More Pics from Little Corn Island

Hermana's selling their mums sweet coconut balls...
A conch shell garden at Elsa's Place...
The Little Corn 'ferry'...
Casa Iguana's path and sign...read closely for a laugh...
Yes, it really was just like the photos!

Nica Update #1: Little Corn Island

We arrived in Managua, the capitol of Nicaragua (Nica for short) after a long day of planes trains and automobiles. We crashed at a Best Western hotel across the street from the airport and eased into our Central American adventure with some local cervecas- Tona or Victoria are the 2 national beers of choice...and at .50cents to $1 a bottle they ARE cheaper than water! First thing the next morning we hopped back onto a plane (but a little wee one) and took off to the Atlantic coast for 4 days of sun, sand and snorkeling on the carribean island of Little Corn. The photos above summarize our lazy days. The Island is only 1.5km squared so we had pretty much covered every corner by the end of our first day there. Here are the highlights:

• Stayed right on the beach in a little green hut at 'Carlito's'. Power, private bath $15/night.
• Coconuts right from the tree every day. Brad mastered the machette and we enjoyed many fresh coconuts with rum and lime on the beach.
• Fresh fruit for the picking everywhere you turn- coconuts, noni fruit, bananas, limes, oranges, papayas and starfruit! Sadly the mangoes were finished before we arrived.
• Miles of caribbean white sandy beaches sheltered by swaying palm trees...
• Shallow reef surrounded the island on 3 sides creating a snorkeling paradise! No need to pay for diving as the snorkeling was just as good. Little angel fish, jack fish, big baracudas and even an up close encounter with a 3 or 4 foot shark!!
• No cars, or motorized vehicles on the island as there are no roads and islanders get around by foot or bicycle on dirt paths that criss cross the island.
• Breakfast at Casa Iguana high above the sea perched on a cliff...Gallo Pinto (typical Central American meal of rice and beans and sometimes coconut milk) plantains, huevos, Ilzano green sauce (we got so addicted to this that we brought home a 1 litre bottle) and of course a giant bowl of fresh fruit and local Nica coffee....mmmmm a daily ritual.
• Nightly seafood feasts caught fresh from the sea that day- conch, lobster, snapper, crab, shrimp, tuna and more!
• Climbing to the highest point on the Island-the radar tower- for a 360 view of the entire island...dizzing and a wee bit scary to say the least...
• Cribbage and cuba libre's every night...
• Walking the jungle paths and covering every square inch of the island on foot...discovering remote beaches, fruit trees, local colour and paradise in general.
• The 'ferry' trip back and forth to Big Corn...when the locals put on life jackets you know it isn't good...
  
  

"The final countdown" doo do doo do....

Two and a half days until I board a plane for Central America...but who is really counting? Tomorrow is my last day 'at the office' before leaving town for 4 weeks and I am, of course, throwing a huge party tomorrow night! Why not go out with a bang I say. Lene and I are getting very excited about our annual customer appreciation night with close to 60rsvp's we are expecting a full house and lot's of fantastic ELM energy! Come for a drink, stay for a visit! But don't forget your hamper donation!

In case I don't have time to blog again before hitting the road...or the air I suppose...adios amigos & stand by for updates as internet access allows in Central. I will not be accessing my email but will try to upload some pics to the blog so check back now and then...

Registration for all of our January Fitness Adventures will be ongoing right up until the second week of January but don't delay-especially as some of our winter programs have limited spaces. Looking forward to seeing you in 2008!

Have a wonderful holiday with your friends and family and don't forget the JOY my friends.

Cheers,

Sarah.

Oh BABY!

I have had such a great time teaching the fall Baby Bootcamp program!! The Mom's have inspired me beyond belief and they have definitely put the SUPER in supermom! Multi-tasking at it's finest, working out with baby on board is the perfect way to get fit without worrying about childcare on top of it all. Check out these fun photos below: From the professional eye of Karen McKinnon! You can see the rest on the ELM Gallery... http://www.elmhealth.com/photogallery.html

Thank you ladies for working so hard this session! See you all in January 2008!

Holiday Updates:

The countdown is on until Brad and I leave for our 3 week Central American adventure!! In less than 2 weeks we will be on a plane heading south to Nicaragua for a very special holiday. We are planning to spend a week on a Caribbean Island (bigcornisland.com) and then time on the mainland hiking volcano's, checking out the 10th largest lake in the world and finishing with a week or more surfing the coastline of Nica and El Salvador...Yipeeeee! I will be taking plenty of photos and will update my blog whenever possible so be sure to check back while we are away!

But before I go there are some exciting ELM events to announce...

