3 hours 28 minutes

I'm on the "holy crap, I've eaten so much crap this last month (ok 5) and it ends tonight at midnight diet" So I have 3 hours and 28 minutes to eat what I want and then its great healthy food from tomorrow morning on.

It is a pretty sad feeling when you go into your closet to find not one, but ten pairs of jeans that all are just a tad too, ok really, small on you. Makes you hit rock bottom a little quicker. So I have 3 hours and 25 minutes left..

Tomorrow Sal reluctantly will start the DASH diet with me. Its a great get the sodium and bloat out of your system quickly diet. Sadly you can't make it tasty for the first 14 days but we've done it before and we will do it again.

Tomorrow bike on the trainer for 45 minutes. Yippee. I can't wait.

Happy New Year!

Another year has gone by. And what a year it was. Really low low's and some fantastic highs. I'm really hoping that 2010 will bring a lot more HIGHS then lows. Time will tell.

Yesterday I sat down with the family and gave them a pep talk. Its time. I have 6 months (actually less) to get my flabby butt back into saddle worthy shape. Which means a lot of family sacrifices. The calendar has been wrote out. I have my game plan. 3 days bike, 2 days run and 1 walk. Emily was very excited to help me with the run. Together we came up with me running when Bella was in school. Which means she gets to be in the jogging stroller with a blanket for 2 days every week. Which also means that she will get a lot of park time, because I'm not mean. If you have to run with me in the stroller, she'll also be able to stretch her legs after the run and go to park. So an excited little girl was she.

So that also means that you should get your checkbooks ready. I'm coming for you for a donation. Goal is high but the stakes are greater. Cancer sucks. This year alone, my dad died, 2 of my friends have cancer, and my cousins baby is now in remission (she's a whopping 2) So it can hit anyone.

Now onto the fun stuff, HAPPY NEW YEAR! May 2010 bring you health, happiness, success and everything you dream of.

Irony at its best..

So I'm feeling awesome. My knee is a bit sore still, so that means my bike isn't fitting me properly and I need to get it rechecked, but that's doable..

The ironic part .. I got so wind and sun burnt this weekend, even with SPF 45 that if I get skin cancer at a cancer event I'd probably laugh. Sadly I was one of the non-burnt people in comparison..

Oh so I've been asked what kind of bikes were on the event.. Three that are super notable. An old 1 speed. Yep the ones from 35 years ago. Wowza. A BMX bike, you know the ones that have a wheel size of 15 inches.. and what we dubbed as monster tire guy. These tires were flippin huge, probably 3 inches in width. Crazy.

Have a great week.

THE RCC Day 2..

So day two was about 100X more hilly. I will never again think that the hill on 22X is gross. That hill is a molehill compared to these ones.

Woke up at 5:15 with my lovely roomy saying Jenn its 5:15 wakeup.. Ugg seriously. Had some incredibly crappy coffee - do the organizers not realize for 90% of us, coffee is a lifeline? I need coffee, but I digress.. And some rehydrated freeze dried eggs.. Again not the most pleasant but whatever, their protein..

Got back on the road at 7:10. Not bad.

Flat for about 30 minutes. First hill. Yuck.

Next another hill. And another and a holy shit hill. This hill had me seeing things. But I just looked at the incredible scenery and took it all in.

A few more hills. 28 km later.

And then first pit stop of the day. Grabbed some carrots, which surprised me since I hate carrots but my body must have needed them. Filled up on blue Gatorade, which is much tastier than lime. Lime is gross.

Cruised up a few long gradual hills for about 2 hours..

Biked until the next pitstop and saw the mountain. Decided I had enough to last me the next 35 k and forgoed the pitstop to just keep the momentum..

Went up and up and up. Seeing a pattern?!?

Then the bloddy wind hit. Oh the wind. I understand why there are thousands of windmills in the area. I think I said the F word a few times. And I heard the muttering of many others saying just stop the F'n wind. It was so strong, that you'd be forcing your bike to stay in a straight line but it wanted to go left. I saw a sign and man I wish my camera actually worked but it said 'wind gusts next 35 k awesome since I only had 15 left.

And then I bonked. I saw what I was told was the last hill, although I really didn't believe anyone at this point, and couldn't do it. I stared, I mean I stared at this hill for what felt like 10 minutes. I just couldn't, wouldn't, didn't want to do it anymore. I was going to throw my hands in the air and say screw it..

Then the absolute strangest thing happened.. I saw a middle aged man on a Maroon/red Goldwing, with a red motorcycle jacket with black trim, with a license plate of wait for it .. CHRIS. I'm sure it was a sign from my dad. It was my dad's bike, his jacket, his everything. And then I cried. I could do this. I would finish this for my dad. And I did. I made it up the final hill. Made it through the wind gusts from up above. And what did I see at the crest of that hill? Cars.. Lots of cars. I was almost there. I could see the finish line and through my tears I was ecstatic.

