The water taxi always runs

Last week I called the water taxi asking if they would cancel their afternoon run because of the torrential downpour. The response, "it's raining.... we always run." Enough said, after feeling a bit like a dumb blond for questioning the integrity of the oh holy water taxi I thought nothing of the snow and wind accumulating in Horseshoe Bay on Friday night. The water taxi always runs.

At 12:30am I assumed the boat was late because of rough winds, same excuse at 12:40 and by 12:50 we decided to call the water taxi at 12:55. At 12:55am we learned the boat was still on the island because they thought nobody would be waiting. What? I was surrounded by at least 15 of my closest friends and all of us wanted to be home yesterday. So we waited.... we were told they would try to drive the boat but the 60 knot winds were (k)not in our favour.

At half past one the boat crashed into the dock, we were told if you get seasick DON'T get in. As I clambered onto the boat the size of a melon (see left) I felt like I could handle the rough water but my trepidation was for the unknown. I worried the boat would capsize and I would be forced into the frigid water. When we set sail I no longer worried the boat would fall over now my only focus not to puke. I was not going to be "that girl". I wasn't going to be the dramatic one who couldn't handle the rough waves.

Anyways, what was normally a 10 minute ride became a 25 minute roller coaster of torture. When I made it onto solid land I realized I never really had sea legs as I felt like I was still on the boat. I braved the wind and snow during my walk home. There was no sign of life except for a few porch lights and random garbage cans strewn over the road. Since it had already been the longest night ever I decided to clear the road and move the garbage bins to the side - just being a good samaritan! I don't know if I'll ever get used to living on this island but it sure makes for good stories.
xo
Becks

Glad to be back

I woke at 8am for the 8:30 ferry. This is a Thursday “sleep in” but I was still exhausted. I grumbled my way onto the ferry because, when I'm tired, I worry the over training fatigue from last summer is on it’s way back. I like to think of my grumbling as a form of energy conservation.

I was on my way to track practice at SFU. I haven't been to the track since my injury forced me to stop back in July. When I arrived, I don't know why I thought it would be different. It was totally the usual: warm up around campus, past cornerstone, down the big hill, up the steep hill, over Johanna's heart attack hill, by the bus loop and then back to the track.  My notorious stretching table was in the same place I left it and I did my usual hip stretch. Yup, everything was the same. That was until I learned my workout fate. 3x mile. What? Are you kidding me? Serious? I’ve never completed 3 miles on the track. By the time track season rolls around I'm usually onto the shorter distances. I was nervous. Mile intervals are not really that far but I haven't met the honesty of the track in awhile and in rubber boots no less.

I dwelled for awhile and then quickly told myself to snap out of it and focus. I began the first set conservative finishing each lap in a little over 80 second. After a 5:29 mile I felt strong and relaxed. I told myself that if I keep a consistent pace it only hurts after about two laps and I can handle that. I tried to break up the distance in my mind. I didn't focus on the distance for the first part I just tried to run at a consistent pace for as long as I could. When I got to 1000 I told myself one more lap until 600 and then at 600 it was time to focus and push it. When I got to 300 I told myself this distance is nothing, I do this all the time. With 150 metres to go I only had a stride distance left so I might as well go hard. I finished the last two mile intervals in 5:25.

This is the first time I've felt satisfied with my workout in a long time. This feels so good. Both my mind and my body were so good. I mean I have a long way to go on the workout front but today I felt strong. I had power! I told myself to dig deep and go faster and I did! This is fantastic and I only can hope it continues. I leave feeling cautiously optimistic!
xo
Becks

Feelin' great being a "bugger"

It exists, running can feel great! Today, I felt fantastic... that's it. When it feels this good it's so easy to run. I mean it's still hard 'cause you're running but you get the picture. Today I completed 55 minutes of pure bliss. I'm not sure if it was the pelting down freezing rain of yesterday in contrast to the beautiful crisp sun. Or maybe it was that I waited until mid-afternoon to run but both my mind and body felt light as a feather. I wasn't limited by my notorious hips or my fatigue and my feet were even pain free (for real this time)!

My Wednesday runs have been very eventful since I move to island time but today wasn't as exciting in the animal department. I'm ok with that. The only point of interest was my double run in with a middle aged man and I must admit I was mildly impressed by his pace. I passed him once as I entered the trail to the lake and he went off in a different direction. I assumed that was it until I arrived at the half-way bridge and there he was again! Weird, I didn't know how he got there. I had already given him the "on your left" once and I didn't want to say it again so I made my presence known by trying to run loud. That's when he picked it up (a pain, I know). So here I am thinking ok, here we go, I'll just follow you at my consistent pace until you tire. When I finally caught up and passed him I had to ask, "how did you get ahead of me?" Between gasps he told me he took this trail I've never heard of that cuts off like half the lake loop. He also managed to throw in a chirp calling me a "bugger" for passing him again which made me laugh. Ha, who was he kidding, of course I was going to beat him! Anyways, I finished my run feeling energetic and motivated! The goal now is to keep this recovered state going. Enjoying the run!
xo
Becks

Making work Fun!

Here's another video I made for work. It was captured on an iphone so I'm not proud of the videography but I am happy with the transitions. Enjoy it's all in good fun!

Wednesday's Adventure Run

I seriously love Wednesdays they are the best. I rise before 7 on Tuesdays and Thursdays so I let myself sleep on Wednesdays. It's the usual: wake up to coffee and cereal, check the news and get ready for my run. I take the normal route: around the meadow, throw in one or two laps of the lake (depending how I feel) and then another meadow loop. Strange encounters are redundant, I don't look twice as I pass frogs, squirrels, deers and dogs. Even yielding to horses has become commonplace. What isn't normal, was my run in with a heron that left me screaming like a little girl.

It was like the giant troll under the bridge.  I crossed this toothpick bridge that separates me from marshy wetlands of reeds, lily pads and muck. My heart stopped as its wings began beating against the wood under my feet. I didn't know what that noise was. It was like a generator warming up, when suddenly a four foot wingspan emerged from the reeds and took off. It was probably more scared of me than I should have been of it but my heart jumped out of my chest because of this guy.

This isn't the exact bird but you get the idea. Once I got over the adrenalin rush I laughed as I added heron to the list of don't look twice animals. But seriously herons are huge....see
xo
becks