"HA HA!"

I knew that if I pretended not to know what to do with myself in the mountains I could provoke Teresa into a comment!!

So thanks Teresa!  Weather and wind permitting tomorrow I'm gonna ride to the gondola in Banff.  I probably won't go up it however since I will have no way to secure my bike.  I actually climbed Sulfur mountain 10 years ago with Roo, Michael and Adrian, and for some reason we didn't even take the gondola back down, even though down is free.  Oh and when I made that climb I weighed 80 pounds more than I do now!!

Today I took Ky's advice and went up to the Nordic Centre.  This place was built specifically for the cross country skiing/biathlon events of the 1988 Calgary Olympics.  It is indeed pretty close to here but you need to know Ky that it is all uphill, and that it seems like a long way on a 50 pound Sears tandem, especially when you're pedalling it all by yourself!

But I had made at least half of the trip several times already since Quarry Lake is where I swim every day.  I knew about the tri they're running here on Saturday and half considered doing it.  I chickened out however.  It would be a great little last minute workout if I believed I could just take it easy, perhaps  75% effort....that's the part that scared me away!

And to prove I actually did what I said here is the pictorial evidence.

Fifty seven flags I think.

The biathlon shooting area.

This grassy area they call the stadium.  I assume they fill it with portable bleachers for events.  Nice backdrop eh?

The adjacent man made lake....not Quarry Lake which is 2 kms away.

Looking back down to the town of Canmore.

And how the world has changed in the 24 years since 1988.  That year the medal count was dominated by the USSR and East Germany, two political entities that don't even exist any more.  Canada won a total of 5 medals, none of which were gold!  Compare that to the more recent Vancouver Winter Olympics that included 82 countries.  Canada won 26 medals, 24 of whcih were gold!!

I also took Mikes advice and chose to enjoy the solitude of it all and had a very peaceful day.  I even enjoyed my visit to Starbucks where I was once again forced to go to write my post.

But then again I was never quite alone all day anyway.  For your smile of the day, type "Canmore Bunnies" into your search engine.  This guy likes the shade under my steps.  

(swim 1500 metres)

"Be able to be alone. Lose not the advantage of solitude, and the society of thyself."---Thomas Browne

Love

Peter

"And So It Begins"

I've had the heebie geebies since 5:30 this morning.  All kinds of anxiety over every stupid little thing.  I would tell myself that it was just withdrawal and that would help a bit, but 15 minutes later I would be right back at it again.  Example.  I decided to make the hour drive to Calgary today because there was something I wanted to get for Roo that was not available in town.  At some point I remembered that I had not screwed the top back on the sewer connection at my RV site. I started worrying about the guy next to me being pissed because it just happens to be very close to his front door.  I stressed about it all the way back from Calgary and in actual fact headed back sooner then I had planned.  When I got back, guess what?  The top was back on and my neighbours were already gone!

I know it's gonna be like this pretty well all the way through now, and will certainly get even worse.  I wish I knew the answer but quite frankly I don't think there is one.  The reality is that I am physiologically addicted to exercise and the withdrawal is a fact of life.  I can only work to manage it as well as possible.

One of the ways of course is to stay busy and at the very time I could get lots of shit done at home I am not there.  I could be fixing my motorhome but I am afraid to take it apart and then not have the right tools to do it properly.  I could be working on my bike but that's kinda my Penticton week project.  I could go to Calgary every day but that just costs money.  Oh, and of course, I could be making mad, passionate love to my wife but guess what??

So.  One carries on.

Even freakin colder here last night.  We actually had ice in the puddles which I guess means it reached zero.  I know I had to get up about 3 am to get another blanket.  I could have turned the heat on but I have a choice between the heat pump which is noisy but uses their electricity, or the propane heater which is quieter but uses my gas!  I'm happy with the extra blanket.

We also seem to have some Internet functionality back here in the park so I didn't have an excuse to go to either Starbucks or McDonalds.  Instead I wlked to the grocery store which had the added benefit of calming me a little.

Just swimming tomorrow morning and then I need to find something useful to do. Laundry maybe?  Saturday should be okay as I need to ride for a couple of hours and then as soon as Roo is back on Sunday it's off to B.C.

