Friday, March 31, 2006

 

Over $3000!!!!

As mentioned earlier this week, I hoped to reach the $3000 level by week's end. Well, my amazing donors have come through in spades and I've still got today's (Friday) mail to anticipate.

Did my Thursday run (about 40 minutes) after work and all went well. I used the Fredericton trail system for the first time this year - unbelievable that this was possible to do when it's still only March.

This is a big weekend for the Canadian Diabetes Association in Fredericton. Saturday night is the annual Food and Wine Festival that raises close to $40,000 to support the summer camp for kids with diabetes. It is called Camp Dia-Best and it uses the facilities of Camp Rotary on Grand Lake. My son has attended for 4 years and always has a great time.

Thursday, March 30, 2006

 

Running At Night

Yesterday I wasn't able to get out for my run at lunch so I did it in the evening when I took my daughter out to her riding lesson. Neglected the fact that in the country there ain't no streetlights and the sun still goes down fairly early. It was like running blindfolded most of the time. Thankfully I didn't step in any potholes and turn an ankle. Note to self - run only when and where I can see where I'm placing my feet!

Another donation yesterday. Thanks Kevin H., a business associate. Appreciate your support.

Tuesday, March 28, 2006

 

It's A Great Day To Be Alive

Absolutely gorgeous weather today - about 10c and sunny. I got out for my first run in shorts rather than tights. I fear that this is just a tease of spring though and that there may still be a brief blast of winter to come.

Run today was 5k. Felt good for the first 3-4 but the last bit was tough going. Not to worry though, its the first real run since my kidney stone passed and still lots of time until teh Fredericton Half Marathon.

Thanks to my most recent donors - Rachel, my former colleague at the University of Northern British Columbia and Kevin, a colleague at my current place of employment, the University of New Brunswick.

I and the Canadian Diabetes Association appreciate your support.

Monday, March 27, 2006

 

Recent Donors

I would like to thank folks for the generous donations that I have recently received. A business associate, Laurie G., donated a dollar for each of the 42.2 kms that I will be running in the New York City marathon. Awesome.
In an earlier blog post I mentioned crossing paths with friend and realtor Louise Y. She promised a donation and today I recieved it. Thanks Lou!
Late last week donations from my cousin Mike in Ottawa and from fellow United Way board member Gale were received. Both are very much appreciated.

One of the interesting off-shoots of this blog activity has been the great people that I have connected with via the "blogosphere". Most (but not all) are involved with Team Diabetes Canada or other charity running groups and they are from coast to coast. I am particularly happy to have "met" Mal in Israel though a blog that I visited which prompted a return visit to mine. Great to meet you this way!

Once again, on behalf of the Canadian Diabetes Association, thanks to everyone who is supporting me.

Sunday, March 26, 2006

 

On The Road Again

Today I went out for a 30 minute run but given my recent medical troubles I decided to make it a very light workout so I did 5 & 1's, meaning that I ran 5 minutes and then walked for 1 minute. I made sure that I took in lots of fluids too, since kidney stones can be related to dehydration. Felt good to be back at it again. This week I am going to try to pick up where I left off in my training schedule so that I stay on track for the Fredericton Half Marathon on May 14th. I'm also hoping that this week will bring enough donations to reach the $3000 mark.

Saturday, March 25, 2006

 

Elvis Has Left The Building

At last that miserable kidney stone has taken leave of my body. This is one passing that I won't mourn!! Hopefully tomorrow I can get out for a short run and then I'll get back onto my training schedule.

It's been a week of emotional highs and lows. Started out great with word that one of my staff members had given birth to a baby boy. Congratulations Nicole and husband Andrew. Then came my bout with the kidney stone. On the heels of that, news that my assistant Niki made the heart-wrenching decision to have one of her beloved cats put down due to illness. Finally, the week ended on a very sombre note as one of my colleagues announced that she has been diagnosed with breast cancer.