Made it to Sierra West ranch at 1.10. Saw mom, although I had to yell at her so she could see me. Sal and the girls were a tad late, because I didn't think I'd get in until 2. But my momma was there and my daddy was in my back pocket (his picture) and his spirit was around me.

And yes, I'm doing it again next year.

When I find my other camera, I'll post tent city, the bikes and the vista's..

1743 Riders, 500 Crew members, and 6.9 Million dollars raised for the Alberta Cancer Foundation.

The Ride to Conquer Cancer ... Day 1

What an experience!

I started out the day at my friend's house at the bright and early 5:30 mark. Let me tell you, me and 5:30 don't usually see eye to eye but on Saturday it was great. (Although I really don't want to see 5:30 again until next year)..



We get to the Deerfoot Inn and Casino at 6:45 and park my bike, grab a coffee and a surprisingly yummy egg mcmuffin sandwich. They put on a pretty great spread there.

I find my friend Janice, who I'm biking with and we chit chat for a bit. Contemplate life ect.. Actually we just try to wake up :)



8 am the opening ceremonies begin

Wow were they ever moving. There were a group of survivors walking down the aisle with an empty bike. You can guess what the empty bike means. Very sad. Very touching and moving. I cried, but I always cry..







We get on our way at 8:30. Sal thinks he'll be able to beat the first guys before they hit Cranston Blvd. It takes about 5 minutes to get there. He didn't. The first guy was wicked fast.. He made it to camp 100 km from the start by 10:15. Yikes. I did not. lol



If you don't know about Alberta, and I didn't, although I've lived here for almost all my life, it is flippin hilly here. Soul crying hilly. Long and gradual. Long and steep, long and gross. My goal was to try to make it up every hill without walking. The first day, I had to walk about 500m and realized that it was taking too much energy so I got my bum back on my bike and biked up. Slow but did it. Wahoo..

We made it to lunch in Turner Valley around 12:30. What a beautiful town. This is where my camera died so I have no pictures until camp. But let me tell you, it is one heck of a scenic place. I might consider finding out what property values are. I think it would be a great place to live.

Next up hills. A few more hills. A few more hills and then Longview. Sal was quite peeved that I didn't stop for beef jerky but jeez man I had more important things to do.

A gentleman who was either a friend of my parents or a really good hallucination, said you have one more hill and then its gravy.. He lied. It was all hill. But again, I got my bum on the bike and biked. Luckily there was a nice downhill where I got to 55km/hour. Scary stuff especially with the margin for error so slim. You had rumble strips and a guard rail and 13 inches of ashfalt in between. Scary stuff.. But that's what this ride was all about. Facing fears, kicking cancer's butt.

I saw a few riders hurt on the side of the road, which reminded me I wasn't in that much trouble. It hurt but no broken bones for Jenny.

Next up camp. You see camp in the distance and your ecstatic. The white tents aren't just a hallucination. You're done! Well for the first day.. The hardest part of day one, was the headwind going into camp. What should have taken 5 minutes took 10. All wind.

I managed the first day with a respectable finish time of 7 hours. I think I was 1200th to come in. Happy as a clam I was. Next year I'm going to break the top 1000.

Camp life was what camp life is. Except a lot more poop than in campsites. It was and is a ranch so lots of cows. Lots of pies in various stages of dryness. lol. Got myself some vitamin M (motrin) and a nice glass of wine. Waited for an hour to have a shower, but it was hot, so didn't care. Had some dinner, heard some more speeches and then the entertainment came. Duane Steele. For someone who likes Country music and not the teenybobber crap that usually comes with these types of events it was a welcome turn of events.

Called the kids, where Emily hung up on me.. You can see they missed me terribly..


That was day one. I need a nap just thinking about it..

Sweat, tears, and a bike..

Made it!

200km, 95% of it uphill at degree's of steepness I don't want to remember..

There was a lot of sweat, a few tears (I miss you dad) and a bike..

Pictures and info to follow..

Jenny needs to rest..

Packing.

I am one of the few people that enjoy packing. This trip however, I'm at a loss.

2 days. It shouldn't be hard but man it is. I have to get everything including my sleeping bag and foamy into one bloody backpack. Jeez.

Plus if you haven't already figured out, I'm in virgin territory here. What do you pack for a bike trip? I know that I'm packing an extra pair of shoes because I can handle a wet rain filled shirt and shorts but socks and shoes that are wet are just plain gross..