#1: I am so excited to announce our Special Holiday Schedule! During the month of December, all of our fitness adventures will be by donation to help support our hamper family. For just $5 and a non-perishable food item you can join us for any of our fun, festive workouts! Choose from Monday morning womens trail running, Tuesday night womens Christmas light runs, Weds/Fri night co-ed Fitness Bootcamp and Thursday night co-ed Need for Speed runs!! Check out our December schedule and please bring your friends and family for a holiday workout this December!http://www.elmhealth.com/NewMonthlyCalendarSpring2007.html#DECEMBER

#2: I am just as excited about our annual Customer Appreciation Night on November 30th! Look for your invitation in you email inbox for this special night hosted by ELM & Extreme Runners for YOU...as part of the ELM family! And if you are an ELM client but do not see your invitation please let me know and I will send you all of the details! Please join us for this annual event as we celebrate the season and thank you for your support & loyalty throughout the past year. Good food, good wine, good friends and GREAT deals will be awaiting you on this night ONLY! Hope to see you there:)

#3: January Programs are online now!! Registration begins December 1st (except for those attending the Customer Appreciation Night:) for all of our Winter 2008 Fitness Adventures. Be sure to check out the Program Calendar for a complete list of our upcoming classes and look out for winter only programs such as Adventure-Mix, SCORE and the Womens 10K Clinic! http://www.elmhealth.com/upcomingevents.html#DECEMBER

I think that is it for now...stay tuned for some photos:)

S

Storm of the Year...so far

Wow! Monday I not only woke up to a nasty flubug but also to the storm of the year! All night the wind howled and by morning the damage became apparent...carnage in Comox. Brad had to go out and check it all out so I bundled out and he took me on a tour of the aftermath of the storm. We could only make it to one beach-The Spit as the rest were totally inaccessable due to downed trees and live wires on the roads. Crazyness! I feel for all of you who just got power...or are still waiting! Check out these pics that Brad snapped...














Goose Spit...storm surge! Normally a gentle lapping of the waves at this beach...














Comox Marina...sad sad loss of a boat-here it was sinking as the owners watched it go...

Here is a short video of the tail end of the storm at Goose Spit...watch out for sea foam!

Cheers,

S

Smoke, Fire & Dirt

Recently I was going through my favorite photographs to select my top 3 for presentation at my photography course (chicks who click with Karen McKinnon) and I got stuck sitting and thinking about my years firefighting with the BCFS.
I spent 5 amazing years as a seasonal forest fire fighter and member of a Rapattack crew(rappelling out of helicoptors to access remote lightning caused fires), based in Salmon Arm. I managed to take along my camera during my final 2 years and tried to capture the beauty amongst the smoke fire and dirt. I only wish that I had taken more photos...but that is how hindsight works isn't it?

I have posted a few of my favorites below. I am loving the blog if for nothing more than to brag about my most memorable experiences and adventures. I hope you enjoy the sneak peak inside the firelines...S

Kickin up dust as we head back to camp.

The amazing women of Rapattack 2001

Suiting up to rappel into fire near White Swan Park, Invermere.

The hero's of firefighting...air tanker near Nakusp.

My good friend Lisa...Bootcamp 98 survivor! Seen here, smiling as usual.
Walking patrol along the highway near Falkland.
The first fire to take homes and structures during that wicked summer of 2003.
Hurry up and wait.

Fall back...

The last rays of evening sun will slip away from us this weekend...don't forget to fall back on Sunday! The saving grace is more light for our morning Bootcamp classes bright and early at 6:15am...come join us sometime:) http://www.elmhealth.com/NewMonthlyCalendarSpring2007.html#NOVEMBER

Have a fantastic weekend!

Sarah.

170 Racers Rock Cumberland!

Wow! The 3rd annual Perseverance Trail Run was a huge success this past weekend! We were blown away by race day registration with nearly 170 racers hitting the course in Cumberland! Lene and I cannot say enough about our fantastic volunteers-over 50 helping hands made the day a huge success. Although I have been IN many many races...I have a NEW respect for those organizing such great events! There are many facets and countless details to be dealt with and it is the volunteers who make the event so fantastic. A special THANK YOU goes out to all of the volunteers who donated their time, resources, services, passion and energy for this years race!

Equilibrium Lifestyle Management and Extreme Runners co-hosted the fun family event but it could not have been so successful without the fantastic support from Comox Valley volunteers and sponsors. A huge thank you goes out to the wonderful and enthusiastic volunteers including BC Ambulance and Comox Valley Search and Rescue. Thank you to the race sponsors including but not limited to Brooks, HiTech, Comox Valley Record, Odlum Brown, Natasha Designhouse, Riding Fool, Valhalla Pure, Fitness Excellence, Ascent Physiotherapy, Comox Valley Acupuncture, Karuna, Breathing Room, Island Pilates and Coastal Trek. A special thank you goes to Thrifty foods, Mudsharks, Zen Zero and Tim Hortons for their generous post-race food donations and for keeping the racers happy!

Check out the link for complete race results & pics to be posted tomorrow... http://www.elmhealth.com/PerseveranceTrailRun.html

Looking Sooooo good on the race course!

