Martin Parnell Finish the Race Attitude

Next Event:

Marathon Quest 250 1st Annual Run/Walk

• Date: Saturday, December 31st, 2011

• Location: Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sport Centre

• Distance and time: 9.00am Marathon, 12 noon Half Marathon, 1.30pm 10km, 2.15pm 5km, 2.40pm 2.5km

• Route: 2.5km loop along the stunning Bow River

• Aid Station: Guy's Bakery "Super Aid Station" (visit it 17 times!)

• Registration: On the day (8.00am to 2.30pm) with a donation to RIGHT TO PLAY

In late September, I signed a book contract with Rocky Mountain Books. On October 6^th I sent the publisher, Don Gorman, a manuscript containing 123,762 words. I checked out a few other titles, just to see how many words were in an average book. They ranged from 75,774 (Running for my Life - Ray Zahab) to 89,607 (The Extra Mile - Pam Reed). So, it looks like I'll be having a few chats with the editor in the New Year. Don told me that it normally takes a year to get a book from manuscript to being published and then distributed. This means mine should be out in the fall of 2012. We've had a few emails back and forth about the title. I came up with a list that included "Running Scared", "M is for Marathon", "It's not about the Run" and "Running on Purpose". We eventually agreed on "Marathon Quest".

One of the first things to sort is the cover. Apparently, this can be critical to the success of a book. In fact, Mary Lou Davis, owner of Bentley Books, told me that 87% of books are sold on their cover alone. Maybe I should call it the "Marathon Quest Cook Book", and then I'd sell heaps of them. Don, also informed me that an important part of the process is the book signing. So, over the last couple of months, Sue and I have been checking some out. The first one was for Adrienne Clarkson's new book "Room For All Of  Us". The presentation was held at the John Dutton Theatre in Calgary. Sue and I got lost, but luckily we met Mayor Nenshi, who himself was heading to the event. Ms. Clarkson talked about the immigrant experience through the people who helped transform Canada. One of the examples she took from her book was Mayor Nenshi.

The next event was a week later, at the same location (we didn't get lost this time). The author, Wade Davis, spoke about his new book "Into The Silence". He had several incredible stories about the First World War and how it impacted on George Mallory's attempt to climb Mount Everest. On November 25^th, Kevin Akre and I went to a presentation by George Webber at the Camera Shop classroom in Calgary. His latest publication is "In this Place", a retrospective book containing photos of Calgary from 2004 to 20011. Frontenac Publishing hosted the event and provided wine and cheese.

On Sunday December 4^th, Sue and I headed out to the Plaza Theatre in Kensington. Pages book store was hosting Chris Turner. He presented his new book "The Leap", about how to survive and thrive in the sustainable economy. We enjoyed his talk and the brown bag lunch, which was provided. After that, I chatted with Molly in book store and she said that "Pages in the Plaza" is a monthly event so I'll have to check into that. Lesson learned about a good book signing, provide good snacks.

Quote of the Day

"Look in, look the storm in the eye. Look out, to the sea and the sky. Look around, at the sight and sound. Look in, look out, look around."

Neil Peart

Waiting for, author, Chris Turner to talk about his new book "The Leap"

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Next Event:

Marathon Quest 250 1st Annual Run/Walk

• Date: Saturday, December 31st, 2011

• Location: Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sport Centre

• Distance and time: 9.00am Marathon, 12 noon Half Marathon, 1.30pm 10km, 2.15pm 5km, 2.40pm 2.5km

• Route: 2.5km loop along the stunning Bow River

• Aid Station: Guy's Bakery "Super Aid Station" (visit it 17 times!)

• Registration: On the day (8.00am to 2.30pm) with a donation to RIGHT TO PLAY

Christmas is coming and I'm sure we have all made our wish lists. On mine it's a new pair of runners, wool socks and a CD of "Band on the Run". However, my main wish is to be healthy. There are things I can do to help make this happen. Some exercise, eating my fruit and veggies, not too much chocolate. But there are some things for which I need professional help.

I am fast approaching 56 and have reached my "Golden Years", this is the 50 plus gang, the so called Boomers or Zoomers (Boomers with zip). The good news is that we get discounts at local stores and the swimming pool. The bad news is that things may start to go wrong. The key thing, when we reach this age, is the service check-up. Just like a car, which you take in every 5,000 kms to get the oil and air filter changed. You may also need to change the tires or get the brake lines cleaned out. It's all about preventative maintenance and catching the small stuff, before it leads to some big problem.

We are no different. For me, the preventive maintenance was a prostate test and a colonoscopy. First of all, why these two? My friend, Nurse Pam, sent me some information. Prostate is the second leading cancer to cause death amongst men and colon is the second leading cancer cause of death among men and women. The number one being lung cancer.

