowling. Prior to actually partaking in the bowling she had told us how sore she always was the next day, we quickly learned why. The dogs also learned to clear a wide berth around her when it was her turn. When we went real bowling I was laughing even harder. Thanks for the good times, Jess! Yes, I plan to use her techniques in the future because she managed to score much higher than I did:)

8) On my birthday I got the best present ever! Me Hearty and Tana went for a run with me. BEST present ever, a family run! I think it is all part of his charity work. He started a foundation this year called KKH. Keep Kiki Happy, it was a successful year. Of course, he wants everyone to know that cash donations are always welcome.

7) Watching super crew Alison complete her journey to the finish line at Ironman Arizona. It was so rewarding to be part of someone elses dream and goal. It was even a better when she told me she wanted to do it again.

6) Diving into the bio luminescent bay while night kayaking on the US VI of St Croix. I loved how the water lit up with our paddling but it was even cooler when swimming in it. Let's be honest, I loved every minute I spent in the water on that vacation. The most beautiful water I have ever been in, warm and crystal clear.

Paddling out past the Mangrove trees to the bay

5) Watching the Shamu show at Sea world with my 7 year old niece and having her say 'uncle is sure smart to tell us not to sit in the splash zone, they are getting REALLY wet'. She had so much fun and wanted pictures of everything. She documented the important things on my camera for me.

I think she has a future as a photojournalist!

4) Sharing in the love as my two good friends Tony and Cherry exchanged vows and were married. I love love, and that day there was so much of it in the air. Even the peacock couldn't help but be drawn into the happiness of the day and expressed his joy- right in the middle of the vows!

The Newlyweds

3) What girl doesn't like it when her man protects her? Well, I am no exception and when my manly man was awoken by a certain Pepe Le Pew sniffing around in the vestibule he sprang to action and defended his territory. I wonder if he would have been so brave if he had known it was Pepe and not Rocky the Raccoon? It is easier to be brave when you are not aware of all the dangers.Of course after all the warnings the rangers in Yosemite had given us about bears, the most dangerous wildlife we encountered was a skunk. Luckily, on both of his visits - yup, he came back a second time, can't blame him, Me Hearty does smell good- he left peacefully. It was rather funny to witness though:) 

2)Cresting the beast during the Half Ironman in St Croix. It was made even better by Me Hearty being a the top and witnessing my slaying the monster. I also managed to pass a few blokes, which helped raise this moment up the list;)

Straight up, helped by the pie plate gearing I had!

1) You all probably think that you know what my number one moment of 2010 was. You think it was when I crossed the finish line at the Leadville trail 100. Well, you are almost right.That day is filled with 11 hours worth of moments that I will carry with me for a lifetime.  My number one best memory of 2010 was when I crested the hill and saw the finish line. That was the moment that it sunk in that I had accomplished what I had set out to do one year before.

Leadville Trail 100 finisher and my amazing crew!

'A moment lasts all of a second, but the memory lives on forever.'