Romantic.
Beautiful.
Full of life.
One of the Youtubers comments was beautiful 'this is what souls of two people in love must look like'
Thursday 29 September 2011
Sunday 25 September 2011
Toronto Island Girl - calypso style, mahn.
Another 1/2 marathon down. Truly my favourite distance and definitely the most sustainable for a lifetime of running. I'll continue the 30km's and marathons for a while longer but I do love me the 21.1km race. The Toronto Island Girl half is a race with a tropical twist, with Carribbean-style beats, leis, palm tree/flip flop medals, and a flat (relatively fast, unless you get headwind along the breakwater) route.
I'd heard it was a good run to race if you're a runner as it's not an overly competitive event and people in the past have had confidence boosts by placing in their age category. I was happy I'd picked it as my fall half from the moment I picked up my running kit. The Runners' Shop was decorated with leis, balloons, signage, reggae was playing, and the kit itself included tons of loot (and not just sample sizes either). I was also happy it didn't start until 9:30 am as that meant I didn't have to be up super early. It is on Centre Island though, so factoring the ferry in, it's still an early Sunday morning.
The weather was gorgeous - hotter than I thought it would be for this time of year. Lacked sunscreen and hat and the sweat in my eyes stung but the sun was shining (I can't complain about that), the breeze lovely, and with the steel drums and people running in grass skirts, there was a definite island feel.
Placed 7th in my age category and almost made top 50 which was my goal today (53rd). Time was not a PB by three minutes - and I would have loved to achieve that but I won't complain with 1:55:41 - as working that time down is achievable. It's by far my favourite distance and psychologically so not scary to me. Today was still a mental challenge (thoughts of stopping, walking, slowing down constantly going on) which shook my confidence for my marathon in a few weeks but I've trained and I can do it. We're so much stronger than we think.
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| Lei'd as soon as I got there. |
The weather was gorgeous - hotter than I thought it would be for this time of year. Lacked sunscreen and hat and the sweat in my eyes stung but the sun was shining (I can't complain about that), the breeze lovely, and with the steel drums and people running in grass skirts, there was a definite island feel.
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| 25 minutes for 5km. Haven't achieved this for a few years (and could have been faster if that had been the distance of the race!) so that was great! |
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| It's gorgeous on the island. |
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| Finish line 100 meters away. Finally. |
Placed 7th in my age category and almost made top 50 which was my goal today (53rd). Time was not a PB by three minutes - and I would have loved to achieve that but I won't complain with 1:55:41 - as working that time down is achievable. It's by far my favourite distance and psychologically so not scary to me. Today was still a mental challenge (thoughts of stopping, walking, slowing down constantly going on) which shook my confidence for my marathon in a few weeks but I've trained and I can do it. We're so much stronger than we think.
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| Done! Get me some fooooood! |
Urban Playground Fitness - review
A co-worker who knows I like trying and reviewing fitness facilities in the city recently told me to check out Urban Playground, a relatively young club at Church and Shuter. The day my co-worker mentioned it, I rode by on my bike (as the spa appointment I had was next to it) so I decided to stop in and check it out. My initial reaction peaking into the studio was that it wouldn't be "tough" enough a workout for me (basing it on the session in progress)... but I caught myself (bad, Alice, stop assuming) and spoke to the teacher who had come out to greet me, and she told me to email to try a free class (a promo extended to any newcomer).
I booked my first class for the first available day in my workout schedule that worked with Urban Playground's offering of one of the harder classes. It just happened to be the day before my 1/2 marathon race. But I still scheduled the class - Total Body Conditioning, wanting strength training and HIIT cardio - and enjoyed it. Due to people rescheduling, I ended up being the only one in class so I got a personal training session out of it. Not bad. It was a fun circuit class, modifications were suggested in case I'd have needed them, weights were increased to challenge me, and I worked hard. The moves weren't new to me so my body didn't really feel it today but the few moves I don't do often for obliques certainly worked their magic. I know that one-on-one is not what the clases would really be like, but since I'm able to challenge myself in a group class, it allowed me to chat with the teacher (one of the owners) and that made the space more endearing because of how much people who run their own places care about them.
Pros:
-Awesome for people who like classes to stay motivated/have fun but in a small class setting (they limit to around 8 people to achieve their personal training touch in group classes);
-Because of class sizes, I think you would see results as teachers probably work closely with the students' goals;
-Run by two young ladies, and that should be inspiring because it's their baby and dream (respect and props!);
-It's for women only;
-Good variety of classes and some to meet most schedules.
