It Starts Now

Sooo, I'm sure that you know that I had a baby about 3 months ago. He is the most adorable little munchkin and I love being a mom and being on maternity leave. That being said, I still find myself getting really bored and looking for something to motivate myself to get back into shape. Sooooo.. when I heard that Ironman Canada did not sell out for the first time and that there would be a few hundred extra spots up for grabs at an online site.. I thought.."Hmmmmmm.. why not?" I called up my friend Smak and convinced her to try and get a spot as well. Well, the race sold out in a matter of minutes and as luck would have it, we were BOTH able to get spots! And a few minutes later.. I started panicking with the realization of what I had done.. hehe.

I mean, I just had a baby so my body is definitely outta shape and being a mom is a 24/7 job so I have to do all my training when Evan is asleep.. Oh, the list could go on why I will fail miserably... BUT, then I think, that's why it's such an appealing challenge. That's WHY I want to do it.

So I basically have 11 months to get this post-partem body ready to complete an Ironman. Nuff said. It starts now.

Oh, and here's a little taste of why I love this sport so much. Check out the link.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sx8ae4TfwrE&NR=1

Silver Simon.

I haven't written in awhile b/c I've been busy being a mom. And unfortunately, I haven't even been able to watch the olympic coverage.. until Monday night. I had to watch the Men's Triathlon final b/c our own Simon Whitfield would be racing and I knew he would be a medal contender. You see, this is Simon's 3rd olympics and I hope you remember his gutsy performance 8 years ago in Sydney that basically put Canadian triathlon on the map. Many people have said that Simon was getting too old and his career was pretty much done. Well, this 34-year old has shown that he's still a well-oiled machine and that he can race with the best of them. Simon never gave up during the entire race and when he threw his hat down to start the last 200 meters of the race, I thought, "GO!!!" as I cheered him on from my sofa.

I actually met Simon in person at a Nike run a few years ago. A totally cool guy. I respect the fact that not only is he a fierce competitor, but at the same time has complete respect for his competitors. If you read his blog: http://simonwhitfield.blogspot.com , you'll find that he accidentally bumped into Jan Frodeno, (the Gold medalist), the next day and asked to get a picture together. Totally down to Earth.

Congrats Simon. You make me proud to be Canadian.

PS: Hats off also to Colin Jenkins who boosted Simon along the way. What a team player.

Well-done please.

Just a quick little update on the little guy in my belly. Niblet is quite the active fellow but I love feeling him kick and move and squirm about. He especially likes it when I have a good meal or a nice sugary drink. In fact, yesterday, I indulged in a burger (must get iron from beef...) and he was very energetic into the wee hours of the night.

Braxton Hicks contractions are coming on full force these days. They aren't painful but they literally make my stomach hard as a rock for about 60 seconds, then they subside. Also, I am quite breathless when I go up a flight of stairs.. In my head I'm thinking, "Man, I'm outta shape!" But then I realize that my lung capacity is but a mere 50% of what is used to be..

So all is good. Niblet is done all his development and now he is just gaining some fat. If he were to be born today, he would be A-OK. But for now, I'll just let him cook for about 5 more weeks. Well-done please.

32 years

No silly, I'm not referring to my age but it does coincide funnily with my bday. 32 years represents the number of consecutive years that my school's x-country team has won the regional championship which took place yesterday. 32 years!!! That's pretty phenomenal if you stop and think about it.

For the past 6 weeks, students have been training almost on a daily basis, arriving at 7am to do lap after lap and stair after stair. I am in awe of my students' dedication and commitment to this team. While watching them race yesterday, I always get a bit emotional when I see that special kid running like the wind, intensity in his eyes, gutting it out for the finish. Everybody knows that running is not "fun", in fact, it can be quite painful. But my kids have so much heart that it is simply the best feeling in the world to watch them run.

I am also honoured to coach this team. You see, back in the day when I was a kid, I also was a part of the legendary "Sea of Blue". And now in my adult years, I can give back to the school as their coach.

