Food, Fun, and Fahrenheit

It might be true. It should be true. Truly, we can't be wrong. Could we? I am pretty confident - as confident as a man could be in the hourly change of weather that is Calgary - that spring has finally sprung. With double digit positive temperatures for the next week or so, American friends please use Google to understand the Celsius scale, we might see the six foot piles of ice gracing the edge of everyone's driveway shrunk to a mere foot or so. Look at me being bilingual, both metric and imperial in the same paragraph.

Soon Sadie will be back in the Bow

What is watched by more people tonight, the NCAA final or the Voice? Discuss.

A shout out to our friend Liz who took the lead when John failed in the weekly duty of organizing us for a weekly trot. Here is her successful walk in the high altitude of Kananaskis. She is truly an inspiration and a trooper!

Merlin at full attention

I will be busy with a home delivery Tuesday, hockey tournament Thursday, with the group Saturday, Stampede Parade selection committee part two next Tuesday, then not back in the time zone until Thursday the 24th. Since we are around on Saturday the 12th let's trot from Glenmore Landing at 9 am. See you at McDonald's. 

So I have been a rather delinquent trotter these last few weeks. Some has been weather related, some committee volunteering, while other was due to work. Last week I had both the pleasure and pain of selecting the corporate and non-profit floats that will travel the four miles of the Stampede Parade. While we have some great new entries this year I had to cut some long term entrants because they just didn't make the grade. It will be an interesting next couple of months.

As for work I had the pleasure of attending our annual President's Gala last week. Six courses of student created delicacies made for a long but rewarding evening of culinary excellence. Sorry to brag, but here are the courses I had to eat. I hate my job, but I give the students an A for all aspects!

goat cheese panna cotta with lemon gel, beets, and arugula

Oops, forgot that there was white wine here...township 7 Unoaked Chardonnay, no photo from the event, but just imagine me drinking. Go ahead, tough to visualize.

line caught wild spring salmon with pickled fennel, red grapes, salted caramel,
grapefruit beurre blanc, sweet potato pave

Aberta Beef, roast striploin & braized shoulder, caramelized onion Jus, horseradish relish,
blue cheese potato, brussels sprouts, turnips

Township 7 Merlot and Maculan, Dindarello Moscato IGT, Italy

Alberta Pecorino & fresh organic ricotta cheeses with celery leaf pesto,
wild foraged huckleberry cumberland sauce

Dark Chocolate mousse, chili cinnamon spiced cake, lychee gelee and marinated fruit.

and because I couldn't eat it all Thursday, the takeaway which I took to Copper Point in Invermere
Macaroons and shortbread.

That is not what I get to experience every day, but I do believe we have some great students who hopefully will become outstanding chefs.

 See you all soon.

Looking good!

We have all heard those words; 'looking good!', 'almost there', 'just around the corner', or '1K to go'. These days I just want to believe but don't really trust 'one more day'. There is a wonderful  rumour around these parts that tomorrow we will see the mercury rise above the freezing point. I think the last time we saw this was back in January.

What was your favourite (or worst) cheer heard while trotting the trails?

This Saturday we will enjoy some great spring weather (I am crossing my fingers that I don't jinx it) and savour the company starting from McDonald's at Glenmore Landing. We shouldn't have too many ice and snow issues around there. See you at 9 am outside the Big Mac.
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I am really proud of one of our trotting alumni (SAIT alumni too) Janelle who took two months off work to volunteer in Sochi, first with the Olympics and Second with the Paralympics. She has been an inspiration for all the crazy things she does...keep it going Janelle!

Janelle telling it like it is. So official!

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I enjoy reading from a blog that features many great stories on proper training, but reminds me of all the reasons to love trotting the trails. Last week she highlighted the problem with people like me (and Ally and ...) when it comes to going beyond the marathon. My favourite is the tenth reason as I have done it more than once.

Soon we too can do the Edworthy stairs

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While Janelle is in Sochi for the Paralympics I have asked her to say hello to one of our other alumni who ran track while here at SAIT in the 80's. He also participated in the Paralympics, is on the board of the IOC, has received the Order of Canada, and is just a darn good guy.

