Martin Parnell

Date: December 9th 2025

Marathon Man: Day Trip 3: Brown Lowery Provincial Park

They say the third time is the charm. Well, that was certainly true when Sue and I decided to visit Brown Lowery Provincial Park. I had never heard of this little piece of heaven until I received an email from my good friend William. He had read my article “Day Trip 2: Sheep River Falls” and sent me the following note: Hi Martin and Sue, Thank you for today’s article in the Cochrane Eagle. We carry our homemade lunch and beverage so that part does not come into the equation. If you haven’t already, please consider the following: Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park, Ann and Sandy Cross Conservation Area and Brown Lowery Provincial Park, With gratitude, William.

I had hiked the first two suggestions so Brown Lowery Provincial Park it was. A little bit of digging on the Alberta Parks site told the history of the park: From 1896 to 1915 logging took place on various parts of the property and remnants of the activity including buildings and roads (now part of the parks trail system) survive today. Home Oil acquired the land in 1943 and ran seismic surveys in the 1950s looking for oil and gas. The park is named for the founders of the Home Oil Company, James Lowery and Robert Brown. It became a Provincial Recreation Area in 1974, and in 1992 was designated as Brown – Lowery Provincial Park.

On a beautiful Fall day Sue and I headed South on Highway 22.......our first stop, 30 minutes later, at The Heart Vegan Cafe in Bragg Creek. There we had coffee, a butter tart and cinnamon bun. Excellent nutrient for the adventure ahead. Leaving Bragg Creek we continued on the 22, turning left at the 22 / 66 junction then a quick right on 762. We continued south for 20km then left on to Plummers Road and around the corner to the park

What surprised me was how small the park was. It’s roughly 2km by 2km, but that didn’t mean that this “Pocket” park doesn’t carry a punch. The trails are well sign posted and Sue and I headed off on Crocus Loop, Chickadee, Old North, Wildrose and Wild Rose East. Along the way to saw woodpeckers, squirrels and deer. The trails were rock and root plus wood chipped sections.

Leaving the park we headed back to Bragg Creek for lunch at the Korner Kitchen. The sign said they closed at 3.00pm. We got there at 2.30pm but everything was locked up. No worries....Plan B. We followed William’s advise, went home and had a picnic on the deck. Another great day trip out of Cochrane.

Remember, you don’t have to travel the world to find jewels in your back yard.

Date: November 9th 2025

Marathon Man: Day Trip 2: Sheep River Falls

Inspired by a friend's recommendation, we embarked on a day trip to Sheep River Falls, a hidden gem nestled within Kananaskis Country.

In my previous article I shared a day trip that Sue and I took to Takakkaw Falls. After I published the piece I received a number of comments, one of which was from a friend of ours Lucy Lovelock. Lucy asked “Have you been to the chuck wagon cafe in Turner Valley and out to Sheep River Falls? Stunning!” Well, dear reader, Sue and I have been to the Chuck Wagon Café and an excellent place it is; however, we had never been to Sheep River Falls … Time to investigate.

First stop … the oracle of all knowledge, Google: The history of Sheep River Falls is rooted in Indigenous use, followed by early European settlement and recreational development. The area has been a traditional hunting and fishing ground for Indigenous peoples for thousands of years, and the river itself is named for the bighorn sheep that inhabit the region. Later, it became a popular community gathering place, leading to the development of a park and eventually its inclusion within the Kananaskis park system to preserve it.

This certainly sounded like a great place to visit but there were a number of key criteria that had to be checked off before it received the green light for a day trip ... how far was it? Was there a coffee shop to go to before the visit and was there a café / restaurant for lunch after?

Fortunately, after some digging all the boxes were ticked, we purchased on line our one day Kananaskis Conservation Pass ($15.75) and we were on our way.

The first part of our trip took us south 1 hour on Highway 22 from Cochrane to Diamond Valley and there we arrived at The Black Sheep Coffee Co. This turned out to be an excellent pit stop for an Americano and a white chocolate and cranberry muffin (shared!). From there we headed west on highway 546. The road took us through some spectacular country and at the 28km mark we stopped at the Bighorn Lookout. In fields stretching out toward the mountains was a huge herd of Bighorn sheep. Continuing on for 8 km we arrived at our destination … Sheep River Falls.

It was a beautiful day and a number of people were having picnics along the river. The falls reminded Sue and me of Elbow Falls, another place worth visiting. We spent a couple hours scrambling over the rocks and just enjoying the sight and sound of the water going over the falls. Returning the way we came, we went back into Diamond Valley and stopped at The Westwood for lunch. They have a great selection and I decided to try the pork belly Raman.

Huge thanks to Lucy for her suggestion. Sue and I love these day trips and no matter where you live there are always incredible places waiting for you to visit.

Date: October 5th 2025

Marathon Man: Day Trip to Takkakaw Falls

Sue and I love doing day trips out of Cochrane and with our son, Calum, visiting from Cardiff, it was the perfect opportunity to visit the second tallest waterfall in Canada ... Takakkaw Falls.

We left at 10 a.m. on a misty morning and headed west along Highway 1A to Mînî Thnî (Morley) then down to Highway 1. First stop was the Trailhead Café in Lake Louise for a coffee and Danish. We also decided to pick up our Yoho National Park pass at the visitors centre. The park ranger told us that it would be busy at the falls but parking would be available. He also asked what kind of vehicle I had. I said a Jeep Liberty and he replied that that was good as there were a number of switch backs on the approach road.

Just before Field, we turned off on to the Yoho Valley Road and started the climb to the falls. We were at the back of a convoy of cars and then we hit the switchbacks. Into four-wheel drive and around and up we went. It was a sunny and dry day so no worries. Arriving at the parking lot at 1 p.m., we parked up and gazed at the amazing sight of the falls in front of us.

Going to the source of all knowledge, Wikipedia, here is a little about Takkakaw Falls. The falls have a total height of 373 metres (1,224 ft), making them the second tallest waterfall in Canada. The tallest waterfall is Della Falls on Vancouver Island.

"Takakkaw" means "it is magnificent” in the Cree Language. In spite of the name being taken from a Cree word, the name is not of indigenous origin and the Cree people did not historically inhabit this area. Rather, it was suggested as a name by Sir William Cornelius Van Horne head of the Canadian Pacific Railway and officially adopted in 1904.

It was a short and easy 20 minute walk to the base of the falls and we all just looked up in wonder at the water cascading down. After taking many photos we headed back to the car and onto Field for a late lunch. The plan was to go to the “Truffle Pig” however when we got there the Inn was full. No worries, Calum Googled “vegan restaurants in Banff” and found “Nourish Bisto." I’m a bit more of a bacon and eggs guy but I had a terrific Ramen bowl.

We arrived back in Cochrane at 6 p.m. after a wonderful day out. It just goes to show that there are incredible things to see and do right in your back yard. What is your next local adventure?

Date: September 4th 2025

Diary of a 100 Day Potato

Last year I built two raised gardens, one for Sue and one for me. Sue wanted flowers and I wanted vegetables. This spring the question came up as to what veggies should I plant? Did I reach out for a gardening book? No. I went to Morten Hansen’s book “Great at Work”. One of his key insights is “Do less then obsess”. An example he uses in the book is the quest, in 1911, when Robert Scott and Roald Amundsen undertook to become the first explorer to reach the South Pole.

Amundsen chose one form of transportation—dogs—as the sole method for his expedition. Amundsen decided to obsess over mastering the one method to reach his goal and conducted research to find the best dogs (Greenland dogs) and learn from Inuit experts on how to master dog sledging.

Meanwhile, Scott's team used several different forms of transportation, including ponies, dogs, tractors and man-hauling the sleds, believing that having more options would provide backup in case one failed. Scott became too busy coordinating these multiple methods to truly focus on excelling in any single one.

Amundsen’s focused approach allowed his team to travel faster and reach the South Pole 34 days ahead of Scott's team. Scott’s lack of singular focus led to inefficiency, slow travel, and ultimately contributed to the tragic deaths of his entire team. This example highlights that true greatness comes from selecting a few key priorities and dedicating intense, targeted effort to excelling at them, rather than spreading oneself too thin across many options.

Armed with this knowledge I realised I had a choice: should try I and grow a variety of vegetables sure as carrots, tomatoes, lettuce and spinach or focus on just one? The answer was clear and I selected the king of the garden...the mighty potato.

Next step was to head down to my friendly neighbourhood garden centre in Cochrane, “Anything Grows”. There I found a bag of seed potatoes called Cerata Kws. These are a high yielding red skinned, white fleshed variety with smooth skin and shallow eyes. On the bag it said they were “Mid-season, slightly mealy, perfect for baking, mashing and home fries. Ready in 100 days”……. looked good to me.

On May 14th I planted the bag of seed potatoes and the next 100 days was filled with watering and potato protection (deer, birds and hail) plus keeping an eye out for Colorado potato beetle, Aphids, wireworms, white grubs and Vertcillium Wilt. The big day arrived and on August 22nd I harvested 8lbs (108 potatoes) of the most beautiful red potatoes.

So what’s next? Well, Yesterday I planted another of my other favourite vegetables, so stay tuned for the “Diary of a 28 Day Radish!”

Date: August 7th 2025

Cochrane International Sculpture Park

Sue and I enjoy exploring Southern Alberta and in late May we decided to go to Sundre and see what we could find along the way. We headed north up Highway 22 and just before reaching Sundre we came across a sign for the unincorporated community of Bergen. Well, we had never been there before so we turned west. Travelling 10kms on Township Road 320 we saw another sign, “Bergen International Sculpture Park”. Well that looked interesting, so we turned north on the 760 and 3km later we arrived at the Park.

We parked up and started to explore the site. At the entrance way was an information board: The Bergen Rocks sculpture park is the result of 4 symposia hosted by Morton Burke on his acreage where the park is located. 23 sculptors from around the world have visited Bergen, each for a period of one month. During their time in Bergen, each of them created a monumental sculpture in stone which was then placed in the park. An important element of the Bergen Rocks program is to have the sculptures moved into public places so from time to time some of the sculptures from the park are relocated. Other pieces that have been sculpted in the Bergen Rocks symposium program are exhibited in Olds and in Sylvan Lake.

As Sue and I were about to leave, Morton drove up and started to chat with us. He said that he would love to show his sculptures at other communities in Alberta and we all agreed that Cochrane would be a great location.

Fast forward to June 26th and Sue and I spotted an article in the Cochrane Eagle: The Town of Cochrane has completed the purchase of a 26-acre parcel from Rocky View County (RVC), securing the last remaining undeveloped piece of riverfront property within town boundaries. Acquired for $5 million, the land is located adjacent to Bow RiversEdge Campground, Jim Uffelmann Memorial Park and the growing Greystone neighbourhood. “This is the last piece of undeveloped riverfront property in Cochrane,” said Mayor Jeff Genung. “By securing this land, we are ensuring that we shape this space in a way that truly reflects the priorities, values and vision of our community. This is about building our future-- together.”

When Sue and I read the release we thought about our visit to Bergen International Sculpture Park and our chat with Morton. Wouldn’t this be an incredible location to have a sculpture park overlooking the mighty Bow River. A place of tranquility and art that all the community could enjoy for generations to come.

Date: July 3rd 2025

The Secret Marathon: Giving Hope to Afghan Women

On the evening of Wednesday June 25th film goers from Cochrane and Calgary area came to the Cochrane Movie House. Had they come for the latest blockbuster; another Pixar or Marvel outing? Not this time. They came to see a documentary that was released in 2019 and shown around the world... The Secret Marathon. However, this film had never been shown in Cochrane and through serendipity it happened.

The Cochrane Cares Walking and Running Club was founded by Kari Rose. This women-led running community was started in 2020 to provide a safe, supportive, and empowering space for women to come together through movement. One Saturday morning in early April, after talking to the group, Kari and another runner Gayle asked if I would like to hold a fund raiser using The Secret Marathon film and show it at the Cochrane Movie House.

This is what I had been waiting for all these years and I knew the charity I wanted to support. Classrooms Without Walls (CWW) was established in 2022 by David Falconer. David lives in Cochrane, is a Rotarian and is committed to improve the lives of children in Myanmar, Ukraine and Afghanistan through on-line education. I’ve been working with this charity for 2 years as a Volunteer Teacher and Board member. One project they have been working on is providing support for Afghan women who want to get their General Education Diploma’s (GED’s). The cost for each women to take the 4 exams is $1,000.

