SL10K 2014: The results are in

I'm on Cloud 9 today after participating in this year's exciting Sporting Life 10K Run. The weather could not have been better – sunny, blue skies, no wind, and about 10 degrees at run time (with a high for the day of 21 degrees).

If you remember, last year's run was a bit of a dud. I was contending with a minor leg injury, and weather did not cooperate on the day of the race. But, I made it to the finish line, and with the help of generous folks like you, raised a ton of money to support Camp Ooch, which helps kids with cancer go to camp for free.

This year, I trained much more carefully, introducing my new running shoes more slowly, switching to pavement more mindfully, and listening to my body each time I practiced. Leading up to run day, everything was on track – no pain, no problems. Last night I went to bed nervous, but very excited.

And then this morning, ready, set, GO! Taking a slow start, I began the race up at Eglinton, ran all the way down Yonge Street, and completed the race at Fort York. How did I do? Drumroll please...

10.2km = total distance ran (6.3 miles for my imperial friends)

27,000 = number of runners this year

56:18 = final running time (BEST TIME YET! 1:09:49 in 2013, 1:04:35 in 2012)

But most importantly:

$1065 = the money raised by my amazing supporters, all going to help kids with cancer. Thanks again to each one of you, truly.

This year's run was an amazing experience. I highly recommend that you sign up next year, even if you are not a runner or think you cannot do it. You will find – as I did today – that when you are surrounded by thousands of like-minded folks, and you're being cheered on by perfect strangers on the sidelines, you can do just about anything.

p.s. Happy Mother's Day, to my mom and all the moms out there!

SL10K 2013: Results, and a lesson

For the second year in a row, I participated in the Sporting Life 10K Run in Toronto, which raises money for Camp Oochigeas, a camp for children with cancer.

I started training in January, with 2 goals in mind: 1) to beat last year's time of 1:04:35, and 2) to beat last year's fundraising total of $420.

I only reached one of my goals this year.

Back on March 28th, I felt a strange twinge in my right shin, so I checked in with my family doctor. After several tests through the month of April – an xray, an ultrasound, and nuclear bone scan (!) – the sports doctor confirmed that the twinge I felt was not shin splints (a common condition for runners), but a tiny stress fracture on my right tibia. I found this out last Wednesday, four days before the race.

The treatment for a stress fracture is no running for 6-10 weeks.

After consulting with the sports doctor, he said that based on the date of the injury, the progress my healing, and my current level of my shin pain, I could try running the 10k, but must stop immediately if I feel any pain. He warned that a stress fracture can easily turn into a compound fracture, which would be bad news.

Up until this morning, I didn't know if I was going to be able to run. I thought of walking the entire distance if need be - there's no shame in that. I told myself I would decide when I got to the start line based on how my body felt. When the whistle blew at 8:20am, I started walking and increased the speed slowly over course of the first kilometre. For the first 8km, everything was feeling okay.

Then right at the 8km mark, just as one of my favourite songs came on my iPod, I felt a moderate twinge in my knee/shin. It took me about half a second to realize that that was my body's signal to stop. So for the last 2km, I walked briskly, and passed under the finish line as the timer struck 1:09:49.

I only reached one of my goals this year. But the goal I did reach still blows my mind. With the unbelievable support of friends and family from across the country, I raised 3X last year's total: $1260! This is enough money to help five kids with cancer go to camp - how amazing is that?! I can't thank each of you enough for your contributions and encouragement.

This year was an exercise in listening to my body and learning my limitations. Being stubborn and ambitious, I really really wanted to run the full distance today and beat my personal record. But it was deeply humbling to accept the limitations I was given, and focus on the true purpose of the run, which had nothing to do with me, but rather, the lives of children fighting with cancer.

This was all summed up perfectly by a inspirational quote I received in my inbox first thing this morning:

"Affirm sufficiency."

CR

Time to run!

Last year, I participated in the Sporting Life 10K Run, a fundraiser which helps raise money for Camp Oochigeas, a camp for children with cancer. Last year, through the generosity of family and friends (old and new), I was able to raise $420. I am still amazed, and immensely grateful.

Well, it's that time of year again. I have been training since January, I have a new pair of running shoes, and I will ready to run again on Sunday, May 12. If you can spare a few dollars (even $5), please donate what you can at my fundraising page:

http://www.ooch.org/christopherrouleau

As further encouragement, for every online donation over $30, I will create and mail a hand-lettered thank you card to you. Here are some examples of what you can expect:



Thank you in advance for your support and encouragement.

-CR

12 things I learned about work in 2012

Don't let money be your master. You will do your best work when you're not thinking about money. If you're making more than you spend, living within your means, and have a roof over your head, you're doing alright.


Get things done on time; be on time for meetings. Fashionably late is not fashionable.
"Luck is where the crossroads of opportunity and preparation meet." -Seneca



The secret to getting things done is doing them. Avoid feeling discouraged by completing one project at a time. Stop saying what you're going to do, and do it.


