Author Archives: Marnie

Lucky to remember what’s important

Posted on by
Reply

So here I am in Italy having an amazing time. I wake up, eat a fab breakfast, go for a 3hr bike ride that usually includes at least one doppio espresso macchiato and then return to our gorgeous resort-Borgo San Felice. A short bike ride somewhere for a 3hr lunch of caprese salad and a pici pasta and then back for a rest by the beautiful pool. In the evening – if Jim Cuddy isn’t leading us through a wine tasting we go for more delicious food and local Chianti region wines. After dinner Jim, his son’s Devin and Sam and/or Barney Bentall jam at the hotel bar piano. It’s almost too much dolce vita… but then I don’t think there can ever be too much of that! I’m so so lucky. Continue reading →

The Month of Wow

Posted on by
Reply

This is one crazy month! I’m getting to start it off with an amazing adventure in Italy and then I’ll come home to launch my book. There is a word here for that… fantastico! ( it’s Italian for wow!)

This is my third year being part of the support for an auction item that was sold at the national dinner series, Gold Medal Plates. These dinners which simultaneously raise money (6 Million dollars so far) for Canadian athletes (through Own The Podium and the Canadian Olympic Foundation) and select the Canadian Culinary Champion. They really are unique gala dinners but the auction items are incredibly special opportunities. This one, “Under the Tuscan Sun” has cyclist Curt Harnett, x-country skier Chandra Crawford, and myself cycling around with the guests in the morning and then after everyone has enjoyed a fabulous afternoon / evening of Tuscan wine and food, Barney Bentall and Jim Cuddy entertain everyone in our Relais and Chateau 5-star resorts hotel bar.

The guests are from across the country – NFLD to Vancouver Island – and it’s (as always) an amazing group of curious, creative and active (varying levels for sure!) people. What a treat to be here! Continue reading →

Protect your performance

Posted on by
Reply

Happy May!  87 days until the Olympics begin – which means only 104 until they are over. (Whoa!) This time – your time – is precious.

I loved reading the tweets at 100 days out – Rosie MacLennan figured out that she had 57,142 jumps (on the trampoline) to go, someone at CTV figured out that were only 14 Wednesdays left, Ryan Cochrane got way more specific (as an athlete would) with 1.5 million seconds left to train and this got RT’d a few times: “Odds of being an Olympic athlete are 630,000 to 1. Odds of winning a gold medal are 22,000,000 to 1. #100daystogo to lower the odds.” Across the board everyone seemed to be pumped that the Games are closing in but there is a laser focus on the work that is left to do. Awesome.

A few months ago, in Bubble Wrap and Priorities I wrote about not doing anything ‘dumb’ that could risk your health. This month I want to suggest that you don’t risk your energy. You need to be selfish in the next 104 days and protect your performance. This includes protecting your energy levels too. Continue reading →

Comfort vs. Magic 2012

Posted on by
1

This month’s message from me is really simple – but for you it’s what makes everything so hard. No matter what your role is within your sport – your rank in Canada, or in the World, my guess is that this year you want to do more than you’ve ever done before. To do that you have to be outside of your comfort zone way more than you’re in it. That is where magic often happens.

Trust in your preparation—all of it. Not just this year’s or last year’s but from your entire career. Trust that you are experienced; trust that you are really good and that you’re doing everything in your power to be better. And then let yourself stretch; reach physically, mentally and emotionally.

This image has been around for a while but I recently saw it used by an adventurer, Bruce Kirkby, as he encouraged an audience to alter their routine, get out of their comfort zone and find their own adventure. It is not about your abilities. It is about exploring beyond where you are comfortable. You should not expect to be comfortable while trying to do something hard, aka new, special, or magical (Yes, this is the whole ‘be comfortable being uncomfortable’ speech). Continue reading →