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Email TinaFab at: tina_garstad@hotmail.com

Monday 29 June 2015

Calgary Womens Run: 37 years of FAB!

OMG!! Do you remember this??  
(I know..this is totally giving away my age!!)
Bonne Bell! c'mon! Admit it. You had a collection. I totally did. That is until my little sister ATE the orange, strawberry and Root beer ones. Heartbreak ensued in my pre-teen years when I found her tiny bite marks in MY Lip Smackers ... oooh the memories! So what the heck am I goin on about Bonne Bell for? Ah...my little trip down memory lane has to do with running, to be sure. Bonne Bell was the first sponsor of the Calgary Women's Run ...

This year the Calgary Women's Run turns 37!
Yup, 37 doesn't seem that old, does it?  But it's one of Canada's oldest women's runs.
Back in the Day...CWR circa 1981:
HEY I had those shorts!
Back in 1979, the Calgary Roadrunners Club was contacted by Bonnie Bell Canada about the creation of a10km run series for women. (Back then, Bonnie Bell Cosmetics and Avon were leaders in the push to get more women into running AND get long distance running into the Olympics).

I was surprized when a pal of mine didnt realize that 1984 was the first year Women participated in the Marathon at the Olympics. (She was born that year!) Do you remember that momentous occasion?? I sure do! I remember several of my grade 10 teachers talking about it.

Sooo...the Calgary Roadrunners Club, added this race to their schedule of events ... and the rest is history (click that history tab to read up on the race)!

I have joined in on this fun race since 2011 - and look forward to celebrating in style again this year. It's a great race, has amazing prizes and is a great (aka fun, fast, flat) route. Who doesn't like to run along the river? AAAAND - early bird ends on July 1. So, come join me -- there is a 5k and a 10k distance - great for everyone! 

Race swag has always been great. There's been jewelry or bags in past couple years. This year's FAB swag (if you register BEFORE July 23) is handmade fused glass pendants from NikNaks! The design is a secret, but her designs are beautiful - and have been given as AG prizes at other local races.

Last year I received a gift certificate from Lakeview Bakery - I used the certificate to purchase pizza crusts, bread and even a few treats over several months. Yup, score on such a useful prize! One of my other girlfriends won a year of yoga, another some gorgeous jewellery. One of gals I work with her mom won a new bra and another of my running pals got new trainers! Seriously....awesomeness.
 some snaps from last year ...

REGISTER for the race HERE. IT costs $40 - which is a pretty good deal. The volunteers, sponsors make it worthwhile. NOT TO MENTION that every year the race gives back significantly to the community. This is something I really like. This year's proceeds will be donated to :
Connections Counselling and Consulting Foundation - a registered charity that provides family support to parents with an intellectual disability and their children, and individual counselling to persons with an intellectual disabilities.
I figure...local, awesome prizes and a great group of runners to make your day. Sounds like a plan to me. Hope to see you out there -- race day is August 23rd!!







Friday 12 June 2015

Non-Run related: Are you Kurios?

The circus has left town ... 
For the past couple months I have juggled a second job (which was mostly afternoons/evenings) 
with Cirque du Soleil as they had a touring show in town!
Delve into a world of curiosity where seeing is disbelieving: the world of KURIOS™ – Cabinet of Curiosities from Cirque du Soleil®. The show immerses you in a mysterious and fascinating realm that disorients your senses and challenges your perceptions, leaving you to wonder: "Is it real, or just a figment of my imagination?"   

Step into the curio cabinet of an ambitious inventor who defies the laws of time, space and dimension in order to reinvent everything around him. Suddenly, the visible becomes invisible, perspectives are transformed, and the world is literally turned upside down in a place that’s as beautiful as it is mysterious. 
KURIOS – Cabinet of Curiosities was FABULOUS. 
It was ingenious. The acrobatics and athleticism were stunning
Anything is possible through the power of imagination.
While working I snapped a a few pics. 
Here are some of my FAVS -- taken pre or post show or when I watched the performance!










Have you seen a Cirque show? 
Got a Favourite?

Wednesday 3 June 2015

Rocky Mountain Soap Run: FABulous as Always


Weeeeeeeeee! That was fun!

