27 posts tagged “awesomeness”

After a threat of first 90%, then 30% chance of precipitation, race day morning dawned perfectly cool with a mix of clouds and sun.  Not a drop of rain was in sight.  (Thank you, Vancouver!)

Shane and I left the apartment just before 6 a.m. to head to the race start (on the other side of downtown).  We drove over to park in Shane’s work lot, as it’s located right next to the Skytrain, which we planned to take the rest of the way (my monthly transit pass allows me to travel with an extra passenger on Sundays, woo!).  We arrived at the starting line around 6:20, giving us plenty of time to use the Port-a-Potty and stretch.

The half-marathon group lined up as we got closer to 7 a.m. (the official go time for the race).  We jumped in around the middle of the pack, both of us feeling a lot of nerves at that point.  I was anxious about running my first half-marathon; Shane was feeling the pressure of meeting his ambitious time goal (1:45).  But soon we were flowing with the massive, 6,000-strong crowd toward the start.  We wished each other well and set off on our individual journeys to The Black-Eyed Peas “Pump It” blaring over a pair of gigantic speakers.

I felt good from the beginning.  All the time spent tapering (not to mention the pure adrenaline of finally running this long-planned-for event) gave me an extra bounce in my step as we moved into the Gastown portion of the race.  I thought maybe I was running a bit faster than my anticipated 2:15 pace time, but I didn’t know for sure.  (Nor did it really matter; my primary goal was just to finish.)

Around the 10km (or 6-mile) mark, the route followed the seawall leading into Stanley Park and then hopped up on the road that circles the park (Park Drive).  This was when I started to feel nervous again, as the infamous Park Drive hill to Prospect Point was coming up.  Prospect Point is essentially the highest point in Stanley Park, and veterans of this half-marathon will tell you this long, steep climb to the top is intensely challenging (especially being located in the middle of the race).

Thankfully, since Shane and I had done a training run on this hill, I was able to reach the crest without any issues.  It also helped that some amazing spectators were lining the road, yelling encouragement at the top of their lungs (supportive words can do wonders for tired legs).  And the downhill on the other side?  That was almost worth the pain of ascending (almost).

Soon I hit the 10-mile mark and began running along Beach Avenue.  A large crowd had gathered by English Bay Beach to cheer us on, so that was a nice boost.  I definitely struggled as we entered the last 3km (about 2 miles remaining).  My calves were burning like they’ve never burned before, but I knew we were close, so I pushed through the discomfort.  And sure enough, soon the end was in sight.

If you’ve never experienced the finish line of a race, it is simply incredible.  The enthusiasm from the assembled crowd and the pick-up in pace by just about every runner out there is electrifying.  I flew through the end, crossing the finish with my arms held high and cheering as loudly as my tired lungs could handle.  I recently heard this moment described as empowering, and I couldn’t agree more.  I felt like I could take on absolutely anything.

Shane and I met up within minutes of my finish, both with the AWESOME news that we had done better than we’d hoped.  I managed my first 13.1-miler in 2:05:24, ten minutes faster than I expected to be (holy shit); Shane broke his half-marathon PR by nearly six minutes, completing in 1:43:12 (well under his goal).  Hell yeah!

We then made our way back to Shane’s work to shower up - a logistical decision made because we had reservations in the restaurant just above Canada Place at 11:30.  This particular place - Café Pacifica in the fancy Pan Pacific hotel - is known in Vancouver for its extravagant (and yes, expensive) brunch buffet, which we were eager to partake in.

After logging the longest distance I’ve ever run, that food tasted fucking delicious.  There were freshly-squeezed juices, assorted pastries, salads, fruits, sushi, dim sum, stir fry, salmon and sole, bacon and sausage, (every kind of) meat and potatoes, omelettes and eggs Benedict, and the most beautiful dessert spread you can imagine.  We lingered there for a couple of hours, taking our time through four (yes, four) separate buffet trips.  It was a wonderful way to end what was truly a spectacular morning.

And - as you might expect when everything goes so perfectly according to plan - it wasn’t long before we were discussing when we might want to train for another half to do it all over again.

I’ve written previously of the disappointing second season Friday Night Lights had.  There were certainly high points, but overall it did not live up to the expectations set by the remarkable first season.  Thankfully, however, a deal between NBC and DirecTV gave this awesome show a chance to redeem itself with another season, which we’ve been lucky enough to watch via torrents.

