2010 Transformed

The Universe talks. I look back and smile. We humans continue to evolve. With age brings wisdom. In time change. Tomorrow will always be different to today. Once what was, may never be - ever again.

I started 2010 off right. I gained the opportunity to help with Right To Play during the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics. I saw, I learn - I was inspired.

Not long after I lit up. A guest post for MISS604 with Mission Emp-ossible. She’s a ladder of knowledge amidst the fray of the Social Media revolution. What a gift.

Never much to travel the same path twice, I take up an ambitious challenge to my psyche. The Challenge Course for BC Bike Race 2010. Truthfully more then a physical dare. A consumption of my senses. Can I maintain the three-hour training rides before work (varnishing old wooden boats) by getting up at 4:15 a.m.?

My son travels to Quebec and wins another Canada Cup downhill mountain bike race. Later relieving himself of the race pace. I acknowledge the bliss by observing him master rugby. Not quite as extreme.

At some point I confront the notion of time. It moves quickly. Never enough of it. Priorities set in. The kayak is sold.

I’m going to Uganda. It’d decided in May. Six weeks in the plan. Fear sets in. Multiple shots soon required.

Volunteerism runs amuck. With the NS Freeride Bike Park FUNdraiser. A James Bond event. Glowing with gambling amid food and delight – at an airport hanger venue no less.

At some point I create my first vision board. “If you could do anything what would you do?” runs the headline.

Number one son graduates. Same school as I. Twenty-eight years later.

Again I ponder the future.  A blog begins. Raincoaster hosts the first of many Skype broadcasts. I absorb. Like a sponge I squeeze it out into words.

Sometime during I develop a new addiction. Riding in a pack. I become a cardio junky. I savour sweet moments with my new found training partner C.C. AKA missy iron legs.

More inspiration sets in. My soul sister and I attend a workshop at Hollyhock on Cortes Island with best selling author, SARK.

Here I declare worthiness. Open-ness to receiving.   

Uganda Wishes erupts.

Soon after I visit the Museum of Flight in Seattle with dear Uncle Len. Historical planes. Preserved in their time.

Then I depart for more change. It’s Uganda. Africa. A chance to look outside myself. Away from the norm.

The weeks pass. Calamity provides. Love ensues. Emotions are tangled. There’s a gap between time. What is. What was.

Back to red lights, buzz of today, text messaging in tribes and recycled garbage.

I divulge 2010 was Facebooked, Tweeted and such. The learning’s were real, the takeaways were more.

Like Kelly said after returning home from Africa, “It’s not about what we can do for them, it’s what they can do for us.”

Humbly I confess, things look differently now.

Goals may change but life hangs on.

People and Purpose is talked.

I admit in the year 2010 I was rushed, addicted, squeezed, stretched, strayed, inspired and later loved but most importantly - I was transformed.

Here’s hoping for peace, love, stability with good health and meaning for all.

Happy 2011 everyone.

Sincerely,

Jane Victoria King

How Sponsorship Works

As I cross the finish line I’m greeted with hugs. The belt buckle goes around my neck. I’m asked my shirt size and I receive a ‘Finisher’ t-shirt. Then I get a bag of Kicking Horse Kick Ass coffee beans stuffed into my Camelbak. That was July 3. I’ve been drinking it ever since.

I did the BC Bike Race Challenge Course and Kicking Horse Coffee was one of the sponsors of the race.

Years ago I was told I had to quit the dark stuff. Something to do with Irritable Bowel Syndrome.  At that point in my life I was only a triple shot dark Italian Roast Americano lady a day. Couldn’t leave home without it. Camping trips even. The espresso maker came along. No more then one a day.

During the seven-day stage race I took to the coffee. Like a magnet on the fridge. First things first. A cup of Kick Ass. The flavour was strong and soulful. Lots of depth. My days were grand.

I’d picked myself up a fancy new boddum from NOOD not long ago. When I got home I started filling it up.
Mum came by one weekend for a coffee. She likes it black. I gave her the Kick Ass. She thought it kicked butt and went out and bought herself some. Stuart came by and had a cup. He took note.

Had some neighbours do me a favour. I asked them if they drank coffee. They got a bag.

Went to my local Country Grocer the other day and the Kick Ass was on sale and sold out. Wahhhhhhh. I picked another dark roast - the Grizzly Claw. I tweeted my take and heard from someone that she switches between Grizzly Claw and Kick Ass and that she figured I’d be fine. Later I got a tweet from Kicking Horse saying to try the 454 Horse Power (like to know the origin of that name) and to make sure my local grocery store keeps Kicking Horse Kick Ass in stock.

