meanwhile, elsewhere

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Friday’s online finds: Inspirational, educational or just silly. Here is what I found this week…

           

Have a great weekend! Team 71 is hitting the trail again for the Cabot Trail Relay Race. Here’s a view in the daytime. I am sure it will be just as beautiful at 12:35am. (image)

Oh, and if you haven’t already checked it out… here is my Days of Summer: Let’s Do it list – I think it’s a good weekend to check-off some items.

psst. If you like what you’re reading, please subscribe and share. xomeg

SUMMER starts nowish (year five!)

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And just like that, it’s summer again! This is how I feel:

Hello, long weekend and hello to the official start of my fifth annual 100 Days of Summer: Let’s Do it list where I try and make the most of the sweetest but shortest season with a bucket list on 100 things to do. I may not get it all done, but here’s hoping… And, I hope you can join in on some of the fun.

The rules are simple, summer starts this weekend (the long weekend of May) and ends on the last day of September.

Note: I always start with the ones I’ve yet to complete… There are also pick-ups from previous years because awesomeness is always worth repeating. Oh, and the bolded ones are from my forty before forty list.

100 Days of Summer

  1. see Shakespeare by the Sea**** 
  2. ride a slip & slide***  
  3. hike Cape Chignecto** 
  4. have a water balloon fight** 
  5. go to a concert*
  6. hike the Skyline Trail* 
  7. start designing my 2019 calendars*
  8. sleep in a tent*
  9. play croquette* 
  10. dance in the rain* 
  11. tie dye* 
  12. clean my office*
  13. go tidal bore rafting* 
    ***
  14. run the full Rum Runners Trail (but not all at once – it’s 119 km!)
  15. buy a pair of white jeans
  16. buy a silk blouse
  17. apply sunscreen every freaking day
  18. host a cocktail potluck (with biscuits)
  19. make pickles
  20. change a tire. change the oil. learn these skills.
  21. paddleboard
  22. tube down a river
  23. picnic in a park
  24. hangout in a hammock
  25. dinner on the waterfront
  26. dinner on a patio
  27. and drinks to go!
  28. relay once, relay twice
  29. read a magazine outside
  30. visit Kouchibouguac National Park
  31. bike to the market
  32. bike across the bridge
  33. bike a trail
  34. ride a ferry
  35. get bangs
  36. high five all seven of my nephews and nieces (but not all at once)
  37. have a Butterbeer
  38. swim in the Lido Pool (Chester)
  39. go to a drive-in
  40. dinner at The Canteen
  41. go antiquing
  42. eat from a food truck
  43. go for a beach walk
  44. eat corn on the cob
  45. run through a sprinkler
  46. wash the windows
  47. hear bagpipes
  48. have a campfire
  49. smores and (veggie) dog roasting
  50. run the trail to Laurencetown beach
  51. day trip to Lunenburg (eat at the Salt Shaker Deli)
  52. eat strawberry shortcake for supper
  53. explore a new country
  54. swim in the lake
  55. swim in the ocean
  56. swim in the river
  57. run a marathon
  58. run through the Brandenburg Gate (Berlin)
  59. lay in the grass
  60. travel by train
  61. travel by plane
  62. get a pedicure
  63. have a lunch date
  64. have a brunch date
  65. night swim
  66. bake for a friend
  67. buy flowers for a friend
  68. host a bbq
  69. eat peas from the pod
  70. watercolour
  71. run the 30km trail to the Tatamagouche market and celebrate with a beer at the Tatamagouche Brewery
  72. go strawberry picking
  73. make jam
  74. make rhubarb pie
  75. eat a lobster roll
  76. family-time in PEI
  77. run and jump off a dock without knowing the tempterature of the water
  78. only use the clothesline
  79. mail a card or letter every week (life list goal)
  80. buy a coco clock in Germany (life list goal)
  81. drink my morning coffee outside
  82. drink beer from a cooler
  83. oysters with a cocktail
  84. build a sand castle
  85. go for a walk in Shubie Park
  86. go for a walk in Point Pleasant Park
  87. go for a run and jump in the water right after
  88. go prom-watching in the Public Gardens
  89. after work meetup at the Stillwell Beer Garden
  90. outdoor pizza party
  91. learn and perform the full Footloose dance
  92. run the gulf shore loop in Pugwash
  93. plant some flowers
  94. yoga on the beach
  95. go sailing
  96. go to a yard sale
  97. run up the Needham hill stairs with David… 3 times in a row
  98. watch the sunrise at the beach
  99. watch the sunset at the beach
  100. play hooky

*2017 not completed
**2016/2017 not completed
***2015/2016/2017 not completed
****2014/2015/2016/2017 not completed.