It is difficult to find the words to express how such news impacts. I felt numb. I felt sad. I felt angry. I felt helpless. I felt scared. The same range of emotions I felt six years ago when we were told our 9-year old son has diabetes. The same range of emotions I felt when 23 years ago my Dad told me he had leukemia. How must my colleague and her family be feeling? God, bless her.

Thursday, March 23, 2006

 

Still Hurtin'

Darn kidney stone is taking its time departing its friendly confines so I'm still out of commission. Hopefully today's the day. If possible I'd like to get out for at least a short run this weekend.

Tonight my wife goes for her second "For Women Only" class at the Running Room. I'm really proud of her - she has run 4 times in the last week. She should be at the head of the class when they meet tonight!

Tuesday, March 21, 2006

 

Now That Hurts!!!

Suffered a minor setback last night. After a nice dinner out with some colleagues from UNB, I started to experience severe abdominal pain. By 1 a.m. it was time to head to the hopsital. After a couple of x-rays and a CT scan they confirmed that I had a kidney stone. It's apparently the size of a grain of sand but the pain it caused was out of all proportion to its size!

So, I am home from work for a couple of days and won't be able to run until the stone passes (yikes). On the upside, I'll be home from work and won't have to run for the next couple days ...

To my cousin (Dr. Chris) who 'dissed me with his comment on this blog ... I love you anyway. Props to you and Liner for your performance in the aptly-named Winnipeg Hypo Half Marathon.

Monday, March 20, 2006

 

Lyrics

As my friends and colleagues know, I am a font of useless trivia (remember Cliff Claven from Cheers?), including song lyrics.

Given the day of the week, some might suggest that the 80's punk song "I Don't Like Mondays" should be the "lyric du jour". I prefer a lyric from a Bon Jovi (or was it Van Halen) song... "oh, we're half way there, livin' on a prayer ..." That's because my fundraising has now reached 50% of my goal. As the thermometer shows, I've reached $2510 thanks to generous donations received today from: George R., Margie G., Bonnie L. and the firm Liteco Inc.

Thank you all so very much. The Canadian Diabetes Association appreciates your support and I am personally very grateful.

Today was a rest day in my training schedule. Tomorrow is the first day of running in week 5.

Sunday, March 19, 2006

 

LSD

For any of you who lived through the 60's ... it's not what you think!

LSD stands for Long Slow Distance and it's the run that I do every Sunday. Today the distance was 15k and I was a little worried as I set out. Since we were in Quebec City last weekend I'd missed that run and so I wondered whether I was ready to go that far. Everything went well though - took me about 95 minutes.

Also very proud of my wife Jill who started her Running Room "For Women Only" program on Thursday night. Today she got up earlier than usual and met her group for a Sunday run and she is going again Wednesday.

One donation received recently from Edwina, a fellow runner and owner of Edwina's Catering here in Fredericton. For all your catering needs, call Edwina first!!!

Friday, March 17, 2006

 

St. Patrick's Day


It's a wonderful day for many reasons - it's Friday, it's my niece Kyla's birthday and I'm descended on my mother's side from Irish immigrants. Great memories also of having run my first marathon in Dublin back in 2002. It's true that Guinness tastes best when consumed in the city where it is actually produced although it tastes great everywhere.

Thursday, March 16, 2006

 

Thursday Run

Today was 5k. Felt good. Had the use of an MP3 player and listened (again) to an album by Nickel Creek - a great young band that plays a form of "nouveau" bluegrass. Highly recommend.

Wednesday, March 15, 2006

 

Another Great Day

Today's run went well. Did my scheduled 7k after mapping out the route on the website I mentioned yesterday. No cheating on distances now. Weather today was much improved - no rain to contend with and temps still pretty mild.

Tuesday, March 14, 2006

 

Week 4

Today was the first day of running (Mondays are a scheduled rest day) in week 4 of my training schedule to prepare for the Fredericton Half Marathon in May. Of course, the real target is the New York City marathon in November but the "Freddy Beach Half" will be an early indicator of my state of readiness.
Weather today was a challenge - a bit of a breeze, chilly and raining - but I did my 5k with a cheery smile on my face so that everyone who passed me while bundled up,heat going in their car would wonder whether I am crazy. Of course, the answer is YES.

