Approaching halfway point in our journey of 2013- checkpoint, midpoint, pulse check:
Ask yourself how am I doing on the intentions and goals I set out at the beginning of the year?
Am I living it?
Am I moving forward?
Do I need to change something?
How do I feel?
It’s time to make those adjustments, enhancements, and achieve your goals.
Source: Internet
With new personal bests, lost voices from cheering and thousands of medals being earned, Ottawa Race Weekend is coming to a close. I love this weekend because of the imprint it leaves on our personal lives and the city as a whole. Here are my top 3 reasons why #ilovethisrace :
1- First Time Accomplishments
I don’t think there is anything more amazing than the look of pride and happiness people have once they have completed their first race- whether that be a 2K or marathon. Or that holy $#!% reaction when someone realizes they have achieved a personal best time.
The hard work, determination and sweat really do pay off!
I’m so very proud of my friends this weekend who accomplished some new achievements and notable mentions go out to Claire, Faudie, Jasmine, Rachel and Stephanie! BRAVO!
Go Faudie & Jasmine!
You are a 1/2 marathoner Claire! CONGRATS
2. Community United
When else does a city come together to cheer on their family, friends and even strangers with words of encouragement and praise. That “all in it together” feeling is humbling and gratifying in every aspect.
Shout-outs to the thousands of volunteers that make it happen. Thank you for those water stations, signs, logistics, clean-up and cheer stations.
And to those who ran for a cause, thank you for all you do. I guarantee you’ve made an impact.
Photo source: lululemon instagram
3- Self Improvement
No one said running was easy, but the discipline, dedication, and persistence that we take away from the training make us stronger. It makes us strive for bigger and better, not only on the race course but in other aspects of our lives as well. The ability to transfer those skills is invaluable and is why when we receive that medal it represents not only our accomplishment of the day but what is possible for the future.
Finally I would like to send out an enormous amount of THANKS for all of your kind words about my recent article in the Ottawa Citizen. I’m truly blessed to have so many supporters that believe in my cause and continue to encourage me to realize that it’s all possible. I am so very grateful that you have joined me in my journey so far and I look forward to THRIVING in many more races to come!
My interview with Team 1200 Sports Radio
On May 11th, I had the opportunity to be interviewed by Mark Sutcliffe, the founder of iRun magazine. Mark is the host of the Running Show which airs Saturdays 8-9 am on Ottawa’s Team 1200 Sports Radio.
It was such an honour to be a part of this episode with other guests who are doing some incredible races and creative initiatives in the running community. Thank you to Laura from Team Diabetes for sharing my story with Mark. Most of all, thanks to Mark for this amazing opportunity.
Here is the description of the episode from irun.ca:
Ray Zahab joins Mark to discuss his training and preparation for crossing the Gobi Desert next month. Joe Rios, a runner who went from inactive, overweight and asthmatic to a mission to run on every continent to raise money for charity in just three years, is launching the Run 4 a Cause Project. Brent Smyth is selling the “Boston, We Run With You” t-shirts for Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend to raise money for The One Fund Boston. Rick Dearden and Wendy Wagner, who talked to Mark just after returning from Boston, ran the Big Sur International Marathon in California; Wendy, having done both races, talks about the Boston-to-Big Sur Challenge.
You can listen here: iRun Podcast from May 11 2013
Luau fundraiser raises 1200 dollars to support the fight against kid’s cancer
Saturday night I organized a fundraiser as part of my efforts to raise funds for my upcoming Sears Great Canadian Run. As part of a team of 25 solo runners I will be running 100km to raise awareness and funds for the battle against kid’s cancer.
Organizing a successful fundraiser is not possible without the support of your friends, family and the community. And lucky for me, I am surrounded by an amazing network of supporters which is why the event went off without a hitch.
My friends Debra and Tyrone opened their beautiful home and hosted the party. Thank you to the both of you for your amazing hospitality!
FRESHII provided the delicious and healthy catering. An enormous amount of tasty wraps, salads and rice bowls.They certainly live up to their motto: Eat. Energize. They aim to provide fresh and nutritious meal choices that energize people on the go. With a group of fitness instructors, runners and yogis it was the perfect combination. I am grateful to my friend Jag, who manages both locations in Ottawa. One on Laurier near UOttawa, and the other on Sparks St. If you have not tried Freshii, go check it out. I can guarantee you will not be disappointed. My favourite pick is the Buffalo Green Wrap: Brown rice, chicken, avocado, blue cheese, ranch sauce, buffalo sauce.
