Consumed...!

Hello everyone!

Heading back to my family is today’s mission... and I know I will soon be stepping out of the airport in Montreal , flipping up my furry hood and breathing in some –more than fresh- air.

These past two weeks spent at the mouse pad (in case you are not familiar with the term, it is what my coach has decided to name my place on the ocean), have been fantastic. Many things have happened and in the last days, things have changed. And again, they have changed for the best.

First, (drums please), I HAVE SENT OUT MY THESIS and it has landed on Dr. Pearsall’s desk. You should have seen me at the copy counter in Victoria, as I waited for my three copies to be born. Two years later, I was finaly standing there with my beautiful 3 piles of the 97 most important pages of my life. So pleased, even as I had to poke the wholes manually through the three copies to bind them. Shipped out friends!

Stepping out of the post office, empty handed felt delicious. A January first kind of feeling, a couple of days in advance. Since then, I am finaly living the way I always dreamed to: I have found one thing that I really love to do, it has become my job and I am finaly feeling like I can let my self just freely live a passion.

What feels different?

There is something very tasty about a little excess....especially when it can be the pathway to success. I am letting myself lose a bit of balance. And I have decided it would be like this for this part of my life, it is the time for that right now, so I will savour it. It is the time to become truly absorbed with what I do. I feel like I can finaly freely give in to passion. I have been savouring every single aspect of my new life.

Now, It feels like every minute climbing hills on my bike and every minute that goes by with running shoes or goggles on is just so much more....precious.

Mount Dug run trails...

There is no feeling of urgency because the priority is in the moment. No more of that part of my attention that thinks about other studies than the important one: To train in the moment, to find a way to make my dreams happen. The good thing about passion is that it is very contageous .

Did I ever tell you how much I like to get muddy? (Curt got real fast on the bike, I draft him now, or at least try to. That helps me get all muddy! )

Thank goodness Passion adds to passion. And I have been enjoying not only doing what I do, but also sharing it....sharing it with my friend, with those that are following a parallel path, with those that are working on it with us (my coach, our coaches). The more passion you share, the deeper you are absorbed, the better it feels when you lace up your running shoes and go out on the everyday mission. Seems like every day spent living like this is a true blessing.

I have had a good week in that state of mind, riding my bike all around , along the ocean, in the mountains, riding with Curt. Discovering amazing hilly forest trails, running to the top of Mount Dug. Swimming at the pool and crossing paths with fellow athletes ....all on the same mission. Most of the time, a very brief exchange, like that wave and water toss that Simon gave me with a smile as he caught his breath before heading into another fast interval. Then was gone, on his own mission.

I am also enjoying having time to think about other details that I hadn’t focused on before...like getting to know my equipment better. Curt and I went to a bike mechanic course at the bike store (pro city cycling) that was amazing because Bill tought us pretty much everything you should know about a bike in two hours.

He even embarrassed me to come in from of our class of five to show him that I could adjust my gears on my own now. Hey! I took it seriously and was very proud to give myself a style when I adjusted the rear derailor... HA! See!!!just like the guys at the bike shop!! Hehehe....Anyways, I am now on a mission to find out pretty much every thing there is to know about my bike. I am also working on my nutrition and trying to figure out a good plan for this year. I am also finaly organizing myself with my Garmin equipment and softwear, Computrainer, all of that fun stuff....loving it!

Today, I am heading back home to the snowy, Christmassy atmosphere of St-Sauveur. I will get to see my family again and celebrate some more! Looking forward to it!

I hope you are all enjoying your time getting ready for some fun holiday adventures.

Cheers to all!