You can only get better by doing. Dedicate time to practice – even just a few minutes a day – and your craft will improve.


Sketch and compile all of your ideas in one place - you never know when they will become useful.


There's more than one way to do things. Resist monotony, complacency, and bad habits by always trying new ways of doing things.
"Everyone is just making it up as they go along." -Frank Chimero


Never turn down opportunities. Learn from your mistakes (and the mistakes of others). Acknowledge the misstep and resume, without breaking your stride.
"It's okay to make mistakes. It's okay to fall down. Get up, look sickening, and make them eat it." -Latrice Royale


Work the hardest you can every day – you never know who's watching. Good work begets more work.


Decide what you want, and set realistic, time-sensitive, measurable goals to make it happen.
"Decide who you are, decide what you want to do, and then do it, because it is surely possible.” -Doyald Young 


If it feels or looks wrong, it probably is. Believe in yourself, and stand up for your ideas.
"If you don't believe in your work, who else is going to believe it?" -Milton Glaser



Don't be afraid to take the best idea you've ever had and throw it into the wind. Assume, by default, that you could be wrong.


Best is the enemy of good. The simplest solution is often the most effective.

* See also: 12 things I learned about life in 2012

12 things I learned about life in 2012

In December 2011, I decided to pursue freelance graphic design full-time. Becoming self-employed was something I had dreamed of doing for years, but the idea was always very daunting. Could I make enough money to live? Where would the client work come from? Could I actually do it?

There were certainly some challenging moments, but on the whole, I can honestly say that 2012 – the year I turned 30 – was the most rewarding, happiest twelve months of my life, both professionally and personally.

Throughout the year, I complied an ongoing list in of mantras, life lessons and advice I was offered from friends, family and fellow freelancers. And I've always believed that the best thing to do with advice is to give it away!

A big part of last year was finding the balance between work and life, so I took my lengthy list, shuffled it around, and divided it into two parts: 12 things I learned about life in 2012 (below) and 12 things I learned about work in 2012 (coming tomorrow).

These ideas are not terribly revolutionary, but they were excellent reminders in a year filled with uncertainty. They continue to keep me centred and make freelance life a pleasure.

If you enjoy these or find them useful, please bookmark, read often  – and of course share with anyone else who might be interested.

Thanks,

CR

p.s. Have a story or some advice you'd like to share? Please send me an email!

Drink more water. Walk. Run. Sweat. Nap. Sleep. Meditate. Sit up straight. Feed your brain nutrition-filled food. Listen to your body. Visit your doctor & dentist regularly. If your body is not at its best, your brain won't be either.


Don't wait for tragedy to remind you of life's priorities. Make the most of every precious moment.
"Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose." -Steve Jobs



Worrying is like praying for things you don't want. Don't stress – or waste time thinking about – anything that is out of your direct control.
"To be calm is the highest achievement of the self." -attributed to Yogi Bhajan


Embrace the power of positive thinking. Envision yourself with the desired outcome, and it will be so.


Don't compare yourself to others; don't be jealous of what others have or what others do. Don't dwell on how things could have been – always look forward, not backwards.
"Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won't be the victim of needless suffering." -from The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz


Take actions to make things better, or let it go.


Life's trials inevitably come in waves – when it rains, it pours. Ride the wave, and learn to celebrate both the good times and the bad.


Reflect on your life's hardest times – you got through those, and you will get through these. Remember: there's always someone who has it worse than you.


When life speeds up, resist the urge to rush - count to ten, and move forward slowly, methodically, and confidently. Escape the busy trap.


Make it a priority to turn off your electronics daily, abandon the virtual world, and get outside. It is never selfish to take time for yourself and personal well-being.


Surround yourself with positive, creative, authentic, like-minded individuals. Inversely, disassociate yourself with impulsive, superficial, gossipy, disrespectful people.


Of bad energy, of old dogmas, of anything holding you back. Purge everything you don't need. Give it away, throw it out, recycle it - make room for new creative energy to flow.

* See also: 12 things I learned about work in 2012

Montréal 2012: Everyday life

Last year's Montreal life photos here.

By the numbers

This morning, I participated in the Sporting Life 10K Run in Toronto which raises money for Camp Oochigeas, a camp for children with cancer. The run was amazing! Here are some digits to ponder:

5:45 - the time I set my alarm so I could get to the starting line on time.

22,000 - the number of people who participated in the run this year (a new record!)

10 - the number of kilometres we ran, from Eglington to Fort York (6.21 miles for our non-metric friends)

1:04:35 - my final run time, with zero stops.

420 - the number of dollars I was able to raise. People's generosity never ceases to amaze me.

A HUGE thank you those who offered kinds words of encouragement.. Without your support, I would have never been able to do this.

Thanks!

CR

p.s. To my mom and all the moms out there - Happy Mother's Day!

Weekend words

Have a great weekend everyone!