The visionaries behind the whole concept of assembling a team of solo runners to embark on this 100k run are 2 “good guys”: Steven Thomas and Mike Herzog. Two endurance runners living life intentionally to simply “do good” and the founders of Good Guys Tri. I’m inspired everyday by Steve and Mike’s leadership and determination to engage in great causes and leverage their expertise in endurance sports to make a difference. THANK YOU !!
Finally, thank you to all my friends and family for joining the Luau and to those who could not join but still generously made a donation. Without your energy, generosity and support this would not have been possible. YOU all ROCK and i’m so grateful to have friends like you !
A few weeks ago I had the chance to sit down with Jordan Thoms to speak about his journey with impossible2Possible (i2P). i2P is an organization that uses the platform of adventure and technology to educate, inspire, and empower the global community to reach beyond their perceived limits and make positive change in the world; bringing expeditions into classrooms and classrooms onto expeditions. Since 2009 i2P has provided free interactive education resources to tens of thousands of students from countries all over the world during expeditions to Antarctica, Chile, the Arctic, Siberia, North Africa, the Amazon Jungle, the Bolivian Salar de Uyuni, the Indian Thar Desert, the Andes mountain range, and the Kalahari desert!
Tell us about your first encounters with i2P and how your journey got started
While I was studying Human Kinetics at the University of Ottawa I had a remarkable world-renowned professor named Dr. Terry Orlick, who focuses on topics such as sport psychology, mental training, and life excellence. I was fortunate enough to be in his “Quality of Life” class. This was like no other class; it was very unlike a typical academic course. The course delivery was focused on keeping a journal, reading a variety of positive and self-help books (including his very own “In Pursuit of Excellence”), and participating in class discussions. All of this was focused around “Quality of Life” topics such as love, perseverance, resiliency, passion, purpose, etc. The main purpose was to share our ideas and opinions in an open forum discussion to unravel various perspectives and outlooks. To this day, it is one of the best educational experiences of my life!
It was a really refreshing way to learn. It ignited something within me to pursue similar topics and like-minded individuals. I then found myself in a “Personality” class where I was first introduced to the movie “The Secret” for the first time, opening my mind to concepts and people such as the law of attraction, the self-fulfilling prophecy, Andrew Carnegie, Norman Vincent Peale, Napoleon Hill, and W. Clement Stone. I had developed a thirst to learn about human potential, positive thinking, and success in life!
At the same time, a friend of mine was taking another Sport Psychology course called Mental Training. In this course, the professor would often invite elite athletes to share their stories and experiences in training their mind to succeed in life and their chosen sport. One of these individuals was Ray Zahab, founder of impossible2Possible (i2P). He had recently finished his 7,500km run across the entire Sahara desert, and was sharing his incredible story with the class. Although I wasn’t there to hear him speak, I couldn’t get over the fact that someone had the mental strength & resiliency to run 70km every day for 111 days from Senegal to Egypt! After hearing about Ray’s journey I immediately bought his book “Running for my Life”. Everything about this book resonated with me, from the “Quality of Life” class, my passion for sports & physical activity, and the newly found concepts of positive thinking, self-fulfilling prophecy, and mental training. I reached out to Ray by sending him an email, simply saying “Thank you for your inspiration!”
To my surprise, Ray emailed me back immediately and said “Call me tomorrow,” followed by at least 20 exclamation marks! I could feel his passion, energy, and enthusiasm through the email. We met at a local Bridgehead Coffeehouse. Listening to him speak about his adventure in person was one thing, but when he introduced me to the newly founded impossible2Possible, I was floored! I’ve always wanted to become a teacher, and using adventure as a medium to teach just sounded so cool! I wanted to help out and support i2P as much as possible, and to be part of this incredible organization.
No doubt! Fast forward a few years later and you are now a key contributor and volunteer for i2P. Your role is the Social Network Advisor for i2P. What does a typical day look for you?