My kids truly inspire me. They are what make my job so wonderful that I wouldn't trade it for any job in the world. Here is an excerpt that I wrote for the school newsletter that kind of explains why I love coaching running..

Sea of BLUE Victorious at Cross-Country Meet!

On Tuesday, May 6th, 130 Hillcrest students participated in the south Peel regional cross-country meet at Erindale park. The race was approximately 3km and consisted of 6 divisions. As a team, Hillcrest dominated the day to capture 1st place in 4 divisions and resulted in winning the overall championship, for the 32nd consecutive year!

Every year, colleagues, parents, and teacher-coaches from other schools ask us, “How does Hillcrest do it? How do you manage to win year after year?” It’s kind of funny, because sometimes it’s difficult to explain what seems like such an unbelievable phenomenon. I believe that the championship legacy of the “Sea of Blue”, long established by Ms. Walter, remains the reason because it encourages students to participate and belong to that tradition; the desire to become a part of something very special that they will never forget. I believe that excellence encourages excellence but please understand that cross-country running at Hillcrest is not an enigma. In fact, all it takes is hard work, dedication, and stamina. The mental toughness is just as hard to develop as the physical toughness. It is so amazing to see students bare their hearts and souls on race day and in my opinion, nothing is more satisfying and wonderful to experience as a coach.

What is even more amazing is to witness this passion for running continue through the years. Just a couple weekends ago at the Mississauga Marathon, I cheered on countless ex-Hillcrest students race in their first 5K, 10K, and even half-marathon race!

One day, I predict that Hillcrest may even, (gasp!) come 2nd at the regional meet. But I am ok with that. Winning is a mere result, but I truly believe that it’s the journey getting there that is more important.

Sperm meet Egg

I am 30 weeks today. Crazy. Who woulda thought that after 2 years of trying to conceive, that I will be popping out a little human being in roughly 10 weeks. I am SO excited.

Let me tell you a little story. This conception was not easy. In fact, it was an emotional rollercoaster ride. I don't want to get into the nitty-gritty details but I went from 1 specialist to another, being told 1 thing and then being told the complete opposite. For 2 weeks straight, my life consisted of getting needles to get my blood tested and getting ultrasounds to track my follicles. I had to do this roughly every 2nd or 3rd day and then repeat the next month. The doctors put me in the "unexplained" category. These kinda things definitely take a toll on one's mental state. Trying to conceive became an all-consuming state of mind. It obviously became an obsession, and I honestly don't think that I'm an obsessively-natured person. I'm the type of person that usually succeeds in achieving the goals that I set out for, so this was a big slap in the face.

My counterpart was the most positive person in the world. Well, I don't know about you, but when something you want SO badly doesn't happen. You basically feel like a failure. I am used to relying on my body to be strong and doing what I want it to do, so when it didn't, I felt like my body was letting me down.

I tried different things. I prayed. I popped pills, I took injections. I stopped running, I gained fat. I took TONS of multivitamins and other natural stuff. I stayed positive.

In the end, my mom says it was a miracle. Well, I do believe that life is a miracle so I guess I would agree with her. Was it technological innovation or did I just allow my body to get 'lucky'? We will never know.

What I do know is that there are many woman out there that are still trying and aren't as lucky as me. I sympathize with them. Some couples go through miscarriage after miscarriage or spend thousands of dollars to have sperm meet an egg in a petri dish. The reason why I wrote this post wasn't because I want you to empathize with me. Rather, I just wanted you to know that there is this taboo subject called infertility that no one likes to talk about. I've met so many women that are starting to lose hope. This post is for those women so that they may stay strong and not to lose faith in the miracle of life.

POP!

It's official, I've 'popped'. For those doubters out there, the next time you see me, I can give you an "up close and personal" view of my outtie belly button. It's quite attractive, not to mention the beautiful stretch marks that are starting to appear all over my belly.

But things are still going pretty well for me. The PUPPS episode has calmed down (thank GOD!) but sometimes after swimming, my skin gets irritated and then breaks out for about 10 minutes.. Other than that, I'm starting to slow down my level of activity. I love naps.

