Happy Canadian Thanksgiving ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ ....... - Couch to 5K

Couch to 5K

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Happy Canadian Thanksgiving ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ ....and a new long term goal to run 5K across Toronto Islands

CazzaW profile image
CazzaWGraduate
โ€ข11 Replies

Monday is a Bank Holiday here in Canada and our first Thanksgiving since arriving 10 days before lockdown in March. My parents were supposed to be with us now, staying for 3 weeks but sadly thatโ€™s all been postponed ๐Ÿ˜” as have visits from our children and friends.

I started C25K as I really needed a focus with everything thatโ€™s going on, as well as it being an opportunity to strengthen my back and neck and get generally fitter. I looked up the meaning of Thanksgiving and it is a time to celebrate the harvest and to be thankful for family, friends and blessings during the year ๐Ÿ˜Š

C25K and this wonderful community has been a blessing and a fantastic distraction for me. Although I am frustratingly stuck waiting to get on with W9R2, nursing an improving ๐Ÿคždodgy ankle, itโ€™s given me the chance to really think about what I want to do when Iโ€™ve (eventually ๐Ÿ™„) graduated.

My only goal originally was to be able to keep getting out there 2-3 times a week ๐Ÿƒโ€โ™€๏ธkeeping fit and to be able to (occasionally) run with my husband. We took our bikes over to the Toronto Islands last weekend as good, gentle foot therapy! These are 15 small islands just south of Toronto and the pic is of me with Toronto behind looking back from the islands. It only takes 15 minutes on the ferry โ›ด to get across (for those of you on the south coast itโ€™s a quicker and much cheaper! version of the Red Funnel ferry over to the IOW) and I went over as often as I could in the summer to the beaches ๐ŸŒž๐ŸŠโ€โ™€๏ธ which was my getaway as Iโ€™m not a city girl at all and love the coast and countryside. The islands are linked by a series of paths, bridges and walkways and I have just discovered that it is 5K to get from one side to the other. So, I have decided that one day, no matter how long it takes me, that I would really like to run ๐Ÿƒโ€โ™€๏ธ well, ๐Ÿข๐ŸŒ jog across the islands before we leave here in August 2023...am giving myself plenty of time ๐Ÿคฃ

So, to others that post on here who are in Canada ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ and all of you on this fabulous forum I wish you a Happy Thanksgiving and when we have our turkey tomorrow I shall raise a toast to you all ๐Ÿฅ‚๐Ÿ˜Š

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CazzaW profile image
CazzaW
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11 Replies
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RacingintheStreet profile image
RacingintheStreetGraduate

What a simply lovely post Cazza , these are such difficult, shifting and disappointing times.

At times hopeful in terms of possibilities to once again see family and then, as is the case now, not be able to .

The simple fact of not being able to share a meal with my grown up daughters in my own home is quite miserable actually .

In your case you had a new adventure and home to share with your family and friends and that must be disappointing .

Also though what a resilient and upbeat attitude you maintain !

The Toronto Islands sound amazing and I have no doubt at all that you will run your 5km around them soon .

Keep your ankle healing and then go do it and come back to the forum and tell us all about it .

Iโ€™ve never visited Canada but youโ€™re description of the Toronto Islands will keep me dreaming I think .

My youngest daughter ( sheโ€™s โ€˜the wandererโ€™ in the family) and her partner were saving hard and were due in Canada this year for a bit of a road trip .

Her partner has been a few times and he has family there .

I do hope next year !

I feel disappointed for the young with so many hopes and dreams put on hold .

You are right though , this challenge has been a godsend and often in difficult times you see the best and worst of people .

Here in our โ€˜forum bubble โ€˜ you see the very best of humankind , sharing , supportive and funny !

Take care of that ankle and I hope it wonโ€™t be long before you are welcoming your family and friends ......... Happy Thanksgiving ๐Ÿ™‚๐Ÿฅ‚๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ. Enjoy!

What a stunning photo too ๐Ÿ™‚

CazzaW profile image
CazzaWGraduate in reply to RacingintheStreet

Thank you RacingintheStreet ๐Ÿ˜Š we enjoyed a lovely meal but it was like having Christmas dinner without any family ๐Ÿ™ A Canadian colleague of my husbands joined us as he was on his own, canโ€™t get back to his young family due to restrictions.

