Geez Robyn! Push it! Don't give up!!!!

So I did my third Try A Tri in Smiths Falls on June 22, there 40th Anniversary put on by Somersault Events.  Yes I did the Try A Tri again.  I hadn't done it since 2015.  I wanted to see how I improved.  Really I wanted to come first.  I came first in my first Try A Tri, in my age group in 2014 because I was the only one in my age group!  Click here for a blow by blow of that!

Have to write your age, not the only one in my age group this time...

Breton took this pic after they walked me to the start of the swim 2Km

Best part about this race is walking across the bridge in Smiths Falls in my bathing suit.  I asked Breton & Daphne to walk with me this time.  The first part of the swim is with the current and then the last portion is against it.  I am glad I know this about this race because it certainly was a surprise the first time.  The swim was definitely my weakest event of the whole Triathlon.  I can't imagine going a longer distance...

I was prepared, with my shoes waiting at the shore so I could run to my bike.  My bike portion 21Km was the best!!!  I really enjoyed it.  Felt great about it.  The last time, in 2015, my bike portion was awful.  They were cleaning up the bike entry/exit before I even got back.  My sister heard the officials say all the cyclists had come in...yet I had not.

This time, I passed many and pushed hard to complete my cycle.

This is my finish.

I am in first place.

At this event, there are many races going on.  There are duathlons (no swim portion), Sprint Triathlons, Super Sprint Triathlons etc.  And we all finish at the same finish line...

So the lady at the end who passes me...at that point I was done, so I thought she was from one of the other races.  In my head, I thought "Go ahead good for you...you are done your race too"

I did not realise she was doing the Try A Tri too

And she passed me for first place!!!!

Sooooooo

lesson learned put on the jets at the end and do not let anyone pass you!

Very happy to have my usual crowd there cheering me on. Breton, Daphne and my sister Aimee have been at all 3 of my tris and thank you Layla for coming this year.  Seeing people you know gives you that extra boost.

How religion turned me off of religion

For myself I do not feel a religion is necessary.

Let me explain:  I went to a Catholic school my entire school career (excluding university).  Why? because it was the one school that would pick us up by bus in our area.  I stayed during high school because I had my group of friends.

This experience taught me a lot.

Elementary school was the catalyst for turning me off religion. When you are told by your teacher (she was a peach wrote her a letter read it here) that you will never go to Heaven therefore in a child's mind, I would be going to HELL.  Sequestered for the big religious events (I understand as a non-Catholic I could not make First Communion or Confirmation but I just feel it should have been handled in a more positive way, rather than not saying anything.  Really felt looked down upon)and spoken to like you are dumb by your friend's mom because you might not understand the play Joesph and Technicolour Dream Coat -- uh hello I do go to a Catholic school and actually listen.

Yet I did get peer pressured to go to Confession in grade 4 for the first time with my classmates...and I lied in Confession?!?!?  Also in Grade 4 my teacher (more about him here) let me try the Eucharist out of the bag of them in his desk...it was ok they weren't blessed.  Not sure about the Eucharist my friend gave me...after she'd gone up at Mass??? For that perhaps I should not be going to Heaven.

High school was not so negative and self esteem crushing.  I had two amazing friends who attended Church every Sunday but were the least judgmental.  They were very open to discussing every aspect of the Catholic religion including its "faults".  They walked the walk yet embraced me as their forever friend (xoxxox) 

But

....in high school I had another experience with a different religion.  Not a positive one at all.  It was with one of my fellow non-Catholic friends.  She invited me to a weekend camp with her Pentacostal church.  Mass was very different than what I had already experienced through my schooling.  People talking in tongues, yelling out and in the end I really felt like I was brought there to be recruited.

As an adult, one of my children is baptised and the other is not.  I have met other religious friends and we are respectful of each other.  I pray, I try to treat others as I would like to be treated, there is Karma, and I feel closest to God when I am in nature.

Then I get this:
Stuck to the handle of my car in the winter time.  I thought it was a ticket at first for parking early in an area that started free parking at 5...I parked at 4:30

I Have not googled this yet?!?!

I just laughed.

La Ronde Review

Bonjour from La Ronde July 12th 2019

I hadn't been to La Ronde since I was a kid.  We had passes, the Gold Pass (they were a deal early in the spring) and that is why we went to La Ronde.  The Gold Pass included admission, free parking (normally $28 to park?!) , a free friend pass (Breton is our free friend), a water bottle! and a few other coupons.

Well I do not think they have updated La Ronde since the last time I was there :(  There were a few rides that weren't even running... but those that were... were memorable:)

This ride was my speed and although we did it twice there were others.

There was the TITAN Click here

I thought "I use to do these rides" and "I have skydived here" 

I screamed the whole time with my eyes closed.  

Same with the Monster. A lovely wooden roller coaster.  I left this ride with a sore neck and I nearly lost my sunglasses!  

ok maybe I shouldn't have worn the sunglasses on the ride especially when they have padding on either side of the coaster because you get ripped around so fast.

I thought I would do better on one of my childhood favourites: the swings.

But when my niece Stella suggested we do it again, I suggested that she go with her sister Molly.  And they did about five times more!

I did enjoy the splash ride, even when we got soaked!

Do you see me?

Despite being a little dated we had fun.  We were a group of 9 so we all manage to find rides to go on either together or someone in the group to go with.

Be warned the food is expensive.  Two footlong subs from SUBWAY was $40+

Breton, Daphne and I went the day before and stayed over in Montreal (see below).

Ahoy Pirate Atticus and crew!

Drop in Molly & Stella

We stayed at Hotel Le Dauphin in Longueuil.  It was very modern and when I asked if they could recommend a good Italian restaurant, (so craving a good pasta dish)they gave me a gift card for $20 to La Messina .  My craving was met but do not say you want the extra cheese, it will cost you an extra $4

Quote Of The Day

You are no good to anyone if you aren't breathing...
Take a Breath, my friend

Mental Care

Core Belief:

My life is amazingly good

And I allow it to get better.

Automatic ThoughT:

Keep it simple

Do not complicate it 

This was assisted by Health Nut Julie  in particular her podcast Healthy & Happy episode 54
@healthnutjulie