The prostate test is a blood test. I'm not keen on needles but sometimes you just have to suck it up. They found my PSA (key indicator) a little high and I had to have a biopsy. Not fun, but a necessity. Fortunately, the results were negative. Each year I get tested and they monitor the level. The checking of the colon, the colonoscopy, is a little more intrusive. I didn't really want to have it done and, to be honest, had put if off a couple of times. The day before the procedure, I had to mix up and drink 4 Litres of Colyte (think human Drano). I wouldn't want to get it confused with my race nutrition., Carbopro, I'd definitely be on the run then.

On the morning of December 9^th, Sue drove me to Canmore hospital. I was met by Nurse Loraine and, after being hooked up to an IV, it was off to the theatre. The rest is a bit of a blur. I remember watching a 40" HDTV as Dr. Cort manoeuvred a miniature camera, looking for polyps. He found one and snippet it. Afterwards, he said that things had gone well and I would be informed as to whether I have a 5 or 10 year warranty.

I had some difficulty writing this blog. It's not like writing one about the latest race or the next road trip. I thought how lucky we are to live in a country where we have free access to this type of check-up. So, why not make a New Year's resolution to get checked out, because we all want to be around to watch our kids and grandkids grow up.

Quote of the Day

"If man has a talent and cannot use it, he has failed. If he has a talent and uses only half of it, he has partly failed. If he has a talent and learns somehow to use the whole of it, he has gloriously succeeded, and won a satisfaction and a triumph few men ever know."

Thomas Wolfe

Granddaughter Autumn hanging out with a new friend

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Next Event:

Marathon Quest 250 1st Annual Run/Walk

• Date: Saturday, December 31st, 2011

• Location: Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sport Centre

• Distance and time: 9.00am Marathon, 12 noon Half Marathon, 1.30pm 10km, 2.15pm 5km, 2.40pm 2.5km

• Route: 2.5km loop along the stunning Bow River

• Aid Station: Guy's Bakery "Super Aid Station" (visit it 17 times!)

• Registration: On the day (8.00am to 2.30pm) with a donation to RIGHT TO PLAY

On October 1^st, the first class of the "Live Ideal Learn to Run 5 km" program left the Creating Balance office in Cochrane and walked four minutes then ran one. This was the start of a 12 week program to learn to run 5 km. In the first session Deb, Kaitlyn, Shannon, Renee and Amanda repeated the walk 4 minutes / run 1 minute six times for a total of 30 minutes. Everyone was very enthusiastic after the first day but I wondered how many would graduate at the final session on December 17^th.

The program is designed to slowly introduce you to running. One session is scheduled a week. The first three weeks maintains the walk 4 mins / run 1 min but builds up the time from 30 minutes to 50 minutes. The fourth session has you walking 3 minutes and running 2 minutes six times for 30 minutes. The runners completed the sessions on their own but I would ran with them half way through the program and at the final session.

During the three months I kept in touch with everyone by email. After week two Kaitlyn wrote to me; "So Deb and I did our week two run yesterday and it felt great! (Hadn't been out since out first run Saturday) Unlike after our first group outing I was barely sore yesterday evening or again today. I felt invigorated afterwards! So happy! Even pushed harder for the last one minute run cycle! So being gung-ho I went again at lunch today... However, despite not being sore I found it much more tiring and could definitely feel discomfort in my right ankle, shin and knee. Overall, I felt more exerted. Do you think that it's just because it was back to back days and I was maybe using more "tired" muscles today and thus it wasn't as "good" of a run as yesterdays? Let me know your thoughts!"

I found that this was a common theme with a number of the group. They tried to do too much. It takes time for your body to adapt to the run / walk regime and a major focus of this program is not to get injured. I told Kaitlyn to stick to the one session a week but if she felt like doing something else then go for a swim or a spin on a bike.

A key part of the program is keeping a running log. It's very important to be able to look back and learn from each run. I've kept one for nine years and on each run I note distance, time, temperature, heart rate and how I felt. At the beginning of the log it's critical to state why you want to start exercising. This was discussed in our first meeting and Deb commented:  "Great first session. Motivating. Identified reason why as being able to keep up with grandchildren. Worried about heart rate. Have avoided aerobic exercise because of fear of heart rate going to high."

On Dec. 17^th the whole group turned up at the Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Centre and completed their 5 km session. Everyone graduated with honours. We're going to have a reunion on Dec.31^st and the group is going to join me for the last 5km of the 1^st Annual Marathon Quest 250 run / walk.

Hope you can make it as well.

Wishing everyone a happy and healthy Christmas and New Year.

Quote of the Day

"Look in, look the storm in the eye. Look out, to the sea and the sky. Look around, at the sight and sound. Look in, look out, look around."

Neil Peart

The Live Ideal Learn to Run 5 km graduating class: Deb, Shannon, Renee, Kaitlyn and Amanda.

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