The 90′s

I spent the first half of the 90′s afraid and searching for myself. You can consider those years Junior and Senior high. I was small, I was smart, I fought my battles with words. I had no real friends. In the second half of the 90′s I found myself. I found the outgoing, creative, leader. I found this person by joining a club in University which gave me people to look up to and learn from; a few years later I was the president. I was still young. I liked the power, I didn’t take the opportunity, as much as I should have, to teach those who were coming up the ranks. In the late 90′s I discovered a sport called Adventure Racing.

The 2000′s

I spent the first half of 2000 living the life of a dream student. I had a full scholarship and I was part of a program that we were able to travel the world for robotics competition. I could sleep in every day, I had minimal work to do, yet I was essentially being paid to go to school and play with robots. I followed my robotics life to Medicine Hat, where I’d meet my future wife, and where I’d perform robotics research for 5 years. I hated Medicine Hat and my job and begun looking for new financial adventures. I began investing in real estate, we have properties now all over Alberta. I realized in the end it was necessarily for me, but lesson learned. Eventually the unhappiness in Medicine Hat took me back to Edmonton to work in SR&ED with the CRA. Also kind of dull but at least I was out of Medicine Hat. Little did I know how much I didn’t exactly like Edmonton either. After 2 years in Edmonton we were off to North Vancouver to begin the 2010′s. What a difference this has made!

In 2002 I raced in my first adventure race, by the end of the 2000′s I had raced across the world, won a world championship in endurance mountain biking, put together teams, took teams apart, etc. I have raced with amazing people and met so many incredible athletes. Just recently I have realized it’s not the racing that drives me, it’s the people, it’s the relationships.

What did you do the past 20 years?  More importantly what do the 2010′s hold for you?

So the past 20 years have contained more than a life time of experiences, and things are just getting started in my mind. More adventures to come, more experiences to have, more relationships to build. I’m very excited for what the 2010′s bring.

The reason I’m sharing all of this with you is because of a blog written by Seth Godin this morning, basically asking the question, What have you been up to and more importantly what are you doing next?

Seth Godin wrote this on the subject:

Hindsight is 20/20. People are already looking back on the 1990s and wishing that they had had more courage. When you look back on the 2000s, what will you have to say for yourself? [The following is reprinted from 9 years ago].

Here’s a question that you should clip out and tape to your bathroom mirror. It might save you some angst 15 years from now. The question is, What did you do back when interest rates were at their lowest in 50 years, crime was close to zero, great employees were looking for good jobs, computers made product development and marketing easier than ever, and there was almost no competition for good news about great ideas?

Many people will have to answer that question by saying, “I spent my time waiting, whining, worrying, and wishing.” Because that’s what seems to be going around these days. Fortunately, though, not everyone will have to confess to having made such a bad choice.

While your company has been waiting for the economy to rebound, Reebok has launched Travel Trainers, a very cool-looking lightweight sneaker for travelers. They are selling out in Japan — from vending machines in airports!

While Detroit’s car companies have been whining about gas prices and bad publicity for SUVs (SUVs are among their most profitable products), Honda has been busy building cars that look like SUVs but get twice the gas mileage. The Honda Pilot was so popular, it had a waiting list.

While Africa’s economic plight gets a fair amount of worry, a little startup called ApproTEC is actually doing something about it. The new income that its products generate accounts for 0.5% of the entire GDP of Kenya. How? It manufactures a $75 device that looks a lot like a StairMaster. But it’s not for exercise. Instead, ApproTEC sells the machine to subsistence farmers, who use its stair-stepping feature to irrigate their land. People who buy it can move from subsistence farming to selling the additional produce that their land yields — and triple their annual income in the first year of using the product.

While you’ve been wishing for the inspiration to start something great, thousands of entrepreneurs have used the prevailing sense of uncertainty to start truly remarkable companies. Lucrative Web businesses, successful tool catalogs, fast-growing PR firms — all have started on a shoestring, and all have been profitable ahead of schedule. The Web is dead, right? Well, try telling that to Meetup.com, a new Web site that helps organize meetings anywhere and on any topic. It has 200,000 registered users — and counting.