So, the countdown is on. 10 weeks of work left until my maternity leave begins and I am SO excited.

I can't wait to be a mom.

Niblet

I was planning on blogging about my pregnancy awhile ago but then decided against it because I was feeling kinda superstitious. In any case, I am currently 7 months pregnant and entering my 3rd trimester so it's evidently official, I'm having a BABY!!

And I do apologize for not blogging in, like, FOREVER! Let's just say that I'm lazy and that I am never too inspired to write because being eloquently witty requires way too much effort on my part. So, I will try and catch you up to speed on all that has happened (baby-related) in my life for the past 7 months. I do hope that this isn't too long-winded..

If you were wondering about the title of this post, it refers to the name that my husband gave the little fetus when he was literally just a 'niblet'. The name stuck and we often refer to our growing baby as Niblet. Oh, and Niblet is a HE.

So, the past 7 months have passed fairly quickly and without too much physical discomfort. In actual fact, it has been awesome and I've been able to continue my daily lifestyle without too many changes. I have spent most of my energy on eating healthy, staying fit, and getting decent rest. Fortunately, I had zero morning sickness in my first tri but I did tire really quickly so daily naps helped a lot! The only major symptom that I've had to deal with for the past 7 months is a bit of constipation and bloatedness... until just recently..

Last week was my toughest week. Practically overnight, my body exploded into a series of hives. It actually started on my belly and I thought the itchy rashes would pass. But then, the hives radiated to my thighs, butt, arms, and back. It totally freaked me out. I went to the doctor and was diagnosed with PUPPS. Apparently, it occurs in about 1% of pregnant woman, most often in their 1st pregnancy entering their 3rd trimester. And the really wierd part, the majority of woman suffering from PUPPS have boys! Wierd huh? There is no known cause, the treatment is symptomatic, and fortunately, the baby is not affected. I don't want to go into detail but being itchy all over can basically make one feel like they're going insane. It's not fun. For example, it is currently 5:40am and I'm up because I can't sleep due to itching. FUN. Anyways, it's been about a week and the hives have gone down so I'm optimistic that they will pass.

If you are ever planning on getting pregnant, here is my word of womanly advice: EXERCISE. Now, I know that most people will say to get plenty of rest and not to over do it. That is quite obvious, but let me tell you, exercising has been key to my levels of energy and I certainly believe that if I didn't exercise, then my chances of getting: hypertension, gestational diabetes, edema, back pain, varicose veins, pre-eclampsia, and all those other afflictions that pregnant woman MAY get when they gain 30+lbs and are sedentary for 9 months, would certainly be WAY higher. Now, I'm not saying that all pregnant woman that aren't active will suffer these symptoms, but medical studies have shown the merits of exercise during pregnancy. Although, it's kind of funny, when you tell people that you went for a run at 7 months pregnant, they kind of give you a look like, "I think you're hurting the baby.." C'mon people! I mean, I'm pregnant, not sick or disabled! Anyways, just trust your body and monitor your intensity.

Hmmmm.. where was I? Oh yeah, 7 months preggo with a BOY!!! I am sooo excited and totally ready to be a mom. Dad is good too. I was kinda scared that he wasn't ready or as excited as me but to quote the movie JUNO, "A woman becomes a mother when she gets pregnant and a man becomes a father when he sees the baby." I think that quote makes sense. Although, the moment I knew when he was mentally ready was when he said to me one night as he was rubbing my belly, "I think I'm falling in love with someone that I haven't met yet.." Awwww.

So, there's my update. I promise I will write more later, but for now, I think I will catch a few more winks. Although Niblet is up and kicking and it doesn't feel like he's ready to retire. I guess he's just getting me ready for what's to come in the near future..

6am

One by one they got out and left.. to go on and start their work day. And so I was left alone one summer morning in a huge 6-lane pool. Sweet. My body was the only ripple in the water. My breath was relaxed and calm as I finished my swim sets.

