New Welsh adventure and the 2014 running season begins!

      A new race season for 2014 has arrived!! Sunday last, on 2 March, Energy Events held their annual Fort Vancouver race which included  6k,10k and 15K routes. I chose the longer race and knew the course well with it being part of the Vancouver Marathon half, which is in June. We were all ready to run this race when the weather decided to throw us some curve balls. The temperature dipped to 32° just prior to race time with wind and heavier rain making this event one we would remember for sure. The first few miles were cold and miserable. But, once soaked and cold, we soon became accustomed to the elements and settled into a routine cadence and pace. My goal was to run this with a sub 8:00/mile pace and I was happy to have reached that, finishing with a 7:52 and 1:13:56 time over the 9.32 miles. Ironically, the temperature later that day rose to 52° and cleared up a wee bit. Took hours to get warm again and feel better but in the end, it toughens runners up. Not that I want to do that all the time, heavens no. But now and then one needs to brave the elements and get out. Here are some photos from that day:

 The first race of the year was a great success with a fun racing season ahead.

                                                                                 New Welsh adventures always prove fun.  And spreading the word about the experience of learning the delightful language has been enjoyable. Last week, a friend in Wales I'd been in contact with, sent me some pins and lanyards with the word "Cymraeg" on it in the form of a speech bubble. These are used in Wales to let customers and others know that Welsh is spoken there.


   What a great way to promote such things here as well! After handing them out to the Cymraeg i Oedolion Portland/Vancouver-Welsh speakers group, I pinned my own on and hit the town in my Wales rugby jersey. 

                                                 Never really expected much but I went to a Starbucks close to work and was stopped by a fellow who also had Welsh family and blood in his veins. He saw the jersey and then the pin, keenly interested in learning the language. Gave him a business card and told him of the group and the Say something in Welsh program. Hope to hear from him soon!!   

                                                                      
                                                                                      As for the lessons, well I'm currently starting lesson ten of course one and usually understanding about 80% of the playback listened to. Can usually form decent sentences using the vocabulary learned the first eight or nine lessons, so progress is being made albeit slowly. I still blank out sometimes when trying to remember certain things and still go back and re-listen to lessons five to eight. Past,present and future tenses are the points I need to pay most attention to. My friend in the UK, Martin, has made up some wonderfully helpful emails/charts with the verb conjugations and various patterns. Many thanks, Martin!!!

                                                                                       As February has ended and March begins, I look forward to a new month of Welsh and running, both hand in hand quite often as I journey this path. Add the beard being sprouted back again ( on day 26 now ), this time for a good long while, and the coming months and seasons look delightful indeed!!!!!