Sunday, October 30, 2005


Cycling Through Time!!

100 Km, 3 1/2 hours, and back hundreds of years. That's what this Friday's ride felt like. I belong to the Cairo Cycling Club and we meet every Friday morning for rides ranging between 80 and 120 Km's and sometimes more. Between 6 and 10 times per year the club tries to do a feature 'ride'. This past weekend we did the Nile Delta ride and I must tell you it was a fantastic ride. I can't think of many places where you actually feel like you are riding back in time. Sounds like a cliche, but 10 km's in to the ride we were riding through agricultural areas where seeding and harvesting is done by hand. Dishes and clothes are washed by walking down to the canal and wading knee deep in the water to get everything washed. Cooking is done often over open cook fires. Produce and meat are bought fresh because there is no refrigaration.

The ride started with a 40 minute drive to the North end of Cairo. We left our vehicles at a busy outdoor market where, fortunately, things were still pretty quiet this time of day. Needless to say a large group of people in bright colors and spandex attracted more than a little attention.

We moved North out of Cairo in to the Delta. The first half of the ride took us through many small agricultural villages and travelled along some of the small canals used for irragation. Traffic was light and allowed for some great sightseeing. It is always nice when living in Cairo to get an opportunity to ride through the green areas. A highlight on this stretch was 'Charcoal Canyon'. A stretch of highway with wood piled up along the side. This wood is used to make charcoal. It doesn't seem like that big a deal, but we didn't even know firewood existed in Cairo.

At the Northernmost part of our trip we crossed a bridge over one of the branches of the Nile. From here we began winding our way back to the start point on an elevated road along the Nile. The road was narrow and wound it's way through many small villages. The highlight of the trip was definately the crowds we would draw at all of our regroup points. Many people coming out and wanting to be in our pictures or talk to us, or just check out what we were up to.

The people here are amazing. They live a very simple life, but don't seem to want for anything and are very friendly. You truly get a feel that they would give you all they owned if you asked for it.

I am attaching a few more pictures of the trip. If you are interested in learning more about the Cairo Cycling Club and our activies, check out our website at: http://www.cairocyclists.com/

- Doing Laundry - Charcoal Canyon

-Riding through the Banana Fields - It may not look like much, but it's fast!

- A little CCC Diplomacy -The newest member of the Cairo Cycling Club

- Flat tire, no problem!

Thursday, October 27, 2005

BACK ON TRACK!!

I'm feeling much better today and back on track. Sometimes just getting out and doing something when you are feeling unmotivated is all the motivation you need to get back on track. Worked some thins out with Mrs. Brawn yesterday and feeling quite chipper today.

I did not get to the pool yesterday, but will make that up today. Spinning class went well and had a large group. It was a strength class to not easy and after the usuall cool down and stretch, I hit the treadmill for 2K (8:30 min). Legs felt very good and even though this was a short brick it was the first one in a long time andfelt fine.

This morning ran 8 1/2 K before school and at a steady 4'50" average pace felt strong at the end.

I will get my swim in today and then am looking forward to the Delta ride tomorrow morning. Hopefully I will be able to manage the camera and get some shots to post as it should be a very unique ride.

Wednesday, October 26, 2005

A Little Off!
I'm feeling a little off today and having troubles getting motivated to do much of anything. Jasmine pointed out to me last night that I haven't been very 'present' lately. While this is something that I realize, unfortunately I don't always realize it until it's been pointed out to me. I sometimes get wrapped up in things and trying to get things accomplished that I forget about the people that are most important. While she is very understanding about what I have going on, I sometimes forget to let her know how I feel and how important she is to me. It's funny how reminding someone how you feel about them and how important they are to you can solve so many problems.

Jaz's mother and grandmother are currently here visiting us so they are gone to Khan El Khalili market this afternoon. I just spent an hour with the little Brawn who gave me the biggest smile and laugh which makes me feel a little better and more motivated to do something.

