Saturday, October 22, 2011

Running through Tilley found no Hats, in Brooks I am hoping for shoes

Running through Tilley found no Hats, in Brooks I am hoping for shoes by temporallobe at Garmin Connect - Details




  • Weather: Low of 4c High of 10c (39.2 F to 50 F) A little cloudy but no real wind. 
  • Distance for today: 38.95 km (24.20 mi)
  • Total Distance to Date: 6436.60 kl (4009.68 miles)

I have run over 4000 miles as of today. 

I felt so heavy today. I don't know why. Some days I swear i feel like I way an extra 25lbs. 

Passing an accident scene


Found no hat's in Tilley but Brooks is coming up
Past the County of Newell

On my way to Calgary




Incredibly beautiful Province

Today I was a little off. I don't know why. The run was almost perfect. Perfect weather, perfect view, lot's of farms, lot's of honks from people. 

Truly a great run. I don't know why I was off. Tomorrow is another day and I will be back with my game face on. 

Good Night!!




















Friday, October 21, 2011

Redcliff and Ralston covered in one run.

Redcliff and Ralston covered in one run. by temporallobe at Garmin Connect - Details



  • Weather: Low of -4c High of 15c (24.8 F to 59 F) Sunny. Mild wind I had to fight
  • Distance for today: 40.44 km (25.13 mi)
  • Total Distance to Date: 6397.65 kl (3985.48 miles)
  • Song of the Day: The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets Nest. Audio Book by Stieg Larsson (still listening to it I have the first two books in the series and I downloaded this audio book from Audible.Com)


After a fantastic two days at Gwen and Harolds it was time to go. 
Gwen and Harold and Dog and a bog of goodies
Like a concerned Mom Gwen would not let me leave, or stay, without eating. Plus taking food for the road. 


I want to make a very special thank you. Gwen and Harold were like instant family. Melissa and I have been privileged enough to meet some fantastic people. With huge hearts and true care and concern. While I may not remember specifics I will never forget the feelings, the emotions and the love that people like Gwen and Harold exude. These are the people that bring your faith in humanity back when it seems to have gone. 

Acting Mayor signing the Run To Remember Day Proclamation
After leaving Gwen and Harold we were on our way to Medicine Hat City Hall. Where we met Acing Mayor Ted Clugston. Where he signed a Run To Remember Day proclamation. 

It's all legal now!! 


City of Medicine Hat and acting Mayor Ted Clugston
He was a great guy and we had a great time. Very personable and supportive of what we are trying to do with Brain Injury and Brain injury awareness. 


After spending some time at city hall it was time to get going. We drove to the Best Western in town and parked the Motorhome and then took off to yesterday's run stop. I was back to running. 
Long flat road 

It was a little cold in the start and I was able to enjoy a nice back wind. 

I'm on my way Calgary
At the end of today's run we drove back to the Medicine Hat Best Western where we had dinner and I am doing my blog updates. Time to stretch and get ready for tomorrow. 


Night all!! 


Thursday, October 20, 2011

A Marathon Through Medicine Hat

A Marathon Through Medicine Hat by temporallobe at Garmin Connect - Details


  • Weather: Low of 5c High of 14c (41F to 57.2 F) Sunny. Mild wind I had to fight
  • Distance for today: 41.40 km (25.72 mi)
  • Total Distance to Date: 6357.21 kl (3960.35 miles)
  • Song of the Day: The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets Nest. Audio Book by Stieg Larsson (still listening to it I have the first two books in the series and I downloaded this audio book from Audible.Com)

Yesterday we parked the Motorhome and the CRV at Gwen and Harold's house. We hung out with them and there family and had a massive meal. 

I slept in way to late and was about just before 10:00 am. Gwen made us a great breakfast and Melissa and I were off. 






The Worlds Tallest TeePee

Donkey (It bit my leg) 


Donkey's best friend. He thought I was a salt lick after I finished the run. 