In early May, Kari, Gayle and I had our first meeting. We agreed that we would try and raise $5,000 and help 5 Afghan women earn their GEDs and access higher education—an opportunity that is currently under severe threat. With this in place it was all systems go: booking the theatre, getting sponsors, putting up posters around town, sending out emails to family and friends, sharing on social media, selling tickets, and making up raffle baskets.

On June 19th, Fiona, Manager of the Movie House told us that the first cinema was sold out so we added another. The big day arrived and the doors opened at 5.30pm. People started to arrive and fill the theatres. The film started at 6.30pm and after we had a Q and A session. Lina and Roma from CWW were collecting donations and by the end of the night we had raised $7,000.

It takes a community and a vision to achieve a goal. Huge thanks to everyone involved. We are hoping to hit the $10,000 mark so if you would like to donate please go to classroomswithoutwalls.ca and hit the “Donate” button. Stronger together.

Date: June 5th 2025

The Secret Marathon at the Cochrane Movie House

On September 22nd 2019 the World premiere of The Secret Marathon film was shown at Cinefest in Sudbury, Ontario. It had been a long journey to get the film made but the goal of getting it onto the film festival circuit was finally achieved. First some background on the film.

In October 2015 I read an article about Zainab, the first Afghan woman to run a marathon in Afghanistan. It said that she had to endure verbal and physical abuse while she was training but that didn’t stop her. She went back to her home and trained by running around and around her walled garden, for hours on end. At the time I was recovering from a massive blood clot on my brain, and vowed that if I could get better, I was going to run with Zainab in Afghanistan the following year and support the Afghan women running for freedom and equality.

In October 2016 I traveled to Afghanistan with a film crew including Kate McKenzie who was the co-director of the film. Returning from the trip Kate worked with co-director Scott Townend and a production team to create “The Secret Marathon” film. It was not a smooth road to the finished product but three years later the movie hit the big screen.

Over the years the film has been shown at a number of film festivals including Zonta, Calgary Underground Film Festival, Kingston and Edmonton, where it won the Peoples Choice Best Documentary Feature. The film was then released by Demand Films and shown across Canada, USA, Australia and New Zealand. But one thing that I have always dreamed of is that it would be shown on the big screen in Cochrane. Well, now it will be!

On Wednesday, June 25th at 6.30pm The Secret Marathon film will be shown at the Cochrane Movie House. The presentation is hosted by Cochrane Cares Running Club and is a fund raiser for Classrooms Without Walls (classroomswithoutwalls.ca). This organization provides on line educational opportunities for students in Myanmar, Ukraine and Afghanistan. The funds raised for this endeavor will go to support Afghan women, living in Afghanistan, take their General Education Diploma (GED) tests and allow them to go onto higher education—an opportunity that is currently under severe threat.

For tickets, click: Tickets Please share the link with your family, friends or anyone else you know that might be interested.

Also, there are a limited number of sponsorship opportunities for the incredible event. Email me at Martin Parnell for more information.

The Secret Marathon is finally coming to Cochrane and we would love to see you there to celebrate the event.

Date: May 1st 2025

The Boston Marathon – A trip down memory lane

Monday April 21st was the 129th edition of the Boston Marathon and I’ve been fortunate to have run in 4 of them. First a little background on the event. The first Boston Marathon was held on Patriots' Day (April 19, 1897), ten years after the founding of the Boston Athletic Association (BAA). The race was originally 24.5 miles long and included only 15 runners. Women were not officially allowed to compete until 1972, after Kathrine Switzer ran in 1967. The starting point of the race moved from Ashland to Hopkinton in 1924, and the current course is 26.2 miles long. The Boston Marathon has become the world's oldest annual marathon and is regarded as one of the most prestigious road racing events.

My Boston journey started in 2004. I had just moved from Sudbury to Cochrane and had qualified the previous September at the Toronto Water Front Marathon. After qualifying, I was so excited that I got my one and only tattoo…..a runner with a maple leaf (a bit faded now!). Early on the morning of the race, runners were bussed out to Hopkinton, where we hung around in a muddy field for about three hours, until noon. I don’t remember much about the race other than it was a hot day and making the final turn to the finish line.

Next up was the 2008 race. I had qualified at the Kelowna marathon in BC and a group of us from the Cochrane Red Rocks Running Club headed east for that year’s event. The 2010 race was one of the 250 marathons I completed that year as a fund raiser for the humanitarian organization Right To Play. The 2020 Boston Marathon was a little different. I had qualified at the Edmonton Marathon in August 2019 but in December 2019 the world changed. COVID shut everything down and it was decided that the 2020 Boston Marathon would be virtual. On September 12th I was lined up on Horse Creek Road just outside Cochrane. Instead of the usual 20,000 runners there were just 3 of us, running buddy Ken, Nephew Chris and myself. We had our own “Heartbreak Hill” on the route but we all had a great time.

So, do I have another Boston in me? Well, I’ve been recovering from Hernia surgery and recently was diagnosed with “Bilateral Adductor Tendinopathy” (don’t ask). I been working with Physiotherapist Kim at Cochrane Physio who has put me on a “Return to Running” Program: Run 1 minute, Walk 1 minute and increase the repetition by one each day. So as Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu said “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step”. Fingers crossed!

Date: April 6th 2025

Marathon Man: My new cat is a Zen Master

“I have lived with several Zen Masters…….all of them are cats;" Eckhart Tolle

On May 12th 2024 Sue and I adopted a cat from the Cochrane Humane Society. She is a calico (black, white and ginger) and we called her Tess. We were determined that she would she would fit into our life style and our mantra was “No Compromise”. However, it hasn’t quite worked out like that.

She’s a chatty cat and lets us know when she’s hungry or wants to play. When it’s time to sleep she goes to the end of our bed but then wakes Sue up (not me) at 3.00am. She loves looking out the window at the birds and makes a “chattering” sounds when they fly too close.

One of my favourite quotes is by Eckhart Tolle, author of The Power of Now: “I have lived with several Zen Masters…….all of them are cats."

I decided to ask AI how cats were like Zen Masters. This is what came back. Then I compared to Tess to see how much of a Zen Master she was:

Mindfulness and Presence:

Cats are known for their ability to focus intently on the present moment, whether it's watching a bird outside or grooming themselves. This "be here, now" approach aligns with the Zen philosophy of staying present and avoiding dwelling on the past or future.

Tess is definitely a living in the moment cat. One of her favourite activities is the “Zoomies”, running at break neck speed all around the house. Then she sleeps.

Calm and Serene:

Cats are naturally calm and peaceful animals, often found napping in sunny spots or simply observing their surroundings with a serene demeanour. This calmness can be inspiring for those seeking to cultivate a more peaceful and mindful state of mind.

She has times when she is calm. She loves sitting in my office chair and sleeping. I then have to gently roll my chair to the side and I sit in a camp chair…..no compromise!

Observation and Attention:

Cats are masters of observation, carefully watching their environment and reacting to stimuli with focused attention. This keen awareness can be a valuable lesson for those looking to improve their own attentiveness and mindfulness.

When she spots a bird on the other side of the window, her ears go up and she stands still just with her tail swaying from side to side.

Simplicity and Acceptance:

Cats often live simply, without excessive attachments or desires, which resonates with the Zen principle of letting go of unnecessary attachments and embracing the present moment.

She does live a simple life. She is either sleeping, eating or waiting to eat. She likes to play and has an abundance of balls with bells in, toilet rolls and little stuff toys. If life could only be so simple.

Well, we’ve decided that Tess is definitely a Zen Master and she brings a little bit of Zen into our lives every day.

Date: March 9th 2025

Marathon Man: Losing an ESL Program

This bridge to opportunity, is being erased 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 is nothing short of heartbreaking.

Recently, my friend Linh Huynh posted this on Social Media and I felt it was important to share:

“Yesterday afternoon, I logged onto my work email and saw: "High Importance!" the college announced it will no longer be offering its Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) programs, effective when the current term ends in April due to funding cuts by the Federal government. The program dates back to 1965.

"And just like that, an entire chapter of my life disappears. The weight of this news sits heavy in my chest, a quiet devastation that lingers in every breath. To lose my job at Bow Valley College is not just the loss of a paycheck or a title—it’s the unravelling of a purpose I've poured my heart into.

"As a professional speaker, I now work primarily from home, but since 2009, I have also taught ESL to newcomers at Bow Valley College. I transitioned away from full-time instruction in recent years to focus on writing my memoir and growing my speaking career - occasionally returning as a substitute. I am fortunate that I have my speaking career, but my heart breaks for those who will be left behind.

"For years, I have walked into those classrooms not just as an educator, but as a guide, a champion, a believer in the power of language to change lives.

"I have seen the spark in the eyes of newcomers as they grasp a word, a phrase, a piece of confidence that brings them closer to belonging. Immigrants are not just students to me; they are the dreamers, the fighters, the ones who redefine possibility with every step forward.

"They carry histories of sacrifice, resilience, and hope, and I have been honoured to stand beside them as they carve out a place in a new world. To know that this safe space, this bridge to opportunity, (which) is being erased, is nothing short of heartbreaking. The loss isn’t just mine—it’s theirs. It’s ours.

"The silence that follows is deafening. But silence cannot be the final word."

What Can We Do?

-Raise Awareness: Share this post and talk about the impact of these cuts. People need to know how this will affect thousands of newcomers trying to build a life in Canada.

-Contact Decision-Makers: Write to your MP and the Minister of Immigration to voice your concern about the defunding of LINC programs. Our leaders need to hear that this matters.

-Support-Alternative ESL Programs: If you know of organizations stepping in to fill this gap, share their resources. If you’re in a position to support or volunteer, now is the time.

Newcomers come to this country full of hope, and language is their key to unlocking opportunity.

If you’re impacted by this, or if you have ideas on how we can fight for ESL programs, I’d love to hear from you. Let’s not stay silent. Let’s push for change.”

You can contact Linh at linh.n.hunh@gmail.com

Date: February 9th 2025

Walking in the Now

When we first saw the Grandfather Tree it took our breath away. The massive exposed roots clinging to the hillside and the magnificent trunk and branches reaching for the sky.

Sue and I have lived in Cochrane for almost 20 years and one of our favourite activities is walking the Cochrane pathways. One of the most scenic routes is along Bighill Creek to the RancheHouse.

When we first saw the Grandfather Tree it took our breath away. The massive exposed roots clinging to the hillside and the magnificent trunk and branches reaching for the sky. Over the years we would take our kids, grandkids, family and friends to see Cochrane's best kept secret….the Grandfather Tree.

On January 16th a storm hit Cochrane and the gale force winds felled the tree. A week later I went for a walk to see my old friend. The area was surrounded by orange tape and a sign said “Do not enter”. In front of the fencing was a box and in the box was a journal. It said “Please leave your thoughts about the Grandfather Tree”. Here are some of the comments:

"We love you Grandfather Tree. We will always remember you. We have so many good memories with you. We’re sorry that the wind storm hit you. We hope you grow back. We will not give up hope. We hope your babies grow big and strong like you. We love you to the moon and back."

Mme. Julie and Mme Joty’s Classes at Glenbow School

"Farewell, old soldier! You have brought so much peace and joy to my family and friends. Four generations of my family loved cherished you, since the 1980’s."

Jennifer Isaas and Family

"We only arrived here on September 2024, but we had the pleasure of seeing you stand tall. We’ll miss you on our family walks."

Jac, Ash, Eddie and Rudy

"Oh Beautiful Tree: Thank you for your strength and beauty, knowledge and wisdom. You are loved. We will miss you as you were and cherished as you are. Love you Great Grandfather."

Fox and Vandersteen

Tall and Grand,

300 years you stand,

Your roots run deep,

Many children’s secrets you keep,

Grand memories of when you stood guard,

At least now, climbing you won’t be so hard.

Lucas, Nadia and Dwayne

By all accounts the Grandfather Tree started growing around 300 years ago so that would take us back to the early to mid-1700’s. So who was around at that time? Well, Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) was a founding father of the United States, a scientist, inventor and diplomat. He carried out his kite-flying experiment and discovered that lighting is a powerful electric charge.

So hopefully, there will be a Great Grandfather Tree and over the next 300 years’ families, friends and visitors will be able to visit and enjoy its beauty.