Cons:
-You have to register in advance and because it's package-based, for someone like me, who likes to do 2 or 3 classes back-to-back, it could get costly (they do have unlimited classes as an option though);
-For gym rats, you may start to miss access to equipment and towel service;
-If you're really hard-core, you need to make the class as hard as you need it to be on your own as only a few of the scheduled classes are described as more advanced. But you'd do that anyway, so no problem!
http://www.urbanplaygroundfitness.com/
I booked my first class for the first available day in my workout schedule that worked with Urban Playground's offering of one of the harder classes. It just happened to be the day before my 1/2 marathon race. But I still scheduled the class - Total Body Conditioning, wanting strength training and HIIT cardio - and enjoyed it. Due to people rescheduling, I ended up being the only one in class so I got a personal training session out of it. Not bad. It was a fun circuit class, modifications were suggested in case I'd have needed them, weights were increased to challenge me, and I worked hard. The moves weren't new to me so my body didn't really feel it today but the few moves I don't do often for obliques certainly worked their magic. I know that one-on-one is not what the clases would really be like, but since I'm able to challenge myself in a group class, it allowed me to chat with the teacher (one of the owners) and that made the space more endearing because of how much people who run their own places care about them.
Pros:
-Awesome for people who like classes to stay motivated/have fun but in a small class setting (they limit to around 8 people to achieve their personal training touch in group classes);
-Because of class sizes, I think you would see results as teachers probably work closely with the students' goals;
-Run by two young ladies, and that should be inspiring because it's their baby and dream (respect and props!);
-It's for women only;
-Good variety of classes and some to meet most schedules.
Cons:
-You have to register in advance and because it's package-based, for someone like me, who likes to do 2 or 3 classes back-to-back, it could get costly (they do have unlimited classes as an option though);
-For gym rats, you may start to miss access to equipment and towel service;
-If you're really hard-core, you need to make the class as hard as you need it to be on your own as only a few of the scheduled classes are described as more advanced. But you'd do that anyway, so no problem!
http://www.urbanplaygroundfitness.com/
Tuesday 20 September 2011
October yoga and running schedule
Here's my Toronto schedule for Oct- let's get sweaty! I will update as more classes are confirmed (hopefully even some in Montreal)!
Moksha Yoga North York (Yonge and Sheppard), Saturday, October 1, 3:00-4:30pm
Moksha Yoga Uptown (Yonge and St Clair), Saturday, October 15 - 3:00-4:30pm
Moksha Yoga Danforth (Danforth and Chester), Sunday, October 16 - 7:00-8:15pm
Moksha Yoga North York (Yonge and Sheppard), Monday, October 17, 1:30-2:30pm
Moksha Yoga Uptown (Yonge and St Clair), Saturday, October 22 - 3:00-4:30pm
Moksha Yoga North York (Yonge and Sheppard), Monday, October 24, 1:30-2:30pm
Moksha Yoga Uptown (Yonge and St Clair), Saturday, October 29 - 3:00-4:30pm
As for my October race, it`s Marathon numero dos! On October 16, I`ll be running 42.2km in the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon. For route info, please check out the link below:
http://www.torontowaterfrontmarathon.com/en/details.htm#course
If you`re thinking of coming out to cheer on the runners, let me know and I`ll let you know my anticipated times for major points along the route.
Moksha Yoga North York (Yonge and Sheppard), Saturday, October 1, 3:00-4:30pm
Moksha Yoga Uptown (Yonge and St Clair), Saturday, October 15 - 3:00-4:30pm
Moksha Yoga Danforth (Danforth and Chester), Sunday, October 16 - 7:00-8:15pm
Moksha Yoga North York (Yonge and Sheppard), Monday, October 17, 1:30-2:30pm
Moksha Yoga Uptown (Yonge and St Clair), Saturday, October 22 - 3:00-4:30pm
Moksha Yoga North York (Yonge and Sheppard), Monday, October 24, 1:30-2:30pm
Moksha Yoga Uptown (Yonge and St Clair), Saturday, October 29 - 3:00-4:30pm
As for my October race, it`s Marathon numero dos! On October 16, I`ll be running 42.2km in the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon. For route info, please check out the link below:
http://www.torontowaterfrontmarathon.com/en/details.htm#course
If you`re thinking of coming out to cheer on the runners, let me know and I`ll let you know my anticipated times for major points along the route.
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| This is me - complete with double guns - the last time I did Scotia (as a 1/2) in '08. |
Sunday 18 September 2011
duets...
Am actually looking forward to the release of Tony Bennett's duets 2! With Gaga, Amy Winehouse, KD Lang, Natalie Cole, Willie Nelson, and more!
Toronto Beer Quest
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Tried a new urban-fit-adventure today by doing Toronto Beer Quest, as part of Toronto Beer Week. About 35 teams were part of this second-edition game where teams of two solve clues and photograph themselves as proof they were at the clue locations while learning about beer and Toronto history. You have 10 clue locations to get to in a prescribed amount of time - miss one or get one wrong and you get time added to your finish time.