It varies day-to-day; I have to manage my time and responsibilities between teaching, ensuring all i2P social media platforms are kept up to date, and anywhere else I can help out with the i2P team. Other passions of mine have resurfaced during my time with i2P, and those are graphic arts, video editing, and website design. I’ve always loved anything to do with art and technology. On many of the recent i2P expedition websites, I have been involved in putting together content, brainstorming ideas, creating videos, and graphics.
Can you elaborate on the i2P Experiential Learning Programs?
The i2P Experiential Learning Programs, or the i2P Classroom, is an interactive and free adventure-based learning program that uses the theatre of adventure to build unique and education expeditions. It’s a global classroom! We usually host 3 expeditions a year – 2 Youth Expeditions and 1 World Expedition. On the Youth Expeditions, we select between 4-8 Youth Ambassadors between the ages of 17-21. They become instant peer role models as school children will be following and interacting with their every move on the expedition; tying their real-life adventure with classrooms from around the world with the use of live videoconferencing, daily photos, videos, an interactive website and curriculum. It’s essentially a two-way street of communication; a portal into the real world.
We believe that by placing these Youth Ambassadors in the context of extraordinary experience, they will push beyond what they ever thought possible, all in an effort to Educate, Inspire, and Empower thousands of students intently following their educational expedition. Their story, their decisions, and their inspiration all have a positive ripple effect on the participating students following through the expedition website and live videoconferences, showing them firsthand that anything is possible with the right mindset and hard work!
What is the next big Youth Ambassador adventure?
The upcoming Youth Expedition will be in Southern Utah, where the i2P team will have the rare opportunity to visit the interior of The Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument (GSENM), while studying “Earth Science and the Rise of Dinosaurs”! The 5 Youth Ambassadors will attempt to run a marathon a day for 8 consecutive days across this remote and beautiful region in the US!
You had the opportunity to participate in the Expreso de los Andes World Expedition last year in South America. Tell us about your experience.
It was like a dream come true! I was so honored that they asked me to be part of the team! I had the chance to experience firsthand what a World Expedition would be like with Ray Zahab, Bob Cox, Kevin Vallely, and Dr. Greg Wells!
My role on the expedition revolved around multimedia, content production, and technology (i.e. photos, videos, satellite, etc). In addition, I was part of the support crew helping take down & put up tents, ensuring all the gear was ready to go, and logistics of the ensuing checkpoints.
I have to tell you my biggest lessons learned were resiliency, time management, and a positive mental attitude. If you can master the ability to be positive and manage your time through adverse conditions, you can accomplish so much more than you think you can! In an adventure like this there is no choice but to keep moving forward. There are plenty of moving parts that you have to manage and ensure everything is running smoothly.
What really grounded me was how down-to-earth and positive everyone was, especially under adverse situations. These are all ordinary people dedicating their lives to doing extraordinary things! For more information on the Expreso de los Andes World Expedition, please visit http://www.andesrun.com.
What’s next in your adventures with i2P?
This June I will be part of the World Expedition Gobi adventure, an attempt (not me!) to run 2,300km across the entire Gobi Desert in China & Mongolia. My roles & responsibilities will be similar to those in the Expreso de los Andes World Expedition. There will be so much to learn from the Mongolian people about desertification, and life in the harsh desert environment! Live broadcasting to schools and constant communication with students and the website will round out a “desertification” education program. In the final days, we will be joined by i2P Youth Ambassador Alumni! We are focusing all of our efforts on Youth Expedition Utah right now, but you can check out this trailer on World Expedition Gobi: http://www.vimeo.com/i2p/gobi
One of your favourite quotes on your Facebook Page is “Oh let the sun beat down upon my face, stars to fill my dream. I am a traveler of both time and space, to be where I have been”. Where is this from and why do you like it?
It’s a lyric from my favourite band, Led Zeppelin! From their song “Kashmir,” it paints a picture of adventure, traveling the world, living through experiences, exploring all that life has to offer, and having absolutely no limits!
Thank you Jordan for taking the time to meet with me. For more information on i2P check out their website at http://www.impossible2possible.com
In a short period of 2 weeks, Ottawa has transitioned from Winter to Spring. Simply look outside at the side-walks and trails and they are filled with bikers, rollerbladers, walkers and runners! May in Ottawa is an exciting time of year where the warm weather signals the peak of our training season. Three Sunday’s from today Ottawa will host one of the biggest races of the Nation, Tamarack’s Ottawa Race Weekend also known as ORW. Over 42,000 runners take to the streets of Ottawa while their friends and families line the streets to cheer them on! The ambiance and energy really makes it one of my favourite races and the reason why I do it every season!