There is something so satisfyingly peaceful about swimming SOLO in a huge pool during the wee hours of the morning and experiencing the sun rise through the windowed walls.

Life is good.

Mississauga Marathon 2007 Race Report

Disclaimer: Please don't read this unless you are REALLY interested in running and love to get your geek on by reading people's race reports.

This was my 5th marathon but my 1st in 3 years so I was very nervous about race day. I also had a lot of self-induced pressure built up but was trying to hide it from everyone..

The night before I spent around 2 hours outside on my bike watching my students finish the 10K. Not the smartest thing to do before a marathon.. But my kids are worth it.. Especially when one of the teams came in 1st with a time of 36 minutes!! They truly inspire me.

I got home, ate pasta, drank some Neocitron b/c I was scared that I'd get the sniffles and chills, went to bed.

Sunday, May 13th. Mother's Day, the perfect day for a marathon. Morning temperature was 6C so I started out in a sweatshirt and shorts. Packed 2 gels, red gatorade, and 2 advil. Good to go.

I couldn't find my running buddies so I started out solo. I decided not to wear my Garmin and simply wear my watch and pace band. I had 2 goals: 1 was a personal best time. 2nd was to qualify for Boston. I knew it would be tough but I knew I could come close..

I started off at a 3:35 pace and felt strong for the 1st 10K. The 2nd 10K was also good because I was running through my neighbourhood and saw some familiar faces and my spirits were lifted. At the half mark, I felt great and I smiled to myself as I completed my personal best half-marathon time. As I was entering the industrial part of the course, I decided to put on my iPod and let music carry me a bit. At the 25K, I was still on course for a 3:35 but I knew I would be slowing down shortly. I drank gatorade with a bit of water the entire time and I felt great. I usually suffer from a bit of stomach trouble (especially with gels) so I was really happy.

30K was when the pain started.. My legs were getting tighter and tighter and everytime I went up a little hill, my calves screamed.. At this point, I swallowed the 2 advil in the hopes that it would dull the pain a bit. 32K - would I hit the wall? Almost.. I was starting to slow but noticed that whenever I took gatorade, I felt some energy so I kept taking in more calories and trying to keep up the pace but it got more and more painful. Every kilometre marker I was slowing down bit by bit. Words I kept repeating to myself were, "Turnover..turnover". I will 'willing' my legs to move forward. Many times I actually closed my eyes and tried to block the pain. At about 35K, I think the advil worked so I was able to speed up a bit and take advantage of some of the declines. This didn't last long because at 36K, I thought to myself, "I can't believe I have 6K left.." I felt like walking because my legs were so stiff. 30 minutes left.. could I do it?

The last 5K was probably the most excrutiating pain I've ever felt in my life. I was grimacing as I heard people shout my name in encouragement. I'm sure I heard some of my kids cheering, but I didn't even acknowledge anyone because I had complete tunnel vision and didn't even have the energy to look their way.

40K was the last time I looked down at my watch, and it said I had around 11 minutes left. I was in agony but I kept thinking to myself that if I didn't push, then I would regret it later.. So I pushed and pushed. My head was tilted backward at an unnatural angle because I hadn't the strength to keep it up.. I saw the 42K mark so there was 200 metres left. I started to sprint, but then I realized that I was already going as fast as I could. My legs were in agony and I just ran for my life. I passed the finish line as I saw the time: 3:43. I stopped my watch and just hurt.. I couldn't even walk straight. Someone caught me, wrapped a mylar blanket around me and made sure I was conscious of myself. My husband and friends were happy that I finished but they were kind of quiet because they didn't know if I qualified or if I missed the mark by 1 minute..

Aching pain, sharp stabs in my shoulders and calves.. Just walk.. just walk.. recover.. drink..

I looked down at my watch: 3:40:55.. FOR REAL???

Tak checked my official time and it was 3:40:52. YES!! I qualified with 8 seconds to spare! I was ecstatically jubilant and hugged my friends. Truthfully, I was simply more relieved that I wouldn't have to run another marathon this year.. YES! I DID IT! Something that I thought was so unattainable became a reality on Sunday, May 13th.