One of the best parts of the run has been the people I have met. Being here with Gwen and Harold and there family and friends has been amazing. My faith in humanity has grown since I started this run. 

One of the reasons I started the run was because of the challenges I found in dealing with people. I was met with a whole bunch of negative people in my first couple of years after my injury. I continued to face a whole bunch of obstacles.

However after meeting some of the people I have been changing my mind. Meeting people like Gwen and Harold make it very easy to regain a believe in people again. 

Tomorrow I get to meet the Mayor of Medicine Hat.











Wednesday, October 19, 2011

I Crossed into Alberta Baby!!

I Crossed into Alberta Baby!! by temporallobe at Garmin Connect - Details


  • Weather: Low of 3c High of 20c (37.4 to 68 F) Sunny. Small wind at my back 
  • Distance for today: 40.12 km (25.52 mi)
  • Total Distance to Date: 6315.81 kl (3934.63miles)
  • Song of the Day: The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets Nest. Audio Book by Stieg Larsson (download it from I tunes) I am into this book in a big way. 


Today I crossed into Alberta. Melissa and I got a little Goofy with excitement and went a little picture crazy

Beautiful day to run. 

Long, gorgeous views

Alberta Marker 

The truck is in between Saskatchewan and Alberta

We made it team!!

Oh Yeah!! 

That's right, we made it to another province.

A heard of Bison!! Never saw a Bison before. 

Horses!! Up close 

Hello 

We met up, well I was run by is more correct, Gwen and her Husband Harold. She was literally running down the street after me. They are friends of my Mom and Dad and have tried to meet up with a few times. It just never happened. 

Turns out they have a place very close to today's runs top and invited us for dinner. 

Long story short, my tummy is full, I am sleeping in a house tonight, we have  internet and I will update more tomorrow. It took me awhile to upload all the photo's and we were so engrossed in conversation with everyone that we forgot to take pictures before everyone crashed. 

So I will do, part two, of today's blog tomorrow. Right now it's midnight and I need to sleep.


Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Just a Short Distance from Alberta!!

Just a Short Distance from Alberta!! by temporallobe at Garmin Connect - Details




  • Weather: Low of -4c High of 16c (24.8 to 60.8 F) Sunny. Small wind at my back 
  • Distance for today: 41.08 km (25.52 mi)
  • Total Distance to Date: 6275.69 kl (3909.69 miles)
  • Song of the Day: The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets Nest. Audio Book by Stieg Larsson (download it from I tunes
Today was well, fun. I had a really good day. I mean all my days are pretty good. I get to run every day. Today just felt, good. 




I started two stampedes (minor ones) of cows. They don't quite now what to make of this guy running on the highway right next them. Especially when I try and communicate with them. 


Cow in Camouflage




I wanted to eat there just to see how grumpy the chef is. 





 I also got really close the border of Alberta today. So tomorrow I will pass into the next province. Leaving Alberta and B.C. left!! Then I have to get a job ;') 

Calgary here I come. 
I am just in a really great mood today. Great run, limited discomfort, beautifull weather and so many COWS!!  




Monday, October 17, 2011

Trucking Through Carmichael, Tompkins and Piapot

Trucking Through Carmichael, Tompkins and Piapot by temporallobe at Garmin Connect - Details



  • Weather: Low of -4c High of 14c (24.8 to 51.8 F) Sunny little wind.
  • Distance for today: 40.18 km (24.97 mi)
  • Total Distance to Date: 6234.61 kl (3884.17 miles)
  • Song of the Day: "Kashmir" Led Zeppelin (arguably the greatest song, by the greatest band. Way before lip sinking, digital editing, these guys played there instruments and sang live" 

The thing with running through the Prairies is, well it all looks like yesterday. It's stunning, and beautiful. I was not expecting it to be full of cover, vibrancy, and well life 

see what I mean. 
We have driven to a town called Piapot. While looking for a place to park for the night that had some power for us to plug the RV into and I could do my blog.

