Christmas fun!

The Christmas season is one of my favorite times of the year. It is a time to relax and enjoy time with family and friends. This year I took some time and headed up to Powell River with my Boyfriend Peter and my brother Matthew to visit my mom and step dad. It is always so beautiful up there. We went for 2 runs around Inland Lake, which is a flat 13km run. The trail was covered in fresh snow. Hardly a soul had been on the trail except for some little furry creatures (you could see paw marks in the snow). My step-dad loves to go clam digging, oyster picking and buys fresh prawns from off the dock. We enjoyed much of that while I was there. My mom and step-dad separated 2 years ago and I spent some time with each of them separately and together over a nice family dinner on the 23rd.

On the 24th, we took the ferry back home. The roads were crazy and the snow was really coming down. I love when everything turns white, there is nothing more gorgeous. When we arrived home, Peter and I went straight to his Sister's house to enjoy a lobster feast with his entire family (mom,dad,2 sisters/husbands, and 2 children each). It was really nice.

The following day was Christmas day. Peter and I enjoyed a nice relaxing wake up and made tea and opened presents. I was really spoiled this year and if I ever get out ski touring, I am set!!!! Next purchase, ski boots! Peter was really surprised by the trip to Costa Rica I got for him. We are both so excited to go and I cant wait to do some epic runs down there. We went snowshoeing up Seymour in the afternoon and headed off to my Aunt Julie's house for Christmas dinner. Her family hosts it every year and it is always so good and a lot of fun. I found out I am the master at mad Gab, a traditional game we play every year.

The next day I went for a snowy hike up the BCMC with my Aunt Julie. She does it 4-5 times a week when the weather is nice out. It was nice to share that with her. There was soooo much snow!

On the 27th, after an awesome slushy road/trail run, my Gildersleeve family celebrated our annual Dutch Christmas. Traditionally Dutch Christmas is celebrated in the first week of December but we do it whenever we can get the whole family together. I had an uncle and Aunt come all the way from Montreal to be there. It had been a long time since I had seen them last. I have 2 aunts and their families that live in Courtney,Comox on the island. They were all sick and didn't end up making it this year. I was pretty disappointed not to have everyone there but it was fun none the less. We always eat these mini dutch pancakes. I only have them once a year and oh wow they are good. Thanks Sinter Claas and black Peter!

I am back on a training schedule. Me and Pete went for a 2 hour snowshoe up Seymour yesterday. There is nothing that gets my heart rate up so high. It's such a great workout. I guess I will be doing a lot of it until the snow starts to melt away in the local trails.

I hope everyone had a great Christmas and happy holidays!

Way Too Cool 50km- IM IN!

I AM SOOOO EXCITED!!! My boyfriend Peter and I woke up at 7:45 Sunday morning and sat our pretty little butts down at our separate computers to register for Way Too Cool 50km. Registration opened at 8am and we were ready. We had to keep refreshing the page every second because the server was so busy with so many people trying to all register at the same time. I got the page open first and Pete got it a couple minutes later. My heart rate was starting to rise in anticipation. Last year it sold out in 11 minutes and this year it was full in 7 min. CRAZY!!!

The race takes place on March 14th and is located in Auburn, California. This year it is a Westurn States 100-miler qualifier. If I manage to come top 3 in the female category I get to go!!! My friend Gary Robbins already got in this way with a 50-miler he did in November. I applied to the lottery last year but my name was not selected. Peter is guaranteed a spot in 2010.

Wish me luck!