Hello everybody. Welcome to the middle of the month. Thanks to those that joined me for our two trots to the tree in Sandy Beach over the last week. I just realized that was the tenth annual trot...my time flies...
The weather has thrown a bit of snow at our shoes and socks but has not prevented our eyes from seeing the yellow stripe on the pathway. Thankfully our snow removal budget in Calgary has allowed for some longer trails to be discovered from under a blanket of seasonal splendor. I do love the snow, love running in it, and love to run with others who love to run and run in snow. Make sense? Good luck to you on that. I do enjoy (and love) when I see a familiar face come out and join us on a Saturday morning or one of the weeknight trots. You all make me love to train with you on your journeys.
Speaking of 70’s rock bands, many of our friends finished a wonderful journey in Honolulu Hawaii last weekend. Congrats to our contingent of mini and full marathoners. I am really proud of you all for doing something that some of you never really imagined you would do...Don't stop believin'...
Congrats to Nicole for qualifying for her dream Boston Marathon by being a super quick chick at the Sacremento Marathon. And also a congrats to Carol for trying out the Las Vegas half with 44,000 other trotters, testing night running in Vegas. And I thought Vegas was crazy just on the sidewalks!
Let's get together this Saturday for probably the last trot in Fish Creek for 2011. the weather looks good to meet at Glennfield Meadows just off Bannister Road and Macleod Trail. See you there at 9 am? If you need directions my cell is below...
I do expect to trot on the 24th, but I don't believe I will be around for the 27 or 29th week night training. With relations in town it might be tough to come away for the couple of hours. Will any of you be out for these three days?
Starting in the new year I will move away from this email form of broadcast to a blog. Yep, it is time to change format. Fifteen years of weekly ya-da ya-da emails need a sprucing up. A blog will allow for potentially more pictures of your fellow runners and I hope a more lively comment section. I have been building content for a couple of months, but need to really get those that read here to read there. Starting in January I will just broadcast from the blog.
You can subscribe at the bottom (click on the Posts Atom) or via email on the right column. Easy peasy. This will save me having to break up the email to many distribution lists. Thanks for your understanding as I change things up a bit!
This morning was the tenth annual Amble with Angus in support of the food bank. I received a note from our friend Angus stating that he was in the neighbourhood of $40,000 raised for the cause. Congrats to Allyson and April and Alan for getting out there this AM and adding ample 'A's to the action. And a special shout specifically to April for (so far) raising $1825 for the cause today. If you want to get her past $2000 check out http://calgaryfoodbank.akaraisin.com/amblewithangus2011/rudolphsrunners
If you want to donate straight to the event say hello to my friend Angus at his site https://owa5.sait.ca/owa/redir.aspx?C=6253a3eaa7274c078460a2159f1cda3d&URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.amblewithangus.com
Bravo!
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Just in case you were at a loss for baking ideas this Christmas... http://www.baconery.com/
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Our trail friends at Out There downtown have the following deal if you need some gear...
Last Minute Christmas Savings at Out There
Purchase more than $300 at Out There and save 20% on all apparel, footwear, and equipment
This offer is valid until December 23rd, 2011 and this promotion cannot be combined with reward card discounts or any other store promotion.
Please present this email to get your savings. Ask our sales associates for details, as this is not an advertised event. Code: 34316Holiday Hours: Monday - Friday 10-8, Saturday 10-6, Sunday 11-5
Out There Adventure Centre - 151 8 Ave. SW - 403-263-9651
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I thought I would close out this week by sharing how thankful I am for all the great people that have come through one of our learn to run, half, full, and muddy buddy clinics, through the Joints in Motion program, or just joined us through a friend of a friend of a friend. The friendships may have evolved and changed over the years, but I think I can count many of us that are in a better place because of our connections to our fellow 'athletes'. From the first formative days with the Uncoachables, to that crazy first Mother's Day clinic on February 14, 2000, and then hundreds of sweating hours up and down the paths with over a thousand fellow friends who all had just one wish - to cross their personal finish line happy, healthy, and with a smile on their face.
You all mean alot to not just me, but your fellow trotters. When you have a bad training day, they are there to give you a high five and a smile of encouragement. You all reciprocate when the table is turned. You all have increased your personal challenge or goal, and of course allowed rest (and lethargy) to create opportunity to do it all over again. It is a wonderful sight to see a friend of our group finish what they set out to do. Can you see them in your mind? the smile, the arms raised in victory, the Woo Hoo in their step? I see it every time.
Give your old trotting friends a call, an email, or just an approving nod for what they have done both for and with you, in all your good times and bad, whether it was +/- 40 (pun intended), an undulation or distance-ish were involved, and perhaps you might of just been led astray...
We have definitely seen a shrinking of the active members of the clan. We have changed habits, joined other groups, lost enthusiasm for training, or just can't do it anymore. We have found other ways to drive our passion. I have been blessed to see theatre, knitting, nursing, Thai vacations, budding relationships, and a myriad of new joys that have created a wealth of new opporunity for us to find a new direction to aim our potato chip fingers toward. Our new path may not have a yellow line down the middle, but it will have a great opportunity for adventure, new friendships, and fabulous new finish line.
While I do understand things will never stay the same (thankfully my mullet is one that disappeared) I do hope that you all continue your passions through to 2012 and enjoy the opportunities that a fresh start of the New Year will allow. Follow those passions and allow them to flower.
Thank you,
John
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