Whistler 50 Relay

You may remember my blog post from last year Haney to Harrison 100km Relay w/28 Chicks ...we clearly had a blast and its time to do it all over again.

Only the race has a new venue. EPIC Whistler. 

Whistler BC - photo credit monograms travel website

And we are letting a few dudes join us...

This photo actually comes up when you Google "dudes" - I'll take no photo credits on this one

So bring on the inaugural Whistler 50 Relay and Ultra

- We now interrupt this blog post for some music break time. I love this song and it seemed to fit right here cause we'll be on the run this weekend trying to smash last years finish result -

Time to get back at it. Blogging by the numbers:

3 teams

• We run like girls
• We run like gentleman
• We run like ladies & lads

24 runners

3 volunteers (shout out to my lovely friends Nicole, Christie and Marella for helping out)

Legs are 8km or 12km

Its been 11 months since I last ran a race

Its bee 11 months since I posted this bucket list blog post: Miwok 100km Ultramarathon 

Its been 10 months since someone drove their car head on into my car on Capilano Road

Over 120 visits to Moveo Sport and Rehab for Physio and Acupuncture to deal with consistent nagging nerve pain down my leg stemming from lower back injuries - thanks for the fantastic therapy and support ladies! You are worth the commute to North Van.

Countless hugs and never ending support from friends and family

And so I am a ready to take a small step towards returning to my love of trail running. I'll be running one of the short 8km legs. And hopefully I'll be able to enjoy it. I know I'm lucky to even be able to attempt this so I'll be running with a smile on my face, carrying high hopes for more racing days just like this one - hopefully on trails ;)

I'll leave you with the tunes that will fill my ears while I run and while I cheer on my team mates. Hope you enjoy my playlist. Below the playlist I've included a couple killer music videos from the playlist ~ 

Music Tuesday

I don't have cable at home for various reasons, mainly I don't think there are many good quality shows and I don't have time to sit and watch TV. I never even used to watch music videos but over the past few months I've noticed some of my favourite bands releasing edge, artistic videos. Thought I'd share the music video of a song I'm loving right now "Fragile Bird" by Canada's City and Colour



Do you have big plans for the long weekend? I'm heading to Penticton with some girlfriends for relaxation, and winery hopping. If you have recommendations for favourite things to do or places to check out in the area let me know.

I'm back!

Since my car accident I've been uninspired to blog, I've probably started 20 different posts and haven't published any - aside from the odd sample sale post... I had to keep the Canadian sports economy going...Bad Katie. 


So what I have been up to? RECOVERY! Physiotherapy. Acupuncture. Message Therapy. Active Rehab. Repeat. I  moved into a new apartment sans room mate for the first time in my life and I'm absolutely loving it. I started a new job working for TELUS on their Corporate Communications team leading a team that focuses on external communications via the interweb and social media. The job, team and corporate culture are amazing! Stay tuned for great things coming down the pipe from our little team that could.


Music is a big part of my healing I went to Coachella Music Festival (tick that one off my bucket list), Sasquatch Music Festival and many other fantastic local live shows. #MusicMatters

I also took a relaxing trip down to Calistoga Ranch in Napa Valley for some fantastic vino, amazing pool time and caught up on some good books.


So back to me and inspiration. Today my lovely friend Nicole (who has been bugging me to blog again) emailed me a cuteness overload email.
September's is going to be busy month for all of us. So I challenge you to complete the following list and perhaps remind ourselves to breathe and enjoy.

