The Traveller

Heading to Ottawa this morning. It will be nice to see the Hard Travellin' Mexican Posse again at Sergio's tonight.

Fingers crossed for a DRY skate tomorrow at Rain4Reach 1/2 Marathon.

Morgan was nice enough to give me three bolts to replace the ones that vibrated out during the marathon in Chiapas, Mexico. How in Dog's Name (the same one that sponsors Chihuahua) I managed to finish a marathon missing THREE FRAME BOLTS is beyond my comprehension at this point.

WHAT I ATE TODAY
Nature's Path Zen Cereal with Mexican ChocoKrispies cereal in soy milk.
Frozen Fruit, Banana, Vega Powder Smoothie with Orange Juice, Strawberry Soy milk and all the vitamins.

Can someone explain why I was singing Boney M that day?

I've been out of the inline blogosphere for so long, I totally didn't realize Candy had posted this video of us doing plyos online.

My apologies to the world at large that clicked on the video and was subjected to my awful impromptu Karaoke (I should leave it up to professionals, like Kevin Noh!)



Courtesy of Desserts by Candy.

Finding Nemo (Hot Piñata Action)

One of my favourite memories of Mexico wasn't actually skating related.

Martine celebrated her birthday while we were training in Merida, the capital city of the Yucatan, and wanted a Piñata as part of the celebration!

So Carolyn, Sarah and I went with her to one of the Piñata stores (these things are as common as Starbucks in Merida) and loaded up on bags of treats which we stuffed into the pinata that Martine chose. (unbeknowst to us, Sergio also got a Finding Nemo Piñata!)



Needless to say, this was a HUGE hit with the kids as we gathered around after practice one night.



There were some INTERESTING (to say the least) flavours that were introduced to us that night... Sweet Chili flavoured lollipops with fruit filling in the centre amongst them.




Last I checked when we were in Mexico City two weeks later, Sarah was STILL wearing her sparkly bracelets!




Big props to Martine for having the good sense of having her birthday in Mexico!



There were other photos taken later on by the pool the night of her birthday, but we'll refrain from posting those ones! 8)

Photos courtesy of Wilby and Claire of Ottawa Inline.

Hombre Araña

Martine wanders over to me after one of our practices one evening in Merida, Yucatan. "The Children all say you are the Most Joyous Skater!" she tells me.



There were a few times early on that I walked off the track in Tuxla, Chiapas, more than a little down on myself about my performance in a race, only to find a crowd of Children waiting, eager to introduce themselves and have their pictures taken with me!



I soon realized that in addition to the occasional "Go Ed" being shouted from my fellow Canadians and the Yucatan Coach and skaters, there were many tiny voices calling something else as I passed by the stands... some were saying "Spiderman", but others were cheering something else... and it was directed at me.



I finally realized what the kids were shouting was "Hombre Araña"... and it was explained to me that it is the Mexican name of SPIDERMAN!



What an energizing feeling to realize that they were encouraging the underdog at the back! I realize that the Canadian skaters (on the men's side) were pretty much seen by the Mexican crowds with the same amusement that most reserve for the Jamaican Bobsled Team, but they certainly cheered us on with a great deal of enthusiasm.

A delightful girl named Maya who tried to introduce herself to me in french! This wonderful little one gave me a chocolate bar after one of my races. And we all know that if you give Ed a chocolate bar, you've got a friend for life! 8)



I know I'll never be the fastest skater, but I think I can happily live with being the most "joyous skater".



Photos courtesy of Wilby, Cor and Claire of Ottawa Inline.

Certified Hero Burger

Yvonne welcomed me back so warmly today when I showed up for her noon hour yoga class. It felt good to return to my routine. 4 weeks without Yoga to help me relax, stretch and do the self diagnostics is quite a long time. My flexibility is way down and I'm still stiff from teaching my Monday class and Tuesday practice, despite taking yesterday off.

Subbed Rosa's kickboxing class tonight at Vic Terrace. Full class, but to be honest I could barely get through the last few tracks. Hopefully I wasn't showing my fatigue. It didn't help that my mike konked out half way through and I had to yell. Ended up losing my voice again. Flying jump knees on the Muy Thai section just about did me in. Felt like a great class overall, and I got complimented by a few people afterwards. Probably talked too much, the class ran a little late but luckily there was no class afterwards.

I got to stretch for a good twenty minutes before the class and that helped.

Let's see how I manage to get through my Monday Parkview kickboxing class after racing on Sunday! Luckily it's only a half marathon and I've already done a full marathon two weeks ago, so I know I can get through it (hoping it won't be wet again).

I didn't realize how much I missed Asian food while I was in Mexico for three weeks. Everytime we go out to eat I want noodles or sushi.

I appear to have lost 5 pounds Post Mexico. Probably would have been more if not for the all you can eat rich food at the resort in Cancun.