Date: January 2nd 2025

Walking in the Now

I love running but I also love walking and for a place to walk it’s hard to beat the pathways of Cochrane. The Bow river runs through the town and who knows maybe one day we will be able to walk along its banks to Calgary.

Not only is walking good for your physical health it is excellent for your mental health. I live in the west end of Cochrane and one of my favourite hikes is along the river to the railway trestle bridge and back. I’ve done this walk hundreds of times but I always see something different.

One of the key things for me is “walking in the now”. Calm the chatter that is going on in your head, clear the mind and really see what’s in front of you. I take the weather as it comes. Whether it’s sunny, wet, snowy or cold (but not too cold) it’s time to head out. As you get into your stride look up at the clouds, see the shapes that are formed, the colours and texture. Sometimes I stop and watch a flock of geese fly in formation. Look at the water, see how the sun reflects off the ripples and waves. Look down and see what vegetation is around you. Things change as the seasons change.

My favourite time to take my walk is the winter. There is a crunch, crunch of the snow and when the sun hits the white blanket a million diamonds sparkle. In the early morning, after a fresh fall, animals leave their tracks that tell a story of the previous night’s activities. Walking along the frozen river bank incredible ice shapes are formed around the boulders and the river still runs under the ice and around the rocks.

A key part of “walking in the now” is the silence other than the wind in trees, the water on the rocks and the odd train that passes by. We all need a place for us. When you think about it, all we have is what we have right now at this moment. As I walk I am gratefully for everything I see, hear, touch and smell. These are all gifts that we have been given. Unfortunately in our busy world they tend to be forgotten or ignored.

But don’t just practice this mindfulness on your walk. The reality is that this is an action you can carry out anywhere you are and in whatever you are doing. As we start 2025 give yourself permission to go “walking in the now”.

Date: November 7th 2024

Cochrane Cares Running Club

Several Sundays ago I was in the Found Book and Coffee shop in Cochrane. Not only was I there for their excellent latte but also to share a question and answer session with Kari Rose (karirosehealth.com), founder of the Cochrane Cares Running Club. Kari had sent me an email back in August. It said “Hi Martin! I am in the process of designing the Fall Learn to Run Clinic for Women and was wondering if you were still interested in sharing with the group? We meet at Found after our Sunday runs at 10:00 am. If you are interested, I can send you the dates that are available. Your inspiration and dedication to making the world a better place would be such a treasured experience for all of us! Thank you, Kari”.

Kari’s background includes being a Registered Massage Therapist, BodyTalk Practitioner, Certified Personal Trainer and Pilates Mat Instructor. Kari offers a 10 week “Learn to Run” Clinic from September 29th to December 8th. Training sessions are on Tuesday’s and Thursday’s with a run on Sunday’s. I arrived at Found at 9.45am and a number of the participants were already there enjoying a beverage. While I was waiting I sat down and chatted with several of the runners. They told me that some were beginners and others had run 5ks, 10ks and half marathons but no one had run a marathon.

When everyone was ready Kari started to ask me questions about how I started running and what my favourite marathon was. One of the runners asked how I ended up running a marathon in Afghanistan and I explained that in 2015, I had read about Zainab, the first Afghan women to run a marathon. When she trained men yelled insults and threw chunks of concrete. But that didn’t stop her. She went home and ran hour after hour in her walled garden to train for the event. There were many more great questions and we finished just after 11.00am.

I had copies of my books for sale and they were snapped up. I told Kari I’d come back the following Sunday with a fresh supply. This I did and after more books were bought I stayed for an excellent presentation by Dr. Roger Menta, Sports Specialist (movetomove.ca).

As I was leaving Kari mentioned to me that a number of runners had talked about Zainab and the determination and perseverance she had shown in running the Marathon of Afghanistan. They had decided that if Zainab could run the 42.2km under such challenging conditions then they would train and run their first marathon in 2025.

Way to go Kari and Cochrane Cares runners. We are stronger together.

Date: November 7th 2024

Go The Martyrs!

Sue and I very much enjoy following the English Premier League on the streaming service Fubo. My team is Arsenal and Sue’s team is Bournemouth. Living in Cochrane we’ve started to go and watch Cavalry FC at ATCO field in Spruce Meadows. Recently I came back from a visit to the UK and during the trip I visited my son Calum who lives in Cardiff.

On the final day of the trip Calum had to work in the city so I decided to jump on a train and visit Merthry Tydfil, an hour north of Cardiff. A little background to the town. Nestled in the heart of the South Wales valleys, Merthyr Tydfil is steeped in history. From humble beginnings as a small agricultural hamlet, the town enjoyed a period as the ‘Iron Capital of the World’ before being forced to rebuild its fortunes and identity following the demise of the coal and steel industries. However, Merthyr Tydfil rallied to improve its fortunes. A concerted effort to attract retailers to the town has led to a retail boom, and people from around South Wales now visit the area to shop.

Getting off the train I started to explore and spotted a sign: Merthry Tydfil FC (Football Club). With my love of the game this was something I had to check out. Walking up to Penydarren Park I met two gentlemen who asked me if they could help. I explained that I was interested in the club and was it possible to look around. One of them said that his name was Les Barlow, Chairman of Merthyr Town FC (new name) and he would be happy to give me a tour. For the next hour Les showed me the players change rooms, boardroom, bars, hospitality suites and the history and awards room.

One of the highlights for the club was in 1987. The club had won the Welsh Cup and that had given it the right to compete in the European Cup Winners Cup. The draw paired the Martyrs (the club nickname) with the Italian side Atlalanta. On September 20th Merthyr shocked the football world by beating Atlalanta by two goals to one. Although the adventure ended a fortnight later with a narrow 2-0 defeat in Italy, the name Merthyr Tydfil was well and truly on the football map. I thanked Les for the tour and headed outside to visit The Martyrs Memorial Garden overlooking the ground. This is in memory of players and supporters who loved their team.

Sue and I plan to visit Calum in March of next year and, checking the fixture list, I think it’s going to include a visit to Merthyr Town FC to catch a game.

Date: October 4th 2024

Marathon Man: Rotaract eClub for Peace and Education

On April 11th 2023 I was introduced to David Falconer. David lives in Cochrane, is a High School Principal in Calgary who is the Founder of “Classrooms Without Walls,” an organization that provides on-line educational courses for students in Myanmar, Ukraine and Afghanistan. I offered to give a talk to these students on my 2016 trip to Afghanistan.

A month later I made my presentation to a group of 40 students. The presentation went well and it made me think that I wanted to do more. I proposed to David that I would like to be a volunteer teacher, and give a weekly 12 lesson course entitled “The Adventures of Marathon Martin and Friends.” Each lesson would include a presentation, Q & A and a three question assignment.

In early July, I presented the first lesson to a class of 45 Afghan women. I had a Teachers Aid, her name is Marwa and she lives in Kabul. As the course progressed one question that came up from a number of the students was: What do we do next? How do we keep the group together? I reflected on this and came up with the idea of establishing an on-line Community based Rotaract Club.

Rotaract originally began as a Rotary International youth program in 1968 at Charlotte North Rotary Club in Charlotte, North Carolina, United States, and has grown into a major organization of 11,172 clubs and nearly 170,000 members in 189 countries and geographic areas. I talked to Marwa about the idea and she loved it. We talked to the students about the idea, and in total 20 of them wanted to be part of this club.

In mid-November David and I made a presentation to the Rotary Club of Cochrane Board. At the meeting, the Board agreed that we would be the sponsor club and that we would cover the club start-up fee and the membership dues for these individuals.

The first meeting of the Rotaract eClub for Peace and Education was held on January 3rd 2024, and on September 1st the club was officially chartered with 22 members of which 18 of them were Afghan women.

On Sunday, September 22nd the club held their Charter Ceremony. The event was emceed by Manvi Pant, U of C Rotaract and Marwa, president of the new club. The event was attended by a number of Rotarians and guests. Two surprise guests were Rotary International President Elect Mario Cesar Martins de Camargo and Rotary International 28 / 32 Zone Director Chris Etienne.

Congratulations to all involved in this outstanding achievement. We are all stronger together.

Date: September 7th 2024

Marathon Man: Some ice cream and a winning bid

Parnell and grandson had a winning strategy in a silent auction charity fundraiser for Alberta's Children Hospital.

Grandson Nathan had a great time visiting Cochrane this summer and a couple of days before he left it was a cooking hot day and we decided to go to Dairy Queen. Now Nathan loves the Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Blizzard treat and my dessert of choice is the Peanut Buster Parfait. As we were waiting at the counter I spotted, in the corner, a piece of art that was for auction. To my surprise it was a collection of three prints called “Coastal Scenes” by one of Sue and my favourite artists Maud Lewis.

A little bit about Maud.

“Maud Kathleen Lewis was a Canadian folk artist From Nova Scotia. Lewis lived most of her life in poverty in a small house in Marshalltown, Nova Scotia, achieving national recognition in 1964 and 1965. Several books, plays and films have since been produced about her. Lewis used bright colours in her paintings, and subjects were often flowers or animals, including oxen team, horses, birds, deer or cats. Many of her paintings are of outdoor scenes, including Cape Island boats bobbing on the water, horses pulling a sleigh, skaters and portraits of dogs, cats, deer, birds, and cows. Her paintings were inspired by childhood memories of the landscape and people around Yarmouth and South Ohio, as well as Digby locations such as Point Prim and Bayview.”

I’ve seen these pictures and memorabilia up for auction at a number of locations around Cochrane, but until now I was never interested in making a bid. As Nathan and I enjoyed our ice creams we talked strategy. The starting bid was $200 but we had noticed that several bidding forms had already been removed from the pad. Nathan suggested maybe try $210 but I said that that had probably been done. We talked about $220 but finally decided to go with $221. We finished our ice cream, put the bid in the container and headed home.

Three weeks later I received a call from Funding Innovations saying I had won the bid, and they would be sending the painting in the mail.

A week later a package arrived and Sue had just returned home from visiting our son, Calum, in Wales. When I opened the package she was thrilled and the best thing was that the $221 went to the Alberta Children’s Hospital. In fact since 2015 over $14,000,000 has been raised for charities through these art auctions.

Now that’s worth making a bid on.

Date: August 1st 2024

The World Famous Gopher Hole Museum

Grandson Nathan headed home to Ottawa on July 21st after a terrific week and a half with Sue and I. We kept him (and us!) pretty busy with lots of fun activities and when we asked him what he most enjoyed he said it was the road trip. Now this is one you can do in a day and is great if you have family visiting or just want to do it yourself.

We started at 9.00am (not too early) and headed north an hour, on Highway 22, to Sundre. First stop was the Backwoods Bakery and Café for a coffee and cinnamon bun. Then it was over to the Sundre Museum and World of Wild Life. This was a fascinating exhibit and we enjoyed the scavenger hunt.

Then we headed east on Highway 27, for an hour, to the village of Torrington to visit the World Famous Gopher Hole Museum and this did not disappoint. Entrance fee is a donation and our tour guide gave us a little bit of history on the museum: The Government of Alberta had given the Village of Torrington a grant for the purpose of creating a tourist attraction to generate business for the community. There were several meetings to generate ideas and at one of them someone said: why not stuff “gophers” (actually ground squirrels) and put them on display. The tourism concept was born.

The guide continued that the specimens were provided by farmers, hunters and veterinarians and a number of the villagers offered to learn taxidermy. The museum opened in 1996 and over 10,000 visitors came in the first year. News of the little (the size of a double wide trailer) museum travelled far and wide and we were shown a map of the world which was covered with pins from many countries.

It was time to check out the dioramas and we saw gophers depicted as hunters, firefighters, priests, bank robbers, RCMP officers, pool players, and Olympians (Fastest grain eater, hole digger and bear dodger). Since its inception there have been over 130,000 visitors and efforts are now underway to raise funds to build a bigger museum.

We said goodbye to our tour guide and it was time to get back on the road. Heading south on Highway 805 then west on 583 and south on 806 we arrived, 20 minutes later, at Linden and the High Seas Coffee Company for lunch. The best grilled ham and cheese sandwiches ever. From there it was south for 30 minutes on Highway 806 to our final destination, Pioneer Acres just outside Irricana. If you like old tractors this is the place for you.

