All posts tagged with: 2010

For two-time Olympic athlete, world champion and member of the Canadian World Cup mogul team, Canadian freestyle skier Kristi Richards is a person with a passion, dream and dedication to her discipline.

Kristi first set her feet onto a pair of skis when she was just three years old and from that moment onwards she has been in love with the sport.

“I want to go to the Olympics,” said Kristi, reflecting back on her dreams as a child. “I want to win a gold medal for Canada.”

After years of training, the Summerland, BC native knew she had to take her skiing career to the next level. In 2005 her community got behind her and helped raise the funds she needed to go to her first Olympics in Torino.

In the lead up to the Torino Olympics, Kristi suffered two major injuries.

“I knew I had to go to the Olympics,” Kristi said. “I didn’t matter if I won, lost, or crashed. If you’re going for greatness, that path will be worth it.”

Kristi recovered and continued to train for her first-ever Olympic competition. She knew she had to reach her childhood dream.

“I love to see what’s physically possible,” Kristi said as she recalled her training and what motivated her on her journey. “It came down to my values. I love to learn. I was learning so much about myself. It was great.”

Every race and competition for an athlete is exciting and emotional, and for Kristi, the Torino Olympics were no different.

“I was so nervous the day before the event, I couldn’t even ski three moguls,” Kristi said. “I was the first women to go on the first day of the competition. I knew this was my moment. I can open the games!”

As Kristi stood in the ready position at the gate at the top of the course she was nervous.

“I couldn’t train any more. This is it,” Kristi described the moment in vivid detail. “I saw my family in the crowd and I knew I could do no wrong.”

Kristi ended up reaching her goal of placing in the top 10 by placing 7^th overall.

In 2007, Kristi committed to participating in the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. There were challenges for her there too. The Canadian womens freestyle mogul team was starting with all brand new members.

Kirsti was going in on a strong note. She had just won the gold medal at the 2007 World Cup and knew there was a lot of hard work in the years ahead.

“I was focused on the goal ahead,” Kristi said as she recalled all the physical and mental training she had to do along the way. “It’s not simple to get your mind to be quiet and to focus.”

Kristi decided to make some personal sacrifices so she could stay focused. She changed her cell phone number, paid attention to nutrition, and put her social calendar on hold in the year leading up to the Olympics. This was the dedication she has as an Olympic caliber athlete.

“I said not to media appearance,” Kristi said as she described her focused level of commitment to her training. “In the long run it’s not going to make me a better skier.”

Kristi decided that in order to make her Vancouver 2010 Olympic moment special she would attempt a jump no women in the Olympics had ever done before.

“I was confident because I didn’t miss a beat,” Kristi said. “I chose it because I was scared of jumping. If I kept doing all my regular jumps, then I’m just going to get by. Why not go to my full potential? I learned how to trust myself. My coaches. Others.”

At the end of her training Kristi learned something very valuable. To believe.

“I learned how to believe. For greatness. For myself. I wanted to see the sport grow and evolve. This is why Kristi pushed herself so hard.

The day before her big race the weather was not cooperative.

“I went through six pairs of gloves and goggles and I put on a trench coat after every run,” Kristi said. She knew she has a competitive edge because she had trained in these conditions before and as a seasoned pro, she was not going to be thrown off guard. “I knew I was going to rise above it or get over it.”

On the day of the race, Kristi was again full of confidence.

“I stood up there so proud of myself,” Kristi recalled as she stood once again at the gates at the top of the Olympic race course, this time in Vancouver. “I can remember the humidity in the air.”

As Kristi descended down the hill she was full of power and strength.

“In that spit second I was going for gold, not bronze.”

It started off so well, and then disaster struck.

“I skied that run so fast that I missed a few pole plants and crashed in the middle of the run. I knew when I crashed that gold was gone.”

Although the hearts of many Canadians sunk, Kristi wasn’t going to let it get her down. She trained hard for this moment and she wanted to finish what she originally set-out to do.

“Most people just get up and ski off the course, but I wanted to do this jump. I took in the engery from below. I remember taking four deep breathes. I counted them. I collected my thoughts and continued down the course. I did the best back fold of my life!”

Although Kristi did not medal at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics games she can be very proud of her achievements and acomplishments.