It was fun overall - I love scavenger-hunty-clue-deciphering adventures that are mentally and physically demanding. Not as tough as City Chase, but a good mellow, little brother version of it. Pat was a great partner, we were relaxed, solved clues together and mapped out a solid, strategic route that got us in tied in 10th place, although 2 or 3 of those who got in before us didn't successfully complete.
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| It was really difficult getting both of us in the shot WITH the clue location... |
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| Success. All we needed was a bench and people walking by... As an example of the clues... this clue brought us to the old firehall in Yorkville where the coat of arms on display above the entrance features four professions with ties to Toronto/Yorkville history- including a keg and the letter "S" under the top left crest. The letter "S" and beer barrel stand for John Severn, a brewer who emigrated to Canada in the 1830s who has a Yorkville street named after him. Whoddathunk!? |
Would definitely do it again but would want tougher clues or less time to complete, more teams for more competition, and slightly better organization, especially for the prizes at the end.
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| This was not a required photo but we took it for bonus points. Also counting for bonus points were the number of strung out people you could get in your shot when going to the Allandale house clue-location on Sherbourne at Dundas. |
Saturday 10 September 2011
hodge podge deux
1. I am going to Ottawa for the week (for work) and I am looking forward to practicing at Moksha Yoga Ottawa, seeing some friends, and catching my breath with some evenings to just slow down a little.
2. I miss my little nephew Lukas terribly. At the park today with Tao, I imagined Tao and Lukas playing together and it warmed my heart. Soon, maybe?
3. Teaching with momentum (i.e. four times in one week) is amazing. The flow, confidence, rhythm -- it starts to come together and make sense. Now for an unfortunate two-week hiatus. Will focus on a strong practice instead.
4. Looking forward to going to Montreal in October. I haven't been in too long. Hoping to take lots of classes, in French and in English, teach a little, get a fresh new cut at Chez Snips (check out my friend Nadyne's super duper cute home salon Montrealers -http://chezsnips.com/), and enjoying a crisp fall Thanksgiving weekend in this city that I love.
5. Marathon training continues to progress well, in preparation for the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront race on October 16. For those of you in Toronto, wouldn't you rather come down with a bristle board poster and cheer on runners than be stuck in traffic due to closed roads cursing runners? I think you would and hope to see you out there with cowbells.
6. Saturday night Bon Iver, champa incense, ice cream sandwich, and dog by my feet has got to be amongst my favourite things.
2. I miss my little nephew Lukas terribly. At the park today with Tao, I imagined Tao and Lukas playing together and it warmed my heart. Soon, maybe?
3. Teaching with momentum (i.e. four times in one week) is amazing. The flow, confidence, rhythm -- it starts to come together and make sense. Now for an unfortunate two-week hiatus. Will focus on a strong practice instead.
4. Looking forward to going to Montreal in October. I haven't been in too long. Hoping to take lots of classes, in French and in English, teach a little, get a fresh new cut at Chez Snips (check out my friend Nadyne's super duper cute home salon Montrealers -http://chezsnips.com/), and enjoying a crisp fall Thanksgiving weekend in this city that I love.
5. Marathon training continues to progress well, in preparation for the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront race on October 16. For those of you in Toronto, wouldn't you rather come down with a bristle board poster and cheer on runners than be stuck in traffic due to closed roads cursing runners? I think you would and hope to see you out there with cowbells.
6. Saturday night Bon Iver, champa incense, ice cream sandwich, and dog by my feet has got to be amongst my favourite things.
Monday 5 September 2011
Reiki
I wanted to put my thoughts in writing after my recent experience with an Energy Healer who works out of Toronto, Ann Phillips, http://www.earthspiritdojo.ca/w-ann_phillips.htm.
I've never had Reiki done before and I wasn't exactly skeptical, but I also didn't know what to expect or what I'd get out of it. When I met Ann, and began going through my health, ailments, injuries, etc. I started to feel like my energy was really wound up and while it likely was, due to a pretty intense work week, the fact that her demeanour and energy were so grounded, only intensified where I was at. Since I've, knock on wood, been without any chronic pain or ailments since my yoga teacher training (conscious ones anyway) due to shifting the balance of running and yoga, I asked that the session re-balance and re-energize me, given the juggling I've been doing with my schedule trying to fit in the teaching with the marathon training, work, and life and the tiredness I've been feeling.