(no workout)

"Nerves and butterflies are fine - they're a physical sign that you're mentally ready and eager.  You have to get the butterflies to fly in formation, that's the trick."---Steve Bull

Love
Peter

"Testing Ones Reslove"

Brrrrrrr!

Three degrees overnite and only 6 when I got up this morning.  I wonder what it's like up in the mountains in a tent?  I laugh as I think back to when Roo and I were out shopping for clothes for her trip.  I remember our sarcasm as we read their list about wool socks and long underwear. After all, it's still gonna be summer we said.  Not to worry though.  We listened to the advice, and got what  she needed.  They also checked all of the participants clothing before they let them head out.  I guess they didn't want to hear any whining after they left!

So it was pretty tough to get my wetsuit on and head to the lake this morning but I dragged myself out.  And yes, I did put my suit on and then rode my bike the 4 kms to the lake. Pretty weird actually but manageable.  I thought it would be smarter and less painful than putting it on at the waterside in the cool temperatures.  And as I suspected the lake did not feel any colder this morning than any other day....it couldn't really cause it's always damn near frozen over! 

So no pics today because even though I took a few, I am at Starbucks and I forgot to bring my phone cord to download them.  

It is actually just noon now which is a very unusual time for me to write my post but I am trying to wait out the weather in order to go for my ride.  I need to do 30 kms followed by a short run but it's still only 11 degrees.  I considered putting it off til tomorrow but I think I need to get out there even if I have to wait til late afternoon.  The days start to get tougher now as I try to slow down.  I have to try to switch my focus from training to fun since that's all there really is, and while it's too late to get any fitter, it's not too late to make it a great adventure.  Of course as I work out less, the old weight gain fears creep in and I need to keep them at bay.  I am definitely eating a lot including a full breakfast at 2:30 AM and then another one at 7:30.  I do not have a bathroom scale to keep me honest.

And Starbucks is back on probation.  They are so freakin arrogant.  I think it must be a corporate culture thing.  I tried to make idle conversation about the funny names that have for their coffee sizes and the response I got from the young lady was, "What can I get you?".  Bitch!  Frappe-grande-chinno-venti to you too! I think I'm gonna check out McDonalds down the road for tomorrow's post.  I'll order a Mc-something, since everyone knows that language.

(swim 1000 metres, ride 30 kms, 15 min jog)

"I shall not die of a cold. I shall die of having lived."---Willa Cather

"To do anything in this world worth doing, we must not stand back shivering and thinking of the cold and danger, but jump in, and scramble through as well as we can."---Sydney Smith

"I am tired. My arm aches. My head boils. My feet are cold. But I am not aware of any weakness."---Zane Grey

...and I know I have used this one before but it suddenly applies well...

"Marry an outdoors woman. Then if you throw her out into the yard on a cold night, she can still survive."---W. C. Fields

Love

Peter

"Good Old Starbucks"

Normally I'm not really a fan but today they are on my acceptable supplier list.  Actually I'm discovering that the coffee is quite good, and the oat fudge bar is to die for, but that's not the reason I'm here.

It's for the Internet!  The wireless at the RV park is shaky at the best of time, but right now it is entirely busted.  They are waiting on a part to come from Calgary!!  The price you pay for mountains I guess.

It was another of those ridiculous days made only acceptable by the fact that I am tapering.  Here's the pictorial summary of my 15 km run!

Hard to fathom eh?  For the first 20 minutes or so I would stop my timer while I took the picture, but after a while I even forgot to do that.  Some of these scenes just burst out in front of me when I turned a corner, or came out of a stand of trees.  By the way, this is the Bow river that the trail follows.

Life is beyond good.  How did I ever get the opportunity to do all the things I do??

And to top off the great scenery I feel quite a bit better today.  Despite all the stops, or perhaps because of them, I still had a decent run.  And after all is said and done, it's the run fitness that will tell all come race day!