The final leg of the road trip took us west for an hour on Regional Road 274 and Highway 567 to Cochrane. We got back at 4.00pm....Home, Sweet, Home. What a great day.

Date: July 4th 2024

Unusual Things to do in Alberta

On July 10th our grandson Nathan, will be flying from Ottawa and visiting us for a couple of weeks. This is his third summer visit and he’s done some great things on his previous trips. These included rafting down the Bow, having an ice cream at MacKay’s, visiting the Stockmen’s museum and learning all about Cochranes Ranching past, swimming at the Spray Lake Centre, playing tennis, mini and Frisbee golf, going on a road trip to Fort Calgary and Drumheller and having lunch at Aama, the Nepalese Restaurant in Cochrane.

This time, Sue and I were scratching our heads to think about what we could do on this trip that we hadn’t done before. So I went to the mighty Google and typed in “Unusual Things to do in Alberta” (https://www.atlasobscura.com/things-to-do/alberta) and came up with these 3 winners:

“Bankhead Ghost Town, Bankhead: Once a bustling mining town, operated by the Canadian Pacific Railroad, the crumbling ruins of Bankhead now lie abandoned up in the mountains of Banff National Park. Educational plaques and an interpretive trail tell the tale of what one historian dubbed “The twenty Years Town”. Bankhead was established as a company town in 1903 to provide coal to CPR locomotives and Banff Springs Hotel boilers. By 1905 the frontier community was dotted with homes, shops, community buildings, even a school.

Reynolds-Alberta Museum, Wetaskiwin: This museum has one of the world’s best historical collections of transportation and industrial machinery. The collection was started by Stan Reynolds a local car salesman, and collector, who stressed in his advertisements that he would take ANY kind of trade in. Naturally he ended up with an odd assortment of vehicles and machinery. This didn’t bother him much as he was also a collector of usual machinery. Stan donated his collection in the mid-1980s and the museum opened in full in 1992.

Gopher Hole Museum, Torrington: About the size of an RV, Torrington Gopher Hole Museum features stuffed gophers (actually, “Richardson’s Ground Squirrels) posed to resemble the townspeople. Exhibits include gophers dressed as a priest, bank robber, RCMP officer, duck hunter, firefighter, and beautician, among others. Dressed in elaborate costumes and framed by elaborately painted backdrops, the gophers pose in cabinets, their glassy eyes indifferent to the media attention they provoke and the letters pouring in on their behalf.”

So, let me know of any quirky things that we can take Nathan to see in Alberta. Much appreciated.

Date: June 6th 2024

The Pathway to Mental Health

On May 10th I headed into Cochrane and over to my local garage “Back in the Saddle” to have a spring tune-up and the winter tires changed to summers on the Mazda 3. It was a beautiful day and after dropping the car off I decided to walk the 5km back home. I picked up a coffee at A&W, then headed down to the old bridge and west along the Bow River pathway. I met a number of people walking, biking and enjoying the day.

After hiking for 30 minutes I saw a sign on the side of the path. It said “Benefits of Walking Meditation”. Underneath it had these headings: Improves overall well-being, Alleviates depression, Stimulates blood flow and circulation and Improves digestion. Under each heading was a description of the specific benefits.

I thought what a great idea to post this information and continued on my way. 200m further on I saw another sign. This one said “Mindfulness”: 5 things you can see, 4 things you can feel, 3 things you can hear, 2 things you can smell and 1 thing you can taste. This made me think that we must be present in the moment and really experience the world around us. 200m further on I saw another sign “Stretch Break”. This one said: Imagine you are a tree and root one foot into the earth. What other stretches do you know / need?

As I continued walking I found more and more of these signs at the side of the pathway. They included “Find 5 Things”, “Breathing Break”, “Reconnect”, “Creativity”, “Positive Affirmations”, “Community Connections”, “Gratitude’ and “Self-Care”. In total there were 14 signs, the final one being “Mental Health Awareness Week Mindfulness Walk”.

This is a brilliant initiative supported by five organizations: FCSS (Cochrane Family and Community Support Services), Alberta Health Services (Community Helper Program), Family Resource Network (Cochrane and Area), The Town of Cochrane and Cochrane Cares (cochranecares.ca). As I climbed Mitford Hill it got me thinking about the series of signs I had encounter along the pathway. Mental Health Awareness week is from May 6th to 12th however raising the awareness about Mental Health must be promoted over 52 weeks not just one.

Instead of having these signs up for just the week why not make them permanent all year round and create “The Pathway to Mental Health – One Step at a Time”. When I got home I talked to Sue and she thought it was a great idea. Next stop, I sent an email to Major Genung and we chatted this week. Stay tuned!

Date: May 2nd 2024

Not Just a Bunch of Romeos

Last year, on a very hot Saturday in September, a group from the Rotary Club of Cochrane, headed down to the Cochrane Farmers’ Market. There, they carried out a survey, targeting people who live in Cochrane and surrounding area and 114 surveys were completed.

The first questions was: “When I say “Rotary” what image does that conjure up? (e.g. What sort of people become Rotarians / What Rotarians do)”. Reponses included: Community Service (27), No idea / No clue (20), Volunteering (6), International work (4) and Supporting youth (3). Other comments were: Some type of social club, Business people, WASP’s (White Anglo-Saxon Protestants), Like Knights of Columbus, Legionnaires, and a paddling club with boats.

Other questions included: “Did you know there is a Rotary Club in Cochrane?” (There are, in fact, two Rotary clubs in town) and “Are you aware of any projects that the Rotary club is involved in?” The results were surprising, to say the least. Very few people could answer “Yes” to either question.

Some people still believe that Rotary is for men only and, for many years, that was the image of a Rotarian. They were “Just a bunch of Romeos,” a group of “Retried Old Men, Eating Out”.

Thankfully, times have changed. The Rotary Club of Cochrane currently has forty-five members and nineteen of them are women. That includes the current President, Monica Walker. And the one thing that all of them have in common is that they believe in the principal motto of Rotary “Service Above Self”. They want to improve the lives of people in the local community, nationally and internationally.

Rotarians also provide opportunities for the youth in our community, through a range of projects and offer support by the allocation of scholarships and bursaries. Rotary offers people the chance to volunteer, support their community, meet new friends and use their skills and experience to better the lives of others.

The Club would like to offer you the opportunity to find out more. Therefore, they are inviting you to attend the “Rotary in Action” evening, at Cochrane Public Library on May 30th from 5:30pm until 7.00pm. You will be able to meet members of the Rotary Club of Cochrane and hear about some of their projects and programmes.

If you are interested in attending, please register at: rotarycochrane.ca/event/rotary-in-action/

Date: April 4th 2024

Soapstone Carving Workshop

On Tuesday March 26th a group of 14 members of the Rotary Club of Cochrane, including District Governor Kurt and Silas, our Exchange student, gathered at the Cochrane Legion for an evening of fellowship and creative fun.

After an excellent meal of lasagna and salad, served by members of the Legion, we had Michael Emery and his wife Jenny introduced us to the wonderful world of Soapstone Carving. Michael and Jenny offer a number of programs and we picked the beginners. Here is what they shared with us:

“We begin the workshop by explaining what soapstone is and its storied history with people. The amount and depth of discussion can be adjusted to suit your specific needs.

The Beginner Workshops introduce participants to the world of soapstone sculpting in a safe, easy to follow, non-judgmental environment. The projects available for this level are perfect for getting to know the amazing qualities of soapstone and the adventures of sculpting. This program is about getting the stone into the sculptor’s hands and exploring the many ways to sculpt the stone without the need for sharp tools or power tools.

Participants will practice:

- Fine motor skill efficiency as they practice and learn about pressure application and technique to get the desired effect without breaking their work of art.

- Building spatial awareness and proportion.

- Precision – sculpting straight lines or angles that require a great deal of patience.

- Mindfulness – like many activities in life the joy is experienced in the journey and not the destination. Being present in the moment is key to any creative and artistic endeavor.

- Building self-confidence.

Tools

Participants have the final choice of the project piece they work with. This is the sculptor’s creation, and the personal connection with the stone shapes the experience.

All of the carving work is completed in shallow trays with water to eliminate stone dust in the air and simplify cleanup at the end of the program.

Sandpaper with various grits will be used (there are no sharp tools or power tools) to achieve the shape and final finish. Our staff will be equipped with a drill should any of the carvers require a hole.”

Well, we each selected a shape and for the next 2 hours we worked away on bears and rabbits, fish and butterflies with sandpaper and water. Everyone had a wonderful time creating their own works of art and sharing fellowship with each other. Huge thank you to Michael and Jenny for sharing their knowledge with us. If you want to find out more, go to uniquesoapstoneexperiences.ca

Date: March 7th 2024

The Ageless Athlete – One Blog at a Time

I love books. I love to read them and I love to write them. I’ve published three, MARATHON QUEST, RUNNING TO THE EDGE and THE SECRET MARATHON. My fourth, THE AGELESS ATHLETE was in collaboration with my friend and running coach Malc Kent. Things were going well. The contract had been signed and the manuscript edited. Unfortunately things didn’t work out so Malc and I took back the rights. What do we do now? Maybe it was time to try something completely different. So, in for a penny in for a pound….THE AGELSESS ATHLETE is being be posted on my website in 25 blogs, weekly, finishing the end of July 2024.

This is the virtual back cover: Is it possible to turn back the hands of time? Can an athlete, at the age of 62, beat his personal best times set 15 years ago? This thought provoking memoir asks these soul searching questions and takes us on a journey with a runner and his coach to find the answers. In May 2017 Martin Parnell tackled the Calgary 150km Ultra Marathon. He didn’t finish.

Martin realised that he had to do something drastic. He noticed that he had run his fastest 5k, 10k, half marathon and marathon all in the same year, 2003. Could he beat those times in 2018? Could he run faster at the age of 62 than he ran at 47? To accomplish this feat Martin realised he would need the best shoes, best gear, best nutrition and of course the best coach. Martin knew just the trainer and he lived in Cochrane. Malc Kent is a highly experienced coach and one of the leading experts in the world in remote and wearable gait analysis. He has coached athletes in more than 10 countries and performed more than 4000 gait analysis on runners of all levels, all over the world.

In December 2017 the training began for “62 beats 47” with Malc taking Martin through sessions of strength, stabilization, speed and endurance. In this book Martin and Malc show the importance of the runner / coach relationship especially in terms of the older athlete. This book will resonate with anyone who wants to challenge themselves. It’s never too late to take on a goal and learn something new. Remember: Age is just a number!

To read the whole story go to: martinparnell.com/martins-blogs.html and, every Wednesday, follow the adventures of The Ageless Athlete. One blog at a time.

Date: February 1st 2024

Princetown, Prison and Ponies - Travelling in the UK Part 2

After spending a week and a half in the beautiful Hampshire countryside it was time to head 280kms West to Princetown in the heart of Dartmoor in Devon. Brother Andy met Sue and I at the bus station in Plymouth then on to meet Sister Sal and over to her place in Princetown. This town is known for three things. Firstly, it is home to Dartmoor Prison. In 1920, the prison began housing UK criminals. It developed a reputation for housing some of Britain's most serious offenders that included murderers, gangsters, thieves, spies, and robbers such as Jack “The Hat” McVitie and Frank Mitchell. Numerous escape attempts have been made by inmates to get out of the prison and onto the moors, leading to massive manhunts by the police and prison service. Secondly, in 1901, Conan Doyle stayed at the Old Duchy Hotel, now the National Park Visitor Centre in Princetown. It was during his time there that he walked many miles across the rugged moorland and was inspired to write the Hound of the Baskervilles.

Thirdly, it is known as the centre of Dartmoor. Dartmoor is famous for its diverse range of beautiful tors scattered throughout the moor. The moor has 160 tors made up of dramatic outcrops of granite, and you can usually find the tors standing on top of a hill. Dartmoor ponies roam its craggy landscape, defined by forests, rivers, wetlands and tors (rock formations). Trails wind through valleys with Neolithic tombs, Bronze Age stone circles and abandoned medieval farmhouses. Princetown also has an excellent pub, The Prince of Wales where, that night, Andy, Sal, Sue and I went for fish and chips and a pint of Legend, brewed at Dartmoor Breweries, right in the town.

