I've got a half-marathon coming up, in April. I'll be running the
Sunshine Coast April Fools Run, from Gibsons to Sechelt. It should be a good time.
I ran 20K yesterday, and was happy with my performance. It was just a training run, but I was able to run it reasonably well. I stayed focused the whole time, and am confident I'll be able to have a good race in two weeks.
My goal is to go sub-1:30, but I'll have to be very focused and fast to do it. We'll see how it goes!
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Friday, March 26, 2010
Some recent and some not-so-recent pics!
Here I am! I've been up to quite a lot in the last little bit, but just haven't felt the urge to blog too much about it. Here are some pics. They're mostly from a day last week that both Carmella and I had off. We rarely have the same days off, so it was nice to get out and have a day full of activity.
It was a nice day, so Carmella and I decided to go snowboarding. I didn't buy a pass this year, but have used free passes that Carmella gave me instead. She gets a number of them from her work, and I am the fortunate recipient of most of them!
Carmella is ready for a fun day! She's wearing the Roxy outfit she got for free, since she was a Roxy Camp coach this year. A bunch of girls get together and snowboard, and talk about girly things like feelings and waterproof mascara. Carmella tends to get stuck with the never-ever beginners.
I am also happy to be out on the mountain, but obviously not as happy and bright at Carmella. I am wearing the snow gear I bought in June 2004 when Helly Hansen was having a 70% sale. It's ripping in a few places, but it's lasted quite well.
Here, Carmella explores the side of the run and is rewarded with a small hit. It was a beautiful sunny day, and we spent most of it looking for fun things to ride. There wasn't any fresh snow, so there was no hurry. It was a relaxing and fun day of riding.
There were three of us riding, the third being our friend Judy. I don't see Judy unless Carmella is around, so I guess she's more Carmella's friend than mine. Here, Carmella and Judy look for fun things to ride. Judy can't find any.
I had to stop to tighten up my binding, and Judy stopped close by. I bought the bindings in Victoria in 2001, and they've lasted me until now. The bolts come loose quite frequently, so I carry a tool so I can fix them. The bindings are still working, but I think after nine seasons it might be time for a new set. We'll see what comes on sale in the next few weeks.
A highlight of the day on the hill was getting waffles at the Crystal Hut, about three quarters of the way up the mountain. When Blackcomb was on fire this past summer, many people were worried that the Crystal hut would be consumed, and nobody would be able to buy waffles there ever again. Obviously, the fire was contained and the Crystal is still standing, with waffles being doled out by curiously-happy Australians with goggle tans.
Here's that picture of Carmella again. If you forgot last time, click on it to make it bigger!
We finished snowboarding then went to a new pizza place in town called Creekbread. They make organic pizza in a big brick oven, and have local ingredients, and all those sorts of things. I had received a coupon for a free pizza through work, so Carmella and I ate there. It's the best pizza there is, and the restaurant smells like a camp fire. If you're in Whistler, you must go there! It's great.
After the pizza, we quickly went on to our next activity, which was going to a new spa in town. I had been given some Christmas money, and we used it here. It's not a traditional spa where you sit and get a massage and leave; instead it's a collection of saunas, steam rooms, cold baths, hot baths, and relaxation stations.
The idea is that you follow a routine of Hot, Cold, then Relaxing activities. You're supposed to do it for about three hours. Carmella and I would only be there for two hours, since they closed an hour too soon.
Carmella and I head to the hot tub first. It has a waterfall in it!
Here, I test the waters of another tub. We got there at about 7pm, so while we were there it got progressively darker. I really like the colour of sky in this shot.
I jump into the cold plunge pool! It also has a waterfall in it. I think the key to a successful spa is an abundance of waterfalls. I would say this new spa agrees with me, since they were everywhere!
Carmella enjoys a relaxation station. There were indoor ones and outdoor ones, and all of them had those small pictures you can see behind Carmella that tell you that no talking is allowed. This place is for relaxing, not socializing!