We have worked so hard during the cold training months and for some, ORW will be their first ever 5k, 10k, 1/2 and full marathon. It’s incredibly exciting when you think about it. After months of hard work, our dedication and perseverance are ready to pay off! The next two weeks of training are the toughest – extremely long runs and breathless speed work are in the pipeline. But let’s not forget the taper period, the last week before the big race. Where we ease off on the distances and speed in order to recover and re-energize for the big day.
High fives all around to those of you participating in ORW! I will be running the 1/2 marathon on behalf of Mito Canada. Their mandate is to connect Canadians who are directly and indirectly affected by mitochondrial disease. Their hope is to reach all patients, parents, caregivers and the medical community by providing support and practical information that will help to improve the quality of life and sense of community for patients and their families.
My number one piece of advice for race day is simple – don’t take it too seriously! Have fun and try to high five as many of the children lining the course as you can. Their excitement and motivation will help push you to that finish line and reach your goal!
Last weekend I was in Montreal attending my first ever Fitness Instructor conference. Part of being certified as an FIS (Fitness Instructor Specialist) requires me to earn CEC’s (continuing education credits) on a yearly basis.
Lucky for me, Énergie Cardio (the largest network of fitness centres in Québec) invited their partner GoodLife Fitness to participate in their quarterly summit. My motivation to attend this conference in particular was because one of my favourite Les Mills instructors from New Zealand was going to present the latest releases of BodyPump and CXWORX (the two disciplines I am certified in).
Les Mills is a New Zealand company that is the world’s largest provider of group fitness classes. They license out the rights to their many classes (including BodyAttack, BodyPump, RPM, CXWORX just to name a few) to GoodLife Fitness here in Canada. Les Mills has a global presence with their classes being offered in 14,000 fitness clubs, 90,000 certified instructors and millions of participants from 80 countries. Every four months, Les Mills creates a Masterclass release with new music, choreography, and fitness innovations. These releases are filmed and presented in their main studio in Auckland, and sent out as DVDs to the instructors around the world. One instructor who is prominently featured on the DVDs is Susan Renata. Susan is Les Mills’ International Body Pump Head Trainer and her job is to travel around the world educating on technique, advanced training and coaching skills.
For me and other BodyPump instructors, Susan is considered a star in the fitness industry. This weekend I had the opportunity to participate in BodyPump release 85 led by Susan. Since getting my certification I’ve taught hundreds of classes but have never experienced a class like the one I did this weekend.
Upon arrival at the conference at 7:30am, there was an enormous line up of fitness instructors wearing their Les Mills gear and anxiously waiting to enter the room. In the background you could hear chatter, “I think I just saw Susan Renata walk that way! No way, where I don’t see her??” The class was to start at 8am and at 7:59am, when the doors opened, BOOM it was chaos as instructors ran into the room like cheetahs chasing their prey. Only this time, the prey was the bench closest to the stage. I felt like I was in the heat of a Boxing Day sale when there are only a limited number of door crasher items available! Entering the room, I did a mad sprint to claim my territory. Success! Second row centre. The stage was illuminated with bright colourful spotlights, videos and loud upbeat music. I set up my weights, checked my water, put on my weight gloves and stopped for a second and thought “Why am I nervous?!”, it must have been the big rush of adrenalin! Then, the lights dimmed, and over the speaker we heard “Introducing the Énergie Cardio BodyPump Team!” The four lucky instructors who were team teaching with Susan stepped on stage and then finally after a short pause, “Let’s give it up for SUSAN RENATA!” The crowd went crazy!
There she was, “Hello Montreal, are we ready?”, in her cool Kiwi Accent. I was at the best concert of my life! Seeing Susan on stage for me was the same feeling you get when you see your favourite band or singer live on stage. Only this time, I was participating in a fitness class and the “rockstar” was motivating me, perfecting my technique and pushing me to work every last muscle fibre in my body!