The other highlight of my stay with Sal was a visit to Buckfast Abbey. Buckfast Abbey forms part of an active Benedictine monastery at Buckfast, near Buckfastleigh, Devon. Buckfast first became home to an abbey in 1018. The first Benedictine abbey was followed by a Savignac, later Cistercian, abbey constructed on the site of the current abbey in 1134. I spent time with my Dad, who was a butcher, at the Abbey and a number of the Brothers and Fathers became friends. On the Sunday, Sister Lou and her son David joined the rest of us for a Carvery. I then stayed two nights in the Abbey Guest house and the next day I completed an 18km walking tour of my family and relations previous homes in Buckfastleigh, Ashburton and Buckfast.

Well, our UK travels were coming to an end. Sue and I headed back to Cardiff and spent a few more days with Calum. Then it was time to take the big bird back to the Great White North. I arrived in Cochrane at 4.30pm and the first job……..shovel the driveway.

Date: January 4th 2024

Trains, Planes and Automobiles….Travelling in the UK

Sue and I have talked about spending Christmas and the New Year in the UK for a while and this year we did it. We wanted to miss the crazy holiday travel rush so we left on December 12th. The Air Canada flight from Calgary to Heathrow started off well, no line-ups at security, and we were in our seats at departure time ready to go. However, all goods things must end and due to some maintenance required on a cargo door we were 2 hours late departing. Nine hours, and 3 movies later, we were on the ground at Heathrow. It was then a dash to pick up our checked baggage (not lost), through Terminal 2 to the Central Bus Station and on to the # 504 coach. Another 4 hour trip and we were in Cardiff, Wales being met by our son, Calum.

The first week we enjoyed visits to several beaches on the South Wales Coast including Ogmore and Rest Bay. The weather was overcast and blustery but surfers were having a great time riding the waves. I also got out to do some walking along the Taff River into Cardiff. The highlight of the first week was a visit to St. Fagan’s National Museum of History. Within its grounds, are a number of historic buildings relocated from across Wales, including a farm, a tannery, mills, a pub and a chapel. On the day we visited we watched a play involving a group of wandering players. The event poster stated “Come along to witness two of the most well-known Welsh customs during the Christmas season, The Mari Lwyd and Hunting of the Wren, performed by Cwmni Dawns Werin Caerdydd. These unusual ancient Welsh winter traditions include singing, dancing, and a horse’s skull!”. Very interesting.

After a week with Calum it was time to jump on a train, travel to Petersfield in Hampshire, England and visit Sue’s Sister Lynne and her husband Dean. While Sue was catching up with her sister, Dean and I would go on epic walks over glen and dale enjoying the beautiful English country side. The weather remained cool, cloudy but dry so we could tackle some of the more remote footpaths. Not only is Dean a great hiker but he is also a connoisseur of craft ale. At the end of each trek we would stop for some light refreshment at one of the local buildings of historical interest including: The Harrow Inn, The Queens Head, The Seven Stars, The Cricketers Inn, The Town House and The George Inn.

Next stop for Sue and I is New Years with Family and Friends in Dorset and Devon. Wishing everyone all the best 2024 and whatever adventures come your way.

Date: December 7th 2023

The Great Virtual English Channel Swim

During the summer I taught a 12 week course, hosted by Classrooms Without Walls, called “The Adventures of Marathon Martin and Friends” to 35 Afghan women and girls. The title of one of the lessons was “Climbing Everest – One Stair at a time” and I shared with them the story of virtually climbing Mount Everest. I did this with my wife Sue, daughter Kristina and Grandson Nathan. Every day, for 95 days, we climbed 14 sets of stairs for a total of 11,600 feet, the elevation from Base Camp to the Summit. I then asked the students for ideas for a virtual challenge they would like to do and 14 year old Sophia suggested a virtual swim of the English Channel. This was a challenge I could not resist.

On October 16th I started The Great Virtual English Channel Swim. The goal was to swim from Shakespeare Beach in England to Cap Gris Nez in France, a total of 34kms. The plan was to complete 2 kms a day at the Spray Lake Centre pool in Cochrane and I arrived at Cap Gris-Nez in France on November 17th. However, I have to tell you it was not all plain sailing.

Now, I hear you saying "What is so difficult about doing lengths is a swimming pool verses the sea?” I agree there are challenges in the sea: jellyfish, seaweed, hypothermia, sharks. But there are also challenges in the pool: too many swimmers in a lane, getting pulled out for a Swim-a-cise class, and leg cramps. Just out of interest it took me just over 18 hours of swimming to complete the swim. The Guinness World Record for the crossing (Male) is 6 hours 57 mins 50 secs set by Petar Stoychev in August 24th 2007. This is one record I will not be going after.

Here is the swim by numbers:

- Real Location: Spray Lake Centre Pool, Cochrane, Alberta

- Virtual Start: Shakespeare Beach, England at 6.12am Monday October 16th

- Virtual Finish: Cap Gris-Nez, France at 7.38am Friday November 17th

- Distance: 34 kms

- Swim time: 18 hours 07 mins 48 sec

- Laps: 1360

- Strokes: 20,400

After I finished I celebrated and went to Guy's boulangerie for a decaff Americano and an au paine chocolate. So, time to pick the next virtual swimming goal.....any thoughts?

Date: November 2nd 2023

The Final Adventure

On September 19th I finished teaching my first course with “Classrooms Without Walls” (https://classroomswithoutwalls.ca/). The Adventures of Marathon Martin and Friends was a 12 week course developed from my three books “Marathon Quest”, “Running to the Edge” and “The Secret Marathon: Empowering Women and Girls in Afghanistan through Sport”.

The students were Afghan women and girls aged 17 to 30 who are living in Kabul and other parts of Afghanistan. Each week I would share an adventure with them and then we would have a question and answer session. At the end of a lesson I would give the students 3 take home questions as their assignment. Week after week they would share their responses with me. These included stories of their lives under the Taliban, how they are fighting to improve their education, their hopes and dreams for themselves and Afghanistan. Many times I was moved to tears with their responses.

The final lesson was my workshop “Finish the Race Attitude: Set Goals, Overcome Obstacles and Achieve Outstanding Results”. This is a process they can use as they move forward in their lives. At the end of lesson 12 I asked the students 3 questions to evaluate the course. I received many wonderful answers and I want to share one with you, from Mahbooba, which reflects the majority:

What did you like about the course? And why? From my perspective as a participant in the Marathon Martin course, I thoroughly enjoyed the course for several reasons. Firstly, the interactive nature of the lessons, activities, and discussions kept me engaged and excited to learn. Secondly, the diverse range of adventures and obstacles faced by the characters added an element of unpredictability and suspense, making the storytelling even more captivating. Lastly, the emphasis on teamwork and collaboration encouraged a sense of friendship among classmates, creating a supportive learning environment. Overall, this course provided an exceptional experience that blended education with entertainment in a remarkable way.

What would you change? And why? I want nothing to change everything was fabulous and wonderful. While the Marathon Martin course was overall enjoyable, I would recommend making a few changes to enhance the learning experience. Scheduling occasional guest speakers or experts in relevant fields could offer valuable insights and enrich the learning journey even further. These changes would further engage students and enrich their overall learning experience.

What did you learn? In the exciting journey of Marathon Martin, I learned the value of resilience, the beauty of exploring various landscapes, and the significance of friendship. Each chapter taught me to never give up, appreciate the wonders of nature, and cherish the bonds forged with extraordinary people along the way.

On November 2nd we will be having a Graduation Ceremony where a total of 34 Afghan Women and Girls will be receiving their certificates for “The Adventures of Marathon Martin and Friends”. With all the challenges these young Afghan women face in their daily lives this will be a day to celebrate.

Date: October 5th 2023

Rotary “Putting for Polio”

Rotary has been working to eradicate polio for more than 35 years and the goal of ridding the world of this disease is closer than ever. As a founding partner of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, Rotary has reduced polio cases by 99.9 percent since their first project to vaccinate children in the Philippines in 1979.

Rotary members have contributed more than $2.1 billion and countless volunteer hours to protect nearly 3 billion children in 122 countries from this paralyzing disease. Rotary’s advocacy efforts have played a role in decisions by governments to contribute more than $10 billion to the effort.

Today, polio remains endemic only in Afghanistan and Pakistan. But it’s crucial to continue working to keep other countries polio-free. If all eradication efforts stopped today, within 10 years, polio could paralyze as many as 200,000 children each year.

Every year the Rotary Club of Cochrane raises fund to support the fight against Polio. Clubs in our District 5360 / Southern Alberta promote the “Move for Polio” initiative and as a Club Polio Champion it is my job to come up with fund raising ideas. Well, what could be more fun than playing mini-golf and so “Putting for Polio” was born.

On Tuesday September 19th a group of us headed to the Cochrane Golf Club. In total, we had 27 participants, including 14 club members, Chris and Kirsten’s grandsons Nathan and Owen, Dan and Marlene (District Committee Chair of “End Polio Now”) from the Rotary Club of Calgary West, Mel from the Rotary Club of Cochrane Rocky Mountain and guests Diane and Lee and kids who have just moved to Cochrane. Everyone collected their putters and coloured golf balls from Walter and then it was around to the mini-golf course for a shot-gun start. At 5.30pm everyone had taken their positions, the whistle blew and balls of all colours were flying everywhere.

After the 18 holes we all headed into the WOW Store at the Golf Club and had drinks and pizza. Marlene said a few word about the status of eradicating Polio. We then announced the results of the “Putting for Polio” event. In total there were 21 holes-in-one’s and Marlene had 5 of those…..amazing! Finally, we had a draw for the 6 bottles of wine kindly donated by Suzanne from Vintner’s Cellar. Funds were raised by donation to Rotary’s “Polio Plus” campaign and we all agreed that we should have the 2nd Annual “Putting for Polio” in 2024.

If you are interested in becoming a member or learn more about the Rotary Club of Cochrane then please email us at info@rotarycochrane.ca.

Date: September 7th 2023

The Flowers of Cochrane

A couple of weeks ago Sue and I were talking about our back yard and an idea came up…. Why not make two raised beds, one for flowers for Sue and the other for veggies for me? Now, we have what’s called a “Maintenance Free” (Not!) garden, mulch with shrubs and trees so there’s lots of room to install these beds.

Next stage was the design. First port of call was talking to our Rotarian friends Chris and Kirsten. They have a couple of excellent raised beds which gave us some ideas. Next, I googled “Building a raised bed” and You-Tuber “Gardener Stan” gave me all the dos and don’ts of building one of these boxes. Time to hit the road. Saturday morning, we headed off to Spray Lake Centre pool and after a session of the warm water therapy we left the building and meet Janet working on a huge raised garden. There are two of these in the fore-court of the centre and they are magnificent. Janet is not only the Centre’s gardener but she is also a fitness instructor….what a great combination job. She gave us lots of excellent advice and suggested we head over to “Anything Grows”, where the Centre get their plants.

In “Anything Grows” we meet Aaron. He was a great help and shared with us ideas on what flowers and veggies to plant and when, the correct soil mix and how to prevent weeds. All this talking was thirsty work so Sue and I decided it was time for a coffee. We headed over to Good Earth and as we made our way to the coffee shop we couldn’t help noticing the beautiful flower boxes all along the side walk. These are throughout Cochrane and are maintained by the Town of Cochrane Maintenance Staff. Next time you’re walking around down town check them out.

The final stop was Home Hardware. My design was for two boxes that were a 4 feet long x 2 feet wide x 2 feet high. This would require 12 lengths of 6 inches x 1inch by 8 foot planks and 2 lengths of 4 inch x 4 inch of pressure treated lumber. The yard guys loaded the timber into the jeep and home we went.

The next morning the power tools came out and construction commenced. It didn’t long to cut everything to size (measure twice…cut once!) and put them together. And that’s where we are today. Aaron from “Anything Grows” suggested to wait until spring before we plant so there’s no rush to add the soil. So now I have the Fall and Winter to decide what to plant. Any thoughts?

Date: August 3rd 2023

The Meerkat Archers – A Fable

In early June I went on a 3 day silent retreat to Mount St. Francis Retreat Centre in Cochrane, Alberta. It was an opportunity for reflection and contemplation in a beautiful woodland setting in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. My objective for the three days was no objective. I took no devices and the only communication tools were a pen and a notebook.