All the training paid off. All those early morning workouts and those -30C windchill winter runs. I was pretty much sick and tired of figuring out my tempo/lactate/threshold/MVO2 pace for a specific workout..

But was it worth all the training and pain? Absolutely.

All I can say is, "SWEET!" I am a happy girl. Boston, here I come.

42.2

In 11 days I will run the Mississauga Marathon. This isn't my 1st but it will be my 1st one in 3 years. I'm scared shitless. Not because I don't think I will finish but because I have set some huge goals for myself. I do believe I can achieve them but the day has to be perfect.

Here are some reasons why I'm scared:
1. It will be painful beyond belief.
2. I have achilles tendinitis which will intensify the pain.
3. My longest run has only been 30K
4. I won't achieve my goal.

People sometimes ask me, "If it's so painful, then why do you do it?"

I often ask myself that exact question during a race. But I've learned that it's not about the achievement of finishing a race. It's about the training and the ability to push yourself forward when you want to quit. It's about commitment, discipline, tenacity, and guts. All these things transcend into my every day; it has helped me form my sense of self and deal with the daily battles of life.

So in the midst of race purgatory, it doesn't really matter if I'm having a bad day. There are moments when I will fail, this is guaranteed. But it's about picking myself up, blocking out the pain, and becoming stronger.

In 11 days, I will complete my 5th marathon. Regardless of the result, I know it won't be my last. Because all in all, it's about the journey.

Booking My Face

Every couple of weeks I get a new email: "You have been tagged by _____!" Or, "You have been invited to Facebook by _______!"

I have been resisting and rebelling the Internet and networking phenomenon known as Facebook. Why, you say? Because EVERYBODY is using it and I can't stand to follow everybody else. Apparently, Facebook is better than 'Myspace' and 'Friendster' combined b/c the networking tools are ingenious and the memory capability is limitless. In any case, I have no interest in "tagging" others or seeing how popular I am. Also, I don't have enough hours in the day to even 'blog' on a regular basis, therefore entering the world of Facebook would undoubtedly consume hours of my life that I could be doing something more useful then increasing my friend count. Many people call it Crackbook for obvious reasons...

Please don't think I'm knocking others that are on Facebook, I just know that IF I started using.. the using wouldn't stop. I have a fairly addictive personality so I know that I would need my daily Crackbook and it would get bad..

Sigh.. but the ONLY thing that is still drawing my curiousity is the fact that I've lost touch with people that I grew up with in Vancouver from my childhood. You see, back then, there was no email or household Internet use. I hear stories of friends that have reconnected with people from their past and it kind of gives me a warm fuzzy inside.

In any case, I am still rebelling for rebellion's sake, but who knows? My Face just may get Booked and I may become another victim of one of technology's best inventions yet biggest downfalls: the Internet (but that's for another post..).

-20 and dropping

In my last post about "Wierd Things", I mentioned the fact that my lips turn blue whenever I'm cold. Is that normal? Has that ever happened to you? Well, I don't know what's wrong with my body but I think I counted my lips turning blue at least 3 times this week...

WTF? Let's see... hmmmm, it might be the -20C windchill I've been experiencing on my runs.. I dunno.. I truly LOVE Canada and living in this city, but I truly detest the cold. Canadian winters are not the ideal conditions for somebody that loves to train outdoors. I even bought a balaclava last week and my husband took a shot of me about to go for a run. He took some liberation with his photoshop skills and named it "Ninja of the Night". Note, that I don't usually go running in my pink slippers...

6 Weird Things About Me

Ok, so apparently I've been 'tagged'. I'm new to this game and in the blogosphere world, that means I have to agree to the terms and continue the game. I'm just glad that it didn't say I would receive 'bad luck' if I didn't pass it on b/c those are SO annoying.

THE RULES

Each player of this game starts with the 'six weird things about me' blog post. People who get tagged need to write their own six weird things post and state the rules clearly. At the end of the post, tag six more people and don’t forget to leave a comment on their blog to tell them they have been tagged and tell them to read your blog.