Youโ€™re right about the youngsters and so much worry and stress. We have 5 lovely boys between us aged 20-28, all independent except the youngest who is in his last year at Uni and thatโ€™s a worry. I feel guilty too as I retired after 35 years with the NHS last year knowing we were heading out here but canโ€™t even do any voluntary work at the moment due to the situation.

Anyway onwards and upwards and things will improve. The important thing is for us all to stay safe and healthy and keep as strong physically and mentally as we can.

I do hope that your daughter will be able to get her road trip over here before too long ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ

Looking forward to hearing about your next consolidation run ๐Ÿƒโ€โ™€๏ธ

LottieMW profile image
LottieMWGraduate

Happy thanksgiving Cazza ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ even if itโ€™s not quite how you imagined it would be โ˜น๏ธ

Liking the cycling foot therapy, sounds a fab place to go. What a coincidence that itโ€™s 5k across the islands...that sounds like an achievable goal for you to hit before you leave ๐Ÿ‘

Come on ankle...get better!

๐ŸŒ๐Ÿข๐Ÿƒ๐Ÿปโ€โ™€๏ธ๐Ÿ‚๐Ÿงก๐Ÿ

CazzaW profile image
CazzaWGraduate in reply to LottieMW

Thanks Lottie, yes so strange that itโ€™s exactly 5K, seems like a โ€˜meant to beโ€™ challenge ๐Ÿคทโ€โ™€๏ธ

Donโ€™t want to tempt fate but ankle is finally improving ๐Ÿ˜ƒ

acountrycabbage profile image
acountrycabbageGraduate

Gorrrgeous photo Cazza and a gorgeous post! Iโ€™d forgotten it was Canadian Thanksgiving ๐Ÿฅณ

Funnily enough I felt extraordinarily thankful on yesterdayโ€™s run. Maybe I was channeling my energy across the Atlantic โ˜บ๏ธ

A wonderful long term goal youโ€™ve set yourself there ๐Ÿคฉ Iโ€™m so glad youโ€™re on the mend but Iโ€™m even more glad youโ€™re being sensible about the setback and are able to feel thankful about your already incredible running journey. This is just a teeny blip in the long game to the future happy and healthy Cazza ๐Ÿ˜Š

Such a shame the fam canโ€™t be with you but I hope with FaceTime you can really enjoy that turkey and pumpkin pie! ๐Ÿคชโค๏ธ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ—๐Ÿ๐Ÿฅง๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ

CazzaW profile image
CazzaWGraduate in reply to acountrycabbage

Thanks CC, we did, I have to say the best turkey weโ€™ve ever had ๐Ÿฆƒ Weโ€™ve found that the fish and meat are really top quality over here and the local produce in general actually. I ate too much though ๐Ÿ™„ so need to be out there running it off ๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚

Great post Cazza, I really hope to get to Canada one day. My youngest plans to emigrate to Canada one day so hopefully when he's there I'll be able to visit John.

Happy Thanksgiving to you ๐Ÿฅฐ

CazzaW profile image
CazzaWGraduate in reply to

Thanks Burkey, does he know which part of Canada? I always forget what a massive country it is but weโ€™ll be doing our best to see as much of it as possible before we come home. Itโ€™ll be lovely for you to be able to visit John and maybe do a bit of a road trip yourself ๐Ÿ˜ƒ

VPOLLIE67 profile image
VPOLLIE67Graduate

CazzaW, I love this post and your photograph. We were in Toronto on holiday a couple of years ago and I just love the city and the islands. What an amazing place to be running.

Congratulations on keeping your mojo going and good luck with the 5k!!!

CazzaW profile image
CazzaWGraduate in reply to VPOLLIE67

Thanks VP, itโ€™s so nice that someone else can envisage where I am ๐Ÿ˜Š itโ€™s made my day! ๐Ÿ‘

Beginner416 profile image
Beginner416Graduate

Hope you had a lovely thanksgiving and long weekend!! We also kept it small just husband and I and small roasted chicken. I made Yorkshireโ€™s for a touch of home.

Great photo! You will definitely meet your goal!

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