Slocan Sunshine

Our rides continue to be safe and exhilarating. It’s a really great time.
We were really happy to say goodbye to the mosquitoes in Winlaw. A cool morning greeted us on Hwy. 6 in the shade of the Selkirks. When we arrived at Crescent Valley we turned west, crossed the Slocan River and headed to Krestova on the Pass Creek Road. As the hot afternoon sun took over we rode into the Columbia River Valley. The regional district campground on Pass Creek in Castlegar was our home for the night. We soon found out we had company coming! Teralee, a Fitness trainer and friend of Meg’s dropped by as did Barbara, a Facebook friend who went to school with Heather. It was a busy afternoon… We made time for a cool dip in the creek and some planning for our ascent of the Bonanza and Paulson summits on Monday.
Our plans involved getting up really early to beat the heat and to give ourselves plenty of time to climb the 45km. We also knew there was some road construction as well. We left the camp at 5:30 and were climbing the first hill after a quick stop at Tim’s. The greatly anticipated ride up to the summit went really well. Stopped at Nancy Green’s park for lunch and then hit the last 6km to the summit. This is where the construction was. The whole road was ripped up with only the old shoulder left to ride on. We stuck with it and had a pretty big smile on when we pulled over at the summit. Only thing left to do was ride the 30+ km down to Christina Lake. Wow. What a ride!
In Christina Lake it was 32 deg. Mmmm. Time for a swim in the Kettle River next to the campground at Cascade Cove.
It was a red letter day. Safe riding, incredible scenery and time for good conversation over dinner and a well-deserved cold beer.
Tomorrow’s a short day to Grand Forks in search of the best perogies… The journey continues.

Over the Monashees

We’ve had some fantastic riding in the past few days. Climbing over the Monashees has to be one of the best cycle tour routes around. Beautiful ride along Arrow Lake to Nakusp. The Ospreys were with us most of the way. And today up out of Nakusp to Slocan Lake and New Denver. Some more climbing and a hot day for this type of riding. Finished off today with a Buddist Feast made with fresh local organic veggies and a cool swim in the lake. Here’s the view from the camp. Off to Winlaw, Castlegar and points west tomorrow.

Lumby Trailhead

Fantastic weather for the start of the Lumby Loop. Also the perfect time to pull into the Lumby Lions Campground. The long weekend crowds are gone. Thanks again to Mike and Betty for letting us store our truck at their place.
Tents are up. Dinner over. Time to dream of the road ahead.

Stickman arrives

The Stickman has arrived at base camp. The trip to Megan’s place in Kelowna was uneventful except for the fact that we knew when we were crossing the line from bad Quesnel weather to the better southern weather. It happened at McLeese Lake. Like someone had used a massive paintbrush filled with grey paint, the edge of the rainy weather slowly moved over our heads until we were bathed in blue sky sunshine. Here in the Okanagan, it’s been warm and sunny. Keep it going weather God. We’re off to the trailhead in Lumby tomorrow. We’ll meet up with Marg at Tammy Mead’s Aunt and Uncle’s place. Thanks, Mike and Betty Wilson for letting us park our vehicles at your place!
On Tuesday we’ll head down the Creighton Valley road to Cherryville and the Goldpanner Campground for the first ‘shakedown’ ride. The next day is going to be spectacular. Up the hill to the Monashee Summit and then down to the ferry at Needles. We’ll stay at the Tulakuk Campground in Fauquier. Beautiful weather predicted… all systems go.
We’ll post again along the road.

The road awaits…

We’re down to the wire at the Studio.  Last classes, last clients and then we’re on the road.  Officially our tour starts in Lumby next Monday August 1st.  Bikes are checked out, packing lists confirmed and bodies prepped.  Let’s go!  Check back here for updates down the road.

Heather, Chris (and Marg!)

Here’s a photo from a previous tour… Lewiston Hill, Lewiston, Idaho

On the road again

Our yearly cycle tour is just around the corner.  August 1 we’re leaving Lumby, BC for a three-week circle tour through the Slocan, Kettle, Okanagan and Similkameen valleys.  This year we have our faithful touring companion Marg Watt accompanying us again.  Thanks for being with us Marg!

Check back periodically to the Xercise Files Blog to see what we’ve been up to.  We’ll try to post as often as we can.