“I laid everything out on the table,” Kristi said, as she described how she overcame her fears and challenges and what she was able to do as an athlete. “I am proud of that.”

After taking some time off, Kristi has decided to try again to compete in another Olympic competition.

Kristi, I wish you good luck on your journey. You’re an inspiration.

Ian - Mr International Leatherboy 2010

In February 2010, Ian McKechnie was titled, Eastern Canada Leather boy, and just a few months later in July 2010 he was named Mr International Leatherboy.

“Since that time I have been publically stripped naked, tied-up, beaten, flogged, kicked, punched, electrocuted, and set on fire,” said Ian. “It’s been a great freakin year!”

The youngest of seven children, Ian grew up in a blue collar, Roman Catholic family in Hamilton, Ontario. He is proud of his accomplishments as a second-degree black belt.

Thought his involvement in the Hamilton Pride Committee, Ian was introduced to the Golden Horseshoe Leather Association. Here Ian met his two leather mentors, Phil and John, who showed him the many facets of the leather community.

Sadly, his mentors passed away before they could see Ian win his International title.

“It is the memory of their love, boundless energy, and selfless commitment to the leather and bear communities that I take with me throughout this title year, and always,” Ian proudly said.

During his term, Ian shares his duties with Sir Hugh, International Leather SIR, and red warrior, International Community Bootblack 2010.

Ian has attended many Pride events and festivals over the past year as part of his duties, including Toronto Pride 2011.

Ian ended with, “I am proud to say that my name is Ian, and I am a Leather boy.”

Mr International Leatherboy, blogger Brian Webb, and DJ Pierre Fitch at Toronto Pride 2011

As 2010 wraps up and 2011 is about to begin, it’s a great opportunity to clean the slate and start again. Such is the case for 25 year old male porn star, Phillip Ashton.

“I would have to say life is probably one of the biggest challenges right now,” said Phillip who has recently taken a short break from his career in adult entertainment to try to regroup and deal with some personal situations.

“I have been through a lot the last couple months and you know giving up is the first thing on my mind, but I have amazing friends who keep pushing me to do what I need to do and guide me in the right place,” Phillip said.

Phillip’s latest scenes were in Taking it Deep by Diamondback Pictures, which he starred with his buddy, Tyler Andrews.

So what can we expect from Phillip Ashon in 2011? As he so eloquently put it, “Hot sweaty bondage sex!”

When asked about more specifics all he could say was, “Lets just say I don’t top in this movie, well I do but I also bottom.”

Let’s keep watching to see how things go for Phillip Ashton in 2011.

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In 2006, Australian underwear designer and manufacturer, aussieBum, launched Wonderjock, underwear that promised men it would give them a package they would be proud of. The style was a big hit and has sold over a million pairs world-wide.

This fall, just in advance of the Christmas gift-buying season, aussieBum has released a new version, the WJ Pro. The updated design gives greater lift and visual size enhancing effect, which they call ‘4D Virtual Grid Framing’. aussieBum has incorporated a patented feature which provides greater sway freedom, maintaining superior comfort and support.

“The aussieBum Wonderjock technology revolutionised the way men perceive themselves in underwear,” said aussieBum founder Sean Ashby. “We gave men the opportunity to live confidently knowing that at all times, they were putting their best asset forward – their sense of self confidence.”

The aussieBum WJ Pro comes in a range of colours and styles including brief, trunk and for the first time ever the jockstrap.

In traditional aussieBum style, the underwear is made from high-quality soft cotton, allowing for maximum flexibility and adapts to all shapes and sizes. The impeccable stitching not only adds detail, but will ensure they will be long-lasting. The thick waistband, featuring the classic aussieBum logo, keeps your underwear in place all day (or all night), long.

If you’ve tried the original  Wonderjock collection, you should definitely try the new WJ Pro! For those that have not yet experienced the phenomenon, go out and get yourself a pair, you will be amazed! If you order direct from the aussieBum website, shipping is free!

aussieBum is known around the world for their high-standards in manufacturing, and innovation in cutting-edge design. aussieBum is sold in retails stores in 75 counties, including Canada and the USA, and direct from their website.

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This Friday, LA fashion designer, Andrew Christian releases two special limited edition briefs for the 2010 holiday season.

