Finally Running Again

For the past little over a week I’ve been finally getting back into the habit of running. Since the 13th I’ve gone out six times. It has been rough and a little disheartening as I looked back to just a year ago and where I was compared to now.

On July 19th 2014 I did a 5 km run with a pace of 4:55 min/km. This year on July 19th the best I could push was 3.55 km with a pace of 6:48 min/km. Not very impressive, but I’m working on it. My plan is to get back up to 5 km and then increase my pace and work up distance from there.

Good 5km

To help motivate myself I also signed up for the 10 km race as part of the Valley Harvest Marathon. Last year I did the 10 as well but when I registered I was already in good running shape. That was the beginning of going down hill for me. Before the race I pushed myself in training and had hurt my knee. It was fine for the race but I was not at the top of my game.

This morning I was able to push myself to run 5 km. I did the exact same route as the above one but with a pace of 7:12 min/km. There were a few walking breaks mixed in there and I was in pretty rough shape at the end.

Most nights for the past week as well my wife and I have been getting out to go for a walk. Nothing huge but about 1-3 km. It’s a great way to wind down the day and have some time alone to chat.

So now that I’ve shelled out some cash to enter the race I can’t look like an idiot when I get there so I’ll have to train. I have about 3 months to get there. It’s the day right before I leave for our company meetup so that means I’ll hopefully be in good enough shape to head out on runs with coworkers there too. I can’t wait!

Distributed Downfall

Working for a distributed company, and in particular Automattic, is amazing. There are so many upsides and I think talked about a lot of them previously. Don’t just take my word though, take a look through some posts by coworkers. For the past little bit however I think I’ve found the downfall of working remotely.

The people I interact with on a daily basis are awesome. Getting to meet my team so shortly after joining the company might have spoiled me, but I think I’m now going through withdraw. I want to be able to be closer to them, work with them, hang out with them.

Lately seeing some others getting together at local events, WordCamps, or conferences has me feeling a little jealous. Don’t get me wrong traveling is hard. It leaves Jen to balance everything by herself and get kids to the places they need to be which can be difficult with her job if these things fall in her regular working hours. If I’m gone we have to rely on other people to help out with the logistics of everything.

I don’t want anyone to think that I don’t have the opportunity to go and get together with others, I’ve never asked or tried to make the arrangements to do it. I know if I found something reasonably close and made the case to go I’d be able to do it no problem. This is me putting the limitation on myself.

The good news is in a few months we will be having the annual Grand Meetup where the whole company gets together. I’ll have a full week to meet and be with everyone! If you can’t tell I’m very much looking forward to it.

First Date – Wolfville Reservoir Park

We took the kids swimming at the Wolfville Reservoir Park recently. This is one of my favourite places in the world. Not only does it have a nice walking trail and a mountain bike course, but it also has a swimming area and an amazing view over the Minas Basin to Cape Blomidon. Even with all these wonderful things going for it none of them are the reason it is one my favourite place, the reason is more sentimental than that.

Roughly twelve years ago this is where Jen and I came for our first date. We had known each other for a while but were only coworkers / friends. We met while working together at a call centre and thankfully we had an instant messaging type program that we could use to talk to other because I don’t know if I would have ever talked to her if I had to walk up face to face. Eventually things all aligned and we ended up going out together. I was driving but she told me where to go, it was a surprise for me. We ended up at the Wolfville Reservoir Park. I had never been there before but she had been a number of times. We ended up going for a walk around the water areas and then sat on a bench with a view looking out towards Blomidon, although I didn’t pay much attention to the view.

Even though I was incredibly shy, and thought she was more there just being nice to me than actually being interested, I made the most of it. We sat there and talked for a quite a while, though I’m not really sure how long. If we could have stayed there together all night I would have never left. Despite me being to much of a coward to of make any sort of move that night, we also had our first kiss. That’s when it really changed for me. Obviously, for some reason, she was actually interested and this had the potential to something more than just one date.

Fast forward to now and I’m very thankful for that first night. We don’t end up at the park all that often, but every time we are there I take at least a minute to go sit on the same bench and remember.

