Willie leave? Willie go? Willie be remembered!

We were told some sad news as a group of friends a couple of weeks ago. Our long time friend Willie has decided to pack his bags and move to greener pastures - literally - by heading to Vancouver for a new role within Westfair Foods. We got a quick chance to say goodbye last weekend before the rubber hits the road. 

I have known Willie as long as I've known my wife. They both joined our trotters in the spring of 2003. We have been around the world together, I count France, USA, Canada, Switzerland, Belgium, and Italy as just a few of the landing spots we have enjoyed. 

The two of us have hosted parties that have over-run our houses with people, creating havoc for our spouses. Willie catered our Wedding, Joy's CGA graduation, and countless other parties we have had the privilege to attend. Joy just wants to know where she will find pad thai as good as Willies...

I did a quick dig of some photos and the following is my tribute to Willie. 

Oh, yes, if you would like to run Saturday we will be at Eau Claire for 9 am.

Willie in Milan in front of Willy Miani leathers. I couldn't find the photo of Willie in front of
Willie's Bakery in Victoria. I have it but where???

In Oostende. Translated this store was all about food packaging, right up
Willies alley!

San Diego Rock and Roll Marathon: Willie, Sharon, Al, Diane, Quentin,
Scott, Barb, Mike, Joanne, Shar and Bob, and missing off the side were Doug and Gela, Ann-Marie,
Tony and Sylvia, Ally, Sandra, Carol, and I am sure I missed many! We were in a bar watching game six of the
Stanley cup finals with Tampa Bay and Calgary. 

The Jingle Ribbits: Willie, Kristin, John, Ally, Wendy, and Ken.
Now what was that mascot's name?

Jodi, Carroll, Willie, Neil, Peter, Liz, and Adrian.
Dogs are Storm, Coco Chanel, and Merlin 

Willie and Ken at John's Breakfast Cafe.

Our Lausanne 2005 team. So many great people!

Where's Willie? Look for the tallest guy in the photo...then look down!
I am in the upper left next to Bonkers.

Medoc Marathon Whine on Wine group: Willie, Dave, Kara, John, Joy, Carrie, and Sharon.
Kelly is up front.

The boys and booze. Kelly's dad is on the left. Do we look European?

Ken, AmberDawn, Willie, Ally, and me during the Flander's Fields Marathon

If I can remember Team Belgium: Cathy, Kim, ?, Anne-Marie, Carroll, Sylvia,
Maureen, ?,?, Willie, Jon, Ken, AmberDawn, Shauneen, Pam, Ally, ?, Carol, Kristin, and Dori.
Almost everyone!

Willie's 'birthday' celebration. It wasn't really his birthday...

We will miss you. Have a safe and fun new adventure.

A Max-imum day of fun

Some days are so quick you can barely see them. It's like being on a high speed train. You try to focus on one thing and within a second you are dizzy from the movement of time.

I look at the clock and see Friday is already upon us, and close to complete. All that is left is a short skate with some Friday night old-timer hockey players as their judge, jury, and executioner. I do enjoy lacing the skates and ensuring safe hockey between two competitive teams.

Before I know it Saturday morning will be upon us. Saturday that brings good trotting, some golf, and a hockey pool between friends. Us trotters will meet at 9 am if you are interested. Let's meet at Max Bell Arena for a nice trot along the irrigation canal. If you don't wish to run I am sure we can find a walker for you, or referee if you choose to 'stand' in Max Bell!

I have some fantastic photos from last weekend and our Edworthy trot along with the Strides trail run of Tuesday. But alas iPhone and Acer are having a Friday night argument over the male/female connection that is required to communicate. Perhaps the photos will arrive tomorrow.

So with that I wish you a good night and see you Trotting the Trails in the morning.

The travels of a trotter

I have good friends. I think they like me. Every once in a while they reach out and invite us into their fun. A couple of weeks back Carroll allowed us to join her and Chris on a date in Canmore. I wasn't the only crasher. Bob and Jodi, Joy and Sadie also enjoyed a trip around the trails of Canmore. We did find some old coal mines and stopped for a quick photo. good friends, good times, and a good day.

This weekend we will meet at Edworthy Park, Mostly because I haven't met the group there in many months, if not years. To get there, take Shaganappi Trail or Parkdale Boulevard to their intersection. the lot is there with a couple of washrooms for those with a 'special' bladder. See you at 9 am in front of Angel's.