With a mere 13 episodes, the third season – amazingly – more than delivered.  My only complaint is that the writers (liberally) adjusted the ages of some of the characters, but otherwise: WIN.  The show avoided the contrived, over-the-top plot pitfalls that plagued the second season and returned to its roots: smart, subtle, heart-warming/heart-wrenching storylines with the characters we’ve come to know and love.  They gifted us with more of the moving, realistic scenes that are the show’s trademark – Tami’s birds-and-the-bees talk with Julie, Matt’s proof to Coach that he could fill another position, Tyra’s beautiful college entrance essay, the list goes on - and more lovely moments portraying what is inarguably the Best (and Most Authentic) Marriage on Television.  The writers even took time for two multi-episode arcs to wrap up the stories of individuals who had moved past high school.  And the finale set-up some interesting scenarios, should we be treated to a fourth season next year!  (Are you paying attention, Grey’s Anatomy?)

So thank you to the Powers That Be.  I love knowing the paths that my beloved Coach, Tami, Julie, Matt, Grandma, Landry, Tyra, Tim, Jason, Smash and even Lyla are on, whether or not I get to see where they go next.  And for those who haven’t yet seen it, the third season airs on NBC starting this Friday at 9/8c.  Don’t miss it!

I can’t believe it’s been nearly nine months and I’ve barely said anything about how totally kick-ass the running is here.  So, let me tell you.  The running here?  It’s totally kick-ass.

In MN, if we wanted to go somewhere scenic or somewhere with trails or somewhere with amenities (water, restrooms), we would have to jump in the car and drive for a good 15-45 minutes.  Here, these options are literally right outside our door.  We’ve mapped out routes that incorporate the seawall (around Stanley Park, along Coal Harbour, beside False Creek), the forest trails (around Lost Lagoon, within Stanley Park) and the city streets.  So we have yet to drive anywhere to run, which is awesome.

The relatively mild weather here has also been a big plus.  We never experienced a summer day that was too hot for running, and so far the cold-weather season has not dropped from the double-digits (Fahrenheit, of course) – a vast improvement from the below-zero temps of the last two Decembers!  Of course, we have been forced to deal with the rain, and we’ve both come home soaked more with precipitation than perspiration.  But the dampness seems a small price to pay for the overall improvements in our running environment.

Perhaps my favourite thing about running in Vancouver, though, is the regular reminder it provides me of how fortunate we are to be here.  Whether it’s the breath-taking views of mountains and ocean, the interactions with lots of friendly runners and dogs, or even just the powerful, fresh smell of pine trees and salt water, I come back from every run – good or bad – with a renewed appreciation for the opportunities we have right at our fingertips toetips these days.

Shane and I recently went to see the dentist for the first time since moving to Canada (covered by Shane's workplace, not the government).  As with our doctor, we selected a place online, based primarily on its location.  Unlike our doctor visit, though, our dental experience gets big points for being extremely patient-friendly.

Our first appointments were for new patient exams.  The exams were very thorough: they consisted of taking digital x-rays and digital pictures of our teeth, which were then displayed on a computer monitor so the dental assistant could identify and explain any problems.  For me, the main issue is grinding my teeth (which I apparently do at night) (a lot), so my “treatment plan” included a night guard.  Shane was given some options for addressing his temperature-sensitive teeth.

Our follow-up appointments involved clean-ups and some additional work (but no cavity fillings, yay!).  Shane and I both were scheduled for more than an hour, but the time flew by.  Each dental chair in the office has a television screen installed on the ceiling, so we were given (wireless) headphones and a remote control to use for the duration of our appointments.  At the end, we received hot washcloths (for cleaning up) and a bag of freebies including a full-sized toothbrush and travel container.  Niiice.

Oh, and while we waited for each other, we were treated to some extras in the lobby.  There were the normal magazines and newspapers to peruse, but also a massage chair, (fake) fireplace and aromatherapy diffuser.  All in all, we were quite spoiled by this first trip to the dentist, as clearly demonstrated when we walked out of the office and immediately wondered why there was no valet to go retrieve the car.

I was a bit knocked on my ass to realize last week that we’ve been living in Vancouver now for six months.  (Especially as that means I’ve been unemployed for just as long.  Good lord.)  That’s half a year!  And yet we still feel like newbies here in many regards.  We’ve got items lingering on our Immigrant To Do list, from applying for Canadian credit cards to finding a dentist; it takes a lot of time to get truly settled when you up and change countries!  Plus, there’s the whole socializing aspect that we’ve overlooked so far and will eventually need want to tackle.

How do we feel overall, though?  The word that most frequently comes to mind for both of us is lucky.  Extremely, unbelievably lucky.

