One year ago...

When I think back to a year ago today I realize how lucky Joy, Sadie, and me when compared to our friends and neighbours. that afternoon and evening I was at work in cowboy boots and hat, celebrating the arrival of our new President from Vancouver. As he spoke, you would see our community partners scanning their phones and quickly exiting their seats for the door. Because we were in event mode for the entire day, I had no clue of the State of Emergency or the evacuations to come.

When I leave work late I usually short-cut through Sunnyside and head down Memorial for the Deerfoot drive home. I turned into Sunnyside and was immediately greeted by a traffic jam of cars in the opposite direction. That was truly my first inclination of things to come.

I emailed my friends Dirk and Laura to let them know we could take in their family as the news that night was they would be evacuated. They said they were safe, camping up at the old KOA campground. Luckily enough they didn't accept the invitation as for what was to happen later that night.

We were awoken by a knock at the door shortly after midnight with a couple of guys telling me it was 'time to go'. I had my shirt on backwards and inside out, not really comprehending their comment. I went back upstairs with the evacuation order and asked Joy if she wanted to wait until morning.

Try reading this at 1 am

Looking outside I saw all our neighbours pulling out of their garages and heading out of the little pocket of paradise we call home. We called mom and dad and told them the family were coming for an unexpected visit. At 1 am we were on the road, heading north on the Deerfoot with dog in tow. When you are not really knowing what is happening or really appreciating the threat you don't think straight. We packed Sadie's food and all her 'jewellery', but for us we only had the clothes on our backs.

Usually the Herald is at my front door

The bug spray was a great touch. I love our city.

We did lose our fridge contents but really, who wanted to eat those leftovers? We didn't know how long we would be out but in the end it was only a few days. Our pocket of paradise was unscathed, shy all our pathways and bridges which are scheduled to be back in business sometime this summer!

Leanne, Wylma, and me in High River

When I reflect back on where we were then compared to our neighbours in Calgary and surrounding communities we are truly blessed. the entire event showed the greatness of our community and that we still have a bit of a small town mentality in a city of 1.3 million.

Over the next month and year we have had our group of trotters detoured, delayed, and denied access to our routes for training. Overall the pain for use was minimal. We did get to discover new urban routes in the higher grounds of Calgary but I do think everyone missed our Thursday night treks to Original Joe's.

Thankfully we are not repeating this again this year. We are going to have a great summer of training, starting this Saturday, 8 am from McDonald's in Glenmore Landing. Joy and John will be out there for sure. How about you? Breakfast on the patio at 1600 Bier Haus around 10 am?

Next week on Thursday I will be missing my sixth straight Original Joe's night as I have my last parade meeting before the big event two weeks TODAY! I am really looking forward to meeting William Shatner. Next Saturday I will be at a family reunion so the default will be Eau Claire on the 28th. I will be back for the next two Tuesdays.

Who wouldn't have that on their bucket list?

Have a great longest day of the year tomorrow no matter what you do. But if you do come see us Saturday.

A Nose for Good Memories

Nose Hill is awesome. There, I said it. I first discovered Nose Hill when my family moved to its' base in April of 1978. A new house, new neighbours, new school, and new adventures. I had many travels to the park, visiting Porcupine Valley, Turtle Rock, and that community that seemed to be a day away - Edgemont (in reality about 4 km). I saw deer, coyotes, the aforementioned porcupines, hawks, and many other animals in nature.

I also saw grass fires, gophers becoming prey, and some crazy off-roading by my old friends who owned Atlas Television on Edmonton Trail (and also sold quads?) Memories of those days are great and forming to my love of the outdoors. Last week we travelled with the group to again travel the paths of Nose Hill and for me regain some youthful memories. We did see three deer, two coyotes and their potential den, plus many incredible views of the mountains, city, and airport along with the never ending prairie grass of the largest urban park in Canada. Thanks to Christine, Jodi (with Storm), Adrian and Blaine for sharing a great day on the hills of my youth.

Blaine and Adrian talking shop

Christine hustling the hill

Leading us to the light

the light is burning!

Taking a road less travelled

Nose Hill - Single Track heaven

the Hills were alive with the sounds of heavy breathing

For this week the votes are in: Joy was given three options for a trot and chose Max Bell Arena for our start and finish. See you there at 8 am? I do hope so. If you don't think the trot is in the cards perhaps you can join us at Main Dish around 10 am for breakfast. You know we will be there!

I want to pass a shout out to one of our fellow athletes who has taken on the Walk to Fight Arthritis as the volunteer chair of the organizing committee. Jen and her team of volunteers put on another successful event, raising over $100K for Arthritis research and education.

Well done Jen!

For the first time in fifteen years of either the Walk to Fight Arthritis, Jingle Bell Run, or Joints in Motion, I didn't involve myself in the event this year. Joy, Sadie, and me skipped town to Canmore (Joy was already there for a work team-builder) and went for a ride. Tell me this little Westie doesn't love their stroller and the wind within its' whiskers? She doesn't have a helmet but she is secured by a climbing carabiner.

Does this nose know no fear?

I am three weeks late in supporting Lauren on this (Sorry Lauren) but she has a series of tester nights scheduled at the Tech Shop for those of us who like to trot on Thursday's. June 19 she has Saucony and June 26 Peal Izumi. I realize that I have missed the last three Thursday's as I didn't get to try the Mizuno, New Balance, or Brooks options! I am truly a slacker these days.If you need some answers check out www.thetechshop.ca.

Rock and Goals

A week of travel is at an end. Learning, lounging, and lunging filled my days in Edmonton. Now back to a weekend of Joy. Well, Joy is off to Canmore for a girls weekend so I will start the weekend on Sunday.

My conference was all about fundraising. Would it be anything else? The Canadian Council for the Advancement of Education. Funny enough I ran into fellow uncoachable alumnus Jim who also works in education and happened to be doing a presentation on-you guessed it-education. Great to see a member of my very first marathon group in 1996. Time does fly. On that note, it was three years ago this week another uncoachable passed away when Colleen went to find never ending trails and chocolate supplies.

Always full of smiles and giving

So tomorrow will be an early day. I promised to start our summer of trotting off right by moving to 8 am. I guess I better do what I say and let's meet at Nose Hill Park for this early start. I think we will start on the top of the hill along Shaganappi Trail north of John Laurie Boulevard. Just keep heading up that hill until the top and on the right you will see a parking lot. There is a washroom there. Whether it is open is the question!

So it was ten years ago this week that a gaggle of guys and gals went south to San Diego to experience the Rock and Roll Marathon in that city. It was a great trip with many good people: Anne Marie, Sylvia, Carol, Ally, Sharon, Joanne & Mike, Quentin, Scott, Al & Dianne, Willie, Barb, Gela & Doug, and others that have skipped my memory. We were there during games six and seven of the Flames Stanley Cup run of 2004. We gave it our best but our cheering in the sunny south of the US didn't quite get the job done. We did create some strange glances in the pubs when we asked to turn the televisions from the NBA finals to the NHL. I tried to offer some sweat and beers to the hockey gods by wearing a Flames jersey the entire race. I even sped along to finish in 3:12, but like Gelinas the video replay showed no win. I did make the San Diego paper and got some props from the California media, but hockey was quickly lost to running Elvis.

Game Six in Old Towne San Diego

Game seven in the room

We were so young then! We are still young!