REMEMBERING THE 9TH

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Sunday July 9, 2006, was a very memorable day for me. It also happened to be the day of the 2006 Calgary Marathon. There are many things that would've made this day very memorable. I guess I could remember the fact that this race coincides with the Calgary Stampede, and that the race was started by the marshall firing a long barreled shotgun into the air! I guess I could remember being welcomed into Stampede Park by the RCMP marching band. I guess I could remember the jaunt through Calgary Zoo, which up to that point, I have never been in. I guess I could remember the nice run along Memorial Drive, where we bid farewell to the Half Marathoners who turned around. I guess I could remember how excited I was when, reaching the half way point of the race, I looked down at my watch and saw 1:50. I guess I could remember the turn around point at Bowness Park and when things started to fall apart for me. I guess I could remember all the volunteers at the aid stations, especially the ones with the sponges, and the realization that one can never be over hydrated during a marathon in the middle of July (props also to the residents along the route who sprayed me with their Supersoakers or garden hoses). I guess I could remember finishing the race in 4:22, and feeling a little disappointed that I didn't make my personal goal, which was under 4 hours.

But what made this day memorable was what happened AFTER the race. For, G&J, along with J&P&E were at the finishing line, cheering me home! Words cannot describe the phenomenon when one can easily forget the pain of the last 4 hours, when getting showered by encouragement by familiar ones. There is a concept in the business world called leveraging. Good leveraging is when small amounts of inputs create a significant, greater outcome. When it comes to friendship and relationships, leveraging good leverage can happen. Often times, we forget that it doesn't take a whole lot of time or effort to create an effect that it eternally lasting. Whether it's a quick email of encouragement or just standing at the finish line to welcome the runner back. Of course, the amazing Dim Sum lunch we had afterwards was fabulous too! But, through this, I'm reminded that I'm not running the race alone. That those around me, my family, friends and community, run this race with me.

So, what stands out at the end of the day are not the blisters, which will eventually heal, nor the blackened toenails, which will eventually grow back, or even the excruciating pain brought on by 4 hours of physial exertion. These memories will fade with time. But what is more lasting is the blessing of family, friends and community.

Congratulations to G&J who welcomed Megan Midori into the world on Friday July 21!






































The various looks of 42k. Yeah, it got progressively hotter.










Happy Birthday Megan!

CANADA'S BIG DAY!

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Well, another Canada Day has come and passed. This one was spent attending a baby shower hosted by my friends G&J, who are expecting some time in the next 3 weeks. We had some awesome food and I had the chance to meet their family and friends. From there, I returned home to prepare my rendition of the Canada Day BBQ that normally happens in Ottawa at S&N's. Call it the satellite location! Since there were only 3 people attending the Western BBQ, I decided to "enrich" the offering: cheese and wine to start off, a spinach/strawberry salad next, fall-off-the-bone Hoi Sin ribs, Montreal-spice rubbed AAA top sirloins, and salmon/roasted pepper skewers served with fried rice for the main and a refreshing watermelon/honeydew fruit salad for dessert. Since the weather was cooperating, we consumed this spread on my patio, making good use of my transformer picnic table! Once we were done, we headed over to Stampede Park for some fireworks. I had heard earlier in the day that the show had originally been cancelled (because the organizers didn't have the right permits) and that this relocated show was only going to be 10 minutes long. So, I didn't have much in ways of expectations, but I was pleasantly surprised after the near 1/2 hour show! Sitting in the grandstand at Stampede Park meant that we were less than 200 feet away from the field where the pyrogear was being set off. So, it really felt like the fireworks were cascading down right at us! It was a great show.

Actually, the Canada Day celebration started much earlier in the day, when I received the following message at 12:00 a.m. sharp! That means those crazy kids out east stayed up til 2:00 a.m. to get this out!!

Special Message

LIME GREEN HAT

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I drove my car slowly through the intersection, trying to avoid the debris that was strewn all over the road. A police officer had just arrived and was making her way to the other car, which managed to become stranded on the sidewalk, facing the wrong way. A black Cavalier sat just across the intersection, its front end heavily damaged. A lady was sitting in the passenger seat of the first vehicle, a maroon coloured Sunfire, and was being consoled by a younger lady. The Sunfire also sustained heavy damage to its front end. I speculate that one car was making a turn, while the other coming head on, did not. What impressed upon me was that both front air bags in both vehicles had deployed, its limp forms now draped out like neglected balloons. Thankfully, there didn't appear to be any injuries. A little boy wearing a lime green hat was walking on the sidewalk with an older man, someone who could be his grandfather. Perhaps they were making their way to the Mac's across the street, in search of a refreshing Frostee to beat back the scorching day. Perhaps they were heading to the park just down the road past the church. Whatever the destination, the boy was excited. But this excitement turned to wonder and then apprehension as they reached this particular intersection. It may be an intersection that this boy with the lime green hat has crossed many times before, but today was different. And perhaps this little boy, like most little boys, has a set of miniature cars at home and has had many hours of glee driving them on the home's well worn carpet. And, as most young boys with little cars do, he immerses himself in a world where he drives the different cars to their unknown destinations. The cars arrive separately or as a caravan. It doesn't matter, because each iteration is different, a different destination, a different purpose. Perhaps one time, the little boy decides that it is more exciting for the cars to crash into each other; why does scaled down carnage bring such joy to little boys? But today, it's different. What he sees are not his toy miniatures crashing into each other. He has seen what happens when big cars crash; they don't just bounce off each other. Big cars break into lots of pieces when they crash. And people get hurt. So, the little boy in the lime green hat, grasps his grandfather's hand just a little bit tighter as he takes one more glance at the lady being consoled by another lady, as the police officer approaches. And in a world where tragedy can only be easily erased through the eyes of child, he sets his sights back on where he was going.

ON MY MIND

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Anxiety...
Preparation...
Pace...
Community...
Pain...
Uncertainty...
FUN!!!
Desire...
Regret...
The wall...
Perseverance...
More...
Accomplishment...

Ready for...The Calgary Marathon...July 9, 2006 0700