Maybe you already have a clipping on your mirror that asks you what you did during the 1990s. What’s your biggest regret about that decade? Do you wish that you had started, joined, invested in, or built something? Are you left wishing that you’d at least had the courage to try? In hindsight, the 1990s were the good old days. Yet so many people missed out. Why? Because it’s always possible to find a reason to stay put, to skip an opportunity, or to decline an offer. And yet, in retrospect, it’s hard to remember why we said no and easy to wish that we had said yes.

The thing is, we still live in a world that’s filled with opportunity. In fact, we have more than an opportunity — we have an obligation. An obligation to spend our time doing great things. To find ideas that matter and to share them. To push ourselves and the people around us to demonstrate gratitude, insight, and inspiration. To take risks and to make the world better by being amazing.

Are these crazy times? You bet they are. But so were the days when we were doing duck-and-cover air-raid drills in school, or going through the scares of Three Mile Island and Love Canal. There will always be crazy times.

So stop thinking about how crazy the times are, and start thinking about what the crazy times demand. There has never been a worse time for business as usual. Business as usual is sure to fail, sure to disappoint, sure to numb our dreams. That’s why there has never been a better time for the new. Your competitors are too afraid to spend money on new productivity tools. Your bankers have no idea where they can safely invest. Your potential employees are desperately looking for something exciting, something they feel passionate about, something they can genuinely engage in and engage with.

You get to make a choice. You can remake that choice every day, in fact. It’s never too late to choose optimism, to choose action, to choose excellence. The best thing is that it only takes a moment — just one second — to decide.

Before you finish this paragraph, you have the power to change everything that’s to come. And you can do that by asking yourself (and your colleagues) the one question that every organization and every individual needs to ask today: Why not be great?

I read a great post by Lisa de Speville this morning and she quoted a post on Seth Godin’s blog.

The other day, after a talk to some graduate students at the Julliard School, one asked, “In The Dip, you talk about the advantage of mastery vs. being a mediocre jack of all trades. So does it make sense for me to continue focusing on mastering the violin?”
Without fear of error, I think it’s easy to say that this woman will never become the best violinist in the world. That’s because it’s essentially impossible to be the one and only best violinist in the world. There might be 5,000 or 10,000 people who are so technically good at it as to be indistinguishable to all but a handful of orchestra listeners. This is true for many competitive fields–we might want to fool ourselves into thinking that we have become the one and only best at a technical skill, but it’s extremely unlikely.
The quest for technical best is a form of hiding. You can hide from the marketplace because you’re still practicing your technique. And you can hide from the hard work of real art and real connection because you decide that success lies in being the best technically, at getting a 99 instead of a 98 on an exam.
What we can become the best at is being an idiosyncratic exception to the standard. Joshua Bell is often mentioned (when violinists are mentioned at all) not because he is technically better than every other violinst, but because of his charisma and willingness to cross categories. He’s the best in the world at being Josh Bell, not the best in the world at playing the violin.

The very simple moral to this story is that it’s okay to not be THE best, but as long as you’re being YOUR best you will have a happy and successful life.

This truly is an inspirational story. It goes to prove you can do anything if you set your mind to it. I love how he shows his gratitude for running as “it’s keeping him alive”.

A 100-year-old man has made headlines around the world after completing a weekend marathon in Toronto and setting a world record in the process.

Fauja Singh of India — nicknamed “The Turbaned Tornado” — took eight hours Sunday to run Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon.

In doing so, he became the world’s oldest marathon runner. The centenarian’s feat will go down in the Guinness Book of World Records.

The marathon was 42.2 kilometres.

Singh took up running at the age of 89, according to the marathon’s website.

“‘I have said it before that I will carry on running as it is keeping me alive,’” Singh was quoted as saying.

He reportedly trains each day, jogging and walking an average of 12 to 16 kilometres.

© Copyright (c) Postmedia News

FEAT Canada (Fascinating Expedition Adventure Talks) has been confirmed and will be taking place on November 15th.  Already we have 5 confirmed speakers, 2 tentative and many other hopefuls.  The night expects to be full of dynamic speakers taking through the Ultimate Airmchair Experience.

