Getting into the Spirit

Well, I'm getting into the spirit and it's not the Deck the Halls kinda spirit.

Olympic fever is sweeping the nation and it's wonderful. This morning, at the crack of dawn, I rolled out of bed and walked down the street to watch the Olympic flame go by. It was amazing. I would have loved to share the moment with Baby Max, but at -8 degrees and a windchill that made it feel like -12, I left him with The B in his warm swaddle. Besides, he was in a peaceful slumber and you NEVER wake a sleeping baby!

The last time the Olympics were in Canada, in my lifetime, was back in 1988 in Calgary. I was 12 years old. It was a big deal for me. I followed the Games everyday in the paper and even made a scrapbook. Watching the coverage, I realized how much I loved sport. And this love eventually paved the way for my first degree in Kinesiology and my life-long affair with athletics.

Up to this point, I hadn't really thought much of the Vancouver 2010 Games. Not with a new baby and all that such an events brings. However, seeing the Olympic flame - being so close to it this morning, literally lit the flame inside of me. And I'm sure it did the same for the others who braved the chilly weather this morning to cheer on the torchbearer. I must say that I did apply to become a torchbearer, but sadly was not among the chosen. Still, it was so cool to see it so close to my house - a flame that has made its way from the birthplace of the Olympic Games: Greece.

One of the torchbearers this morning was none other than John Stanton- a god himself in the Canadian running scene. He started The Running Room and he helped to ignite the running craze here in Canada. It was so fitting to see him run this morning. This morning's events also helped to fuel my desire to run again.

In fact, I've been given a clean bill of health to run again, albeit slowly and the jog-walk kind. I've also restarted my gym membership and am thinking...just thinking right now to do a New Year's Day 5K.

However, we'll see.