We’d like to give a huge thank you to the lovely Ms. Cheryl for hosting classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays from Aug. 2 to Aug. 18.  Check our calendar for all the info.

We’ll see you in September.

Chris & Heather

What’s up at BOOTCAMP?

H3F BOOTCAMP season is underway!

I hear from Chris that the first-ever Quesnel Men’s BOOTCAMP is doing well apart from getting soaked to the skin on Monday.  Nobody’s complaining though!  As with any fitness program Chris plans to slowly ramp it up during the next 8 weeks.  One of his guys already suggested some ‘goals’ they can work towards.  Good stuff!  We’ll look forward to seeing the results.

The Ladies BOOTCAMP is going really well so far… from my vantage point.  Have to say we’ve got a fantastic group of people this year.  (Don’t we always?)  Lot’s of laughs and people giving 100%… the way it should be.   Everyone has their own goals and reasons for being there.  Now it’s YOUR turn on this blog:

Why are you in BOOTCAMP?

Share your thoughts with us.  We’d love to hear ‘em.

In Health & Fitness,

Heather

Barkerville Rush Relay 2011

So, are you one of the lucky runners taking part in this year’s BRR?  This year is the 8th annual running of this super-popular relay.  I know there’s lots of training going on…  a few injuries too.  Slow and easy wins the race if you’re just ramping up for the run.

Lend a Hand

Let’s hear from you.  If you’ve been in the relay before, what advice do you have for someone who hasn’t?  Training tips?  Bear stories?  Carbo-loading (or not)?  Coffee before the run?  What should you wear?

Oh, and just for fun, here’s a photo of Chris running in the Billy Barker Days Run sometime in the last century.  Whats with the pink shorts?

In Health & Fitness,

Heather

What’s YOUR role in health care?

How’s YOUR health care?

As our Federal election looms, I think it’s worth asking a few questions about health care.  As citizens, to what degree should we be in charge of our own health?  Is it fair that one person can abuse their body and another take care of it while we all pay for high health care costs?  Should we be accountable for our actions and choices?  What could be an incentive for this?

OK, so given all that, it’s your turn…  how would you answer the questions above? 

Consider some stats from the Canadian Diabetes Assn:

“Approximately 10% of people with diabetes have type 1 diabetes. The number of people with type 2 diabetes is increasing dramatically due to a number of factors:

• The population is aging.
• Obesity rates are rising.
• Canadian lifestyles are increasingly sedentary.
• Aboriginal people are three to five times more likely than the general population to develop type 2 diabetes.
• Almost 80% of new Canadians come from populations that are at higher risk for type 2 diabetes. These include people of Aboriginal, Hispanic, Asian, South Asian or African descent.

To date there is no proven way to prevent type 1 diabetes. The onset of type 2 diabetes may be prevented or delayed, through increased physical activity, healthy eating and weight loss.”  Sound familiar?

 Consider some stats from Health Canada:

“Between the late 1980s and today, the prevalence of obesity increased significantly in both the United States and Canada.  In Canadian men the prevalence rose by approximately 10 percentage points and among men in the United States, the prevalence rose by 12 percentage points. Among women, the increase was approximately 8 percentage points in Canada and approximately 10 percentage points in the United States.”

Lastly, what’s your view of our Prime Minister’s proposed Fitness Tax Credit?

In Health & Fitness, Heather

OK, now you’re motivated, how do you stay there?

Consider this:  You’re working towards your fitness goals but little by little those inspired thoughts that originally motivated you are fading.  You’ve reached a dreaded ‘plateau’… kind of a never-never land where those once-vibrant moments of clarity and purpose are now shadows of their former selves… ragged rafts cast adrift on the sea of despair.  Well, maybe it’s not quite that bad, but you get the picture.

You’re off the rails!  

Here are my thoughts:

You need to have a conversation with yourself where the main topic of discussion is your health.  IT IS the MOST important thing you have and you need to take care of it.  Be real and if you have to, have that inner voice that wants to keep going write a letter to the voice that is abandoning ship.  You know, the side that has the habit of subjugating your dreams.  Express your true feelings about what YOU really want.  Don’t wait for a miracle… see the goal… keep it in your sights… make it happen… Life is too short.

And, no more excuses.  I’m going to write a book about excuses.  They’re just that… excuses.  Whistlestops on the way to failure.

So now I’ve had my rant, what keeps you motivated?

Heather