PLANET ACTION: ISSUE #21
Is it winter already?! It seems like just yesterday we were arriving in the Carolina’s (but really it was about a year ago) and away from the cold, blustery darkness that was NYC (on election night), the big D.C freeze (we were sicker than dogs) and all points between. Then, seventy degree weather with humidity like we were back in Ontario, but all the license plates read S.C., Florida and Louisiana. Yes folks, we were spoiled for the next 6 months on the R41P highway with hot, sunny running. And then, arriving home in time for summer ’09, gave us the false sense that “this will last forever, right”?
Wrong. November in Vancouver isn’t like we’d fantasized. In fact, the reality is that it is wet and dark by 4:00pm and getting shorter. This told us it’s the Perfect timing to get a long awaited issue of Planet Action out to YOU, our faithful and forever in our hearts community. So put some soup on the stove, make yourself a hot chocolate (or stronger as the season approaches rapidly) and hope you enjoy some updates from our world!
Here’s some general ‘what’s been up with us” news.
WE’VE BEEN TALKIN’
Keynotes have been steadily gaining momentum as the Fall set in motion many opportunities for us to share the tour story with groups striving for excellence. Talk about feeling privileged to spend an hour with a room full of Olympians, past, present and future. This was the case early in the month as our talk opened a day-long symposium at Olympic Oval. Absolutely incredible experience and world class building to host speed skating in February!
In October we blasted up to Kelowna to do 3 hour long back to back talks at the BC Student Leadership Conference (felt like the tour again)! Only this time, it took four hours (by car) instead of the tour-like 7 days (by foot).
As of this typing we are thrilled to be the closing keynote at the Sun Run Leaders Weekend with SportsMed BC!
Steph and I are pumped with our upcoming speaking opportunities and are thrilled to be represented by a couple of speakers bureau’s across Canada!
NEW PARTNERSHIPS
It’s official. All the yoga/run events we did with lululemon’s around North America have fulfilled a secret wish. We’d like to announce that “lululemon on West 4th Avenue” the company’s original store has asked us to be their newest “Run Ambassadors”! Thanks to Katie, Mel and all the folks at the store for this great honor! We’ll be representing our neighborhood Lulu by leading monthly run groups and giving talks on building the business of your athletic career and other really cool things with our newest partner!
Speaking of run groups, we had an amazing night with Rob Kelly (our awesome team member ala tour video producer) and his Capilano Eagles Run Club! In case you haven’t seen our tour video, check it out, turn it up and grab a Kleenex):
We got to experience (again) being left in the dust by eager runners blasting up the hills of North Vancouver, as we did our usual “no speed required” small steps add up the hill”, finishing…dead last. Afterwards, we gave a passionate presentation, including a defense of the benefits of running slow…
OUR DREAM TEAM IS RE-BUILDING
As the summer sun set into Fall, we added a few more R41P team specialists!
Our Board of Directors, who stretch from Toronto to LA, and Hong Kong back to Vancouver, is meeting monthly to add valuable brain power as we create the next steps for the Legacy. In the next Planet Action issue, we’ll unravel what the heck we’ve been talking about
We had a super star answer the call for our Executive Director role. Hailing from Toronto Ontario, allow us to introduce the genius of Matt Wiesenfeld…applause please!
And just in time for the holidays, we’d like to say a huge welcome to the team, our newest Administration Superstar, Anran Luo…woohoo!
FINALLY…
Our Planet Action newsletter would not be complete without mentioning that Steph has won yet ANOTHER award. Yes folks, she just received the Alumni Special Achiever Award by the best day school for girls in Canada, York House School. Way to go Steph! Also at the time of this typing, she has just been informed that she’s up for two other awards! (Seriously.)
Matt, on the other hand, is still eagerly awaiting his 2nd award, to add to the first one he won in the 7th grade, for his passionate speech on…running. (Seriously!)
Stay tuned for more news on the Legacy… running to a neighborhood near you!