Ann suggested some acupuncture to open energy pathways, some foot work, some energy work on my head/scalp, and a guided meditation. It all sounded pretty straightforward and relatively 'normal'. We started with the acupuncture using the concept of the Indigenous four directions (needles in feet, hands and forehead). The foot work was light but deliberate... it felt like what I imagine reflexology feeling like. I focused on my breathing a lot. When she began working on my head and talked me through the guided meditation, things got strange. Good strange. I started having a very vivid vision. For someone who doesn't remember dreams very often, this was neat to experience. I was able to follow the meditation and view my surroundings so clearly and accurately and 'consciously'. Then, when the guided part of the medidation got more subtle and it was just left to my imagination, the visions got weirder -- non-descript, symbolic images, hallucination-type symbols and shapes, not at all what rational-Alice is used to.
At the end of the session, Ann asked if I'd had any visions. I was like "OH MY GOD! How did you, oh wait, right, you're used to this..." She offered interesting perspectives on how I might investigate meaning and offered a ritual to try to get rid of some emotional blockage. It was a really unique experience, and I'm all for continuing working with her and would absolutely refer her, even if I'm still not sure what to make of it all. But I'm definitely curious and searching for meaning in what I experienced and saw.
I've never had Reiki done before and I wasn't exactly skeptical, but I also didn't know what to expect or what I'd get out of it. When I met Ann, and began going through my health, ailments, injuries, etc. I started to feel like my energy was really wound up and while it likely was, due to a pretty intense work week, the fact that her demeanour and energy were so grounded, only intensified where I was at. Since I've, knock on wood, been without any chronic pain or ailments since my yoga teacher training (conscious ones anyway) due to shifting the balance of running and yoga, I asked that the session re-balance and re-energize me, given the juggling I've been doing with my schedule trying to fit in the teaching with the marathon training, work, and life and the tiredness I've been feeling.
Ann suggested some acupuncture to open energy pathways, some foot work, some energy work on my head/scalp, and a guided meditation. It all sounded pretty straightforward and relatively 'normal'. We started with the acupuncture using the concept of the Indigenous four directions (needles in feet, hands and forehead). The foot work was light but deliberate... it felt like what I imagine reflexology feeling like. I focused on my breathing a lot. When she began working on my head and talked me through the guided meditation, things got strange. Good strange. I started having a very vivid vision. For someone who doesn't remember dreams very often, this was neat to experience. I was able to follow the meditation and view my surroundings so clearly and accurately and 'consciously'. Then, when the guided part of the medidation got more subtle and it was just left to my imagination, the visions got weirder -- non-descript, symbolic images, hallucination-type symbols and shapes, not at all what rational-Alice is used to.
At the end of the session, Ann asked if I'd had any visions. I was like "OH MY GOD! How did you, oh wait, right, you're used to this..." She offered interesting perspectives on how I might investigate meaning and offered a ritual to try to get rid of some emotional blockage. It was a really unique experience, and I'm all for continuing working with her and would absolutely refer her, even if I'm still not sure what to make of it all. But I'm definitely curious and searching for meaning in what I experienced and saw.
Friday 2 September 2011
September yoga and running schedule
Here's my schedule for the month - come get sweaty, leave your fears and tears on the mat, and yoga it up with me!
Moksha Yoga Uptown (Yonge and St Clair), Saturday, September 3 - 3:00-4:30pm
Moksha Yoga North York (Yonge and Sheppard), Monday, September 5, 1:30-2:30pm
Moksha Yoga Danforth (Danforth and Chester), Thursday, September 8, 2-3:15pm
Moksha Yoga Downtown (Bathurst and Wellington), Friday, September 9, 9:45-10:45pm
Private teach (Ottawa), Tuesday, September 13, 5-6pm
Moksha Yoga North York (Yonge and Sheppard), Monday, September 26, 1:30-2:30pm
As for my September races, doing the Beer Quest on September 18 and the Toronto Center Island 1/2 marathon on September 25!
Moksha Yoga Uptown (Yonge and St Clair), Saturday, September 3 - 3:00-4:30pm
Moksha Yoga North York (Yonge and Sheppard), Monday, September 5, 1:30-2:30pm
Moksha Yoga Danforth (Danforth and Chester), Thursday, September 8, 2-3:15pm
Moksha Yoga Downtown (Bathurst and Wellington), Friday, September 9, 9:45-10:45pm
Private teach (Ottawa), Tuesday, September 13, 5-6pm
Moksha Yoga North York (Yonge and Sheppard), Monday, September 26, 1:30-2:30pm
As for my September races, doing the Beer Quest on September 18 and the Toronto Center Island 1/2 marathon on September 25!
Thursday 1 September 2011
Happy Birthday Mr. Tao!!!
What a special day! I celebrated by making him dress up! By getting him all hyper around the house! By baking homemade doggy treats! Oh, and by taking him to the vet where he got his temperature taken (his fave) and got a shot.
Happy birthday big guy!
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| I have no interest in this. |
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| What does it do, anyway? |
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| Can I eat this? |
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