I found out about these CO2 containers that you can use instead of a pump just in case you get a flat, because those I have to take care of myself. Maybe I'll show some leg and someone will help me? Ahhh..

The panic is starting to set in. 200km. Am I ready? Can you ever be really ready for it?

And the race is on...

5 days.

5 days until I do something pretty amazing.. (If I can toot my own horn)

5 days

5 days until all my training, sweat, tears, are shown to be truly worth it.

5 days and I'll join 1900 other people trying to chase a dream..

5 days.

Thanks for following this crazy ride.

Don't worry if you don't have saddle sore, because man I have it for the both of us..

5 DAYS

Cancer can and will be history in my lifetime. That's my dream!

What a year it has been..

It has been a year, well actually a crazy half year.

To sum it up, I said to Dad after watching the Ride to Conquer Cancer commercial, who the heck in their right mind would bike 200km? That was November. First part of Dec, dad starts to go downhill quickly and Jenny decides to do the Ride to Conquer Cancer. Because I can't cure Cancer but I can bike (or so I hoped)

Here it is June 4th and I am basically done training. I have 23 days left. 2 long rides left, 6 short rides and then I'll be done the hard part. Then the actual event will happen. Wow. I can't believe it.

6 months ago, I thought it would be cool to do but didn't really believe I'd be able to do it. Now a short ride is 40k. Wow.. What a year.

Wow. Thanks for following this crazy ride.

Now I'll run 10k in the snow?!? on Saturday. In June. Yippee Dippy Skippy. But it's for a good cause. As I said way back when, I'd run, walk, and bike through fire to make it less possible for someone to lose someone they love to this blasted disease. cancer SUCKs.

On top of the world..

Yesterday was my first "big" ride. It was a great one. If you know Calgary at all, you'll know we have an excellent pathway system. I was able to go from my mom's in the far southwest to the far north west (Bowness Park) on basically one pathway. Well it was 2 paths. Elbow River and then the Bow River pathway.

In my journeys through the city, I've found one thing that amazes me.. We have wonderful parks that I've never bothered to explore. Bowness, Edworthy, even Princess Island park. That will be my summer goal!

I can do it. And those hills, that are mountains will not stop me. I have a mantra now on the scary hills. Dad went through hell, you can bike a stupid hill. Ok there were some explicts thrown in there at the end of the longest hill of my life, but I didn't walk once. I stopped and took a break for a minute but I did not walk. Not once in the 100 kilometers. Yippee!!

I ride today for a short 40 k, and yes I know how short and 40 don't usually play well together. Run tomorrow. Run in the rain for the Underwear Affair on Saturday. Guess I won't be wearing white. lol :)

100 Kilometers!

Holy SHI$. I biked 100 km today. 5 hours 45 mins..

Yippee dippy skippy.

Motrin, bed, and praying I can walk tomorrow..

One down ... Two to go..

YIPPEE!!! I made my 'The Ride to Conquer Cancer' goal. I raised $5000!!! Holy smokes. I can't believe it.

Now I want to see if I can make my Goal of $7300 combining the Weekend to End Woman's Cancer and the Underwear Affair. If you would like to donate please email me at jsminardi@shaw.ca and I'll set you up with the paper form. Or to donate online click here for the Weekend or click here for the Underwear affair.

I am also in the works of doing a few little fundraisers.

Stamp a stack for Cancer through Stampin Up
A Pampered Chef Party
A Usborne Book Party
A Passion Party
And another Round of Coco Brooks Pizza..

I'll let you know more as details become available

I will make my goal. I will make $7500 towards cancer research this year. With your help, we can make cancer history! Wouldn't that be wonderful!!

Do you? I do..

So ever since I've been walking/running at night I have a rule. If your blinds are open, it's fair game. I've seen a lot in my year of walking. Last night I saw a naked man frying something on his stove, personally I think this is brave. I've seen a lot. I've seen some great designs of kitchens, some really ugly wallpaper, really really ugly art work. Some scary looking people. Some nice families. Last night hubby came out with me. He said I shouldn't look. I know I shouldn't, but its the voyeur in me. I'm just not the perverted type. I'm curious. I've spent my life being curious. I don't talk a lot, I watch. I people watch. It's what I do. So I'm asking do you look in? And not the creepy, intentional look, but the absent glance?

*and as an added special part to this post, I'll let you in on a secret -- even putting the word voyeur in my post I will get about 10 hits (possibly more) today simply from people who type Voyeur in google so I'll quickly say, lets conquer cancer, click here to end this blasted disease (even perverts, sorry perverts, have to hate cancer) Yay I'm getting my sarcasm back!

Have a wonderful day. I'm going to.