This video features highlights and funnies from the talks at FEAT Cape Town, held at the Artscape Theatre on Saturday, 12 February 2011.

I have recently discovered something about expectations.  I have known for a while that I place very high expectations on myself.  Only recently (in the 6 months) have I realized that I, whether intentionally or not, place similar expectations on others.  This has affected many relationships with individuals (e.g. family, friends, coworkers) and with teams I’ve been a member of (e.g. hockey, adventure racing, personal development).  It has not only affected relationships, but it has essentially ruined them.

So while I can attempt to examine the reasons for why I have placed these high expectations on myself and others (things like I’ve never felt good enough or I’ve felt like I had to achieve more) the real thing for me to realize and the most important thing for me to realize is that I do it and that it IS affecting others and my relationships with others.  It is something that I do so much that it has literally become a part of who I am and a part of the framework which defines me, or rather, defines the way that I interact and have relations with others.  Thus, because it is such a huge part of who I am, the harder it is to change.  But that’s what I need to do for me and for success to occur in the relationships I still have in my life.

How do I change?

The only way to change yourself is to become aware of the past, next to become aware of the now and finally to take the power of understanding the now to inflict change on how you’re going to present yourself in the future.

I have very strong opinions.  Many times my opinions or comments put others down.  Is it because I am trying to prop myself up by putting others down, or is it because I need to prove to myself that I am better than others.  I’ve been told for years that I am arrogant, or cocky.  I haven’t necessarily listened, instead I have spun it around and said, “No your wrong, I’m just very confident in my abilities”.  What if actually it was, “I’m terrified that I’m not better than you, but by putting on this external face I can make you believe I am better than you and therefore confident”?   Only a week ago I wrote in my notes, “Unfortunately some people see me as being overly aggressive, arrogant, cocky.  I see it as confidence.  Are they the same?  Am I the one who is blind?”  I think I was blind.  I was blind.

In the past I have proven to myself and others through competition (especially athletically and earlier on in my life academically) that I wasn’t just arrogant or cocky.  Through competition I could prove that I was better.  Thus, through competition, I fed myself the belief that it was actually confidence in myself that I had, instead of arrogance or cockiness.  Similarly, competition has been about me striving to outdo someone else for acknowledgement.  Striving for acknowledgement, or love, has driven me to continue to compete.

BEATING to be BETTER

By BEATING others in competition it proved to me that I was better.  Just like my opinions and comments I am trying to prove that I am BETTER.  The scary part of that statement is the previous statement.  By BEATING others it has proven to me that I am better…  By BEATING OTHERS…  How scary is that?  How scary is it, that the only way I know to get acknowledgement is to BEAT others.  If it was in just a 100m run that’d be one thing, but the scary part, is that in my life it has ALSO been to mentally and emotionally BEAT others to get that acknowledgement.  Starting with my brother as early as I can remember to a comment I made just this past afternoon I have always beat down one person to get acknowledgment from another.  It’s taken 33 years to finally catch up to me, and the result is that it’s leaving me alone.

The steps to invoke change?

In my thoughts this evening, I have painfully become aware of the past.  The goal now is to catch myself in the present so I can be who I want to be and have the relationships I want to have in the future.  Unfortunately, the athletic drive in me to compete is also fostering the behaviour in me to prove on a daily basis that I am better than others.  In other words, by always training and having that next athletic competition around the corner it is impossible for me to separate myself from that drive to be better in an athletic competition and the drive to be better than others period.  By training for athletic competition my mind will be focused on being better and that will inherently affect my non-athletic life.  It is impossible for it not to.  You can’t just separate different parts of your life.  You can’t just turn the switch on or off.

The decision

So through the help of others and after sitting awake for the past 2 hours I’ve decided that I’m going to take a break from athletic competition.  I am going to take the rest of 2011 off and all of 2012.  This basically means, that nothing big will be planned for 2013 since it some times takes a year or more to ramp up the proper training to be where I want to be.  The plan, as of tonight (this morning) is to re-evaluate my athletic pursuits in January of 2013.

