Need your help!

I’m asking for your help again. It’s for my fundraising. I have to reach at least $2500 between now and the beginning of January. Please share this with your friends and family.

You can find more information at http://erikabelanger.wix.com/teamdiabetes.

It’s already December 9. I hope I will get to my first goal. I’m getting there but I’m not there yet. Don’t forget, you can email me with any questions about it at belangerep@gmail.com.

My training for the half-marathon is going great. I’m starting my 4th week tomorrow. I’m already seeing the changes in my clothes. I bought new jeans a few weeks ago and I see the difference already. It’s fun to see the changes too. It’s weird though… I can run but going up the stairs at work is putting me out of breath. I guess it’s because it’s not working the same muscles. 🙂

Tonight I did more mail outs to companies for their help. Tomorrow and Wednesday, myself and my mom will be at the Bathurst Sobeys. I will also have new fundraising activities in the new year. At work, with all the Christmas fundraisers going on, it’s more difficult right now.

That’s is for tonight… Time for bed.

Thank you for reading.

Take care…
Erika xox

Anything is possible!

Who would have known a few months ago I would do two 5K at the end of this year?

ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE when you work for it.

My goal is still far away but I’m going toward it. My next goal is to do a 5K without walking. I’m sure I’ll get to it. The question is when?

Running is helping me clear my mind. I can keep my sanity this way. 🙂 I’m a positive person to start with but now I think I’m a more happier person than before.

Sunday was a rainy and cold day. I did dress for the occasion. I had my cap on and my rain/sport coat made by Speedo. haha It did keep me warm and dry for the race. I’m not making excuses… but I think the combination of my recent flu and the lack of training because of it did not help me beat my time from my first race in Bathurst.

I had a time of 44:21 in Bathurst on September 15 and I did 45:39 yesterday in Moncton. I’m happy with one minute extra. At the start, my goals were to be close to my previous time and to finish it.

With all of this said, I think I’m hooked to running. It’s a good thing since I’m training to get to the Edinburgh marathon. I know I won’t do the marathon there. It would be fun that i could get ready for the half-marathon but at least now I’m sure I can be ready for the 10K.

Remember… you can visit erikabelanger.wix.com/teamdiabetes for more information and to help me get there. 

Legs for Literacy is a well organized event. The volunteers along the way are all so nice even if they were freezing, the crowd at the start/finish line gave the last push we needed to finish strong and everyone sending me good vibes were in my thoughts. Thanks to everyone…

Ok my friends… hope you will have a great week.

Talk to you soon!

Erika xox

It was fun!!!

I am proud of myself for having completed my first 5K. Now, next challenge, do a 5K without walking.

The 10K Bathurst organizing committee did a very good job. We were running in the streets and felt very safe. We were also lucky we had sun. I did not like the wind too much but better than the big rainy days we had the past few days.

I had some much fun today. Between the 3.5 to 4.5K, I had to dig deep to continue. The more I ever did up to today was 3K. The extra 2K were difficult but with some walks, I was able to complete. I guess I have to start somewhere, right? It’s even motivating me more to continue this journey. The goal is Edinburgh, Scotland in May 2014.

My time was 44:21 and my pace was 8:53. Now my goal for my next 5K is set. I have to do better. 🙂

Well time to get ready for next week. Watching tv then off to bed.

Erika xox
erikabelanger.wix.com/teamdiabetes

My first 5K race

In 12 hour from now, I will have completed my first 5K race.

Yes I did register for a 5K race tomorrow. It is Bathurst’s first race. The major event is the 10K race but they do have a 5K one too. You can either run or walk the 5K. Afterward, there will be some small races for kids too.

I’m a bit nervous but I will do my best. At least it will show me how I do in a race environment. I do have to start to do some races to get ready for my race in Scotland in May 2014. I’m realizing more and more what I got myself into. I have 2 big challenges: train to run and do some fundraising for the Canadian Diabetes Association.

I think the nerves are mostly there because I’m not sure how it will work. The only time I did something like this was for CIBC Run for the Cure. The race tomorrow is also for a good cause. The money will be split between both high schools of Bathurst.

You can find more information on tomorrow’s run by clicking here. It is their first time doing this event. You might want to get information for next year if you would like to participate… that is if it will be an annual event. I’m not sure. I did not hear anything about that.

I’m currently downloading my run music on my iPod for tomorrow. Then, it will be off to bed. Hope I can sleep. haha  I will certainly give you an update later on how it went. The temperature seems that it will cooperate. With the rain in the last few days, I was getting a bit worry. Please no rain…

Talk to you later…
Erika
erikabelanger.wix.com/teamdiabetes

Decisions, decisions, decisions…

I have a big decision to make. At least I don’t have to make it right now but I eventually will have to make it. I’m wondering if I should join Team Diabetes for an international run in 2014. It is a fundraising that I have to do and then you go run at an event that you choose to do. It might be what I need to do to continue my training and not stop it. It would certainly give me a goal and a serious one.

The fundraising part is somewhat scary too. I think I can get more than $6000 in fundraising. I don’t have the exact number but it’s a bit more than $6000.

It’s been on my bucket list for a while. It would be fun to work toward a goal… and get healthy and travel at the same time. What are your thoughts? Do you know someone that was part of Team Diabetes in the past?

On another note, I’m back at the camping this week. Well until tomorrow since I’m going to Fredericton for a quick weekend get away. It will be fun to get out of Bathurst for a few days. It’s calling for rain anyway so it’s not that fun at the campground when it’s raining. Hope you are having a great summer. I know I’m having a good one up to now and I hope it continue that way. It is a busy one but it’s fun like that.