The Christmas 2010 Brief is a playful brief featuring the traditional red, white and green holiday colours. This brief is made from a soft cotton and spandex fiber blend for great stretch and recovery. This blended fabric keeps the underwear tight against your skin and helps eliminate drooping and sagging in the front and back. The underwear also features multi-depth woven elastic with the Andrew Christian logo. This is a limited edition style and only 332 were made…so when they are gone…they are gone forever.

The Holiday Noir 2010 Brief is a more traditional design featuring a hand-sewn silver colored metal charm on an all black body with contrasting stitching. Only 283 of the limited edition Holiday Noir Brief were produced. This brief is made from the softest bamboo fibre in the collection so it not only looks sophisticated, but is also very comfortable. The underwear also features multi-depth woven elastic with the Andrew Christian logo.

Each style comes in a see-through holiday tin with a hand-written holiday card from designer, Andrew Christian.

These limited edition holiday underwear will only be available starting this Friday in Andrew Christian’s West Hollywood boutique locations, LA Remix Outlet store, the Glendale factory outlet store, and online.

Andrew Christian is also offering an in-store only Black Friday Sale featuring 50% off regular priced underwear at his Flagship, Sport and Remix Boutiques.

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On Friday, November 19, Sweedish electropop singer, song-writer and recording artist, Robyn, graced her fans at Venue on Granville Street in downtown Vancouver. Robyn is currently on-tour promoting her new album, Body Talk. Robyn performed songs from all three of her albums, including Show me Love and Dancing on my Own.

Robyn was very interactive with the crowd – and one point she jumped off the stage to body-surf over her fans.

The sound quality and lighting for the show was really well done and her fans clearly enjoyed every moment of the show.

Through the three sets of songs, Robyn did not have any costume changes – she was very comfortable in her one-piece green get-up. At times she appeared to be fatigued; taking rests mid-song and eating a banana on-stage – perhaps her blood-sugar was too low.

On Monday, November 22, 2010, Robyn will release the final album in a trilogy set, Body Talk, with the first single, Indestructible.

This Sunday, November 21 is the last big race of 2010 in Vancouver ~ the Fall Classic, at UBC. The half-marathon is a double loop – 11.1km on the first loop and a standard 10km on the second. They do this to keep the course as flat as possible.

Register online before Friday, or in person (cash only) on Saturday and Sunday.

Race routes and entry fees:

• 5k - $50
• 10 k - $60
• 21.1 half - $70

Race Central is located at the Student Recreation Centre (SRC) at UBC with the start line positioned along Student Union Boulevard.

• 8:30amHalf Marathon starts
• 9:30am10k start
• 10:00am5k start

Volunteers are still needed. Contact them today.

For more information, visit the Fall Classic website.

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Each year, Vancouver hosts many fantastic shows geared towards kids and families. Late this summer one show really captured my attention, Walking with Dinosaurs.

Produced by the BBC at a cost of approximately $20 million, Walking with Dinosaurs is narrated live show that takes you on a journey of the three eras (200 million years) of when dinosaurs ruled the earth. The storyline is easy to follow and understand, and kids were generally engaged. The lighting and transitions were extremely well done. The 15 dinosaurs are said to be the most realistic moving and looking of anything to-date; they were truly remarkable!

If this show comes back to Vancouver, I would highly recommend it for families with kids ages 3 – 15. The ticket price was a bit higher than I expected, but well worth it. Oh, and skip on the popcorn, toys and other goodies – they are a waste of money – just sit back and enjoy the amazing show!

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This year, Hastings House Country House Hotel and Dining Room on Salt Spring Island welcomed some of the best Chefs from across BC for the dinner series, Chef’s Across the Water. The fifth and final dinner in the series was held on Monday, October 18 and the hotels very own Executive Chef, Marcel Kauer took to the kitchen to prepare the five course dinner.

The dinner took place in the original manor house, which was converted into two guest suites on the upper floors, and a wonderful and cozy dinning room and lounge on the lower floor. What makes the atmosphere so inviting is the charm and character of the building. The original exposed wood beams and rock quarried right on site give the room warmth and personality. The crackling  wood burning fireplace in the period-dated hearth warms the room, and the table is set with delightful dinnerware and antique silver flatware.

“Our focus of this year’s Chef’s Across the Water is to target food enthusiasts,” said Chris Parks of Hastings House. “Everything is locally grown and produced, and the majority of it is organic.”