The first night I went to the extensive library at the Retreat and picked a book at random…..The Art of Dying by Patricia Weenolson. The next morning I walked to the end of the garden and leaned over the fence. There, 40 feet away, was a massive black horse. I have a fear of horses after being thrown off one as a child. This time I decided to stand still and see what happened. After a few moments the horse slowly ambled over and I was able to stroke its nose.

On the second evening I had an idea for a story and here it is: One morning, two Meerkats Fo Cuzed and Aym Luss decided to head to the archery ranch. Fo Cuzed had been training for weeks and wanted to impress Aym Luss by hitting the bull’s eye. Fo Cuzed took up a bow, pulled the string to its maximum tension and let the arrow fly. The arrow sliced through the air and “thunk”, it hit the red circle, just 2 inches from the golden bull’s eye. Fo Cuzed was gutted. “I worked so hard but didn’t achieve my goal”. Fo Cuzed kicked the ground and threw down the bow.

Then it was Aym Luss’s turn. Picking up a bow and arrow, Aym Luss put a blind fold on, spun around three times, did a somersault and then let the arrow go. Pulling the blindfold off Aym Luss saw the arrow fly high up in the air and land in a field of wild flowers. Aym Luss was thrilled. Having never tried that move before there were no expectations on the outcome.

Fo Cuzed and Aym Luss left the range and, arm in arm, started to head home. Aym Luss told Fo Cuzed it was a great shot and should be proud. Fo Cuzed replied that it had been great hanging out and was impressed with the move Aym Luss had attempted.

This just goes to show that “Sometimes it’s good to be Fo Cuzed and sometimes it’s good to be Aym Luss”.

And sometimes it good just to take a little bit of time for yourself.

Date: July 6th 2023

Cavalry FC – The Beautiful Game

Sue and I love our football (soccer). As a boy I would go to Plymouth Argyle, in Devon, England with my Dad. From the age of 15, Sue would go and support her favourite team Bournemouth, in Dorset, on the South Coast. She would sometimes take her little brother along with her. The highlight for me was in 1973 when Dad took me to the Plymouth vs Santos game and I got to see the incredible Pele play. There were 36,000 in the stands and it is a night I will never forget. A highlight for Sue was when Bournemouth were promoted to the English Premier League in 2015. This team had gone from the bottom of League 2 and near bankruptcy in 2009, to playing, 6 years later, in the top football league in the world.

Like any supporter of a sports team, you will always stick with the team you were brought up with however we don’t always live where your teams are. Being in Cochrane Sue and I wanted to get our football fix and have found just the team to support...Cavalry FC.

On May 5, 2018, Calgary was one of four cities accepted by the Canadian Soccer Association for professional club membership. Cavalry FC was announced on May 17, 2018, as the second team to officially join the Canadian Premier League. The club's name, crest and colours were all revealed at the event at Spruce Meadows, while Tommy Wheeldon Jr. was announced as head coach and general manager. Plans to renovate existing facilities at Spruce Meadows, included a soccer-specific stadium, with a capacity of at least 5,000 seats.

On June 26, 2019, Cavalry FC qualified for the 2019 Canadian Premier League Championship by winning the inaugural CPL Spring Season. The following month the “Cavs” became the first CPL club to defeat a Major League Soccer team in the Canadian Championship by upsetting the Vancouver Whitecaps in 2019, over two-legs.

The last game Sue and I went to was at 3.00pm on Saturday June 24th when we watched Cavalry take on York United. Spruce Meadows is a great venue for these games and on that day it was the annual Pride Match. The first 4,000 attendees received a bandana and there were lots of games for the kids. In an exciting game Cavalry beat York United 2-1.

So, if you’re looking for some “footy” action then head over to Spruce Meadows and catch Cavalry FC.

Go Cavs Go!

Date: June 1st 2023

Classrooms Without Walls

Education is one of the most powerful tools that can transform lives and uplift communities. Unfortunately, not everyone has access to quality education, especially in conflict zones where students face numerous challenges. However, one person who is making a difference in this regard is David Falconer, the Founder and Executive Director of Classrooms Without Walls(CWW).

David Falconer's volunteer work began in March 2022, soon after Russia invaded Ukraine. Witnessing the impact of conflict on students' education, David immediately volunteered to support Smart Osvita NGO, a Ukrainian non-profit organization, to coordinate an international volunteer program to deliver online lessons in English. The support David received from volunteers like retired Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield, the Smithsonian Institution, the Royal Tyrrell Museum, the Edmonton Public Library, Winspear Centre, and teachers and non-teachers from around the world inspired him to start CWW, an organization that currently offers free online schooling to students living in conflict zones.

By partnering with organizations such as Smart Osvita NGO, Canadian Women for Women in Afghanistan, Ocean Wise, Edmonton Public Library, OverDrive, Monash Virtual School, and hundreds of volunteer teachers, CWW is providing a lifeline to students who have been forced to abandon their education due to conflict. By offering free online schooling, CWW is breaking down barriers and providing access to education to those who need it the most. Most important, CWW is letting students in these countries know that the world has not forgotten them and that they can continue to dream, and set goals.

Currently, CWW offers three programs for volunteers to join, Teachers for Afghanistan, Teachers for Ukraine, and Teachers for Myanmar.

Classrooms Without Walls (CWW) is actively seeking volunteers who are willing to offer their free time to teach various elementary and secondary school subjects, including ESL (English as a Second Language). Volunteers are also invited to share their hobbies, gifts and talents with students, such as teaching them how to draw, learn magic tricks, and more. By making education fun and engaging, CWW is creating an environment where students can thrive and learn in a safe environment. There are also other opportunities to support CWW such as updating CWW's social media, becoming an online  host, and general organization support.

All volunteers are provided with an online introduction and training.

If interested, please contact, cww@classroomswithoutwalls.ca

Date: May 4th 2023

200 Articles for the Cochrane Eagle

On March 2nd 2011 my first article was published in the Cochrane Eagle and it was about running (no surprise there). Here is part of it “So, before you try an ultra-marathon, I suggest you run a marathon, before that a half marathon, before that a 10km and before that a 5km. If you’re a new runner, then progressing from a 5km race to a marathon should take three years. Yes, I’ve heard the stories and watched the results from people who want to tick a marathon off their bucket list in six months….don’t, it’s not a pretty sight. Take your time, let your legs get used to the run / walk. People will say that run / walk isn’t “running”, you have to run all the time or you’re not a runner. Not true. If you want to achieve your running goals and be injury free then run / walk is the way to go.” Looking back that is still pretty good advice.

A lot of water has flowed under the bridge since then. Cochrane has almost doubled in size from 17,500 to 34,000 and there’s no sign of it slowing down. However, it still has that small town feel. You can walk down Main Street and bump into friends or sit on a bench next to the hotel and listen to someone playing the piano.

Cochrane is where Sue and I have lived since 2005 and we love having visitors. Last week our son Calum was over from Wales and we headed off on a road trip to Waterton Park. He’s into wild life photography and over the three days he captured photos of herds of bison, elk, deer and a playful fox.

Over the last 12 years I’ve been fortunate to share my stories with readers of the Cochrane Eagle. Having a local newspaper is so important and every Thursday I look out my front door and there is the latest copy. Then, I make a cup of tea, grab a couple of shortbread biscuits, settle down and read it from over to cover. Cochrane is about community and the Eagle is the glue that holds it together.

I look forward to continuing to share stories from the not so little town on the Bow in the foothills of Canadian Rockies. Huge thank you to you and the Cochrane Eagle and yes, there will be more articles on my running adventures. All the best, Martin.

Date: April 6th 2023

Secret 3k – Year 6 and Counting

On March 8th at 3.15pm I lined up outside Ecole Notre Dame des Vallees School in Cochrane, Alberta with 77 students, teachers and parents. We were all there for the 6th Secret 3k Run / Walk. This school has participated every year and as we counted down from 10 we headed off along the pathways of the mighty Bow River.

A little bit of background on this event. In 2015 for the first time ever, a marathon was held in Afghanistan, a marathon that both men and women were able to participate in but they had to keep it a secret. Why? There are still places in the world where women are not allowed to run or walk outside. However, a community in Afghanistan courageously carved out a new way forward for the next generation. By creating safe races they helped to create a safe place to run and walk.

The day before the Cochrane School visit, Kate McKenzie, co-founder of the Secret 3k and I visited Windsong Heights School in Airdrie and after talking to the students completed the Secret 3k with them. On the evening of March 8th I headed into Calgary and completed another Secret 3k. The wind was biting cold but everyone was in good spirits as they ran and walked along the pathways under the lights in Calgary. A little earlier in Ottawa, daughter Kristina with partner Josh and grand boys Nathan and Matthew did their Secret 3k along the Rideau Canal earning hot chocolate and cookies.

The event took place across Canada and around the world with 1,200 participants plus 31 School and youth groups from 11 countries. In fact over the 6 years that the event has been going there have been participants from 27 countries involved. This year was a record for fundraising with $30,000 going to the Afghan Sports Trust, 261 Fearless, an organization founded by Kathrine Switzer, the first woman to run the Boston Marathon and Canadian Women for Women in Afghanistan.

It’s never too early to look ahead to the 7th Secret 3k. This will take place on Wednesday March 6th 2024. I went on the registration site (www.secret3k.com) this morning. You can choose to register for one of the marquee sites across Canada or have a virtual event with you and your friends anywhere in the world. There is also Secret 3k gear and you can donate to one of the partner charities.

So why not join us for the 7th Secret 3k and together we can make a difference by empowering women and girls through education and sport.

Date: February 2nd 2023

Get a Grip – Safe Winter Walking

This time of year there is nothing I like better than to head out on the pathways of Cochrane. My favorite pathway walk is along the Bow River from the West end, under the 22 bridge, down to Spray Lake Sawmills Centre and across the tracks at the East end by the tennis courts.

However, the number one question when you head out is “What is the footing like”? There may be some clear sections on the path but there is also a number of very slippery sections. In the last couple of weeks I’ve talked to several walkers who have taken a tumble due to the conditions.

In a Jan. 7th article in the Calgary Herald, Valerie Berenyi noted that “Calgary is a downright dangerous place to navigate by foot in winter. After countless freeze-thaw cycles, parking lots harden into skating rinks, sidewalks and roads turn into treacherous and stairs morph into hazardous slopes. Some people become housebound because they’re so terrified of slipping and falling on the ice.

The concerns are real. Falling is the leading cause of injury in Alberta, cutting across all age groups and is largely preventable, according to Alberta Health Services. And in particularly glacial years, snow – and ice –related injuries soar. This November, AHS reported that 364 slip-and fall patients landed in Calgary emergency rooms, compared with only 124 in November 2021.

Even though I ski, snowshoe and hike, I’d become more fearful of falling in the winter – until I met a few traction devices that completely changed my outlook”

Sue and I were feeling the same way about the winter conditions and after reading Valerie’s article we decided to see what traction devices we could find in Cochrane. Our first stop was Marks. They had a number of choices and we went with the “DurACare Unisex GripOns Snow and Ice Grips”. The packaging stated “Get some extra traction on the ice this winter with these sturdy grips from DuraCare. Grip-ons add another measure of safety to the soles of winter footwear, giving you more confidence when walking on slippery roadways. They stretch to fit easily over any type of shoe or boot and are flexible and compact for easy carrying and storage” and at $21.99 a pair we thought they were worth a try.

That afternoon we headed out with our new grips. I have to say that they made a difference. We both felt more confident walking on the snow / ice packed sections and our footing was definitely more secure. However, make sure you test your footing and as my Nana Parnell would always say ”Look before you leap!”.

Date: January 5th 2023

The Plight of Afghan Women and Girls

In October 2016 I traveled to Afghanistan and ran a marathon in support of Afghan women who ran for freedom and equality. At that time there was hope that the fight for Afghan women’s rights was making some progress. That year there were 6 women running the marathon. I returned to Afghanistan to run the marathon in November 2018 and this time 24 Afghan women participated in the 42.2km race.

In August 2021 the Taliban took over the country and one of their first acts was the persecution of women and girls. Since then girls have been excluded from secondary education, women have been further stopped from entering public places such as parks and gyms, and recently women have been blocked from entering their university.

