Cheers to 2010!

The final day of 2010.

WOW. What a year it has been for ELM! I am sitting, thinking, reminicing and realizing a massive sense of gratitude. My heart swells with thanks for the opportunities I have been given, the adventures I have lived and the warm people I have been lucky to do it all with.

Raise a glass and give cheers to 2010! Here are my Top 10 ELM highlights from the year gone by...

Peru Trek. Of course, this year was all about Peru and the amazing team of trekkers that completed the challenging 7 day journey to Machu Picchu in September. There are a lifetime of memories in this highlight alone... Check out the short movie if you have not already done so...

Peru Fest. This celebration of all things Peru at the Riding Fool Hostel last month blew me away. I had so much fun reliving the trip, chatting with future adventurers and raising awareness about the needs of the remote Peruvian people. We raised $1500 in one night which will go a long way to support these children in the mountains of Peru. Thank you!

Adventure Running 2010! I think this was one of the best 24 weeks of Adventure Running we have ever had at ELM. The trails were steep, gnarly, flowy and rewarded us with breathtaking views. We discovered many new routes, trails and areas in our own backyard. Looking forward to next year!

ELM Members Events! Coastal Trek hike and feast up on Forbidden in February, Cycle and Sip to Beaufort Winery in the summer, discount shopping nights at Valhalla and more - it was a fun year playing with the ELM Members. Another highlight was welcoming Kathy Penner into the ELM family as our new Membership Co-Ordinator...thanks for all your amazing work Kathy!

Snow to Surf Relay: ELM Women Snag FIRST PLACE OVERALL in the womens category of this years S2S !! What a great race we had! The stars lined up and our superstar ELM team made it happen to take the gold medal in this years race. Way to go Team ELM!

Boston Bound! 3 amazing ELMers qualified for the Boston Marathon at this years Royal Victoria marathon in October. Congratulations to Korky, Karen and Diana who are all Boston bound this spring!

Fit & Free! After years of research, writing, editing, designing, and finally printing, I released my first book this fall. Yippee! What an amazing learning experience...and a huge relief to finish the book! Stay tuned for book promotions and events in 2011! Pick your copy up today!

Route of Fire: ELMer Jen Joliffe completes an amazing 7 day staged race across the country of Costa Rica! Learn about the route here and watch her do it all again in Feb 2011! Way to go Jen- you are amazing!

New Sponsors: I was stoked to bring on 3 new Sponsors as part of the ELM Membership program in 2010! Welcome to Valhalla Pure, Mountain City Cycle and Lotuswear! (PS Check out the membership page for a list of our current sponsors including our first 2011 addition:: Oh Spa!!)

Top Personal Trainer Award: I was shocked and stoked to win the Get Out There Magazine Peoples Choice Award for the Best Personal Trainer in Western Canada on New Years day last year. What an amazing way to start the year! Once again, thank you to who ever nomitated me...you really did make my day, my month and my year:)

I hope you had a fantastic 2010 and that you lived, loved and laughed more than the year before...

Now...onto 2011!

Happy New Year!

Sarah.

Season's Greetings!

Looking for the perfect Christmas gift? Look no further than 'Mr. Beary Fit'! The annual Boys & Girls Club Christmas Bear & Gingerbread House fundraiser is on now at Crown Isle and you have to go up and smell it for yourself! The room is filled with amazing gingerbread houses and holiday gift 'bear' packages that you can bid on in a silent auction. Pick up a christmas present and support your local boys & girls club at the same time! Check out ELM's Mr Beary Fit- 10 class punch card, Bootcamp T, ELM running cap, anti-burst exercise ball, twist tubing toner AND a Daily Fitness Logbook and copy of Fit & Free! WOWEEE!

One of the gingerbread house winners...you have to see it to believe it!

HO HO HO! The holiday season is upon us and I am heading south next week to celebrate with my family in the sun! Here is an update on what is happening at ELM this month!

NEW! Christmas Cheer Runs- Thursday nights, 5:30-6:30pm, casual, group runs. Join ELM for 3 fun, festive, runs through the Valley's best Christmas light neighbourhoods. These 'festive' runs start and finish at local pubs. Runs are by donation: please bring a non-perishable item or $$ for our Christmas Hamper!
Dec 16th Crown Isle Clubhouse
Dec 23 Billy D's Pub
Dec 30 Black Fin Pub

Holiday Bootcamp- Mon 5pm, Weds 6pm, Tues/Thurs 6:00am until December 23rd! Space is still available so be sure to drop in on us for some pre-holiday crosstraining at ELM's Outdoor Bootcamp this month! Check the online calendar for class locations, and join us for a great workout anytime.

Christmas Hamper- we are continuing to collect donations to fill our 2 hampers and support two local families in need this Christmas. The families we are sponsoring this year are quite large and we know that our donations will make a big difference in their lives.

We are looking for specific non-perishable items as well as gifts for the family members and cash to complete the fresh Christmas dinner shopping.

Typical hamper items include staples such as rice, flour, tea, coffee, peanut butter and toiletries as well as holiday foods such as cranberry sauce and stuffing. below and bring what you can to your next ELM class. You can also drop off your donations at Extreme Runners, before December 16th.
Family 1: 2 adults & 2 sets of twins! Boy & Girl age 10 and Boy & Girl age 6
Family 2: 2 adults & 3 daughters ages 5, 13 and 18.

Thank you for helping us help these families during this time of giving and need.

Best wishes for a happy and healthy holiday season! Cheers to 2011!
Sarah & Team ELM

Superset Ski Fit Circuit

Ready Set Snow!

Wondering what we get up to at Sunrise Bootcamp? Well, here is what we were doing just this morning - a superset ski workout!

Warm up 15 minutes general and specific/dynamic range of motion

Round 1
Complete 2 sets of 20 of the following with a 1 minute sprint or stair run between each exercise:

• 180 snowboard jump turns (squat position, jump and land 180)
• Classic ski jumps (lunge position, jump and switch feet in the air) (20 each leg)
• Mogul Twist Jumps (tight squat position, jump and twist lower body, squat land) (20 each side)

Round 2
Complete 2 sets of 1 minute of the following with a 1 minute sprint or stair run between each exercise:

• Slalom snowboard course (hold squat, shift weight forward, back, heel, toe, jumps)
• Telemark lunges (backwards walking lunges, knee to floor)
• Slalom ski course (hold tight squat, shift forward back, turn to sides, jumps, tricks)

Round 3
Upper body superset. Complete 5 sets of 10 reps of the following back to back no rest:

• Power Push ups (incline, push off railing/floor)
• Pull Ups (alternate overhand, underhand and switch grips)
• Incline Tricep Extensions (hands close, elbows tuck down to floor, lower head to railing)

Round 4
Core superset. Complete 5 sets of 10 reps of the following back to back no rest:

• In Out Abs (lower and upper body lifts)
• Scissor Kicks (10 each side)
• Sky Reach (legs in the air, reach to opposite foot) 10 each side.

Stretch! Drink! Rest! Enjoy!