It was a great time, and we both really enjoyed it. I could have stayed for another half hour at the most, so we were there for a good amount of time. I wasn't bored when we left, but instead I was left hankering for more.
It was a great day, and most of it was free! I got the mountain pass from Carmella, the pizza dinner from work, and the spa time from Mom and Dad at Christmas. Thanks everyone!
Here is a picture of my new shoes that I bought with some money I made during the Olympics. They're velcro! Wooo! It's hard to find the Adidas Stan Smith CF, but I was able to find them in Vancouver. The CF stands for comfort, which means that there are velcro closures on the shoe.
I'm quite happy with them. They're from a special Adidas collection that is inspired by Tokyo fashion, and my pair is in the spring 2010 line. Fancy!
Maybe some more blogs to come in the future. I'll see if I can keep you all up to date a bit better than I have been!
It was a nice day, so Carmella and I decided to go snowboarding. I didn't buy a pass this year, but have used free passes that Carmella gave me instead. She gets a number of them from her work, and I am the fortunate recipient of most of them!
Carmella is ready for a fun day! She's wearing the Roxy outfit she got for free, since she was a Roxy Camp coach this year. A bunch of girls get together and snowboard, and talk about girly things like feelings and waterproof mascara. Carmella tends to get stuck with the never-ever beginners.
I am also happy to be out on the mountain, but obviously not as happy and bright at Carmella. I am wearing the snow gear I bought in June 2004 when Helly Hansen was having a 70% sale. It's ripping in a few places, but it's lasted quite well.
Here, Carmella explores the side of the run and is rewarded with a small hit. It was a beautiful sunny day, and we spent most of it looking for fun things to ride. There wasn't any fresh snow, so there was no hurry. It was a relaxing and fun day of riding.
There were three of us riding, the third being our friend Judy. I don't see Judy unless Carmella is around, so I guess she's more Carmella's friend than mine. Here, Carmella and Judy look for fun things to ride. Judy can't find any.
I had to stop to tighten up my binding, and Judy stopped close by. I bought the bindings in Victoria in 2001, and they've lasted me until now. The bolts come loose quite frequently, so I carry a tool so I can fix them. The bindings are still working, but I think after nine seasons it might be time for a new set. We'll see what comes on sale in the next few weeks.
A highlight of the day on the hill was getting waffles at the Crystal Hut, about three quarters of the way up the mountain. When Blackcomb was on fire this past summer, many people were worried that the Crystal hut would be consumed, and nobody would be able to buy waffles there ever again. Obviously, the fire was contained and the Crystal is still standing, with waffles being doled out by curiously-happy Australians with goggle tans.
Here's that picture of Carmella again. If you forgot last time, click on it to make it bigger!
We finished snowboarding then went to a new pizza place in town called Creekbread. They make organic pizza in a big brick oven, and have local ingredients, and all those sorts of things. I had received a coupon for a free pizza through work, so Carmella and I ate there. It's the best pizza there is, and the restaurant smells like a camp fire. If you're in Whistler, you must go there! It's great.
After the pizza, we quickly went on to our next activity, which was going to a new spa in town. I had been given some Christmas money, and we used it here. It's not a traditional spa where you sit and get a massage and leave; instead it's a collection of saunas, steam rooms, cold baths, hot baths, and relaxation stations.
The idea is that you follow a routine of Hot, Cold, then Relaxing activities. You're supposed to do it for about three hours. Carmella and I would only be there for two hours, since they closed an hour too soon.
Carmella and I head to the hot tub first. It has a waterfall in it!
Here, I test the waters of another tub. We got there at about 7pm, so while we were there it got progressively darker. I really like the colour of sky in this shot.
I jump into the cold plunge pool! It also has a waterfall in it. I think the key to a successful spa is an abundance of waterfalls. I would say this new spa agrees with me, since they were everywhere!
