Christmas Vacation

Woo Hoo! I'm on vacation for the next 2 weeks!!  Well, soon as I finish my shift tonight. ;)  I won't be back to work until the new year.  It looks like I'll have to go to the rec center over the holidays to workout, because I'm not going to drive 100 km to workout at LA Fitness in Brampton.  

Speaking of Brampton the Olympic torch relay came through this way today as it makes it's way across Canada to Vancouver BC  for the winter Olympics in Feb 2010.  I  missed seeing it  today as i was working out at the Club, Actually  it's a good thing I went in early to do my workout today as the Olympic torch relay was making it's way along part of my commute into work and would have made me late for work if I left at my normal time.  Anyway I'll get my chance to see the Olympic torch relay on the Dec 29TH as it will be making it's way into Barrie that day.  I originally  applied  to be a Torch barer but was not selected. :(  But I will get my chance to be up close to the torch as I volunteered with the city to help out that day for the big celebration Barrie will put on.  I'm still not sure what i'll be doing as a volunteer yet? But I was told it will be a chance in a lifetime.  

Today's Training ...

Run .....30 min.

Swim ...5 min....Just a cool down swim.

10 min sauna. 

:)

Here comes the snow

We got our dumping of snow last night and today and more tonight with snow squalls. It started yesterday as i was going into work and has been going steady since. My son Snow blew the driveway once and when I got home from work i had to do it again. When i woke up today and looked out it was still coming down and i blew the driveway again before coming into work today. I would say we have around 2 feet so far. Thank god for my new snow blower, it's so much easier and is even fun! :)

Last nights drive home was bad once i got to the outer edge of Barrie, but today's drive in to work from Barrie was really bad until about 35 km south of Barrie toward Toronto where it wasn't snowing. you can see here on this video clip i made on the way in to work today. I have driven though worse on the way home though, as last night drive home wasn't to bad.

Only swam 1000 m straight set, I had to cut it short to go out and do some X-Mas shopping.

:)

Happy Anniversary

Today is Joanne's and my 30Th Wedding Anniversary. Wow! where did the time go? We're not doing any celebrating as i don't see her during the week. I left her a bouquet of flowers to see when she got up in the morning before work and while I'm sleeping, and I left a gift for her to see when she gets home from work and I'm at work.

I bought her a five diamond heart on heart necklace in yellow gold.( symbolizing two hearts connect ) It's worth millions! but I got a good deal on it and paid a lot less. ;).... ( it's OK to post her gift because she has already opened it before I posted this.)

Edit; when I got home I checked out the necklace, as I haven't seen it since I bought it last month for this day. Well it seems it's not five diamonds in the heart, but is diamond in crusted on the hearts, making it sparkle brightly. My bad, my memory isn't as good as it used to be. But it's still worth millions!! ;)

I know I don't say it enough, I love you Joanne. See you on the weekend. WOW! 30 YEARS!!!


:)

Swim is feeling good

Today I went to LA Fitness and swam a straight 2000m set free in 36:12. My swimming is feeling good, now I need to work on speed. ;) ....Tomorrow will be a run day.


:)

Christmas Tradition

This past weekend we went out for our traditional Christmas tree hunt to cut our own Christmas tree at Drysdales tree farm with our family and friends. We have been doing this every year for over 15 years. The pictures below are from previous trips to Drysdales tree farm, as I forgot to bring my camera with us this year to our traditional tree cutting trip.

This is the Christmas store where Joanne ends up every year to buy some sort of x-mass trinket.

What the store looks like inside.

Some of the grounds.

Finding my tree

Dragging my tree to the wagon

Tree all wrapped up and ready to take home set up in our front living room, then go over to our friends for food and drinks.

Only Swam today

Today i swam 2000 meters at LA Fitness in Brampton before work. -First 1000 m in 17:47..... my normal warm up if not my normal whole work out in my less is more training plan. ;) ....Then a 100 m breast cool down in 2:00.... Then 3 sets of 100 m free .... 1ST 100 m in 1:28:30..... 2ND 100 m in 1:29:28..... 3rd 100 m in 1:29:97..... Whew! that was tiring... -100 m breast to catch my breath in 2:00 -Last 500 m easy free in 9:25.... Total time in the pool 40 min give or take a few seconds.

I can't believe how lucky We've been with the snow. The streamers coming off the lake are missing Barrie but not by much. The heavy snow squalls are hitting just north of us in Bracebridge and Muskoka area's and are getting walloped with up to 3 feet of snow since yesterday in some places, and it's still coming down. I'm glad the winds aren't blowing down my way it would suck to have to use my new snow blower. ;)

:)

Cool weather.

We didn't get much snow, only about half a foot, but now the wind is blowing hard with gusts up to 70kph with still more weather coming with snow squalls as the temperature dips down even colder. Driving down to work was a little hectic driving through a few white outs, and I imagine the drive home won't be any different.

I hit the LA Fitness club today before work but didn't have any energy to do a full work out with back to back runs and this being my third day running in a row, so I took it easy running the treadmill at 5.5 mph for 5km then went down to the pool and did a easy 300m cool down swim and hit the sauna for a bit.


:)

Snow day

I took a snow day today as the weather is pretty bad with high winds and snow over night. But the worst part is yet to come as the temperature drops tonight and with the high winds, we are expecting major snow squalls which would make my drive home from work (if I went) even worse then going into work. So no swim today, I'll bike later tonight while watching TV and I'll just double up tomorrow with my run and a swim after.

The good news is I got my first chance in using my snow blower! yeah! it works great! :)



Edit; No bike ride, I went with Joanne to the running room for the Wed night run instead since I was home tonight. I don't get much chance going on runs during the week with the running club because I work evenings. It was nice to see some of my friends who I normally only see during the summer months. Our group went 6km, it was suppose to be a 5.5 k but we got lost.lol I can't say it was fun on the slushy sidewalks and roads from today's snow, I almost turned my ankle but didn't. whew! I think I'll stick with treadmill runs over the winter months. Anyways it was fun.

:)

Ran and Big snow coming

I ran the treadmill today doing 5km @ 6mph in 30 min. My legs were feeling tired from my Sunday's run, but loosened up after the first kilometer. After the mill run, I went down to the pool for a 500m easy cool down swim working on form. My triceps were tight from my Monday's swim sets, but that's the price you pay for a "less is more" training program. ;)


There is a big snow storm heading our way and depending when it hits?( suppose to be late tonight and all day tomorrow, Wed.) I might not make it to LA Fitness for my planned swim, or work for that matter. I will have to play it by ear I guess, and watch the weather. If it's to bad out and driving my commute being hazardous, I'll take a snow day from work. Toronto is only expecting 5 cm but up in Barrie we are expecting around 20-30 cm but could be more with snow squalls? ...and I finally get to use my snow blower!! Yeah!


:)

Swam hard today.

Sunday I ran my first 10 k since last May when I did the Ottawa Marathon. I ran slow and easy finishing in 1:02:37

Today I swam 2000m today.

I Swam 1000m free warm up in 17:36 then I swam 3 sprint 100's 1st 100m in 1:30 2nd 100m in 1:32 and the 3rd 100m in 1:34 then I swam 200m breast warm down, and finished off with a 500m easy free.


:)