There was a pre-set menu. At each course our server would pour the glass of wine, explain where it came from and provided some tasting notes; the same went for the course selection – we were explained what was being featured, how it was prepared, and what we could expect.

The Menu:

• Wild pacific salmon tartar, parsnip chips, fir tree honey and parsley oil
  • 2005 Blue Mountain rose brut
• Caramelized Onion and Apple bisque, goat cheese crouton
  • 2009 Salt Spring Vineyard blattner white
• Seared local pine mushrooms, bright farm leek, orchard pear and smoke albacore tuna ragout
  • 2006 Mission Hill S.L.C. sauvignon blanc/semillion
• Grilled Salt Spring Island lanb, rosemary rosti potatoes, grainy mustard jus
  • 2004 Osoyoos larose
• Hot Hastings House garden quince souffle, Grand Marnier creme anglaise
  • 2008 Elephant Island apricot

Chef Kauer explained how the organically grown Salt Spring Island lamb is shipped off-Island to be processed and then brought back to Hastings House the same day where he ages it for 10 full days in their cooler. My expectation was that the lamb would have the traditional taste of free-range lamb – very earthy and almost gamey. The taste was very much the opposite. It was perfectly prepared, allowing the natural juices combine with the fresh rosemary; giving is a beautiful taste. And because of the organic environment and the careful aging process, it was extremely tender.

Being from the Okanagan and having visiting many BC wineries over the years, I have come to appreciate BC wine. The wines throughout the course of the evening were all very good. I was very surprised how much I enjoyed the 2005 Blue Mountain Brut; I feel the Okanagan hasn’t yet mastered Brut, but clearly they are on their way to making adjustments to produce better products. A meat and cheese plate would have gone wonderfully with the brut.

I also felt that some of the pairings of wines were a miss on some of the courses. For instance, the tuna ragout would have paired much better with a chardonnay than the semillion; and the softness of the souffle with a heavy syrupy late harvest riesling.

By the end of the meal I felt extremely content. Chef Kauer clearly demonstrated he had exceptional knowledge of the use of local herbs, vegetables and especially the Salt Spring Island lamb.

“Next year Hastings House is looking to expand to host six or seven dinners in the Chefs Across the Water series,” said Park.

Partial proceeds from the Chefs Across the Water program will go to the Save Salt Spring Island Lamb fund.

This Saturday, October 23, local businesses in Vancouver will donate a portion of their proceeds for Out in Schools so they can reach even more students this school year. By supporting these businesses you can send an Out in Schools facilitator to rural regions of BC including Nelson, 100 Mile House, Salt Spring Island, First Nations reserves and more. With your support and generosity you can let BC’s Queer youth know that they are not alone. More details here.

Participating businesses:

• La Brasserie
• Canvas Lounge
• Caya Store
• Celebrities Nightclub
• The Corner Suite
• 560 Night Club
• The Fountainhead Pub
• J Lounge
• The Junction
• Mine:Stylesourse
• Munch Restaurant
• Numbers Cabaret
• Pacific Sun Co.
• Pumpjack Pub
• Spruce Body Lab

At 5:30pm, head to Emery Barnes Park at Richards and Davie for Vancouver Vigil for Ending Homophobic Bullying. Thanks to the Vancouver Parks Board and Qmunity, Emery Barnes Park, named after a great civil rights advocate, will be the site for a candle light vigil. Joane-E will be in the park leading the event.

Later that evening, from 7:30 – 11:00pm there is also the Gay-Straight Alliance Night at the West Fraser Ballroom at the Compass Point Hotel, 9860 King George Blvd(Hwy), in Surrey. It’s a free event, however donations are being accepted for Egale and MyGSA. More information here.

Some photos that were taken of me at the BMO Okanagan Marathon that was held in Kelowna on Sunday, October 10, 2010.

Read about:

• my experience
• the volunteers
• some of the elite athletes
• the race results

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The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) today joined millions of community members and allies to support lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth by participating in Spirit Day and remembering those teens who have taken their own lives as a result of bullying.

Spirit Day, created by teenager Brittany McMillan earlier this month, now counts millions around the world committed on Facebook to wearing the color purple on Wednesday, October 20, 2010.