While the family is away and I have an hour free at school I am going to try and get a swim in. Tonight I teach spinning at the local Gold's gym. Tomorrow morning should be a run (10K), and Friday is supposed to be a ride in the Nile Delta with the cycling club (Cairo Cycling Club). I have been looking forward to this ride for a while, but wondering now if I should go or spend the morning in bed with the missus and the little Brawn?!? I will have to see how the next two days play out.

Monday, October 24, 2005



Why??

When I was home last many people (family included) asked me why I am doing this. Throughout the last couple years of training I ask myself the same question. Now as I begin a journey to what hopefully ends in an Ironman completion in the summer of 2006 I, again, am asking myself the same question.

I wouldn't do this if I didn't enjoy it. I enjoy the training (most of the time), I enjoy the competition, and I enjoy the transformation I have made to my body and my life, but there has to be more to it than that. To want to swim 3.8km, bike 180km, and run 42km there has to be more to it than enjoying it. Frankly, there are as many times that it just plain hurts as is enjoyable.

To answer why I really have to go back to why I started in the first place. This is the easy part and a continual reminder of why I am trying to do what I am doing. My wife believed in me. When I thought endurance events were behind me and I was too old and out of shape, and my body too worn down, my wife believed that I (we) could do this. We began training for a running event, and after completing that I moved in to tri training. What I discovered from the training was that it made me a better person. It made me more motivated in other areas of my life. I had more energy throughout the day. I was more focused throughout the day. I felt a sense of accomplishment and felt like I was someone she could be proud of.

We battle from time to time about the amount of time training takes up and the time that I am away with other things as well as training. But ultimately, my wife is my biggest supproter, and my greatest motivation. I think we both recognize how difficult I would be to live with without this in my life right now and this is why we make the time for this.

I now have a new motivation to do what I am doing: (SEE THE PICTURE ABOVE!!)

My daughter is 9 weeks old. I want her to have a father who is a good role model, who is active, healthy, and most importantly alive. I want her to be proud of her father and I want her to think "that's amazing that my dad can do that!"

So really when I think about why, I find myself thinking how can I not!

Thursday, October 20, 2005

ABOUT ME.

So, who am I. This may help you understand the rest of my posts (or it may not but it will atleast let you know who is writing).
I am Canadian but I have been living and working as a teacher/school administrator in Egypt for 2 1/2 years. I am married to an amazing woman named Jasmine and have a beautiful 2 month old daughter named Anaka.
I grew up in rural Saskatchewan in the heart of farming country. I come from a farming background and a real busy community of about 200 people (a far cry from the 30 million in Cairo).
I grew up roaming the streets of our small community with a group of boys all within about 3 years of age of each other. One night it was football, the next street hockey, the next baseball, the next kick the can,etc., etc. As we got a little older the sports became more organized and eventually our small communtiy teams won a couple Provincial Volleyball championships, Hockey Championships, Softball Championships.
From high school I travelled far from home to university and made the university hockey team playing in the very competitive Canada West Athletic Conference. I graduated University with a B. ED and took up teaching in rural Salkatchewan soon after. As a former university player in small town Saskatchewan I was highly sought after to play for the local SR. teams and continued to play competitive hockey until the age of 35 when I moved to Cairo.
My teaching career also moved quickly and after 5 years of teaching PE I took a job as a vice principal and after 4 years I accepted a position as a Principal. Throughout my teaching experiences I continued to be involved in coaching and officiating a variety of sports.
In 2002 I married Jasmine a former University Baskeball player. Although we lived together she taught 40 minutes away and was on the road a lot. Because of our involvement in school and sports, it was rare that both of us were home before 9:00 or 10:00 in the evening, so we recognized quickly that things had to change.
On top of this we were both still heavily involved in playing sports so free time was not in abundance. Physically I was starting to 'wear down' as well. Every summer I would put on a little weight during ball season, then take it off during hockey season. As I got older I began putting on a little more weight and taking off a little less weight until my frame that once carried around 180 pounds was now consistently carrying 200 +. With all the after game refreshments that are the norm in small town leagues, this trend didn't look like it was going to change.
Bring on life change...One year after getting married, Jaz and I decided to accept an international teaching position in Egypt. Upon arriving in Egypt we decided we may not have many opportunities to train for and compete in a distance running event, s we began training for a 12 km event that was to be part of the Egyptian Marathon. This was a big step for me as I was having more and more knee problems and running seemed out of the question...Mission accomplished and 2 1/2 years later I have completed a 12 k, 5 k, 8 k, 10 k, a half marathon, and a marathon, a duathlon, a sprint triathlon, and 1/2 ironman! Finishing these events has only motivated me to do more...why you ask? Why is best left to my next post.