I reckon I’m getting through a bag a week. Not bad. I got to thinking, Kicking Horse Coffee made a smart move sponsoring BC Bike Race. 

That’s how sponsorship works!

Why I Blog

I wear my heart on my sleeve. I speak my mind. I’ve been known to show the Poker Face. I can say out loud what some people may think but are too afraid to. I dare to be different.
Writing is something I’ve always been passionate about. Many years ago I wrote for community papers and a business magazine. I loved it. Because of a grave family member’s illness I gave it up and in doing so lost my parking spot so to speak.
Years later I moved into television. Combining words, visuals and sound. Super fun. Loved it a lot. It was heart wrenching loosing that kind of job to lay-offs.
Some more years later I find myself here. Wanting to write. Hanging out with Social Media. The gist of journalism still in my blood. It never leaves. Soon I’ll be combining more visual and audio to my blog site. In the meantime, if you’re still reading I want to share with you a comment a woman made to me this morning which made my soul shine.
From June 26 – July 3 I did the BC Bike Race Challenge course. I blogged about it everyday after my ride. Had a blast doing it and writing about it. This lady told me she read my blog everyday and felt that what I wrote was inspiring and made anyone feel they could go about setting goals and achieving them like I did.
The smile on my face is still shining. For me, writing or blogging is telling a story in some way I hope that will inspire others to share, do or dare. Today, that’s why I blog.
Thank you for reading.

Done With Yucks!

Supposed to go three times around the Voodoo circle. Head down I missed it. That was yesterday during the Abyss trail ride in Nanaimo.
Thomas of BC Bike Race reminded me of that at the finish line. I promptly blew it off.
“Have an awesome ride…race?” said my pal Shawn as I boarded the comfiest looking bus in line after breakfast. I laughed. I came to ride, but honestly have to say I got a little race funky yesterday.
We're on our way to Cumberland. Us Challengers are doing 37 kms today. On route we have a major mechanical. The comfy bus sounded lots of billowing white smoke. Harry the driver who had happily chirped before departure, “We’ve got the whole world in the bus,” did the right thing. He pulled over and called the supervisor. There were positive comments from all of us. "At least we didn't miss a ferry!"
Nothing we could do but wait. Wasn’t long. Luckily for the ladies there was a john on board!
I was ready to roll in Cumberland. But due to the mechanical, didn’t get to race start till the ten-second countdown. Still buckling up my camel pack, no time to top up water. We were off.
The 500 of us packed Main Street and soon spilled off into some double track. It was stop and go which gave me time to adjust my camera and pack. As the pack spread we swung out to the techy trails of Cumberland. Well-loved you could tell.
Ample places to ramp up. I found myself racing. Hit the Aid Station and asked how much further. Another 14 kms. I went for the banana train and bolted. I wanted more then fifth today.
Had a touch and go with another gal when we broke off from the Epic riders. We kept her going jiggy jaggy through the clear cuts.
All of a sudden there’s another Challenge rider heading our way. He claims a T with no flagging. Crap. We’re soon joined by Christian from Austria. We decide one will go high the other low. I have a phone number for base camp in my Blackberry so ring for help. Five to ten minutes later a BCBR truck rolls up. Directs us back from whence we came.
Felt pretty dozey when we came upon the flagging. How could four of us go off course? Well we did.
Now we’re getting caught by the Epics. I’m pissed cause I gotta slow down for passing. It was a tough slog. We had grinding climbs. Sick single track. Wicked downhills. Knew I was back in the swing and getting close to the finish as I could hear the music. Then I snag some gear issue thing. Stop and see I’ve picked up some yellow flagging in my derailleur. Really want to get her done for the day so I do what I can leap back on and realize no low gears. Good for high. Good thing it’s mostly downhill!
I’m peeling now. I know it's close. Pedal to the metal. 37 kms of Cumberland now under my belt. Three hours and 18 minutes on my clock. Course extras included.
In the end I thanked my bike. My Devinci Moonracer. She held up and got me home. Done with the yucks now. The rest of the week is going to be sweet!!
Powell River tomorrow. Day two, BC Bike Race complete.

Power Moves Power Dates

A Power Move is when you get to an obstacle in high gear and you lay on the power to get over it.


