You - version 2

Well Hello,

This time I didn't wait months between blog posts…yeah me.

I leave for the Wine & Dine Half in tomorrow and then the following weekend it’s the Avengers Half…and the 5ks for each run on top of that.

I can't say my training has been spectacular. When I signed up for these races I had grand plans. 

Then my world got tilted when I started a new job with crazy hours. It’s not odd for me to put in 9-10hrs per day. The last time I worked those kind of hours I was at site and got Fridays off, this time there’s an added 9-10hrs on the Friday.

I realize this is an excuse as people with far more complicated schedules can maintain training plans. There’s not a lot I can do now other than do the best I can. When I came back from Tower of Terror I had the flu so between that and Vancouver I ran once. Yet I shaved a few minutes off my last half.

The body is a mysterious machine indeed.

What I wanted to talk about today was my last Weight Watchers meeting. The topic was You version 2.

Sort of profound hey?

During the meeting my leader has us visualize during some scenarios as us version 2. What I found interesting is how easily I could visualize the right behaviors yet currently my actions don’t reflect that.

A few weeks ago we celebrated one of our WW family hitting goal. I was so happy for her and at the same time wondering what my issue is.

My Dad’s death hit me super hard so that impacted my whole life. I delayed dealing with my grief until I had a few things sorted. It’s been over a year and while substantially better I feel like about 98% myself.

Me version 2 starts now, I will track while I’m in Disney World and Disneyland – not something I typically do. When I come home I will start strength training so I can be more prepared for Star Wars and plan my food better.

The fact that I could visualize it means I can do it.

My bad habit is acting before thinking, like today I bought the Nanaimo bar at Starbucks. Now after two bites I realized it was kind of yucky and tasted like flour so I tossed it. Yet why did I buy it. I didn't need it and it turns out it wasn't even enjoyable.

I’ve read book after book.  I know what to do and just need to do it. I do have strong motivation in my annual physical in January not to mention the goal to do Dopey 14 months from now.

What I often hear in meetings is people want to get back to how they used to be. For me I've always been chubby from as far back as I can remember. Back when I lost 25lbs on WW then freaked out and gained it back. The freak out was I didn't know who this was, it was foreign and uncomfortable. Well since then I've done more uncomfortable things like going to Japan by myself that I know uncomfortable isn't a bad thing and you actually learn a lot about yourself.

I am worth success, I am worth the effort to be fit and I am worth the work that needs to be put in.

This blog is going to get back to its original intent to document the good, the bad and the ugly of getting to goal. 

Vancouver Rock 'n' Roll Recap

Yeah I'm still a bad blogger, what can I say I work crazy hours and by the time I get home it's pretty much dinner and bed.

Though I did want to tell you about my experience at the Inaugural Vancouver Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon. Now I had zero intentions of doing this run until I saw the medals...yes it's all about the bling for me.

 First off arrived in Vancouver and I love Haida art. It's everywhere in Vancouver.

 The expo was at the Vancouver Convention Centre which is along the water

 The official gear, the gear bag, tech shirt, band for the VIP and mini map. I dished out some extra cash for VIP as I will pay for indoor toilets and a warm place to wait for the start.

 Brooks was the major merchandise sponsor so I picked up a tshirt

 Cap

The jacket

 As I spent enough money I got the VIP toilet sticker, which allowed me the use of the flushable toilets Brooks set up right outside my hotel. Though I didn't need it as I had that VIP thing and that was inside a ballroom at the Renaissance Hotel.

 It's been a long time since I'd been to Vancouver so I was pretty dependant on google map though it thought my hotel was in the bay.

 On the Saturday before the race I went to the Vancouver Aquarium. Love the jellies.

 And the Sea Lion

 And the Penguins!!!!

 And the Beluga

 This guy just kept spinning around with his ball

 Underwater view of the Beluga

 Picked up a fun Sea Otter umbrella, though Vancouver was plagued by rain it didn't rain a drop on race day.

 I'm intrigued....Salted Watermelon???

 I had to make second trip o the expo as I wanted the magnet and needed the pin.

 Race day night was a wee stressful. I was checking out on Race Day so had to be super organized. I had originally planned to stay until Monday but changed it for a work opportunity. The Marriott let me use the showers in the gym post race so at least I didn't need to go to the airport grungy.

 The VIP room was o.k, I got there early and it was just me and a few elite runners then others showed up. Not to many costumes but one guy in a red body suit with a white maple leaf on this front along with ski goggles was my favourite.

 The corrals were a wee chaotic, now I'm used to Run Disney and appreciate how they manage the corrals. There were flags on the side of the road with the corral number that you just  sort of stood behind. I was corral 22, second from the last. The actual last corral 24 got to start 15 min early. In retrospect I should have joined their corral. By the time we got to the start corrals 20-23 were one massive corral. While waiting for the start I heard a lot of folks talking about Run Disney events.

The race itself wound through Vancouver, I always find Gastown a wee slippery due to the tile. What I was looking forward to was how much of the course was along the Sea Wall. I didn't realize the Sea Wall would be open to the public. First time I ever had to dodge baby strollers and bicycles mid half.

 I managed to shave a few minutes off my last half which surprised me. I felt good until about Mile 11 and that was in the middle of Stanley Park, while beautiful it has many many inclines.

 The VIP band also got me into a special finish area where there was food and your bib came with a beer ticket, I didn't have any beer. The finish area was Devonian Park which turned in one big muddy field. For the 2nd run in a row had to throw the Nike's into the washing machine.

I wish I could have had late checkout as when I got back to the hotel it was shower, change, eat some lunch then off to the airport. Found a few things at the airport.

I don't think I'll ever do this one again but as far as the Rock 'n' Roll series I'd like to do Vegas and Montreal after my goal to do Dopey in 2016.

Hope you enjoyed my recap and I'll try to be a better blogger.