Sometimes when so much awesome happens in a weekend, it is hard to put it into words. And sometimes when you have a particularly busy week you also forget to publish said blog about #allthefab!

This past weekend, I went out to the mountains to run. The Rocky Mountain Soap Women's Run (in the gorgeous town of Canmore, Alberta) is one of my FAV races. And even though it was a week before the Calgary Marathon, I still was determined to do it. Through a bit of a crazy story, I ended up sighing up for a halfmarathon (OOPS!) and a 10k on the Saturday and Sunday. It was a fantastic weekend away - pretty much unplugged and away from it all.
Check out my past recaps - 2013 & 2014: Further proof of how awesome this race is! 

Here is the weekend wrap-up in pics....

The package pickup is always fun! I like volunteering for it, and picked up for myself and friends.
Wicked Graft! 
Off we went...for a weekend of laffs in the best setting ever. 
Yup. The view from our hotel is pretty sweet. 
While I cleaned out my bladder (yes...use 2 tabs of polident for a clean as a whistle job), 
 
 Tara poured herself some special hydration. She was volunteering in the morning...I was running. So she could wine it up. I decide to wait until after the half to wine. 
 Morning of the first race is gorgeous. A little cool, but it's going to get warm. The finish line is being set up with our post race goodies...and they are prepping the scented clothes for the finish!
Best portapotty...with refreshing spray...Relieve tension pre-race!!
The race starts...and it is one hilly sonofagun. But I know this. But in all honestly...it is gorgeous!
The volunteers rock! I run into Tara at 10km or so. She gives me a high 5 and a big hug to keep up the pace. Then a few runners after me keep on hugging her. HAHA. 
For the most part, I feel strong and happy. Its a great day to run. I realize once I get to 15k that I may not make my time goal, but I push on (the last 6km is a HELLA steady uphill climb) in the heat. With the mantra of one more mile...10 more minutes...keep pushing. By far the hardest half I have done. But damn it is glorious. 
I finish and run into Simon Donato and Chandra Crawford
We have a nice visit and a few laughs...
And then it is off for a quick stop before lunch.
 
I  convince Tara to stop across the way of the Nordic Centre so i can have an "ice bath".
I am feeling FAB after the run...was 5 mins slower than my fastest time this year - on flat-ass route - so its a great run. I really like my first 15km pace-wise. Sort of lost the plot on those last 6km. But I've no time to pout or be upset about a missed PB. I've got a 10km race in the morning. Seriously, it's not the same as a flat race. All hills all the time. Yet, out here the mountains make it ALL better.
Wine also helps make anything better!
Before we know it we are back up and back atter for Day 2! 
The race is over before we know it! I felt great the whole 10k...a little rough at the very end, and I have a hard time pushing for a last kick. But man! Feelin fantastic. 
Only a couple minutes off last years 10k time, too. BONUS! 
I convince Tara I need another dip. I peel off the socks and ...head on in. COLD, but awesome!
We are pooped, but energized. AND starving. AND thirsty. 
So before heading home, we decide to celebrate with some patio time
And a drink. Or two. 
Man. A great run (or two), some mountain air, a gorgeous view and Strongbow.
Pretty Damn FABulous. 

I think you might see now why this is one of my all time FAV runs!
Neither of the runs were personal bests. But they were the perfect antidote for what had been missing in my life for a little while. That lovely perfectly happy run. The hills on this course are big, mean, and not at all easy. Personal Bests are difficult to get here. But I got something way more important -  a peaceful mind and a happy heart. I delivered two fantastic back-to-back runs. I felt stong, and I was not really sore. YES! My training was working. The joy of running was put on a platter. I chose to take THAT rather than obsess with what the garmin said. I chose to feel happy and proud of my accomplishment. Running a halfmara followed by a 10k the next day isn't easy. It is especially not easy in higher elevation and with a whole lotta hills. But I ate those hills for breakfast. And came back for more the next day. I did not use words like BUT or ONLY to describe my runs.
I much prefer that mindset.
Hells to the YEH!

What an amazing weekend. I am now super stoked for Calgary Mara which is in 7 short days! 
Bring on #allthefun #alltheFAB