I admit to missing my wife right now because she is always the first person I wish to share these great days with.  I suspect however that it may be good for me to be alone, and in charge only of myself.  It's something I need to practice a bit more often.  I know it causes stress to others in my life, and to me as well for that matter, when I try to control everything that goes on around me.  I have 5 more days to practice.

And even though she can't hear this.  I LOVE YOU ROO!

(15 km trail run)

"Slow down and enjoy life. It's not only the scenery you miss by going too fast - you also miss the sense of where you are going and why."---Eddy Cantor

Love

Peter

"More Goofing Off"

I just can't seem to get it together this week.  It was 10 degrees when I woke up this morning so I had a late breakfast before I headed over to the lake.  There were others swimming in wetsuits as there were yesterday.  I forgot to mention that I ran into a lady there that will be in Penticaton with me on the 26th. After my late swim I had lunch and then a little nap while I waited for the temperature to come up.  Then I headed off for this place.

And this is how you get there on ones bicycle.

Believe it or not there is an 8 foot wide paved path which parallels the transcanada for all of the 25 kms between Canmore and Banff.  Sweet!!

And this is what one sees when one travels to Banff.

Actually the last pic is taken right here outside the motorhome.  These 3 peaks have develpoed a special signifinace for me.  If I face Penticton from here I know they are behind me looking over my shoulder.      Like some kind of srong, beautiful guardian angels.  Supportive yet expectant.  How apt then, that they are named "the three sisters".

So you can see what I mean by goofing off.  I rode the slowest 50 kms I have ever ridden but it's all good I think.  For some reason I am feeling pretty sluggish but I don't really care.  Whatever will be, will be eh?  Ya just gotta have faith I guess.

Tomorrow I get to run beside the river.  I think I'm gonna bring my camera.  

Or should I say my phone.   We had to buy a new camera which Roo took off to the mountains with her.  It's been a very expensive trip so far.  Along with the camera, she also broke her watch, I stepped on my prescription sunglasses, the fender is falling off the motorhome,  this piece of shit Sears bike is falling apart, and today I busted my waterproof phone case.  And I share these things with you only for your amusement....I personally don't give a shit!

And lastly, yes you're right Elly.  I spoke to them today and that connection is so powerful I would probably move if they moved!

(swim 1000 metres, ride 50 kms)

Faith moves mountains, but you have to keep pushing while you are praying."---Mason Cooley 

Love

Peter

"I'm moving!"

This town is perfect for me!  They got a running store, a bike shop, a Canadian Tire and a grocery store that sells Skinny Cow ice cream, as well as skim milk in 4 litre jugs! They have running trails that go on forever, and dedicated bicycle lanes through the mountains.

They also have this!

It's called Quarry Lake and is just a nice 15 min bike ride from where I'm parked.  I spent about 20 minutes swimming in it today.  It is so glorious it's hard to find the words to describe it.  I will swim here at least 3 more times this week.  Unbelievable!!

It's gonna be a surreal kind of week, compounded by the absence of any kind of communication with Claudette.  Rarely has a day gone by in our 27 years together that we have been completely out of touch.  Here she is with her group of 7 hikers and 2 instructors just before they head out for their "Mind fullness in the Mountains" backpacking trip.  She was very, very excited!  Even though I know you won't read this my love, I hope it turns out to be everything you hope for.  I love you!

(open water swim 20 mins)

"Earth and sky, woods and fields, lakes and rivers, the mountain and the sea, are excellent schoolmasters, and teach some of us more than we can ever learn from books."---John Lubbock

Love

Peter

"Not Boring"

It was a tough bike ride today.  I just could not get serious about it.  We are in a park in Canmore Alberta where Roo begins her journey tomorrow.  I rode out towards Calgary and turned around at 53 kms.  The scenery just overwhelmed me and after I turned around I stopped several times to capture the ride back for you viewing pleasure.  

And to top off a distracted ride I got a flat.  My first with the new machine.  The good news is that I got some tire changing practice.

Oh and Elly.  The answer is right there....in the quote!

(ride 105 kms, run 4kms)

The more you let yourself be distracted from where you are going, the more you are the person that you are. It's not so much like getting lost as it is like getting found."---William Stafford

Love

Peter