Favorite Tunes Today

Maybe you don't really want to know this but...it seems like a very BLOG thing to do so...here are my favorite MUST hear tunes today. These are songs/artists I have been playing over and over on my iPod when I am driving around all day or on my way for a bike ride etc...they pick me up and keep me bopping along regardless of the weather or what life throws my way. Go check them out on itunes...

Xavier Rudd. Can't believe I just discovered this guy...so great! Cross between Paul Simon and Ben Harper

The Shins. Old school euro sound that is light and mellow...love it in the car.

Kings of Convenience. Same idea but more Grapes of Wrath meets Jack Johnson somehow.

Garden State Soundtrack...anything here goes and you will find the Shins and KOC on this starpick of mine...always a classic.

And for those high energy fixes needed for vacuuming and cleaning windows...

Nelly Furtado's new disc. Promiscuous...Man Eater...etc...c'mon you can admit it is growing on you:)

What are your fav's for high energy?? email me: elmhealth@shaw.ca

S

1 Week to Persevere...

Rain Rain Rain! That is fall for you and it is time to get wet and go jump in some gooey mud puddles! Nothing makes you appreciate that hot shower and steaming mug of tea more than a good romp out in the rain. Don't be afraid...you won't melt I promise! Just grab the right gear and be sure to have some warm dry clothes in your car (and dry shoes) and you will be so happy to got out and played in the rain this fall!

Only 1 week to go until our annual Perseverance Trail Run: October 28th, 2007, Sunday 11:00am race start at Miners Park in Cumberland. This is a fundraiser for the Cumberland Community Forest Society...help us help them purchase and protect the forest for the future!! You appreciate nature...you like to walk, hike, bike in the trails...you want to preserve these special green spaces for the future so...please get involved! This is a joint venture with ELM and Extreme Runners and we are very passionate about it as you may have guessed by now. So, check out this link and hopefully we shall see you in Cumberland next Sunday!http://www.elmhealth.com/PerseveranceTrailRun.html

Sarah.

A Sad Day...

Denis Fontaine (left) and Richard Juryn at the MOMAR

The adventure racing community has lost two well known racers this past week. You have seen the news stories by now and have heard about the 2 men that lost their lives near North Van last week in a tragic kayaking accident. I have just learned their names and suddenly realize that I knew them...Although I did not know them personally, I had met Denis many times at races over the past years and he is impossible to forget...constant joker, always laughing and stirring up the pot. He will surely be missed by everyone he met in the racing community. Such a tragic loss.

"A dynamic life is a constant struggle against complacency."

MOMAR Pics

Kim and Tony looking serious...

ELM Gals plotting their course...

Kayak Bike Transition...cheering fans make me giggle...

Crazy Super Trooper Dudes...

Jeremy from Riding Fool comes 3rd!

This was a set up...they made me do it!

My Favorite Things...

Yuki...our 'son' who accompanies us on all of our hairbrained adventures, puts up with canoes, kayaks, up to his chin mud and protects us from the wild beasts of the west coast bush. Such a good boy:) Recently retired from a career in the mountains training for avalanche rescue and cruising the slopes, Yuki has lived up to his Japanese name...Snow Warrior.



Tesu...our brat of a cat who we love to hate and love to love. 90% angel and 10% pure diablo...we gave her the Japanese name for...'Trouble' of course. From just a few weeks we could see we were in for a bumpy ride but she has definately made us laugh as much, if not more than, cry over the past few years. Best advice was the spray bottle...

Photography...if I couldn't train another day I would turn 100% to my second passion...photographing nature and it's inhabitants...I hope you enjoy my photos as much as I enjoy taking them! Here is a shot titled: Balance. This was our homework assignment in this months 'Chicks who Click' course that I am taking with Karen McKinnon...check out her website for more inspiration...http://mckinnonphoto.squarespace.com/display/ShowJournal?moduleId=1378999&SSScrollPosition=247

Cheers,
Sarah.

Late Summer Recap...

Things have been busy busy around the ELM office since fall programs started in September so I have not had a chance to update the blog other than my MOMAR tales. We had a fun end of summer, start of fall and I wanted to share some of the highlights with you all...so here goes

Our summer trail running clinics wrapped up at the end of August with some wicked hill sessions in Cumberland and out at the Dam...here are some pics of our summer participants!
Adventure Running & Yoga-Fit...

Womens Only Trail Running at Nymph Falls...

Biking has been super fun this summer with my fantastic new Giant from Mountain City Cycles... Sunday Rat Ride...how many rats does it take to move a log???...

Then, of course, there was the GREAT NORTH of Manitoba where we spent a weekend in 'A Tourists Paradise' The Pas, Manitoba...

Flatland is an understatement...

Home via Lake Louise for a spectacular hike above the lake...

And the grand finale...2 weeks at our favorite surf spot...'secret' surf spot, that is.

Ciao for now...

S