Ok, here goes:

1. Threshold, VDot, Fartlek, and Cadence have now become a part of my daily vocabulary.

2. One of my embarrassing subconscious habits include me folding a piece of fabric or paper and rubbing the edge between my thumb and forefinger. I guess it soothes me? I dunno, it began during childhood and I notice myself doing this action when I'm lost in thought. I know, weird.

3. I am totally attracted to Jocks and Geeks.

4. My lips turn purplish-blue when I'm cold and this happens on average once a week.

5. Sometimes I dance with my eyes closed to 'feel' the music and I think I become a better dancer.

6. My childhood goal was to get a Gold medal at the Olympics for gymnastics. To this day, I still think that would have been possible had I not quit the sport.

Tag, you're it:

1. Melissa
2. Maylynn
3. Tats
4. Jessica
5. HAMCOW
6. Paul

Take time to change.

"The only thing that is constant is change."

I read that quote a while ago and it struck me as completely true.

For some reason, many people that I know detest change. For them, change represents the unknown and the uncontrolled. Mind you, I like to have a structured daily schedule and don't like too many surprises in my week.. BUT, I do revel in change. To me, change is about experience and evolution. Change is about growth in oneself.

I don't really know why I'm writing this... perhaps because I know that I'm ready for change. Be it psychological or physical. I do know that I am always looking towards the future, rather than revelling in my past. Is it possible to actually prepare oneself for an unknown change?

Bring it.

Ode to Murphy's Law

I've been struggling with an issue that has taken control of most of my thoughts for the past 6 months. Most of my close friends know what this issue is and they have been very supportive.. Thank you.

The way I live my life, I'm usually very goal-oriented and I like structure and balance. Well, I've been playing with fate for the past while and, unfortunately, it has me in the palm of it's hands... I'm not a control freak, but I like to know what the future brings and I like to plan for it as well.

I was allowing this issue to take over my decisions about my work, my workout schedule, my vacation time, as well as my social plans.

Well, I have finally decided NOT to let this issue take contol of all my actions. I would rather live my life for the present and be happy. Murphy's Law states that when you don't prepare for something, it will inevitably happen. So be it.

Tribute to Terry

Today was my school's annual Terry Fox Run. Schools all over the country participated in the largest national fundraiser in the world. For 30 minutes, over 500 staff and students ran, jogged, or walked in honour of Terry Fox and to continue the legacy that he started 30 years ago. In my mind (and many others), Terry is THE greatest Canadian hero ever. He tirelessly and selflessly ran a marathon EVERY day for 143 days straight. Unfortunately, he had to stop because the cancer had spread to his lungs and he was physically forced to quit because of exhaustion.

Today, Terry's dream is coming true. If Terry was alive today, his cancer probably would have been beaten due to the funds that his foundation has raised towards cancer research.

Pessimists say that it's impossible for one person to make a difference in this world. Every day, I teach my students to wonder, to hope, to dream, to achieve.

My kids believe that they CAN make a difference.

Thanks to Terry.

Just Tri It

Before my last blog was lost into the depths of the Internet black hole, I wrote about my running addiction. Most people never believe me when I say that there is absolutely nothing (natural or unnatural) that compares to that high that I sometimes get during a tempo run. It's hard to describe but I feel strong, alive, free, and incredibly happy to be me. I know that you also probably don't believe me but, on those elusive occasions, I actually get a bit emotional because I reflect on how blessed I am. It's wierd, I know..

This summer, I started training for triathlons. This multisport definitely attracts me for the simple reason that it involves 3 different sports requiring strength, endurance, agility, and intelligence. I figured that this sport would take a while to work on because there is always room for improving in 3 different areas. Let's just say that this sport is a work in progress and I hope to let you know how the training is going later on..