When you have a room full of extremely high energy fitness instructors led by Susan I’m sure you can imagine the fitness magic that occurs! Release 85 is a very challenging release filled with hundreds of repetitions of squats, walking push ups and plyometric straddle jumps but doing it at the conference made me feel anything but exhausted. Afterwards I felt completely re-energized and was amazed how I was able to push my limits!
Susan is a superstar in the industry so it was refreshing to see that after doing the class and meeting her that she is completely down to earth, approachable and as passionate an educator and ambassador for the fitness industry as she seems on DVD.
This experience has definitely motivated me to bring what I’ve learned back to my members in my community.
My commitment is to simulate a similar experience for the upcoming release week starting April 22nd. Challenge yourself and come join us at Goodlife Fitness this week and see for yourself! (Free passes available) I can guarantee you will work hard, push your fitness levels and become stronger through each rep!
Thank you to Énergie Cardio for putting on this well organized event of fitness workshops and classes!
This photo was taken a few minutes before I landed from my Iceland adventures back in August of 2010. These are four of my dearest friends welcoming me back home from having completed my first ever International Marathon in Reykjavik. It was one of those rockstar moments where I felt incredibly lucky to have these amazing individuals in my life. For my friends, it was their number one priority to celebrate my recent victory and be the first ones to congratulate me!
Jasmine, Faudie, Phil, Claire
This afternoon, I sent a text to Amy (who I met in Iceland), thanking her for her recent donation to my 100km ultra marathon against Kids Cancer in October. This was her response and the inspiration behind today’s post.
It’s the absolute truth! Imagine I had not challenged myself to sign up to run in Iceland?! When I was making the decision it was a daunting choice: sign up to run a marathon in a foreign place, 16 weeks of intensive training, commit to raise a minimum of $6000 for Team Diabetes and do it all alone? (What I was going to discover, is that it would be the complete opposite and being alone would be the farthest thing I would have to worry about)
Nonetheless, despite these concerns I chose to push myself and step outside my comfort zone.
Starting Line and video of my Iceland Experience
Today, I could not imagine a life without having experienced this beautiful and breathtaking island in the middle of the North Atlantic and Arctic Ocean.
Running Iceland has created a “ripple effect” of priceless fortunes and opportunities: the introduction of life long friends, motivation to create some amazing BHAG‘s, become a fitness instructor, and join the lemon family are a few examples. I consider these things the norm for myself today and these accomplishments are all because of the Iceland decision.
Being a runner and a big advocate for fitness is definitely an added bonus of having stepped outside my comfort zone. However, what I value and I am most grateful are the the connections that continue to thrive forward and flourish into unforgettable memories.
The energy, support, motivation, and encouragement that I share with my connections is the best part of the ripple. It can only get better from here! In fact, I’m confident that I will be needing a surf board in my near future.
The Great Geysir
This week I’m thrilled to share with you an interview I did with my dear friend and yogi Jamie McCarthy. Jamie is the kind of individual who walks in a room and immediately illuminates it with her presence. She has that incredible authentic energy that you want to bottle and take with you wherever you go.
Jamie recently returned from a “find yourself” journey in Asia. During this time she spent several months exploring the amazing culture, completing her yoga teaching training and well simply put, just being AWESOME. Lucky for us she is back in Canada sharing her passion for yoga and meditation with our local community.
I had the opportunity to catch up with Jamie last week and talk about yoga and running. My goal was to find a way to understand how we can use yoga poses in post running recovery. As a runner, tight hamstrings, twisted ankles, sore knees, TFL problems have all been injuries that have come for a visit. Jamie shared with me 5 easy restorative poses that will help eliminate more unwanted injuries.
Joe: So, what can runners get out of yoga anyway?
Jamie: Since most people aren’t running with perfect form, the repetitive movement often leads to stiff joints and sore muscles. Performing a few post-run yoga postures can help to restore balance to your body, prevent injury, and develop skills to manage the mental demands of long-distance running.
Joe: That sounds like more than just stretching…what am I supposed to do with my mind then?
Jamie: Definitely. Practising yoga is about training your mind to notice sensations in your body without judging them as good or bad.
Joe: That sure sounds helpful. So, how do I turn a stretch into a yoga posture then?
Jamie: Just be aware of what you’re experiencing in the moment and keep breathing. Be less concerned with doing it perfectly and more concerned with listening to your body.
Joe: Well that breathing thing is tough for me. How can I become an all-star breather?