Can we all aspire to do so much?

That's all I got.

Piglets, Phils, and phrozen toes and nose

How many words can accurately describe this winter of weather? Record snow, weeks on end of temperatures measured in Kelvin (Okay, all temperature can be measured this way), and throw in an above normal month of January just to tease your senses. Add in the fact that those little rats called Groundhogs just can't seem to get their ducks in a row. Balzac Billy, Punxsutawney Phil, Wiarton Willie, Potomac Phil (two Phil's?), Dunkirk Dave, etc. prove that too many rodents can be a bad thing.

Tamara, John, and Carroll on a cold winters morn'

With the pathways still not looking good and the parking cost back down to $3.00 (or up from $2.00) we will feed the downtown economic zone with an Eau Claire trot, Good Earth coffee, and Impark-ing. Now why couldn't the Garage Billiards be open for breakfast and a beer? See you at 9 am.
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Next week I will be trotting in the town of Vancouver. There will be plenty of exploration of the Stanley Park trail systems. Hopefully I will find that skunk that nipped my finger (and according to Joy gave me superpowers) back in 1992. He owes me an explanation on how to control these powers. I will miss you all Tuesday through Saturday. If you are needing my company, I will be found along the seawall with shoes tied tight.
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and reverse

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Speaking of Vancouver, I was looking for some options for the evening. West Side Story is in Vancouver, but leaves before I arrive. The Canucks are not playing due to the Olympics. The Giants are on the road. Ticketmaster only has one event that week. Friday night is Miley Cyrus. So I ask you, should I go? And second question if the first answer is yes, should I bring a foam finger?
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A quick update with our friend Liz. She has been out and about getting her exercise, even threatening to join the group for a walk. Soon the paths will be clear and the weather mild so we can give her a great big high five and a check-back. Neil and Merlin will be by her side too.
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One of my favourite humorists in the trotting world is a guy named Mark Remy. He is a writer for Runners World. He writes this week about treadmill myths. I think these, and the selfie below are all reasons why I don't train on a treadmill. Poke the piglet for the full story.

At least my coat matches my socks.

Have a great couple of weeks. see yo soon.

Come Helly or high water

Well, it couldn't last. Our great month of January weather is fading into February with cold and wind. It seems like everywhere you turn there is a thick sheet of ice with an inch of snow hiding it from sight. Be careful out there! We have had a few slip-and-fall episodes in the last few trots.

Speaking of trots, I will be absent tonight (you have your one hour notice!) as the stripes of my officiating jersey need to be worn. I will miss a trot AND Original Joes for a second week running - pun intended. For Saturday I think we will have to use Eau Claire for our 9 am meet even though the rates for parking in the garage are now up to $5.00. Go ahead Greg, yell at them for me!
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I had two separate conversations with some of our former path buddies this week. Both Tibor and Ralph are doing well, albeit not able to left-right-repeat as in old times. We have been blessed to have many a fine person cross our paths in the 20 years of Tech Shop training, and hopefully I can continue for another 20 years of meeting fine people!
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Our friend Jeremy Deere was part of a very topical article in the Calgary Herald today. If you want to keep going in the winter, this is a good read.

Will he ever slow down?

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Did you know that we had a new world record set by an Octogenarian (I think that is right?) from Calgary? Our friend Helly Visser broke the 1500M world record last weekend by covering the distance in 7:48.23. Many of us 'trotters' take as long as that just to cover 1000M. If you see Helly on the trails in the next few weeks wish her well and congratulate her for ANOTHER world record. She is stunning.

Her 'young' days of 2011.

Stay safe out there no matter where you may be enjoying the trails. Whether new Zealand (Hi Leslie), Cayman Islands (Jon Jon), or just Calgary we are all responsible to make sure we can enjoy our passion for the trails. See you on them.

Liz, lounge, and leg lifts

What an interesting week it has been. But first...