For the sake of my remaining relationships, for the sake of myself, this is the best decision I can make!

Sometimes the hardest thing to do is to get to the start line of a big race.  You have to get a team together, you have to round up the gear, you have to train for months or years, you have to take care of all the logistics, etc. etc. etc.  It’s an expedition just getting ready for the expedition.  It literally takes months of active work to get prepared for a 6 day adventure race.  As we put the final touches and prepare the maps etc. for the race it’s time to show a little bit of gratitude for everyone who has helped me get to the start line.

Tanya

My number 1 supporter is my wife.  Without the support of my wife, I wouldn’t be at the start line today.  She was there when I was training at 5am, or heading to bed at 1am.  She was there driving me and Matt to a training destination and she was there when I was looking for someone to tow up a mountain.  She was there when the bills were tight and I was buying more gear for the race.  She was there when the stress was on at work and I needed a break at home.  Thank you for your support and getting me to the start line.

Claire, Matt and Nicki

My teammates are amazing.  They all have crazy busy lives, yet they all have sacrificed a small part of their lives to be ready for this race.  Claire and her husband Mike just finished the biggest Art show of their lives for their business at the Western Art Show at the Calgary Stampede.  Matt is peaking with two brand new businesses as well as being a full time baseball coach for his sons’ baseball team.  Nicki is training hard for ultramarathoning life and just came off an impressive podium at Sinister 7.  They all have been working so hard to get to the start line.

Sponsors

As always, my sponsors and our team sponsors have helped us get to the start line.  Personally I’d like to thank John Henry Bikes and the guys in the shop for doing everything possible to get my bike ready for race day.  I’d also like to thank our team sponsors, Innovative Fitness getting us fit an ready, Ay-Up lights for providing us with the BRIGHTEST lights and LIGHTEST lights on the course, Icebreaker for the fantastic socks and clothing, and Sole for the footbeds and post race sandals!

Everyone else

To everyone else along the way.  I’m thankful for my parents who raised me to be who I am, to be competitive, to strive to be the best I can be.  I’m thankful for my various trainers. I’m thankful for my friends who have supported me.  I’m thankful for my work colleagues who sometimes didn’t understand where I was only to realize I was out biking in the rain.  I’m thankful for my health, for my attitude and my passions.  I’m thankful for Eco-challenge back in 1997 that got me hooked on this amazing sport!

Follow our team online

For those who want to follow the race, please do as the live page has just been published at: http://www.raidthenorth.com/RTNx/2011/livecoverage.php

Icebreaker Socks Review – Take 2

A while back I posted my first Icebreaker Socks Review but I figured it was time to post an update on just how much not only I am enjoying these socks but how much the rest of my team are enjoying them as well.  Like I mentioned before, these socks are the most comfortable socks I’ve ever worn running.  The comfort, the moisture control, the specific padding all adds to the most enjoyable foot experience I have ever had with a specific pair of socks.  Below are some comments from my team mates.

Matthew Young

As an avid outdoor athlete I have always battled with proper footwear. After being introduced to icebreaker socks, I can finally say I’ve found the right fit. Icebreaker socks keep my feet dry, cushioned and cool through training
sessions in any climate. For the 1st time in a long time  my feet are not suffering when the rest of my body is.

Claire Perks

I thought I had found the ultimate sock and pretty much had professed myself a ‘one-sock brand’ girl.  Then a team-mate of mine got me a couple pairs of Ice Breaker socks.  And, of course, I had to eat my words.  The Ice Breaker socks are absolutely fantastic.  My favorite part is that my feet are warm no matter what …. mud, rain, lakes, puddles doesn’t matter.  The ergonomics of the socks are really well done so they stay in place and don’t sag.  The seamless toe is perfect and can’t be felt at all.  I guess I’m still a ‘one-sock-brand girl’ … it’s just Ice Breaker now!

Nicki Rehn

I love wool. And so I’m going to make a shameless pitch for my favourite clothing brand, Icebreaker. I have Icebreaker shirts, Icebreaker bike shorts, an Icebreaker hoody, Icebreaker socks and my trade secret……Icrebreaker panties. Wool doesn’t smell (which I tested on my 960 km run down the Bibbulmum with only one shirt), and I don’t like to launder, so I was really happy when Icebreaker helped me out with a pro deal on their gear. Saaweeeet!!!