We met some great people Barbra and John and there fantastic little puppy. Who have allowed us to park outside there home and run an extension cord to there house. 

They did invite us inside for tea and I would have very much enjoyed it. I had to upload all my data and pictures of the day and I seriously need to do some stretches. My left leg is not happy with me at the moment. 


Hello Piapot


So I am off to stretch and then pass out. 

Sunday, October 16, 2011

Webb, Gull Lake and Carmichael. by temporallobe at Garmin Connect - Details

Webb, Gull Lake and Carmichael. by temporallobe at Garmin Connect - Details


  • Weather: High of 11c (51.8 F) Sunny little wind.
  • Distance for today: 39.90 km (24.79 mi)
  • Total Distance to Date: 6194.43 kl (3859.2 miles)
  • Song of the Day: I was able to listen to the rest of "Bossy Pants" by Tina Fay. I highly recommend it. It is very funny. Don't listen to it while running. The belly laughing and the highway don't make great bed fellows. 

My left leg has been bugging me a bit. I am increasing my stretches. It is, however, not really helping. The pain is acute and I am starting to dread moving. So I will be doing a shorter blog so I can spend a little more time stretching tonight. 

I was able to listen to the news today and a friend of mine is keeping up to date on the "occupy Wall Street" stuff. How this has trickled over to Canada. 

People are upset that the distribution of wealth between the rich and the poor has never been this big except during the great depression. I am listening to people Grease complain about needing more help. While Canada is doing pretty good, my friend was saying, there is still an issue of the vast difference between the cost of living and the very stagnant increase in minimum wage. 

I get the numbers, I see the graft's, I understand peoples reasons for being upset. We have people graduation College or University only to be massively in debt, and unemployable. We have people in there 50's being downsized and unable to afford to go back to school and retrain themselves, while still paying there mortgage and sending there kids to school. 

Then you have government boondoggles of Millions and Millions of lost money for the G8 Summit, the whole Canada North thing. The leaders of the country making over $140 000.00 a year and not having to pay for flights, gas, cars, insurance, etc. 

I get it. I got in 2005 when I had my brain injury. I got it when  my company outsourced me and I had to leave my apartment shortly after leaving the hospital. I got when at 35 I moved back in with my parents who were one year away from retiring. I got it when trying to explain to credit cards, Hydro, and cell phone contracts that I went from earning a decent wage to being on "welfare". 

I get the anger, I get the frustration, I just don't get what you hope to achieve? What is standing outside these places going to do? 

If you want to seriously send a message. I mean a real message. All those people heading out to protest. Don't pay your hydro bill for one month. Just one. Don't pay the late fee, just get back into paying it regularly like you do. You want to let the corporations know you mean business. Take one month from paying your bills. All of them. 

You want to really make a difference stop buying what they are selling. Don't buy the new I phone 3G. 

If we really believe the government and big business are to close. Then hit them where it counts. Standing down town with your Starbucks cup and you children with you as you take pictures of it with your phone to upload to YouTube is not going to get the message across. It's a street party. Your point is valid. I agree with you. 

However if you really want to make a change, you need to sacrifice. You need to risk going out on a limb and taking a shot a making a bigger point. 

I was so frustrated at the "system" after my injury. Life was not fair. How did this happen to me. I didn't understand, what did I do? 

That is when I started to think about how can I make a change. What can I do? So I decided to find like minded people and head out on a very risky journey of running across the country. Talking to anyone who would listen. 

What I am saying is "good for you" your standing up. Your trying to let people know your upset, that things are not being managed properly. I am just saying I have been there. I have tried that. You are going to be disappointed if you keep expecting them to 1) notice and 2) make a change. 

You need to be the change. When your actions and all those around you change, then "they" will. Until then. Enjoy the weekend in the city with your kids and your latte and I will watch you videos on YouTube. As I run another marathon trying to make a change for those who suffered a Traumatic Brain Injury. 

Be the change you want to see. It took a brain injury and 2 years of feeling sorry for myself to figure that one out.