I Ran to Quebec & Back

The Ottawa Army Run into Gatineau and back was a valour success. Charlie finished beating his goal and I recorded my personal best for a half marathon race with a time of 1:30:55.

Over 10,000 runners participated in the half marathon and more in the 5k race. The race started with a Howitzer being fired as our official gun start. My understanding this is the 8th year this race has run. Looking to do a Half Marathon Race in the late September, I highly recommend this race event. Relatively flat with enormous crowds, fan support both in Ottawa and Gatineau.

Father & Son running Half Marathon in Ottawa

Charlie my 22 yr old son and I will be running the Ottawa Army Half Marathon together. Beyond magical and far beyond pride, there are moments just like this one, where you pause and reflect. You realize this is one of "life's moments".
You appreciate famous professional sporting father & son relationships. As a Canadian the first that pops to mind is Gordie Howe and his sons Marty & Mark. They played together in the WHA with the Houston Aeros. Don & Mike Schula the NFL Coaches.
I had the opportunity to play hockey against my own father in fun "father & son" games and more recently a Curling bonspiel.
When I coached my kids during those soccer years

absolutely nothing brought together bonding and a strong team morale like a "Father & son" game or a "Mother & daughter" game. If you have ever participated in one of these matches you know exactly the feeling I'm attempting to convey here. Charlie and I experienced one of these matches.
There are many father and son combinations that come to mind as I blog this moment, like Ken Griffthy Sr & Jr., Bobby & Brett Hull, Archie, Peyton and Eli Manning, how about Evil Knievel and his son Robbie.
Charlie, originally told me he took up running about two years ago and how he was progressing. We ran together once when he was home for a visit. then abut six months ago he told me by phone he had signed up for the Ottawa Army Run. Initially Charlie respectfully so just wanted to run his first official race alone without any Mom or Dad interference. Fast forward to a month ago I was chatting to Charlie and asked if he be ok if I came to Ottawa and ran the half marathon race. He responded, "absolutely ; that would be great the only problem is the race is sold out". As I ending the call I said to Charlie, "one, I will find a way to get a bib number to run the race, and more importantly, you know your Mom is going to want to be there to witness you and I running". Charlie happily responded "I know".
Getting into the Ottawa Army Run was not an easy feat. Thanks to my wife and Charlie's Mom,  Heather, who carried on a email conversation in french was successful in purchasing a bib from a lady in Gatineau. To the lady in Gatineau, merci. Charlie, I'm looking forward to Sunday.

Succeeding at being Wrong - 6 steps

In no particular order:

1. Obtain all your information from a used car salesman.
2. Blurt out the first thought that enters your head.
3. Watch countless repeats of "Info-TV".
4. After failure ; do it again to see if you get the same result.
5. Argue you're not after you're told you're wrong.
6. Avoid common sense in general thinking.

Neutral Perspective & Pink Skies

My standard sits in neutral and rolls back on the drive. The history class I attended taught, Switzerland was neutral. If you sit on a fence are you neutral or do you have time to spare? Is a yellow light at an intersection neutral. If it is, why do we run them. Would you run Switzerland? I think I'd like to teach a college course in 'Neutrality". Students completing the course could rise and bellow with a euphoric accomplishment that they had neither gained or loss the credit. A male dog who is neutered ; has he become neutral. If you're in neutral territory are you safe or are you no where. Neutral washrooms. A decadent lady using the facilities minutes after a Logger has cleared out his intestines, when or where was neutral. If you receive an invitation ; and you're asked to rsvp, and you choose not to confirm or decline, is this neutral? Is apathy just a lazy form of being neutral? Is undecided neutral? To be truly neutral must have you thought about both positions before selecting the middle ? If you're neutral and you're leaning toward the right, I guess you're no longer neutral. Perhaps I will have my daughter name her child "Neutral". Child raises her arm to speak in class. Teacher,"Yes, Neutral what is you like to say?" Neutral, "nothing".

Neutral Button

Standing at Mile "0" (in Km that's "0" too).

Imagine 7800 km along the Trans Canada Highway you would end up in St. John's Newfoundland Labrador. In miles I believe that is 4850 miles for my U.S. friends. I said to my wife as we waited patiently for our turn to have our photo taken in front of this landmark, I suppose this is where Terry Fox would have ended his journey. Mile Zero in Oak Bay (immediately south, not by much of Victoria).

DQ'd at Orillia Sprint Triathlon

After a few weeks the official explanation for my DQ in Orillia was I crossed the centre line.