It's been a really long time I have to be honest!
I never meant to wait this long to blog again. I think as soon as centralization was finished, sorting out moving back to London, a new Sport Visa so they would eventually let me back into their country, coming back to Canada for a week to go to the Canada East/West Camp, then visit my parents in Winnipeg for 3 weeks has really kept me occupied!
I have had so many ideas for blogging. I was going to do some survey blogs. A blog on one of the most challenging experiences I have ever had Climbing 4 of the Highest peaks in the UK in 48 hours. Multiple Player profiles (which one I am working on as we speak). All of which I will be doing eventually. I think I will probably jumble a lot of the last 3 months into this one blog. I have to keep you interested right!? Just try and keep up, I speak fast, and don't always make alot of sense. Haha. Seriously...
So I actually got off the plane the day after centralization in London, got in a car, and shot off to a 7s tournament some may know as Bournemouth 7s. I was involved in it last year with the Moody Cows, and was involved again this year with the Moody Cows. We only went and won it...again!!! Both years the final had been a thrilling experience. The Cows, you see, they play with alot of passion, heart. They play for a cause. They play hard and party hard. Perfect combination I think. We have won Bournemouth 7s 2 yrs in a row now. The money we've won goes towards the charity we play for, the McMillan Cancer Foundation. Great cause, if you ever see the girls, ask them to tell you the story about the team. Its wonderful.
Shortly after this I was asked to participate in the 4 Peaks Challenge on a team with Maggie Alphonsi MBE and Phil Vickery. Both England Rugby Legends in the game. Lucky me! What an experience. We had no idea what to expect. Only from the word of some of the other teams around us who have participated in the past years. We were doing this for the Wooden Spoon Charity of Rugby for Children. Doing this we decided ok, we are just going to cruise through this, no rush, our goal was just to finish. The way it worked was there are teams of 4, 3 who climb and the one driver. We flew into Scotland to start with Ben Nevis, then drove through the night to England where we hiked Hellvelyn. The challenge here was that we hiked two Mountains in one day, from Hellvelyn we drove through the day to Wales to climb Mt Snowdon. From there we drove through the night to catch the ferry over to Ireland to climb our final climb Carantouhill. My favorite was Mt Snowdon. We owned that mountain! Honest to god, we had a few near death experiences, some even went back another way because the winds at the top were 40mph plus. It was incredible. Each mountain had its own challenge. But we concurred them all, and did it in the 48 hours we were suppose to! The challenge was to do all this while being sleep deprived and malnourished! An experience to remember. Would I do it again!? Maybe, I'm not sure. I like not knowing whats ahead. They have 4 challenges alike through the year, so I would like to challenge myself to try one of those next time the opportunity arises. The Wooden Spoon charity raised 109, 000 pounds from that challenge to go towards giving young children the opportunity to experience sport, and the life lessons we learn from sport everyday.
This was our finish, after 48 hrs!!!
This was me moon walking the start of Mt Snowdon...obviously!
After that I decided to take the summer to focus on training and getting my body back into game shape. I was pretty beat up after the season, and it really seemed like the smart thing to do. With the help and push of others, we are athletes, we cant always make those decisions on our own!
The summer was great. I really enjoyed the time focusing on training, hanging out, doing a little bit of work for friends. I have become a painter! Who knew. People trust you with their places here, and that actually gives the confidence to believe, hey, I've never really painted before, but heck ya, I can paint your room, rip out your floors and completely renovate your bathroom...thanks youtube!
Got back into the swing of it all with an East/West camp. What a great camp, 45 girls, alot of new faces with the biggest potential. Our program is growing and our future is exciting. Playing with these girls made me realize why I love the sport I play again. They have the drive, the will to learn and that passion to play for their country. What I find as a Vet on this team is I am constantly learning from everyone around me. Someone used me as an example today and said I didn't make it as far as I have on my own, I have come this far because of the people around me. Yes I put in all the work, Ill give myself some credit, but I wake up thinking of the people I work for, train for, play for. The team that backs me, and who I back in return. The Staff who trust me to go to London and play because I love it, but to come back with the same focus and not have fallen off my game because I've still put in all the work. All of these new faces have given me that extra push to not become complacent. I'm not nervous because I trust my training and my ability, but I wont stop working, not with the young talent nipping at my heals!