Free to Run is an NGO whose mission is to “Use outdoor sports to develop girls and young women’s leadership in areas of conflict”. I have supported this organization and last week I received this message from Sarah Murray: Executive Director:

Dear Free to Run Supporter,

Over the past few weeks the Taliban has made a series of announcements that roll back women’s rights in Afghanistan - including banning female staff of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) from going to work. Free to Run stands in solidarity with the NGOs who are suspending their operations.  However, we also realize that every time girls’ and women’s rights are further constrained, the impact extends to the wider community. The needs of girls and women for support, especially related to mental and physical health, continue to increase, as the humanitarian crisis deepens.

After careful consultation with our local partners and young leaders, we have decided to CONTINUE our programming in Afghanistan - in a modified manner.

The young women who lead this work insist that we continue providing safe (indoor, home-based) fitness and mental health support to girls and other young women in their communities. While we have to suspend centralized programming, we are adapting our modality of delivery to be largely virtual with a hyper-local, community outreach component.

Free to Run’s work is unfinished in Afghanistan. We hope you’ll continue to stand in solidarity with Free to Run.

We are so fortunate to live in Canada. As we start a new year please reach out and make a difference in the lives of these women and girls by donating at https://freetorun.org/donate . Thank you and all the best for 2023.

Date: December 1st 2022

The World Cup – A Family Affair

As a young lad in England I would be out night after night playing football (soccer) with my two younger brothers. We’d only come in when Mum yelled that it was supper time. My love of soccer continued when I came to Canada and in 1986 the unbelievable happen….Canada qualified for the World Cup. We were scheduled to play Hungary, The Soviet Union and France and the bookies were offering 100 to 1 that Canada would not score a goal. Well, I thought that was crazy so I bet $10 ready to make some easy money. Unfortunately the bookies must have known something I didn’t and Canada never scored a goal.

Fast forward 36 years and Canada are back at the big table. Sue and I followed their progress as they qualified for the event eventually topping the group ahead of the USA and Mexico. However, Canada is not the only team being cheered on in this household. Sue and I are both from England so they get equal billing. Over the years there has been a lot of heartache following the three lions. The typical scenario is that they reach the quarter finals and then lose on penalties.

The other team that we will be cheering for is Wales. Our son Calum lives in Cardiff and it’s been 64 years since they have been in the tournament. Also, our grandson Nathan who lives in Ottawa is using the World Cup as part of a class project. He and several of his class mates have been assigned Group D: France, Australia, Tunisia and Denmark, and they are learning about the countries.

So, on November 20th the first game was played and we hung our Canada, England and Wales flags on the deck. At the time of writing this article all the teams were in with a shot of making the last 16 even though Canada had a hard fought loss to Belgium. By the time you read this story the picture will be a lot clearer. Who will have progressed? Will Canada have scored their first goal? I must admit this year I didn’t make a bet.

Whatever happens the good news is that Canada will be back in 4 years’ time as the games will be held in Canada, USA and Mexico.

Date: November 1st 2022

Having a Plan B is the Key

I love running! I started in 2002 at the age of 47 and until 8 months ago was still going strong. Then I had a pain in my lower abdomen and had to stop. The diagnosis…..a hernia. Well, in the current health care climate this is not a quick fix. My doctor sent in a request for an assessment by the surgeon and I’m still waiting for the date. My running schedule was suddenly in the garbage can so what was my Plan B? I started walking but was looking for something to get my heart rate up. The answer: biking.

Checking in a dark corner at the back of the garage I found my road bike. It has been a while since it saw the light of day, however, after pumping up the tires and oiling the chain it was ready to go. My plan was to complete the “Horse Creek Loop” over the summer months. The route took me from my home, across the tracks, up Horse Creek Road South to the 1A. Then west to Grand Valley Road, north to RR280, east to Horse Creek road and south back to the 1A. This was my old marathon route and in total is 45km. Summer came and went and by Oct. 31st I had completed “41” Horse Creek loops for 2039kms.

As mentioned, the other activity I started to get back into was swimming. Heading down to Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Centre I was keen to get back to the lap pool. The problem was sometimes there were no lanes available. Time for Plan B! Instead of heading home and complaining that there were no lanes I took a sharp right and went into the warm water therapy pool. There I used the foam dumb-bells, swimming against the jets and aqua-yoga (make sure you take a breath). I read up on how beneficial warm water therapy exercise was and decided to turn my hot tub into a warm water therapy tub. I hear you ask “was that complicated to do?” The answer....NO. I just turned down the temperature from 105F to 95F and voila, a warm water therapy tub.

There you have it. Sometimes things don’t work out so don’t stress out, just look for a Plan B. It may end up being better than your Plan A.

Date: October 6th 2022

Hidden Gems - Aama Nepalese Cuisine

The third and final “Hidden Gem” I want to share with you is Aama Nepalese Cuisine. This restaurant has recently opened and is located at the intersection of Horse Creek Road and the 1A in Cochrane, Alberta. Sue and I celebrated our wedding Anniversary on September 11th and we decided to reserve a table for that evening.

It was great that we could stroll up to the restaurant from where we live in West Terrace Rise. Entering the establishment, we were struck by the beautiful décor and art on the walls. Sitting down, we meet the owners Tara and Gyanendra and learnt a little bit about them. They told us that it all started when Chef Gyanendra, popularly known as Chef G, found himself pacing the walls of his home in Northeast Calgary during the Covid -19 lockdown. Suddenly, he found lots of time to talk to his family back in Nepal thanks to the social media and video chat technology of today’s digital era.

Food was a central theme for many during the lockdown as we all know. He started recreating his mom’s recipes with the help of his elder sister who brought him up after his Mom’s passing at a very young age. Knowing Calgary is not an avid server of Nepalese cuisine, he started to curate a menu that not only serves the most authentic flavours but also carries symbolism from Nepalese culture.

Tara Poudel, wife to Chef G, and an expert in banking and finance, laid out the blueprint to bring “Aama Nepalese Cuisine” to life. She worked on the ideation, while Chef took care of all things flavour. For the name, they wanted to honour Chef G’s beloved late mother, thereby calling the place Aama Nepalese Cuisine where “Aama” means mother. Through their food, they hope to share their story, culture, and values. The three key values they are building at Aama Nepalese Cuisine are: reverence, service, and gratitude.

Tara and Chef G express their gratitude for the tremendous love and support they have received from Cochranites. To them, Cochrane feels home.

Sue and I had a wonderful meal and look forward to visiting again. Tara told us that they will be introducing a brunch menu in October so check out Instagram @aamanepalesecuisine for details.

It’s recommended to make reservations so call (403) 376-6165 and enjoy your “Taste of Nepal”.

Date: September 1st 2022

Hidden Gems - The Stockmen’s

The second “Hidden Gem” I want to share with you is “The Stockmen’s”. The Stockmen’s Memorial Foundation, Bert Sheppard Library and Archives is located in the Cochrane RancheHouse, 1/2 km north of the highway 22/1A intersection in Cochrane, Alberta. The Stockmen’s was officially organized in 1980 by fifty founding members comprising of ranchers, farmers and individuals who wanted to commemorate the Canadian livestock industry by an Act of Alberta Legislation.

Objectives of the Stockmen’s Memorial Foundation are:

- To identify, honour and remember the builders of the livestock industry and others who have made outstanding contributions to its progress.

- To provide historical and business information relating to the livestock industry.

- To familiarize the public with the lore of the cattle industry.

- To encourage a general appreciation of the sociological and economic significance of the livestock industry.

- Visiting the Stockmen’s will open your eyes to the ranching history in Southern Alberta. There you can find:

13,000+ books related to western culture from Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia, including a complete collection of Brand Books for Alberta from 1888 to the present as well as some from the other provinces.

- 6,000+ magazines on such areas as Ranching, Rodeo, Horsemanship, Veterinary Science, History, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and many more...

- Videos: “Heritage Voices” This is a collection of over one hundred early pioneers who were videotaped by Stockmen’s volunteers. Such pioneers as Nettie Ware and Ed McKinnon are but two representatives of this once-in-a-lifetime collection. 100+ audio tape cassettes of interviews and tales of the West as told to the noted author Sherm Ewing. The entire transcripts of these tapes have been deposited in the library.

- Canceled brand files. This Project came to the Stockmen’s Memorial Foundation in the late 1980s – It involves numerous boxes containing the original files of brand requests from 1888 to the 1980s. NOTE: only canceled brands are in this collection. This information is especially of interest to those tracing family history.

Scott Grattidge, Executive Director of the Stockmen’s shared with me one of the upcoming events. On Saturday October 29th the “Back in the Saddle” Annual Dinner and Auction fund raiser will take place at Cochrane RancheHouse. The doors will be open at 5.00pm and to get tickets go to www.stockmen.ca.

Scott also told me about the “Cowboy Coffee” morning which takes place every Thursday at 10.00am. This is your opportunity to sit down, have a coffee and chat with a local rancher about the history of the foothills around Cochrane.

Feel free to visit this wonderful “Hidden Gem” in Cochrane. The Library is open from Tuesday to Friday 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, Closed Monday and weekends after the long weekend.

So saddle up and enjoy the visit!

Date: August 4th 2022

Hidden Gems - Tri Hub at SLSFSC

Over the next several articles, I want to share with you some hidden gems. These are locations, shops, and activities that you may not know about in and round Cochrane. The first is Tri Hub, a Swimwear and Multisport shop located at our very own Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Centre.

When I arrived in Cochrane in April 2004 I joined the Cochrane Red Rock Runners and Tri Club. Every Saturday after my club run I’d go for coffee at one of the local coffee shops. In one corner a group of us runners would chat about out previous week but in the other corner was another group having coffee. I asked who they were and was told “That’s the Triathletes!” I had no idea what this entailed and at first I was a bit intimidated to go over to chat. However I was told that they wouldn’t bite so one Saturday I joined their table.

Over the next few years I completed Olympic (1.5km swim / 40km bike / 10km run), Half Ironman (2.0 km swim / 90km bike / 21.1 km run) and Ironman (4.0 km swim / 180km bike / 42.2 km run) distance races. My last triathlon was the Half Ironman in Calgary in August 2009.

Then, 3 weeks ago I finished my year as Rotary District 5360 Governor. I had had too many breakfasts, lunches and dinners at Rotary meetings and it was time to get back into shape. I walked into SLSFSC ready to crush some laps and I spotted Tri Hub in the corner of the building near the registration desk. After my swim I headed into the shop and met owner Lorin Inglis.

Lorin told me that he had set up the store in February of this year and caters to swimmers, bikers and runners. I must say chatting with Lorin got me thinking about triathlon again and I took the first step....I bought a new sports bag. Check out Lorin’s store. He has some great gear and go to his website (www.trihub.ca ) for store hours and lots of other information.

A few words from Lorin, “It was such a pleasure to meet Martin Parnell when he popped in a few weeks ago to look for a new swim bag - the interaction was nothing short of what we have come to understand as the quintessential Cochrane community spirit!  It’s been such a pleasure occupying our space near the pool because of the fierce “support local” attitude and the strong community bond that exists here in Cochrane!

My intro into the world of triathlon is too long of a story to tell here but the important theme that I want to accord with Martin on is that the legacy and culture of triathlon is one of inclusiveness, supportiveness and is in its essence about overcoming challenges.  So I think it’s a great time - post COVID - to take on some new challenges training together.  If you pop by the shop I’ll be happy to help you do that!”

So if you’re interested in entering the world of triathlon or looking to make a comeback after 13 years then chat to Lorin, he’ll put you on the right track.

Date: July 7th 2022

Life as a Rotary District Governor - One year on

On July 1st 2021 I started my journey as Rotary District 5360 Governor. Part of the role was to visit the 45 Rotary clubs that are located in Southern Alberta / Saskatchewan from Lacombe in the North to Cardston in the South and Banff in the West to Swift Current in the East. In the fall, COVID was still going strong and my visits were made using zoom. Clubs shared with me their plans for the year but because of the pandemic they involved virtual fundraisers and supporting members in their communities.

During the year, I had three District initiatives that I wanted to share with the clubs: Move for Polio, Rotary Day of Service: Secret 3k and the District Conference. Move for Polio: End Polio Now, kicked off on July 1st and finished on October 24th, International Polio Day. Rotary has been providing vaccinations to children for over 30 years and we are now at the point where there are only two countries that had a polio case reported in the last 3 years, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Over the summer members, families and friends ran, walked, swam, golfed, gardened, etc. and not only raised over $75,000 but also combined to cover 80,000km....twice around the globe.