Here are my lists from 2017 / 2016 / 2015 / 2014

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meanwhile, elsewhere

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Friday’s online finds: Inspirational, educational or just silly. Here is what I found this week…

  

Have a great long weekend!(image)

psst. If you like what you’re reading, please subscribe and share. xomeg

dream. train. run. repeat.

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“We fail all the time, and we learn from it and we get better. I think that’s amazing. You fail your way to success. That’s how it happens, and I’m super comfortable with that. I have no problem pointing out a bunch of failures in my career. But I don’t define myself or my career as a failure.” —Des Linden

This is about running so bear with me if it’s not your thing… It’s spring which means the running season is in full swing.Next weekend is Bluenose Marathon weekend and I think it’s my 7th time running the Bluenose half. David and Mike are doing the 5km and I’m going to add a bit of volunteering and a lot of cheering to the mix.

The following weekend is the Cabot Trail Relay – year: five; leg: 12; starting time: 12:35 am: distance: 15:78 km; running with a team: priceless. 

and other than the Rum Runner’s Relay at the end of September, I have no big plans…

Except for… The Berlin (freaking) Marathon! Whoa! Jenna, Kristin and I are running one of the World Marathon Majors with +40,000 of our friends.Call us crazy for flying to Europe to run and call us crazier for bringing the families. Yes, that’s right, we have a lovely Airbnb booked for 6 = adults, 1 = nine-year-old, 2 = four-year-olds and 2 = 1-year-olds.Don’t worry, it’s going to be amazing… there will be beer and pretzels and If all goes as planned, this will be marathon seven for me and the third of the World Marathon Majors. (Chicago recap, New York City recap, Berlin, London, Tokyo and Boston).We’re 18 weeks out, and training starts now! After spending the last month obsessing over Des’ Boston win and the past five months obsessing about my last marathon I decided to start dreaming big and putting it out there for all to hear. I want this:

Okay, so I don’t need to win Boston… I just want to qualify. For those who are not familiar with what that means, Boston is one of the only races that you need to qualify for entry. Most races simply follow the “you pay, you’re in” method and the big ones (like the other WMM) have a lottery. Boston qualification is a tricky thing, based on your age, gender and speed. Currently, I am in the Female 35-39 age group so I need a 3:40 marathon finish. My personal best is 3:45:45… but here’s where it gets exciting. Berlin is after the 2019 Boston entry cut-off (early September) so no matter what my time is, it will be used for Boston 2020… which means in 2020 I will be 40 and need a 3:45. Now at first glance, you’re probably thinking “girl, you just need to shave 45 seconds of your personal best…” but sadly that’s not the case. Qualifying for Boston is not just my goal… it’s every runner’s goal and when they BQ, they apply. Because registration is so high, not everyone who qualified in their category will actually get accepted to run Boston. Based on previous years, I actually need to run a 3:40-3:42 to hopefully secure a spot…Are you still with me? Great.It will mostly be Jenna and me suffering through the long runs together because Kristin is in Ottawa but, we signed on with a running coach and are starting to get serious!

When it comes to training, I always do my best to put in the miles but there’s never been anyone holding me accountable for how well I am actually running. There’s something to be said about following a plan and knowing your being tracked. Data is being exposed, and all of my Strava followers are watching (for the record, I have three Strava followers: one is Jenna and the other one is our coach). Even though we just started, the feedback has me excited to see the progress as the weeks tick away. My big goals for training are: learn to run by feeling and pay attention to my pace (easy on easy days to save energy for the hard days) + better hydration and fueling and a bit more strength training.  So cross your fingers that training goes well. Even though I want a BQ, I know a large race like Berlin may not be the perfect place to get it. I am prepared to keep plugging away, even if it takes another 10 years and a few more World Marathon Majors.

Regardless of the outcome in September… it’s BERLIN BABY! It’s fun to have two friends training for the same race and exciting to imagine running around Berlin.Oh, and if you are still reading and want to hear more from my good friend Des, there’s a really great podcast episode. It’s before her Boston win and she talks about the importance of setting a big goal, failing and putting in the time. Check it out: Ali on the Run – Des Linden

psst. If you like what you’re reading, please subscribe and share. xomeg
(all gifs are from Giphy)

meanwhile, elsewhere

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Friday’s online finds: Inspirational, educational or just silly. Here is what I found this week…

           

Have a fantastic weekend and a special shout out to all the amazing moms.(image)

psst. If you like what you’re reading, please subscribe and share. xomeg