More Determined

Friday night was a humbling class.  Not only did I have to admit to myself that things aren’t going so great but to my fellow students and instructors.  I’ve had shoulder issues now for almost 5 years; I’m not whining about it just stating a fact.   I have found continuous repetition of any kind involving shoulders, or even my arms, is totally working against me.  I have had to modify my repetitions to not include my sword, which really is only going through the motions and is keeping me from any kind of progress.  I’m not going to lie.  It’s frustrating and makes me question whether there is a weapon out there that I could do justice right now. 

Listening to Sifu Brinker remind our team of what we signed up for and the potential we have was encouraging to push on and to push a little harder.  The summer months have been hard but are in no way a legitimate excuse for falling behind.  I committed myself to this year and have every intention of growing from where I am.

I’m not a huge fan of performing in front of an audience.  However, I want to be at the level where I am ready at the drop of a hat to get up and dazzle.  Maybe I need to focus more on my hand forms?  Or maybe I need to stop being afraid of bothering anyone and reach out for some one on one help?

I may not look like the most graceful swordsman at the end of this year, but I am more determined to at least be a step closer.

Alana Regier

http://alanaregier.blogspot.ca

Standing Up

I see myself as a quiet and reserved person most times.  When confrontation is in front of me I would much rather settle it quietly (or sometimes run in the other direction).  I don’t believe that everything has to be met with force or that there is only one side and believe that compromise of some sort is most times the best solution.  However, I also believe that there are those moments where a person has to stand up for what they believe and will do whatever necessary to protect those that they care about.

This past Saturday my son, our dog and myself were out for our morning walk when a neighbor’s dog flew out of the ditch and came at us.  This dog came so aggressively, crouched and ready to attack with the hair on the back of its neck standing straight up, ears flat and teeth out.  I pushed my son with our dog behind me and yelled at him to quickly move away while this dog continued to try to get around me and grab my leg.  This thing stayed 6 inches from the end of my kick and pushed me back almost 2 blocks before it reluctantly headed back to its own yard.  Why is a dog like this loose in a neighborhood?  What if my kids had been walking by themselves that morning?

After rushing home and a call to the County Emergency line (only to be greeted by a machine), I left my adrenaline sounding message and went back with my car.  Along the way I ran into a fellow neighbor walking and warned her, only to find out that this has happened before to herself and that there have been several complaints by those who live next door.  When the complaints were made, the couple were told they needed video footage to prove their case.  Really?  Who is going to think to first video an attack and then worrying about getting to safety later?  Why has something not been done?   What purpose do these bylaws serve if they don’t keep the community safe?  Where are the owners and why are they not being held responsible?

I’m afraid that this is not something I’m willing to just ‘let go.’  I could decide to just avoid that road and not officially make a complaint (which I will have to sign my name to and possibly make myself a target), but what about the next unsuspecting person who takes that path on their walk, run or bike?  How can I just turn a blind eye in order to avoid getting involved when someone may potentially get hurt?

So here I STILL wait for the call back from the County!

Alana Regier

http://alanaregier.blogspot.ca

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spa Day!

Who ever said you have to spend hundreds of dollars for a day of beauty?  How about a package deal for only $56.00; this includes helping raise money for cancer research, a t-shirt, ears full of mud , baby soft skin (eventually) and a whole lot of fun.

 This past Saturday a group of us from Silent River proved that getting dirty can be loads of fun.  Imagine covering yourself totally, yes even in your ears, with a cool slippery coat of mud then TRYING to wash it all off with drips of very crisp river water coming through a hole in a PVC pipe the size of a dime at the lowest pressure possible.  Doesn’t it sound just like a day at the spa?  The only difference was having to cover 6km while coated in mud head to toe, having to go through, under and over obstacles and run up and down hills with the feel of slopping mud in your shoes.  What a great day!

Alana Regier

http://alanaregier.blogspot.ca

Boogie Mans Butt Kicked!

Another great weekend that can only be described as AWESOME!  In the span of 24 hours we saw weather in Grande Cache change from hot and sunny to thunder, lightning, hail and rain (not a good time to be on the top of the mountain, poor Darcy).  Our team of 5 stuck it out and came out smiling even at 2:00am (thanks to the 2 little guys who tried to stay up).  The wet conditions definitely changed things; this ain’t a walk in the park at the best of times.

 I found running at night a whole other experience (also found out moths aren’t as soft as one might think when running and that they love head lights).  For someone who trips over shadows I’m not sure if meandering through the woods in the dark was a good idea but I can say I had only one trip on a slippery root which took me down; it so happened to be as I was trying to open my chocolate bar (stupid wrapper). 