Wolfville Reservoir
Wolfville Reservoir
Looking to Blomidon
Looking to Blomidon

Coffee in a River

This morning I had my morning coffee in an interesting place. Last night we went tubing again down the Gaspereau River as it was the last day the river would be high enough for the summer. The power company has dams along the area and they control the water levels.

We took both vehicles and so we left one at the bottom then drove to the top. It was awesome going in the evening. The temperature was perfect, it was calm and relaxing.

The big problem was when we made it to the end and I didn’t have my car keys in my pocket anymore. Luckily Jen had her set for both vehicles so we were fine but it’s going to be a pain to get new keys.

This morning I got up early and headed back to the river. I figured if the water was going down last night, it would still be a needle in the haystack scenario, but this would be the mostly likely time I might find them.

No luck but I drank my coffee while wading in the river. No other people around except for some cars driving by. I did meet up with a hawk of some sort though. We were pretty close to each other for a while until it decided it didn’t like me being that close and took off.

Drama Camp Talent Show

All week Caile and Ella have been in Drama Summer Camp at Centre Stage Theatre. They’ve gone a few years now and love it. The camp is very well done and I love watching their play at the end of the week. 

This year they did a play called The Worn Slippers. I wasn’t able to record it as the had a professional team come in to do it and sell the DVD’s afterward.

Yesterday though they had a talent show. Together with their cousins they choreographed a dance routine. They love being on stage and performing. 

As Fresh as it Gets

Tonight we are having peas from our own garden in our supper. I had no idea they were even ready yet. A couple days ago they were getting close but I thought they still had a while yet.

Jen came in with some earlier and I was shocked. Now I’m hiding outside eating a few where no one can catch me. 

  

WordPress Hat

My newest piece of WordPress swag arrived in the mail the other day, and I love it. 

I think this is my favourite one yet because I can wear it everyday. When I go out I almost always wear a hat. I have a couple I alternate but I haven’t worn any other one besides this since it got here. 

If you want one there are still some left at http://freedomzero.org/. Thanks Nick! It made it here crazy fast after I ordered and he threw in a Wapuu keychain. 

  

Opposite Morning

This morning I had one awesome view down at the marsh. The most rising up like a dog and the ducks swimming around. Not another soul around. 

Then I came home and was taking the garbage to the road. I opened the shed and there was a huge spider standing in the door way not moving. I wish I had of our something in the picture for scale. 

 

   

Beautiful Morning

This morning I finally did it. I’ve been saying for a long time that I needed to get out running again. Having not been feeling well, and then going on vacation I kept putting it off. I decided last night it was time. Still I managed to stay in bed later than I planned but I got up and went for a run.

Well most people in their right mind wouldn’t call it a run. It was pretty bad. I was very slow and didn’t go very far, but I did it. Now to work to make it a habit again. In a few months time I am going to get to meet my team again and the rest of the company as well. As part of that there are usually lots of fitness activities like morning runs etc and I want to be able to participate. Not to mention I have to get up in front of a bunch of them and give a flash talk. That is going to be hard enough for me, I may as well look my best when I do it.

It was a beautiful morning for being out at the marsh though.

Afternoon at the Shore

This afternoon, together with a bunch of friends and family, we headed to the shore. The beach is a all rocks and is at Scot’s Bay on the Bay of Fundy. The tides are huge and as we were getting there it was on it’s way out. It doesn’t take long before there is a long walk to get to the water.

It is a wonderful place to spend the afternoon. We had a fire which we used to cook hot dogs for lunch and then roast marshmallows for s’mores afterwards. The kids love playing together running around. Digging in the rocks, collecting shells and playing in the water.

There was an installation of Uncommon Common Art there which was very cool. The artist, Genny Killin, created an installation called What was Left Behind: Ribs. It is the ribs of a ship made from recycled cans. In the past there have been some installations with this project that I didn’t appreciate but most, including this one, are really neat to come across.

Spending time laying next to the ocean having great conversation with friends is the perfect way to end a weekend and recharge for the weeks reality to begin again.

Scot’s Bay
Uncommon Common Art
Uncommon Common Art
Scot’s Bay
Scot’s Bay
Scot’s Bay
S’mores
Roasting Marshmallows