With a potential for a high of 13C on Saturday I think we may have to try another road trip. Should we try Fish Creek? The reservoir? How about Confederation Park? Nose Hill? I like that. Nose Hill it is! Let's meet at Huntington Hills arena which is on the corner of 78th Avenue and Centre Street North. We can do a loop into the Nose Creek Valley and Nose Hill. Hills and valleys are always my favourite. See you at 9 am inside the arena.
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I would like to ask you all to wish our friend Liz a speedy recovery from her surgery. She has already been out of bed and walking around, keeping Neil in good speed. If you know Liz but don't know what I am talking about, give me a shout and I will fill you in. See you on the paths soon Liz!

from left: Jodi&Storm, Carroll, Willie&Coco Chanel, Neil, Peter, Liz&Merlin, and Adrian

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I enjoy keeping a leg up with the research done around the world. I thought you might enjoy this chart for knowing how to get the biggest brain benefits. It's true - we need a good nap to keep ourselves sharp as a tack. So if you see us on the couch, it is all in the name of research, and smartness!

Click on the image for the full facts!

There are a couple of fun events over the next couple of weeks that I think you might - no should - consider. This Sunday, if we haven't already killed you with the above hills and valleys, our friends at Tri-It are hosting an event called the Yeti.It soulds like a fun snowshoe this weekend. As long as we have snow!

Jordan explains snowshoeing basics if you click on the Yeti!

Next week is the Cochrane Winterfest 5 km. I wonder if it is okay to go to MacKay's for ice cream in January? Check out http://www.cochraneevents.ca/ for more info.

And if your calendar fills quickly, it is exactly 100 days until:

The Tower Climb! Get your boots scootin'

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I thought I would finish with the beautiful view outside our window last night. I can't believe how clear the air was, along with a lovely light of night. We love our home.

 

Snowshoes and sweatbands

You know those days when you wake up in the morning and really look forward to something? I had this last weekend with the opportunity of a first snowshoe in the 'hood'. With a metre of snow in our little pocket of paradise I was looking forward to some partners in powder. Unfortunately all I saw was the taillights of Adrian's truck as he drove away - lonely at the thought we were no-shows. Sorry Adrian!

Indeed there was a majority that were absent: cold? Nope! Hung over? Maybe! But shy of the two of us it was a quiet morning on the trails. For my mental notes in the future, the paths were plowed by 930 am that morning.

As for this Saturday, let's just stick with Eau Claire so that we may enjoy the cleared paths without too many Chinook created icy patches. See you at 9 am.

I thought you all would like a bit of a view from the banks of the Bow.

Where the bow flows past our house. 

The one duck that called me a quack for showing up.

The lonely picnic tables that the flooding washed up against the remaining trees

Another picnic gone bad.

A neighbour on the banks of the Bow

A slightly better view of the Bald Eagle. Moments before there were two.

The lonely Sue Higgins Bridge. She will be lonely for a few years I suspect.

I could probably jump the gap with these snowshoes!

The sun was peeking out of the clouds.

Which one is better?

This is our hood, and why I don't need to move.

 If these pictures are not good enough, check out the photos that Greg shared here.
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Are you interested in the Cabot Trail relays? From one of my parade contacts:

I know you've got a crew that run and I wanted to let you know that we officially have an all-Alberta team in the Cabot Trail relay (Nova Scotia) in May. There are a few spots open if you know anyone who may be interested!

Give me a call or email if you'd like more information.

Thanks

Kat

Sent from Kat's iPhone

Marketing | PR | Graphic Design

www.takcam.com

A new year of new opportunity

Hello everyone, a short post for all today as I wanted to offer a 2 for 1 deal tomorrow.

Let's meet at Mallard Point in Fish Creek Park for either a snowshoe or trot of the eastern parts of our lovely urban park. My plan is to snowshoe so you are welcome to join me. See you in the parking lot at 9 am. Ish! Mallard Point is the farthest eastern point of Canyon Meadows Drive. For those of you who can only do breakfast I would say 1045 am at the Winkin' Owl on Bow Bottom should be the place. 

It must be spring training for the trotting crew as clinics start up next Tuesday. Rumours are a long lost partner to the group is coming back after at least a seven year hiatus. I would mention e name but it wouldn't be PC of me. 

That is the short of it. 

John