I knew this run would be in the dark and in knowing that I expected to miss the grand mountain views and to see only what my head light lit up in front of me.  I was wonderfully surprised to find myself twice standing by myself on a ridge and a lookout with only the faint outline of the mountains around me, the fresh rain smell and the absolute quietness with the most peaceful and amazing view of the stars I have ever seen.  There truly is no way to explain how grand a moment it was. This memory will definitely be one that stays with me.

Although each leg has its ‘thing’ that makes it unique and challenging this one is going to be hard to beat.  I got the coolness of the night, the adrenalin of the dark, the ‘Crack of Doom’ (really cool) and the meeting and paying my coin to the Grim Reaper to get on the river boat to get to the other side and carry on.  How many people can say they’ve done that in their life?  I have tackled my fear of the boogie man in the dark and only thought for a second of the potential of running into a bear (I even decided at the last minute to ditch the bear spray, what a rebel).  I really was enjoying myself and the moment way too much to worry about stupid fears and the what if... 

 

As we first came into Grande Cache Thursday night, a sign in front of the school read “If it doesn’t challenge you, it doesn’t change you.”  I believe if a person takes the time to reflect on their life, it’s the moments that have pushed you, the ones that have required the biggest and many times hardest decisions, the moments you were filled with fear and the moments that exhausted you, these are the ones that change you as a person (hopefully in a positive way).  It’s these moments that help you accomplish out of the ordinary things.

I want to thank JC, Darcy, Shau and Vince who together made the coolest and most awesome team ever!  I also want to thank the husband, wife and grandma who supported and cheered us on. 

Alana Regier

http://alanaregier.blogspot.ca

 

A Bag Full of Headlamps & Bear Spray

Only 6 more sleeps and we are back up in Grande Cache for the annual Canadian Death Race.  A huge thanks to Sifu Lietz for filling in as a replacement runner at such short notice!  Those other runners on his leg aren’t going to know what just blew by them with so much energy!

This year I’m tackling leg 5, 24km and mostly, if not totally in the dark.  This go around I’ve had to adjust my pack a little and I have to say it’s getting pretty heavy.  Besides the mandatory list of equipment required, I have my additional gear just in case (toilet paper should so be mandatory).  Majority of my weight consists of 3 headlamps (batteries may be burnt out from me checking them repeatedly), extra batteries and a couple of cans of bear spray (not sure if I would have my marbles together enough to pull the pin and point in the right direction but I’m sure hoping).  I figure with 3 very bright lights that can be made to flash if necessary; even helicopters flying by are going to see me if I should wander off the path.  My back up plan is to sing along with my ipod.  I’m very confident that this will keep just about every living thing with ears away from my vicinity, plants may even wilt (just ask anyone who has ever heard me sing)! 

This year we just so happen to have a great team consisting entirely of Silent River students.  I have to say that there is a huge difference running with a group of people who are not only there to challenge themselves, but to also have fun and support one another; not every team has that.  It’s going to be an awesome time!

 

This year challenging the dark and boogie man, next year maybe Hammel!

Alana Regier

http://alanaregier.blogspot.ca

 

A Little R & R

  After a crazy 2 weeks working long hours it was time for a break.  Our family took off west of Nordegg this past week to do some quading and hiking.  Nothing like fresh mountain air to rejuvenate the body and a view that lifts the soul.  I got a lot of km’s in, which is good for the death race training and made some miles on the quads to some absolutely awesome destinations.  As great as it would be to hike to some of these places, the time we have for holidays would never allow us to get too far, and our boys like something that goes vroom vroom! 

So now it’s back to the grind.  This week is the start of what potentially could turn into a fairly big project for work.  Although it’s close to home, it’s looking like it could still be some long days.  It seems bitter sweet; good to have the work but hard on the training. 

Well back to getting things cleaned up and laundry done.  I think it may be multiplying!

Alana Regier

http://alanaregier.blogspot.ca

 

Purpose

Purpose.  It gives meaning and motivation.  It gives direction.  It helps one persist and persevere. 

I recently finished a book simply about purpose.  It reinforced the value of having a purpose in everything we do and how it can change how we live.  What changes us, also changes those around us.  Having a positive and meaningful purpose can better our mental state and our feeling of worth and direction. It helps us accomplish great feats.  In short, it can be extremely powerful. 

 A great thing to consider in every choice I make.

Alana Regier

http://alanaregier.blogspot.ca