I’m also making plans to go to Moncton in August. I might get there a few times… once to go to some friends’ place and once for my nephew’s birthday. I can’t believe that Jack is already turning two.

I’m also looking to start doing some volunteer work. I know Bathurst will get Les Jeux de l’Acadie in 2014. I might try to find out who is involve in it to give my name. I’m not 100% sure what I want to do for volunteer work yet. I’m still looking around to see what else I might be interested in. For the people around Bathurst, if you know of places looking to get new volunteer, please let me know. There might be places and I’m not aware of.

Ok well that’s it for now.

Take care… Erika 🙂

Luce Dufault, un rayon de soleil à La Bibitte de Bathurst

C’est le deuxième spectacle de Luce Dufault auquel j’ai le plaisir d’assister. Elle est aussi charmante cette fois-ci. On dirait qu’elle ne change pas et sa voix est toujours aussi belle.

J’ai appris à connaître les chansons de son nouveau CD. De plus, elle a revisité ses classiques comme Les soirs de scotchs ou bien Belle ancolie. J’ai adoré sa version de At Last qu’elle a fait ainsi qu’un mixte de deux chansons de Starmania. En rappel, elle a terminé le spectacle avec Hallelujah de Leonard Cohen. Juste magique…

Ce que j’apprécie au plus haut point lorsque je vois un spectacle est la complicité que le/la chanteur/euse a avec ses musiciens. Luce Dufault l’a à 100%. Elle les appelle Ti-Baste et Johnny. Elle a même coupé une mèche de cheveux à ce dernier pendant le spectacle (longue histoire). haha En plus de cette complicité, les musiciens sont très bons. Ça me donne le goût de vraiment m’y mettre à la guitare.

Et bien il est rendu assez tard. Je vais aller me coucher.

Bonne nuit et je vous laisse en vous disant que si jamais vous pouvez aller voir un spectacle de Luce Dufautl, je vous le suggère. Celui-ci en est un intime où elle nous répond lorsqu’on lui parle. Très charmante… et je ne m’attendais à rien d’autre de sa part.

Erika 🙂

A run went bad

After chatting with a few friends this morning, I got up and made myself a bluberry/banana smoothie. Even with everything that I put in it for protein, it was not enough. I did go out for my run about 30 minutes after finishing drinking it. Well after my 3rd 5-mins run interval, I felt weak and had to walk to get back home. I even thought I would pass out for a few seconds. It was very weird.

I don’t know why but it’s easier for me to do my run toward the end of my day. It might be because I have more energy and food in me. It’s a first that I feel that bad though. Usually I can still finish what I started. I’m still glad I went but I will try to do the complete run tomorrow. I can’t got back to it today since I already have other plans.

I’m feeling fine now. I had put the air conditioners on before leaving so the temperature inside the house is helping. After finishing my water, it will be time to get ready. I’m trying to get to the camping before my nephew leave. I hope to see him at least for a few minutes. Tonight, I’m going to see Luce Dufault. She is playing at the Bathurst NBCC.

It is currently sunny and warm here. They are calling for maybe thunderstorms later today and tonight. It’s been like this for the past few days and we did not get anything bad here. If we did get something during the night, it was not enough to wake me up. I’m not a fan of thunderstorms so it’s ok by me. However, we did get some rain yesterday but not enough. The lawns are still yellow this morning.

Ok well I did finish my water… Time to go get ready!!!

Take care,

Erika 🙂

Good pretzels, friendly employees

The washing machine gave up on Tuesday night with my clothes in it. My dad and a uncle did finally open the door so I can get to my clothes. They will need to be wash again. There was water in the washer since Tuesday evening. It’s not smelling roses in there.

Off we went (me and my mom) tonight to buys a new washing machine. After, we were hungry. It was almost past 6pm. We did end up at Wendy’s. We wanted something fast. I know we could have gone to Subway. It also did not get better. We ate so fast that we were still hungry afterward. I had the bright idea to go get a pretzel.

It was my first time at Monty’s Pretzels this year. I don’t go there ofter. But boy it was good! I did take a cinnamon pretzel with cream cheese icing on it. mmmm!!! They do have a facebook page. You can find information by clicking here.

They have more than pretzels on their menu. They even have pulled pork pretzel.

Here is their menu…

Pretzels $3.95
-Cinnamon Sugar
– Sea salt
– Dill
– White Cheddar
– Orange Cheddar
– Nacho
– Salt & Vinegar
– BBQ

Topping + $0.50 each
Cream Cheese icing
Caramel
Chocolate
Strawberry
Raspberry
Vanilla

Monty Tails $4.25
Cinnamon Sugar
Nutella

Toppings +$0.50 each
Banana
M&M
Smarties
Skor
Rolo
Cookies & Cream

Pizza
9” works $8.00
9” made to order $8.00
9” Pepperoni $7.00
16” works $25.80
16” made to order $25.80
16” pepperoni $21.80

Pretzel dog $5.25

Daily specials/Spécial du jour ($10)
Monday/lundi – Meatzza Pizza, pop & chips
Tuesday/mardi – Veggie Bake, pop & chips
Wednesday/mercredi – Pretzel dog, pretzel & pop
Thursday/jeudi – Pepperoni pizza, pop & chips
Friday/vendredi – Smoke meat bake, pop & chips

Weekend special $40
16” pizza, 4 pretzels, 4 pop

They are situated at the Waterfront in Downtown Bathurst. If you come that way, you need to stop to enjoy at least their pretzel. They are very good. The staff is also friendly.

Enjoy!
Erika 🙂