Learned of a cool site for determining route distances. It is at:

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/

Monday, March 13, 2006

 

Back to the Salt Mine


March break is over so I'm back in Fredericton, back to work and back to training and fundraising. Had an amazing vacation. Visited with friends (Jackie and Tyler S.) and family (Sylvia and Lloyd B.). Got to the new War Museum - amazing. Had lunch at Nate's - best smoked meat sandwiches anywhere. Enjoyed meeting Taylor and Amanda at their Team D fundraiser. They are both enrolled for the Rekyavik marathon group. As is often said ... You Go Girls!!

Spent 3 days skiing/boarding with my son Chris at Stoneham near Quebec City. Fantastic.

Arrived home to find some donations had come in the mail. Thanks to my great buddy Godfrey, to Keppoch friends Sid and Toshiko and to in-laws Laurie and Rob. Monday's evening mail contained several more. Thanks to friends Jeff/Mary, Natalie from Medavie, fellow choir member Stephanie and to the actuarial firm Eckler Partners.

So far the total raised for the Canadian Diabetes Association is $2270.

Sunday, March 05, 2006

 

Sunday in the Nation's Capital


It's been a great day in Ottawa. Did my scheduled 12k this morning in just over 1:15. Then my son and I went down to the Rideau Canal to skate on the world's lomgest skating rink. Next, we met up with my mom, brother Steve, wife Tara and baby Gavin (aka G-Unit) for a walk on a different section of the Canal. Now we're all out at my other brother Bill's place to have pizza with him, wife Kristy, kids Kyla and Dylan. What a day!!!

Received a large donation from my mom and so together with several others received lately, the total has risen to $1750. The Canadian Diabetes Association will benefit tremendously from this generosity. Thanks everyone.

Friday, March 03, 2006

 

Let The Games Begin

Did my planned 5k run today, in spite of the brutal windchill. No running tomorrow - I'm driving to Ottawa with my son Chris for a visit with family and then we are going to Quebec City for 3 days of skiing/snowboarding at Stoneham and Mont Ste Anne. Should be great fun. Somehow I will have to squeeze in a few runs too.

I've been finding a number of other Team Diabetes Canada blogs and plan to have links to them when I have the chance. Thanks to blogger Taylor in Ottawa for showing me how to get the thermometer onto my site!

Thursday, March 02, 2006

 

A Great Day

Arrived home from work tonight to find that I'd received two more donations in the mail. It's been a great day. Thanks very much to Medavie Blue Cross for a generous donation and to long-time family friend Victor. Over 30 years ago I used to babysit for Victor and his (late) wife. Victor was an army colleague of my (late) father's. Just recently I ran into him in an airport. It had probably been 15 or 20 years since we had last seen each other. We chatted, he gave me his business card, asked me to pass along best wishes to my mom and we parted ways. I wrote him about my Team Diabetes involvement and he responded with a nice note and a generous donation. Thank you so very much.

I can now report that I am over the $1000 mark - 20% of my goal achieved and still eight months of fundraising to go.

 

More Donations!!

Thanks to recent donors Norm, Deb and James. Total donated to the Canadian Diabetes Association now stands at $875. Still a ways to go ($4125) to get to my goal but I have faith that I'll be able to do it with the support of my great family, friends and colleagues.

Congratulations to my cousin Chris (Dr. B) and wife Caroline for their awesome performance at the Winnipeg "Hypo Half" Marathon. Temps were -20c (not counting the windchill) and they both still managed to do amazing times. An extra challenge was that the course was apparently improperly marked/measured so everyone ended up running an extra mile.

Wednesday, March 01, 2006

 

Wicked Wednesday

Man, today's run felt awful!! I did the scheduled 5k but it was a chore. Punishment for too many pancakes last night at supper you ask? Couldn't be 'cause I only had a few. Oh well, tomorrow is a rest day so hopefully I'll be back in the groove by the time I do my Friday run.

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