Calgary, AB

Public Consultation to Begin on River Park Plan

The New Year will ring in with the start of public consultations on the Park Management/Design Development Plan for River Park/Sandy Beach/Britannia Slopes.

The plan will focus on ensuring the long-term viability of the park area as a multi-use recreational area, while protecting its natural environment.

Ward 11 Alderman Brian Pincott says the project is necessary, as the park is showing the impact from the city’s population growth.

“This is a treasure of a park, and we are very much loving it to death. Reviewing the management and design of the park is key to ensuring that it is one that we can enjoy for years to come.”

The City has hired O2 Planning + Design Inc., a local landscape architecture, urban design and environmental planning firm, to head up the park review. The company’s clients include national parks agencies, private developers, and all levels of government.

O2 Planning + Design Inc. will soon be asking for ideas and input from the public. Look for a stakeholder workshop and an on-line survey early in the New Year, followed by in-park surveys in the spring and summer of 2009. An open house is planned for the fall of 2009 to review the proposed plans.

Alderman Pincott says it’s important that people get involved in the discussion.

“They need to share with the designers the impacts they see on the park from the growth in usage, how they would like to be able to use the park, what are the important features in the park that they treasure.”

The City will be posting a schedule for these public consultations on its website as the dates are finalized (www.calgary.ca).

More information about O2 Planning + Design Inc. can be found at

http://www.o2design.com/o2.htm

River Park Preservation Society Founded

Some South Calgary residents have founded the River Park Preservation Society (RPPS) to promote the park as a multi-use area for the benefit of everyone who uses it.

The society hopes to ensure that River Park is sustainable for future generations, and plans to advocate for proper funding from the City of Calgary to develop and maintain the park.

The RPPS intends to represent its members in any upcoming public consultations with the City, and keep its members informed of any developments.

For more information, contact Nan Douglas at riverparkpreservationsociety@gmail.com

Police Website gives Updated Crime Statistics

The Calgary Police Service will soon launch a new webpage which allows people to get updated crime statistics on their neighbourhoods and compare them with those in other communities.

People will be able to track crimes such as assaults, break and enters, theft, vandalism and robberies.

Constable Martin Courte, the Community Liaison Officer with District 2 of the Calgary Police Service, says people in South Calgary who use the webpage will find that the number of crimes per capita in their community has actually decreased in the last few years.

Courte says that’s because while the actual number of criminal incidents in South Calgary has increased, it hasn’t matched population growth.

“Residents of South Calgary can rest assured that overall, whether they are comparing to other communities or within their own community in contrast to a number of years ago, theirs is a very safe community to live in.”

Courte says the webpage is part of the police’s effort to provide more timely updates of crime trends and statistics.

In the meantime, any suspicious activity or incidents can be reported to the police by calling the non-emergency number 403-266-1234.

The Calgary Police Service website is http://www.calgarypolice.ca/

River Park/Sandy Beach “Christmas Tree”

Cross north over the swinging bridge at Sandy Beach, turn left along the footpath beside the river, and you’ll eventually come across the lone spruce tree.

It juts out toward the path in a jaunty greeting. Right now only a few gauzy off-white ribbons decorate its higher branches, but closer to Christmas season this tree is laden with festive ornaments.

It’s a community tradition that’s been going on for years, and it’s one that Jennifer Gouin appreciates on her regular walks along the river.

“It’s a tender spot of Calgary; it shows people still care,” she says. “It’s like a little piece of kindness, and it’s nice that people honour it.”

Look for plenty of signs of caring on the “Community Christmas Tree” in the weeks ahead.

Suggestions for “River Park News” can be e-mailed to:

riverparknewsscanner@gmail.com

Over the last few years I have formed a good team; however, I’m stilling working on creating a Dream Team.

I’ve recently read Blair Singer’s book, “The ABC’s of Building a Business Team That Wins”. He recommends that a team develop a Code … then use this code as way to retain and recruit people to your team.

Code – The Howard Team Real Estate Service

1. Never abandon a teammate in need.
2. Be willing to “call” and be “called.”
3. Celebrate all wins!
4. Be on time.
5. Keep all agreements and clean up any broken or potentially broken agreements ASAP.
6. Deal direct. (If you have a problem with someone go directly to that person with it or get off it!)
7. Be responsible – no laying blame on others, no justifications!
8. Be resourceful – find solutions before “dumping” on others.
9. Never let personal “stuff” get in the way of your mission.
10. Be loyal to the team.
11. Commit to personal development.
12. Don’t seek or ask for sympathy or acknowledgment.
13. Everyone must sell!

I recently participated in the the Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii. While training for the big day ... I was able to raise nearly $5,000 for Habitat for Humanity.

If you are interested ... you can have a read of the days events!

The short version ... 'very fun'.

(Please take a moment to LEAVE A RESPONSE (make a comment) below... as it will assist me in ranking higher in google. Better yet ... ask a question ... so I can respond!)

Ironman Hawaii – Race Report by Bryon Howard

Race Totals: 10 hours,41 minutes and 39 seconds.