Jamie: Do yoga! And practice the standing side bend. This posture increases your breathing capacity by creating space between your ribs and strengthening your lungs. Plant your feet firmly on the ground and reach up and over with your hand, creating as long an arc as possible from your heel to your fingertips.
Joe: What about my hamstrings…I’d love to be able to touch my toes someday!
Jamie: You can get there by practising a standing forward bend after you run. Start from a standing position, bend your knees and slowly lift your tail-bone as your head lowers below your heart. Allow your upper body to be heavy and soft as the back side of your body lengthens. You’ll be getting up close and personal with your toes in no time!
Joe: And how about those almighty hips…they deserve a little TLC from carrying my legs around on all those long runs.
Jamie: They certainly do! Imbalances and tightness in your hips can be associated with an unmet desire for change and creativity. Here are two excellent postures for becoming aware of all that sticky stuff that’s holding you back.
The first one is a low lunge. Take a big step back with your right foot, lower your right knee to the floor and allow your right hip to sink forward. Consciously relax all the muscles around your hip. Place your hands on the floor for support and stay present with whatever thoughts or sensations come up.
The second one is Cobbler’s pose. Have a seat on the floor with the soles of your feet touching one another. Let your knees fall down to the floor as you slowly bend forward to bring your belly button toward your heels. Breathing is essential here.
Joe: I’m having trouble forcing my body into this pose.
Jamie: Just relax, hip-openers are about letting go and releasing, not about forcing anything.
Joe: Great, let’s clean out the junk then! Anything else that I should cover after a run?
Jamie: Yes! A flexible spine is key for an efficient running stride. Practising a twisting posture after a run helps to increase circulation to the spine and restore its original length. (FUN FACT: Marathon runners lose up to 1.5” of height after a 42km race.) My favourite twist can be done lying on your back with your arms out to the side. Bend your knees into your chest and allow them to fall to one side. Make any necessary adjustments so that you can be totally effortless in this posture.
Joe: Awesome. Thanks for these five simple post-run yoga postures Jamie! Oh, and how long do I hold them?
Jamie: Well Joe, they say the posture only starts when you want it to be over… (She laughs.) Stick with 30-60 seconds per side and you should be good.
60 seconds of pure joy I tell you. A big thanks to Jamie for taking the time to provide us with these easy to follow poses and for de-mystifying my yoga questions on breathing, mind sensations and technique.
Check out Jamie’s blog:
http://amillionmeditate.wordpress.com
Jamie has created a blog called “amillionmeditate“ where she discuses the benefits of why athletes should meditate (among other things). The power of meditation is an intriguing topic! Who doesn’t want to bring a little more peace into their life?
*Photo credit goes to Jason Roberts – Thanks for the great pics!
My visit to the southern USA was a soulful experience. I quickly found out that New Orleans, Louisiana, also referred to as NOLA, is rich with 1) A fusion of culture, 2) Delicious eats and 3) Soulful melodies.
The first morning there I signed up for a tour of the city. Not an ordinary tour, but a 10km run of the city with a personal tour guide. NOLA’s jogging tour appeared in my trip advisor search proclaiming “Run the city, sweat, and learn about the southern culture”. After reading that I thought: Sign me up!
In less than 2 hours our friendly and knowledgeable jogging tour guide Marcus provided us with a comprehensive breakdown of New Orleans Culture while getting in a solid 10km run. A great way to see the city, especially at 8AM on a Sunday when the majority of people are just getting home from their evening festivities.
Here are a few highlights of the tour:
Located in the Garden district of New Orleans, this is the house featured in the movie The Curious Case of Benjamin Button – yours for a cool 2.85M
Something about running on dirt that makes you feel like a true runner!
Marcus played a trick on us when he walked by this particular grave, took a step back & look worried. As you can see from my nervous laugh, he got me good!
Caitlin, Wayne and myself post tour
Thank you Marcus and New Orleans Jogging Tours for a great snapshot into a rich culture! I highly recommend this tour to anyone heading to NOLA. This was the first time I ever participated in a running tour in any city and I’m now hooked. A creative business idea that maybe I can be inspired to bring over here to Ottawa?