Carmella enjoys a relaxation station. There were indoor ones and outdoor ones, and all of them had those small pictures you can see behind Carmella that tell you that no talking is allowed. This place is for relaxing, not socializing!
It was a great time, and we both really enjoyed it. I could have stayed for another half hour at the most, so we were there for a good amount of time. I wasn't bored when we left, but instead I was left hankering for more.
It was a great day, and most of it was free! I got the mountain pass from Carmella, the pizza dinner from work, and the spa time from Mom and Dad at Christmas. Thanks everyone!
Here is a picture of my new shoes that I bought with some money I made during the Olympics. They're velcro! Wooo! It's hard to find the Adidas Stan Smith CF, but I was able to find them in Vancouver. The CF stands for comfort, which means that there are velcro closures on the shoe.
I'm quite happy with them. They're from a special Adidas collection that is inspired by Tokyo fashion, and my pair is in the spring 2010 line. Fancy!
Maybe some more blogs to come in the future. I'll see if I can keep you all up to date a bit better than I have been!
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Bobsleigh dumps
I was at the Olympic bobsleigh competition sometime last week, and happened to have front row seat to the Japanese team flipping their sled. Here's a picture my friend Victor took, who was right beside me.
The sled dumped in the last corner, and then continued on its side up the incline after the finish. The track crew is seen with hooks, which they stick onto the capsized sleds so they don't slide backwards down the track.
All four Japanese guys were OK. I also seem to remember that your sled is only DQ'd if it doesn't cross the line with all members aboard, regardless of whether it's on the runners or not.
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Monday, March 1, 2010
My Olympic experience
Ok, this really isn't my Olympic experience. I was asked to write up a blurb about what it was like to live and work here during the Olympics, and send it to the company. My hope is that it gets published in the company magazine, that gets sent to all the properties, across Canada and the US.
I had to self-edit a bit, and write what they wanted to hear.
The Olympics were a good time though, I just left out the parts that were't 100% positive. I will write those here later, and you can know what it was really like. It wasn't all rainbows and butterflies, like I make it seem. There were a few thunderclouds and bee-stings along the way too!
This is a first draft, and I will look at it again tomorrow and edit it a bit. So, it's not a final product really, but a pretty solid start. It's dry, and devoid of any real personality. I think that the format and style will work, considering the magazine I hope to get it in.
My name is Jon, and I live in Whistler, British Columbia. For the majority of the years I’ve lived here, I’ve worked at both the Sundance and Cascade Lodge properties.
I have been fortunate, living and working in this little mountain town this year, as Whistler was the Official Mountain Resort of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics. We hosted the alpine skiing events, Nordic skiing events, and the sliding events, which include bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton.
It has been a great experience living and working in Whistler during this exciting time. While we’re used to tourists up here, we weren’t used to the number of tourists who came, and the varied cross-section of people who visited our town.
The Village was packed every night, full of people taking in Olympic events, free concerts, and simply drinking up the Olympic atmosphere. Athletes, journalists, fans and locals all mingled together, watching, talking, and experiencing the Olympics. Everyone was friendly, and the majority of people had flags, face paint, or national gear from their home countries with them. Strangers laughed together and high-fived each other in the streets, and everyone was excited to be experiencing this once-in-a-lifetime, seventeen-day event.
For me, along with most of the country, the highlight of the Olympics was watching our men’s hockey team take the gold medal in an overtime thriller. Every bar and restaurant was packed, and giant screens showed the game in the Village. When The Goal was scored, it seemed like the whole town started to shout and celebrate at the same time! If Whistler ever experienced a single unifying moment, it was then. We were all Canadians, all hockey fans, and all super excited to see our players establish world hockey supremacy!
The Olympics served to unify Whistler in a way that we haven’t seen before. Everyone in town was brought together as one big mob of people, happy to cheer on athletes of every nation, no matter what their passport said. The Olympics were an excuse to have a big block party, and everyone was invited. Every day was busy, but never overwhelming. Friendships were made, good times were had, and memories forged. No matter where I find myself living in the future, I’ll never forget living and working in Whistler during these Olympics.
