Be the BEST you can be! Always!

So I was speaking with someone recently and the topic of cycling came up… specifically how I  look for weekly group rides to  improve my technique, become a stronger & faster cyclist and meet fellow cyclists (of all levels)…. but that it is so challenging as I am a novice cyclist. I find it hard to keep up – so truth be told I need to psyche myself up in order to attend group rides with better riders.  

I was a little disappointed with this person’s opinion that I will never be as strong and fast as the guys (and girls!!) who lead these rides because I’ve started too late in life & I just don’t have the time necessary to dedicate myself to honing this skill.

Please bear in mind that I am in my late 20s!!

What kind of a reaction (be it verbal or non-verbal) would you walk away with after a comment like that? Anger? Defeat? Relief? Embarrassment? Of course, the person didn’t really mean this in a nasty way, it was just a (careless) comment, but still….

I don’t do well with being told that I cannot achieve something/ do something/ be something! Every time it happens, my instant reaction (in my head) is always – JUST YOU WAIT AND SEE!!

If you look around – there are COUNTLESS examples of people who have achieved the impossible, at any age.

One of my favourite all time athletes is the South African sprinter, Oscar Pistorius.

Oscar Pistorius will become the FIRST amputee sprinter to compete in the 2012 Summer Olympics after being selected for South Africa. The double amputee, nicknames ‘Blade Runner’ due to his prosthetic carbon fibre limbs will compete in both 400m and the 4x400m relay.

Who knows how many times he heard people telling him he’s never be able to run competitively… and later that he’d never in a million years qualify for the Olympics (rather than just the Paralympics).

 

But look at him now!

 

 

Years ago, I had the pleasure of meeting Miles Hilton-Barber when he gave a speech at a seminar I was attending.

Despite being blind for over 25 years, Miles lives passionately and goes after his dreams. He encourages attendees listening to his presentation that “the only limits in our lives are those we accept ourselves”. So powerful.

He’s truly led a remarkable life full of adventures. He’s even set numerous world records in the process. Some of his achievements include:

• First blind person to do the solo kamikaze skeleton run down the 5G Olympic bob-sleigh track in Lillehammer, Norway.
• Completing “The Toughest Foot-race on Earth” – 150 miles across the Sahara Desert.
• Setting the Malaysian Grand Prix lap record for a blind driver in a 230kph Lotus.

The worst thing you can do in life is to give up on yourself, not believe in your capabilities, fail to take care of your mind, body and soul and lead a life full of regrets.  

So perhaps I will never compete in the Tour the France, or even win a bike race locally…. it won’t stop me from trying to keep up with those fast cyclists, or from tackling the craziest of inclines, or from signing up for BIGGER & BOLDER physical challenges than I have even done before.

If you’re reading this and aiming to accomplish the impossible – please share. 🙂 I’d love to hear about your goals, how you’re working on achieving them,and why you signed up for your latest adventure in the first place!  

Cycling Photography + Opera Music = Intoxicating

If you appreciate cycling photography, please visit Graham Watson’s Website. Graham is a renowned cycling photographer and he will be one of the many photographers at the Tour de France which starts today!

What a cool job to have!!

As if the images he captures aren’t intoxicating enough, he sets his galleries to music, and my favourite is his portfolio with Puccini’s Madam Butterfly:  “Un Bel di Vedremo” playing in the background. Click here to see & HEAR it!!!

WHO would have thought that cycling imagery and opera could be so, well….. sexy?!

 I bought a DSLR camera with a telephoto lens earlier this year (not even 1/100th as fancy as Graham’s lenses of course). Seeing Graham’s website has set my creative wheels a-turning in my brain. It would be fun to capture some stunning imagery of a local race/ bike ride and later edit a slideshow/ youtube video that’s paired with some passionate and inspiring classical music or opera. I haven’t used that style of music in my videos yet!

So this will be one of my next creative projects!! 🙂 Any suggestions of which piece of music I should use???

5th Annual Cypress Challenge – Saturday 18, 2012

On a scale from 1 to 10… How crazy is it to do a 12km bike ride up a mountain and then fly to Asia on the same day I asked my colleague….

“Ummm…. I wouldn’t do that if I were you…. How long is your flight?? Do you really want to exert yourself that much, and have all that lactic acid built up in your legs when you are forced to sit down for so long?” she replid.

Oh rats… I didn’t think of that. So I guess the answer is 11. Bummer!! 😦

The 5th Annual Cypress Challenge will be held on Sat Aug 18th – and sadly I will have to give it a miss.

Participants will cycle 12km up Cypress Mountain to raise funds for Pancreatic Cancer Research. Each year the challenge is dedictae to someone who pass passed, or is undergoing treatment for this type of Cancer. This year’s challenge is in memory of Bob Hager.

Who is Bob Hager??

Bob Hager was a prominent Vancouverite who was a driving force in building one of Canada’s most successful asset managers, Philips, Hager & North (PH&N). He was also a generous community contributor, enriching and improving the lives of the many people less fortunate than himself. He was quietly driven, humble and had a never ending dedication to his family, clients and community. Bob died of Pancreatic Cancer in October 2011.

Some info about this Event:

The event was created by Geoffrey and Myriam Glotman in 2008 after they lost Myriam’s mother Betty Ergas to pancreatic cancer. In 2010 the event hosted by Paul Carson, who was being treated for the disease at the time, raised $50,000 for pancreatic cancer research. Paul passed away from the disease in January 2011. In 2011 the event, dedicated to the memory of Jack Poole, raised over $125,000 for pancreatic cancer research.