We really had no idea if coming here would turn out for better or for worse.  We took a leap of faith – albeit a well-researched one – and hoped we would land on our feet.  So far, it seems, we’ve hit the ground running.  Our apartment has worked out wonderfully (knock on wood), Shane has scored an excellent job (while I'm getting closer to figuring out MY end), and we have found Vancouver to be every bit as interesting and accommodating from a resident POV as from a visitor one.

And oh, do I love getting the inside scoop on this place.  I love knowing that mailings from the province always arrive in recycled, brown envelopes.  I love recognizing MP Hedy Fry out campaigning on the streets (as Canada’s election also draws near).  I love learning that tiny restaurant Shima actually serves better sushi than bigger name Tanpopo.  I even love knowing the crappy stuff, like how shaky the rental situation in the West End truly is (knock on wood) (again) or how hosting the Olympics will create new problems even as it tries to solve existing ones.

This is what we wanted, after all – to become acquainted with ALL aspects of Vancouver, getting a close-up perspective not many people can have in a lifetime.  And while it will be quite some time before we get a sense of how long this journey will last, I can now say (confidently) that we will be grateful for whatever amount of time we get to spend here, living in (and loving) The Best Place On Earth.

Last weekend saw the conclusion of Vancouver’s annual Celebration of Light.  This international fireworks competition is held over four nights (two Wednesdays and two Saturdays) every summer, with three countries competing for the top prize (and one night for the grand finale).  The fireworks are shot off a barge anchored in English Bay – an easy, five-minute walk from our apartment! – and attended by close to 500,000 people.  Each show lasts for 25 minutes and is set meticulously to music, thus making the biggest explosions all the more dramatic.

The 2008 teams represented Canada, the U.S. and China.  Canada ended up taking home the first-place prize (and we agreed their show was the most artistic), but China won the people’s choice award (probably due to the non-stop barrage of enormous, ear-shattering explosions that ran throughout their show).  We loved every minute of this experience and are already looking forward to joining the (insane) crowds again next year.

Unbelievably, we’ve been living in Vancouver now for three months.  That’s one quarter of a year!  It feels like only three weeks ago we were packing up to make the long drive out here.  I guess it’s true what they say about the time and the flying and the fun.

Our weeks here really have been enjoyable.  We’ve loved getting to know the city as residents – figuring out the little things i.e. where to buy the best fruit, what papers we like to read, how to get from one location to another via bus or foot or bike.  Every day we discover something new about this place we call home.

Of course, the homesickness still comes and goes in waves.  We’ve been sad to miss out on opportunities to hang out with (or show support for) our friends and family.  But we also see how those connections are sustained by the wonderfully versatile Internet.  It’s awesome how email, instant messaging and webcams can erase at least some of the distance between BC and MN.

So are we happy with the choice we made to pack up the entirety of our lives and haul it all to Canada?  Honestly, I can’t say.  Not yet.  Without jobs (and with the summer sun shining down upon us), it’s all too easy to think we’re simply on a long (and glorious) Vancouver vacation.  While it sounds silly at this point to say we need more time to mentally adjust, well, that’s exactly where we’re at.  Check in with me at the 6-month mark, and hopefully I’ll have a more concrete answer.

(And, you know, a JOB.)

We’re finally starting to settle into something of a routine around here.   Our new schedule involves more time reading/learning, job-hunting and “publicly loafing” (Shane’s term, aka “exploring outside”) and less time napping, blog-reading and watching daytime TLC.  (But have you guys seen that show with all the kids?  MY GOD.)

While financial worries are always lingering in the back of our my mind, I’m finally noticing just how much our quality of life has improved.  Here are a few of my favourite things about living here so far:

• Waking up to the soothing sounds of rain.
• Accessing running routes in the woods, along the oceanfront or through the city, all from our front door.
• Keeping just one light on during the day, rain or shine.
• Buying our fruits and veggies from the corner stand (and getting helpful produce-picking advice from the folks working there).
• Grocery-shopping as members at Choices (and purchasing weekly fresh bread from Uprising Breads bakery there).
• Finding out Nature’s Path is a B.C.-based company (and benefiting from their local sales).
• Walking to the bank, the library, the post office, the drug store and Cupcakes (at their new and bigger location!).
• 

  And pigeons on children
  Eating amazing sushi for less than $5.
• Driving the car only once or twice a week (and regularly parking a block or less from home).
• Having almost everything a bus, bike or boat ride away.
• Watching all the wildlife in our neighbourhood, especially the puppies, puppies and more puppies.
• Living so close to my brother.
• Spending this time off with my best friend.

Friday Night Lights is coming back for a third season in January 2009!!!  (And there was much rejoicing in Shane and Tisha Land.)