The Year No One Expected
At the end of every year I like to take a moment to reflect on all that has happened to cherish the good moments, grow from the challenging ones, and look forward to the year ahead. You can read last year’s blog ‘Oh 2019 what a year you’ve been’ here. 2020 was definitely the year no one thought it would be. It has come with so many unique opportunities that none of us could have expected. All of our lives have been turned upside down, some more so than others. Perseverance, reflection, and gratitude have been key characteristics many of us have been able to work on within ourselves during these strange times. I can definitely say that I am not the same person I was back in January 2020…
January 2020
I was on a roller coaster that was only going up. I had competed at the Toronto International Boat Show and won the first SUP race of the year. I was also leading SUP workshops, started dating someone, and had finalized my masters research trip to Thailand for May of 2020. Life was busy but good.
Little did we know that this would be the only SUP race of 2020…
February 2020
The realization of how much COVID-19 was spreading in Asia was starting to impact the data collection phase of my masters’ research project. After talking with Brock University, Niagara Region Public Health and my committee members, we decided to cancel the trip to Thailand. The romantic relationship that I thought was starting to grow had also ended, and it felt like the roller coaster I was on was starting to go downhill.
A picture of a card I took at a local soap shop the day after I found out about the cancellation of my research trip
March 2020 and April 2020
Oh boy did it ever keep going downhill. Of course we all know the pandemic hit us in Canada during this month and it flipped our worlds upside down. You can read more about my journey through the beginning of the pandemic in my blogs ‘A lot Can Change in 9 Days’ and ‘How Have Been Doing?’. Fortunately I had learned to change my perspective and find joy in the quiet moments at home surrounded by my loved ones.
Finding peace doing what I love on Lake Erie
May 2020
My days were quiet and consistent. Day in and day out, I got into the routine of paddling in the morning, working out in the afternoon, and working on my thesis at night. I had a date set to defend my thesis proposal in June and nothing else seemed more important to focus on. I was spending quality time with my family, calling my friends and exploring with cooking in the kitchen. I was learning to find happiness in all of these precious moments.
Making chicken pot pies with Em and Dad :)
June 2020
Grinding out my evenings in front of my laptop reading plenty of journal articles had finally paid off. I successfully defended my thesis proposal at the end of June and was ready to start my data collection locally in Ontario.
A successful thesis proposal - DONE!
July 2020
My thesis had taken another dramatic turn. After my proposal, I had sent in my ethics application right away. However, the board had declined my field research because they did not want researcher’s health to be put at risk in anyway due to the pandemic. Therefore, my research needed to be collected remotely. I had to change my data collection methods for a third time to phone interviews. Being flexible was another characteristic that seemed to grow within me, and learning to adapt to the new rules in order to complete my masters was key. While my thesis was consuming my mental game, stand up paddling was challenging my physical game. I had trained for, and competed in a virtual race called ‘M2O’. It was the furthest race I had ever paddled solo on Lake Erie, from Old Cut to Port Dover, a total of 25.75kms! My family was there to not only be my safety crew, but also watch me push myself to new limits as an athlete. I couldn’t believe I had pushed personal boundaries within my sport despite the ongoing global pandemic.
The start of a very long paddle! (3hrs and 15mins to be exact!)
August 2020
My days were filled with so much joy being surrounded by my SUPKids at Paddle Niagara. My thesis was still running in the background, but my focus shifted to making sure that our kids camps were running safe and smoothly. I swear, I owe it all to my campers to keeping me happy, healthy and sane during the summer. I have never had so much fun teaching SUP than ever before, and who would have guessed it would have been during a pandemic. In Mid-August I also found out that I had received the SUPConnect’s 2020 Woman of the Year Award. When I drove home from work the night I had found out about the award I cried. I cried for how grateful I was for all of this year’s happenings so far, how I have grown into a new woman, and how SUPConnect recognized all of that.
Tim, Lauren and all the kiddos having fun on the Niagara River!
September 2020
Back to school and back to work! My summer camps were now over, and I had gone back to my local gym to work part-time, all while my thesis was rearing back up again. My new ethics application had been approved and I was now allowed to start data collection over the phone. I had also decided to sign up for another virtual race called ‘Chattajack’, a 50km river race that normally takes place on the Chattanooga River in Tennessee. Training was now in full swing.
Training for Chattajack on the Welland River
October 2020
The time had come for Chattajack. Of course with travelling to the states not being an option, I completed the race with my Starboard Rep and dear friend Glen Buchanan on the Welland River. Since I had trained a few times with Glen, he recommended I think about signing up with Paddle Monster for the new year in order to step up my game. It was also during this time that fate would have it I met Steven Lam, an extraordinary strength and conditioning coach.
Glen and I completed Chattajack in under 7hrs! (We paddled 50kms!!)
November 2020
I travelled to Oakville to paddle with my good friends, Kirsty, Glen and Larry. This paddle was mainly to focus on my technique and learn from the best. I walked away from that paddle knowing that I wanted to train even better and smarter than before. I started organizing a better schedule training twice a day most days, all while having Paddle Monster right at my finger tips. My thesis data collection was also going really well, as I have been able to chat with participants from all over the world.
December 2020
One night at the beginning of the month, while I was working out with Steven, and he said “sure I’ll do your strength programming” and I couldn’t believe how much that statement alone has changed my paddling so far. December then became a month of learning more about my body, how it moves, and working on paddling technique with the Paddle Morons (yes – that’s actually the name of the group I paddle with in Oakville). I can’t even begin to describe how much Paddle Monster and Steven, have been total game changers for me, and I cannot wait to compete again in 2021!
Working hard, or hardly working? Definitely working hard of course!!
This year has had it’s ups and downs, but I wouldn’t trade any of the events that happened for anything. If it wasn’t for the pandemic and the people I have surrounding me, I wouldn’t have learned so much about who I am as a friend, a sister, a daughter, an athlete, a leader, and so much more. This year has taught me to remain kind in cruel situations and how to always find the light in times of darkness. I hope despite the pandemic you have had a year filled with happiness, love, joy and gratefulness because you deserve nothing less. I only wish you a fantastic year ahead. All the best, and see you soon in 2021!
All my love, Maddi xoxo
Looking forward to 2021 like…