646th place overall out of 1732

98 out of 226 finishers in 40-44 age group

‘Swim 2.4 miles. Ride 112 miles. Run 26.2 miles. Then brag for the rest of your life.’ Thus Ironman Triathlon was born 30 years ago,1977.

Pre-race;

4:00AM:
*7 hrs sleep
*Breakfast: Coffee then Oatmeal, shaved chocolate, blueberries, milk and yogurt.

5:30-7AM (Arrive at Race Site)
*Took Hammer Product – 3 Race Cap supremes and 4 Antifatigue pills. 60mins before 7AM start.

*For any triathlete, that final walk down Alii Drive at 5:45AM is truly unbelievable. My brother and I drove to pretty close to the pier, so the walk takes you through the final run down Alii Drive, right past the finish chute It was exciting knowing I was about to compete in a race I’ve been looking forward to for years.
*After getting through body marking, I made my way out onto the pier for the final check of my gear and any other misc. 'to dos'. The professional start went off 15 minutes before the age groupers at 6:45AM, and I watched the start from the pier.

*I seeded my self a few rows back from the deep water mass start about 10 minutes prior to the start. There were 1700 people bobbing in the waves. I was thinking, I cannot believe I am here, just a dream come true…now the fun begins!

Swim 2.4 miles

*I had a reasonable position about 6 rows from the front. I was hoping to find ‘fast feet’, enjoy the draft and finish the swim in under 1:10.
*When the cannon went off it hurt my ears! I just coasted along on the inside buoys.
*I had heard that swimming in the Hawaii almost friendly … as you were swimming with the best. However … this was a real mosh pit. Unfortunately, I must have been a group that was ‘just like me’. (… swimming anything but a straight line ….)

*It felt like forever until the first boat came and then turn.
*After the turn, I found some good feet and felt I was making up time. I just settled in.
*In the end, the swim felt about 5 minutes too long. I was ready for it to be over! I exited in 1:08:50. The fastest guy of the day swam about 47 minutes.

*Swim Totals (Time/Place) = 1:08:50 1:48/100m (766th place total or 100 in age group)

T1

Fluid transition w/ no issues. A volunteer put sunscreen on my neck and shoulders … but I should have applied more – all over. (I’m currently moulting big time!)
*Total Time = 4:51 min.

Bike 112 Miles

*Once on the bike, the goal was to hold 210 to 220 watts throughout the entire course.

The Hawaii course winds it's way through town for about 10 miles before heading out on the Queen K. The temptation to absolutely hammer this section is high as the crowds are just screaming, but I just held 210 watts. I was being passed like crazy during these first 10 miles.
*After the out and back, heading up the short, but steep Palani Road (aka Pay and Save hill), I finally began to pass a few people.
*The main difference between this race and other Ironman events is the level of athlete is very high. 75% of the field had to qualify to get there and usually had to post a good time to do so. Many women and 50+ year old men were passing me … I was getting used to this.

*About 8 miles or so outside of Kona, near the airport, I began to settle in … and was now passing lots of folks.
*About 10 miles this side of Hawi, and the turn around point, the wind was just relentless, never getting ridiculously high, but NEVER backing off. For the entire ride up to Hawi, there was a strong headwind which I knew based on the looks on everyone's face was beginning to take it's toll.
*Another awesome part of racing Kona is seeing the pro race happening live right in front of you. As I was on the approach to Hawi, I saw the leaders charge by.
* Just after the turn at Hawi, I picked up my special needs bag with a flask of 500 calories of pertreum. This is the first time I’ve ever used the special needs bag in an Ironman. I didn’t like it. In fact, I had to stop to pick it up … and my gears were acting funny. (I was slowing on the up hill … and I went a full one or two cycles before stopping.)

*The last 20 miles I could barely hold 175 watts of power … and was mostly peddling around 155-160 watts. I began to get passed … towards the end of the bike.

*I got off the bike … and don’t remember having any idea of the time I finished in. I was happy to be done biking … and was imaging a quick transition and a good run.

*Bike Totals (Time/Pace/HR) = 5:26:53/20.56mph avg - Bike Split was 557 fastest on the day – or 86 in my age group.

FIRST BIKE SEGMENT 5.5 mi. (1:29:02) 21.50 mph

SECOND BIKE SEGMENT 28 mi. (2:29:57) 22.16 mph

THIRD BIKE SEGMENT 59 mi. (4:03:55) 19.79 mph

FOURTH BIKE SEGMENT 88 mi. (5:29:11) 20.41 mph

FINAL BIKE SEGMENT 112 mi. (6:40:34) 20.17 mph

TOTAL BIKE 112 mi. (5:26:53) 20.56 mph

T2

*Where’s my food? (Flask of Hammer Product - Perpetreum)
*Totals (Time) = 5:33

Run (26.2 Miles):

*Exiting T2 I felt a tad confused on what to do. It was hot. I never had any Food (calories in paste format) in my run bag. This was a mistake!