This is the way we roll.

Tuesday I proved that my 'ish' arrival time doesn't work for all. The Tuesday Strides trail group hosted a blood and guts loop. I missed them by a few minutes but like a good bloodhound found them on the rebound. 

Not before I found some beautiful views, present company excepted.

global warming is caused by the reflection off that forehead...

There may be a mosquito or two birthing here in the spring

Beat's the hell out of Big Brother Canada. Actually, anything is better...

the road to nowhere, except a peaceful setting

Calgary's only true waterfall

And finally, some of you have been privy to the treats I bring from our SAIT culinary marketplace. This week was the fall bake sale. I entered the craziness five minutes after opening and am pretty confident the fire marshal would not be impressed. that said my belly is fully satisfied!

Have a happy Thanksgiving.

No phone left behind

I love trails. there, I said it. I know you are wondering why I would let you know that when you already understand my need to dance with dirt. But these last few weeks I have had the pleasure to trot with a new and equally excitable group on our urban paths.

the best part about doing trails is getting lost. Not in the Survivor show style or where a cadaver dog is required. but just allowing the dirt to be your guide. Last week the Strides trail group went on a little hill Paskapoo Slopes. In my decades of urban runs I had never been there.

 

I was introduced to a junk yard, a Buddhist shrine, and many a windy trail. I learned what a Stupa is (slang for my action later that night), and saw enough view checks to last a season of Shar Scott trots.

this week was a little bit of home with a Fish Creek run. I expected to see many a downed tree but surprisingly the area we enjoyed was reasonably unscathed. I guess that is one advantage of the spruce tree.

Oops, did we lose Ally?

This Saturday will be a nice simple road trip to the Mount Pleasant Community Arena and subsequent dive into Confederation Park. The arena is located at 23 Avenue and 6 Street NW. See you there at 9 am, the very reasonable time. Christine is running longer and starting earlier if anyone wants to message me and I can pass on the details.

Oh yes, last weekend was the birthdays of Dave and Donna. Who new it would take so long to complete the birthday triathlon?

Donna and Dave's birthdays sans Dave

Who do you thisk was fastest down the track

I have tried to make a race of the London Tube with Joy on our last visit. She wasn't so enamoured with towing sixty pounds of luggage in behind. Fairly though I was carrying the extra bags. If you want to see where you CAN beat the train watch this.

I still run in 1994 but travel 2014

Oh, and the phone? It was found on the centre of Sarcee Trail. It didn't enjoy the trail as much as I did,

Heat, Frost, Sun and Snow. A typical trot week in Calgary

Well, what a wonderful week of weather. You have to wonder how nature is managing the earth. Growing into splendour then allowing the very moisture that helps all grow knock it back to the ground. While the trees have taken a hard hit in Calgary, Nature will surely take it's course and regenerate the plants and trees.

Our trotting friend and local 'pink chick' Dawn lost many trees in her front yard. Luckily she had a group of firemen come to her door and save the day. Hmm, did the snow cause this need or...

Dawn taking names

The weather wasn't too much of a damper on activity. Saturday we had a great trail trot with the gang from Strides. Jeannette led us through some fun little trails allowing the beginner and expert trail trotter to experience a great morning. I did show her a short cut or two which are the important secrets of a good trail leader.

26C and then below...

Oops, big finger in the way...

Tuesday was another trail group with Strides, this time led by our long-time partner Alan. We didn't run too much but we did get some great coaching. Hopefully everyone enjoyed the lessons and will be out next week. I certainly will be!

Snow event? Where???

So, I have been asked to move the trot back to the 9 am hour. Yep, the clock will be easier to hear with the extra hour of rest. I just hope I don't read too much of the paper Saturday and not have a good Sunday spread!

Why I am always on the ish

Well, if we are going to trot at 9 am and we have extra time to drive, let's run from Joy and John's as the bald butt prairie of east Fish Creek shouldn't have too many blockages from fallen trees. See you at the Mallard Point parking lot for a 9 am departure. Christine is running 30+ km, I would like to do 15-20, Joy is doing 12-14, and I am sure other distances will be covered.  See you soon.

