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Our New Home in Vancouver B.C.

We have lived in this place called Vancouver, B.C. just over one month. It’s intriguing the ways a place quickly comes to feel like “home”– and the ways it doesn’t. Our cozy apartment building that was built in the 1940’s feels like home. That was easy. We just had to unpack our books and maps and a couple of candles and we were “home.” I think the fact that we’ve traveled and moved so frequently the past few years has helped both Mike and I readily adapt to whatever ‘home’ we find ourselves in.

This city and “city-life” are beginning to feel familiar, but I don’t think I can accurately use the word “home” to describe it. We have our bus routes to school, to the grocery store, and to church figured out, but the rest of the city is still quite an enigma. This past weekend a college friend was in town and when we wanted to go “explore the city” I discovered just how little I know about this place that is our “current town” on Facebook. This is the largest city either of us have ever lived in. Not to mention the one with the most precipitation.

One part that has felt like “home” from the moment we arrived is the UBC Endowment Lands, otherwise know as Pacific Spirit Regional Park. Think of a forest from Narnia and Middle Earth combined and you are on the right track. It is mossy and wet and thick…filled with miles and kilometers of trails… Sometimes I wonder if it is so comforting because it reminds us of the places we’ve both come from—places with forests, lots of land, and minimal concrete. And it is sort of ironic that one of the places I like best in this city is a place that is very un-cityish.

But, this past weekend, we both got to see new parts of this city. Mike was speaking at a conference downtown and our friend who was visiting brought a lovely opportunity to sightsee a bit. We visited Granville Island Public Market, a year round market that sells everything from photography to tea to B.C. grown foods. We walked along the waterfront and through Gastown and Chinatown. When clouds clear out and you can see the mountains and the city scape, up against the ocean, you remember (like I did this weekend) that this city really is a beautiful one, as cities go. I think there is a lot of knowing to be done before this city will feel like home in a majority of ways. But, considering how long we’ve been here, I am grateful to be finding bits of “home” in this new city, in this new country. It is a good season and I think we both are glad we are living it.

February 05th, 2009 | Category: Uncategorized | No comments

Our Second Marathon

Last weekend Mike and I ran our second marathon, in northern California, near Susanville. Pics. This one was a “Trail Marathon,” on an old, abandoned rail-road line that had had the tracks removed. Trail Marathons make for a slower time, but they involve lot less pain in the joints!

We spent the weekend leading up the marathon (October 12th) at our friends’ family cabin. The cabin was built in the 1920’s, pre-depression era and has been in his family since then. Our friend, Seth, has spent time at the cabin every summer of his life. It is surrounded by mountain lakes and forest service and sits at the edge of Silver Lake. The two days before the race we huddled around the fire, played games, and ate lots of yummy food. What perfect rest and preparation from running 26.2 miles.

I have to be honest, running this marathon was harder than I expected. I mean, I know that marathons are hard, but I had sort of forgotten just HOW hard. Yep, the last five miles were brutal, but thankfully, we ran together once again, so encouragement was always at hand whenever either of us needed it. Even though we ran a few minutes slower than our last marathon, I know I gave it all I had (considering I threw up a couple hours after we finished–I did so last time too…)

So far, no marathons planned for 2009, but we do have our eye on a couple of ½ marathons, one in Vancouver and one in Seattle. I think the goal at this point is to decrease the endurance a bit and hopefully increase the speed. Should be a good challenge. All this to say, while I cannot say I necessarily “felt God’s pleasure” (Eric Liddell, Chariots of Fire) the whole race, I am immensely grateful for a body that can run and beautiful places to run in.

-Danae.