Now for my foodies out there, if you have never been you need to put this city on your bucket list! Especially if you love fresh seafood! Every restaurant I visited served scrumptious home style cooking with a generous side of that famous southern hospitality. Here are some of my favourites:
Le Bayou Restaurant: BBQ Style Oysters
Six on the half shell, topped with creamy spinach, artichokes, applewood smoked bacon and parmesan cheese
Hedges Bar & Grill Sheraton Metairie
Grilled Shrimp Avocado Tomato Arugula Salad
Cafe Du Monde
Beignets (NOLA’s version of the beavertail) Warning! You will be covered in powdered sugar after trying these.
Cochon Very appropriate name for my food consumption this week…
Onion braised beef shoulder with mushrooms, field peas & green beans
Cochon Dessert
Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie with candied spicy peanuts (I had to share it but I recommend ordering one for yourself!)
Butcher
Muffaletta with House Meats
No visit to New Orleans would be complete without a stop at the famous Frenchmen street. A compact and quaint area where the hip and talented locals hang out. This district is only 2 blocks long but rest assured no matter what day of the week it is, it’s bustling with a soulful and eclectic mix of Jazz, Blues, Reggae and Latin. In about 3 hours we visited 5 establishments. My two favourites being The Spotted Cat and Maison. The best thing is that the majority of the clubs are free and you can just walk in and out. The only courtesy is that you do leave a small tip in the jar if you enjoyed the music!
Our final stop was at a music club on Bourbon Street. We were lucky to discover this amazing band busting out some good time ballads, old school tracks and singable top 40 with passion and conviction. The two singers had the room begging for more and were so good that the audience was offering up to 60 dollars a pop to request tracks. The beauty was that they could perform anything on demand, going from Rock to Funk and back to a ballad in a heartbeat. With the crowd on fire and the energy at its peak, this was a perfect and unforgettable way to end my visit to NOLA!
I will be back NOLA, see you soon!
I’d love to do a statistical analysis to see how many of the ideas we generate on a daily basis actually come to fruition and become reality.
I know for myself, if I don’t immediately write down an idea I have, 90% percent of the time it will be forgotten and shot back to the pool of idea generation abyss. This is why I invested in a mini moleskin book. I take it wherever I go and it’s always within arm’s reach. That way I can immediately jot down a few key words and review my ideas later. It’s helped me take more action on my ideas and see things through.
An idea is only as good as the amount of effort you put into making it a reality.
Part of this effort I believe is putting it out there and sharing the idea/message with your collaborators. Who are these people? They could be your friends, family, work colleagues or even complete strangers. One of the best things I have learned since starting THRIVEwithjoe.com is that some of the best collaborators don’t necessarily have to be people you know. Sharing ideas with like-minded strangers can achieve some big results.
Take my #RUN4AC concept. To begin with the idea was created for Ottawa. It was pure teamwork with lululemon, the local community and friends. It has progressed into my plan to bring it to a national level. And now, the idea/concept has blossomed into a “program” where communities can leverage the model and personalize it with their own creativity. The idea’s mission doesn’t change: RUN4AC: Unifies all charities, creates awareness in our communities and inspires people to discover a passion for running with intention.
I am so pleased with the progress and evolution of #RUN4AC. In a blog post back in January I told you about how I reached out to John Lee Dumas who runs Entrepreneuronfire.com. I shared my idea with him as a complete stranger and he graciously offered me a spot as a featured sponsor in a future podcast. Well, that podcast premiered yesterday, Saturday March 2nd, 2013. Episode 133 – Erik James of Innovation Engineering - went live with #RUN4AC as its sponsor. You can download it here or on iTunes. Check out marker 0:56 sec to hear about #RUN4AC.
John’s podcast has a global reach with over 150,000 unique downloads every month. The podcasts are structured as 30 minute interviews with world renowned entrepreneurs like Seth Godin, Danielle Laporte and Tim Ferris just to name a few. I’m confident that someone out in the world will listen and boom I’ll have someone from a new community leveraging the idea and creating their own #RUN4AC thousands of miles away.
Hearing John broadcast the #RUN4AC concept is truly a step forward. I’m proud to say that this one simple idea is becoming a reality and hopefully a movement that will create an ongoing medium for all charities worldwide to celebrate their accomplishments & run together as one.
What ideas have you been sitting on recently? It’s time to take them out and share them with the world! There is someone out there waiting to help you bring your concept to reality.