I had to self-edit a bit, and write what they wanted to hear.
The Olympics were a good time though, I just left out the parts that were't 100% positive. I will write those here later, and you can know what it was really like. It wasn't all rainbows and butterflies, like I make it seem. There were a few thunderclouds and bee-stings along the way too!
This is a first draft, and I will look at it again tomorrow and edit it a bit. So, it's not a final product really, but a pretty solid start. It's dry, and devoid of any real personality. I think that the format and style will work, considering the magazine I hope to get it in.
My name is Jon, and I live in Whistler, British Columbia. For the majority of the years I’ve lived here, I’ve worked at both the Sundance and Cascade Lodge properties.
I have been fortunate, living and working in this little mountain town this year, as Whistler was the Official Mountain Resort of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics. We hosted the alpine skiing events, Nordic skiing events, and the sliding events, which include bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton.
It has been a great experience living and working in Whistler during this exciting time. While we’re used to tourists up here, we weren’t used to the number of tourists who came, and the varied cross-section of people who visited our town.
The Village was packed every night, full of people taking in Olympic events, free concerts, and simply drinking up the Olympic atmosphere. Athletes, journalists, fans and locals all mingled together, watching, talking, and experiencing the Olympics. Everyone was friendly, and the majority of people had flags, face paint, or national gear from their home countries with them. Strangers laughed together and high-fived each other in the streets, and everyone was excited to be experiencing this once-in-a-lifetime, seventeen-day event.
For me, along with most of the country, the highlight of the Olympics was watching our men’s hockey team take the gold medal in an overtime thriller. Every bar and restaurant was packed, and giant screens showed the game in the Village. When The Goal was scored, it seemed like the whole town started to shout and celebrate at the same time! If Whistler ever experienced a single unifying moment, it was then. We were all Canadians, all hockey fans, and all super excited to see our players establish world hockey supremacy!
The Olympics served to unify Whistler in a way that we haven’t seen before. Everyone in town was brought together as one big mob of people, happy to cheer on athletes of every nation, no matter what their passport said. The Olympics were an excuse to have a big block party, and everyone was invited. Every day was busy, but never overwhelming. Friendships were made, good times were had, and memories forged. No matter where I find myself living in the future, I’ll never forget living and working in Whistler during these Olympics.
Shameless self-plug
At the hotel, when guests leave, they are emailed a comment card that asks them various questions about their stay. Here's a bit from one that came back today:
What one thing would you like to tell other owners who may be interested in staying at this resort?
We stayed at the Cascade Lodge in Whistler, and the young fellow Jon on the desk was very very helpful and I can't say enough about him, it was a true pleasure to meet him and he made the difference in our stay at Whistler during the Olympics. Thank you!
Woo! I'm young!
Also, it's nice to be recognized for doing a good job.
I feel able to post this, since everyone is saying that these recent Olympics enabled Canadians to be proud and vocal about their achievements!
Mostly though, it'll be nice to keep this in mind as I begin another bout of job hunting. It will remind me to go into interviews with confidence, knowing that no matter what the job, I am able to do it well.
What one thing would you like to tell other owners who may be interested in staying at this resort?
We stayed at the Cascade Lodge in Whistler, and the young fellow Jon on the desk was very very helpful and I can't say enough about him, it was a true pleasure to meet him and he made the difference in our stay at Whistler during the Olympics. Thank you!
Woo! I'm young!
Also, it's nice to be recognized for doing a good job.
I feel able to post this, since everyone is saying that these recent Olympics enabled Canadians to be proud and vocal about their achievements!
Mostly though, it'll be nice to keep this in mind as I begin another bout of job hunting. It will remind me to go into interviews with confidence, knowing that no matter what the job, I am able to do it well.
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