1. Give something broken a new life (a skirt, a squeaky wheel, scuffed shoes).
2. Wear something you love that you think "just isn't you."
3. Send a thank you note, for anything.
4. Spend an afternoon reading.
5. Have luncheon: a slow midday meal with cloth napkins and wine.
6. Go out of your way to do something kind for a stranger (offer a seat, hold the door, leave your copy of Us Weekly on the elliptical).
7. Donate five items from your closet that don't make you feel unstoppably gorgeous.
8. Take care of a nagging life admin item (a trip to the post office, filing an insurance claim, making a doctor's appointment).
9. Buy an utterly frivolous piece of lingerie.
10. Invite friends over for cocktails, dinner, or brunch.
11. Wake up an hour early to have a leisurely morning.
12. Try something that looks like pure fun (accordion, crochet, burlesque).
13. Dance. In public, in the living room, with a partner, with yourself.
14. Flirt with a stranger. (Smiling counts.)
15. Get rid of five things in your home that don't bring you pleasure. - declutter people. it feels so good
16. Buy flowers for your home or office.
17. Make a recipe from a fruit, vegetable, meat or fish you've never cooked before.
18. Walk barefoot in the grass or on the sand.
19. Have a media-free day. - eek! this will be tough!
20. Write down everything you feel grateful for.
21. Hold a baby.22. Pet a puppy.
23. Go to a farmers market and buy everything local
24. Ask someone to tell you their life story.
25. Read a biography of your favorite glamorous screen star, or the bravest, most badass real life heroine.
26. Eat fresh local berries.
27. Create an occasion to wear your most impractical pair of shoes.
28. Write down your wildest dreams.
29. Take one itsy-bitsy, teensy-weensy step to make one real. - admit it this one is going to be fun
30. Have a proper weekday coffee break: ceramic cup, idle gossip, and staring out a window.
31. Visit a playground and swing.
32. Make lemonade. (Literally or figuratively.)
33. Jump in a body of water. Float.
34. Give someone a hug; let them let go first.
35. Look at the stars.
36. Replace one utilitarian item you use every day--a measuring spoon, a file folder, a key chain--with something really, really beautiful.
37. Pamper your body with a massage, an overdue haircut, a trip to the sauna, or a soak in the tub.
38. Research something that sparks your curiosity (Arthurian legend, photosynthesis, investing). If you're still curious after a 15-minute google session, dive deeper.
39. Make a collage of beautiful images that resonate with you.
40. Read aloud to someone you love. - this is one of my favourite things!
41. Forgive yourself.
42. Forgive someone else.
43. Spend an hour in silent reflection.
44. Dine by candlelight on a weeknight.
45. Take a walk after dinner.
46. Have a glass of champagne, just because.
47. Spend one day taking pictures of everything you find beautiful.
48. Describe your perfect day in writing.
49. Select one drawer or surface and organize it.50. Do something you loved as a child.

Hope you join my challenge! And as a reward for reading this whole post. Check out my favourite song of the moment. Playing it on repeat. repeat. repeat.



Gotye- Somebody That I Used To Know (feat. Kimbra)- official film clip from Gotye on Vimeo.

Treasure Island Music Festival

If you know me then you know that I also to cram as much into my days as possible. So when I realized that the Treasure Island Music Festival was taking place on the same weekend I was going to be in San Francisco I knew I had to go!

The "venue" did not disappoint; surrounded by the ocean, beautiful bridges and spectacular views I could not stop snapping photos and or talking about how cool the location was. Plus, there was tons of healthy food options and "trash talkers."  Trash talkers stood beside the various trash/recycling/compost bins to tell you where your disposables went.  Love this!! You bet I got "trash talked".

The line up was outstanding (these are my top picks);
LCD Soundsystem
Kruder & Dorfmeister
Phantogram
Four Tet
Broken Social Scene
The National
Ra Ra Riot
and many many more, for the full line up click here

Sarah Barthel vocals and keyboardist from Phantogram. Blew us away (despite technical difficulties).

Josh Carter vocals and guitar - Phantogram. I'll admit - I fell in love. Phantogram is an American electronic rock.Check out their myspace here

 

Kruder & Dorfmeister - really great performers.  They are definitely a night time act so I wasn't sure what to expect because their set time was early.  But they sounded fab!