Some REALLY scary facts about Pancreatic Cancer:

• Nearly 600 British Columbians will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2012
• 75% of patients do not survive a full year post-diagnosis
• Only 5% survive after five years
• Across Canada, pancreatic cancer is the 4th leading cause of cancer deaths.

Would have SERIOUSLY loved to do this ride but I guess I will have to wait for next year…. Passed it on to my cycling friends in the meantime.

Check out this cool video from last year’s ride: Cypress Challenge 2011

39 Days to Go Until RTCC 2012

I’m going to find the coolest songs – 40 of them!! If you have any suggestions let me know!! 🙂

Especially all you lovely friends and family members who have contributed to my donations – YOU GUYS are my champions!!! Thank you for raising money for the Cancer Research!

I LOVE YOU!!!

#39 Scorpions: Moment of Glory

Oscar Pistorius

This man is so inspiring!!

His nickname is Blade Runner. So cool.

INSANITY Inspiration – Michael F (42)

Check out this guy’s results (in 60 days!!)….

What an inspiration!!!

Michael F

Ride to Conquer Cancer 2011 Opening Ceremony

…The pain, the joy, the excitement, the doubt, the strength, the hope….

879 riders and crew members last year – who helped raise $11.1 MILLION dollars for the BC Cancer Foundation!!

How amazing is that??

I CANNOT wait to be at that starting line…. and I am SO THANKFUL to all my donors who have contributed towards my fundraising goal!

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!

Michael Douglas Praises Canadian Health Care

Now here’s an interesting article I came across earlier this evening…

Michael Douglas Praises Canadian Health Care

Some of you might recall that Michael Douglas (the actor) went through a serious cancer battle not too long ago. STAGE 4 THROAT CANCER!!

What some of you might not know (neither did I until 5 mins ago) is that he was diagnosed at Montreal’s Jewish General Hospital and that his very serious cancer went undetected by a number of specialists he consulted in the United States.

Now that he is clear – he is lending a hand by fundraising for the hospital and they expect to raise over a million dollars at a gala dinner this week. Awesome job!!

Here’s a video of him just 3 WEEKS after he found out he has cancer!

I’m taking part in the Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer this year. It’s a 2 day event that is organized in BC, Alberta, Ontario and Quebec – and naturally I am doing the BC version.

All proceeds that the Quebec riders collect will also be going to the Jewish General Hospital (Segal Cancer Centre) – that we can safely say HELPED SAVE MICHAEL’s life and who knows how many other lives!!

JUST WITHIN CANADA: 40% of Canadian women and 45% of men will develop cancer during their lifetimes. And an estimated 1 out of every 4 Canadians are expected to die from cancer. So scary!

If you can spare some money to donate to the Ride to Conquer Cancer cause PLEASE DO SO!!

The research that is funded via the different provincial organizations – from the Jewish General Hospital in Quebec to the BC Cancer Foundation in British Columbia helps save lives.

If you’d like to donate to my efforts to fundraise for the BC Cancer Foundation – please follow the link.

Taqtax Qalbek

I’ve been feeling a little demotivated as of late about my training and fundraising.

It’s not that things aren’t progressing – I am training as often as I can and my donations are still pouring in thanks to the seriously amazing friends, coworkers and family I have.

I think my issue is a paralysis I get from not wanting to fail and wanting to do everything PERFECT. I thought I was over that. Clearly not – or at least not in areas that are really new and daring for me – like a 250km bike ride!

As I try to ‘pep talk’ myself into getting back into the game I keep thinking of (and internally chanting) a Maltese phrase “taqtax qalbek” which literally translates to “don’t cut your heart” but actually means “don’t get discouraged”.

I’ve always really liked this phrase. I like it because it has nice Maltese-sounding stems and sounds. The Q and the -AX and the -EK. I liked hearing friends and family tell me this when I was feeling down/worried about something.

I also like it because of how it links the heart to motivation. When you want something, you’re passionate about it and go after it with all your heart. Not part of it. Also – the word “taqtax” mean “YOU don’t cut” which implies that YOU allow yourself to feel demotivated and NO ONE ELSE.

Related to this concept is another saying I like (this time in English) that refers to the heart: “Where the heart is willing, it will find a thousand ways. Where it is unwilling, it will find a thousand excuses.” ~ Arlen Price

I love HEARTS (the shape) and now I also love sayings with the word ‘heart’ in it 🙂

Courtesy: Jason Van Dyk (God's Fingerprints)

 

And I just love this explanation of courage from: Embodyheart.org and how it once again ties to the HEART.

The root of the word courage is cor — latin for heart.

Courage originally meant “to speak one’s mind by telling all one’s heart.” Today, courage is more synonymous with being heroic. Heroics is often about putting our life on the line…. Ordinary courage is about putting our vulnerability on the line.

In today’s world, that’s pretty extraordinary. 

 

 

 

God Bless your bravery Sara Duncan!!

Cancer Victim Haircut with Daughter

Sara Duncan gets a haircut by her daughter Lola and the video becomes a YouTube Hit … I watched this today and it really inspired me to PUSH HARDER with my workouts and to FORGE AHEAD with my fundraising activities.

I really hope that Sara makes a full recovery and that her daughter will continue to have a mom for many more years to come.

This is why I am doing the Ride to Conquer Cancer!!