To finish off this 3 months, I got to spend 3 amazing weeks with my family. My biggest fans, and the most important people in my world. I only ever really get to see them once a year, but depending on what events the decided they can come to, I would be lucky enough to see them on the circuit. Which for me is always a treat! I'm from Winnipeg, and 3 weeks there seems like a loooong time. This time around it wasn't long enough. I was able to see alot of family, and I don't get to do that often. Timing worked out well this year and we were all in the same place same time. Was the perfect August I would have to say.
Thanks you guys for reading in on my blog, I have a great player profile from Barbara Mervin coming up next. She is on the rise with her Business Aptoella. She will tell you more about it, but look out for her, she is going to be big!
You can follow me @mandymarchak on twitter, I usually have something to say.
Take care everyone!
I never meant to wait this long to blog again. I think as soon as centralization was finished, sorting out moving back to London, a new Sport Visa so they would eventually let me back into their country, coming back to Canada for a week to go to the Canada East/West Camp, then visit my parents in Winnipeg for 3 weeks has really kept me occupied!
I have had so many ideas for blogging. I was going to do some survey blogs. A blog on one of the most challenging experiences I have ever had Climbing 4 of the Highest peaks in the UK in 48 hours. Multiple Player profiles (which one I am working on as we speak). All of which I will be doing eventually. I think I will probably jumble a lot of the last 3 months into this one blog. I have to keep you interested right!? Just try and keep up, I speak fast, and don't always make alot of sense. Haha. Seriously...
Shortly after this I was asked to participate in the 4 Peaks Challenge on a team with Maggie Alphonsi MBE and Phil Vickery. Both England Rugby Legends in the game. Lucky me! What an experience. We had no idea what to expect. Only from the word of some of the other teams around us who have participated in the past years. We were doing this for the Wooden Spoon Charity of Rugby for Children. Doing this we decided ok, we are just going to cruise through this, no rush, our goal was just to finish. The way it worked was there are teams of 4, 3 who climb and the one driver. We flew into Scotland to start with Ben Nevis, then drove through the night to England where we hiked Hellvelyn. The challenge here was that we hiked two Mountains in one day, from Hellvelyn we drove through the day to Wales to climb Mt Snowdon. From there we drove through the night to catch the ferry over to Ireland to climb our final climb Carantouhill. My favorite was Mt Snowdon. We owned that mountain! Honest to god, we had a few near death experiences, some even went back another way because the winds at the top were 40mph plus. It was incredible. Each mountain had its own challenge. But we concurred them all, and did it in the 48 hours we were suppose to! The challenge was to do all this while being sleep deprived and malnourished! An experience to remember. Would I do it again!? Maybe, I'm not sure. I like not knowing whats ahead. They have 4 challenges alike through the year, so I would like to challenge myself to try one of those next time the opportunity arises. The Wooden Spoon charity raised 109, 000 pounds from that challenge to go towards giving young children the opportunity to experience sport, and the life lessons we learn from sport everyday.
After that I decided to take the summer to focus on training and getting my body back into game shape. I was pretty beat up after the season, and it really seemed like the smart thing to do. With the help and push of others, we are athletes, we cant always make those decisions on our own!
The summer was great. I really enjoyed the time focusing on training, hanging out, doing a little bit of work for friends. I have become a painter! Who knew. People trust you with their places here, and that actually gives the confidence to believe, hey, I've never really painted before, but heck ya, I can paint your room, rip out your floors and completely renovate your bathroom...thanks youtube!
To finish off this 3 months, I got to spend 3 amazing weeks with my family. My biggest fans, and the most important people in my world. I only ever really get to see them once a year, but depending on what events the decided they can come to, I would be lucky enough to see them on the circuit. Which for me is always a treat! I'm from Winnipeg, and 3 weeks there seems like a loooong time. This time around it wasn't long enough. I was able to see alot of family, and I don't get to do that often. Timing worked out well this year and we were all in the same place same time. Was the perfect August I would have to say.
Thanks you guys for reading in on my blog, I have a great player profile from Barbara Mervin coming up next. She is on the rise with her Business Aptoella. She will tell you more about it, but look out for her, she is going to be big!
You can follow me @mandymarchak on twitter, I usually have something to say.
Take care everyone!