As you wind your way through Kona, the crowds are just incredible and the support from friends and everyone else was awesome.
*The course heads down Alii Drive for about 5 miles to a U-turn and comes right back into the center of downtown Kona. This stretch is rolling, with little shade and the temperature was already above 90F.

*I was using a new fang dangle Garmin 405 heart rate monitor and GPS. It was not working! I handed it off to a friend who was along the course.

*My nutrition plan was screwed up … and my plan to monitor heart rate was screwed up. I was in a funk.

*During the first three miles I was being passed like crazy! I looked at my watch and was holding 8 minute miles … or 5 minute kilometres. This is a 3:30 marathon pace … and I was being passed by EVERYONE!

*Welcome to the world of competing with the best!
*I never felt 'on'.
*I walked every aid station. I drank coke … until I got the special needs bag at the energy lab with 10 km left in the race … and started using Hammer product again.

*I’m still can’t explain the feeling … I don’t remember my legs being drained … I guess I was just drained from the entire race. The wind on the bike around Havi … and the heat at the start of the run …

*Regardless of how you're feeling at mile 25, I'd guess that for nearly every triathlete, this disappears when you pass that 25 mile marker sign. The nice thing about Kona is after you make the final right hand turn off the Queen K onto Palani, it's all downhill.

It was wonderful cruising through the chute, going from side to side and laying high fives. I was looking for my wife, kids, and brother. Finally … there was Tommy and Robin. I was so happy to see them. Shirley and Jacob expected me an hour earlier … and had gone to the medical tent to look for me. J

*I crossed the line in an official time of 10:41:39, in 646th place.


*Run Totals (Time/Pace) = 3:55:32 (8:59 per mile pace) - 648th fastest on the day – or 98 in my age group.

FIRST RUN SEGMENT 5.2 mi. (7:30:12) 8:28/mile

SECOND RUN SEGMENT 10.3 mi. (8:14:57) 8:46/mile

THIRD RUN SEGMENT 17.6 mi. (9:22:50) 9:17/mile

FINAL RUN SEGMENT 26.2 mi. (10:41:39) 9:09/mile

TOTAL RUN 26.2 mi. (3:55:32) 8:59/mile 648 98

Summary:

Participating at the Ironman World Championships was tougher than I imagined. I’ve learned that Hawaii is an event where the cumulative effect of the heat, wind and barrenness of the landscape just keep widdling you down. Meanwhile, people are constantly passing you.

At Ironman Canada on Aug 24, I had the race of my dreams … finishing in 9:45 … and reaching my goal of qualifying for Ironman Hawaii. I was told by Kona finishers that the first race in Kona should just be a reward to yourself … and not hold any expectation of finishing time. (Many said you should add 30 minutes to 1 hour to your Ironman Canada time.)

My goal was to have the best possible executed race in Hawaii. I thought I could go sub 10 hours … in a perfect day.

I was disappointed that I messed up my nutrition plan on the run. I remember thinking I had an extra flask of gel which I put in the special needs bag for the run. This flask was supposed to go into my T2 bag, and I had no plan to use the special needs bag.

I really hoped to race the entire race. I was happy with my bike time … and thought I would have energy in store for the run. However, I never felt like I was racing the marathon. In fact, I got consistently slower – which indicates I went too hard on the bike (...or was just not sufficiently tough mentally).

Reflecting over my training, I suggest that the heat and wind on the bike, and then the heat during the first 10 miles of the run without my planned nutrition led to the slow marathon time.

In future races:

-I will not use ‘special needs bags’ at the half way point;

-I will not use watches or heart rate monitors during the run.

I got my moneys worth! I loved the day and was happy with the entire experience. I want to do it again, but will wait a few years.

Thank you again family and friends for your support, as what goes into an Ironman starts long before race day. A special thank you goes out to Shirley, Robin and Jacob, as putting up with all that goes into this single day is a challenge. Also, a huge thanks to all the supporters of my fund raising challenge – $5,000 for Habitat for Humanity. I’m almost there!

http://my.e2rm.com/personalPage.aspx?registrationID=493848 (Visit this website to see my progress. Some donations to Habitat for Humanity have not been recorded on line.)

Currie Barracks, Calgary's most anticipated new community.

Canada Lands Company (CLC) is pleased to announce that the Currie Barracks redevelopment site is the first project in Canada and the largest to date worldwide, to earn gold certification for its approved plan from the LEED for Neighbourhood Development program. LEED is an internationally accepted standard for high performance in green design and construction.

Read more about Currie Barrack's LEED certification and get all the latest updates in the October Newsletter, available for download at www.curriebarracks.com.

Wow ... just returned from two weeks in Hawaii (participating at the Ironman World Championships) and I consciously avoided all news. Scanning the newspaper headlines that were stacked on my door step ... I think the sky has fallen.

I think we are at the point of market capitulation. People are throwing up their hands and giving in.

Sir John Templeton called this the point of "maximum pessimism". His theory, which was proved true over and over, was that when the markets were at the HIGH of pessimism, THAT was the best time to be buying.

Are we there yet?