Had to put a photo of the mau5.  I don't get the hype. I'm sorry.  But I love Disneyland! Anyone want to go?  I hear they have a marathon...

Some of my favourite pics -

 Girlies getting a little music fix pre-marathon

 The theme of the festival was pirate - arg!

There was a somewhat bizarre but fun "silent disco" area.  So you ask "what is a silent disco"?

There was a fenced in area, with a stage (with no band on it), as you entered the fenced in area you were directed into a line before you could enter. When you got to the entrance you were handed a pair of headphones (see below).  Everyone put on their headphones (which were all playing the same song) and you had a dance party with the headphones on.  It was actually really fun and I'm sure the neighbors appreciate this type of party.

 the silent disco dance party

we made friends with a group of guys wearing a mustache...and it was game over.

 more scenic pics because I just found it so hard to cut these pics.

If you happen to end up in San Francisco during this festival please make the trip over to Treasure Island and check it out.

I hope I get to go back next year and redo this weekend again.  Is it Coachella time yet?!?

Angus and Julia Stone

Tonight I had the pleasure of going to see Angus and Julia Stone in concert at Venue on Granville Street.  A brother and sister band from Australia, I was swooning!  They are magical together.  Her voice.  Their energy.  Its was lovely.

Here is a little sampling of their music - also happens to be my top picks. I promise for those nights you need soft, smooth, lovely tunes they are a go to band.



I had a fantastic spot to get up close and personal with the band (even better I could see without my glasses.)

Hope you enjoy as much as I do!

Phoneix + PechaKucha vol. 13

Do you live in Vancouver? Have you tried Cafe Medina?

Please go. I am an avid supporter of breakfast all day or at the very least enjoying brunch as often as possible. My standards for my favourite meal of the day are high; and this ranks on top of my list for brunch spots in Vancouver.  

I started Sunday (recovery day) with a trip to Cafe Medina where I enjoyed breakfast that can only be described as perfection. I should note that Reese Witherspoon was spotted at the restaurant later that day -  that sayin'. 

I took a couple food shots but got too excited when my actual brunch came and forgot to snap one.

My non-fat macha latte

Best Belgian Waffles in the city served w/freshly melted warm dark chocolate.

Sunday night I was lucky to get given a ticket to the nearly sold out Phoenix concert - big thanks GR. They played a fabulous set at the PNE Forum - having seen them at the Orpheum earlier this year I was worried the sound wouldn't be as good. I stand corrected they filled the PNE forum with their upbeat sounds and had a majour Sunday night dance party in full effect.

I love that they switched up their set list and added in a bunch of their older songs including some in French - they are from Versailles, France after all.  If you haven't explored their sound I definitely recommend it.

Last night (Thursday) I attended another fabulous night of PechaKucha vol. 13 at the Vogue Theatre. Steven and Jane Cox (Cause + Affect) put on this unique event every few months which gives guest speakers seven minutes to talk about their passion, inspiration and things they are doing to better the world. While they speak photos they’ve select fill the screen behind them and change every 20 seconds.

I love attending these events; I find them so inspiring, full of motivation to do good + they show you that you can be successful doing your own thing - being your own boss. To look for solutions, creatively.

They normally post videos of all the speakers on their website so if you have a few minutes I recommend you check out; Grant McDonagh of Zulu Records, Michael Lyons from Smallworks, Connely Farr Mississippi Live and Robert Caulder from Boompa.

Back in May I posted this video of my friend Stephanie who spoke at PechaKucha Vol. 10 - check it out if you missed it that time - Steph on stage at PechaKucha



I haven't done much training this week because I've been very sore following my accident. Thursday is by the far the best I've felt all week - so all the RICE and positive thoughts are helping.  I'm hoping to be back running this weekend:)

Hope you are getting to enjoy this fantastic fall weather. I'm referring to it as summer in disguise in late September - only better then summer because you can wear your fab knee high boots;) and I'm lovin' it!!