In the left is a person wearing a white "Human Powered Racing" swim cap. They are the part of the photo in focus. We cannot see their face because they are looking away from the camera and out across a lake with evergreen trees on the other side. They are also wearing blue goggle, which are pushed up on the swim cap in the photo.

Thank You

ByMike Neill

As the summer of 2020 draws to a close and with Canadian Thanksgiving right around the corner, now might be a good time to step back from the state of the world and all it’s problems (too numerous to mention at the moment) and simply say thank you and be grateful for some of the things we have.

  • Nature – We are extremely lucky to live in a country that has such a vast, varied and beautiful landscape. A country that allows us all to swim, bike and run in some of the most pristine settings anywhere. With the Canada/USA border closed to non essential travel and with most flights overseas being cancelled we as a nation have been encouraged to travel and explore our own backyards. We are particularly lucky here in B.C.. Our backyard is, arguably, one of the most beautiful areas on earth. There are still parts that many people (including myself) have never seen.
  • Canada – Aside from the natural beauty of our surroundings, we Canadians are generally a pretty caring and compassionate people. Perhaps it is the population of our country or perhaps it is the Peace, Order and Good Government clause of our Constitution. Whichever the case, you do truly get the sense that Canadians care about each other and that our Government (whichever party is in power) cares about ALL Canadians, not just their supporters.
  • Team Mates – Although this year did not present us with many opportunities to officially race, having team mates and training partners definitely allowed us to push our limits and participate in some some epic training events. Whether it was a 270km bike, a 34km trail run or a 6km open water swim, the year of the COVID Pandemic did not keep goals from being set and achieved. These days and adventures may not appear on race result pages or have “official” photos at the end, but they definitely created memories that will last a lifetime.
  • Fitness and Health – With so many people around the world suffering with COVID 19 one has to be very thankful for the health and well being that we all too often take for granted. If there is one thing we have learned in 2020, it is that life can throw a lot of curve balls at us. Being healthy (both mentally and physically) helps us to handle them more easily.