In addition to wearing the color purple, GLAAD is also asking everyone to turn their Facebook and Twitter photos purple until Wednesday and to share messages of support for LGBT youth.

“I will be wearing purple on Spirit Day,” said GLAAD President Jarrett Barrios. “The tragic suicides of our youth have started an important dialogue about the dangers of bullying, and now is the time to show our children that millions of Americans accept and value them regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.”

Purple symbolizes ‘spirit’ on the rainbow flag, a symbol for LGBT Pride that was created by Gilbert Baker in 1978. The goal of Spirit Day is to show LGBT youth who are victims of anti-LGBT bullying and harassment that there is a vast community of people who support them. As the event’s Facebook page says: “This event is not a seminar nor is it a rally. There is NO meeting place. All you have to do is wear purple.”

About GLAAD:
The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against  Defamation (GLAAD) amplifies the voice of the LGBT community by empowering real  people to share their stories, holding the media accountable for the words and  images they present, and helping grassroots organizations communicate  effectively. By ensuring that the stories of LGBT people are heard through the  media, GLAAD promotes understanding, increases acceptance, and advances  equality. For more information, please visit their website.

This past weekend I had the opportunity to run in the BMO Okanagan Half Marathon – or as John Stanton, founder of the Running Room so kindly called  it, the Full Half Marathon.

On Saturday morning I flew into Kelowna and went directly to the race expo. It was well set-up. There were lots of exhibitors and the place was alive. This was in part because there was a 3k warm-up fun-run, a 5k run and the kids run all happening that morning – so there were lots of people around and the atmosphere was energized for the race. My dad even commented had he not been sick he would easily have registered to run the half marathon with me.

The race package pick-up was very smooth and well organized. Just like any other race – you find your bib number on the wall and then go to the pick-up area to claim your package  and then double-check your chip at the chip-check area. There was lots of coffee, fruit and snacks on hand too. Even all the sponsors were out in full-force.

John Stanton gave a great morning welcome to the group and provided some helpful tips for the participants to get ready over the next 24 hours for their big day. This information was a great friendly reminder and was well received by the crowd. The Race Director then went over the entire course and set expectations. He explained how they worked closely with the City of Kelowna to come up with the new course.

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The next morning we arrived about 15 minutes before the half marathon began. It was very easy to find street parking in Kelowna – we parked about 5 blocks from City Park – which would have been impossible had we have been in a larger centre like Vancouver.

I was all hyped up for the run to begin. I went inside the race expo tent and picked up my complimentary BMO race gloves – which would prove to be invaluable throughout the duration of the run. I handed my backpack to my dad, got down to my race clothing and off I went to the start line to meet my 1:45:00 race bunny.

About 4 minutes before the run began the skies let loose and it began to pour rain. Sure, it had been forecasted, but it’s the Okanagan and usually it’s just a passing shower. Not in this case. The majority of the run it was either raining or sprinkling; I’m not saying it was a bad thing – I’d much rather run in a sprinkle of rain than have it 33′c like it was for the Underwear Affair this June in Vancouver!

Overall my comments on the race route was that it was well marked. My dad and I had tried to drive the race route based on the map that was provided but honestly, the map was so confusing we got turned around at least 3 or 4 times – and I was born in the Okanagan and spend a lot of time in Kelowna- so this wasn’t new territory for either of us. My recommendation for next year – work out a better route map with clearer markers and more landmarks.

Again, on race day the course was extremely well marked. There were pylons lining the street and volunteer course marshals were on every corner. On the busier intersections there were RCMP officers with marked vehicles along with volunteers – ensuring all the participants knew where to go and could cross major intersections safely.

I’ve run many larger races in the past, so it was odd being on a longer, spread-out course with only 3,500 people. I paced the second half of the run with two very beautiful girls ahead of me. They were my motivation for sure! I owe them a big thank you!

What makes every single run memorable and worth every moment are the people who line the streets and cheer for the participants. About every 3 or 4kms there were people on the corners holding big black signs with pink writing that said, “Stay Strong” – this was so encouraging. The families who lined the street cheering for friends and family, the volunteers who clapped and shouted words of encouragement, and the cowbells that rang – all were appreciated!