Shameless plugging

So my epic (ok for me it's EPIC and Inaugural ) "Jenny's Running, Pedaling, and walking for a cure" begins in 3 months! Wow time flies! First up, June 6th - the Underwear Affair where I will run 10km hopefully in under 1 hour! Next up, June 26th to the 28th will be my holy crap I'm insane because I'm riding 200+++km in the Ride to Conquer Cancer. And finally but certainly not least I will be walking at least 30km (hopefully 60k with $2000 in donations) the July 24th weekend in the Weekend to End Woman's Cancer.

I've almost reached my goal of $5000 in the Ride to Conquer Cancer, I have half the money ($150) needed for the Underwear Affair and am really lagging on the WEEKEND TO END WOMAN'S Cancer

It's HUGE. For those who are new reading my blog, this is the reason why

I'll tell you why I'm doing this. Why I am doing this huge journey My dad at 62 years old died. He had a LONG (but actually very short) journey of Metastatic Kidney Cancer. By the time it was found, it had metastasized to his gallbladder, his liver, his lung and 2 other places. By the time he died 14 months later it had went into his bone, skin and brain. 3% of kidney cancer goes to the brain. This was my daddy's luck! It sucked. He had beat cancer before, was told that his 5 year margins were good. And there ya go. But one doctor flippantly said, see you in 7 years. And yeppers 7 years later we assume the cancer started again. 3 years after that my daddy died. Shitty luck. My dad's mom has cancer on her side of the family. That means that my 2 beautiful girls might have that gene, and because my husbands father died of Lung Cancer then they are really screwed. And so are we. So I'm fighting. I'm fighting because this way my kids have a chance to not get this horrible disease. I'm fighting so my kids don't have to watch ME or Sal die from this disease. You can't live your life in fear but dammit I can't let cancer win. So I'm going to RUN, BIKE AND WALK to get rid of this blasted disease.

Have to exorcise the dead father..

That's all I can see when I close my eyes. My dead father. Lying in the hospice at 445am on the 8th of February.. His mouth open, his eyes partially shut. I remember thinking come'n dammit just breathe. I could visualize his chest rising and falling. I was sure I saw it. But nope I didn't. So now I'm faced with a lifetime of seeing only my father dead or a lifetime of happy good memories with the twinkle in his eyes. The smile on his face. I'm choosing the happy memories. I'm going to scrapbook his life. Or his life that I know.

I decided this last night after a grueling 30 minute workout session with Theresa. I didn't want to go home, but I couldn't quite manage to go and see people like I thought I might have been able too.. I'm trying to regain my 'life' but my almost anti-social personality is using my dad's death as a crutch. So while driving to the Cheesecake Cafe, I turned into Scrapbookers Paradise and spent a fortune. Then paid to find out that my new fangled credit card needed me to remember my pin number which of course I never had. Called Sal. He gave it to me reluctantly. :D .. But in my process I found some neat paper, neat embellishments. But no book. Went to Michaels. Found one that was nice but black. I didn't want black. Wanted something fun. Because as much as dad was a hard-ass, some might even say anal (sorry daddy) he was a fun guy. Found a really fun, but still masquline scrapbook.

So in addition to going back to school, training for a huge huge bike ride, training for a half marathon, 2 book clubs, I'm now going to exorcise a dead father picture. It's going to be fun!

No going back...

Well there is no going back now. Holy crap what I have just done?

I've been thinking for about a month on what I could do to honor my dad. He wouldn't want me sad, and he's never been prouder of me now that I'm healthy and fit and actually enjoying life. So I signed up. I haven't been on a bike for probably 10 years maybe even longer but on June 26 to June 28th I will be biking 200 km to help people not have to go through what our family has done.

I saw the training plan, and it seems doable. Well it has to be now. I can't quit, I WON'T quit. I want to do this for my daddy. I know he will be with me, telling me to suck it up. Just ride dammit and when it is all done I will toast my daddy and say YOU WERE RIGHT, I CAN DO ANYTHING IF I SET MY MIND TO IT!

So now to those who are reading this, I'm going to ask you to help me. Help me get my butt on a bike. Help me keep at it. If you bike a lot or just a little, ask me to ride with you one day.. I need your encouragement your support and well your money too

You may have read my other journal, but to those of you who haven't I'll give you the cliff notes.
My dad at 60 was diagnosed with stage 4 renal cell carcinoma (kidney cancer) and it metastasized to basically all of his major organs. He was given a very short prognosis but he has persevered to today and 13 months later we are gathering strength to say goodbye to a wonderful man.. You have all said that you couldn't imagine what I'm going through.. Lets make that a reality. Lets make CANCER history!

www.conquercancer.ca/goto/Jenn.Minardi

Thank you in advance for all of your support. I'm going to need it.

Jenn