Well, I am definitely not addicted yet but I knew I was on a to a new passion when something clicked during my last race. I was in the run portion of a sprint triathlon and was rounding the last kilometre. I got that elusive feeling again and I actually looked up into the sky, smiled wildly and thought to myself, "I feel SO ALIVE!!!" as I sprinted to the finish.

Imagine Me and You

This is the title of the most recent video rental that I saw with a friend the other day. It was a romantic comedy with a cast of brit actors that I couldn't even begin to name. However, it was a great movie with a funky twist and lots of laughs. 2 thumbs up.

Here's a line that I HAD to share with you that was so very clever.
Hector was asking a girl if she was indeed gay:

Hector: "Edie, are you GAY?"

Edie: "Me, gay?" (Long pause, then with a huge grin) "I'm ECSTATIC!"

Love it.

Age Ain't Nothing But a Number

Last evening, I shook Ed Whitlock's hand and told him that he was an inspiration. For those of you who don't know who Mr. Whitlock is, he is the World Record Holder for the marathon in his age group, which is 75. At first glance, Mr. Whitlock is a petite, unassuming man. White hair, wrinkles, aged hands that shake. At second glance, his posture is upright, his muscles are strong and wiry, and his eyes articulate his thoughts. I was in awe of him. At age 75, I will be lucky if I can even walk straight, let alone, complete a marathon.

I think about age and how we as humans are always trying to defy age. We buy wrinkle creams, sports cars, or even ditzy blondes to feel "younger". We live in a society that is constantly trying to define what is socially acceptable for our age or not. I hear people say, "You better get married soon.. Time is running out!"

What are we exactly running from? Death?

I guess I think that it's just funny how people are constantly judging one another behaviours that are not quite "right for their age". Myself included. I teach kids and, at times, I hear myself say, "Can you PLEASE act your age?!"

Age can be so inconspicuous. You can vote at 18 and buy alcohol one year later. You can drive at age 16. You must officially retire at age 65. But you can conceive a child as early as age 9..

I don't think it's rude when people ask me how old I am, but when I do tell them, I can literally hear their brain pause as they automatically assess me.

Supersized

Next year in the province of Ontario, every elementary school has been mandated by the government to have "Daily Physical Activity" of 20 minutes. This is in response to the latest statistical findings that kids today are becoming obese. Hello!!! Um, isn't that obvious??

Although I am an optimist and I believe that the implementation of DPA will have positive benefits, I can't believe that the government honestly thinks that mandating 20 minutes of DPA will solve the upcoming obesity epidemic. Yes, I said it. Epidemic. Childhood obesity is becoming so severe that it is being called an epidemic. In fact, the American Medical Association states that today's children will be the first generation of kids that may have their parents OUTLIVE them. That is outrageous and completely alarming. You know there's something wrong when you read in the papers that there are more obese people in this world than starving people..

Whoa, I think I've gone off on a tangent... let me refocus.. Ok, back to DPA. The thing that bugs me is that the responsibility is being put on the education system to get kids into shape. Don't get me wrong, I think DPA is a great idea but the responsibility is being taken AWAY from parents and being put on educators. I know that I certainly have a role in making sure that a child learns proper nutrition and engaging them in physical activity.. BUT when I see a child munching away on McDonald's once a week because their mom/dad dropped it off at lunchtime. Or when Emily brings a note from home saying that "she shouldn't do the endurance run because of her asthma", when Monika can't even complete a single lap without walking, or when Robert tells me that he spend a minimum of 3 hours a night playing video games or chatting on the computer... I get SO frustrated and wonder, "NO WONDER YOU'RE FAT!" I think parents of obese children should be charged with neglect. Fat kids are fat because of inactivity and poor habits that started at infancy. It is the parent's responsibility to get their kids active and teach them proper nutrition from the start. It is my responsibility to work with parents (not against) and at times I feel like I have to educate the parents as well.. It is my responsibility to teach and encourage kids how to have fun while being active in the hopes that they will become lifelong learners.

So, here's to Daily Physical Activity. No, I'm not an exercise freak, I'm simply hoping that the next generation can learn from our healthy habits and strong commitment to our bodies.