A short post for a short trot

It's been a busy few weeks for me. A golf and Guelph trip adding up to a memorable summer with three separate vacations with Joy and my parents. All that and we are still talking!

If you are looking for a trail trot, join www.stridesrunning.com for a trail trot tomorrow. I will be there! Char, Susan, and the rest of you late waking peeps will enjoy the 9 am start.

For those wanting less of a trail can still meet there but do the asphalt paths for their trot training.

On the trail front, check out the Strides website to find info on their Tuesday night urban trail runs. I will be joining their Tuesday runs right through to November.

That's all I have for today. Off to a massage and the Friday night pizza. Woo hoo!

Dear Fellow Trail Runner,  Time flies!... The first Saturday of September is only a day away and we haven't yet provided you with details for the monthly Strides trail run - our apologies!  Due to the lateness of our planning, we've decided to keep it simple this month. On Saturday, September 6th at 9:00am, we'll meet at the Weaselhead parking lot (corner of 37th St. & 66th Ave. SW - top of the Weaselhead hill on the north side of the reservoir) and do a run down through the Weaselhead, along the Sail Trail on the south side, then back to the start.  As in past months, some of our trail running shoe suppliers have donated their test fleet of shoes for everyone to wear during the run. This Saturday we'll have the brand new Fresh Foam 980 Trail from New Balance as well as the Saucony Peregrine 4 to test out with no obligation to buy!  Interested in getting in some additional trail runs this fall, but don't want to drive all the way out to the mountains? Alan Cooper of Strides is pleased to partner with newly retired, long-time High School x-country coach, John McKnight, to offer a FREE Tuesday evening Urban Trail Running group through the fall. The first urban trail run is set to go next Tuesday, September 9th at 6:30pm in Confederation Park in NW Calgary. For more information on these weekly group trail runs, please visit  www.stridesrunning.com. Once you've finished your run, head on over to Strides, where we'll have Starbucks coffee and post-run treats waiting for you! Yours in running, Jeremy & Jeanette Deere

Summertime is the right time

Summer is a wonderful word. When you say it warmth immediately surrounds your soul and gives good vibes. I have enjoyed sharing the word summer this, well summer as we have enjoyed many glorious sunshine, heat, and relative mosquito-less days.

Everyone looks forward to summer

I don't know why but I have been spending most of the summer doing the left-right-repeat on the paths of downtown Calgary. I suppose the lack of enthusiasm for typing a blog post and thus using the default most Saturdays is my primary reason. But I really wanted to check out the trails of Kananaskis and because of that I need to type.

So type I will and produce an instruction to the group of trotting the trails of Prairie View and Barrier Lake for a short-ish 14 km loop up and down a mountain. Now doesn't that sound reasonable? Let's meet at the Edworthy Park parking lot at Parkdale Blvd. and Shaganappi Trail for 8 am so we can car-pool and depart forthwith. If you miss the meet, see you at the Barrier Lake parking lot for a 9 am trot around and up the hill.

I was reading one of my favourite reads, a blog by a fellow ultra runner about what makes us so crazy. I read one of the proofs which was "We think beer is a post run recovery drink". I tend to agree. When you combine a summer like this current one and beer things can get a 'little' dehydrating.

Death Race finish line photo. 125km and one Canadian = satisfaction
Burn by Elbow River tubing

I thought I would give a shout out to an emerging artist who I hope to one day own a piece of her work. I saw her pieces at the ACAD Art Show and Sale in the spring. She is having a show this Sunday and I do hope to see and support her work. Will you join me?

Hello!

Hope you have been having a great summer! For me it has been one of the busiest and best summers ever. In addition to the many exciting exhibitions I was involved with in May, June and July, I just got back from a special assignment in Québec City where 14 of my paintings are exhibited at Le Graffiti. What an amazing experience!

For those interested, I have one more exhibit sale before I move to Laguna Beach, California for school this September: my 4th annual show at the Valley Ridge Golf Club (http://www.valleyridgegolf.com/) on Sunday, August 17th. Show time is 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM, with a special artist reception from noon to 4:00 PM, when free wine and appetizers will be served.

A big thank-you to all of you for your continued support and encouragement. I hope to see you all at the Valley Ridge Golf Club next Sunday!

Wishing you a great week!

Alexandra Tremblay (Sala)
www.artbysala.ca