The part that honestly almost made me cry with deep emotion were the four lovely ladies I saw along the race route who proudly wore their Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games “blue coats”. I was a volunteer at the Vancouver 2010 Games and I can attest to the importance of volunteers – and as each time I saw one one along this course I remembered the strength our Canadian athletes gave at the Games and it made me feel proud and encouraged me to keep going even harder.

There were also plenty of water stations along the route. It was my understanding there was only supposed to be one Gu-Gel station along the route but apparently there were three or four – which was a pleasant surprise. Next year I would like to see Power Bar as a major sponsor of the BMO Okanagan event.

Along the course there were many photographers. I could not tell which ones were official so I had to pose for them all. It would be nice to have obvious markers for those that are official race photographers and which are media – so we, the participants, can be prepared when we need to ‘strike a pose’!

The end of the race was not my favourite part. Once I crossed the line the BMO staff member should have smiled and proudly placed my finishers medal around my neck – instead he almost seemed to be embarrassed to hand me my medal and I had to put it on myself. It wasn’t the warm, friendly BMO finish I had expected.

Once I had my medal I was greeted by a huge crowd lining the end of the very, very short finishers line. I walked out and immediately tried to find some water. My dad’s wife found me, congratulated and hugged me, and then my dad came and did the same. All I wanted was a bottle of water – which I knew my dad had with him because I had packed a bottle of Vitamin Water in my backpack he was carrying.

I changed into some dry clothes, took a moment to catch my breath and then went back into the race expo to find some water. All I could find was coffee, fruit, cookies and chips. Not a drop of water. Out front of the tent – just apples. I had to ask another race participant how to get water – which was apparently in the finishers area. I went back inside to grab water and observed there were only four people inside – three handing out medal and one handing out water from four large skids that had been placed in the area.

Next year I would highly recommend the finishers area be extended by at least 6 – 9 times the length and include tables with pre-poured water. Water should be supplied in a more eco-friendly way – such a Britta in paper cup, instead of handing out bottled water. As runners complete their run they need an area to continuously walk, re-hydrate and catch their breath before being congratulated by family and friends.

The race expo also needs to be parked further away from the finishers gate. This year upon exiting the finishers area the race expo entrance / exit was within 20 feet – which meant there was a large crowd of people to fight through to get around. The area was just too congested.

My final note, and not that it would normally have been a big issue, but because of the rain my iPhone was non-stop shorting out and I couldn’t listen to music constantly, but the larger races have bands and music along the race route and I would have appreciated having the same along this route as well.

Overall my feeling was this was an extremely well organized event. Everything was pretty much as expected. The course really want flat and fast and I would recommend others to run this event in the future. Sure, there is areas for improvement, but doesn’t every event have that?

My BMO Okanagan Marathon finishers medal has now been officially added to the collection and I look forward to collecting more medals in the future. Maybe next time I can get my dad out to run the full!

I tracked the entire run route using RunKeeper. You can view my run here.

With Chefs Across the Water, diners have experienced BC’s celebrated Guest Chefs creating exceptional meals with Salt Spring Island flavours.

Hastings House Country House Hotel and Dining Room on Salt Spring Island has welcomed some of the best Chefs in BC and now the hotels own Executive Chef, Marcel Kauer, steps into the spotlight for the fifth and final dinner in the series on October 18, 2010.

Chefs Across the Water is an initiative welcoming master chefs to the island to prepare five-course dinners in the Hastings House kitchen incorporating Salt Spring Island produce with seafood and meats.  The meals are paired with fine BC wines featuring vineyards from Salt Spring Island and the Okanagan Valley.

Chef Marcel Kauer has extensive knowledge of the areas ingredients since local produce from island farmers’ supplements the harvest at Hastings House. Each year, Kauer works with the Hastings House gardener to plan the next year’s crop and also knows the farmers in the area and the foods they grow.  He marries his training in the continental style with the use of the freshest local, seasonal ingredients to create culinary masterpieces.

“Having some of the best chefs prepare meals in our kitchen has been an inspiring experience for me and my staff,” said Kauer. “We have embraced the opportunity and are now looking forward to putting together something special of our own using the ingredients we have come to know and appreciate.”

Salt Spring Island, the largest of BC’s Gulf Islands is a food-lover’s paradise, blessed with a mild Mediterranean-like climate and knowledgeable, devoted growers and producers renowned for their organic fruits and vegetables, meats, and cheeses. Having so many amazing foods to choose from gives Kauer an overflowing cornucopia from which to create his celebrated menus.

