We miss you so much Murphy. Thanks for the great memories and an amazing 19.5 years. Every day with you made us smile.

I had planned to write about my sore hamstring today and how I’m finally listening to my body and not going for a fun and totally optional ride on the trails at South March Highlands… but now I’m not going to bore you with these mundane details. (Hmm, suppose in a way I still managed to write about what I wasn’t going to write about…)

Instead I just want you to watch this video. I’m not a big video watcher but I knew this one would be worth watching since Marc suggested I watch it. Anyway, watch it. Listen to the kid. Take the road less traveled. Do something awesome today, tomorrow and the next day.

This past cyclocross season I rediscovered why I love racing my bike so much. I thought my racing days were well behind me… but thanks to the Eastern Ontario Cyclocross series and a pretty fantastic group of people who come out every weekend to setup, race, and tear-down the courses – I’m hooked again.

When Marc and I traveled to Winnipeg for the 2014 Canadian Cyclocross National Championships, I watched the masters women’s race – I wanted to be out there. I wished I had a bike with me so I could ride and race the course.

The seed was planted and it kept on growing. I spent many hours ruminating racing again. I realized I was looking forward to racing every Sunday and really hated missing out on a race. I was analyzing my races in the car rides home and finding myself spending more and more time on my bike.

I decided that I wanted to really race again. So I made a deal with Marc – if I committed to riding the trainer three times a week starting in November and through-out the winter – he would give me some cyclocross training guidance. This was just the deal I needed to help me find that extra motivation to get up at 5 a.m and pedal away to nowhere in the basement (thank goodness for Netflix).

Flash forward to late December and a rather snowy and frosty run in the woods… My mind wandered towards racing and training. I made a decision. A big and smart decision. I got home, talked to Marc and fired off an email to my old coach and mentor Steve Weller of Bell Lap Coaching…

A couple more emails, a Skype chat, a visit with my gastro doctor and guess what? I’m a Bell Lap Coaching client again! This week I’ll be starting on a real structured and focused training plan that will see me lining up for the 2015 season fit and ready. I couldn’t be more excited.

I’ve got a few goals for the season that will help me stay focussed and determined when the rough days on the bike show up. I feel super lucky that Steve has agreed to take me on again. With his coaching, advice and encouragement he and I did some pretty fun stuff a few years ago. Looking forward to more fun stuff!

It’s been a while since I’ve posted. I guess it’s because I really haven’t been up to much that is post-worthy. But then again, who am I to judge…

So what has happened since the last time I posted? Really not too much. Life was pretty quiet. Quiet good. Marc as you likely know was in Belgium racing cyclo-cross for four weeks so it was just me and the old cat here hanging out. I may have had a few too many deep conversations with Murphy the cat but he seems to have weathered these interludes okay (being deaf helps…).

I’ve been riding the trainer. Yep, back on that trainer even though I swore I’d never ride it again… Well, guess what – I’m enjoying it. I find it relaxing and very satisfying. Plus I get to pedal my way through television shows and movies (thank you Netflix) that I wouldn’t otherwise watch. With an extra bonus of rediscovering my leg muscles and that deep feeling of satisfaction from deciding to do something and then actually doing it.

I’ve been running as well. Sticking to my three days-a-week routine. Just enough to keep the fitness level there and not too much that I’m going to end up on the slippery injury slope again. There just really isn’t anything quite like running in the woods.

I’ve also been yogaing (is this a word?). Really happy I’m back into my yoga practice again. The community at my area yoga studio (Mountaingoat Yoga) is very welcoming and is not caught-up in wearing the latest Lulus or being super bendy. I’m going on a yoga retreat in March with my mom so this dedicated practice now will be very helpful when we’re doing yoga two – three times a day for six days… Mexico in March will be a nice treat.

Away from the sweaty stuff I’ve also been writing, reading, chillaxing and making some plans and goals. Fingers crossed everything comes together. And that’s about it.

Marc is home so this is most excellent.

Sometimes it’s super easy to take for granted what we have. But, last week my yoga teacher said some word similar to this that really hit home with me: “Remember we live in a safe country. Our country is not under attack. We have food in our grocery stores. It’s safe to walk the streets. We are living in peace.”. This is something that I think it is important to remember.

I just returned from a few days away. To sum up – I’m pretty lucky. Lucky to have had the childhood and adulthood that I have. It’s too easy to forget that not everyone has it this good.

Here’s some extra cute goodness for you to enjoy:

I certainly hope you’re feeling as lucky as I am.