More about Nicki’s love for sheep can be found on Nicki’s blog.

An innocent sheep

Baaa baa baaaa baa ba baaaaaaaaaaa baa baaaa baa baa baaaa baa ba baaaaaaaaaaa baa baaaa baa baa baaaa baa ba baaaaaaaaaaa baa baaaa baa baa baaaa baa ba baaaaaaaaaaa baa baaaa baa baa baaaa baa ba baaaaaaaaaaa baa baaaa baa baa baaaa baa ba baaaaaaaaaaa baa baaaa baa.

Translation

We’ve been loving wool for years, it’s about time someone asked us for our input!

 

This guy embodies the spirit and freedom of someone who can get up an ride a bike!

I’m part of a team helping build bikes for 100 underprivileged kids on the North Shore. We are raising money to fund the bikes, helmets, etc. that we are going to give these kids. For all of you who once got their first bike, look back and remember the freedom it gave you as you could ride off and, if even for a short moment, escape everything around you. It’s this sense of freedom that we’re trying to provide for these many young kids who’ve known nothing but hardship for most of their life.

In November we’re going to get together, the kids are going to show up, and we’re going to build the bikes right in front of the kids for them. I truly is going to be an amazing experience. However, to make this happen I need your help. If you could please click on the link above and then click on the “DONATE” button on the right hand side I’d be very grateful. If you feel the need to forward this on to your bike friends as well I’d really appreciate it.

Being a high-level athlete isn’t all champagne and victory parties. There is a lot of hard work done by the athlete and also by the team supporting the athlete. My team has really stepped it up in the past few weeks helping me keep my body in tip-top shape and by keeping my gear running smooth.

Dr. John Eaton

Chiropractor

Dr. Eaton is my chiropractor and an ART specialist.  He works out of his small little office up on Lonsdale near the London Drugs.

Dr. Eaton has been helping me for the past several weeks get over some back/neck issues as well as helping me overcome some of the stresses in my life.

Not only is Dr. Eaton great at what he does, but he’s also a very comforting man to talk to about racing, training, politics etc.  Dr. Eaton bikes to work every day and is always smiling, just like his picture to the right.  He truly is living his passion and it is amazing to have someone so great on my team.

Thank you Dr. Eaton for all that you do and thank you for being such a great help to both me and my wife!

Peter Wahlen

Massage Therapist

Peter Wahlen is my massage therapist.  Peter has worked on me a few times now and he truly is one of the best athletic massage therapists I’ve been too.  If you’re an athlete Peter is the guy to see.

Peter is great at diagnosing my issues and targeting the areas that are really having issues versus the areas I think are having issues.  He gets in to those deep areas that I never knew existed and it takes the knots out.

Peter, like Dr. Eaton is great to talk to.  We can talk about the North Shore riding, Lance Armstrong and pretty much anything else.  For a man who’s 6’5″ he truly is comforting to be around and he provides an absolutely fabulous experience every time.  I haven’t seen Peter enough but after a visit today, it’s apparent that I definitely need to see him more.

Thank you Peter for everything you do and for really giving my body the relief it needs.

Willie Cromack

John Henry Bikes

Willie Cromack is the owner/manager of John Henry Bikes.  Willie was the first person I met when I moved to the North Shore.  The boys at Specialized connected me with Willie and thanks to him and his crew I’ve been well taken care of.

The crew at John Henry Bikes has gone out of their way not only to accept and help me but also my wife.  I truly am thankful for that.  They have an awesome staff and they always look after my biking needs.

As a proud team member of Polartec Team John Henry Bikes powered by Ethical Bean I’m excited to be helping to raise money to build 100 bikes for the underprivileged riders on the North Shore.  If you want to donate to the cause please do so here.

Thank you Willie for all of your support, for your crew’s efforts in the shop and for all the great gear, including my latest pair of Lolite Ryder sunglasses!  You rock baby!