Day One, BC Bike Race Challenge course was a blast. The early morning evolved first with a bus trip to the Horseshoe Bay ferry terminal. I sat with a gentleman from Switzerland named Bat (pronounced Baet). Immediately I popped the question, “Are you racing or are you riding?”
This was the first of many similar overhead comments.
“I’m riding it.”
So starts the day. While there was some grumbling over not beginning in Nanaimo, one guy put it right.
“Ferry rides do a lot for reducing the pace of life.”
I was lucky as somehow I managed to make it to the front of the line for the Island Breakfast and the rock star view on the Coastal Renaissance. A nice breather to begin the day.
Heading out of Departure Bay ferry terminal was a hoot. The rock n’roll blasted and there were yips and yeahs heard as we heaved to over the start line. An 8 km roll to the trails.

I’m riding the Challenge Course, which is a first for BC Bike Race and half the distance of the Epic. For all the deets go to www.bcbikerace.com



I met another Challenger in line. Deborah from Texas. She claimed nerves. I didn’t see it. We both agreed, ride it smooth and steady. Have fun.
We’re almost to the trails and some fellow says he’s a member of the Tortoise Club. Perfect. That’s better then the BPC (Back of the Pack Club).
I have to say one of the funniest things I overheard en route was, “Anyone else burping up sausage?”

Once in the single track a little stop and go snail moves before the pack spread out a bit. What a ride. I’m telling you. There was rooty rocky technical single track with picturesque rocks, the trail so named the Abyss. And lots of power moves!
I was grateful for the power date bars I was given by my pal, Tamsin. Perfect slow release of sugar that kept me givin’er.
Near the end the Challengers broke off to the Glory Hole. Solely constructed for the BC Bike Race finish. (Rumoured to not exist.) There was some testy sketchy downhill. I walked. Glad I did as I came upon a magical waterfall. Then the Uni started to catch up to me. Had to give’er again. No way was I going to get passed by an Unicyclist! Me on two wheels forged the last 2 km to the roundabout finish on the track in Nanaimo.
I heard, Andreas Hestler over the loud speaker after he sneaked in claim it was the best course he’d ever ridden. Bar none.
“It was hard, it was fun it was the ultimate single track experience.”
Day One BC Bike Race done. Wow, what a day!

BC Bike Race Challenge!

Please note: due to technical difficulties, links for BC Bike Race were unable to be provided in this blog. Please visit www.bcbikerace.com for all the deets!

I’m up for the Challenge. I’ve been saying that for over three months now. My training for BC Bike Race Challenge course has also been a challenge!
Getting into the groove with the right bikes for me was a struggle. I managed with slicks on my old Rocky Mountain Fusion (19 years old to be exact!) to go solo on the roads early in the mornings. I’d get passed by packs of roadies with little giddy-up comments. Oh well, at least I was out there riding. Which is what Andreas Hestler told me from the get go. Get the miles on, bum in saddle.
My neighbours started to notice a difference in my schedule. Rather then waking up to get the paper at 8 a.m. I was coming in from a three hour road ride. Tired. Which prompted one idle remark from the male species, "Well at least you’ve got nice thighs!"
Thunder thighs they've now been named.
I have to say I’m pretty thankful the BC Bike Race starts in the summer. When my serious BC Bike Race training began in late March, the early morning rides were cold and dark. Lights were mandatory, so were arm warmers, footsy rain protectors, layers upon layers - even the long leggings.
As the weeks passed the days got longer, the early mornings got springier. But there was rain, lots of it. I’d attempted a three hour ride starting off in the rain one morning. Three pairs of gloves later I made it home. Frickin’ freezing. Lesson to oneself, wear all the gear before you leave and make sure it’s ALL waterproof.
The training program on the web site is great. But hard to follow when you’re working 8-10 hour days with an almost 2 hour commute. The only time during the week I could squeeze in long rides was if I got up at 4:15 a.m. The thought of me wearing the BC Bike Race belt buckle dangled over my head when I hit snooze for the first time. That usually got me out of bed.
It was super sweet once I got a properly fitted cross-country bike and started doing the Island Cup xc races. Even though I managed the tailgater spot for the most part, I could feel the improvement in my stamina and confidence in climbing up and in particular down. Practice makes perfect right!
The butterflies have already crept into my stomach. BC Bike Race is now three days away. I took up the Challenge, because I like a challenge. To be honest, I’m looking forward to living like a Pro: eat, race, eat, sleep, eat, race, eat, sleep, eat, race, eat, sleep for seven whole days!
I am no Olympian, I’m a 46 year-old mother with a spirit of a 27 year-old and mental madness to know I’ll find a way to get’er done, I know I’ll have to dig deep. No pain, no gain. Every step and strain you take today, is an investment in tomorrow morning’s strength.
Ready or not, here I come!