Hastings House, a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, nestles on 22 acres of meadows, woodland and lawns overlooking Ganges Harbour on Salt Spring Island. This luxury getaway has 18 unique accommodations and an intimate spa, and operates April through October. Guests arrive via floatplane – a mere 20 minutes from Vancouver International Airport – or by ferry or private motorcraft, with moorage available at Salt Spring Marina, next to the hotel. The resort has been consistently top rated by Zagat since 2004, is an Andrew Harper’s 25-year favourite getaway, member of Condé-Nast Johanssen’s Collection, and one of 1,000 Places to See Before You Die.

For more information visit the Chefs Across the Water website or call 250.537.2362.

Cloudy, damp conditions greeted 14,078 participants in the 31st Annual Victoria Marathon – a record for the event. The sold-out Half Marathon had 6,800 registrants followed by 3,221 marathon participants.

The Victoria Marathon saw a world record shattered with Gwen McFarlan winning the F75-79 category in 4:02:27, 47 minutes faster than the previous record for a 76-year old.

Herb Phillips also set a BC record in the M70-74 category in a time of 3:06:08, beating the previous record of 3:29:01.

The full results from the 31st Victoria Marathon can we found online.

Under cloudy wet conditions, the 16th annual running of the BMO Okanagan Marathon was held in Kelowna, BC on Sunday, October 10, 2010. One of Canada’s best long distance runners, Jack Cook of Edmonton, finished in first place with a time of 2:39:16, followed by Jason Page of Durham, North Carolina at 2:44:12 and Matt Brassard of Edmonton at 2:46:01.

“It was emotional for me, I cried crossing the finish line, I was ecstatic with my time.  When you set a goal and do a lot of training to achieve it – it’s pretty emotional,” said Cook.

In the women’s event local runner Keddi-Anne Siterbino of Kelowna was surprised after her first place finish at 3:00:05, “It was my first ever Marathon, I had run three Half’s in the last couple of years and honestly, I just wanted to see what it would be like to run a Marathon.  I was not at all expecting to win.” She was followed by Janet Lun of North Vancouver at a time of 3:14:58 and Sandra Jensen of Campbell River at 3:15:03.  After an overcast start at 7:15am, the wind picked up and the rains came.  Runners overall felt the conditions were perfect on the day.

The 21.1 Men’s Run saw Jeff Symonds of Penticton finish first at 1:12:51, his second straight win at the BMO Okanagan Marathon in the Half.  The local athlete said, “It was a good day for running, the weather conditions made it that much more epic,” he was followed by David Matheson also of Penticton at 1:16:27 and Tom Wallace of Kamloops at 1:19:25. In first place for the women was 14-year old Emmy Sim of Salmon Arm with a time of 1:27:45, followed by Stacey Cleveland of Penticton at 1:29:49 and Lori Youdell of Vernon at 1:30:47.

The 10K Men’s Run was won by Glenn Lear from Kelowna in 35:10, followed by Peter Cruttenden from Calgary in 36:21 and Andrew Ellis from Snohomish, WA in 37:18.  First place in the women’s event went to Abbigail May at 39:26, followed by Glynis Sim at 42:14 – both from Salmon Arm and Alexis Thomson of Kelowna at 43:54.

Over 3,700 participants took part in the weekend family festival and Boston qualifying event. Saturday, October 9th, welcomed the Running Room Free Friendship Run, 5K, and BMO Kids for Kids events.

BMO Okanagan Marathon Final Results

Marathon Male

• 1st – Jack Cook, Edmonton – 2:39:16
• 2nd – Jason Page – Durham, NC – 2:44:12
• 3rd – Matt Brassard – Edmonton – 2:46:01

Marathon Female

• 1st – Keddi-Anne Sherbino, Kelowna – 3:00:05
• 2nd – Janet Lun, North Vancouver – 3:14:58
• 3rd – Sandra Jensen, Campbell River – 3:15:03

21.1 km Half Marathon Male

• 1st – Jeff Symonds, Penticton – 1:12:51
• 2nd – David Matheson, Penticton – 1:16:27
• 3rd – Tom Wallace, Kamloops – 1:19:25

21.1 km Half Marathon Female

• 1st – Emmy Sim, Salmon Arm – 1:27:45
• 2nd – Stacey Cleveland, Penticton – 1:29:49
• 3rd – Lori Youdell, Vernon – 1:30:47

Please note all times are unofficial. Official times can be found on the BMO Okanagan Marathon website.