WHAT I ATE TODAY
8oz Hero Burger with all the fixin's.
Apple
Ice Tea and Strawberry Snapple.
Fries.
Baskin Robbins strawberry citris smoothie
Healthy 6 grain veggie/mushroom congee.
3 shrimp and chive rice crepes
Chinese Veggies and Mushrooms in garlic sauce
chinese tea.
fresh squeezed orange juice

More Video from Mexico

More than the previous video, I think this one best captures the flavour of how racing in Mexico felt like to me.

Video from Mexico

copa mexicanidad chiapaneca 2008

Did you know there was a Patron Saint of Skaters?!

Jen showed me this link this morning...

St. Lidwina

Born at Schiedam, Holland, 18 April 1380; died 14 April, 1433. Her father, Peter by name, came of a noble family while her mother Petronella, born at Kethel, Holland, was a poor country girl. Both were poor. Very early in her life St. Lidwina was drawn towards the Mother of God and prayed a great deal before the miraculous image of Our Lady of Schiedam. During the winter of the year of 1395, Lidwina went skating with her friends, one of whom caused her to fall upon some ice with such violence that she broke a rib in her right side. This was the beginning of her martyrdom. No medical skill availed to cure her. Gangrene appeared in the wound caused by the fall and spread over her entire body. For years she lay in pain which seemed to increase constantly. Some looked on her with suspicion, as being under the influence of the evil spirit. Her pastor, Andries, brought her an unconsecrated host, but the saint distinguished it at once. But God rewarded her with a wonderful gift of prayer and also with visions. Numerous miracles took place at her bed-side. The celebrated preacher and seer, Wermbold of Roskoop, visited her after previously beholding her in spirit. The pious Arnold of Schoonhoven treated her as a friend. Hendrik Mande wrote for her consolation a pious tract in Dutch. When Joannes Busch brought this to her, he asked her what she thought of Hendrik Mande's visions, and she answered that they came from God. In a vision she was shown a rose-bush with the words, "When this shall be in bloom, your suffering will be at an end." In the spring of the year 1433, she exclaimed, "I see the rose-bush in full bloom!" From her fifteenth to her fifty-third year, she suffered every imaginable pain; she was one sore from head to foot and was greatly emaciated. On the morning of Easter-day, 1433, she was in deep contemplation and beheld, in a vision, Christ coming towards her to administer the Sacrament of Extreme Unction. She died in the odour of great sanctity. At once her grave became a place of pilgrimage, and as early as 1434 a chapel was built over it. Joannes Brugmann and Thomas à Kempis related the history of her life, and veneration of her on the part of the people increased unceasingly. In 1615 her relics were conveyed to Brussels, but in 1871 they were returned to Schiedam. On 14 March, 1890, Leo XIII put the official sanction of the Church upon that veneration which had existed for centuries.
Publication information
Written by Petrus Albers. Transcribed by Michael T. Barrett. Dedicated to the Poor Souls in Purgatory

The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume IX. Published 1910. New York: Robert Appleton Company. Nihil Obstat, October 1, 1910. Remy Lafort, Censor. Imprimatur. +John M. Farley, Archbishop of New York
Bibliography

COUDURIER, Vie de la bienheureuse Lidwine (Paris, 1862); RIBADENEIRA, La vie de s. Lidwine, vierge (Valenciennes, 1615); THOMAS À KEMPIS, Vita Lidewigis virginis in Opera Omnia, iv (Freiburg, 1905); HUYSMANS, Sainte Lydwine de Schiedam (Paris, 1901).

august rush

WHAT I ATE TODAY
Nature's Path Power Cereal and Chocolate Frosted Flakes with Marshmellows in Soy Milk.
Smoothie with frozen fruit, banana, vega powder, vitamins, peach yogurt, strawberry soy milk and orange juice.
Pasta with veggies, olives, veggie ground, salsa and pasta sauce.
Apple.
Sugar Snap Peas.


YESTERDAY'S WORKOUT

Noon Hour Yoga. Everything was pretty stiff and sore.
1st Outdoor Inline Practice of the Season @ Christ the King. Missed warmup because I was looking for frame bolts, luckily Aaron had extra ones he lent me (as well as his jacket). Felt pretty good given how out of shape I am. It probably wouldn't have felt so good if I hadn't of done Mexico.


WHAT I ATE YESTERDAY
Nature's Path Zen Cereal and Chocolate Frosted Flakes with Marshmellows in Soy Milk.
Apple.
Banana.
Pasta with veggies, olives, veggie ground, salsa and pasta sauce.
Miso Soup.
Ice Tea.
Shashimi Tuna and Salmon and other fish.
1 fried Shrimp Tempura.
Edamame.


MONDAY'S WORKOUT
Taught my kickboxing class at Parkview noon hour. It was a pretty crowded class full of all the regulars and they were all glad to see me back. Felt energized by it.

WHAT I LEARNED IN MEXICO

I am now willing to admit that the guys in the Tabasco skinsuits are not sponsored by the sauce. However, I still insist that the guys in the Chihuahua skinsuits are in fact sponsored by the dogs.




Photos courtesy of Wilby from Ottawa Inline.