The Rotary Day of Service was held on March 2nd 2022 and the theme was “Empowering Women and Girls”. Over the last 5 years I’ve been involved with the Secret 3k Run / Walk and this was the first year that Rotary become an official partner. Members across the District headed out on a cold March evening in support of women and girls who run for freedom and equality. In total 240 Rotarians and friends showed that were are stronger together.

The third event was the District Conference which was held on Saturday May 14th at the Alliance church in Cochrane. Over 300 Rotarians, Rotaractors, Interactors and guests enjoyed a variety of speakers on the theme of “Supporting the Environment”. The conference charity partner was Shelter Box and this organization provides shelter in the immediate aftermath of disasters around the world. Huge thank you to the members and clubs who donated over $20,000 to this organization. The day finished on a high with an ice cream social sponsored by our own MacKay’s.

With my year as District Governor completed I had one more engagement to carry out. On Sunday July 3rd, the celebration for the “Bike-A-Thon” fund raiser took place at Cochrane Toyota. The other legacy from the District Conference was the opportunity it provided to present a cheque for $10,000 to “The Trail – Calgary to Canmore”. This Rotary project will bring together communities along the Bow Valley and that is a reason for all of us to celebrate. When one door closes another one opens.

Date: June 2nd 2022

Rotary Club of Cochrane Rocky Mountain has arrived!

First there was one then there were two. The Rotary Club of Cochrane was chartered on May 17th 1991 over 30 years ago. Over the years the club have completed a number of community projects including the joint Rotary / Lions Bow Rivers Edge Campground, an extension to the Cochrane Library, Rotary Park and the upcoming Calgary to Cochrane Trail. Their work also includes International projects and programs for Cochrane youth.

Over the years the town of Cochrane has grown from 14,000 in 2005 to 32,000 in 2022 and with that the opportunity for a second Rotary club. At the Rotary 5360 District Conference held on May 14th at the Alliance church I had the pleasure of welcoming over 300 Rotarians and guests from across Southern Alberta to our corner of the world.

The theme was “Supporting the Environment” and we had 10 speakers share their stories and expertise. At the end of the day I had a surprise announcement. We had only heard the day before, on May 13th, that second Rotary club in Cochrane had been approved and chartered by Rotary International. It was a thrill to welcome Ryan Baum, President of the Rotary Club of Cochrane Rocky Mountain to the Stage.

The new club had been operating as a satellite club to the main club for 2 ½ years and during that time they have made an impact on the community. In 2020, in hopes to lift the spirits of Cochranites and fundraise for our local community, they hosted a series of Drive In Movie events. Together, with the tremendous sponsorship and support from various community businesses and the citizens of Cochrane, they were able to raise $60,000 in their inaugural year.

As a result of the COVID pandemic, the local food bank in Cochrane was overwhelmed and desperately needed to expand their facility. The $60,000 contribution was the final financial support they needed to complete that project. That expansion help the Cochrane Activettes food bank serve more families in need and will have a lasting effect for years to come.

This year the new club is hosting The Rocky Mountain Charity Golf Classic on June 20th at the Bearspaw Golf Club. They will be joined by fellow sport, music and media celebrities including: Curtis Glencross, Lanny McDonald, Jordan Eberly, Brendon Morrison, Jamie Mccoun, John Cornish, Jock Wilson, Natasha Staniszewski, John Morris, Ben Hebert and Mike Cvik. The money raised will go to the Glenbow Ranch Park Foundation children’s Summer camp program.

If you would like to learn more about the Rotary Club of Cochrane Rocky Mountain and the Rocky Mountain Golf Classic then please go to www.rockymountainrotary.com.

Making a difference in the community.

Date: April 28th 2022

The Rotary District Conference is coming to Cochrane

There is just over two weeks before the Rotary District 5360 Conference will be coming to Cochrane. On Saturday May 14th we will be host to a number of amazing speakers and the theme is “Supporting the Environment”. The Conference will be held at the Alliance Church and we are looking forward to having over 250 Rotarians, Rotaracts, Interactors and guests participate in this exciting event. We have a number of incredible presenters and I would like to introduce one of our amazing local speakers:

Jade Janzen - Cochrane - Growing up in an environmentally conscious family and spending time outdoors as often as possible, it was evident early on that Jade  would always be environmentally minded. Jade Janzen founded Lives With Less Plastic in 2018 when she was in Grade 7.  Now a grade 11 student, she continues to be passionate about making positive change within her community. Jade loves educating younger students about ways in which they can be more environmentally aware.  Jade lives and plays on Treaty 7 land with her parents and younger sister. In her free time Jade can be found doing homework, playing ringette, soccer or basketball, or cross country skiing, snow shoeing, hiking, backpacking and mountain biking.  When she graduates, she plans on pursuing environmental science, followed by medical school to study the effects of micro plastics on the human body.

Jade’s topic is: When a School Project Evolves into a Passion. What started off as a plea to Cochrane town council to ban single use plastic bags and straws evolved into a mission to inform the community of the impact their consumption has on the environment and to empower them to take simple steps to reduce their consumption and environmental footprint for a sustainable future.

I’d like to thank our sponsors including Spray Lake Sawmills, Mountain View Optometry, Raymond James, Mackay’s Ice Cream, Cochrane Toyota, Rockies rentals, Canadian Rockies Experience, Bolder Menswear and the Rotary Clubs of Cochrane, Canmore, Calgary, Calgary Fish Creek, Calgary North, Calgary West and Lethbridge East.

Everyone is welcome, Rotarians and non-Rotarians to participate in this conference. Meet Rotarians from across Southern Alberta and learn about how we can all make a difference. If you are interested in checking out this conference and registering then go to: www.discon5360.ca. Registration close on Friday May 6th so don’t wait!

We only have one earth. It is only by working together that we can ensure that we have a sustainable future for everyone on this Plant.

Date: March 3rd 2022

The Secret Marathon Film: Available to Everyone!

In October 2016 film maker Kate McKenzie and I went to Afghanistan to run a marathon with a group Afghan women and girls who ran for freedom and equality. We took with us a documentary film crew.

Five and a half years later, on Feb.21, 2022, The Secret Marathon Film was released to stream publicly for the first time on Vimeo. The award winning documentary film tells the story of the first women in Afghanistan to run a marathon.

“We were heartbroken to hear the news that the Taliban had taken over Afghanistan. Months later, many of our friends and contacts are still not safe and are facing threats due to promoting gender equality,” states Kate McKenzie, Film Co-Director.

“Seeing the influx of new Afghan refugees to Canada, we felt now was the time to share with the world a different perspective about Afghanistan through our film. Oftentimes, the only things we hear about Afghanistan are stories of war, poverty and terrorism yet it is a beautiful country with resilient and hospitable people.” states Kate.

Our hope is that by sharing our story, Canadians and those around the world will be more willing to greet Afghan refugees with open arms and see them as wonderful additions to our communities.

Kate shares, “While filming this documentary in Afghanistan, I was inspired by such brave women and girls who fought for equality and at times, risked their lives for the freedom to run outdoors.” McKenzie hopes that the film will inspire others to stand in solidarity with Afghans and continue to speak up about the need for gender equality.

The Secret Marathon film was created in collaboration with Afghan cultural advisors and all Afghans featured in the film have communicated their support for sharing the film more widely.

HIGHLIGHTS

- The Secret Marathon film has raised over $100,000 for charities including Canadian Women for Women in Afghanistan, the Afghan Sports Trust and 261 Fearless all of whom create opportunities for women in education and sport.

- The film inspired the Secret 3K a run/walk event hosted during the week of International Women’s Day now in its 5th year with thousands of participants joining from 24 countries around the world.

Award winning film including:

- Winner of People’s Choice Award, Best Documentary Feature at Edmonton International Film Festival, People’s Choice Award at Zonta Film Festival, Audience Choice Best Documentary Runner-Up at Cinefest Film Festival

- Record breaking attendance at Calgary Underground Film Festival

- Sold-out theaters at Cinefest, EIFF, Zonta, CUFF Docs, Red Deer Justice Film Festival, Kingston Canadian Film Festival

So now you too can see this film. Just click on this link: https:/vimeo.com/thesecretmarathon/ and not only will you have access to the main film but we have also made available a Children’s version.

Please share far and wide. Stronger together

Date: February 3rd 2022

Rotary Day of Service: The Secret 3k

In 2021 / 2022 Rotary International established the Rotary Days of Service. These days are to address challenges facing the community and provide meaningful and participatory experiences for Rotary, Rotaract, Interact and EarlyAct members.

Rotary District 5360 and 5370 have decided to embrace the theme of “Empowering Women and Girls” and participate in The Secret 3k.

The Secret 3k was inspired by the Marathon of Afghanistan which started in 2015 when the first Afghan women to complete a marathon, ran the 42.2kms in Bamyan, Afghanistan in the foothills of the Hindu Kush mountains. While she was training, she had to endure verbal abuse and rocks being thrown at her but this did not stop her from achieving her goal. Last October the Taliban took control of Afghanistan and the oppression of women and girls has returned. The Secret 3k allows us to run / walk for freedom and gender equality.

The Secret 3K run/walk, is an event held annually during International Women’s Week to promote equality. It started in 2018, in 10 cities across Canada and has grown every year. Supported by the Running Room, The Secret 3k has raised funds for incredible groups such as the Marathon of Afghanistan, Girl Guides of Canada and Canadian Women for Women in Afghanistan.

Last year we had over 2,000 women, men, girls and boys from around the world participate. In total we had 23 countries involved including Canada, USA, UK, Australia, Germany, Italy, Spain, Ireland, Scotland, Mexico, Netherlands, Austria, Singapore, Pakistan, Sweden, Greece, Poland, Indonesia, New Zealand, Japan and Afghanistan. We even had several schools participate, during the day, with 3K events.

One of those schools was Ecole Notre Dame des Vallees in Cochrane. This school has supported the event every year and the 3k run / walk takes students, parents and teachers on a route along the beautiful Bow River.

This year The Secret 3K is being held on Wednesday, March 2nd and, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, The Secret 3k will continue as a totally virtual event. So what does 3k look like? Well it’s 3,750 steps or a 40 min walk. Pick a route and head out on March 2nd. Everyone is invited to participate so please head over to www.secret3k.com and sign up today.

Whether you are a Rotarian or not we can all run / walk 3k for freedom and equality.

Date: January 6th 2022

There’s a New Club in Town: Rotary EarlyAct

In my role as the Rotary District Governor, I’m always delighted to be able to welcome new members and the formation of new Rotary Clubs.

This was especially so, when, on December 14th. I attended our newest club, the Rotary Club of Cochrane EarlyAct club, at Glenbow School. It is made up of students in Grade Four, who will decide on which projects to embark on and may then encourage all students, from the school to partake in.

The club was formed in October of this year and has, already completed their first project. This was to make Christmas cards for residents at both Bethany and Big Hill Lodge, situated in our community.

Supported by staff at the school, the sixteen EarlyAct leaders and other students, produced 175 cards, in total. Instead of writing in them, the students had the wonderful idea of leaving them blank and putting them into bundles of five, wrapped in ribbon, so that the residents could then use them as they pleased.

I was there to accept the cards, which were beautifully hand-made from mostly recycled materials, and to present the students with their official Rotary pins.The EarlyAct club already has plans for projects in the coming year.

EarlyAct is Rotary pilot program for elementary-aged students. It provides them the opportunity for gaining an increased knowledge of their community and the wider world. It engages them in activities that promote the importance of respect, dignity and caring and the opportunity to develop leadership skills.

The staff and students are supported by a team of Rotarians, who attend their meetings, on a monthly basis and can offer input on their projects. These projects are intended to offer help and support to those in communities locally, nationally and internationally.

EarlyAct is part of our Rotary New Generations, which also includes Interact for High School students, we have a club at Cochrane High School and Rotoract, for University students. All part of the family of Rotary.

I can’t wait to see what these young people come up with in the future. This is a great addition, not only to our own Rotary Club of Cochrane, but to the community of Cochrane.

I would like to thank Glenbow Principal, Jason Billings and his Grade Four staff, especially Mme. Ungureanu and Mr. Groenveld, for agreeing to have EarlyAct as part of their school and encouraging the students to create a wonderful project and get it finished, in time for Christmas, at a time that I appreciate has been challenging for everyone in our schools.