• Considered a long, flat course
• There is only a total incline of 5 metres for the entire race-route start to finish
• 3,500 runners registered for 2010 Now
• 10km, full-half and marathon events
• The marathon is two laps of the full-half route

As participants gathered to pick-up their race packages on Saturday morning in Kelowna’s City Park for the BMO Okanagan Marathon, Running Room founder, John Stanton had these tips to pass along:

• Hydrate well the day before the race, and a bit before the run
• Ensure you use the rest-room before getting to the start line
• Eat complex carbohydrates the day before
• Avoid foods and beverages that are high in fat
• Try to get a good night sleep
• Do a mini warm-up run to loosen up and relieve some stress and tension
• Relax!
• Along the race route ensure to hydrate and consume power gels to keep your body energized

This weekends BMO Okanagan Marathon is bringing out some exceptions elite athletes. There are three in particular who deserve a special shout-out based on their recent achievements:

Running the Half:

Jeff Symonds is a local athlete who has an impressive resume as a triathlete.  Symonds, who lives in Penticton, won the recent Vancouver Half Ironman Race.  On his running blog he describes it as “the biggest win of my career.”  He has also been the former UBC Captain and All American X-C Runner and has already competed in over 9 events in 2010.  Having won the Half Marathon at the BMO Okanagan Marathon last year, there’s a good chance he will repeat again this year.

Running the Marathon:

29-year-old Prince George resident Kevin Grigg is a marathon enthusiast and no stranger to long-distance running having competed in a 125-kilometre endurance test in Alberta last month, coming in fifth.  Kevin grew up in Soda Springs, Idaho and began running at 15.  He trained with the University of Minnesota Distance Program (Cross Country and Track and Field), before becoming a competitive runner from 2004-07.  A move to Prince George in 2007 took him away from competing but he is back now fitter than ever.  Kevin expects to finish below 2:35 at the BMO Okanagan Marathon – an event he really enjoys and which will wrap up his year-end running.

Jack Cook is an ultramarathoner, and considered to be one of the best long distance runners in Canada. A three-time winner of the Canadian Death Race in Alberta, he has twice finished first at the national 100-kilometre championships, and fourth at the Edmonton Marathon with a time of 2:43:46 in September.  Jack ran the BMO Okanagan Marathon a couple years ago, and is looking forward to the new course and hopes to finish under 2:40 this year.  His personal philosophy is quality training and the Kelowna event gives him that.  Jack’s favourite things to look forward to in Kelowna are, the race, the scenery, the wine and the restaurants.

For more information on the BMO Okanagan Marathon, please visit the BMO Okanagan website ~ there is still time to register and organizers are still in need of more course marshals.

Summer is long over, the days are growing shorter, and we tend to spend more time indoors. Fall is the perfect time to get into a new, active routine. Lucky for you I have a great tip – the next four-week session of Survivor Boot Camp kicks off Monday, October 11.

Boot camp is a great way to tone up, increase your endurance, and you can see results in as little as two weeks. It’s in a fun group environment, and is much more fun and interactive than going to the gym by yourself. No matter your exercise level, everyone is welcome – beginners especially. Survivor Boot Camp Co-Founder and Yaletown instructor,  Fred Masse, will help you set realistic goals, provide important nutritional information, and provide personal encouragement along the way.

Survivor Boot Camp was just awarded the honour again of being the Georgia Straight’s People’s Choice for best boot camp in Vancouver in 2010!

Each session is only $199, and all you need is a set of hand weights (ladies 5lbs, guys 8 – 10lbs), and an outdoor yoga matt.

Sessions are available in three or five days / week at 6:00am, 7:00am or 6:00pm (Yaletown location).

Still not convinced? Well, it’s not Groupon, WagJag or any other deal, but it’s still an incentive offer – register for the October session of Survivor Boot Camp and save $25 by using my email address, b_webb@shaw.ca, as a refer a friend!

Check the website for full registration details.