This is what my yard looked like this morning when I got up. Thanks Karen it made my day.
I was grateful that my husband and kids honoured my request of no big party and no gifts. In lieu of gifts I asked them to please donate to my friend Jocelyn, see her story here.
http://www.youcaring.com/medical-fundraiser/hope-for-jocelyn/110335/update/105279
I had a birthday party with my family last week.
I try not to eat too many sweets. A cookie was perfect.
I have seriously looked forward to this birthday for a few years. I have had some favourite birthday years and not so favourite. I liked turning 30, it felt more mature and like people would take me more seriously. I DID NOT like 40, it just felt old. Fifty though, I feel a sense of freedom. I feel like I can do and say what I want. I can always just chalk it up to "being old". When I told my kids this they said they were worried what I was going to do and say. The ironic thing is I don't feel old at all. I am in better shape and health than I have ever been.
Here are before and after pictures. The first one is from two years ago when I went to see my sister in the Bahamas. The second one is from October when I went to Peru with my sister. I am standing at the top of Machu Picchu.
The Bahamas picture and a certain dinghy incident that happened there were the catalysts for losing weight and getting into shape.
Here is my list of big life adventures, if anyone wants to join in you're welcome to (except November, that's just for me and my hubby).
January 25: cross country skiing lessons in Canmore
February: hot yoga month pass http://sanguineyoga.com/web/
March: walk 50, I will get a map of Calgary and draw a big 50 on it and then walk that route over the month. I think some of it will be running so I can start training for May's adventure.
April 19: sky dive http://www.verticalextremeskydiving.com
May 10: Rocky Mountain Soap Company Half Marathon http://www.rmswomensrun.com
June 21: Strathmore Trismore Triathlon full smore, swim 20 lengths, bike 20km, run 5km http://www.tri-smore.com
July 5: Sprint Spartan in Edmonton 5km, 15 obstacles http://ca-en.spartanrace.com/events
July 10,11,12: ride my bike from Banff to Jasper (or as far as I can get)
August 16: Fort Mcleod Triathlon-Olympic length 1.5km swim, 40km bike, 10km run http://www.ftmacleodtri.com
September 6: Super Spartan in Red Deer 13km, 21 obstacles http://ca-en.spartanrace.com/events
27: Beast Spartan in Kamloops 20km, 26 obstacleshttp://ca-en.spartanrace.com/events
This will get my the trifecta this is what a trifecta is "A member of the Spartan Trifecta Tribe finishes one of each Spartan distance - Sprint,Super, Beast - in a calendar year anywhere in the world. In doing so, they get added to the coveted Spartan Trifecta Tribe wall for all to see and aspire to."
October: Marathon (I haven't been able to find one that will work so I may just have to run a marathon distance here in Calgary=lame)
November: snorkel, scuba dive and surf in Hawaii with my husband. I've never been scuba diving or surfing before
December: downhill ski
I am most worried about the spartan beast. It wasn't on my original plan but someone challenged me to do it, thanks Gary.
Well that's it. Wish me luck and to be injury free.