Monday, October 17, 2005

SARAH REINERTSEN!!

If your not sure who Sarah Reinertsen is check out this article: http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=28502&posts=25

I have been following Sarah's trials and tribulations since last years Ironman in Kona. I was so excited to see her complete this years event. I was discussing her story with a friend yesterday on my morning run and he commented "imagine what she could accomplish if she was not born with a disability."

I'm not really a 'what if guy'...'what if he was bigger"...'what if he had his brothers determination with his skill'...'what if he had the same access to that equipment'...'what if he had that kind of coaching'...'what if...'

The fact is, this is who Sarah Reinertsen is. I think back to something Lance Armstrong contiually says..."I owe my life to cancer". My question is, would we be talking about Sarah Reinertsen today had she not been born with one leg shorter than the other? Had her parents not opted to have one leg amputated above the knee? Had she not had a soccer coach that didn't give her an opportunity to be just another player? Had she entered and completed her first Ironman with ease? These things are what has made Sarah the person she is, and what makes her story so compelling.

I don't want to wonder about who she could be or would be if she was not an above the knee amputee because I think the world needs her just the way she is. People need to see the determination with which she competes, what she has gone through to be the first above the knee amputee Ironman finisher, people need to hear her harsh comments about the way we waste the two good legs most of us have, and people need to see the way she lights up a camera in an interview and the passion with which she talks about anything.

If we talk about 'what if...' maybe we should ask 'what if I was born with a disability, what could I accomplish and who could I inspire?' I think Sarah Reinertsen was born the way she was supposed to be born and her life is right on track...inspiring more people than you or I could ever hope to!

Brawn of the Oasis

Sunday, October 16, 2005

What's in a Name?!?

Welcome to my sight. I probably would have been up and running earlier as I have been lurking for a long time, but I have had trouble coming up with a name for my site. I have finally come up with Oasis.

It seems fitting. If you look up Oasis in the Collins COBUILD Students Dictionary it says "1. A small area in a desert where water and plants are found. 2. You can refer to any pleasant place or situation as an oasis when it is surrounded by by unpleasant ones. The gardens are an oasis in the midst of Cairo's urban sprawl."

While I can't say there is much unpleasant in my life right now a. I do live in Cairo. b. I most definately feel like my triathlon training is an Oasis for me. c. I am living in a green area in the middle of a desert (and do much of my running and cycling in or on the edge of the desert). d. I am hoping this sight becomes an 'oasis' for the creative being in me that has not had a chance to surface for far too long.

a. I am a Canadian living and working in Cairo, Egypt (City of 6 October to be exact) with my wife Jasmine and new daugter Anaka. We have been in Egypt for just over 2 years.

b. Training, most recently triathlon training, has become an oasis for me. A chance to break from everyday life and be by myself (even if I am training in a group) sort out my thoughts for day and organize my life. It has become somewhat meditative. It relaxes me, it balances me, it makes me a more sound, 'with it' person.

c. The part of Cairo that we live is actually a newer community far removed from downtown and built in an area that was formerly desert. A lot of work has gone in to making this area green, clean, and pleasant and you know anything about Cairo that means a lot of work. Looking our our apartment window we can see the pyramids on one side and the desert on the other making for some great running and cycling.

d. It is my hope that this site will become an oasis or outlet for something creative that I know is within me somewhere. I have never really had a creative outlet as my life has been filled with playing sport, preparing for sport, coaching sport, watching sport, and recovering from sport. I feel I have always had a creative side, but never had the opportunity to show it. While I in no way consider myself a writer, hopefully this will spark something in me that has laid dormant for far too long.

So this is me and this is my blog. Comments are appreciated and hopefully there will be more to come!